Modern Agriculture Volume 2 Issue 2 by Modern Agriculture

FEBRUARY 2015

VOL. 2 ISSUE 2

UBC

A Place to Grow

Precision Agriculture Steering Us Into the Future

Canadian Milk is Made to Measure

Bringing Out the Best

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FEBRUARY 2015

IMPRESSUM

The

PUBLISHER’S

LETTER

Dear Readers,

The MODERN AGRICULTURE team would first like to wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year, and we hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. We are super excited to get the new year off to a start with this issue and look forward to further development as the publication evolves to become BC’s source for agriculture news. Our online business directory will be launching early in 2015 and will help farmers stay connected with companies who want to support them, and our hope is that it will be a valuable resource for solutions and services. This issue launches right around the time of the 16th Annual Pacific Agriculture Show, taking place in Abbotsford, BC, and the Agriculture Gala hosted by the BC Dairy Association and BC Agriculture Council. We hope the events are filled with learning and they create an atmosphere of celebration and collaboration for everyone. In this issue, we felt it was crucial to examine the technologies that impact and benefit us. A prime example of a company exploring the possibilities is BW Global -- a progressive local company who has international exposure. Be sure to read more about the technologies they are implementing across the world. Where Are All the Ag Apps highlights some of the mobile applications available for different agricultural purposes, as well as some common apps which farmers may utilize for on-farm purposes. BCYF Farm Fest 2014 was a very successful event and we are very excited to be working with that young group of farmers. A gallery of the event is on the website and more details inside this issue as well. Great opportunities arose from the event for networking throughout the year. Young farmers are encouraged to join and be part of this great group of enthusiastic farmers who are the future of agriculture in BC. As we look forward into spring, we wish you all a prosperous growing season, and encourage you to share your stories with us online via our social media channels and email. Sincerely,

FIND US ONLINE: WWW.MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA Instagram: @modernagriculture Twitter: @modernagmag Facebook: /modernagmag LinkedIn: /modern-agriculture-magazine Google Plus: +Modern Agriculture

PUBLISHER Modern Media Group Ltd. EDITOR Cate Pedersen CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karin Nelson MANAGING EDITOR Harwind Bassi DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Nav Sekhon SALES MANAGER(S): Gurtaj Sandhu Taj Sekhon MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 13003 Highstreet PO Abbotsford, BC V2T 0C4 Canada ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES advertising@modernagriculture.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR info@modernagriculture.ca

MODERN AGRICULTURE is published quarterly by Modern Media Group Limited. No part of this publication may be used without written permission from the publisher. © 2014. Every effort is made to avoid errors, misspellings and omissions. If, however, an error comes to your attention, please accept our sincere apologies and notify us. MODERN AGRICULTURE receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. MODERN AGRICULTURE and its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store and archive such unsolicited submissions in whole or part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. This statement does not apply to materials and/ or pitches submitted by freelance writers, photographers or illustrators in accordance with known industry practices. MODERN AGRICULTURE | 1

2 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE: 6

Invasion of the Water Hyacinth

Where Are All the Ag Apps?

Precision Agriculture Steering Us Into the Future

Farm Fest 2014

Canada-EU Talks: The End of the Road?

Medicinal Marijuana: Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential

Seeds for Success: Support for Smaller Farms

Canadian Milk is Made to Measure

Pest Profile: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

Agriburia: Where Do We Grow From Here?

BW Global: Bringing Out the Best

Small Lot Poultry Additions

UBC, Faculty of Land and Food Systems: A Place to Grow

Farmer in the Sky Vineland Research & Innovation Centre: East Offers West Results

Antibiotic Resistance in Canadian Livestock

Vitalus Nutrition: New Product Commercialization

Managing Root Disease: Prevention is the Best Medicine

Tropical Agriculture: A Lesson in Self-Sufficiency

Canadian Poultry 2015: Will the Influenza Outbreak Lower Confidence?

Of Mice and Melons

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 3

4 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

CONTRIBUTORS: AMIR MAAN Amir Maan has been involved in farming since the age of 3, when all by himself he managed to fire up his father’s old Massey Ferguson. Amir is passionate about agribusiness and currently is the Operations Manager at Maan Farms. He is also completing his BBA in Agriculture Management and has traveled internationally in order to discover new agribusiness techniques and innovations. Recently, Amir has been a part of a successful start-up business and is fully devoted towards pursuing modern agriculture in his community.

freelancing—and completing a journalism course through UBC has helped her recognize the parallels between farming and freelancing: it is always more work than meets the eye. The finished product is never what you started with, but the end result is always one-hundred per cent worth it. You can connect with her on Twitter @ KGisler. GEOFF LEWIS

JONATHAN LLOYD Jonathan Lloyd is an experienced independent agricultural consultant and researcher, with a PhD in Agricultural Economics. He has previously written profiles on the Canadian livestock sector, covering production and demand for meat and dairy products along with trends in cattle, pig and poultry numbers. Jonathan has also been involved in consultancy projects on a wide range of agricultural topics, and for a range of clients, including large agricultural supply businesses. GREG WELFING

DR. HYDER A. KHOJA, PH.D., M.SC., A.AG.

He is a Founder & CEO of LEOFRIC Consultants, Inc., and Director Operations, Botanical Drug Research & Development for a public Life Sciences Company. With his diverse background he has volunteered on numerous key National & International Scientific & Advisory board. He holds his Ph.D., and M.Sc., in Molecular Genetics from a French Ivy League “INP” & had a post-doctorate training from Michigan State University, USA. In 2010 his work was recognized by the US-DOE’s multi-million dollars grant for an alternative energy and globally by the United Nation’s-FAO (Food & Agriculture Organization).

Greg has an intense passion for biology and agricultural systems. Plant and insect dynamics have always been in passionate focus. Armed with a BSc degree and years of experience in agricultural research, monitoring, and technical sales, Greg brings a wealth of knowledge to our writing team. Geoff has worked for a wide assortment of nursery and landscape operations, obtaining a tapestry of experience in horticulture. He has taught post-secondary horticulture and worked, and continues to work, in greenhouse, field and crop protection research and development. He is a member of the BC Institute of Agrologists and always has too many houseplants. RONDA PAYNE

PETER GREDIG Peter Gredig is a corn, soybean and wheat producer based near London, Ontario. As a partner in AgNition Inc., Peter is involved in developing mobile products and strategies for agri-business, producer organizations and farmers across North America. TOM BAUMANN

A writer since she first held a pen, Ronda Payne is passionate about words. Years ago, she kissed ‘9 to 5 jobs’ goodbye and began her true career as a copywriter, freelance writer and creative writer – much of that writing is about agriculture. She has a passion for farming and spends a good deal of her research time in gum boots.

KAITLYN GISLER

CATE PEDERSEN

Kaitlyn was born, raised and works on her parents’ dairy farm in the beautiful Fraser Valley. Her grandparents started dairy farming in 1965 and although they have been at the same location for 49 years, modern farming has done everything but stand still. Five years ago they brought two voluntary robotic milking systems into their herd—a welcome relief for their cows—and them! Kaitlyn attended post-secondary in Vancouver—where she got her first taste of

Cate Pedersen is a contributing writer and editor for Modern Agriculture Magazine, and copywriter for social media sites, blogs and ads. Cate’s creativity and interest in a variety of topics combine to help her hone in on any subject. She is proud to call the Fraser Valley her home, and be part of a local publication.

Tom Baumann is an accomplished professor and department co-ordinator at the University of the Fraser Valley and also acts as a Research Director at Pacific Berry Resource Centre. Tom mostly teaches production courses, such as fruit and vegetable production at UFV. Further, he is also an industry consultant with his company Expert Agriculture Team Ltd.

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 5

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

INVASION OF THE WATER HYACINTH By Chetan Desai, Manoharsinh Zala, Pavan Dave and Pranay Patel (B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat)

ater hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds. It infests rivers, dams, lakes and irrigation channels on every continent except Antarctica. It devastates aquatic environments and costs billions of dollars every year in control costs and economic losses. Water hyacinth is native to the Amazon basin in South America and was brought to Australia in the 1890s as an ornamental plant. The first record of water hyacinth in New South Wales (NSW) was in 1895. In 1897, the government botanist Mr J. H. Maiden noted that it had spread rapidly in the ponds in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. At that time, he warned that the plant should be kept away from the northern rivers where it “may very rapidly become a serious pest.” Unfortunately, this warning went unheeded and by the early 1900s it had spread along the east coast of Queensland and the north-eastern regions of NSW. Distribution Water hyacinth currently occurs along the east coast of Australia from Kiama in NSW to southern Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. In the early 1900s extensive infestations in the northern coastal rivers of NSW were a major hindrance to river navigation, and infestations still occur in all coastal river catchments, particularly the Macleay, Clarence and Richmond. Large infestations were present in the Hawkesbury River during the 1990s, and remnant populations are still subject to annual control programs. In inland NSW, water hyacinth was identified on the Gingham Watercourse near Moree in 1955. By 1976 it had become a major infestation covering 7000 ha. Despite management and control efforts since then, a significant seed bank still remains across the region, and the area of infestation has moved further west, threatening the Murray–Darling system.

6 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Habitat Water hyacinth grows in still or slow-flowing fresh water in tropical and temperate climates. Optimum growth occurs at temperatures between 28°C and 30°C, and requires abundant nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Although this plant will tolerate a wide range of growth conditions and climatic extremes including frost, it is rapidly killed by sea strength salinity and will not grow in brackish water. Where water levels have receded, plants can survive on damp soil for several months. Impact Water hyacinth is justifiably called the world’s worst aquatic weed due to its ability to rapidly cover whole waterways. Specific impacts include: • Blocking irrigation channels and rivers. • Restricting livestock access to water. • Destroying natural wetlands. • Eliminating native aquatic plants. • Reducing infiltration of sunlight. • Changing the temperature, pH and oxygen levels of water. • Reducing gas exchange at the water surface. • Increasing water loss through transpiration (greater than evaporation from an open water body). • Altering the habitats of aquatic organisms.

Water hyacinth will rapidly take over an entire waterway. Under favourable conditions it can double its mass every five days, forming new plants on the ends of stolons. It also grows from seed which can remain viable for 20 years or longer. This enormous reproductive capacity causes annual reinfestation from seed and rapid coverage of previously treated areas, making ongoing control necessary. Water hyacinth compost

• Restricting recreational use of waterways.

Water hyacinth composting is very easy and cheap:

• Reducing aesthetic values of waterways.

• Reducing water quality from decomposing plants. • Destroying fences, roads and other infrastructure when large floating rafts become mobile during flood events, and; • Destroying pastures and crops when large floating rafts settle over paddocks after flood events.

Collect water hyacinth plant and clean it with clean water.

2. Remove roots as they are not used in composting. 3. Cut the branches and leaves off the plant and mix with a 3:1 ratio of cow dung (three parts hyacinth cuts and one part cow dung). 4. Place mixture in shade to decompose. This process takes 45 to 60 days.

FEBRUARY 2015

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

5. Water hyacinth compost takes less days to decompose compared to other compost. 6. Water hyacinth compost contains 2-2.5% nitrogen, 0.5-1.0% phosphorus, 1.5-3.5% potash, and other micronutrients. 7.

We can use any bacterial culture for fast decomposition.

8. Main benefits of this process is no any infrastructure required for making compost. 9. This compost is used 1 to 2 t/ha in field. Benefits of water hyacinth compost

3. Improves the quality of plants and increases production.

Improves soil fertility and structure.

4. Material decomposes well with no bed odour.

2. Improves the water holding capacity of soil so crops can grow with less water.

5. Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worst weed becomes beneficial material for agriculture. â&#x2014;? MODERN AGRICULTURE | 7

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

FEBRUARY 2015

WHERE ARE ALL THE AG APPS?

By Peter Gredig

or mainstream society the phrase “there’s an app for that” is generally true; but for agriculture, the mobile apps farmers really want have been slow to come. This is changing. When I started talking to farmers about the power of mobile technology for agriculture a few years ago, hardware dominated the discussion. Farmers wanted to know about the benefits of a tablet and which smart phone to buy. Some had a tough time letting go of that old flip phone! Fast forward to 2015 and the game has changed. Farmers have embraced mobile technology. Recent surveys show that about 80% of farmers now own a smart phone and 60% own a tablet so the hardware is in place. It’s not surprising—these tools are a perfect fit for progressive farm8 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

ers who are on the move and want to manage their operations on the fly. With mobile tools in hand, farmers are now looking for agriculture specific apps that take advantage of the amazing capabilities of smart phones and tablets. The problem is, these apps have been slow to arrive and there are a number of reasons.

sent a very small target audience. Mobile programming is expensive so cost recovery for an ag app means the user is going to be asked to pay more than 99 cents (maybe a lot more) for a high functionality app. The business model is still evolving as mobile developers get a feel for how much farmers are willing to pay for the apps they want.

“With mobile tools in hand, farmers are now looking for agriculture specific apps that take advantage of the amazing capabilities of smart phones and tablets.”

Many of the ag apps arriving on the scene now are funded by agri-businesses, government extension, farm organizations or public research and they are made available to users at no cost. This is great and farmers now have some good mobile tools.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps available to the general population but only a few dozen targeted directly to farmers. The problem is farmers repre-

The next phase for mobile apps in agriculture is to build the mobile tools that I hear farmers requesting at every meeting I attend. If you sit down with farmers and talk app ideas, it doesn’t take long for some

FEBRUARY 2015

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

common themes to emerge. Farmers want mobile record keeping apps that integrate seamlessly with their desktop software to eliminate the need to make a trip to the office to enter data. Grain growers are looking for apps that help them keep track of grain inventories and all marketing decisions made throughout the year. More apps are needed for livestock producers. In particular, dairy farmers would welcome a mobile tool that allows them to keep production records and comply with government programs. Apps to help farmers diagnose animal health issues and determine the correct treatment regimen is another popular request. I believe we will get there, but we can speed up the process if farmers simply ask for the apps they want. Companies, farm organizations, and government extension are now receptive to the idea that farmers are mobile by nature and these tools need to be developed. They put a lot of value on ideas that come from the target audience. We can build the apps farmers really want—the technology and programming expertise exists. The issue is: who will pay and is there enough benefit to justify the cost? While we wait for more apps designed specifically for agriculture, there are plenty of non-ag apps that we can use. GPS apps like Google Maps are not designed for agriculture but work great to mark field locations or problem spots within a field. Note taking apps like Evernote replace the dog-eared note book and let farmers keep track of day-to-day activities. In addition to text notes, these apps allow audio, images and even video files to be

attached to notes. If the app syncs to the Cloud, the password protected notes are accessible from any device with Internet connection anywhere in the world. Time sheet apps work great and help both the employer and employee keep track of hours and work schedules. There are also many expense tracking apps that are designed for sales professionals but can work for enterprise tracking on the farm.

These are just a few generic examples and every farmer will have different opportunities to benefit from mobile technology. It’s really up to the individual to think about what the smart phone can do and look for existing mobile apps that meet a specific need. Once you start thinking this way, the possibilities are truly endless. ●

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MODERN AGRICULTURE | 9

INDUSTRY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015

SEEDS FOR SUCCESS: Support for Smaller Farms

By Cate Pedersen

ike Manion grew up on a family farm in Ontario; a farm with thirty head of dairy cows, a few pigs, chickens and a variety of crops. He smiles as he reminisces about the animals wandering freely across the road heading for the barn, and his brow furrows as he talks about how the family-run, mixed farm of old is up against some stiff competition. “There were several hundred-acre farms in our area, and before long, it was just us.”

“Farmers are under the microscope. They are expected to be experts in a wide variety of areas: HR, purchasing, food safety and sustainability.” The economic trend has been for larger farms and corporations to buy up the smaller, more traditional operations that have been in the same family for generations, 10 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

and fewer young people are choosing the farm life over other business careers. Statistics Canada reports that the changes are also due to the fact that, as in other work sectors, farm owners are retiring—and their land is being absorbed by larger operations. There are a special group of farmers with an entrepreneurial spirit that should be lauded; among them, the family farms, locally owned organic producers, hydroponic farmers, and visionaries who take risks with new innovations and experimental technologies. These are the farmpreneurs of the future who will balance the food industry scale with the agricultural giants and give the consumers more choice. But how is the independent operator, or private investor to survive in this altered agricultural landscape? “Farmers are under the microscope,” Manion muses. “They are expected to be experts in a wide variety of areas: HR, purchasing, food safety and sustainability.” And with tighter regulations ex-

pected from organizations like CFIA (Canada Food Inspection Agency) and AAFC (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), which will benefit all parties, it is time for the smaller operations to review their practices. There is plenty of help out there for those willing to do their homework. “Don’t be afraid to reach out and use resources,” encourages Manion. “Take advantage of training grants and free groups that the government has to offer.” Whether deciding to diversify or specialize, there is support out there and advisors like Manion and his partners can provide assistance in finding the right help. Manion left his family’s operation behind many years ago—he jokes that he’s embarrassed to say how many—following a path which led him to his current position as an agricultural specialist and owner of Agrisco Supplies which provides training and advisory services to the agricultural industry. He has held several executive positions with large corporate farming operations along

FEBRUARY 2015

INDUSTRY UPDATE workers program. Advisors like him are there to help farmers over the humps. Through grants, refunds, tax credits and training funds, farmers and small operations can benefit and realize their plans for success. The first step towards making sure your agricultural business is up to date and abiding with guidelines and regulations would be contacting an organization like Agrisco, or find others on the CAFA website. Investigate the many opportunities and know that the support is there. ●

the way, and now spends some of his time as a consultant for SRCTec based in Mission, BC.

help farmers figure out their business plans and search out the right resources to help them achieve their goals.

SRCTec (Sumas Regional Consortium for High Tech) is a not-for-profit organization governed by a select group of technology executives. This local government coalition is interested in attracting tech based investment into the Fraser Valley. SRCTec’s Agri-food Venture Acceleration Program promotes agriculture technology innovation and commercialization by providing start-up and early stage agri-food technology entrepreneurs in the Fraser Valley with the coaching and resources they need to maximize commercialization opportunities and accelerate growth.

Manion has also worked in collaboration with government regulators to develop a working relationship to solve environmental concerns such as waste control regulations and labour issues within the foreign

There is passion in Manion’s voice when he talks about the research and development opportunities available to farmers. He has his finger on the pulse and encourages farmers to investigate what is out there. “Let’s say a farmer purchases or builds a piece of equipment for their operation, and they try it and it fails. Through SR&ED [Scientific Research and Experimental Development], they might be eligible for credit. The equipment might not have worked out, but the farm will receive a reimbursement for helping with the research.” In Manion’s role as a consultant, and a member of CAFA (Canadian Association of Farm Advisors), Manion feels the frustration that many busy farmers experience when trying to figure out where to best spend their time and resources. He has direct experience operating farms all across Canada and can advise on best practices, and

Food and Farm Safety Advisers

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 11

DAIRY

FEBRUARY 2015

CANADIAN MILK IS MADE TO MEASURE By Kaitlyn Gisler

ilk in the tank means a well-earned cheque in the bank for Canadian dairy farmers. The value of milk— even the smallest drop—is continually on the increase. New technologies can decipher a wealth of information never available before by sampling a dairy cow’s milk, on farm, the moment it’s taken from the udder. These components have always been present in milk but the science wasn’t readily available for farmers to evaluate them. The ability to break down fat and protein percentages, measure progesterone levels, and look at the somatic cell count—per cow, per milking quarter—presents further opportunities for precision farming. This information is readily available 24/7 and not only benefits the farmer but also members of their off-farm team, the milk processor and consumers. As innovations continue to be adopted on dairy farms—especially when it comes to harvesting milk—the cow emerges as an individual amongst the herd. She has her own history, records and a detailed identity that concerns more than her ear tag number but presents a holistic regard for her well-being.

12 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

One of the reasons this information is so accessible to farmers is the installation of robotic milking systems, which milk cows day and night, on a voluntary schedule. They come and go when they please. These robots are equipped with milk sampling systems that test the milk on the cow each time she comes in—other factors such as her weight and rumination are also measured. The slightest fluctuation in any of the above parameters puts the farmer on alert and the cow’s milk is automatically routed from the system, never mixing with the bulk tank. Forerunners in robotic milking systems are Lely and DeLaval, and even though their systems are individualistic from each other and run on their own unique software, many of the same milk components are analyzed.

an infection, or too quick that she did not milk out fully which can lead to an infection. In addition to measuring progesterone, DeLaval also measures three other vital elements per cow: mastitis, metabolic disorders and feed protein balance. Lely has the ability to also evaluate protein, fat and lactose. These milk components provide specific information on cow health and present the opportunity to manage milk quality.

“These robots are equipped with milk sampling systems that test the milk on the cow each time she comes in.”

On their website, DeLaval describes their milk analysis unit as using an “advanced biological model” to measure the components in the milk. Their crowning glory is the ability to look at progesterone levels. Measuring the progesterone levels in milk allows farmers to accurately identify heats, or the best time to breed a cow, even if she shows no physical signs. This is called a “silent heat.” The DeLaval system can also determine the likelihood of a successful insemination, if the cow is pregnant, or if she was pregnant and has aborted; and the possibility of her being cystic which can make breeding difficult. With robotic milking, a cow visits the robot three times daily—on average—which means that she is being monitored for any health changes at least three times a day.

Lely and DeLaval can also evaluate the udder health of a cow by analyzing the enzyme LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) which is closely connected to the udder’s somatic cell count and helps to determine mastitis cases. Both the somatic cell count and LDH levels increase at the beginning of an infection. There are two types of mastitis: clinical and subclinical. Clinical mastitis shows visible symptoms such as milk clots and an irritated swollen, red udder. These latter symptoms are sure signs that the cow is already infected. Subclinical involves imperceptible inflammation due to an imbalance between pathogens and immune cells in the udder. If left untreated mastitis will eventually poison the animal. DeLaval states that their system can detect mastitis—exclusively via milk samples—up to three days before any physical symptoms. That provides an invaluable three day head start to begin a treatment plan, and the sooner the cow can recover.

Lely uses their Milk Quality Control (MQC) system to evaluate milk, and has the device located on the milking arm of the robot so it is as close as possible to the cow, allowing it to evaluate the milk faster. Lely uses the visible colour spectrum when analyzing the milk. MQC can determine the colour of the milk, therefore noticing blood or other irregularities and routing out any suspicious milk from the system. Lely’s MQC also evaluates the milk’s conductivity, temperature and how quick or slow each milking quarter takes. If a cow milks too slowly from her regular speed it could mean she may have

This manner of measuring milk is not exclusive to robotic milking machines, but can also be done through an application for iPhone or iPod Touch. The company Dairy Quality Incorporated created a device that takes a sample of milk. The sample is loaded into the Dairy Quality slide which uses imaging technology to scan the sample, then the image and results are shown on the screen. By counting the somatic cells within the milk and checking for abnormalities, this device also has the ability to determine what bacteria is present in the milk—from mastitis to a yeast infection.

FEBRUARY 2015 Scrutinizing milk so closely is invaluable to the farmer, who can access the information anytime on whatever device best suits his needs—computer, tablet or phone. This information can also be viewed by veterinarians, feed consultants and anyone else who makes up the farm team, keeping all members current without daily (and sometimes costly) farm visits. Milk processors will only accept milk from Canadian dairy farms that reach their stringent standards—any milk with traces of antibiotics or high bacteria

DAIRY counts is not taken off the farm. Knowing the protein and butterfat percentages benefit the processor when turning Canadian milk into other dairy products, since specific percentages are best suited to making yogurt or cheese, for example. Farmers also know that consumers care. They care that the milk they drink is top quality, that the cows that make the milk are treated exceptionally well. Even if consumers are not aware of somatic cell counts,

or progesterone levels or udder health, Canadian dairy farmers are—they measure it daily—and only the best milk, that meets all those standards, ends up on the consumer’s kitchen table. We always knew milk was an excellent source of calcium, but now it’s also an excellent source of information. We’ll drink to that. ●

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 13

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FEBRUARY 2015

POULTRY

SMALL LOT POULTRY ADDITIONS

By Ronda Payne

mall lot egg farms, those with 100 to 399 laying hens, have seen an immediate increase recently in available licences in BC, rising from 25 to 50. At first glance, this may not seem like a lot of farms, but in speaking to Al Sakalauskas, executive director of the BC Egg Marketing Board, he explained these are smaller farms, sometimes with a diversity of activities including egg production, so it is believed that adding 25 more licences to the previous 25 will be enough to fill the province’s demand. “The board decided to fill a need in the market,” Sakalauskas said. “These farms are generally in regions where people sell eggs at the farm gate.” Each farm must apply for their small lot licence once a year, with the nominal fees covering the egg board’s administrative costs. In the first year, the application process must be notarized, and while the Egg Marketing Board recognizes there is a cost in doing so, it is only required in the first year to establish and confirm the identity of the owners. These small lot owners are not a part of the quota system, but can access some portions

of the information available to larger egg farmers who are part of the quota system. “We give them a smaller version of a manual and do some testing,” Sakalauskas said. “They have access to parts of the producer website as well. We want them to have access to information.” Information is important to ensure healthy birds and high quality eggs. Even a farm producing the lowest number of eggs in the small lot scale can expect to be gathering about 100 eggs a day which is a significant amount of work. Plus, as small lot producers, there is no grading of the eggs. “The majority [of the small lot farms] are in specialty areas like free run, and free range, but they’re not certified,” noted Sakalauskas. “They haven’t gone through the formal certification process.” As outlined by Sakalauskas, many of the small lot designated farmers participate in a range of other activities besides egg production. One working farm on Vancouver Island helps homeless and addicted individuals find a place in society again through hard work, engagement and reconnecting to the earth. Residents work on the farm and tend livestock, fruits, vegetables and herbs, while working through rehabilitation programs.

“This is a case where it’s not just about 399 chickens,” commented Sakalauskas. “It’s about something larger, an organization that the chickens are a part of. They are leveraging in a really cool way.” The Vancouver Island farm has an onsite farm market for members of the community to purchase locally grown food. The small lot licensing is not for the hobbyist. These are significant egg producing operations capable of about 12,000 dozen eggs a year, yet remain small enough to focus on local and regional sales – not like the large egg producers that supply grocery chains. Some small lot egg farmers drop out of the program, freeing up licences over time through attrition. “Anyone can hold up to 99 birds without the application process,” Sakalauskas said. Of course a back yard chicken coop or a small chicken farm of any size has to meet municipal requirements first and foremost. Those interested in applying for a small lot egg farm licence can contact the BC Egg Marketing Board through a variety of channels noted on the organization’s website at www.bcegg.com. ●

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 15

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 2015

UBC, FACULTY OF LAND AND FOOD SYSTEMS: A Place to Grow

By Cate Pedersen

eturning to familiar ground, Dr. Rickey Yada takes on his new role of Dean of the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Land and Food Systems with a passion equal to that of the most focused student. An alum of the Faculty—BSc. (Agriculture), MSc. and PhD (food science)— Yada returned to UBC in October 2014 after spending thirty years as a food scientist at the University of Guelph.

“Researchers in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems are working on issues that are high in the minds of the public—everything from climate change and food security to the relationship between food, nutrition, diet and health,” says Yada. “It’s exciting to be part of that.” The Faculty of Land and Food Systems (LFS) is a leader in integrated research and education that addresses global issues surrounding health and sustainable land and food systems. It’s home to several important research facilities, including the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre (www.dairycentre.landfood.ubc.ca) in Agassiz, BC, as well as the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems (CSFS) at UBC Farm, a unique research centre that aims to understand and fundamentally transform local and global food systems towards a more sustainable, food secure future (www. ubcfarm.ubc.ca). LFS also offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as food, nutrition and health, animal welfare and agriculture economics.

16 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

“Our programs use a uniquely integrated approach that unites scientific knowledge and interdisciplinary studies,” Yada says. “Experiential learning is a core philosophy. We give our students the opportunity to develop their skills, expand their horizons and use their knowledge to enhance their community. As a result, they graduate from their programs job-ready.”

“Come learn, contribute and be part of socially and economically relevant issues to the world.”

Although Dean Yada’s research focus is food science, much of his experience is in multidisciplinary settings. He’s held various high profile positions throughout his career, including Professor of Food Science and Canada Research Chair in Food Protein Structure, Scientific Director of the Food Institute, and President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST).

FEBRUARY 2015 Now that he’s taken on the role of Dean of LFS, Yada plans to focus on creative ways to build and leverage operations. Partnerships and synergies between academic researchers, business minds and government officials are necessary to the operation of a funding body and he has served his time on enough boards to know that evidentiary milestones are crucial to success and fiduciary responsibility. Metrics of success fund programs, and Yada wants to attract students, faculty and staff who will ensure success.

FEATURE academic route. The entrepreneurial spirit abounds, and the ability to shift gears and explore the possible rather than stay on the proven track is what differentiates the scientist from the research adventurer.

advisory board at UBC. He would invite speakers to share their stories and help build a network of like minds. Inspiring future scientists to work like entrepreneurs may open more doors for them.

Dean Yada admires the spirit of those willing to reach out and try new things. “I like out-of-the-box thinkers,” he says, adding that he was part of a travelling workshop that toured Canadian cities extolling the virtues of entrepreneurialism to future students. He understands that the crossovers between entrepreneur and academic create a hybrid mind perfect for a future in agricultural research. Farmers must be abreast of the latest in developments and technologies while creating sustainable businesses and having their finger on the pulse of world markets. They must be willing to explore and be creative and brave.

“We are trying to foster cooperation and communication,” he says. “This faculty has the ability to reach out to others on campus to work on relevant issues based on good fundamental science.” It’s about making connections—within the faculty, within the campus, between schools, and around the world.

Yada has a simple philosophy: “Don’t be fearful of failure.” Taking chances and reaching for the unknown is how we create a world of endless possibility. “If you’re standing at the edge of the cliff, you’re too far away; take the leap. Just make sure it’s a calculated leap.”

The future state of our food systems could be considered to be the business gauge for success, and we need to think about what we are willing to invest for that success to be realized. Time, money, education and careers—all necessary expenditures to ensure a return more than the investments. The return we want is a healthier planet inhabited by healthy people, animals and plants. The UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems is a good place to plant your feet and reach out to the world. ● www.landfood.ubc.ca

He spoke enthusiastically about his idea to spearhead an industry and community

“I don’t believe in hiring commodity specialists; I believe in hiring the best scientists and researchers, because if you’re good enough, you’re able to be adaptable and flexible,” he explains. “What I’ve seen in my career as a scientist is the notion of the movement away from islands of knowledge, to a cluster of islands working together toward a goal. No one has all of the expertise.” Yada will also look at how the Faculty is utilizing its resources and find innovative ways to generate excitement about trans-Canadian projects and networking building opportunities. He sees the future of LFS as a keen investment and he encourages students entering the Faculty to “Come learn, contribute and be part of socially and economically relevant issues to the world.” New students considering which university would be best for them may be swayed by an institution’s commitment to research and helping them develop their own business, rather than following the traditional MODERN AGRICULTURE | 17

ADVERTORIAL

FEBRUARY 2015

MANAGING ROOT DISEASE: Prevention is the Best Medicine

By Colin Ashbee very day plant roots are in the midst of a battle, the underground warriors being fungi and bacteria. These warriors compete with each other for food and space and ultimately determine the health of plants and their roots. The majority of soil-dwelling bacteria and fungi are harmless to plant growth. Some are beneficial species essential in breaking down large molecules into smaller ones that plant roots can take up. A few of the soil-dwelling microbes actually cause disease and create major economic grief to growers all over the world. These pathogens or “bad guys” are known commonly by such scientific names as Pythium spp., Fusarium spp, Rhizoctonia spp., and Phytophthora spp. to name a few.

A small number of soil microbes have displayed rather unique characteristics with regards to controlling, eliminating and out-competing the “bad guys” in the root zone. Some soil microbes lightly suppress 18 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

pathogens while others sustainably prevent and control the root rotting pathogens. A select few of these special microbes consistently show such excellent disease controlling properties that they become registered as biofungicides. Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22 is an example of a very special warrior with the ability to control and eliminate disease pathogens in the root zone. T-22 can be found in the registered biofungicide RootShield®. Growers can defend their plant roots from disease with soil biofungicides—biological warfare at its finest! Curative chemistries exist to treat or suppress a root disease until a crop is harvested. These chemicals can be effective and have been for years but they are not silver bullets. Their mode of action (MOA) can be conducive to pathogens developing resistance. Many growers are now taking a proactive approach to preventing root disease by using registered biofungicides like RootShield. It is the unique modes of action in RootShield that makes it so effective.

So how does RootShield work? 1. Exclusion. RootShield grows in the media or near plant roots (termed rhizosphere competency) or directly on the roots (termed rhizoplane competency) shielding them from pathogens. The soil biofungicide grows in and dominates the same area a pathogen wants to occupy and physically block or exclude it. 2. Competition. RootShield can remove simple organic and inorganic compounds released from roots as part of their waste removal system. RootShield feeds upon root exudates and soil organic matter remove the enticements that actually attract pathogens. 3. Parasitism and predation. As a biofungicide, RootShield can attack and eat root-rotting pathogens feeding directly upon them for their own nutrition. They physically attach to these pathogens and release enzymes that dissolve their cell walls eliminating them for extended periods of time.

FEBRUARY 2015 4. Nutrient availability. Nutrients must be in a reduced form to make them available for absorption by a plant’s root system. RootShield releases reducing agents and chelating agents that make nutrients more available and absorbable to a root allowing for more complete utilization of the fertilizer being applied. 5. ISR (Induced Systemic Resistance). In some cases, but not always seen, certain soil biofungicides can trigger ISR in plants. Very specific strains of Trichoderma, Bacillus and other microorganism species have been shown to “turn on” specific mechanisms in a plant’s root system that prime the host plant naturally to defend itself throughout the plant from the inside. This MOA is still not well understood or predictable but is a hot topic for researchers around the world. ISR triggered by specific biopesticide strains certainly contributes to their overall efficacy.

ADVERTORIAL Safety for people, safety for plants and safety for the environment are becoming more of a concern in the edible and ornamental plant growing world. RootShield offers this level safety. Identifying problems early and preventing further spread makeup the backbone of an effective biologically based program. Soil biofungicides can and do work. ●

About the authors: Colin Ashbee is the Canadian Technical Sales Manager for BioWorks Inc. (E-mail cashbee@bioworksinc.com) For more information on the BioWorks line of products: http://www.bioworksinc.com. John Whittaker is the Sales Manager for TerraLink Horticulture Inc. (E-mail: john@tlhort.com) TerraLink Horticulture Inc. is the Preferred Distributor of BioWorks products in Western Canada.

Preventing damage from root rots begins with a good defense. Programs using conventional, IPM, sustainable and organic methods of growing should all use RootShield early as a preventative not as a curative when it is too late. Providing early protection against root diseases is a major component to producing a successful crop. RootShield facts: •

Effective at preventing diseases caused by Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia spp.

•

Compatible with many chemical fungicides.

•

Tolerant of wide temperature and pH. ranges.

•

Long shelf life when stored at room temperature or lower.

•

Approved for use in organic programs.

•

Three readily available formulations make application to seeds, plant material and media easy and economical.

•

Zero-hour restricted-entry and preharvest interval.

Summary RootShield contains a living microbe that can successfully prevent many types of root diseases under diverse environmental conditions on a wide range of plants using multiple mechanisms of control. Applying the proper soil biofungicide for an identified root pathogen early before the pathogen gets a foothold in the plant can make the difference in performance and the need to use chemicals. MODERN AGRICULTURE | 19

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

FEBRUARY 2015

PRECISION AGRICULTURE STEERING US INTO THE FUTURE

By Jonathan Lloyd, Agricultural Consultant, Farmlytics

he latest UN population projections predict that between now and 2050 the world’s population will have grown by 2.5 billion people, and will be one third higher than today. However, the agricultural production systems which are needed to feed this population are coming under greater pressure from climate change, dwindling fossil fuel and mineral resources, and increasing demands on land for crops for biofuels and urban development. The emerging middle classes in Asia, Latin America and Africa will demand a more exciting and varied diet, including more dairy and meat products, placing further pressure on food systems. According to IBM research, global food production must grow by 70% in order to feed this growth. Precision agriculture represents an important suite of technologies which could play an important role in meeting these challenges. It is using technology to make more precise and efficient use of inputs to account for the wide variation in crop, soil and genetics found within individual 20 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

fields, herds or flocks. Precision crop farming is about making the most efficient use of resources based on site specific conditions, whereas precision livestock farming is optimizing the contribution of each animal. Dr Gregg Carlson of South Dakota State University recently stated: “Precision farming is conventional farming, but at a different scale. Instead of farming (managing) a 160 acre field we are now managing every square foot of land.” High tech data collection There are three elements to a precision agriculture system. Firstly, the means of gathering data either through remote sensing or other means. Secondly, data needs to be processed into a meaningful format such as a field map, or downloaded into software which can be used to support management decisions. And finally, appropriate actions need to be implemented to a specific part of the field or an individual animal. Examples of this might be a variable rate application of fertilizer to different parts of a field depending

on nutrient status, or electronic feeders releasing individual rations to dairy cows.

“Precision crop farming is about making the most efficient use of resources based on site specific conditions, whereas precision livestock farming is optimizing the contribution of each animal.”

Data is critical in precision agriculture, and information can be collected by a variety of technologies such as in field sensors, satellites or UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The idea of precision agriculture is not new, however advances in IT and computing are only now allowing many of these ideas to be used to their full potential. Spatial information can be used to determine the optimum levels of inputs across a field, with more tailored use of seed, fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation water achieved by linking data to variable rate applicators. Precision agricultural technology can be used to reduce waste,

FEBRUARY 2015

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

improve the economic efficiency of farming operations and farmer’s margins; as well as reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, and the environmental impact of farming. To begin with, a farmer must have a means of collecting data. A farmer can assess crop conditions visually; however, remote sensors can pick up wavelengths of light not visible to the human eye, and this can provide additional information on the crop. Linking sensors to GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) systems can produce detailed and accurate maps of individual fields. When electromagnetic energy from the sun hits plants the energy can be reflected, absorbed or transmitted. How much light is reflected, absorbed or transmitted at a particular wavelength is determined by features of the plant, such as leaf colours, textures, shapes. The relationships between what is reflected, absorbed or transmitted can be used to determine the spectral signatures of specific species of plants, or whether a plant is healthy or unhealthy. For example, healthy sugar beets have a lower reflectance value in the visible wavelength range between 400 to 700 nm than stressed sugar beets, but this is reversed in the non-visible range between 750 nm and 1200 nm. Agricultural remote sensors are commonly passive systems which use the energy from the sun; however there are a number of things to consider when choosing a system. The first consideration is the spatial resolution or the pixel size. A spatial resolution of one metre means each pixel image represents one square metre of the

The AutocopterTM UAV Image source: http://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/ field. The spectral resolution refers to the number of bands—narrow portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The more bands the system has, the greater the sensitivity, and greater the potential for picking up variations in energy wavelengths and crop conditions. Radiometric resolution refers to the sensitivity of the sensor in picking up reflectance levels. A higher resolution will give a more precise value for the reflectance of a particular portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The temporal resolution is how often a remote sensor can cover an area. Geostationary satellites can provide continuous sensing, whilst orbiting satellites can only provide data for each time they pass over the field. Aircraft can be used for more frequent monitoring, and can often achieve a smaller spatial

resolution, allowing more detailed data to be gathered. Eyes in the sky Remote sensors can be used on different platforms, such as satellites, conventional aircraft or UAVs. UAVs or drones are a fast growing area for this work. To many people the term “drone” refers to a weapon system and many in the industry prefer to avoid it. However, the civilian use of UAVs is developing rapidly. There are a growing number of companies and farmers across the world using this technology in crop production for field mapping and monitoring soil conditions and crops due to the clear cost advantages

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 21

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION compared to using manned aircraft for such work. Commercial UAVs are often much smaller than their manned counterparts. Another application might be a farmer in New Zealand using UAVs to count and monitor sheep. UAVs collect data in high resolution; this, according to the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) in the UK, means that variations within crops can be compared to the centimetre rather than the metre as with satellite mapping. Depending on the type of sensors used, UAVs may have a range of uses including disease and weed detection, monitoring crop biomass and green leaf area, monitoring responses to fertilizer, detecting water stress, crop scouting, bare soil imagery, irrigation and drainage planning, yield estimation and monitoring, and aerial pathogen spore sampling. Aerial sampling may provide important warnings of disease outbreaks. UAVs can collect 3D data to establish crop height and cover, plant establishment rates and weed density. Farm ready UAV systems are commercially available; as well, some companies provide UAVs on a daily or hourly basis. For example, the AutocopterTM, which was launched in 2013,

22 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015 provides remote sensing using three fullsized cameras (multi-spectral, DSLR and HD Video). It can fly to a GPS plan for over two hours without the need to refuel. Recently, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) selected ING Robotic Aviation to demonstrate a new method for assessing crop vegetation using a Responder Robotic Rotary wing aircraft equipped with a Tetracam Mini MCA-6 sensor. The Responder can cover 1,000 ha within 25 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Precision crop farming is rapidly becoming the norm in many countries.â&#x20AC;? Data can be collected throughout the season, and at key decision points, to reveal changes, trends, patterns and anomalies within fields. Rules and regulations Legislation regarding the use of UAVs for commercial purposes is complex, and varies across the world. Transport Canada

has been responsible for regulating the use of UAVs for commercial purposes in Canada since 2008. The legislation means that an operator can apply for a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) to fly a vehicle within a specified area. In November 2014 Transport Canada announced amendments to the regulations which will mean that certain operations with UAVs under 25 kg will not require a SFOC, and that those under 2 kg will be exempt altogether. These changes are expected to provide a further boost to the industry within Canada, and there are already a number of UAV operators providing commercial services for farmers. In the United States, the use of UAVs for commercial purposes is currently banned, and this difference in the legal environment is currently putting Canada ahead in terms of the development of UAVs for agriculture. However, the US regulations are expected to be relaxed in 2015. Back on the ground, tractors using autosteer technology can already reduce spray and tillage overlap, saving inputs and reducing environmental impacts. Just as the concept of an unmanned aircraft

FEBRUARY 2015

is developed, driverless vehicles are emerging. The technology has existed for some time; however, legal safeguards will keep them off public roads for some time, as legislation catches up with technology. On privately owned farms and fields, there are few restrictions, and farming is an area where we will almost certainly see driverless or unmanned land vehicles emerging. Major agricultural engineers such as Agco, are now seriously looking at the potential for unmanned tractors for a range of basic operations. In time those operations requiring more skill could be performed by robots, and this is perhaps where the greatest benefits will be. Robots applying inputs such as fertilizer, herbicides etc. will be able to tailor precise applications to exactly where they are needed, eliminating human error. They may work with the aid of soil and crop maps prepared by UAVs, or they also may be able to gather data themselves. The Carnegie Mellons Robotics field centre based in Pittsburgh is currently testing an automated utility cart, equipped with laser range sensors, which will enable it to navigate through an orchard towing sensors which are able to track the progress of the crop. Robotics may allow machines to be downsized, thus reducing soil compaction with multiple machines running remotely from a computer within a farm office.

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Keeping tabs on livestock Precision crop farming is rapidly becoming the norm in many countries; but, the livestock sector is not to be left out. Forage and feed production can undoubtedly benefit from the same technology used for the production of other crops. Precision livestock farming also tailors feeding, healthcare and other management to the individual animal, through gathering electronic information. There are a number of technologies which may be used within precision livestock farming. Monitoring animal movements with pedometers can provide important information on health and management. On dairy farms, pedometers can identify lame cows, and periods of heat activity. The use of ear tags and microchips is commonplace, and for some species in some countries it is compulsory for traceability purposes. Eartags provide information on body temperature, whilst boluses can monitor body temperature, and provide measurements of rumen ph. using wireless technology. Collars are available which can indicate heat and rumination activity. Robotic milking machines have been commercially available, and used on dairy farms for some time, where individual milk yields can be recorded, and cows

individually rationed. Ranchers can use remote sensing to identify areas of over/ under grazing on pasture land, or areas of weed infestation. Readers collect the data with appropriate software for processing and recording, and the information can be used for a variety of management purposes such as rationing, breeding policies and health care decisions. New technology is often the product of research institutes and academia, and it can be a very slow and difficult process to get it commercialized. Farmers will still need to take care and carry out a proper appraisal of any investment in new technology. The cost of the technology will be critical in determining its adoption. As more precision technology is adopted the capital costs would be expected to come down. Growing agricultural trade and increased competition, rising labour costs, along with the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels will mean that precision agricultural technologies may become key to maintaining the competitiveness of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agricultural sector, and in meeting the many challenges of farming in the twenty-first century. â&#x2014;? MODERN AGRICULTURE | 23

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PEST PROFILE

FEBRUARY 2015

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUG exclusion, and failing that, early detection of its presence here. The BC Ministry of Agriculture has put together a brochure asking locals to be on the lookout for this pest, and if found to report it immediately to them (scan the QR code on your smart phone). The BMSB enters new areas mostly by hitchhiking on shipments (plants or otherwise) from infested areas. When buying nursery stock from affected areas, please be careful to buy only from nurseries that are free of this pest. â&#x2014;? Life stages of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (adult [1]; eggs [2]; nymphs [3-7]). Photo credit: Kent Loeffler, Photo Lab, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Cornell University By Greg Welfing Periodically, Modern Agriculture will pick an agricultural pest to feature so we can learn more about its biology and control methods.

ven though the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is not known to be currently present in BC, we chose it for this feature since the Fraser Valley is at a relatively high risk for introduction and we will likely be dealing with this pest here before long. BMSB is native to Asia and was first detected in North America in the mid to late 1990s in Pennsylvania. It has spread from there and is currently present throughout the USA (including Washington, Oregon and California) and Eastern Canada, with a high concentration in the eastern mid-Atlantic states. Biology and Impact BMSB is a significant agricultural pest because it has a very wide host range. It feeds on over 200 different plant species including vegetables, tree fruits, berries and ornamentals. It uses a long mouthpiece to pierce and feed on leaves and fruits causing distortions and necrotic (dead) spots on the plant and fruit. It is also a harvest contaminant in high value crops like wine grapes, where it will affect the final flavor. BMSB has one generation per year. Overwintering adults emerge in March and April

and lay eggs. Offspring emerge in June and nymphs are present throughout the summer. Nymphs go through multiple stages of development and become adults in early fall. Adults will continue to feed until mid-autumn when they will seek overwintering sites. This life cycle data is from the Eastern US, but should not change much in our area. BMSB is also a pest to homeowners, as adults will aggregate on the side of houses in the fall and early winter and can find their way into homes. Management There are four insecticides already registered in Canada for use in controlling and/ or suppressing BMSB. All of the registered products are broad spectrum, so application timings are going to be critical in order to prevent losses of beneficial insects. BMSB is also very mobile, so control with chemicals is going to be difficult, as the pest can repopulate a field from other areas after an insecticide application. Being an introduced pest, BMSB has very few natural predators in North America. BMSB has no local natural predators here. Recently, USDA researchers have been researching a parasitic wasp from Asia that has potential for a release program. Any such release is still years away, but does put hope on the horizon. USDA scientists are also developing a pheromone attractant used to detect and hopefully reduce population numbers. Our best weapon against this pest is

Sources: http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/crops/hort/bv2013/ bmsb-alberta.pdf http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/bmsb_alert.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_marmorated_stink_bug http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ health-science/scientists-wage-war-on-pervasive-stink-bugs/2013/05/26/1787ab50-c3db-11e2914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/plants/insects/ stinkbug.aspx MODERN AGRICULTURE | 25

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20 ACRES $2,400,000 29.813 ACRES $2,900,000 49.568 ACRES $3,000,000 29.14 ACRES $3,350,000 Prime location! Planted in all Duke Lots to offer! 3 bedroom 1,640 SQFT Leased for vegetables. Brand new Fully renovated 5 bedroom rancher and producing approx. 200,000 Lbs. Full house, 13,200 SQFT barn used as dairy 200FT drilled well with 8â&#x20AC;? diameter 1,500 SQFT building. Plus has been drip irrigation with city water. Build 2 loafing, 3,400 SQFT building used for producing 150 GPM. Located outside of preloaded for an additional 5,000 SQFT beautiful homes & approximately equipment, 3,500 SQFT barn, 900 SQFT the flood plain. Build two luxurious house. The field is planted in Duke, 16,000 Sq Ft of farm buildings. garage, 1,600 SQFT workshop & more... estate style homes with low taxes. Elliot and Bluecrop. Ideal location!

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14.83 ACRES PLEASE CALL Agri-Industrial land located outside of Well maintained 4,196 SQFT house, 80x100 barn, 1,100 SQFT retail shop & 1,000 SQFT winery. Close to 20 the ALR. Across from Sunshine Hill Golf acres planted in various crops such as Strawberries, Tayberries, Blueberries, Currants (Black, White & Red), Course & Driving Range & located alongside Hwy #91. Two titles 8.8 Rhubarb, Gooseberries, Mascaps, Raspberries, Marion, Blackberries and grapes. Award winning wines at the All Canadian Wine Championship and Northwest Wine Summit! 32.63 ACRES $3,800,000 acres & 6.039 acres.

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INDUSTRY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015

AGRIBURIA: Where Do We Grow From Here?

By Amir Maan griburbia is a developing urban movement that combines agrarianism, which values rural society as superior to urban society, with land development. It’s about making better use of the land upon which we’re sprawled and being aware of what is growing in our own backyard; a new way of viewing agriculture and infrastructure and how they can co-exist.

Agriculture has impacted my life from an early age. I have been in the field since I was a little boy, interacting with our customers at the retail front of Maan Farms. These interactions, which I once thought were meaningless, have now flourished into relationships with individuals, who view local agriculture with a different perspective than I do. These relationships have helped me understand what agriburbia means to someone from the city with an urban perspective. The relationships have given me tremendous insight into how urbanites understand where their food comes from, how it is pro28 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

duced, and their expectations with local product they purchase. My new perspective has filled me with some alarm. For example, for a few years now Maan Farms has been involved in agri-tourism and we provide a service for school children to come out to our facility to experience agriculture firsthand. A portion of their tour includes a trip out to the fields to see all the different crops and how they are grown. While out in the field, I stand in front of a specific crop and try to teach them a little bit about that crop’s specific growing needs and how it ends up on our dinner tables. A simple question I might ask is, “Does anyone know where potatoes are grown?” It doesn’t have to be potatoes, but this is a common food in every household. So the responses (and I kid you not) are something along the lines of, “In a tree!” or “On a branch!” And even though this specific topic may not have been a part of their learning curriculum at school, they have all eaten potato chips and French fries. Surely they should have a better idea of how potatoes are grown.

This begs the question: what else are these children unaware of when it comes to their food? And what will this mean when they are one day productive adults with their own families to feed? By then, they will most likely have figured out where potatoes come from, but will they know what field to fork really means? “Assumptions made by members of the community reduce their respect for surrounding farmers and local agriculture in general . . . we must work together as rural and city dwellers—agriculturalists and urbanites.” With an increasing urban population moving towards dense agriculturally prominent locations, individuals with false expectations of farming will have shocking realizations that local agriculture is not what TV or social media outlets have made it out to be. For instance, I practice IPM (Integrated Pest Management) on a daily basis. This

FEBRUARY 2015 is a process of controlling pests such as weeds, diseases and insects by first going through three organic control practices (cultural, physical and biological); then, lastly, if none of these effectively works I must apply some sort of pesticide in order to ensure crop survival and to control crop loss. This is a very sustainable form of farming as pesticides are used in the most minimal amounts and only as a last resort. This process allows farmers to still effectively control pests while producing high yields, which can then feed the surrounding community, making that piece of land within the Agricultural Land Reserve of high value.

INDUSTRY UPDATE with organic-only consumers. They believe that organic is safer, even though there are organic pesticides that can be just as toxic as synthetic pesticides when not applied correctly. Assumptions have been a problem for local farmers for years, and in my opinion will continue to be a very large problem as the two geographic regions collide. It results in less support for local farmers, and can lead to a reduction in agricultural product within our community. The children, who are going to be adults one day, have little understanding of what they are really eating and how it ended up

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DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT BIG IDEA IN AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY? IPM is a safe form of farming, of which most of the general public is not aware. They do not know about the intensive daily scouting, detailed time-consuming logs and the research the farmer must undertake in order to make the most economical and sustainable control choice. And as more of the general public moves closer to the rural regions of our valley—where farmers practice IPM—we will have a new challenge of educating and providing insight into these farming practices like never before. Because despite all of the steps I have implemented, and the large capital investment that I am making by spraying this chemical in order to ensure the survival of my crop, the only thing the next-door neighbour sees is a spray tank going over the field. Red flags go up when they witness a driver wearing a mask for protection from the spray substance. They conclude that this farmer must be a detriment to our community! Assumptions made by members of the community reduce their respect for surrounding farmers and local agriculture in general. I have witnessed it time after time

on their fork. We need to take on the role of educator and combat the stereotypes of farmers. We must work together as rural and city dwellers—agriculturalists and urbanites. As agriburbia further emerges, we can all do one thing to encourage cooperation— just get to know one another. It’s that simple. If the urban community and agricultural leaders within rural environments can develop relationships and interact with each other, we will develop a mutually beneficial symbiotic growing climate. This can also be achieved through farms encouraging families to visit or through organizations such as Ag in the Classroom. Farmers who provide a sustainable safe product will flourish and those who are not up to par will have no choice but to improve. As more people move into rural areas and learn about the concept of agriburbia, we can continue to build our relationships, earning trust and fostering a better understanding of farming. We can move forward into the future together. Farm to fork will become a way of life. ●

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BUILDING COMPANIES. CREATING JOBS. INVESTING IN FUTURES. MODERN AGRICULTURE | 29

FEBRUARY 2015

BW GLOBAL: Bringing Out the Best

f you were asked to define “repurposing,” you might describe how to turn an old tire into a swing; you might not immediately think of turning a pig barn into a fish pond, and probably would not go on to explain how the water from that fish operation can be used to fertigate a commercial greenhouse. But that is how Timothy Kendrick enthusiastically explains the repurposing the BW GLOBAL Structures team is working on for one of their clients in Alberta. Timothy Kendrick, President & Chief Designer for BW GLOBAL in Abbotsford, BC, will tell you that his company doesn’t just build greenhouses. “We innovate, and we strive to educate ourselves and our clients.” Kendrick acquired the company five years ago, and with its BW Greenhouse division, it’s been his mission to develop a team that understands and cares about efficient, sustainable growing systems. “We want to bring out the best in others, whether they are clients, students, academics, research partners or suppliers. To borrow from Apple, we challenge ourselves and others to ‘Think Different’.” One of BW GLOBAL’s latest ventures is combining controlled environment agriculture and aquaculture disciplines into commercially viable aquaponics systems. They are currently helping their pig—now tilapia—farmer client expand his operation into a yearround, multi-product, growing operation. For this project, the repurposed barn contains a fish habitat that measures only 100’x75’x7’ yet generates over 10,000 pounds of fish per week and has been since 2009.

BW GLOBAL’s KUKA Robotics 7-axis plasma cutting system. Photo provided 30 | of MODERN AGRICULTURE courtesy Abbotsford News.

“Currently, our client has a rock-solid, biologically stable environment,” says Kendrick. “He uses no antibiotics, and there is absolutely no need for remediation to stabilize pH levels. The biological activity within the system creates so much heat that there is no need for additional heat, even in the middle of winter. This is a great example of allowing Mother Nature to create stability and productivity.” The addition of a commercial greenhouse connected to the existing fish operation will allow for produce to be grown all year round. The greenhouse is be modelled after other similar greenhouses constructed by BW GLOBAL using state-of-the-art coverings and environment controls. With the help of BW GLOBAL’s other partners, such as Nick Savidov and Charlie Schultz from Lethbridge College, Kendrick is confident in this and other commercial aquaponics projects.

FEBRUARY 2015 BW GLOBAL Systems, which is still in its evolutionary stages as a new arm of BW GLOBAL, will continue to work with clients, scientists and academics to develop commercial greenhouse growing systems that utilize technologies from around the world to radically increase yield rates and drive product quality. “None of the systems we are talking about are incremental in their increases; we are looking to move the needle by orders of magnitude. Utilizing these kinds of systems requires a different way of thinking.” Kendrick explains that BW GLOBAL’s international partnerships further their efforts. “We have an Australian partner that helps design systems and transition commercial produce farmers into the aquaponics operations. We also have partners out of Israel that are years ahead of other suppliers in developing proven, wildly successful, greenhouse coverings that use ultra-high diffusion and spectrum control to produce ideal growing conditions.” Thomas Baumann, a UFV Agriculture Department Associate Professor and one of BW GLOBAL’s academic collaborators, has used one these high-tech polyethylene coverings from Poly-Ag on his own farm. He was impressed with the results. “Normally, at 26 degrees Celsius in the freestanding greenhouse, the cucumbers and tomatoes would start to drop flowers because of physiological changes that don’t allow for proper pollination, but with this polyethylene from BW GLOBAL, the plants did not drop a single flower even when temperatures reached 34 degrees.” Reducing stress and preventing blossom drop (which increases fruit yield) is just one of the many benefits of this polyethylene material. Another example of where a client followed guidance from BW GLOBAL was a third-generation flower grower in the Fraser Valley. “These guys are smart, experienced, sophisticated growers who have been practicing their trade for many years. We suggested they use a diffused, spectrum controlling polyethylene rather than just clear, sacrificing a bit of light transmission for light diffusion and conditioning. After only 45 days, they told us that there was a 25% increase in plant robustness. The proof is always in the pudding; plants never lie.” The same kinds of results were also seen at the greenhouse at the Agriculture Centre of Excellence at the University of the Fraser Valley, where they have trialed cucumber, tomato and pepper plants in the BW FREEFLOW Greenhouse. Kendrick notes,

FEATURE “Pepper plants, for example, abandon their lower leaves, because these bottom leaves usually don’t get enough light as the plants become taller, requiring constant leaf removal. Our Palram SolarSoft polycarbonate on this greenhouse diffuses more of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) light; as this radiation hits the large surface of the greenhouse, it is distributed everywhere. Now, the 95% light diffusion ‘sprays’ the plants with light from every angle and the pepper plants did not lose any of their lower leaves. Keeping more of this bio-capacity is key to more vigorous plant activity and greater yields.”

information, best practices and technology. “These relationships help focus the growth of our company and will help put Canada on the map internationally as a place to turn to for controlled environment agriculture expertise and innovative collaboration,” Kendrick remarks. BW GLOBAL has also recently signed a Global Memorandum of Understanding with a Washington State company, Ambient Water, to be their integrators for controlled environment systems. A stunning example of Ambient Water’s technical capabilities are the systems that are able to collect

Three and a half acres of the new 40’ wide BW FREESTANDING Greenhouses.

“Sunlight is free,” Kendrick adds, “and with the help of this polycarbonate covering, the plants put less effort into gaining height and more effort into fruit production. That is why the tomato plants had a larger girth and shorter internodal spacing.” “Whether growing food or plants, the principles are the same and the positive results are being seen in both worlds,” Kendrick explains. “In all corners of the world, greater yields are being observed with the better quality greenhouse coverings. The optimum diffusion and control of light prevents the leaves and fruit from getting stressed and scorched, and the best thing about it is the cost of shading systems, which are not needed, and the input costs of heating are lowered.” BW GLOBAL has partners all over the world, which allows for real-time sharing of

over 100,000 gallons of water from the air every day for fracking in Texas, where the water table is almost past repair. Rather than trucking in water, they can draw from the moisture nature provides naturally. BW GLOBAL saw this kind of technology as a quantum leap forward in environmental control for greenhouses. The system cannot only control humidity from 90% RH down to 40% RH but can produce either heat or cooling as a free byproduct of the process. This system will be integrated into BW GLOBAL’s greenhouses in order to achieve a 100% sealed greenhouse, long considered the Holy Grail in the greenhouse world. “The key to this technology is having a greenhouse envelope that is almost completely air tight, which traditional glass greenhouses are not,” Kendrick notes. “We are excited to implement this technology in two of our MODERN AGRICULTURE | 31

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 2015

upcoming projects, because we can increase efficiency and reduce costs for heating, better control pathogen pressures and run significantly higher, sustained CO2 levels which plants thrive on. We are also looking to incorporate this technology on two projects for Saudi Arabia, where water is more precious than gold and temperatures hit above 50 degrees Celsius.” BW GLOBAL is also working with PCL, a major construction company, to build a BW FREEFLOW Greenhouse at the new correctional institution in Oliver, BC. Inmates will have the opportunity to participate in innovative agriculture programs that contribute to their rehabilitation while growing food to feed the prison population. “These programs give the inmates practical skills for use upon their release,” explains Kendrick. “And alongside some of our other partners like L.I.N.C Society (lincsociety. bc.ca) and Sole Food Street Farms (solefoodfarms.com), which are both based in Greater Vancouver, we can continue to support programs which help rehabilitate, support and develop vulnerable members of our society.”

30’ wide BW FREESTANDING Greenhouse with roll-up side ventilation and steel baseboards Kendrick explains how his company is pushing the limits in other ways. “We are working on a hurricane-proof greenhouse design for tropic and subtropical regions. We also have a brand new, seven-layer poly-

carbonate technology designed specifically for the harshest cold weather climates on the planet. Finally, we have designed and are currently building one of the tallest commercial production greenhouses in the

We produce and supply all types of SAWDUST and SHAVINGS that help folks in the agricultural industry do what they do best. These applications include: Cattle, horses, greenhouses, blueberries and more. We have wood chips for landscaping and pathways. We also carry a wide range of fencing supplies, as well as poles and ties for blueberries.

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FEBRUARY 2015

FEATURE

world for a project in Quebec. It is four and a half stories to the peak to allow for its vertical growing systems. It’s a monster!”

36’ wide BW FREESTANDING Greenhouse, with innovative polyethylene covering.

And the innovation does not stop there. “We are waiting for spring to put a greenhouse on the top of an industrial laundry in Fort McMurray, Alberta. This project was driven by the desire of the owner to recover the waste heat and CO2 emitted from his operations. It is forward thinking like this that we love to work with. We are working with another progressively minded entrepreneur in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to design and install a greenhouse on the top of a new hockey arena complex to make productive use of the roof area while recovering the waste heat from its operations. This greenhouse not only capitalizes on energy that was being wasted, but it also expands this entrepreneur’s business model and allows him to diversify his revenue streams— something all business people want to do.” In the research realm, BW GLOBAL is collaborating closely with Dr. Andrew Riseman from the University of British Columbia on developing a self-contained aquaponics growing system that can be transported in two shipping containers anywhere in the world. This mini-ecosystem has been designed for intensive research into the interspecies relationships and dependencies in a multi-trophic system. “We are looking to explore more deeply the different variables in these systems. Multiples of this system can be run in parallel with variables such as different fish and plant species and densities, food input, and the like in order to remove any variances in climatic data. This provides better research data for the system running different scenarios,” Kendrick explains. “The circle of life is fully represented in this system; the liquid fish waste is used for the plants; the plant waste is composted and fed to black soldier fly larvae; the larvae are then in turn fed to the fish, and the cycle is repeated.” In addition to academic research, remote communities or mining sites can utilize this system to provide localized food production and a change from the day-to-day activities for their employees who are often working in isolated locations, far from fresh, varied food sources. “Retention of employees is a huge issue with these companies, so a system like this can improve their employees quality of life and work experience tremendously.” BW GLOBAL is also collaborating with another innovative, technology company, TIGI Solar. They have designed industrial-sized,

solar hot water heaters for energy intensive industries such as textile factories. The insulated panel on their solar collector is perfect in Canadian climes. Kendrick says, “We saw this technology and immediately recognized its value in controlled environment growing. Energy costs are a huge line item on any grower’s financial statements. With efficient, cost-effective solutions like TIGI’s solar collectors we are able to push farther north and into colder areas, where fuel sources are either limited or expensive.” The next extreme environment Kendrick hopes to expand into is out of this world— literally. “Space and interplanetary travel require unique food supply systems— these systems have very complex issues to deal with. When it comes time for Richard Branson of Virgin Galatic to build a hotel in space or Elon Musk of SpaceX to push us further into exploration, we believe we may have something of value to contribute to their efforts,” Kendrick says with a smile. Kendrick concludes, “Everyone, every-

where, needs food every day. This is why we see what we do as a mission: to help address the most basic, yet fundamental, human needs. The world must come to terms with how food and water are managed in a very big hurry, especially in rapidly changing and challenging physical and geo-political climates.” “We are using, to the best of our abilities, what Mother Nature gives to us for free, whether it is sunlight or the intricate, supportive relationships of different systems in nature. Our focus is always to develop practical, simple, robust systems that can sustain commercially viable operations. With the cooperation of committed partners, which for us includes clients and suppliers, as well as creative scientists, BW GLOBAL is able to leverage the sun, the water and the symbiotic relationships found in nature to coordinate a movement forward—a movement which will allow us to develop more sustainable food options and improve the way we live our lives.” ● MODERN AGRICULTURE | 33

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FEBRUARY 2015

ADVERTORIAL

VITALUS NUTRITION: New Product Commercialization

hree years and three projects after first connecting with the Investment Agriculture Foundation, Abbotsford-based Vitalus Nutrition has successfully developed and commercialized two new product lines under the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program! Vitalus makes specialty dairy proteins, primarily milk protein used as ingredients in a wide variety of food products, from cheese and yogurt to infant formulas, soups, sports drinks and protein bars.

In 2011, Vitalus received funding under the Growing Forward Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program to develop a lactose-free milk protein concentrate. Focusing on one product line—a concentrate with a protein level of 85 per cent (MPC 85)—they were able to identify the best technology for their operation that would allow them to commercialize production of the product. “With all the work done in developing the process to produce lactose-free MPC 85, we now offer this as part of our portfolio,” says Pamela Ambriz, the manager for new product development at Vitalus, noting that it is providing new market opportunities for the company. Building on this success, Vitalus began focusing on developing a prebiotic from milk permeate, a by-product of the ultrafiltration of skim milk production. Most milk permeate goes into animal feed, which doesn’t generate any revenue. But as a prebiotic that can enhance infant formulas, meal replacement drinks, energy drinks and desserts, the company could offer more value to consumers while creating a new profit stream. In 2013, through the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program under Growing Forward 2, Vitalus was able to access two additional grants. The first enabled them to conduct a pilot production trial of the prebiotic, giving them valuable information on process development to match the desired product specifications.

The second helped them tackle the next stage of development, including designing the process and layout for production of the prebiotic.

“Our next step is to develop a market opportunity,” adds Ambriz. “This is a new market for us, and it will require significant resources.” ●

For Ambriz, funding that supports the continuum of new product development—from research to piloting and then commercialization—will help Vitalus maintain a leading edge in the very competitive value-added dairy processing industry.

Project funding provided by the Canada-BC Agri-Innovation Program under Growing Forward and Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative; delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 35

HORTICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

OF MICE AND MELONS and quick to tangle, inside under lights, then outside in bright shade. Survivors went out into a garden patch in mid-May, planted as a small camp of well-rooted seedlings about 15 cm apart. They were camped under a teepee of three galvanized heavy wire poles, the poles tied together near the top. The seedlings were slow until the summer warmed up. Then they took off. Tiny yellow melon flowers preceded a surprising number of little mottled melons. They were startling to discover because they hide so well, mouse-like. Then they just suddenly appear. They were tasty, with durable skins. Not as tasty as M&Ms, but okay. A description could be: “Crunchy cucumbers made with a melon baller”, or maybe “Watermelon caviar” assuming watermelons were enormous, terrestrial puffer fish.

By Geoff Lewis

ome of us laughed at baby corn and cherry tomatoes when we were kids. But then there appeared baby-cut carrots, baby onions, baby beets, baby bok choy, baby cabbages and even baby zucchinis, their flowers still attached like they hadn’t finished being born. Maybe some of us felt pangs of guilt from time to time, eating all those babies, their lives just barely starting. Then again, maybe not. Mouse melons, “cucamelons” and Mexican sour gherkins are different common names for the same species of cucurbit: Melothria scabra. Mouse melons are an obvious addition to the baby vegetable team of tasty toddlers. Each melon is the size of a table grape, but with a watermelon’s distinctive camouflage, and each has the flavour and texture of a cucumber, if cucumbers were tiny and ovoid. Mouse melons are the cheery cherry tomatoes of the melon and gourd family. Cucumbers this size have more skin to flesh than we are used to, even more than pickling cucumbers, just by being so tiny. A mouse melon is a long-domesticated Mesoamerican scrambler. Thousands of years of cultivation have developed a care-free climber, more or less uniform from seed, but obscure to gardeners and 36 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

growers. The more famous scarlet runner bean has a similar history and set of habits, though it is adapted to mountains and, therefore, cooler growing conditions. It turns out that mouse melons are pretty easy to grow and harvest in the Lower Mainland and elsewhere, outside or in greenhouses, and from purchased or saved seed.

The seedlings begin scrambling over the soil and each other.

What I report here is not a science project, which is a shame because the results were so impressive, so unlike typical new seed try-outs. Here are some observations on mouse melons after growing and planting seedlings out over two summers. I watched them scramble around, climb some poles, mingle with and try to strangle others, then dangle and hide their teeny watermelons in a north Surrey garden. A packet of seeds was part of an order for curiosities, placed online in March. From seeds in the mail, failure is common, but there are always new plants to try. The invoice read “Cucalemon” seed, not “Cucamelon”. Marketing? Dyslexia? I dialed expectations down to low. Seeds and seedlings The seeds arrived in the mail and were sown, along with other species, into 128cell plugs, in April. When seedlings were big enough, they were transplanted to 72cell plugs. The seedlings were slow to start

Late summer, the vines have smothered their three-pole teepee. Where’s Waldo? There is a ripe mouse melon evident in each of the two photos above. More seeds and more seedlings I put some mouse melons in a blender with water, to try to separate some seeds the way prospectors pan for gold. After diluting and stirring the shreds and pulp, most of the seeds will sink faster than most of the skins and pulp, which can be poured out the top

FEBRUARY 2015

HORTICULTURE

of a container. Rinse, stir and repeat, and dry the seeds out on a plate. After extracting and drying the seeds, I sowed some, again into 128-cell plugs, as a germination test, testing seeds of melons picked in August and, separately, from melons picked in mid-October. The August seeds had low germination, the October seeds much better, near maybe 80 per cent. That the difference in germination was from the difference in time of harvest is only a suspicion.

Extracting melon seeds. Few, if any, seeds are damaged by the blender’s blades. underside onto a mat below. The fruits would not suffer at all from a short fall. They were very durable. That mouse melons roll like oval marbles means that they can be rolled out of any leaf litter which falls with them, after sweeping at the undersides of such a tilted trellis.

Floating off the pulp and skins takes lots of water and patience. Mottled green marbles Unlike squash and cucumbers, mouse melon plants did not suffer from mildew or any other plant disease or pest, and there were other melons and squash around which did. Mouse melons take patience to harvest, since they are both tiny and hide so very well. The skins are sturdy enough that melons in direct contact with the soil for weeks did not decay.

The teepee of mouse melons is above and behind the magenta four o’clock flowers, to the right of the blue garden phlox and in front of the sunflowers. Quite a crowd.

This summer or any summer, to those of you who attempt to produce playpens full of these bouncing baby cucumbers, a Bon Appétit! ● A closer picture of the teepee taken October 30 as the vines were declining, and the melons are revealed. There are nine mouse melons in the photo.

Mouse melons are a fun new vegetable for backyard gardeners and window box farmers. For commercial cultivation, there are some obvious issues to address. The plants need heat, it seems, before they will demonstrate the vigour they are capable of. The fruits were tedious to harvest. I may try growing them up a slanted or shift-trellis (the fruits should then dangle below) and try to sweep or comb the melons from the MODERN AGRICULTURE | 37

INDUSTRY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015

FARM FEST 2014

he BC Young Farmers Association (BCYF) held the annual Farm Fest on November 22nd, 2014 at the University of the Fraser Valley Chilliwack Campus. There was a great turnout from farmers across the Lower Mainland, with a few venturing out from the Interior and the Okanagan to take part in this event. It began with a tour of the new greenhouse and barn facility at UFV, led by Tom Baumann of UFV and Timothy Kendrick of BW GLOBAL. It was an amazing look into how and why it was built, and how it will be used.

The highlight of the night was keynote speaker, Peter Gredig, who spoke about maximizing mobile technology in the dayto-day life of a farmer. He offered great advice on useful apps, practical Smartphone functionalities, hardware options, innovations to look for in the future, and various tips and tricks to help farmers. 38 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

•

Graham Bolton of FCC discussed new trade deals (CETA and TPP) and farmland values and how they will impact agriculture in the future and young farmers in particular.

Other speakers included: •

Kathleen Fryer who shared her views on Youth Connecting with Agriculture and Food on a Global Scale, describing experiences from the G20 Youth Summit in Europe and the Global 4-H Youth Summit in South Korea;

•

Denise Parker from Meyers Norris Penny Limited spoke about income tax issues on inter-generational farm transfers and outlined the tax rules that are specific to farming;

•

Gurtaj Sandhu and Taj Sekhon from Modern Agriculture Magazine examined the start, the present, and the future from a young farmer’s perspective;

To end the night, there were door prizes given out, a delicious buffet dinner that featured local Fraser Valley products donated by BCYF directors, and some time for a social. We hope to see more people at next year’s Farm Fest and at other BCYF events throughout the upcoming year. You can view the upcoming events at www.bcyf.ca/ events. ●

FEBRUARY 2015

INDUSTRY UPDATE

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 39

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

CANADA-EU TALKS: The End of the Road?

By Jonathan Lloyd, Agricultural Consultant, Farmlytics

he trade talks between Canada and the European Union (EU), which began in 2009, finally ended on September 25, 2014 with an agreement in principle signed between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and José Manuel Barrosso, the EU Commission President. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) when implemented will remove 98% of trade tariffs between Canada and the EU, and is Canada’s biggest trade agreement since the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) of 1994. A joint Canada–EU study has concluded that CETA could boost Canada’s income by $12 billion annually. The agreement will allow increased market access to 500 million EU consumers; however, what does this mean for farmers in BC? And is this actually the final agreement? 40 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

For a start, tariffs on fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable exports into the EU will be eliminated—currently EU seasonal tariffs are as high as 12%, and are a real barrier for Canadian exporters. The Agri-food Trade Alliance predicts an increase of $300 million in exports of Canadian fruit and vegetables as a result of CETA. Tariffs on salmon and Pacific halibut will also be eliminated. BC’s agricultural exports to the EU were worth an average of $36.7 million between 2010 and 2012, and can be expected to grow significantly. “To fill the increased quotas, Canadian livestock farmers may have to significantly change their production methods, and more processors will have to gain approval to export meat to the EU.”

The tariff free quota for the export of beef into the EU will be raised by 50,000 metric tons (MT); bison meat by 3,000 MT; and pork producers will also gain an extra 80,000 MT of quota. There will also be greater access of Canadian cereals and animal feed into the EU. However, CETA also opens up Canadian markets to competition from subsidized EU producers; and there is significant opposition from some in the farming sector, such as the NFU. Higher imports of EU cheese into Canada could threaten local artisan producers. There are also concerns about restrictions on the use of common cheese names such as gorgonzola and fontina. The agreement allows existing Canadian producers to continue to use such names; however new producers must use terms such as “gorgonzola-like”, or “fontina style”. This issue is also likely to be a feature of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment

FEBRUARY 2015

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

Partnership (TTIP) negotiations between the EU and the US. Where the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) is likely to oppose any restrictions on what it sees as commonly accepted food product names.

larger Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations with the United States, and are therefore keen to ensure that their interests are protected within CETA.

It is also unclear as to the extent to which beef and pork producers will benefit from increased quotas. Canada currently does not fill its existing quota for EU beef imports, and exports very little pig meat there also. Exports into the EU must meet strict EU regulations; which, for example, ban meat from cattle treated with growth hormones, and the use of Ractopamine (Paylean) in pork production. To fill the increased quotas, Canadian livestock farmers may have to significantly change their production methods, and more processors will have to gain approval to export meat to the EU. However, this may also spur increased availability of “natural” beef products on the domestic market.

The final outcome could see greater trade between the US, Canada and the EU—a holy grail for many of those who advocate trade liberalization—or EU-Canada trade talks could again end in failure. The continuing TTIP negotiations are also likely to be long and complicated, with many dis-

agreements over issues such as beef from hormone treated cattle, GM crops and agricultural support. With Canada as a significant trade partner for the US and EU, the current CETA agreement is possibly not the final word, but a template for something much bigger. ●

Despite faltering economies in Western Europe, there is still fast growth in some of the former Eastern Bloc countries. According to the latest IMF World Outlook report, economic growth in developing and emerging Europe in 2014 will be 2.7%, compared to 0.8% within the Eurozone, and the East is where the greatest opportunities are likely to be for Canadian exporters. The market remains underdeveloped in the new member countries compared to Western Europe. Based on FAO figures, fruit consumption per capita among the former Eastern Bloc members is only 60% of that in the EU15—there is also growing demand for more processed and value added products. CETA has been a long time in coming, and much work remains. This includes the ratification of the final text by 28 national parliaments, along with the European parliament. Likewise in Canada, full ratification will also require some legislation being passed in provincial parliaments, as well as the Federal Parliament. This will be no mean feat, as Germany in particular has expressed reservations about clauses relating to investment protection, and opposition remains from trade unions and agricultural groups on both sides. Opposition is focussed on provisions to open up procurement contracts by local governments to competition, and fears that this may undermine “buy local” policies across the EU and Canada. It is likely to take at least until 2016 before the agreement is finally implemented, and modifications to the agreement signed in September are possible. Many Europeans see the deal as a template for the much MODERN AGRICULTURE | 41

INDUSTRY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015

MEDICINAL MARIJUANA: Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential mankind11. Despite the fact that its possession and use is illegal in most countries, cannabis is used regularly by as many as 25 million people in North America and Europe and by millions more in other parts of the world1. There has been renewed interest in the potential medical uses of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) in recent years; cannabis was similarly bound to faith and mysticism in India in the past, in the Hindu and Islamic traditions, as well as in numerous other minority religions2. Originating from Central Asia, cannabis is one of the oldest psychotropic drugs known to humanity. The beginnings of its use are difficult to trace, because it was cultivated and consumed long before the appearance of writing. According to archeological discoveries, it has been known in China at least since the Neolithic period, around 4000 BC. There are several species of cannabis. The most relevant are Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis. Among these three; Cannabis sativa, the largest variety, grows in both tropical and temperate climates. The two main preparations derived from cannabis are “cannabis” and “hashish”.

By: Dr. Hyder A. Khoja, Ph.D., M.Sc., A.Ag.

ndia is a land steeped in faith and mysticism. Ayurveda, combining the Sanskrit words for life and knowledge9, is a system of medicine intertwined inextricably with these traits. That a core of belief combined with empirical experimentation could produce a viable medical regimen still widely practiced after well over 5000 years is astounding to Western physicians.

“Perhaps 90% of the world’s population still relies completely on raw herbs and unrefined extracts as medicines.” Since prehistoric times, shamans or medicine men and women of Eurasia and the 42 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Americas acquired a tremendous knowledge of medicinal plants. The fact that hundreds of additional species were also used by First Nations Canadians1 suggests that many of these also have important pharmacological constituents that could be valuable in modern medicine. The use of medicinal plants is not just a custom of the distant past. Perhaps 90% of the world’s population still relies completely on raw herbs and unrefined extracts as medicines3. A 1997 survey showed that 23% of Canadians have used herbal medicines. In addition, as much as 25% of modern pharmaceutical drugs contain plant ingredients4. Among those medicines, one of the most widely used of all psychoactive and medically potent drugs comes from cannabis, one of the first crops to be cultivated by

Marijuana is a Mexican term initially attributed to cheap tobacco but referring today to the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Hashish, the Arabic name for Indian hemp, is the viscous resin of the plant. The Emperor of China, Shen Nung, also the discoverer of tea and ephedrine, is considered to be the first to have described the properties and therapeutic uses of cannabis in his compendium of Chinese medicinal herbs written in 2737 BC. Soon afterwards, the plant was cultivated for its fibre, seeds, recreational consumption and use in medicine. It then spread to India from China. In 1839, William O’Shaughnessy, a British physician and surgeon working in India, discovered the analgesic, appetite stimulant, antiemetic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant properties of cannabis. The publication of his observations quickly led to the expansion of the medical use of cannabis. It was even prescribed to Queen Victoria for relief of dysmenorrhea. In 1854, cannabis is also listed in the United States Dispensaries. It was even available in the British Pharmacopoeia in an extract and

FEBRUARY 2015 tincture form for over 100 years. However, after prohibition of alcohol was lifted, the American authorities condemned the use of cannabis, making it responsible for insanity, moral and intellectual deterioration, violence and various crimes. Thus, in 1937, under pressure from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and against the advice of the American Medical Association, the U.S. Government introduced the Marihuana Tax Act: a tax of $1 per ounce was collected when cannabis was used for medical purposes and $100 per ounce when it was used for unapproved purposes. In 1942, cannabis was removed from the United States Pharmacopoeia, thus losing its therapeutic legitimacy. Great Britain and most European countries banned cannabis by adopting the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances instituted by the United Nations. In the 1990s, officials in the British government noticed something interesting in the nation’s courts: multiple sclerosis (MS) patients charged with marijuana possession were claiming that the plant offered relief from muscle spasms and pain. In 1998, after investigating the issue, the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee issued a report acknowledging the plant’s potential as a source of new drugs and calling for rigorous research “as a matter of urgency2.”

INDUSTRY UPDATE Every plant species contains chemicals that can negatively affect some animals and microorganisms that consume them, strongly supporting the interpretation that secondary metabolites play a vital role in combating diseases and herbivores. “Plants have been a rich source of medicines because they produce a host of bioactive molecules, most of which probably evolved as chemical defenses against predation or infection.”5

“Marijuana is not a completely benign substance. It has proven medicinal potency with a variety of effects.” Plants also synthesize a dazzling array of additional components, called secondary metabolites, whose function has been debated. Many secondary metabolites are antibiotic in a broad sense, protecting the plants against fungi, bacteria, animals, and even other plants.

The term “medical marijuana” is generally used to refer to the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or its crude extracts, which are not recognized or approved as medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But scientific study of the active chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to the development of two FDA-approved medications already, and is leading to the development of new pharmaceuticals that harness the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids while minimizing or eliminating the harmful side effects. How might cannabinoids be medically useful? Besides THC, the marijuana plant contains over 200 other cannabinoids. Scientists and manufacturers of designer drugs have also synthesized numerous cannabinoids in the laboratory, some of which are extremely potent.

Un-veiling the therapeutic potential The therapeutic qualities of medicinal crops are due to the chemical properties they contain. Plants synthesize many compounds called primary metabolites that are critical to their existence8. These include proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that serve a variety of purposes indispensable for sustenance and reproduction, not only for the plants themselves, but also for animals that feed on them.

cannabinoid receptor system in the human body, or endocannabinoid system. A growing number of states (20 as of March 2014) have legalized marijuana’s use for certain medical conditions in the U.S.

Hence, scientific research and development on cannabis crop and advancement in understanding the cannabinoids over the past 16 years have given rise to a wealth of new opportunities for the development of medically useful cannabinoid-based drugs. Marijuana is not a completely benign substance. It has proven medicinal potency with a variety of effects. However, the harmful effects to individuals from the perspective of possible medical use of marijuana are not necessarily the same as the harmful physical effects of drug abuse. Cannabis is a unique source of more than 70 structurally related, plant derived cannabinoids. Although one cannabinoid, THC, is known to cause psychoactive effects associated with the use of illicit herbal cannabis, none of the other cannabinoids is known to cause intoxication. In recent decades, there have been major scientific advances that have led to the discovery of new plant-derived cannabinoids and a

Currently the two main cannabinoids of interest therapeutically are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinoid) and CBD (cannabidiol), found in varying ratios in the marijuana plant. THC stimulates appetite and reduces nausea (and there are already approved THC-based medications for these purposes), but it may also decrease pain, inflammation, and spasticity. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that may also be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating psychosis and addictions. Research funded by the NIH (National Institute of Health-USA) is actively investigating the possible therapeutic uses of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids to treat autoimmune diseases, cancer, inflammation, pain, seizures, substance use disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. What current medications contain cannabinoids? An FDA-approved drug called Dronabinol (Marinol®) contains THC and is used to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy and wasting disease (extreme weight loss) caused by AIDS. Another FDA-approved MODERN AGRICULTURE | 43

INDUSTRY UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2015

drug called Nabilone (Cesamet®) contains a synthetic cannabinoid similar to THC and is used for the same purposes. A drug called Sativex®, which contains approximately equal parts THC and CBD, is currently approved in the UK and several European countries to treat spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis (MS). It is established as an effective and safe cancer pain treatment. And a CBD-based drug called Epidiolex™ has recently been created to treat certain forms of childhood epilepsy. Some parents of children with a severe form of epilepsy called “Dravet Syndrome” have reported success in using a high-CBD strain of marijuana to control seizures in their children. There are major questions regarding just how beneficial medicinal herbs can be, and just how harmful they can be. As pointed out

above, plants contain a very wide variety of secondary compounds. It is clear that some of these compounds, at least in a pure state and at some dosage, are medicinal or toxic. However, it does not necessarily follow that the same compounds present in the herb are as toxic or medicinal as when extracted from the herb, since synergistic (interactive) effects of the chemical components of the herb are possible. ● References: 1. Arnason, T., R. J. Hebda, and T. Johns. 1981. Use of plants for food and medicine by native peoples of eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Botany 59 (11): 2189-2325. 2. Daniel Cossins. 2014. Cannabis Biotech, The Scientist Magazine. 3. Duke, J.A. 1985. CRC handbook of medicinal herbs. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 677 pp. 4. Duke, J.A. 1993. Medicinal plants and the pharmaceutical industry. In New Crops. Ed-

ited by J. Janick and J.E. Simon. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, NY. pp. 664-669. 5. Cox, P.A., and Balick, M.J. 1994. The ethnobotanical approach to drug discovery. Sci. Am. 270 (6): 82-87. 6. Hyder A. Khoja, 2014. Eat Your Medicine: Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Rose Bud Magazine. 7. Hyder A. Khoja, 2014. Nature’s Course: Nutraceuticals let food be the medicine. 8. Introduction to Medicinal Plants. Agriculture and Agri Food Canada. 9. Mechoulam, R. and E.A. Carlini, E.A. 1978. Toward Drugs derived from Cannabis. Naturwissenschaften 65, 174-179. 10. NIH-National Institute on Drug Abuse. DrugFacts: Is Marijuana Medicine? Revised December 2014. 11. Phillipe Ryan, 2004. Half-Baked Science: A Primer on Medicinal Cannabis Biotech Journal, Vol 2, Fall 2004.

IVCA

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FEBRUARY 2015

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

FARMER IN THE SKY By Cate Pedersen

magine climbing into your spacesuit, strapping on your magnetic boots and securing your helmet before launching your vehicle from the hold of the orbiting station into the inky blackness to mine for minerals. Dead ahead is the belt of asteroids designated C-type, filled with precious organic-based material. Phosphorous and carbon, crucial to making fertilizer to feed the crops back home. Back home might be the planet Earth, or it might be a settlement on Mars or the Jovian moon, Europa. Your mission is to mine the metals and minerals now so scarce on your planet of origin. Only technological advancements have allowed the ancient farming practices to continue... and hold back the human race from the edge of extinction. This scenario may seem to be scooped from the pages of a science fiction novel; but the fact is, asteroid mining might not be too far-fetched. Perhaps it will be a reality in our lifetime. We may be closer to using “space fertilizer” after NASA completes its 2016 asteroid mission to hunt for usable materials.

The mission will send OSIRIS-Rex (Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer) to Bennu, an asteroid discovered in 1999, which is supposed to contain organic material. The craft will arrive at Bennu in 2018 and spend a year collecting samples, measuring temperature and mapping the surface of the rock. It is hoped we can learn more about the resources available in the reaches of space and discover how they can benefit our on- and off-planet endeavours. Asteroids are the leftovers from the creation of our solar system—with potential value in the metal, rock, dust and ice. They contain all the ingredients to make life possible off terra firma, just in different concentrations. Thousands of asteroids are discovered passing close by Earth each year and millions more are captured by the gravitational pull of the planets in our system. Like mobile grocery stores, whizzing through the cosmos, asteroids can possibly sustain mankind by providing the essentials of life. Of course, it won’t be easy to shop for what you need out in the icy nether regions, but asteroids might become a vital supply resource for the spacecraft and settlements which will eventually populate the planets

and moons in our neighbourhood of space. Water, required for human consumption and the hydroponic production of food stuffs, would be uneconomical to transport on long space voyages. But the ice found on many asteroids could meet the demands of humans and plants. It is just a matter of finding the most economically-feasible way to extract the frozen liquid. Scientists believe the water here on Earth originated from the very asteroids and comets we dream of mining one day. The elements required to spark life and create water molecules may have crash landed here on Earth when it was still in its early days. It is amazing to think of tapping into a water source and mining elements that have been travelling through space long before the creatures on our own planet even mulled over the idea of sprouting legs and emerging from the ocean’s depths. So, next time you gaze into the sky while your feet are firmly planted on our home planet, think of the potential farming opportunities that are out there, just past the moon and cruising in an irregular orbit around a distant star. ●

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HORTICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

VINELAND RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE: East Offers West Results

Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre By Ronda Payne

rowers and producers in the west know the unique climate this side of the Rockies poses its own challenges. So how is it that an Ontario-based organization is making strides to benefit western growers? It’s because of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s focus on what they call “real results”. Modern Agriculture spoke with Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO of the centre, to learn more about three projects that could easily make their way into BC in the future: ethnic vegetable production, a portable chamber for wine-making and exploration of disease resistant varieties of greenhouse tomatoes. 46 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Started by the province of Ontario in 1906, the centre has undergone challenging times like many agricultural organizations. A study in 2007 saw that innovation is important, but that the model of the centre needed to change if it was to continue. “We’re about what we call real results,” Brandle said. Real results to Brandle are the same as to the farming community: acres in the field, shelves in the grocery store. “And let’s not forget shelves in liquor stores,” he added. Those results come from a wide range of programs from consumer insights to genomic breeding. Each project undertaken by the centre has three specific compo-

nents as outlined by Brandle: a valid consumer concept, good science and science partners and business partners. “We need business partners to deliver those innovations to the market,” he explained. With about 245,000 new immigrants coming to Canada yearly, feeding ethnically diverse taste buds is big business. One Brandle thinks can be capitalized on by providing fruits and vegetables ethnic audiences are looking for. “What are we doing in agriculture to serve those new immigrants?” he asked. “The answer is, not a whole lot.”

FEBRUARY 2015 In one project, okra and Indian eggplant are explored. “Those are two vegetables that we are introducing,” he said. “We are trying to build acreage and the supply chain [for them].” It’s no small challenge. Not only do the teams at the centre work to provide information to potential growers, they also work to create contacts and connections in the supply chain. “We haven’t succeeded until we have those acres in the field and shelves in the store,” Brandle noted. The okra project has been underway for about three years and still has a few years to go. This would sound lengthy to consumers, but those in agriculture know it can take decades to get new products to market. A quicker project of benefit to vineyards is a small, controlled grape drying chamber. Currently in beta-use is the appassimento style system designed by the Vineland

HORTICULTURE Research and Innovation Centre and MTX Postharvest. Appassimento is a century-old Italian grape drying technique for more flavour and complexity.

ly have disease resistance. It’s a blend of age-old trial and error with advanced innovation.

The process however has its setbacks in that many growers drying in one site lead to an increased risk of disease and contamination. A smaller, portable unit would eliminate those concerns. “We built a machine to do the drying,” Brandle said. “There is complete control and it’s a patented process. It allows for top quality and a minimum of disease.”

“Part of it is very conventional—the plant breeding part,” Brandle said. “Then there is the high tech part of DNA sequencing. We are trying to create disease resistant tomato varieties and to create tomato varieties faster. We introduce variability into a tomato plant and select the particular plants with the DNA makeup with the resistance we are looking for. Producers don’t have to spray so productions costs go down and consumers are happier.”

This project came with fast results: just four years from project initiation to use of the beta unit. “There’s real results here,” noted Brandle. “It’s actually solving the problem.”

It’s about finding the right tomato for a specific need or disease pressure.

More information about the drying device can be found on the centre’s website at http://www.vinelandresearch.com/news.

Ultimately, partnership is the key to every program the centre embarks upon and with the advancements achieved it’s simply a matter of time before the benefits make their way west of the Rockies. ●

Another positive program with definite application in the west is the exploration of greenhouse tomato varieties that natural-

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 47

LIVESTOCK

FEBRUARY 2015

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN CANADIAN LIVESTOCK

Jonathan Lloyd, Agricultural Consultant, Farmlytics

here is increasing awareness amongst public health officials in Canada about the emerging threat of antibiotic resistance, a threat which if left unchecked could see the end of many of the effective treatments for common bacterial infections which we have become used to in the modern world. Reports of resistance to common antibiotic drugs in humans and animals are growing across the world. Antibiotic use in livestock agriculture is controversial, and many activist groups have accused the industry of creating unnecessary risks to human health, particularly through the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. Antibiotic resistant salmonellae, campylobacter, E. coli, and enterococci strains found in humans have been shown to have originated from livestock. However, groups such as the Beef Cattle Research Council claim that the link between antimicrobial use in cattle and 48 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

resistance in human medicine is difficult to prove or disprove.

quarters of the total consumption of antibiotics within the country.

Strictly speaking, the term “antibiotic” should only refer to those drugs intended to destroy bacteria, however it is often used interchangeably with “antimicrobial”, a term which can include anti-protozoals such as ionophores which are used to control coccidiosis. Alcohol and soap can also be called antimicrobial or indeed anything which can destroy micro-organisms. Antimicrobial and antibiotic substances exist in nature, where they are often produced by microbes in order to gain a competitive advantage over other competing species. Antimicrobials work by blocking or disrupting specific structures or metabolic processes.

The most recent data for Canada indicates that, per head, the dairy sector is the heaviest user of antibiotics, followed by beef, then poultry. However, per metric ton of meat produced, poultry is by far the heaviest user.

The risks of over use It is estimated that 80% of all antibiotic use globally is for animals. The Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) estimates that Canadian animals receive 1,600 metric tons of antibiotics annually, representing three

“Resistant bacteria may be passed to humans through direct contact, through food or through other means.”

Some intensive beef operations rely on antibiotics to maintain growth and feed efficiency. Within the dairy sector they are vital for mastitis control during a cow’s dry period; however, lactating dairy cows are unlikely to receive heavy doses of antibiotics in order to avoid residues in milk.

FEBRUARY 2015

LIVESTOCK phenicol is thought to be due to the target organisms acquiring genes to produce bacterial enzymes that react with the antibiotic molecule, which prevents it from binding to the target organism. Some antibiotics such as trimethoprin work on susceptible enzymes within the target organism. Resistance can be caused by mutations which lead to the bacteria producing less susceptible enzymes. There may be reduced affinity of the antibiotic for the target organism, due to mutations in the bacterial ribosomes, onto which antibiotics bind. Target organisms can also become impermeable due to mutations causing the loss of proteins which carry the antibiotic across the bacterial cell wall.

Calf rearing is a sector for which there appears to be a significant risk of antibiotic resistance developing; this is due to a number of factors, and there also appears to be evidence from a number of countries that antibiotic resistance has a greater propensity to develop in younger animals compared with adults. The milk from cows treated for mastitis with antibiotics cannot be sold for human consumption for a specified withdrawal period; often this milk is fed to calves or pigs, exacerbating the problem of resistance in calves. In the intensive poultry sector, where thousands of birds are kept in the same building, the treatment of an individual sick bird is impractical or uneconomical, thus preventative treatments may involve mass medication with antibiotics. Resistant bacteria may be passed to humans through direct contact, through food or through other means. Fluoroquinolone resistant campylobacter and salmonellae have been associated with treatment failure in human patients, and these strains have been shown to originate from poultry. Bacteria found in the digestive tract of animals can contaminate carcasses, and lead to illness in humans, which may not respond to antibiotic treatments.

Antibiotic resistant organisms are able to survive treatment, and these reproduce leading to the development of resistant populations. Resistance to a particular antimicrobial may also develop in non-target microbes, and form a reservoir of resistance within nature. Low doses of antibiotics often leads to a situation where more of the resistant organisms survive, and resistance often develops faster than when higher doses are used. Resistance to antibiotics may develop in normally susceptible organisms by two methods, mutation or by the transfer of resistance coding genes. There are four specific mechanisms leading to the development of resistance. Firstly, some microbes produce drug inactivating enzymes. Resistance to choloram-

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lower stocking densities, and better nutrition and management, can also contribute to improved animal health and a reduced need for antibiotics.â&#x20AC;? It has been known since the 1950s that feeding low doses of antibiotics to animals leads to increased weight gain, and the practice has become widespread in some countries. In 1974 it was found that drug resistant bacteria came to dominate the intestines of chickens with oxytetracycline added to their feed, and that within six months of the introduction of this feed, people living and working on the farm also carried oxytetracycline resistant bacteria. It was also found however, that six months after the feed was discontinued, workers on the farm no longer carried the resistant bacteria. This research led to a ban on the use of oxtetracyclines as growth promoters within Europe.

Raising resistant bacteria Antibiotic resistance exists within nature, with resistant bacteria found within soil; however, the human use of antibiotics leads to selection of bacteria with resistant DNA (see Figure 1).

Figure 1. The Development of Antimicrobial Resistance.

MODERN AGRICULTURE | 49

LIVESTOCK

FEBRUARY 2015

Contaminated water and soil also play a role in preserving and spreading antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antibiotics have been detected in waste water from livestock farms, and this can lead to increased antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems and the natural environment. Another mechanism for spreading resistance may be that of antibiotic residues in meat and milk which could lead to the development of resistant bacteria within human population, and the breakdown of efficacy of antibiotics in human medicine. The problem of antibiotic resistance has been described as a classic example of the “tragedy of the commons”—with the private benefits of antibiotic use for growth promotion contributing to a very public cost in terms of resistance. There is considerable political pressure to legislate to restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock farming. In the EU the routine use of antibiotics for pigs and poultry was banned in 2006, with growing pressure for stronger legislation in many countries including Canada and the US. In 2011 the CAHI—a body that represents the manufacturers of veterinary drugs— called for the phasing out of the use of medically important antimicrobials for

growth promotion, and that these products should only be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. In October 2014, Health Canada published a Federal Framework for tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance, which is likely to lead to significant implications for the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials within the Canadian livestock sector. Key action points in-

clude strengthening regulations governing the use of veterinary medicines within the livestock sector, and encouraging practices which lead to a reduction in the use of antibiotics. In 2013, the US department of Health and Human Services identified four key actions to reduce the threat from antibiotic resistance. The actions are preventing infections, tracking the spread of resistant bacteria, improving the use of current antibiotics, and measures to develop new antibiotics. Prevention and practices

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Some simple measures may prevent infections which will help to slow the development of antimicrobial resistance. Professor John Prescott of the University of Guelph has suggested that increased hand washing on farms, and improved infection control practices including the quarantining of sick animals will help. These should be coupled with increased use of vaccinations, improved animal husbandry practices and hygienic conditions. The increased availability of effective and affordable animal vaccines against major infections could help. In Norway the introduction of salmon vaccines led to a 99% reduction in the use of antibiotics in salmon farming between 1987 and 2007, whilst at the same time salmon production grew by 142%. Lower stocking densities, and better nutrition and management, can also contribute to improved animal health and a reduced

FEBRUARY 2015

LIVESTOCK

need for antibiotics. A study of Swiss veal calf production found that large groups, the external purchase of calves, the feeding of milk bi-products, and the administration of antimicrobials through feed on arrival on the farm all contributed to increased risk of resistance at the farm level. Tracking resistant bacteria and understanding the extent of resistance in bacterial populations and where it has derived from is vital; thus surveillance is seen as being the key to understanding and tack-

ling this problem. Many countries carry out research on the epidemiology of resistant bacteria, and the Canadian Bacterial Surveillance Network is a network of clinical laboratories, which provide data and bacterial isolates for further study and analysis. The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) is an initiative of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and provincial partners. Monitoring resistance within the food chain is a key component of the pro-

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Executive Financial Consultant, BA, CFPÂŽ Investors Group Financial Services Inc. 5811 Cooney Rd., Ste.100, Richmond Office: (604) 270-7700 Steve.Nowak@investorsgroup.com www.SteveNowak.ca Steve grew up in the farming community of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Saskatchewan. He enjoyed a successful 20 year career in the public sector as a consultant and manager. In 1997, Steve made an easy transition into financial services industry and is now working with over 350 families. Steve has been providing sound financial planning, including investments, risk management and taxes, for more than 15 years. Trademarks, including Investors Group, are owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations. Insurance products and services distributed through I.G. Insurance Services Inc. Insurance license sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company.

gram. CIPARS is modelled on similar surveillance programs in the US and Denmark. The more prudent use of antibiotics in livestock will slow down the development of resistance. Long term low doses of antibiotics are more likely to lead to the development of resistance than higher short term doses. A low dose means that bacterial growth continues, but puts selective pressure in favour of resistant strains. The efficacy of an antibiotic depends on the target organism which it is being used against. Inappropriate use, particularly against viral infections will only develop resistance within non target organisms. Not following the instructions on the label, or ending a course of treatment early leads to resistant bacteria surviving. If a prescription designed to kill 99.9% of the population of bacteria is ended early, then only half may be killed. Those bacteria that do survive are likely to be the antibiotic resistant ones. Promoting the development of new antibiotics, and developing new diagnostic tests for resistant bacteria is another important part of the strategy. Rotating different products and classes of antimicrobial will reduce the selection pressure for resistant strains. There are a number of different classes of antibiotics with varying uses across human and veterinary medicine; these include the sulphonamides, pennicillins and cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and macrolides. Few new antibiotics are being developed as the costs of developing, testing and licensing a new antibiotic run into the billions. Measures to encourage research and commercialization of new antimicrobial products should be part of the solution. Diagnostic tests for resistant organisms will aid surveillance, and encourage the more targeted use of existing antimicrobials. Proper treatment of waste water from livestock units can lead to a reduction of up to 90% of the antibiotics present, and reduce the development of resistant bacteria in the natural environment. There is no magic solution to this problem, and simply banning the use of antimicrobials in animals is not a workable solution. It is better to take a more integrated approach, leading to more prudent and judicious use of these important medicines. As professor Prescott has pointed out: this involves everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;farmers, veterinarians, doctors, patients, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. â&#x2014;?

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GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

TROPICAL AGRICULTURE: A Lesson in Self-Sufficiency

By Tom Baumann, Expert Agriculture Team Ltd.

eadlines from every corner these days scream “local food”. In theory, this is just excellent and is a fantastic way to promote local farming, family farms, the Canadian brand and so much more. In reality, consumers say this is one of the most important issues to them when it comes to sourcing food, yet they want to consume good quality pineapples, strawberries, taro, oranges, bananas and tomatoes all year round, at a reasonable price. “I was impressed with the tenacity of the people, despite their lack of resources.”

Also, international trade makes it so easy to get anything at any time of the year. Does anyone still remember when strawberry season is? Do you really know when aspar52 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

agus is in season? No? I am not surprised, and I don’t blame you. When I am in our local supermarkets or even farm outlets in January, I see the bounty of Chile, China, Spain, Israel, Morocco, Mexico and many other countries with warmer climates or with opposite seasons to our hemisphere.

drought conditions in several agriculturally important regions. It is not likely that the water will be turned off in the cities, but water restrictions are already being imposed on agriculture, which will lead to land being abandoned due to lack of sufficient water for crops.

International collaboration

What about Hawaii? I frequently visit there and, at times, am a guest of the University of Hawaii’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource. They have programming that is designed to encourage local food production and usage of native food. I was privy to their research trials in both livestock and horticulture production as well as their demonstration trials for public education. This included land based aquaculture. I was impressed with the setup and the service to the community. In addition, I do field calls with the extension service, and was invited to tag along on visits to coffee, coconut palm, and macadamia nut plantations as well as coconut production areas on the coast. There’s actually a BC connec-

So, when I go travelling, I make it my business to learn about other cultures, about other ways to farm, different species of plants and how they are grown. For example, I’ve toured central California where garlic products are in abundance and the coastal areas where they grow globe artichokes. In the Fraser Valley, we can grow both garlic and artichokes; however, our climate is not ideal for them, or at least not yet. And the best guesses as to how our climate will change include wetter and hotter weather, and a more extreme climate, so there may not be an expansion in that market. To date, California is under severe

FEBRUARY 2015 tion in that coffee from Hawaii used to be decaffeinated in Richmond after customers bought the coffee in Hawaii and transported it back to BC. I helped solve problems on nematodes and a distinct nursery problem in coffee that I knew from my own nursery operation. Being an island state, Hawaii can control the inflow of foreign pest and diseases much better than we can. For example, a banana quarantine for the “bunch top” disease is one such effort. Hungry for information What about the Caribbean? None of these small, self-contained island nations have much of a government apparatus to support them; money is scarce and food is hard to come by. Food gets expensive and knowledge of modern growing techniques is not all readily available. I gave several workshops on fertility and pest management on several islands and I was part of a panel in Jamaica, discussing local food production and island agriculture. In particular, we discussed the issue of actually exporting food products into a global market. They came up with a great concept that is both old-fashioned and at the same time forward-thinking: Establish centers of excellence in production amongst local farmers, foster collaboration and make sure food quality is of a high enough grade for export. I have encountered this in Holland with their greenhouse collaborations that include a German region. My advice in Ja-

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE maica was to work to keep local governing bodies and industry partners from straying from the task, focusing on programming that is sustainable in the long-term rather than starting projects that sound great but fizzle quickly. This is not just a problem for small nations. It is known to us as well, and it takes a lot of energy to sustain these efforts for the best possible outcome. In Jamaica in particular, I met so many farmers at the Denbigh Annual Agriculture Show. Some had one cow, ten chickens and a patch of corn, while others had expansive commercial orchards. Some grew onions and others grew peppers and tomatoes. They were all very hungry for information and the local government had exhibits and information booths there; university colleges were present and so was a US government service that is helping establish modern agriculture. The questions I was asked the most were in regard to fertility management on soils with ridiculously high pH. So, I had to go back to square one on the basics of mineral and manure fertilizers and explain the availability of nutrients under high pH conditions. This is just the same as at home when I speak with new growers. I was impressed with the tenacity of the people, despite their lack of resources. You can’t just go and order some water soluble calcium for foliar application and have it brought to you by noon the next day. We are so spoiled when it comes to that. Their wait times can be weeks if not

months to have something shipped in by boat from Miami. That also leaves the field open for some more dubious concoctions, some of which I’d love to explore to determine their true utility for our agricultural systems. Others products are clearly nothing but snake oils; usually not helpful, but hopefully not detrimental.

“We must treasure local production and must support local producers to keep them producing food.”

In China, I was privy to the most modern agricultural practices, including organic and sustainable agriculture practices being used to make the food reserved for influential families. I saw the outskirts of company towns where every square millimeter is farmed many times over in a single year as food is both precious and local, being grown with a lot of ingenuity and labour. I saw a chicken production facility that produces two million eggs a day (no I didn’t count them, but it was nonetheless impressive) in a most modern way, separating parts of the eggs into their fractions, selling each product separately or together, utilizing modern technology. A bit later I saw MODERN AGRICULTURE | 53

GLOBAL AGRICULTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

an oxen team plowing a field for growing vegetables, the contrast being something one has to see to fully appreciate. We ate at restaurants with simple food preparation methods as well as high-end restaurants; we visited high end food markets and a market where the poorer people shop. What a difference!

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Self-sufficiency and sustainability Traveling to the areas described above, I learned how important daily food is for different people and, even more to the point, entire nations. It became clear to me that not one system to production is the best and technology is not always required— as technology is out of range for some of the poorer parts of the world. Food can be produced using sustainable methods, and food can have good quality no matter who produces it. Food is not available year round everywhere on the planet, and a good climate doesn’t necessarily make a good crop. Knowledge is important for producing efficiently, and without support from the rest of society local food production will fade away and imports will be the only way to feed ourselves. We must treasure local production and must support local producers to keep them producing food. We must not demand a strawberry in the middle of January; we can return to eating them when they are in season. How can we extend the season for our crops, producing food for more of the year as they can in subtropical and tropical climates? 54 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

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Choose the appropriate crops and varieties for our climate Utilize small plastic covers (cloches) or high tunnels Utilize full-fledged greenhouses Specialize in crops that are in demand in the neighborhood, province or country Use transplants instead of seeding where appropriate Modify the climate with the help of: > Mulches > Floating row covers > Raised beds

And before anyone goes out and plants a new crop, start with a marketing plan. Without sales, no matter how good a grower you are, you can’t sustain your effort. But if your business plan works out, maybe, just maybe, we will have added another two months to a growing season or a new crop we previously didn’t grow, displacing imports—sounds worthwhile to me. ●

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POULTRY

FEBRUARY 2015

CANADIAN POULTRY 2015: Will the Influenza Outbreak Lower Confidence?

vian influenza (AI) is back in the news. At the time of writing (Dec 2014) at least 10 farms in British Columbia including many in the Fraser Valley have been confirmed with the highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of the virus with over 230,000 birds affected. Several countries including the US have placed restrictions on imports of poultry meat from Canada, or specific regions within Canada. This is on top of an existing ban on exports to Russia.

forecasts that in 2015, global poultry consumption will grow by approximately 1.2%, compared with a decline of 1.6% for beef. Falling feed prices, and lower production of other meats will drive the poultry sector in key markets such as the US and the EU. Canadian broiler meat production is forecast to grow moderately by 2% during 2015, whilst turkey production is forecast to grow by 1.2%. Forecast GDP growth of 2.4%, higher prices for red meats, and falling feed prices, will drive poultry in 2015. Broiler meat consumption will grow by 1.2%, whilst turkey consumption is forecast to grow by 1.3%.

Despite this, global poultry meat consumption is growing faster than that of pork, beef and sheep meat; and poultry is on course to become the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most consumed meat within the next decade. The USDA

Canadian per capita consumption of poultry meat has doubled since 1980, due to the perception that chicken is leaner and healthier than red meat, more fast food outlets selling chicken products, and immi-

By Jonathan Lloyd, Agricultural Consultant, Farmlytics

56 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

gration from Asia and Africa where there is a strong preference for chicken. Consumption per capita peaked in 2007, and has been stagnant since, but total consumption remains driven by population growth. The USDA expects consumption per capita to be 30.4 kg in 2015, compared to 30.2 kg in 2014; and 31.7 kg in 2007. The economic impact of the outbreak will depend on how quickly the virus can be controlled, how quickly trade restrictions can be lifted and markets restored; and finally consumer reaction. Avian influenza is not new to the Fraser valley, where it first appeared in 2004, and it is to be hoped that measures introduced as a result of that and other outbreaks such as improved biosecurity and testing will lead to a swift resolution of the current problem.

FEBRUARY 2015

POULTRY

British Columbia’s poultry exports to the US were worth C$5.8 million in 2013, but Ray Nickell, President of the British Columbia Poultry Association, commenting on the export restrictions, has stated that BC growers mainly produce turkeys and chickens for the domestic market. Canadian per capita consumption was not adversely affected in 2004, and the evidence is that any consumer reaction to avian influenza in most developed countries is short lived. In fact, reduced exports may lead to lower domestic retail prices for poultry, which could boost domestic sales. Broiler meat consumption is forecast to grow by 2.3% in 2015, to reach 1,100,000 metric tons (MT), whilst turkey meat production is expected to reach 154,000 MT, up 1.3% on 2014. Supply Management will protect producers from the short term impacts of the AI outbreak. Producer prices will be maintained, however we may see falls in the retail price of chicken if consumer confidence is impacted due to avian influenza. Assuming the measures to control the current outbreak are effective, the market

impacts of AI are likely to be temporary. The market fundamentals for the sector are sound, poultry remains competitively

priced compared with red meats, and the Canadian economy is growing, leading to increasing production and consumption. ●

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