Modern Agriculture Magazine Volume 1 Issue 3 by Modern Agriculture

VEGGIES

POULTRY

BERRIES

DAIRY

MODERN AGRICULTURE VOL. 1 ISSUE 3

BRITISH COLUMBIA’S AGRICULTURE MAGAZINE

CHICKEN SQUAD! FROM FIELD TO FORK PT. 1 & PT. 2 MILKING FUEL EFFICIENCIES CASE STUDY: DONIA FARMS BERRY BREEDING IN BC: A LONG TERM INVESTMENT POLLINATION AND YOUR YIELD

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The PUBLISHER’S

LETTER Dear readers,

ime sure does fly when you’re having fun; we’re already on the third issue of Modern Agriculture Magazine! It is such a rewarding feeling meeting farmers from various sectors and getting the feedback and support from everyone on how we can delve into issues that affect farmers the most. We are always striving to be as relevant as possible and that cannot happen without feedback from our readers. We would like to thank all of our readers, sponsors and supporters for allowing us to continue doing something we love. All three issues so far have been rewarding and a learning experience, each in their own way. During production for this issue of Modern Agriculture, a key trait we believe most BC farmer’s emanate was made apparent to us. The trait we really want to give props to all BC Farmers for is their immense passion. We have seen it from virtually every farmer we have had the opportunity to meet and speak with, and it led to us choosing our feature story, “Chicken Squad.” The passion we see in BC’s farmers motivates our team to go and find the most helpful pieces of information that we can. It is very important for us to be able to find relevant and interesting content that can help in the day-to-day lives of all farmers. Enjoy our third issue, we hope you can see the same passion for the industry in us, as we have seen in all of you. Sincerely,

MODERN AGRICULTURE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER Modern Media Group Ltd.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Reuben Mann

COPYEDITOR Cate Pedersen

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CONTRIBUTORS Tom Baumann, Binny Bhinder, Michael Dosset Eric Gerbrandt, Kaitlin Gisler, Dieter Geesing, Kiara Jack Brian Johnston, Chantal Lavoi, Lenore Newman Rhonda Payne, Cate Pedersen, Sarah Rostami Siva Sabaratnam, Susan Smith, Greg Welfing

Modern Agriculture Magazine 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.

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CONTENTS SPRING/2014 FEATURED ARTICLES

TRANSFERRING YOUR BUSINESS

Written by: Binny Bhinder

VEGGIES

NIGHTSHADE LATE BLIGHT

BIOCHAR: ANOTHER TOOL

FUTURE PLANT EFFICIENCY

DAIRY

Written by: Susan Smith & Siva Sabaratnam

Written by: Chantal Lavoi

Written by: Eric Gerbrandt

WHEN DAIRY COWS TEXT Written by: Kaitlin Gisler

PREVENTING HOCK INJURIES Written by: UBC Dairy Education and Resource Center

SEEING IS BELIEVING Written by: Kaitlin Gisler

FROM FIELD TO FORK: PT. 1 Written by: Dr. Lenore Newman

POULTRY

MILKING FUEL EFFICIENCIES Case Study: Donia Farms

30 34 35

BERRIES

TO CAGE OR NOT TO CAGE? Written by: Ronda Payne

POLLINATION AND YOUR YIELD Written by: Greg Welfing

CHICKEN SQUAD!

QUESTIONING QUOTA

Written by: Cate Pedersen

Written by: Ronda Payne

FROM FIELD TO FORK PT. 2 Written by: Tom Baumann

GET THE MOST OUT OF COMPOST Written by: Dieter Geesing

BERRY BREEDING IN BC Written by: Michael Dosset

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MODERNVEGGIES CANADIAN VEGGIES BC Industry Facts

VEGETA-FULL Annually, BC produces about 9000 tonnes of tomatoes, 6000 tonnes of cucumbers, 750 tonnes of lettuce and 7000 tonnes of peppers.

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BATHTUB ECONOMICS ACRES ON ACRES Average amount of vegetables pro- Over 10,000 hectares of land in BC are duced using less space than your devoted to growing vegetables that bathtub takes up: total about 169 million kilograms. • Tomatoes: 143 pounds • Cucumbers: 113 cucumbers • Peppers: 55 pounds

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NIGHTSHADE LATE BLIGHT | MODERN AGRICULTURE

It’s never too early to protect against late blight

s members of the nightshade or solanaceous family, potato and tomato plants are susceptible to one of the most destructive plant diseases, late blight. This pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) thrives and produces spores under humid or moist conditions, but causes infection only when free water is present on plants. That means our wet weather and cool to moderate temperatures make the Lower Mainland an area where late blight can spread rapidly. On potatoes, symptoms of late blight first appear as large, soft, water-soaked spots with a light green halo on the leaves. Symptoms will also commonly develop on stems and leaf petioles, which turn brown or black, and a white, fuzzy mould can be seen on the underside of the leaves. As the disease progresses, the whole plant may die back to the ground. If late blight is present at harvest, tubers may become infected resulting in a firm brown rot that starts at the skin and eventually affects the whole tuber. Although symptoms appear slightly differently on tomato plants the organism causing late blight is the same. In addition to persisting in the soil and on infected plant tissues for a period of time, the late blight pathogen can cause infection during cool, wet or humid weather through structures called sporangia. These can easily be spread up to 20 km via water, wind and wind-blown rain and cause infection in healthy solanaceous plants. For this reason, when late blight is in an area, commercial potato growers are at risk of greater losses from disease outbreaks in the field and also when potatoes are in storage. Because potatoes and tomatoes are popular crops for home and community gardens, late blight can easily be spread to commercial potato fields. To minimize and hopefully prevent this from occurring, there are several preventative measures that can be taken. First, home gardeners are strongly encouraged to plant only certified seed potatoes, which are inspected and tested to ensure that they do not exceed accepted levels of critical diseases.

Potatoes grown in the garden or purchased for eating should never be used as seed because a potato tuber is a part of its mother plant and can spread its diseases to nearby commercial potato fields. Using certified seed potatoes is a good start for a successful disease-free garden. Other important practices for preventing and minimizing the severity of late blight in the garden include: • Minimizing humidity by avoiding overhead irrigation; • Growing short season varieties during periods where weather conditions are less favourable to late blight; •Applying registered fungicides as a preventative measure. (Note: always read and follow product label directions carefully); • Regularly inspecting potato plants for late blight symptoms; • Doing a thorough clean-up of infected plant materials; and disposing of unwanted tomatoes and potatoes by either burning or removing in a sealed bag to a landfill, not in your compost at home; and • Growing potatoes or tomatoes (or any other solanaceous plant) in a different area of the garden from the previous season. The BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association has undertaken a project to develop information materials and carry out education and outreach to community home gardeners on preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests to commercial growers. The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and AgriFood Canada——through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorialinitiative—are pleased to provide financial assistance for this biosecurity project. For more information, please contact Susan Smith or Siva Sabaratnam at the BC Ministry of Agriculture (Susan.L.Smith@gov.bc.ca, Siva.Sabaratnam@gov.bc.ca) or Marjolaine Dessureault at ES Cropconsult Ltd. ( marjo@escrop.com.) - Susan Smith & Siva Sabaratnam

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QUALITY POTATOES | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Quality potatoes require EARLY DAMAGE CONTROL

THE ECONOMIC LOSS FROM DAMAGED TUBERS CAN BE VERY HIGH

rotecting tubers against damage is a challenge for all potato growers. A damaged tuber can not only become diseased, but it can also spread disease to other tubers, even in cold storage, and that can make an entire harvest hard if not impossible to market. Disease can enter a tuber through skinning, bruising or cutting. These wounds encourage the spread of serious and common storage diseases like bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotovora), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), Fusarium dry rot (Fusarium spp.), Pythium leak (Pythium spp.), pink rot (Phytophtora erythroseptica) and silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani). The economic loss from damaged tubers can be very high. For example, if potatoes are selling at $15 per 50lb. unit or $600 per ton, and you have 1,000 tons of potatoes, you could lose $60,000 if 10% of them are unmarketable. From what I have seen, 10% damage is not uncommon, and damage has certainly been much higher from some fields. Besides the unmarketability of damaged tubers, there is the added labour cost for sorting to ensure that shipments aren’t rejected. People like perfect looking potatoes and if tubers are damaged or diseased you can lose consumer trust. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to mitigate bruising, even before planting. As much as possible, growers should choose fields with minimal compaction, suitable water holding capacity, and consistent planting depth and drill profile. The soil should be managed carefully throughout the season to ensure 60% to 65% moisture at harvest. Ideally, appropriate machine cultivation should occur in the fall to break up hard pan and in the spring when the soil has sufficiently dried out to stop clods from forming. Also, traffic in the field should be minimized to reduce clod formation. Sandy soil will often cause damage to susceptible varieties because of roll back on the primary chains, so planting less susceptible varieties in those fields may reduce damage. These include Dakota Pearl, GemStar Russet, Red La Soda and Agata. Seed tubers

need to be handled carefully because any bruises created during cutting, transporting or seeding will make the tubers susceptible to diseases, which can lead to poor emergence or growth. Potato plants need sufficient amounts of potassium and calcium, as some studies have shown that deficiencies in these nutrients can make tubers susceptible to bruising. Care must also be taken with nitrogen levels because too little can cause plant stress and minimize growth, whereas too much can lead to delayed maturity, poor skin set and susceptibility to bruising.

“There are a number of ways to mitigate bruising, even before planting.”

At planting, soil temperature at seeding depth should be at least 9°C (48°F), and tuber pulp temperature at harvest should minimally be 7°C (45°F) but ideally between 10°C to 16°C (50°F to 61°F). Guarantee vine kill 10 to 14 days prior to harvest, but keep in mind that in wet, clay soils, skins may take longer than two weeks to set. At harvest, growers want to align rollers and digging blades so that they do not crush or cut tubers. Belts should be adjusted based on ground speed and to optimize soil flow up the primary chains to reduce roll back and minimize soil entry into the truck. When storing, tubers should be put into a pit in a step like fashion, and tubers should ideally be warmed to 7°C (45°F) before handling for grading or processing. For equipment-handling tubers, drops should be kept below 15 cm (6 inches), equipment should be padded where necessary and run at full capacity, and all staff should understand the importance of minimizing bruising. By carefully following best management practices and learning where specific operational improvements can be made, damage to tubers and subsequent problems can be minimized. - Kiara Jack

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THE SILVER SCURF

ilver scurf is a major concern for potato growers in the Lower Mainland. The fungus infects potatoes before harvest, and once they are harvested and stored, it causes silver lesions on the skin of the tuber, reducing quality and weight. The BC Potato and Vegetable Growers and E.S. Cropconsult have been working together to evaluate new products to protect potatoes for both organic and conventional potato growers. “As growers, we need to know if we’re using a product, whether or not it works before we put the money into it,” says Val Fair, director with the BC Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. “The cost [of the product] is one factor, but the cost of the disease if the product is not effective is huge.” A study evaluated six products - sodium bicarbonate, Actinovate SP, Phostrol, Confine, Rampart and the registered industry standard, Mertect SC. The trials tested application 24 hours and 72 hours after harvest to determine if the timing of the application has an effect. The stored potatoes were assessed for infection immediately before product application, after three months in storage and after six months in storage. While the study did not find a silver bullet, results showed Confine, a phosphoric acid-based fungicide, successfully reduced the progress of silver scurf in stored potatoes. It is now available to growers as a registered control. None of the organic post-harvest solutions tested in this trial were effective. Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program (CAAP). In British Columbia, this program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.

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BIOCHAR | MODERN AGRICULTURE

BIOCHAR: ANOTHER

TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX

Image: Biochar viewed with an electron microscope

ALTERNATIVE GROWING MEDIA IN GREENHOUSES. roducers of all kinds have developed agronomic “tool boxes” that change the way they do business. This hypothetical group of instruments includes, but is not limited to, new crop varieties, pesticides, biological controls, and “best practices” that have changed the way we produce the world’s food, fibre and fuel. Centuries of selective breeding, genetics research, and new technology have changed the way farmers feed the world. This leads me to introduce what I believe could be agriculture’s most exciting ‘new’ tool, biochar. I’ll introduce the fundamentals, discuss the uses and benefits, and touch on where the industry is at present. For thousands of years, farmers in tropical regions have been using charred organic matter to improve soil quality. Applications of charred material in these regions was said to have improved biomass production and increased soil fertility, organic matter content, and water holding capacity. To all intents and purposes, the soil became darker and richer in nutrients and beneficial microbes, and as a result became much more productive. Recent research has proved that biochar is an even more beneficial tool than once suggested by these ancient producers, and its applications more varied than ever imagined. What’s the difference between biochar and charcoal? Biochar is a charcoal-like substance created by the heating of organic matter under oxygen-free conditions, a process called pyrolysis. It can be derived from virtually any carbon source but is commonly produced from compost, manure, crop residue and forestry waste products. The chemical and physical characteristics of biochar derived from each source are immensely different and are also influ-

enced by pyrolysis, temperature and duration. The most noteworthy characteristics of these different biochars are pH, surface area, carbon content and ash content, which have a significant impact on how the biochar will react in the medium where it is applied.

“The soil became darker and richer in nutrients and beneficial microbes, and as a result became much more productive.” Not only does this mean that biochar could have a place in field production, but it has been suggested that it can be used as a means to sequester carbon on a large scale. It is currently being used as an alternative growing medium in greenhouses and as a biogas in the alternative energy sector. In the future, biochar could be used as a supplement in countries that have poor soil quality or provide a growth medium in northern communities. It can even provide an alternate use for organic waste from livestock operations, greenhouses, forestry, etc., essentially “up-cycling” them into a product that has seemingly unlimited uses in many sectors. So, we’ve discovered an amazingly versatile product that is relatively easy to produce. Why aren’t we seeing a great increase in production and widespread use of this miracle product? Market development for biochar production has been moving at an astonishingly slow pace because of economic efficiencies. There are relatively few incentives for its use as a soil amendment since it is a net negative cost to the producer in most cases. Until more research unearths proof of economic viability, we likely won’t be seeing widespread use made of this great product any time soon. - Chantal Lavoi

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FUTURE PLANT EFFICIENCY | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Future Plant Efficiency

he mainstream media loves a provocative story. Why? Because fear-mongering, false controversy and sensationalist hype are effective sales strategies. As a reader, it can be difficult to differentiate the real issue from the ideolog-

ical spin. Controversial topics in the field of global agricultural production are a perennial staple of hype and sensationalism. Whether the supposed controversy is over local vs. imported produce, organic vs. conventional agriculture or genetic engineering vs. heirloom seeds, there is always a story to sell. But, as informed readers, how can we separate fact from fiction in regard to our current modes of production?

Improving plant genetic efficiency is one of the key human innovations used to increase crop yields. For example, a common media theme is the fear of global food shortages in the face of an increasing world population. The central concern of this complex issue is that the world’s population will increase too quickly for agricultural production to keep pace. In 2013, the United Nations released a new round of predictions in their report, World Population Prospects: the 2012 Revision, indicating that the world population will likely increase by another billion over the next twelve years, on track to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. Though increases are slowing overall, many take these predictions

to Feed 9.6 Billion People

and claim that increases in agricultural production will not be able to compensate and mass starvation will prevail. These are not new concerns. In fact, an early form of this ‘doom and gloom’ ideology has been around since the 18th century. In 1798, Thomas Robert Malthus published An Essay on the Principle of Population, asserting that an exponential increase in human population would result in the outstripping of global resources, resulting in starvation and disaster. Clearly, his predictions were disproven by the last couple hundred years of history. Yet, time and time again, various iterations of neo-Malthusian thought are trotted out by academics, politicians and popular media pundits. Despite repeatedly failed predictions of a massive die-off of the world’s population due to food shortages, many proponents cling to these fears rather than working toward viable solutions. To be clear, future global food supply is a truly immense challenge for humanity, but I would assert that history clearly tells us it is a challenge that we can indeed overcome. Throughout the history of agriculture, humanity has repeatedly responded to demands for greater food production with technological and biological innovations. For example, from the 17th to the 19th century the British Agricultural Revolution provided humanity with the technology required to greatly increase food production during the Industrial Revolution. More recently, the dramatic increase in global population in the second half of the 20th century was met with the technical and genetic innovations of the Green Revolution.

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In the latter example, increased use of agro-chemicals and improved production strategies created more efficient plant varieties. These genetic advances were the result of the long-term process of “plant breeding”, the field of applied science that aims at developing varieties with new and/or superior characteristics. In fact, it is this process of genetic improvement that has resulted in modern agriculture as we know it, separating the last several thousand years of human history from the preceding age of hunter-gatherers. Plant breeding in its current manifestation as a scientific profession is, more than ever, a keystone of modern agricultural improvement.

“Throughout the history of agriculture, humanity has repeatedly responded to demands for greater food production with technological and biological innovations.”

When we are told that genetically modified foods are “bad”, we need to stop and evaluate whether or not that statement makes sense. Does genetic modification mean the use of gene transfer technology to insert a gene from a jelly-fish into a plant? Or, does it mean the production of superior varieties by selecting the best offspring of a cross between two different varieties of the same plant? When these two meanings are confused, the facts can never be understood. Indeed, a corn variety with herbicide resistance genes transferred from another organism is called a genetically modified organism. But, from a technical standpoint, most of the plant and animal varieties upon which we depend for food have been genetically modified through human intervention. Thousands of years ago, this began through early agriculturalists choosing the best plants to grow the next year’s crops. More recently, most genetic improvements have been achieved through the traditional plant breeding method of combining the genes of two parent varieties by artificial cross-pollination to select a superior offspring. By whichever means it is produced, any type of plant (or animal) that has been selectively bred from its wild state has been genetically modified by humans.

Though there are few options for increasing the number of acres that can be brought into agricultural production, there is plenty of room for improvements in productivity on a per acre basis. Improving plant genetic efficiency, whether via traditional plant breeding or via gene transfer technology, is one of the key human innovations used to increase crop yields and meet the food demands of a growing population. Locally, the BC berry breeding program provides an example of a modern agriculture industry working to meet the increasing demand for food by improving plant efficiency. Gene transfer technology is not one of the tools being used by this breeding program, but genetic improvement through selective breeding is receiving a boost from other tools provided by advanced laboratory techniques. Production of seedlings via embryo culture; use of genetic sequence information and markers to find disease resistance; and mass production of promising plant selections via tissue culture are just a few examples. If history tells us anything, it is that humanity has the ingenuity to produce solutions to the challenges that it faces. Moreover, in meeting the need for higher yields and improved food security, a vital tool in our toolbox is breeding for improved plant efficiency and the development of varieties that are well-adapted to our local growing conditions. - Eric Gerbrandt, Pacific Berry Resource Centre, UFV

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FROM FIELD TO FORK PT. 1 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

FROM FIELD TO FORK

A TWO-PART ARTICLE BY DR. LENORE NEWMAN AND TOM BAUMANN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY

Part One: Food sovereignty, local food, and a healthy region hat we eat can have a strong impact on our health, and though eating healthily requires education, personal choice, and a healthy economy, it also requires that consumers have access to the best foods being produced. In our region, we are lucky to have a wealth of fresh local options year round, including excellent produce, fresh meat and dairy, and superfoods such as berries. Food theorists call the ability to make choices about one’s food system, “food sovereignty”; having access to a range of products, and special niches such as organic or gluten-free products allows individuals to make the choice to eat healthily. Whether a person is following a complicated nutrition plan or simply taking grandma’s advice to eat more vegetables, local producers can be a key part of preventative health care through nutrition.

The sale of dried bulk berries, smoked salmon, bulk grain-fed meats, and dried seaweed can be available at the click of a button. Here in the Lower Mainland, farmers’ markets are a popular way for consumers to have access to the best of the season, and can work well for smaller operations. For the busy farmer, larger farm stores can be a better option where people can stock up on healthy products in bulk. One element we do not really have yet in BC is functional food hubs. In the US food hubs, which can combine commercial kitchens, aggregation of small lots, and public market spaces, have emerged as a way for farmers to work with small processors to turn excess production into a value-added product. Here in the Lower Mainland several such projects are moving forward; hopefully a large scale food hub capable of bringing value to indus-

trial producers will emerge in the Fraser Valley. A healthy food system includes every step of the food chain, from raw product sales, to local processing into value added products, to support for a restaurant sector offering the finest foods of the region. Long distance travel is hard on nutrients, and requires heavier processing and chemical modification to keep food edible over thousands of kilometers. Farmers can increasingly tap lucrative markets on the internet while offering customers healthy food choices. Examples as diverse as the sale of dried bulk berries, smoked salmon, bulk grain-fed meats, and dried seaweed can be available at the click of a button. Though a strong local food system can be a critical factor in promoting health, it is only possible with a solid land base available for farming. In this respect, British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Reserve can be seen as a necessary part of the health system. The ALR has done an excellent job of ensuring that fresh and local farm goods are available; despite the pressures from a rapidly growing population, only a little over ten percent of Lower Mainland farmland has been lost over the last forty years. The stability of the farmland base has allowed farmers to invest in their operations and maintain an industrial farm base that could make British Columbia a nutraceutical powerhouse. Blueberries remain a wondrous source of anti-oxidants, and researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley are exploring new crops such as Haskap and Sea Buckthorn berries. But these innovations will only thrive with available, accessible farmland, and with a successful and supported farm workforce. Once the space is found to produce the food—be it a field a greenhouse, a barn, a bioreactor, or an aquaponics system—then feeding of the plants must be considered. There are arguments for

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and against fertilizer (out of the bag vs. compost or manure). The fact is plants canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell the difference. Plants take up nutrients in simple forms onlyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the most basic either source provides. Plants canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell whether the CO2 is produced naturally or artificially. Compost and manure also introduces organic matter to replenish the soil, adding to the soil health and water and nutrient holding capacity. Once the plants are growing, so are insects and diseases. Everyone knows a healthy plant is less likely to succumb to diseases and pests than a sick plant. So by using the appropriate varieties, crop rotation and keeping soil health up, we can help the plants and their root systems stay healthy. In particular, the coastal regions utilize raised beds and drainage pipes to help plant roots, starved for oxygen during the rainy season from September to June, escape drowning. On the other hand, during the drier months from July until early September, fields usually need irrigation. There are many options today for conventional growers (less for organic growers) to control diseases or pests. Some farmers use constant tilling as weed control. This leads to compaction of soil, as the macro pores in the soil are beaten out. Over winter, after a two day rainfall, you can see evidence of this by the forming of large lakes where before there were none. Herbicides cut down on excess tillage as well as cover large areas. A combination of physical and chemical controls may just do the trick; even organic farmers use chemicals like vinegar. Burning weeds defeats the goal of energy efficiency as it uses fuel energy to create the burn. Food sovereignty starts with us making wise decisions about where and how our food is grown. Healthy farmland enables food sovereignty, and will lead to healthier food and better social health overall. - Dr. Lenore Newman

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MODERN POULTRY | MODERN AGRICULTURE

CANADIAN POULTRY BC Industry Facts

BC EGGS BC CHICKENS BC TURKEYS More than 65 million dozen eggs are British Columbia produced the 3rd 15 million kilograms of turkeys are proproduced annually, with a farm gate highest amount of chicken in Cana- duced annually. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about 1.9 million value of $103 million. da, behind Ontario and Quebec, with turkeys each year. a whopping 30,929,677 kilograms in 2011.

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TO CAGE OR NOT TO CAGE?

To cage or not to cage?

Issues surrounding laying chicken environments

omfortable chickens are productive chickens, as every egg producer knows, but environments must be balanced with efficiencies, profits and resources. And just what is the ideal environment for a laying hen? In the absence of poultry mind reading, discussions over caged and free-run conditions will continue – there are no simple answers. Consumers may place too much human emotion on hens, but these perceptions need to be taken into consideration in the age of instant information and farmer engagement. Farming practices have evolved for greater bird comfort, yet each farmer must choose the best type of operation for their situation. “Much of the debate is based on personal choice,” said Allen Knowles, Producer Liaison Officer with the BC Egg Marketing Board. James Krahn, runs the farming operations for Paragon Farms. One of the organization’s six locations recently converted to a free-run facility. “It’s a big adjustment between running caged layers to going to free-run,” Krahn said. “And there’s a lot of trial and error.” This Paragon facility houses 13,000 Lohmann Brown layers in two barns. “As demand for specialty eggs increased, we wanted to diversify,” Krahn noted. “It mitigates our risk by exploring other markets.” With both caged and free-run facilities, Krahn is in the ideal position of having comparable results. “It was an easy transition for us because of the dimensions of the facility,” he said of the free-run facility which had previously been a cage barn. There are pros and cons to both caged and free-run systems. Knowles noted caged birds have continuous easy access to food and water, higher egg production and a smaller footprint. Krahn added that free-run birds can take advantage of certain instinctual activities like perching and jumping. “Some would say [they are] ‘happier’,” Knowles summarized of free-run birds. But without that bird mind reading, it’s hard to know. Krahn noted that converting from caged layers to free-run also required a change in management practices and increased attention to detail partly because costs per bird are higher in free-run

however, the eggs are sold at a premium price. “Everything we do is based on these computers,” he said, pointing to the systems that control the air, light, feed and water. This includes keeping ammonia levels low and temperatures comfortable. Free-run management has also meant “teaching” the chickens how to jump. By starting water line platforms on the ground, then gradually raising them, the birds learn to hop. This can be beneficial in avoiding aggressive pecking. Knowles noted that caged layers experience less pecking issues than their free-run counterparts due to reduced opportunities and the ability to isolate more aggressive birds. At about 17 weeks, Krahn’s team moves the birds from their “training barn” into a barn with nesting boxes that keep the eggs cleaner than floor laid eggs. “It’s best to move them a little earlier [than the age for laying],” he said of the birds who generally begin laying at 18.5 weeks. This gives the chickens time to adjust and may help with preventing floor eggs. Light is a key aspect to nest box usage. Krahn stated the barns have no natural light - only artificial light controlled by the automated system. Working with the rhythm of morning laying, lights go on in the nesting boxes to attract the birds before the overhead lights go on. “When they have to lay, they have to lay,” Krahn said. Thus, the importance of ensuring eggs are laid in the nest box, especially with a flock that produces about 5,700 eggs a day. The nest boxes are connected to a conveyor system which runs once a day for collection, reducing the labour required to walk the barn or collect eggs from cages. Krahn believes their free-run system is worth the effort and credits the input and sharing from fellow farmers for the positive results. “We weren’t the first ones to do any of this,” commented Krahn.”And no one system is better than another.” Knowles noted approximately 20 per cent of BC Egg Marketing Board producers are on free-run or free-range systems. “I think they’re happy,” Krahn said of his birds. “If they’re not comfortable, they’re not going to produce.” - Ronda Payne MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA

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Images provided courtesy of Relevention Marketing

CHICKEN SQUAD!

starring real BC chicken farmers

n action-packed, Hollywood blockbuster-style trailer starring British Columbia chicken farmers is coming soon to a small screen near you! The countdown to the trailer’s world-wide online premier on May 12 and the clips of the “making-of” can be viewed now. The hope is also to see the trailer play on the big screen prior to movies in theatres. It all began three years ago when a group of farmers led by BC Chicken Growers’ Association president, Ravi Bathe, discussed sharing their passion about their family businesses with other families and finding a way to dispel myths about the industry. “We wanted to do something to reach out to the average consumer, to show that farmers are cool and that we love what we do,” said Bathe in an interview with The Province newspaper. Partially funded by the BC Chicken Marketing Board and the BC Ministry of Agriculture, the homegrown trailer parodies action flicks and promises to entertain as well as educate. This departure from traditional marketing captures the attention of the consumer, and encourages conversation. The idea for making a movie trailer became a reality and the casting call went out. Chicken farmers from all over the province answered the call, some bringing their entire families to the auditions in an Aldergrove barn. The lights flickered on, the cameras rolled and the director cried, “Action!” Well, it wasn’t quite that simple. A lot of hard work and careful casting went into the production which is truly a labour of love. Even BCGA president, Ravi Bathe, found himself in a starring role. His wife laughed, “I think Ravi has action hero qualities, definite-

ly—or at least I think he thinks he does.” “We’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s exciting,” said Carolyn Nickel, a Chilliwack farmer. During filming, she peeks at her husband, Lance, and teases, “I think he’ll make a good thug,” while their three boys chuckle in the background. “Lance is really good at researching and talking to other farmers, seeing what they’re doing and see if it benefits.” It is clear from the short video clips filmed during auditions that these farmers truly care about their industry and feel that it is vital to educate the consumer. They want the public to be aware that they give chickens the best life possible so they are going to be clean and healthy and ready for market. Ravi Bathe and Chris Kloot, playing Chicken Squad agents, uncover a sinister plot to pump hormones and steroids into the industry via the black market, and they spring into action to protect the chickens. A heart-pounding plot might not be necessary to teach consumers about this arm of the agricultural industry, but caring hearts definitely are and that is what the farmers bring to this campaign—heart, and a desire to spread the word that BC chicken is a healthy, pure, food source. You might wonder if this movie trailer is close to the truth. Is there an elite enforcement agency out there dedicated to upholding strict standards and government guidelines? The answer is that there are several organizations and agencies watching over

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everything from the food that the chickens eat to the conditions of the growing environment. Poultry barns are high-tech operations with computers to maintain temperature, lighting and air quality. The chickens are raised with their comfort in mind, while making sure the end product—the meat—is healthy and contaminant free. There are many websites describing the regulations in place and the monitoring that goes on. It’s up to the consumer to do a little investigating of their own and learn what goes into the food that fuels the community. Some might assume that chicken sold in grocery stores has been raised with added hormones and steroids; when in fact, this practice has been illegal in Canada since the 1960s. Even the administration of antibiotics is only done when the chickens’ health is at risk; and farmers follow strict withdrawal periods to make sure the antibiotics have left the chickens’ systems before becoming part of the food chain.

farmers want you to know, and now you can meet them and hear what they have to say. Visit the Chicken Squad online and you will see exactly who is raising and carefully keeping watch over the food that will ultimately end up on your family’s table. Prepare to be amazed at the talented men and women who not only make sure BC chicken is safe and hormone-free, but also keep it real on the big screen too. “Spread those wings!” cried a Chicken Squad agent, on a mission to stop a villain intent on tainting chicken with hormones—a mission all chicken farmers take very seriously, even while having fun spending the day playing pretend on a movie set. The “making-of” clips, and interviews with the stars and their families are available on YouTube and on the website, chickensquad.ca. - Cate Pedersen

“We wanted to do something to reach out to the average consumer, to show that farmers are cool and that we love what we do.” Thinking outside the box for ways to educate the consumer has been successful before in the farming industry. On the BC Chicken Marketing Board’s website, another innovative idea is shared. “With farms off limits to visitors due to biosecurity protocols, the BC Chicken Growers’ Association, in partnership with the BC Broiler Hatching Egg Producers’ Association, has developed Poultry in Motion™, a mobile mini barn, in an effort to increase public awareness and educate consumers. This fully equipped mini barn has been featured at fairs, schools and agriculture events around the province.” Who is growing your food? Don’t you want to know? The MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA

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Questioning quota

QUESTIONING QUOTA

IF THE CHANGE GOES FORWARD, WHAT WILL IT MEAN TO GROWERS? ecember marked the announcement of pending changes to Chicken Farmers of Canada allocations. Expected to be rolled out in the fall of 2014, these new changes will see specialty birds – the Asian birds of Taiwanese and Silkie – fall under a separate allocation from the primary mainstream and organic allocation. BC gets about 15 per cent of the national allocation which is significant given that chicken is the number one meat choice in Canada. According to Bill Vanderspek, General Manager of the British Columbia Chicken Marketing Board (BCCMB), this move was encouraged by the BC board to accommodate the growing markets for both specialty and organic meat birds. “That market [specialty birds] has grown faster than the mainstream market,” Vanderspek said in a recent interview. Because of this increase in specialty growth, the BCCMB is considering changing the existing BC allocation and quota system (in place since 2005) to align with the new pending Canadian allocation system. But, Vanderspek wants growers to know that no decisions have been made at this time. The BC changes are still under discussion.

“Organic chicken really displaces conventional chicken.” “We have a unique marketplace here in BC,” he said. “Since about 2005, we have regulated the production of specialty chicken. Specialty has been about three per cent of quota.” As present, BCCMB’s definition of specialty chicken includes Silkies, Taiwanese and organic birds. The proposed BC changes would remove organic birds from the specialty quotas and roll them into mainstream, leaving only the Asian birds in the specialty quotas. Ontario is expected to follow a similar alignment with the possibility of other Canadian regions following in the future. Vanderspek noted that BC and Ontario have the largest volume of Asian and organic bird production in the country. Growth of the organic market is the driving factor in the proposed BC change as the current system sees the organic birds in the specialty allocation “cannibalizing” the mainstream allocation. This is due to consumer choice of either a mainstream bird or an organic bird, while Asian birds fit a completely different market

need and some of the B.C. grown specialty birds are exported to other countries. “Certified organic has been growing very, very rapidly,” Vanderspek said. “One and a half per cent [of chicken grown] is certified organic. Three years ago it was one quarter of one percent.” As outlined by Vanderspek, the proposed change to the BCCMB quota system is to allow for increased growth in the organic market. “Organic chicken really displaces conventional chicken,” he noted. In order to gauge interest and acceptance of the proposed changes to the BC quota system, BCCMB sent a survey to the province’s 335 growers. “The vast majority of response was in agreement to putting organic back into mainstream,” Vanderspek said. “The timing is right.” Organic growers are involved in the discussion process with all four certified organic growers taking on an active role. “We have had, and will have, a full consultation process with lots of opportunities for [all] growers [to get involved],” he commented. A decision on the BC quota change will be made within the next couple of months but if the change is to proceed, growers will be given a significant amount of time to make any necessary transitions. “They will have at least a couple of years,” noted Vanderspek. If the change goes forward, what will it mean to growers? Those currently under a specialty designated quota would have the opportunity to remain as specialty (if growing Asian birds) or move to the mainstream quota (if growing organic birds). Organic growers may also choose to stay under the specialty category and convert their operation from organic to the Taiwanese and Silkie production. Quota amounts will stay the same regardless of whether growers stay under specialty or move to mainstream. As Vanderspek described it, it would be a process of moving their quota “from one column to another.” While changes to the designations of allocations and quotas can create significant issues, BCCMB is prepared to make any transitions easier for BC chicken growers. - Ronda Payne MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA

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MODERN AGRICULTURE I TRANSFERRING YOUR BUSINESS

Transferring Your Business to the Next Generation: DO YOU HAVE A PLAN?

ave you thought about transferring your business ownership and management to future generations? If so, you need to consider issues such as timing, retaining control after the transfer and tax consequences. Timing and control are important considerations, as you may want to continue to be involved in the business while facilitating the transition of the business management to future generations. The tax consequences of transferring assets to your children without tax planning can be very adverse, as your estate may be subject to tax on any accrued gains on the assets between the date of purchase and date of transfer as the transfer is considered a disposition. A similar situation arises upon the death of a taxpayer. These taxes may substantially reduce the amount of assets that your children will receive through your estate.

One way to avoid or reduce income taxes on transitioning a business while retaining control is through the use of a trust. Contrary to popular belief, trusts are not only used by wealthy families. They are also used to transfer small to mid-size businesses. A trust is used to hold assets for the benefit of its beneficiaries. The assets are transferred to the trust by an individual who is referred to as the settlor. Trustees are appointed by the settlor and are responsible for management and administration of the assets of the trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries. It is possible that the settlor and the trustee be the same individual. The trustees, beneficiaries and other terms of the trust are put in place by the settlor via a legal document referred to as a trust deed or trust agreement. This document will also stipulate whether the trust is a “discretionary trust”, which is a trust in which the trustee has discretion in the allocation of income and capital of the trust to beneficiaries.

“One way to avoid or reduce income taxes on transitioning a business while retaining control is the use of a trust.”

The most common uses of a trust are to administer the estate of someone who dies (a “testamentary trust”) and to hold family assets for the benefit of the next generation (an “inter-vivos family trust”). Our discussion will focus on the benefits of using a discretionary family trust. The use of a family trust can be beneficial as it can allow you to retain control and manage your business while transitioning ownership to the next generation. When used in conjunction with a tax plan called an “estate freeze”, a trust can allow you to reduce the amount of taxes paid on capital gains by your estate in the event of your death. Probate fees upon your death can also be reduced or eliminated with the use of a trust. It should be noted that trusts are deemed to have disposed of their assets every 21 years. However, further tax planning measures can be taken to avoid any related tax consequences. Income earned by the assets held in trust can be retained in the trust or allocated to the beneficiaries. Income retained in a trust is taxed at the highest marginal personal income tax rate, but can then be allocated to beneficiaries with no further tax consequences. If income is allocated directly to the beneficiaries of a trust, it is taxed only in the hands of the beneficiaries at their respective marginal personal income tax rates (unless the beneficiary is under the age of 18 – beware of “kiddie tax”). As such, tax savings can be realized when the related income is taxed in the hands of beneficiaries in low tax brackets. Although the benefits of using trusts can be quite significant, the advice of an accounting professional should be sought out due to the many complexities involved. - Binny Bhinder, CA

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MODERN DAIRY | MODERN AGRICULTURE

CANADIAN DAIRY BC Industry Facts

DAIRY WORKFORCE THE HOLSTEIN MAJORITY DIRECTORY NEEDED BC has the third largest workforce em- 93% of cows in Canada are Holstein, From the latest 2014 census, there ployed in the dairy industry compared the remaining 6% is divided between are a total 475 Dairy farms in British to all the other provinces, with well over the Ayrshire and Jersey breads. Columbia. 1000 employees.

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WHEN DAIRY COWS TEXT | MODERN AGRICULTURE

WHEN DAIRY COWS TEXT

ows are keeping up with on-farm technology by sending a text message (SMS) to the farmer when they’re close to calving. This means the farmer’s phone contacts have just quadrupled. Medria Elevage Monitoring Solutions, located in France and launched in 2004, has created the Vel’ Phone, which is making its way onto Canadian dairy farms. Four thousand Vel’ Phones and Medria’s heat detection units have already been sold across Europe. This mobile means of communication via texting can be used on dairy cows and cattle on pasture. A thermometer is inserted into the animal’s vaginal canal for a minimum of two hours to a maximum of eight days before she calves. Once officially activated, the thermometer sends daily updates on the cow’s body temperature, texting a maximum of three phones simultaneously. When the cow’s temperature drops below an average of 37.8 degrees Celsius for more than two hours, it is a sure sign that birth is imminent. A text message is sent advising that a calving is expected within 48 hours, giving the farmer the opportunity to segregate the cow into a well-bedded pen for her comfort.

“In farming, an emergency often means it is too late. Being equipped with our equipment and warned at the right time, the farmer can respond quickly and effectively.”

Farms that use the Vel’ Phone technology have shown improved calving results due to less human interference but with the ability to lend a hand at any moment. The 48-hour notification also gives the farmer the chance to continue on with daily work without constantly having to supervise the calving pen. The sending time for the daily SMS messages can also be tweaked depending on the farmer’s schedule. The Vel’ Phone kit includes 5 to 50 thermometers, one applicator, and two nets for cleaning. A radio base to collect the data must be purchased separately. The base can be situated inside or outside, but if stationed within the barn the radio frequency can

be sensitive to obstructions. like tin siding or sawdust piles, which can decrease its optimal range of 200 meters. On Medria’s website, there is additional information on the best thermometer design for your herd: they differ in size depending on the cattle breed, whether she is a heifer or a cow, and how many times she has calved. Proper placement of the themometer can be done on the farm by the farmer after a run-through training session. Using a cleaning solution, all the items are soaked while the cow’s vulva is cleaned with warm water. The disinfected applicator makes for easy and sanitary insertion. However, while inserting the thermometer, remember that the cow has a nearly fully grown calf onboard and you’re working in the vaginal canal—caution is crucial. The thermometer is expelled with the water bag just before calving, and whether she calves in the barn or out in the field the thermometer has to be found and then cleaned in order for it to be reused. For an additional fee. there is a hand-held device to help you locate the whereabouts of the expelled thermometer. More information on the Vel’ Phone can be found on Medria’s website (www.medria.fr) with printable brochures and videos. There is also an established Vel’ Phone distributor located in Quebec, IPAG Solutions Inc., and with more successes on Canadian farms, Medria will hopefully find a distributor further west. The direct value of having a Vel’ Phone is summed up by Medria Solutions co-founder and President Jean-Pierre Lemonnier: “In farming, an emergency often means it is too late. Being equipped with our equipment and warned at the right time, the farmer can respond quickly and effectively.” Since communication is key to business success, texting with your cows can only be good. - Kaitlin Gisler

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RESEARCH IN BC: PREVENTING HOCK INJURIES | MODERN AGRICULTURE

RESEARCH IN BC:

PREVENTING HOCK INJURIES

ousing systems that cause disease or injuries to animals are clearly undesirable. Injury and disease compromise dairy cow welfare and can reduce longevity and production. Lameness, mastitis and transition cow diseases are now widely recognized as serious animal welfare and production issues in the dairy industry. Skin injuries on dairy cows should raise similar concerns but have received much less attention until recently. Skin injuries on cattle tend to occur on areas that are in contact with elements of housing, with the most common injuries observed on the knees and hocks. These injuries range from a small area of hair loss to open wounds, and are sometimes accompanied by infection and swelling of the joint. Unlike lameness, hock lesions are obvious to anyone who cares to look and can be easily assessed in the milking parlour. UBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Animal Welfare Program has partnered with key players in the BC dairy industry (for work on farms in British Columbia; BC) and Novus International Inc. (St. Charles, MO; for work on US farms) to benchmark measures related to cow comfort (e.g. lameness and leg injuries) as well as facility design and managment (including stall dimensions, bedding practices, and stocking density). We have now visited hundreds of dairy farms throughout North America. In this Research Report we describe the results for 42 farms in BC, 38 farms in California (CA) and 38 farms in the North Eastern US (New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania; NE). For more details on the methods see Research Report Vol 13, No 2. The aim of the benchmarking was to provide the participating dairy farmers with data from their own farm, together with averages from other farms in their region, to help them identify problems and set priorities. Each farmer was provided a confidential report they could use (ideally together with their farm staff, veterinarian, hoof trimmer and nutritionist) to develop tailored solutions for their own farm. In this Research Report we describe the hock and knee in-

jury results (see Research Report Vol,13,No2 for lameness results). Approximately 40 cows on each farm were scored for hock condition (lateral surface of the tarsal joint) on a 3-point scoring system; where 1 =healthy hock, 2=bald area on the hock without evident swelling, and 3=evidently swollen and/or severe injury (Figure 1). We recorded the % of cows scored with a visible hock injury (i.e. score â&#x2030;Ľ 2) and % with severe injury (hock scored = 3).

Score 1 Healthy Hock

Score 2 Hair Loss

Score 3 Evidentaly Swollen

Figure 1. Hock scoring system (Adapted from Hock Assessment Chart for Cattle, Cornell Cooperative Extension). The prevalence of hock injuries varied among regions, from 42% in BC, to 56% in CA, to 81% in NE (Figure 2). The prevalence of severe hock injuries was 4% in BC, 2% in CA and 5% in NE. Our results show that these injuries are all too common, but within each region some producers are able to achieve good levels of success in keeping the % of cows affected low. Cows were also recorded for swollen knees (carpal joint); injuries were recorded as present (evidently swollen joint with or without skin damage) or absent. Knee injury was not scored on farms in BC. Swollen knees were rarely observed (less than 1% of cows affected) in CA, but relatively common (23% mean prevalence) in

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MODERN AGRICULTURE I PREVENTING

Figure 2. Hock injuries on farms in British Columbia (BC), California (CA) and North Eastern farms are ranked from lowest to highest.

HOCK INJURIES

dry lots also likely explains the low % of cows with swollen knees in CA versus the NE; we are now working on further analysis to identify the risk factors for swollen knees. Benchmarking programs, like the one we described here, allow producers to compare their performance with averages in their region and provide a basis for informed discussions with professionals involved in farm management (e.g. nutritionist and herd veterinarian). In the case of hock injuries one solution is obvious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the risk of hock injuries can be much reduced by using deep-bedded stalls. For further information please Email marina.vonkeyserlingk@ubc.ca or dan.weary@ubc.ca. This report is based on two papers recently published in the Journal of Dairy Science (von Keyserlingk et al. 2012. J. Dairy Sci. 95:7399-7408; Barrientos et al. 2013. J. Dairy Sci. in press). We thank Novus International Inc., Artex Barn Solutions Ltd., Clearbrook Grain and Milling Co. Ltd., Nutritech Solutions Ltd, Ritchie-Smith Feeds Inc. and Unifeed who collaborated in the work described in this report. General funding for the Animal Welfare Program is provided by NSERC, Dairy Farmers of Canada and many others listed on our website http:// awp.landfood.ubc.ca

NE. The good news is that in some farms within each of the regions had very low rates of either hock or knee lesions, suggesting that other producers in these regions could learn from these more successful producers. We know from a series of previous studies, including work in BC more than a decade ago, that the risk of hock injuries can be greatly reduced by using deep bedding and that lesions are more common on farms using poorly bedded surfaces like mats and mattresses. This effect helps explain why lesions are so common in NE where poorly bedded surfaces are the norm. Ourrecent work in CA and NE has also shown that hock injuries are highly dependent upon bedding management. Most dramatically, in the NE, use of deep-bedded stalls reduced the odds of hock lesions by 95%! Other management practices linked to reduced hock injuries included clean bedding, access to pasture during the dry period, and avoiding the use of automatic scrapers for manure removal.

Figure 3. Well-maintained deep-bedded sand stalls reduce the risk of hock lesions. In CA (where all the herds assessed had access to deep bedding) hock injuries were far less common, and farms with well-maintained stalls (i.e. level in the stalls) had the lowest rates. Thus across regions, farms that use well-maintained, deep-bedded stalls had fewer cows with hock injuries. Access to deep-bedded stalls and well-bedded outdoor MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA

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MAHINDRA: MCRD TECHNOLOGY SPONSORED BY HANDLERS EQUIPMENT

he new Mahindra mCRD technology is the direct result of a $30 million investment to redesign and engineer their new Tier IV Engines. Mahindra has created a turnkey solution without utilizing a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). This means no excess heat and less complexity for the operator. The new Mahindra mCRD Tier IV Engines reduce gas emissions by over 360 tons per year and meet the new Tier IV emissions standards without the need for a DPF. The mCRD engine is currently used in six different Mahindra models and will be used in all models by the end of 2014.

What does this mean for customers? • High-pressure, fuel-injection engine that greatly reduces visible engine smoke by enabling finer atomized fuel spray for effective oxidation. • Multiple injection points for fuel efficiency with greener emissions including a reduction in NOxand particulate matter (PM). • Diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) after treatment system that does not require regeneration. • High-efficiency positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) technology to capture and clean gases from the combustion chamber before releasing them into the environment.

Does mCRD save customers time and money? A DPF left unchecked will collect soot and ash—resulting in damage, reduced performance, unnecessary repair costs and unscheduled downtime. DPF filters can be extremely expensive to replace, so an engine that does not require the DPF is a huge money saver! Less engine exhaust emissions also make for a more environmentally friendly tractor that is much more fuel-efficient. That’s the Mahindra value! Gets you back in the seat turning the land you work into the land you love! Mahindra, the number one selling tractor brand in the world based on volume, offers a complete line of heavy-duty tractors available from 22 HP to 100 HP. One of the best-selling models in Canada is the Mahindra mPower 85 tractor. The mPower 85 has an 83 HP mCRD engine and is the perfect tractor offering fuel-efficient, high performance with cleaner exhaust emissions and reduced visible engine smoke. Key features include: • • • • • •

Turbocharged Mahindra diesel engine. Heavy-duty loader with 4,100 lbs lift capacity. Powerful 3-point hitch with 5,500 lbs lift capacity. 12F/12R synchro shuttle transmission. Tilt steering, clear-view instrument cluster and easy-to-use ergonomic controls. 5-year powertrain warranty.

Push More, Pull More and Lift More!

“The unique mCRD technology that our mPower 85 features is another example of Mahindra’s solid commitment to increasing its presence in the Canadian farm equipment industry. Mahindra is the fastest growing tractor brand in North America because they produce a quality product at a great value and continuously outperforms our competition.” JOEL VENEMA, MAHINDRA SALES, HANDLERS EQUIPMENT The mPower 85 tractor is covered by Mahindra’s industry-leading, five-year powertrain warranty; and is built to the unyielding specifications of the brand including steel construction, larger tires and the heaviest weight-by-class to ensure optimum performance in its category. MODERNAGRICULTURE.CA

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SEEING IS BELIEVING: USING ULTRASOUNDS ON THE FARM

r. Lisa McCrea has been using ultrasounds during her on-farm herd health since she graduated from veterinary school. She brought the technology with her when she made the move to the West Coast in 2007 and became a partner of Agwest Veterinary Group, a large animal practice in the Fraser Valley. She is an expert in ultrasonography, and the technology has come a long way since she started. “I began with a non-portable ultrasound strapped to a cart and wheeled behind me,” recalls Dr. McCrea via email, “to the backpack and monocular Easi-Scan that I have today.” The veterinarian uses ultrasounds on all of her farms, whether she is palpating one cow or the entire herd. “This enables us to set up more successful breeding programs for our clients.” The main components to an ultrasound machine are the probe which sends out the ultrasound waves, and a viewing device that can be a stand-alone monitor, wrist display or goggles depicting the image picked up by the probe. The probe is used internally or externally, and contains crystals which create and receive the ultrasound waves. When a wave encounters tissue it is either reflected or refracted back to the probe, or absorbed, which affects the image shown on the monitor. Black objects represent fluid, meaning the waves passed through and did not bounce back; dense areas, such as bone, show up white since it strongly reflects the waves. Varying shades of grey help identify the difference between the body structures. Bovine ultrasound technology is very similar to the ultrasounds used with people and gives more insight than only fetus health and gender. “Gender affirmation is just a small piece of why we use an ultrasound in our herd health. The ultrasound provides a more accurate and complete picture of what is going on reproductively… you are able to diagnose pregnancies more accurately [and] earlier…you are able to see the viability of the fetus which you cannot do with a rectal palpation…so early embryonic death can be dealt with quicker. Some of my clients like to know if they’re having twins so they can take extra care coming up to calving. Most important of all,” states Dr. McCrea, “the ultrasound gives a more accurate assessment of the ovarian and uterine abnormalities than a rectal palpation.” BCF Technologies, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of imaging equipment, lists the numerous benefits of using ultrasounds; from diagnosing if a cow is pregnant or open (non-pregnant) within twenty-seven days after breeding, and determining the gender by fifty-five days. Pregnancy checks can become ten per cent quicker with a skilled technician, putting less stress on the cattle. BCF Technologies estimates that with a herd of a thousand cows or fewer, when the extra cost per open cow is four dollars per day, an ultrasound can be paid back in two years. For farmers wanting to learn this technology, there are DVDs and books available, as well as 2–3 day courses that provide hands-on training. Farmers who are practiced at breeding their own cows are usually able to learn how to scan the uterus to check for a pregnancy; but Dr. McCrea suggests a farmer’s time can be better spent focusing on other aspects of their operation, while a veterinarian can bring their skill and background knowledge of bovine reproduction to determine pregnancies and much more. “That is only the tip of the iceberg,” explains McCrea. “I use ultrasound on hundreds of cows each day, looking for ovarian structures, uterine health and assessing the viability of the embryo. It has now become an invaluable extension to my palpating arm that I wouldn’t trade.” - Kaitlin Gisler

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MODERN AGRICULTURE I CASE

STUDY: DONIA FARMS

Milking Fuel Efficiencies CASE STUDY: DONIA FARMS

ne of the ten largest dairy operations in BC, Donia Farms has supplied milk to the province since 1953. With 700 cows to care for, on 800 acres of farmland with 35 machines to maintain, it’s no easy task to keep on top of fuel utilization. During the spring, tractors and combines can burn up to 13,000 litres of diesel after irrigating manure and in the fall 8,300 litres after harvesting corn. With all the usage, this local farm needed an easier way to dispense, track, and report fuel consumption. Donia Farms had three objectives: track fuel usage, make it more convenient to distribute, and secure dispensing. David Van Keulen, a dairy farmer at Donia Farms, searched for a system to manage their daily fuel operations. He stumbled upon a gas station setup with a fuel control system designed by Computrol. “We needed a way to track our diesel usage and the gas station had exactly what we were looking for,” said Van Keulen. Computrol traditionally supplies systems to municipalities and transport and resource industries; however, Donia Farms’ requirements were the same as many of its other clients. Computrol recommended the newly launched Fleet-220, designed for small to midsize businesses. The Fleet-220 provides David with all the data records he requires and the ability to dispense fuel in a convenient manner through a dual access system. ID codes for the staff and FOBs for the machine meant no more carrying separate keys for each machine. The system also provided the added safety benefits of limiting fuel dispensing to 300 litres at a time, and preventing fuel theft. All the while the integrated software system automates the task of tracking and reporting specific data on the fuel usage of each employee and machine creating an audit trail. As a result, Donia Farms can now map and understand utilization trends, which help in planning for the future. “The wealth of knowledge you get is invaluable as you gain a much better insight to each machine’s usage, total consumption, and individual efficiencies which all relate back to total life-cycle equipment management and overall operations,” stated Van Kuelen. Since the rugged, weather-resistant Fleet-220 was in-

stalled at the farm, it has added efficiency, security and the ability to monitor and track diesel usage. Computrol is available to help other farmers who share equipment, rent equipment, belong to CO-OPS; or, like Van Kuelen, manage on-site operations.

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MODERN BERRIES | MODERN AGRICULTURE

CANADIAN BERRIES BC Industry Facts

BC BLUEBERRIES BC is one of the top three blueberry producing regions in the world. In the last 10 years, consumption of blueberries has doubled per capita.

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BC CRANBERRIES BC RASPBERRIES Cranberries are BCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest berry BC accounts for almost the entire ancrop by total value and volume. BC nual Canadian production of raspberproduces about 17 million kilograms ries. of cranberries, valued at $25 million.

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MODERN AGRICULTURE

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MODERN AGRICULTURE I SOIL

FUMIGATION IN BC

Soil Fumigation in BC: UPCOMING CHALLENGES

NEW REGULATIONS WILL APPLY TO ANY APPLICATOR OF A SOIL FUMIGANT n 2010, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) announced the re-evaluation of soil fumigation products. Significant label changes will be imposed on registrants of soil fumigants, which therefore will have effects on producers. The changes are intended to limit exposure of fumigants to users, bystanders and the environment, and will be similar to fumigant labels in the USA. They will be in effect starting September 2014. In BC, fumigation has been used to reduce the soil-borne pest load prior to planting in several crops. The primary target pests are nematodes and soil-borne pathogens in raspberries and field floral crops; and biotic agents of Apple Replant Disease (Apple Replant Disease is thought to be caused by both biotic as well as non-biotic agents). The three primary chemical soil fumigants that have been used in BC in recent years are Vapam (metam), Basamid (dazomet) and chloropicrin. What does this mean for producers? As of September 2014, these new requirements will be on a restricted label, which means a special Fumigator Applicator Certificate will be required. Sales of restricted chemicals are recorded and must be reported to the BCME by dealers. Apparently the PMRA will follow up on all sales of soil fumigants. The new regulations will apply to any applicator of a soil fumigant, whether a custom applicator or an individual grower. The five major label changes are summarized as follows: 1. GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES (GAPS): GAPs are application practices that improve the safety and efficacy of fumigation, related to weather conditions, soil preparation, soil sealing following treatment, and environmental monitoring. Essentially, GAPs are written instructions stating how to do things properly.

2. RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND STOP WORK TRIGGERS: There will be restrictions stating when the field may be re-entered following the fumigation. Handlers are those people who work with the fumigant or the equipment. There will be detailed label instructions on what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) handlers must wear, and when to wear it. Stop Work Triggers are based on the degree of sensory irritation experienced by handlers. A Stop Work Trigger means the applicator may have to cease application and leave the area when the trigger occurs. Hitting a Stop Work Trigger could mean an evacuation plan might go into effect for surrounding neighbors. If this happens, the appropriate emergency response institution may have to be notified. This would be considered the same as a release of a toxic product into the environment and public domain. 3. FUMIGATION MANAGEMENT PLAN: A Fumigation Management Plan (FMP) must be written for EACH soil fumigation event and kept on file for two years. It must include detailed information on the location of the field, location and size of the buffer zones, information on soil conditions, information on the application method, an emergency response plan, and the names and contact information of the applicator and the handlers. 4. BUFFER ZONES: Defined as an area around the perimeter of each treatment area, buffer zones must be a minimum of eight meters on each side. The actual size depends on method of application, application rate, field size, soil temperature, organic matter and clay content. Only the applicators and the handlers are allowed entry while buffer zones are in effect. Not only the treated field but also the buffer zones must be sign-posted, separately from the treatment area. 5. MANDATORY AIR MONITORING: Buffer zones are in effect for no less than 48 hours after completion. For fields with buffer zones greater than eight meters, either the neighbors must be notified, or mandatory air monitoring must be conducted for at least two days.

- Brian Johnston

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POLLINATION AND YOUR BLUEBERRY YIELD | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Pollination and how it affects your BLUEBERRY YIELD

ew topics these days are garnering as much discussion in the agricultural and biological research sectors as the worldwide shortage of bees. Honey bees pollinate approximately one third of the world’s food and pump at least $15 billion each year into the U.S. economy alone. Pollination occurs when bees and other insects land on a flower and stick their heads in to drink the nectar. As they do, their bodies transfer pollen from the (male) anther to the (female) stigma, a tube in the center of the flower. There, the ovule, which is part of the flower’s ovary, is fertilized and becomes a seed inside the fruit. The more fertilized seeds that end up in the berry, the larger the berry becomes. If the flower is not pollinated enough times, the fruit will remain small. It is already known that if the bee population continues to decline the human population is going to face an unprecedented food shortage, and farmers will face serious economic repercussions. These were already felt by some Fraser Valley blueberry growers in 2013 when they were unable to place bee colonies into their fields because of the shortage. This trend is likely to continue for a few years since the demand created by the many new blueberry plantings in the last few years has surpassed the supply. However, blueberry growers can take steps to ensure adequate pollination. Have enough bees Have a good relationship with your bee provider and always check that you are receiving healthy hives. The BC Ministry of Agriculture recommends using between 0.5 and 2.5 hives per acre depending on the blueberry variety. Different varieties can have different flower shapes and other factors that contribute to bees having a preference for one variety’s flowers over another.

It has been shown that Duke flowers have a wider floral opening than Draper and Bluecrop, and thus receive more pollination visits and respectively higher yields. This was demonstrated in a study by SFU researchers in 2011-2012 and presented at the Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association (LMHIA) Growers Short course. Encourage wild bees and pollinators such as bumblebees A study recently published by Michigan State University showed that adding some wild bee habitat on the edges of the blueberry field can increase the abundance of native bees in the neighbouring crop. They found that yields started to increase around two or more years after the increased flower visits by the wild bees. Also importantly, they found that the investment of planting wildflowers to create the wild bee habitat paid for itself within four years. This study is highly encouraging, and would be a good candidate for local testing. Place honey bee hives into the field at the proper time When bees are moved to a new location, they actively search for new nectar sources. When individual bees find one they keep visiting it until that source is depleted. If the honey bees are brought in too early, they may learn to forage elsewhere instead of on your bushes. The proper time to place bees in the field is between 5% to 15% bloom. Do not spray bee-toxic insecticides while flowers are open This takes proper planning and pest monitoring before and during bloom. Thoroughly discuss all options with your crop consultant and bee keeper. - Greg Welfing

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MODERN AGRICULTURE I FROM

FIELD TO FORK PT. 2

FROM FIELD TO FORK

A TWO-PART ARTICLE BY DR. LENORE NEWMAN AND TOM BAUMANN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY

Part Two: Does our food promote health?

n Part One, we explained the importance of having agriculture land and policies in place to actually grow local food. In this second part, we will explore how food is made and what is behind the system that serves us fresh food. There are many buzz words among consumers today: Allergies, pesticides, fertilizers, organic, sustainable, gluten free, no spray, and vegan. And there are other terms that need defining more clearly, such as locavore, 100-mile diet, slow food, raw food and more—opinions on what they mean abound. It is best to research these terms and discover for yourself the most suitable foods for your nutritional needs. Rather passionate discussions are happening in schools, market places, and public and private fora on the subject matter. Usually the discussions are very emotional and peppered with spurious or emotional proof only—even in the newspapers, online and on TV. The food systems need to be examined so discussions can be based on more than just emotion. It is necessary for farmers to know exactly who their con-

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FROM FIELD TO FORK PT. 2 | MODERN AGRICULTURE

sumers are and where their market is; preferably the food will be consumed within hours of picking and supplying to the stores, or other market outlets including the processing plants. This will ensure that food is wholesome, and laden with vitamins, minerals and fibre. This is the difference which sets local production apart from foreign or long distance production. A strawberry from California travels 2000 km to get to our kitchen; whereas one from Langley travels an hour to Vancouver. Not only can local farmers pick later, which means the strawberry is ripe and full of flavour, but excessive carbon emissions can be prevented from transporting food long distances. However, not every crop can be successfully grown in our region. Pineapples, bananas, papaya and others are such examples. But is everyone aware that we already grow rice successfully in the Fraser Valley? Well, we do! And we can grow Pawpaw and many other exotics too, even without using greenhouses! Eating food that is as fresh as possible preserves most of the good ingredients. Local food, as we already established, can be harvested closer to ripeness than food that travels long distances. That also means that the vitamin and antioxidant content of the food is higher. Just like grandma always told us, “eat your fresh fruits and vegetables”. The more colourful, the better they are for you. Blueberries, black currants, raspberries, and red cabbage are but a few examples. Or whenever you have a glass of beer, have some radishes with it—just as it has been done for hundreds of years at the Oktoberfest in Munich. The sulfur components in the radishes counteract some of the chemicals in the beer (no, sorry, not the alcohol!) As consumers, should we wash produce or, as a certain actress in Hollywood once suggested, wash our produce with soap or chlorine? There are steps along the way to ensure we receive the least contaminants possible. Some government guidelines demand that certain foods actually get prewashed before delivery to the grocery stores with a mild chlorine solution. The CFIA (Canada Food Inspection Agency) strongly recommends that all processing establishments adopt HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) guidelines, which means they abide by a very strict system that checks all avenues through which food could be contaminat-

ed and eliminates issues before they become a problem. And even in food distribution, most notably travel by truck and air, precautions can be taken such as probes sent with the product and read at the destination to make sure there was no interruption of the cold chainduring transport. But it is always advisable to wash certain foods and make sure they are cooked thoroughly or prepared properly before consumption.

With all the testing going on, the written instructions and checks and balances, we should all be comfortable eating Canadian food.

So is it safe to eat Canadian-grown food? With all the testing going on, the written instructions and checks and balances, we should all be comfortable eating Canadian food. And be observant when buying food from other countries. But yes, we will always have recalls and some contaminants getting past the checkpoints; and yes, we will have someone insisting on eating hamburger meat raw or pink; and yes, we may still have cooks preparing chicken sloppily and not washing hands and counters between touching the finished product; and yes, people will get ill from food. We have our safety procedures in place for the benefit of all, and we need to be aware of the safety measures in our food systems. And, of course, we should always be consuming local food as much as possible. Now what about eating the right foods? What about all the buzz words—is there a specific diet we should follow? Remember grandma’s advice, and unless you have a diagnosed condition and are allergic to certain foods, eat whatever you like in moderation. Health Canada has produced a guide on food intake with great suggestions. Trends come and go, but our food choices should always be as healthy as we can make them. We, as farmers and consumers, can set the standards and expect more from our food systems. - Tom Baumann

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MODERN AGRICULTURE

Silver Valley Farms Ltd. would like to congratulate Modern Agriculture in their new endeavour. Our family and staff would also like to thank all of our business partners, including our growers, employees, and customers for all their support over the past 10 years. 12814 232nd Street, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada P: 604-466-9774 F: 604-466-9740 E: info@silvervalleyfarms.ca

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HOW TO : GET THE MOST OUT OF COMPOST

composting operation can contribute significantly to the bottom line of a farming business, especially when it incorporates and processes off-farm residential or commercial waste. However, selling compost should not be seen as a way to generate quick and easy incomeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a major undertaking that requires the same commitment as any other farm task. Before you embark on a detailed plan or hiring a consultant, a few preliminary considerations need to be addressed. First, find out if your farm is allowed to have a compost operation. The answer will depend on its location, the origin of compost material (feedstock) and the amount of compost to be sold. Since the compost market is typically local, you will be competing with other composting or waste-disposal facilities, where landfill tipping fees may range anywhere from free to more than $100, so you need to find out if a market exists for your compost. At least half of all compost produced at a site must be removed annually and cannot be stored for longer than nine months. Long hauling to customers may result in an overstock. If all of the feedstock is generated on the farm, the operation cannot be prohibited but only regulated. The same is true if all the compost is used on the farm even if the feedstock is off-farm. The pertinent laws governing compost operations are the Agricultural Land Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation; Organic Matter Recycling Regulation; and Agricultural Waste Control Regulation.

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Things get tricky if off-farm feedstock is also used for compost sales. If up to 50% of the compost is sold, the operation is deemed to be permitted farm-use unless regulated by a bylaw. As soon as sales exceed 50% by volume, the compost operation is deemed non-farm use, and you must apply to have the land excluded from the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Depending on the technology, the capital costs of a composting operation can be relatively lowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;basically a loader and perhaps a screener for windrow operations.

If the off-farm feedstock is not agricultural waste, the compost must meet thequality, process and pathogen-reduction criteria of organic matter recycling, whether the compost is applied to the land or sold. Typically, this is not an issue for a master composter but it affects the way the operation is managed. You also must budget for regular compost testing because commercial and residential waste often contains large amounts of contaminants like plastic bags. Their removal, typically by screening, is often the single largest operating cost, as well as a source of odor. Other regulations and by-laws will apply depending on the location of the farm, but these are typically less of a problem. The operation must also comply with regulations concerning water management and airborne emissions because odor complaints by neighbors are the main reason that they are closed down. Although, there is no zero-odor composting operation, odor

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can be minimized with appropriate equipment and management, but these measures can be quite costly. This is especially true in the case of putrescible feedstock like residential waste or certain meat and dairy waste products. Liquid putrescible waste will also requires the purchase of large amounts of bulking agents if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have access tocarbon-rich material such as wood chips or yard waste. An off-farm waste composting operation, therefore, must be at least 2 km from sensitive locations such as hospitals, nursing homes or residential housing. However, odors can easily be carried far beyond the 2-km buffer zone, so the prevailing winds of the area might limit the number of operating days. A composting operation may also attract wildlife, noise and traffic, and this may affect relations with neighbors. A preliminary sketch showing all key areas, distances to sensitive areas, prevailing wind direction, open water sources or aquifers, buffer zones, and topography is often very helpful. A big-cost item that is often forgotten is site surface preparation. Receiving, storage, processing and curing areas need to be located on an impermeable surface, usually asphalt, to comply with the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation. A ballpark estimate is 1.5 square metres per cubic metre of waste, but the exact area depends on the type of waste and technology used. In addition, the design of the facility must permit the control, and usually the reuse, of run-on and run-off liquids unless an agrologist or other qualified professional determines that the measures taken to protect the environment and water quality are adequate. Whatever the solution, grading needs to be considered when selecting and designing the site, as does accommodation for larger trailers and fire trucks. Customers may rethink hauling costs if they need to stay for more than 20 minutes on your site to load or unload waste or compost. Depending on the technology, the capital costs of a composting operation can be relatively lowâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;basically a loader and perhaps a screener for windrow operations. In-vessel systems, on the other hand, are often costly. As a rule, the lower the investment cost, the higher the operational cost. If off-farm feedstock is used, hauling costs to the operation and consistency of supply (continuous or seasonal) need to be factored in. Once you feel confident that all of the above is manageable, you may consider becoming a composter. - Dieter Geesing

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MODERN AGRICULTURE MODERN AGRICULTURE I BECOMING A COMPOSTER

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BERRY BREEDING IN BC | MODERN AGRICULTURE

Berry Breeding in BC: A LONG TERM INVESTMENT

IF THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT IS ANYTHING LESS THAN PREMIUM, THE PRICE IS GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED.

n January 23, 2014, Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, announced the investment of just over $2.8 million for innovative production practices and pest management tools to support the berry industries in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland through March 2018. The largest portion of this investment is geared towards testing and developing new varieties. This announcement came just in time to breathe life into a breeding program that had been cut by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and is in the process of transitioning to the control of industry stakeholders.

“In an increasingly competitive world where producers everywhere are developing improved varieties to give themselves an edge. we must do the same or fall behind.”

Just what does this breeding program mean for berry growers in BC, and why should they continue investing in breeding? The short answer is that genetic improvement is the only way to make substantial and sustained gains in yield and quality over time. While redesigned mechanical harvesters, new chemicals and new production practices may help growers improve profitability and find ways to keep a berry from softening as quickly or losing flavour, you’ll never be able to make it firmer or better tasting at the outset unless you improve its genetics. In an increasingly competitive world where producers everywhere are developing improved varieties to give themselves an edge, we must do the same or fall behind. As improvements in quality are made elsewhere, market demands and expectations will change accordingly; those who don’t follow suit will be left with nobody to sell their product to, or with only the ability to sell

it at an unprofitable price. I think John Shelford said it best last February at the LMHIA Horticulture Grower’s Short Course in Abbotsford when he spoke about the blueberry market outlook: “If the quality of the product is anything less than premium, the price is going to be substantially reduced.” While some growers already know this, it bears repeating that breeding requires a long-term commitment and long-term goals. A new variety may solve many problems for growers, but those solutions don’t come quickly. It takes about 15 years, sometimes more, for a new raspberry or blueberry to be developed, tested and released. Even at that point, there may be things we don’t know about its long-term potential, and a new variety might only be adopted by a handful of growers if any. A sustained effort of a certain critical mass is required for an improvement to become widely adopted. Another thing many people don’t realize is that plant breeding operates at the interface of many disciplines, like plant nutrition, entomology, pathology, and post-harvest physiology. Breeding isn’t just about selecting something new or different so that growers have options about what to plant—it is about understanding the best ways to create, identify, and then select new things with the most potential and then working with others to manage the rest of the production system to realize that potential and provide growers with the best information and tools to repeat that success. We are fortunate to have a great group of people with knowledge and expertise here in BC, as well as in Washington and Oregon. Only by pooling our knowledge and resources are we going to be successful in breeding new varieties that will strengthen our industry, That said, we have the right pieces and funding in place to be optimistic about the future for BC’s raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry producers. - Michael Dosset

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A warm thank you to all of our community sponsors!

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