Ontario Beef - December 2022

CORP CREEK FARM

Bill and Jill Corp and Family OMEMEE, ON 705-799-4788 (Bill’s Cell) 705-772-9345 (Jill’s Cell) corpcreekfarm@hotmail.com

Registered Breeding Stock

HIDDEN-VIEW POLLED HEREFORDS

Joe and Karen Paszternak NORWOOD, ON 705-9573739 or 705-957-7470 karen.paszternak@gmail.com Cows and heifers for sale

JDL CATTLE CO. & D&S LIVESTOCK

David, Shirley, Josh & Jessica Lasby Justin, Jaimie Lasby & Family MULMUR, ON 519-943-4147 or 519-278-6819 jessica.lasby@hotmail.com

Good-looking, Sound, Functional Cattle! LIAN MOR POLLED HEREFORD

Wallace & Fern Pugh & Trevor & Amy Pugh MONO, ON Wally & Fern lianmor@sympatico.ca · 519-941-8515 Trevor & Amy tpugh27@yahoo.com · 519-939-7489

Breeding Stock Available

O’SHEA FARMS

Jamie and Mel O’Shea DENFIELD, ON 519-477-1238

osheafarms@hotmail.com

Dr. Lois Batty, President – 705-328-4302 www.ontarioherefords.ca

ON THE COVER

As a member of the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition, BFO released a new study, Evaluation of the Impact of the Risk Management Program/Self-Directed Risk Management Program on Ontario Farmers and the Economy, undertaken by Harry Cummings and Associates and AgriMetrics Consulting. The study examined the economic impact that Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) has on Ontario farms, farm production and the broader Ontario economy. This issue of Ontario Beef highlights the results of this study, which can be found on page 18.

Special thanks to Peter and Elizabeth Peeters from Omemee, Ontario for our cover photo featuring their Pinzgauer calves enjoying one of the season’s first snow falls. Don’t miss out on submitting your photos for our February issue. Please send your winter-inspired photos by January 10 to be considered for the cover. Digital photos in portrait orientation that are at least 300dpi are preferred, and can be emailed to info@ontariobeef.com.

PROVIDING A FORUM FOR THE ONTARIO BEEF

INDUSTRY

Ontario Beef is the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Contents of this publication may be reproduced only by permission of the Editor and with credit acknowledged. Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and/or editor and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Beef Farmers of Ontario. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement or approval by Ontario Beef or the Beef Farmers of Ontario of products or services advertised.

Advertising deadlines are January 10, April 15, July 15, September 15 and November 15. The publisher reserves the right to refuse or cancel any advertising, including advertising that is inconsistent with BFO’s Sponsorship Policy, available at www.ontariobeef.com. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published, however no responsibility can be assumed for advertising not received in clear, type-written form.

Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Number 0040007029

POSTMASTER: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Beef Farmers of Ontario, 130 Malcolm Road, Guelph, ON N1K 1B1

AHEAD OF THE HEARD

By Jack Chaffe, BFO President info@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Powerful Partnerships

As I sit down to write my final column for the year, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the highs and lows of the last several months. Our collective return to events, meetings and celebrations, and the energy we’ve all felt as we began to meet face-to-face once again has been so refreshing and provided the human connection we’ve all needed. I’ve also been reflecting on some of the significant personal losses over the year both experienced by our organization and entire industry. I was deeply saddened to hear of the recent sudden passing of Reg Schellenberg, president of the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). This significant loss has sent ripples throughout the Canadian beef industry and gave us all a moment of pause. I’ve served our sector alongside Reg for a number of years, including our most recent time together on the CCA Executive Board of Directors. He was always a strong voice for Canadian farmers and ranchers and had a thoughtful national approach to all issues impacting the cattle sector. My thoughts will continue to be with his family over the holiday season, and his legacy will no doubt be felt by all of us for years to come.

The fall months were active with our partners in the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC). We continue to unite in our government request for increased funding for Ontario’s Risk Management Program. As I mentioned in my last column, to further articulate this needed investment, BFO with our partners in OASC invested our own resources and worked with a third-party economist to conduct a study on the economic value and impact of RMP in Ontario. Some of the results from this study can be found on page 18, or you are welcome to view the study in its entirety by visiting the BFO website. The results have been very helpful in support of our advocacy work with Premier Ford, Minister Thompson and MPPs over the last month and we’re hopeful to have some positive news to share in 2023.

In early November, Diane and I had the chance to visit the 100th anniversary celebration of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. With the return of the fair in person, BFO resumed our annual sponsorship commitment for the Junior Beef Heifer Show. On behalf of the BFO Board of Directors, we congratulate all competitors and acknowledge the time and work it takes to prepare for and attend this premier show. It was sure nice

BFO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022

Jack Chaffe (Feedlot Director) - President

Phone: 519-301-3034 • Email: jdchaffe@quadro.net

Craig McLaughlin (Eastern Director) - Vice-President

Phone: 613-504-1863 Email: cmblackhorse@gmail.com

Don Badour (Cow-Calf Director)

Email: don.badour@ripnet.com

Don Hargrave (Cow-Calf Director)

Email: dchargrave@gmail.com

Jason Leblond (Cow-Calf Director)

Email: jsacres5@gmail.com

Rob Lipsett (Background Director)

Email: lipsettrob@yahoo.ca

Joe Dickenson (Feedlot Director)

Email: joe@dickensonfarms.com

David Millsap (Feedlot Director)

Email: davidwmillsap@gmail.com

Jordan Miller (Northern Director)

Email: b.jordan.miller@gmail.com

Ron Stevenson (Southern Director)

Email: ron@metzgervet.com

Jason Reid (Director-At-Large)

Email: reidridgefarm@tbaytel.net

Kim Jo Bliss (Director-At-Large)

Email: kimjobliss@gmail.com

to walk the aisles of the barn and catch up with producers from across the province.

Following the Royal, we attended Farm & Food Care Ontario’s annual Harvest Gala in Guelph. As an organization, we had a prosperous night. Ontario beef was featured on the gala menu, we took home the Paul Mistele Award in recognition of our annual food bank program with Feed Ontario, and we were given the opportunity to recognize the Dibble Family for their unwavering willingness to help us with our public engagement work. You can read more about our night on page 26.

I’ll also be busy over the next year in my new role as a mentor with the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program. There is a variety of mentorship focus areas this year, including sustainable grazing practices, agriculture technology, business management, cattle genetics, feedlot production, marketing strategies and livestock handling techniques to name a few. I have been paired with Madi Lewis and look forward to our chats over the next several months. I am sure I will learn just as much from her, as she will from me! I’d also like to thank Sandra Vos for accepting her role as mentor with Danika Mayer, and we wish Holly McGill all the best with her mentor Shannon Borden who is from western Canada.

Lastly, I would invite you to visit page 10 where you will find a complete listing of upcoming county and district annual general meetings, which will take place across the province in January. I would encourage you to join your fellow producers for some fellowship and an opportunity to discuss current issues and set the course for your local association in the year ahead. Each year, the BFO Board and staff look forward to connecting with our members at these meetings.

In closing, I would welcome you to join us at our annual general meeting, which will be held on February 22-23 in Toronto with our Cattle Academy program taking place on the evening of February 21. Program details, including registration, can be found on our website at www.ontariobeef.com. Hope to see you there.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday and all the best in 2023. OB

BFO STAFF

Executive Director

Richard Horne • richard@ontariobeef.com

Manager of Policy and Issues

Thomas Brandstetter • thomas@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor

Darby Wheeler • darby@ontariobeef.com Policy Advisor

Evan Chaffe • evan@ontariobeef.com

Director of Communications

LeaAnne Wurmli • leaanne@ontariobeef.com

Manager of Public Engagement and Digital Strategy

Jennifer Kyle • jennifer@ontariobeef.com

Communications Specialist

Bethany Storey • bethany@ontariobeef.com

Market Information Coordinator

Jamie Gamble • markets@ontariobeef.com

Accountant

Amber McIntyre • amber@ontariobeef.com

Office Manager

Tammy Purdham • tammy@ontariobeef.com

Manager of Producer Relations

Dan Ferguson • dan@ontariobeef.com

Senior Producer Relations Specialist

Jaclyn Horenberg • jaclyn@ontariobeef.com

Producer Relations Specialist

Robert McKinlay • robert@ontariobeef.com

Check-Off Inspector

Chris Millar • chrism@ontariobeef.com

Provincial Supervisor, Ontario Feeder Cattle and Beef Breeder Co-op Programs

Cheryl Russwurm • crfeederfin@wightman.ca

Water Quality Specialist

Chris Attema • chris@ontariobeef.com

Consider Running for a BFO Director or Committee Position

The degree to which BFO can provide leadership in responding to industry needs is heavily dependent on the competencies and leadership of the BFO Board of Directors and committees. As a producer driven organization, elected officials of BFO play a key role in identifying and prioritizing issues to better the Ontario beef sector, and provide direction in developing and advancing solutions to address a variety of issues in the areas of economic sustainability, animal health and welfare, food safety, environment, and domestic and export market development.

BFO is currently seeking nominations for various positions with the BFO Board of Directors, BFO Committees, and CCA representatives. Candidates will be elected at the BFO Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place on February 22 & 23, 2023 in Toronto.

Anyone interested in becoming a candidate for the BFO Board of Directors, Cow-Calf Committee, Feedlot Committee, or Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) positions must be elected as a voting delegate at his/her local annual meeting. Candidates must also be members in good standing of BFO.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their nomination form(s), biography and photo (if applicable) to the BFO office by Monday, January 23, 2023. Nominations will not be accepted after 4:30 p.m. on February 7, 2023. Nominations forms can be found on the BFO website at www.ontariobeef.com. For more information, please contact Darby Wheeler at the BFO office at 519-824-0334.

Board of Directors

There are four elected positions open on the 2023 BFO Board of Directors. At the BFO AGM, voting delegates will vote for the following director representatives: (1) Cow-Calf; (1) Feedlot; (1) Backgrounder; and (1) Eastern.

Committee Members

There will be four elected positions open on the 2023 BFO CowCalf Committee and three elected positions open on the 2023 BFO Feedlot Committee, which will be voted on at the BFO AGM by delegates. The youth member on the BFO Research Committee will be elected by the Ontario Beef Youth Alliance prior to the AGM.

Ontario Directors to CCA

There are two elected positions open for Ontario directors to CCA. Nominees must be a member of the 2023 BFO Board of Directors, Advisory Council or alternate member of the Advisory Council. During the BFO Annual General Meeting in February, voting delegates will vote for two (2) representatives. OB

THE BEEF BEAT

By Evan Chaffe, BFO Policy Advisor evan@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Resolutions Update

At BFO’s Annual General Meeting in February, a number of resolutions were put forward and efforts to address the 2022 BFO resolutions are nearing completion. An overview of the resolution responses and associated actions completed to date can be found below. If you are interested in reading more about a particular resolution, all BFO resolution responses can be found on BFO’s website or by contacting the BFO office.

22-01 to 22-03: Butchery & Abattoir Support

Increased investment, skills training and regulatory changes that support meat processing capacity continues to be a high priority of BFO when engaging with both levels of government. In addition, BFO is also working with Meat and Poultry Ontario (MPO) on labour shortages which is impacting members of both organizations. MPO is also currently working with AgScape to develop curriculum-based resources for students and is looking to develop a Specialist High Skills Major program specific to meat and poultry within the province. In regards to apprenticeships, “Retail Meat Cutter” is classified as a trade in Ontario and individuals can complete an apprenticeship to become certified, although it is not required to work in this field. MPO has advocated for Red Seal certification for the retail meat cutter apprenticeship, but has focused much of their attention on expanding training opportunities. Lastly, BFO and CCA continue to lobby for the harmonization of BSE regulations with the United States, which would allow our Canadian abattoirs to be more competitive.

22-04: Abattoir Funding

As mentioned above, support for the processing sector continues to be a high priority for BFO. A couple of government programs were announced within the last year that have helped to address the province’s lack of processing capacity. The first program was the Meat Processors Improvement Initiative, launched in November 2021, which invested $7 million directly into the Ontario meat processing sector. The second program was titled the Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund, which invested $25 million over three years starting in April 2022 into the Ontario food supply chain.

22-05: Compromised Cattle

The updated humane transportation regulations combined with limited processing capacity have exacerbated the concerns of compromised cattle in Ontario. BFO sent a letter to OMAFRA regarding this issue with the purpose of starting a working group with two objectives: review the compromised cattle and emergency slaughter regulations to ensure they align with the new CFIA regulations; and develop a cost-share funding program that would expand current emergency slaughter capacity in the province. BFO staff will continue to work with all stakeholders to address industry’s concerns related to compromised cattle.

22-06: Feeder Finance Ear Notching

This issue was discussed by the Provincial Feeder Finance Council this year where there was general support to allow interested co-ops

to discuss a revised cattle identification protocol with their lenders to better support positive animal welfare outcomes. Modernized animal identification could include the use of RFID and/or co-op dangle tags depending on what protocols are put in place and deemed acceptable by all parties. A letter was sent on behalf of BFO and the Provincial Feeder Finance Council to the feeder co-ops encouraging them to initiate discussions with their respective lenders on identification requirements and protocols moving forward.

22-07: Wild Parsnip

We have discussed this resolution with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) who have been working to better understand the process for controlling noxious weeds and how to best address this issue. OFA has had discussions with OMAFRA’s Weed Management Specialist and the Chief Weed Inspector under the Weed Control Act to discuss the resolution and the issue more generally. OMAFRA has been in contact with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to discuss the control of weeds, in particular, wild parsnip in the Lanark area. If you feel that your agricultural or horticultural land is being negatively impacted by wild parsnip or other noxious weeds, OMAFRA advises land owners to contact their county or local municipality for information.

22-10: Nutrient Management Act

BFO continues to advocate for changes to the Nutrient Management Act that would modernize and streamline aspects of the Act. In relation to this resolution, BFO was made aware of the nutrient management protocol under the Nutrient Management Act regulation 267/03 for short form nutrient management strategies (NMS). The short form strategy was ultimately revoked from the Nutrient Management Act in 2019. It was created for agricultural operations that generated less than 150 nutrient units (NU) and did not apply liquid manure or non-agricultural source material. The short form strategy allowed operations that fit the criteria to complete a yes or no checklist.

BFO met with staff from Ontario Sheep Farmers and with OMAFRA to discuss this resolution and to get more background on the revoked short form NMS. Subsequently, BFO staff also discussed this resolution and short form strategy with OMAFRA’s Environmental Specialist. OMAFRA staff highlighted that there is a “Streamlined Review Process” for NMS, which shares similarities to the short form strategy. This review process is meant to simplify the approval process for NMS that meet set criteria, and it can be used for smaller operations which generate 100 nutrient units or less. The streamlined review process requires a checklist be completed and all criteria be met in order for it to be approved by OMAFRA. BFO will continue to discuss this matter with OMAFRA and potential changes that can be made to simplify the approval process for smaller livestock operations who require or are looking to complete a NMS, and we will continue to work with other livestock industry organizations to see changes made to modernize and streamline the NMA.

22-11 & 22-12: Deadstock Capacity

The issue of deadstock capacity arose in 2021 due to some collectors and collection sites closing or limiting their service area. Due to this disruption, a working group was struck between BFO, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork, and Ontario Sheep Farmers to develop alternative options for Ontario farmers. BFO was pleased to hear in November of 2021 that the provincial government released a funding program under the Increasing Deadstock Capacity Initiative. This $1.5 million was a step in the right direction, but more needed to be done to ensure producers had access to resources and services to handle the disposal or collection of deadstock quickly and efficiently. This program resulted in 16 new licenses being issued to deadstock collectors and transfer stations. In September of this year, the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) entered into an agreement on behalf of Ontario’s livestock organizations with OMAFRA. The agreement aims to engage stakeholders to assess the current issues and to work with BFO, livestock organizations, and stakeholders to develop a long-term solution to the deadstock issue in Ontario. Key objectives include: assess and document the issue of hides as a related organic resource; identify opportunities and barriers for new entrants and existing pick-up service providers and renderers to allow for the expansion and growth of their business; and conduct a market analysis of end product use/sale and the opportunities and barriers that exist to develop end-markets for by-products of deadstock management systems.

22-14: Meat Resources for Retailers

Clear and concise promotion of Ontario beef and beef production practices is one of the core mandates of BFO and industry partners like Canada Beef, the Canadian Cattle Association, and the Beef

Cattle Research Council. To make efficient use of time and resources, BFO utilizes materials produced by our partner organizations, such as Canada Beef, who maintain a large assortment of fact sheets and other resources that address common questions from consumers. The BFO consumer engagement website www.ontbeef.ca is also an excellent resource for retailers. Proactively, BFO distributes point of sale materials to butcher shops, farmers markets and other retailers who respond with interest to our direct outreach, as well as those who make direct requests for materials. Producers, consumers, and retail partners interested in having resources sent to them directly can call the BFO office and we would happy to assist with sourcing and distribution. Further, if the current library of resources available does not address a certain topic or specific audience, we would be pleased to assist in helping to tailor or create new resources to address the desired need.

22-15: Meat and Beef Terminology on Packaging and in Advertising

In 2019, BFO, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), and other meat protein groups worked in a coordinated effort during the consultation on the simulated meat protein labelling requirements that CFIA held. A collective effort was maintained between the organizations to ensure that there was a unified voice in the meat protein sector when approaching the issue of simulated meat labelling. There is currently a guidance document on the CFIA website that outlines the rules that simulated meat products need to follow. For example, any product that has the appearance of meat needs to have a statement of “Contains no meat” on the package that is no smaller than the common name of the product. Additionally, any product that wishes to call itself simulated meat needs to meet the nutrition equivalency of the traditional meat product.

One of the challenges is that CFIA utilizes a complaint-based system that relies on organizations and consumers to submit complaints on products they find to violate the current guidelines. This puts a strain on organizations as they have to establish an active

By Dan Ferguson, Manager of Producer Relations dan@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

Natureis constantly changing our environment as seasons come and go and special weather events heighten our awareness and affect our daily chores and farming routines. This past November, I was intrigued by the forecast of an early morning lunar eclipse. The earth was passing in front of the full moon turning the night brightness into a pre-dawn haze. It was at its peak at 5 a.m., and I was up to watch the phenomenon. I felt a calmness and appreciation of how small we are with all our actions when the planetary alignment can have such an effect on our view of the world. Very profound, but then I noticed my cows were out.

Nothing gets my adrenaline rolling like rogue cows, it has ten times the effect of a morning coffee. They, on the other hand, were calm and cool in the early morning haze mining the choicest of hay from the ends of the rows of my hay yard. Clusters of black and red beasts at the ends of various rows, and a bale had tumbled off a stack end that they were particularly fond of, which was now a ruined hay mound. Peppered all over the yard were the results of their gorging, in hundreds of large pudding-like paddies, ripe for splatting my white truck. I scanned the devils and planned my strategy to convince them that the barnyard was their only option. They had slid the pole shed door open and mainly cows had seized the opportunity, but a few calves had followed their lead. I repositioned a couple of spare gates, my truck and began shouting to show them I was the boss and meant business! Most of the cows headed back from where they came, but a few calves got confused and bolted. They mistook the slant bar feed-through gate as a creep feeder panel and pushed partly through. Most backed out, but one unfortunate heifer gave the extra push and was firmly wedged with the angle bars past her rib cage. She was not going anywhere, so I shifted my attention to the fringe cows in various clusters. They were close to the electric fence on the edge of their pasture (which I had unplugged) so I thought I could push them over. But they didn’t trust that it had no power and were overly cautious of its jolt. I drew on my inner Tim Prior and pulled the wire out of their way and with it in hand I swept around behind the skeptical group and drew it tight and fake forced them back in. I quickly hustled back to plug it in before they figured out the ruse.

Refocusing my attention on the stuck heifer, I gathered the Bosch grinder with a cutting blade, the extension cord, and a blanket. I suspected the way my luck was going the calf would jimmy the gate free and make a bad situation worse so I used the Kubota and a wet bale of wrapped hay to hold the gate in place as I set up to cut her free. I placed the blanket over the calf for protection and proceeded

to cut through the slant bar with a colourful array of sparks to prove I was making progress. Within five minutes she was free, unscathed and she happily rejoined the herd. Properly repairing the compromised gate would have to wait, but for now a temporary fix of plywood and black wire would block the hole. Permanent fix could be years away.

Some mindful exercises, deep breathing, and humming a pleasant tune put me back in the house in a calmed state to interact with a family breakfast. I had endured my adrenaline rush for the day. No gym membership required here, just an Olympic field of challenges and some very worthy opponents. My morning had been both surreal and very real. Every day has a different challenge and it’s great to succeed and set the tone for the day. Have a safe holiday season, and stay tuned for more adventures in the new year. OB

In

In

Niagara Jan.

6:00 p.m. Fonthill Lions Club, 103 Hurricane Road, Fonthill - Dinner at 6 p.m.

In Person Algoma Jan. 10 7:30 p.m. Bruce Stations Hall, 109 Station Road, Bruce Mines

In Person Brant Jan. 10 6:30 p.m. Best Western Brant Park Inn, 19 Holiday Drive, Brantford

In Person Glengarry Jan. 10 6:00 p.m. Alexandria Pizzeria, 127 Main Street South, Alexandria - Pizza included

In Person Peterborough Jan. 10 7:00 p.m. Douro Community Centre, 2893 Highway 28, Peterborough

In Person Wentworth Jan. 10 7:00 p.m. Ancaster Fairgrounds, Main Building, 630 Trinity Road South, Jerseyville

In Person Elgin Jan. 11 6:00 p.m. Dunwich United Church - Dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.

In Person Huron Jan. 11 6:00 p.m. Brussels Legion - Dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow

In Person Lambton Jan. 11 6:00 p.m. Wyoming Fairgrounds, 595 Main Street, Wyoming

In Person Lennox/Addington Jan. 11 7:00 p.m. Centreville Hall, 4504 County Road 4, Centreville

In Person Manitoulin Jan. 11 11:00 a.m. Spring Bay Community Hall

In Person Perth Jan. 11 6:00 p.m. Listowel Agricultural Hall, 5699 Line 86, Listowel

Virtual York Jan. 11 10:00 a.m. Register - galten.farms@sympatico.ca

In Person Haldimand Jan. 12 7:00 p.m. Haldimand Agricultural Centre (Kohler Agricultural Hall), 1084 Kohler Road, Kohler

In Person Leeds Jan. 12 7:00 p.m. Thousand Islands Land Trust Hall, 870 County Rd 42, Athens

In Person Northumberland Jan. 12 6:00 p.m. Alnwick Civic Centre, 9059 County Road 45, Roseneath Tradeshow at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and meeting to follow

In Person Simcoe Jan. 12 7:00 p.m. Edgar Hall, 1167 Old Barrie Road West, Shanty Bay

In Person Dufferin Jan. 13 6:00 p.m. Shelburne Agricultural Hall, 377 William Street - Dinner at 6 p.m.

In Person Cochrane Jan. 14 12:00 p.m. Porquis Junction Agricultural Hall - Lunch provided

In Person Dundas Jan. 14 9:00 a.m. Country Kitchen Restaurant, 2159 SDG Co. Road 31, Winchester Complimentary breakfast included

In Person Lanark & Ottawa Jan. 14 10:00 a.m. Brunton Community Hall, Beckwith - Lunch included. Please register by email lcbeeffarmers@gmail.com OR by calling 613.253.6959

In Person Sudbury/West Nippissing

Jan. 14 9:30 a.m. Clarion Hotel Sudbury, 117 Elm St, Banquet Room 10:00 a.m. meeting and lunch at noon

In Person Temiskaming Jan. 14 6:00 p.m. Kerns Community Hall - Dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow

In Person Victoria Jan. 16 7:00 p.m. Dunsford Community Centre, 26 Community Centre Road, Dunsford

In Person Norfolk Jan. 17 TBC TBC

In Person Bruce Jan. 18 10:30 a.m. Tara Legion, 86 River Street, Tara 10:30 a.m. registration and 11 a.m. meeting

In Person Prescott Jan. 18 6:00 p.m. Le Chardo Restaurant, 374 Street Philippe Street, Alfred

In Person Thunder Bay Jan. 18 TBC TBC

In Person Grey Jan. 19 6:30 p.m. Grey County Agricultural Services Building, 206 Toronto Street South, Markdale - Hot dinner included

In Person Haliburton Jan. 19 TBC TBC

In Person Hastings Jan. 19 6:00 p.m. Tweed Agricultural Building, 617 Louisa Street, Tweed Dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting to follow

In Person Middlesex Jan. 19 6:00 p.m. Glencoe Agricultural Hall/Curling Hall 2-268 Currie Street, Glencoe Tradeshow at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and meeting at 8 p.m.

In Person Oxford Jan. 19 6:30 p.m. CAW Hall, 136 Beale Street, Woodstock - Dinner included

In Person Rainy River Jan. 19 7:00 p.m. Our Lady of Way School, Stratton

In Person Renfrew Jan. 19 10:00 a.m. Cobden Agricultural Hall, Cobden Muffins & coffee at 10 a.m. and lunch to follow meeting

In Person Russell Jan. 19 7:00 p.m. 4762 Rockdale Road, Navan

In Person Durham Jan. 20 5:30 p.m. Uxbridge Legion, 109 Frankiln Street, Uxbridge - Social at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., presentation at 7:30 p.m. and meeting at 8 p.m.

In Person Kenora Jan. 20 TBC TBC

In Person Wellington Jan. 20 6:30 p.m. Central Pentecostal Church, 7674 Colborne St., Elora Social at 6:30 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.

In Person Muskoka/PS/Nip. Jan. 21 9:30 a.m. Magnetawan Friendship Centre, Magnetawan

BFO

ANNUAL GENERAL

Local county & district annual general meetings held across the province in the month of January provide an excellent opportunity for members of the Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) to meet with fellow farmers and neighbours, as well as directors and staff from BFO.

Before you plan to attend, please refer to the BFO website for updates and a current listing of meetings, or as always, you can contact the office by calling 1.866.370.2333.

www.ontariobeef.com

What Are Profitable Farms Doing

Observations from the Canadian Cost of Production Network

What

profitable farms do? This is one of the questions the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network (COP Network) tries to answer by benchmarking cow-calf production systems across Canada.

As of 2022, the COP Network is comprised of 46 benchmark cowcalf farms and three dairy-beef farms, with data collected from 186 participants across Canada. Farms within the COP Network represent a variety of Canadian production systems, including variation in animal performance, economies of scale, labour productivity, feeding and farm financials.

Based on data from these benchmark farms for the 2021 production year, it is observed that the higher profit farms within the COP Network tend to have more cows, smaller cows and lower costs per cow. The following analysis looks at the cow-calf enterprise alone and results do vary at the whole-farm level when other enterprises are considered.

More Cows

The COP Network covers a range of herd sizes, within provinces and nationally. Herd sizes range from 35 head of beef cows to 950 head. Among the 46-benchmark cow-calf farms, 19 farms had fewer than 100 cows, 10 farms were in the 100-200 cow range, nine farms had between 201 and 300 cows and eight farms had more than 300 cows.

The 2021 results indicated that farms with a larger herd were more likely to cover their cash and depreciation costs.

For the two groups that had fewer than 100 or between 100-200 cows, only 47 per cent and 50 per cent were covering their cash and depreciation costs in 2021, respectively. Once the herd size gets over 200 head, the percentage of farms covering these costs increased to 75 per cent to 89 per cent.

The major driving factor behind this pattern was the economies of scale, as larger herd operations were able to spread overhead costs over more cows.

Looking at all benchmark farms, mature cow weights in the high-profitable group were an average of 47 lb lighter than the low-profitable group. Within the benchmark farms with less than 100 cows, the difference was even bigger. Average mature cow weights in the high-profitable group were about 78 lb lighter than the lowprofitable group. For the farms with over 100 cows, the mediumprofitable group had the heaviest average mature cow weights, while the high-profitable group was about 20 lb lighter than the lowprofitable group.

One of the concerns with smaller cows is fewer pounds of calf weaned and thus fewer pounds sold to make revenue on. As mature cow weights declined from the low- to high-profitable group, weaning weights also declined by 19 lb between the two groups. However, weaning weight as a percentage of mature cow weights were steady across the three groups at around 41 per cent.

The lower costs of maintaining smaller cows appeared to offset the lower revenue on lighter calves and had positive impacts on profitability. This may be particularly true for the drought-affected farms in 2021 given the skyrocketed feed prices and relatively stable cattle prices.

Cash cost for purchased feed, fertilizer, seeds, fuel, maintenance, land rents, interest on liabilities, wages paid, veterinary costs plus medicine, insurance, accounting, etc. Depreciation is the value of an asset that decreases over time due to use, wear and tear or becoming outdated.

The lower percentage covering cash costs and depreciation in the >300 group at 75 per cent, compared to the 201-300 head group at 89 per cent was due to some of the farms being hit harder by drought conditions in 2021 and dealing with sharper increases in feed costs (i.e., with a lack of surplus feedstocks and/or other enterprises that used feed).

Smaller Cows

Mature cow weights on the benchmark farms ranged from 1,200 lb to 1,540 lb with an average of 1,355 lb. This is similar to the average mature cow weight reported in the 2017 Western Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (1,374 lb).

When all the benchmark farms were divided into three groups (namely low-, medium-, high-profitable group) based on net income, the high profitable group in 2021 tended to have lighter mature cow weights.

Lower Costs

Profitability is measured with revenue and costs. While the highprofitable group had higher returns and lower costs compared to the low-profitable group, total returns per cow were only up 11 per cent from the low to high profit group, while the decline in total costs per cow was more significant at 32 per cent. This indicated that lower cost was the more significant contributing factor to the difference in profitability between the low- and high-profitable group.

Looking at cost structure, average depreciation and cash costs dropped 48 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively from the low- to high-profitable group. Opportunity costs were an exception with a 35 per cent increase from the medium to high profitable group. This was driven by higher (+14 per cent) unpaid labour hours per cow, higher (+13 per cent) wages for the unpaid labour, as well as higher (+16 per cent) estimated rental price for owned land.

Feed cost, a significant component of total cost, also dropped more than 30 per cent from the low to high profitable group. Lower feed costs were not necessarily driven by fewer days on feed. On average

do

Cambray

Livestock Company

Luke, Matt, Joe and Carl Jewell

1153 The Glen Road Woodville ON 705-934-2853

Fallis Land and Cattle

Mike, Lisa and Cole Fallis 1273 6th Line Selwyn, ON K9J 6X5 705-740-4878 sunsetacres@nexicom.net

Gilchrist Farms

Brad & Kristie Gilchrist

1269 Grey Ox Ave RR#5 Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519-440-6720 brad@gilchristfarms.com

Glen Islay Angus

Don Currie 2234 Conc 11 Nottawa, ON L0M1P0 705-715-2234 doncurrie@glenislay.com

Harprey Farms

Allan Hargrave/Don Hargrave 307483 Centre Line A Proton Station, ON N0C 1L0 Allan 519-375-5541 Don 519-375-1500 harprey@gmail.com

Loval Farms

Scott & Sandra Honey 127 Honey Road Warkworth, ON K0K 3K0 705-924-3809 lovalfarms@gmail.com

Maple Line Farm

Ian & Tim Rudkin 3320 Bradburn Road Blackstock, On L0B 1B0 Ian 905-718-5331

Tim 905-213-6518 maplelinefarm@hotmail.com

Meadow Bridge Angus

JJ Deslippe 922580 Rd 92 RR # 4

St Mary’s, ON N4X 1C7 519-275-1739 deslippe@quadro.net

Rob Roy Angus

Don & Betty McNalty

634514 Road 63 RR#2 Singhampton, ON N0C 1M0 705-446-4740 robroyangus@gmail.com

SCOMAC Livestock

Scott & Elizabeth MacDonald 4169 Highway # 6 Hagersville, ON N0A 1H0 Scott 519-820-1272 Elizabeth 226-971-0015 scomaclivestock@gmail.com

Silver Springs Farm

James, Joan and Robert McKinlay 609027 12th Sideroad RR#1 Ravenna, ON N0H 2E0 519-599-6236 jmckinlay@bmts.com

Tullamore Farms

Bill & Sylvia Jackson 12201 Torbram Rd Caledon, ON L7C 2T4

Home 905-843-1236 Cell 647-990-2697 tullamore.angus@gmail.com

Upper Glen Angus

Rick Stull 12249 8th Line Georgetown, ON L7G 4S4 905-703-0503 rickstull93@gmail.com Whiskey

RESEARCH UPDATE

The Search for Sustainable Deadstock Solutions

By Lilian Schaer for the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

On-farm

mortalities are an unfortunate reality of livestock farming, even though it’s something producers go to great lengths to avoid. At the same time, farmers have also long faced on-going challenges in accessing practical and economical solutions for handling and disposing of animals that die unexpectedly on the farm.

“Deadstock is not just a farm issue. It also impacts veterinarians, transporters, processors, renderers, waste management companies, municipalities and regulatory agencies,” says Mike McMorris, CEO of the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC). “And through One Health, the interconnectivity of animal, human and environmental health, it also has broader societal implications, so it’s a problem in need of solutions.”

According to McMorris, there has been little innovation in recent decades in how deadstock is handled. The industry still largely relies on rendering, which means on-farm pick up of dead animals. This has become uneconomical and unsustainable across large parts of Ontario due to escalating costs for pick-up companies. It’s not a new issue, however, as farmers have faced disruptions and service cuts for decades, but it’s now time for a different and hopefully more permanent solution, he says.

“We have to take a fresh look at the issue, recognizing the new focus on One Health and investigating the topic from international and innovation perspectives,” he says, adding there is a clear desire by everyone involved for innovative solutions and opportunities.

LRIC has received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to lead a project that will hopefully do just that.

A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis will examine current opportunities and barriers to those dealing with livestock mortalities in Ontario; expansion, growth and retention of businesses currently providing those services in the market, and factors that have contributed to companies and service providers leaving the industry.

The project will also take a view beyond Ontario’s borders to look at how other jurisdictions tackle the problem of on-farm livestock

Continued from page 12.

– What Are Profitable Farms Doing

mortalities and what options and practices they use, or research they’ve conducted, that might be suitable for application in Ontario.

A traditional end-use for meat from animals that die on-farm has long been the pet food industry. And while this continues to be an option, the project also includes a market analysis for use and sale of other end products stemming from by-products of deadstock management systems.

Finally, the research team will explore the suitability and practicality of various options, including:

• Transfer stations. Could centrally located facilities serve as pick up/drop off points for renderers and farmers needing to access deadstock management services? As an interim solution, these could help to alleviate challenges posed by Ontario’s large geography and increasing transportation costs that make on-farm pick up unviable for many farmers and service providers.

• Waste management companies and municipalities. Do waste management companies and associations, municipalities and landfill sites have the capacity to accommodate possible deadstock pick up and disposal options at their facilities?

• New long-term options. How could solutions used in other jurisdictions or innovations identified as having potential for Ontario be adapted to serve the livestock industry in this province?

The project has come about as a result of a request by LRIC members to OMAFRA for help in addressing the livestock mortality issue with both short-term relief for farmers and long-term options that will result in practical and sustainable solutions.

“Farmers work hard to ensure they keep their herds healthy, but unfortunately, deadstock is part of the reality of livestock farming and food production, so we must find solutions that will work for everyone involved,” notes McMorris.

A final report is expected in 2023. OB

This article is provided by Livestock Research Innovation Corporation as part of LRIC’s ongoing efforts to report on research developments and outcomes, and issues affecting the Canadian livestock industry.

A driver behind the lower feed costs was the cost of feed production. As most of the COP Network farms used homegrown feed, with only a few relying on purchased feed, lower average feed costs were mostly associated with the costs of producing feed on the operation. On average, the combined costs of purchased feed, fertilizer, seed and other variable inputs dropped more than 30 per cent from the low to high profitable group. Land costs were relatively stable across the three groups while labour and capital costs declined by around 40 per cent from the low to high profitable group.

Bottom Line

the high profitable group had more days on full winter feed and total feeding days compared to the low profitable group.

As the COP Network shed light on some of the commonalities of the profitable farms, the results showed that profitability did not relate to a specific production system, farm structure or region. Each operation had its own unique approach to achieve financial success. The COP Network offers a unique opportunity for continuous learning. Participating producers can benefit throughout the process - from the collection and understanding of your own data, to taking part in virtual focus groups and learning from other producers, to exploring potential practice changes in the future. Sign up by contacting John Molenhuis at john.molenhuis@ontario.ca and take your first step towards further learning. A $500 honorarium is offered for each participating farm. OB

OMAFRA UPDATE

Top Ten Tips to Prepare Your Herd for Winter

By James Byrne, Beef Cattle Specialist, OMAFRA

Winter

has arrived, which means it’s a good time to prepare you and your herd for the next couple of months of snow, cold temperatures and seasonal challenges. Below are the top ten tips for getting cattle ready for the winter.

Body Condition Scoring

This is a great time to Body Condition Score (BCS) your cows and bred heifers. Spring calving cows should have a body condition score of 2.5 whereas spring calving bred heifers should have a score between 2.5 and 3. Cows identified as thin should be fed separate from the rest of the herd. Cows that maintain a good BSC over the winter will calve easily in the spring and get back into calf quickly thereafter.

Feed Bred Heifers Separately

Plan to feed your bred heifers separate from your mature cows. Bred heifers are still growing and have a higher nutritional requirement. Provide your bred heifers with the highest quality forage available. Depending on your forage test results, some supplementation may be required but this must be done carefully to avoid heifers becoming over conditioned.

Avoid Carrying Open Cows and Heifers

If you have not done so already, pregnancy check your herd prior to the winter-feeding period. Mature cows found to be empty should be culled and heifers found to be empty can be either fed as beef heifers or sold. It makes no financial sense to feed empty mature cows over the winter period in the hope of getting her pregnant next year. Empty cows will need to be fed for at least two winters before giving a financial return through a saleable calf. Hay costs alone would amount to $1,350, (hay at $0.10 per lb).

Provide Adequate Feeding Space

It’s important that you consider the amount of space you give your animals to feed. When feed space is limited, thinner and younger cattle lose out to healthier and stronger animals, exacerbating any feed challenges they may already have. The amount of space required depends on the animal (heifers compared to mature cows) and how often they are fed. Spacing can range from 13 to 14 inches for mature cows on an ad libitum forage diet to as high as 26 to 30 inches when limit-fed once per day.

Bedding

This is a great time of year to get your bedding requirements up to speed. Adequate bedding is critical to keep animals warm and dry during the coldest months of the year. Bedding helps prevent the build-up of manure on the hide and by keeping animals warm and dry, their feed requirement will be lower as less feed is needed for heat generation.

Shelter

If you maintain your beef cows outdoors over the winter period, shelter provision is critical. Beef cattle are comfortable at temperatures as low as -21°C under calm dry conditions. Add in wind and snow, and winter-adopted cattle quickly become uncomfortable. Giving cattle access to an area with a mixture of open ground and bush makes excellent wintering grounds. Providing constructed wind fences temporarily or permanently can reduce wind speeds by as much as 80 per cent.

Forage Testing and Forage Inventory Check

Now is a great time to have your forage tested and have those results back prior to starting feeding. Forage testing lets you know exactly the quality of your forage and if you need to add any supplementation to ensure you are meeting the nutritional requirements of your herd. This is also a great time to determine your forage inventory and prepare if you are short. As an example, a 50-cow herd over a 180-day winter will require approximately 337,500 lb. (150

Extending the Grazing Season

Every day you can extend the grazing season reduces your hay requirement by 37.5 lb per head per day for a mature cow. In our 50-cow example from above, this saves 1,875 lb of hay per day for the herd. Options include planting cereal rye for grazing next spring or grazing some of your neighbours cover crops.

Weaned Calves - Feeding for Pasture

If you plan on grazing your weaned calves on pasture next spring, planning starts now. Young animal performance at pasture is dependent on weight at turnout. Aim to put your cattle to pasture weighing between 650 lb and 750 lb. Winter gains should be modest

but these gains must be front-loaded. This means getting good gains over the first 100 to 120 days followed by lower gains for the 60 to 80 days prior to turnout.

Don’t Forget About the Bull

Breeding bulls need to be maintained in good body condition over the winter so that they can be easily ramped up to their ideal breeding

condition in the spring. An ideal pre-breeding target BCS is between 3 and 3.5. For mature bulls, this means keeping them on a mainly forage diet as bulls can easily become over conditioned, which is detrimental to reproductive performance. Young bulls need a diet containing 13.5 –14 per cent crude protein compared to about 12 per cent crude protein for mature bulls. OB

Changes to OBCFPP Licenced Dealers List

Now Licenced

Livestock Dealers Abattoir Zampioni Inc., L’Epiphanie, Quebec Alain Bergeron Limoges, Ontario William Finlay Williamsford, Ontario

No Longer Licenced

Livestock Dealers

Dufferin County Meats Inc. Amaranth, Ontario 2758282 Ontario Inc. Kinder Foods Mount Forest, Ontario Joe Savage & Fils Abattoir Inc. Savage Abattoir, C.P. St. Albert, Ontario

The entire OBCFPP list can be found on the OMAFRA website at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/fpu/fpu_lists.htm

New Study Highlights Economic Impact of Ontario’s RMP Program

This fall, the Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) released a new study, Evaluation of the Impact of the Risk Management Program/Self-Directed Risk Management Program on Ontario Farmers and the Economy, undertaken by Harry Cummings and Associates and Agri-Metrics Consulting. The study examined the economic impact that Ontario’s Risk Management Program (RMP) and Self-Directed Risk Management Program (SDRM) have on Ontario farms, farm production and the broader Ontario economy.

“The results of this study not only confirm the positive impact this important program has on farmers, farm production and economic activity for the province, it also provides strong data to support to OASC’s call on the Ontario government to increase its investment into this critical program,” said grain farmer and OASC Chair, Brendan Byrne.

Highlights of the study include:

• Every dollar spent on RMP/SDRM leads to $2.01 - $3.60 return on investment. In 2020, this led to an increase in economic output of between $282.6 million and $506.2 million.

• RMP/SDRM helps support more than 47,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal jobs.

• More than 95% of participating farmers agree that not having access to this program would negatively impact their farm operations.

• RMP/SDRM support allows farmers to mitigate input cost volatility, and enables many participating farmers to increase their investments in innovation, equipment and labour.

• On average for the 2016 - 2020 years, program funding only covered 40.4% of calculated insurance benefits for participating farmers due to the current funding cap.

• RMP/SDRM is viewed by participating farmers as a particularly important risk management tool for young and beginning farmers, and assists farmers in obtaining financial services from private lenders.

The release of the study comes at an important time as many farm sectors struggle to manage the impact of inflationary pressures on the price of farm inputs, debt servicing costs due to rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions due to ongoing pandemic issues, labour shortages and international conflicts. Price increases received by farmers are not keeping pace with historically high production costs. Ultimately, these challenges continue to present significant threats to domestic food production and the viability of Ontario farms.

Fortunately, programs like RMP/SDRM were designed specifically to help farmers mitigate market volatility through targeted coverage that captures changes in market and production costs.

“The study provides a clear signal to policymakers that provincial investment into the RMP/SDRM program is good for farmers, good for taxpayers and good for the Ontario economy. The program funding limitations noted in the report represent one major shortcoming of an otherwise valued and impactful program for Ontario farmers and the broader Ontario economy,” said OASC Vice-Chair, Jack Chaffe.

“The RMP/SDRM program is critical for growers in Ontario who are facing a challenging operating environment where input costs are increasing faster than price increases for produce sold. Programs like RMP/SDRM help ensure a stable and reliable domestic food supply for Ontarian, but funding needs to keep pace with current need,” says vegetable grower and OASC Vice-Chair, Mike Chromczak.

A copy of the study in its entirety can be accessed by visiting www.ontariobeef.com, or you are welcome to contact the BFO office.

The Ontario Agriculture Sustainability Coalition (OASC) is comprised of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Pork, Ontario Sheep Farmers, and the Veal Farmers of Ontario. The coalition was formed in 2009 to develop and implement the Risk Management Program (RMP) in Ontario at the request of the Government of Ontario. OB

By Ryan Kitchen, Baker Tilly Canada

The federal government introduced the Return of Fuel Charge

Proceeds to Farmers Tax Credit in December 2021 to help farmers offset the high cost of the carbon tax. This credit is available for the tax years 2021 and 2022 in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan, the four provinces that don’t have a specific agreement in place with the federal government regarding carbon tax. While this could be a significant help to many farms, not every business that stands to benefit is aware of this opportunity. With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the fuel charges tax credit.

Eligibility

Businesses are eligible if they file a farm tax return – whether as a sole proprietor or a partnership – and prepare a T1163, which is the farm return statement prepared on a personal tax return or the farm statement prepared on a corporate tax return. To qualify, businesses must also record at least $25,000 in eligible farm expenses, which is defined as all farm related expenses except for non-arm’s length transactions (i.e., salaries for family members) and any inventory adjustments, whether mandatory or optional.

Amount Available

If your farming expenses exceed $25,000, you qualify to get a return of your fuel charge at a rate of $1.47 for every $1,000 in eligible farming expenses for 2021. In 2022, this amount will increase

to $1.73 for every $1,000 in eligible farming expenses. It’s also worth noting the amount returned will be included in your taxable income.

Notice of Assessment

While this tax credit was introduced in an economic update late in 2021, those who tried to claim it on 2021 tax returns saw the processing of those returns delayed because this credit had yet to receive royal assent. The Canada Revenue Agency did not start processing these returns until June 9, 2022, which caused significant concern for many businesses, as a notice of assessment is required for lend-ing and other financing purposes. Now that this credit has received royal assent, anyone who filed a 2021 tax return on time should have received their refund and notice of assessment.

Retroactive Claims

Those who failed to make claims on their 2021 tax returns still have the ability to go back and amend those returns. Claiming this tax credit is a valuable opportunity to retroactively recoup some costs or tax. All you need to make this update is a T1 or T2 adjustment form. But before you take this step, be sure to check with your accountant and confirm this wasn’t already claimed. Depending on the size of your farm and the amount of eligible expenses you’ve claimed, this credit could be worth a sizeable amount.

To learn about how this applies to you or your farming business, please contact your accountant or tax professional. OB

As a farmer, do you find it difficult to book processing space? Do you want to contribute to an online tool that can make it easier to find available processors offering the services you need when you need them? As a meat processor, do you find yourself spending a lot of time booking processing time with your clients? Do you want to participate and contribute to a solution that helps you and your clients schedule and receive reminders to efficiently use the skilled labour to process animals?

Meat & Poultry Ontario (MPO) together with AgSights have established a dashboard with processing availability across the province. Together, with abattoirs and farmers they are working to implement a centralized online booking system for Ontario abattoirs called Processor Links. This system enables farmers to book appointments online for livestock processing, which will improve booking visibility, accessibility, and reduce manual administrative tasks.

MPO and AgSights are currently looking to speak with producers who have recently had or are currently having difficulty finding processing appointments. They will be able to provide administrative support to match them with an abattoir that aligns with their processing needs, while also gathering information for a long-term solution to this industry-wide challenge.

If you are interested in this program, please email processorlinks@agsights.com or complete an intake form (agsights. com/what-is-processor-links/), which can be found at the bottom of the webpage.

As a reminder, if you take advantage of this program and are matched with a processor who you haven’t worked with before, be sure to discuss your end-product and packaging expectations to ensure you are both happy with the experience. OB

3 RIDGE FARMS

Jon Bell 217294 Conc. 3 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N5 519-378-4006 roundbale14@hotmail.com

ARCON CATTLE CO

Art Thompson, Jim & Connor Wiley 5174 Concession Road 4 Everett, ON L0M 1J0 Art 705-434-8582 Jim 705-734-7379 arconcattleco@gmail.com

BEE ZEE ACRES

The Zwambag’s 4140 Glendon Drive, Glencoe, ON N0L 1M0

Bill: 519-494-9613 Matt: 519-870-3219 beezeeacres@gmail.com

CROWN HILL ACRES

Craig and Michelle Kennedy 258 Sturgeon Rd. Omemee, ON K0L 2W0 705-741-6700 crownhillacres@gmail.com

DARLING FARMS 4172 County Rd 25 Castleton, ON K0K 1M0 905-375-4019 dmdarling13@gmail.com

GIBSON FARMS

Dave and Emily Gibson 2148 Concession 4, RR1, Ripley Ontario N0G2R0 Dave-519-357-6174 Emily 519-440-9907 gibsonfarmstrucking@gmail.com

CLARK CATTLE CO.

David Clark 2280 McCullough Rd. Port Hope, ON L1A 3V7 905-449-0149 clarkcattle1@hotmail.ca

LOYAL LINE LIMOUSIN

Brent and Vicky Black 82509 Loyal Line Goderich, Ontario N7A 3Y3

Cell: 519-955-1234 brentblack204@hotmail.com

SPARE TIME LIVESTOCK

Don & Donna Scott & family Oxford Mills, ON Don: 613-913-1579 Laura: 613-316-8728 sparetimelivestock@gmail.com

HILLSIDE FARMS

Ray and Stacie Stanton 4250 King Road, King City, ON, L7B 1K4 416-505-0707 rays@londonproperty.ca

AFTER HOURS LIMOUSINS

Rob & Erin Weppler 117078 Grey Rd. 3 , Tara, ON 519-375-6108 Rob@gbtel.ca

BROWN EDEN LIMOUSIN Neil & Suzanne Brown 768 Zion Road Little Britain, ON, K0M 2C0 705-768-1605 nsbrown@bell.net

LAKESIDE FARM

Wayne and Nancy Lawrence 263657 Southgate Rd. 26 RR#4 Durham, ON N0G 1R0 519-369-2806 lakesidelimo@hotmail.com

PINCH HILL LIMOUSIN

Paul, Brandon & Chad Homer Stittsville, Ontario 519-339-9659 or 613-987-0822 pinchhill@gmail.com

SELBY GENETICS

1762 County Rd. 11 Selby ON KOK2ZO 613 388 9286 rick.steggles@bell.net

RAIL LINE FARMS

Paul and Brad MacIntyre 221 Bruce County Rd. 1 RR #3, Lucknow, ON N0G 2H0 519-528-2423 pcmacintyre@hurontel.on.ca

POSTHAVEN LIMOUSIN

John and Ena Post #7396 Sideroad #20, RR #2, Alma, Ontario N0B 1A0 519-846-9320 ejpost@posthavenlimousin.com

HIP LIMOUSIN Denver Cassidy Tweed, Ontario K0k3j0 613-84-81381 denvercassidy@hotmail.com

Check out our Website for LimoNews: www.ontariolimousin.com

NEW LIFE LIMOUSIN

Justin and Melissa Burgess 261269 Conc. 18 Hanover, ON N4N 3B8 519-270-5415 New.life.limousin@gmail.com

Ontario Limousin Association Matt Zwambag, President • Phone: 519-870-3219

CCA UPDATE National Update

Submitted by CCA Staff www.cattle.ca

It’s been a busy and productive fall for the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA). Efforts continue with CCA’s engagement with parliamentarians and department staff on key policy priorities. Earlier this fall, CCA submitted a pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, which outlines our recommendations relating to economic resilience, sustainability, and animal health.

As part of engagement in international policy discussions, representatives from CCA were on the ground at various international events and active participants in conversations happening about the environment, food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity throughout the fall. CCA was pleased to represent the Canadian beef industry at COP27 in Egypt in both our own delegation and joining the Government of Canada’s delegation.

Bob Lowe, CCA’s Past President and Mitchell Zoratti, CCA’s Environment and Climate Change Coordinator, highlighted our leadership and experience in sustainable cattle production as speakers at the conference. We are also proud that our short film, Guardians of the Grasslands, was featured on the ground at COP27.

We also had the opportunity to participate in the COP15 in Montreal, which focused on biodiversity. It was a venue to highlight the role that working grazing landscapes in Canada play in carbon sequestration and biodiversity and our leadership on this issue.

On the trade front, we are also pleased to see the details of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy announced by Prime Minister Trudeau on November 18, which included priority trade recommendations made by CCA. These investments will help increase market access for Canadian beef.

• $45 million to launch a series of enhanced Minister-led trade missions to the Indo-Pacific to facilitate long-term trade and investment opportunities;

• $31.8 million to establish Canada’s first agriculture office in the region to increase and diversify agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific; and

• $92.5 million to significantly expand capacity at Canada’s missions in the Indo-Pacific and within Global Affairs Canada to deepen diplomatic, trade, development, and climate ties with regional partners and defend Canadian interests in the region.

The Indo-Pacific region holds the greatest potential for market growth and diversification, with a growing middle class, GDP, and food consumption. About 20 per cent of Canada’s beef exports are destined for the Indo-Pacific market, with the top five markets being Japan, Mainland China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

To enhance engagement with consumers, CCA’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) launched Raising Canadian Beef on

Instagram and TikTok on October 25. These channels will tell stories of Canadian beef production from across the country from the perspectives of both animals and our farmers and ranchers. Playful, raw, and authentic photo and video content will be created with a unique voice that feels relatable to our consumers.

CCA’s work on forage insurance continues. The first meeting of the Industry-Government Forage Insurance Task Team was held October 25 with a second meeting November 17. The team, made up of representatives from provincial crop insurance agencies, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the beef, dairy and forage sectors, is working to improve the uptake of forage insurance. Staff from Beef Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs are also participating. The Task Team is chaired by CCA’s Ryder Lee and will report its findings in early 2023.

Lastly, CCA’s Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) program announced the mentorship pairings for 2022-23 in November and it’s great to have three participants from Ontario. One of the focal points of the program is providing participants ages 18-35 with a hand-picked industry leader for a nine-month mentorship in the young person’s specific area of interest in the Canadian beef industry.

This year, Danika Mayer from Alexandria, Ontario has been paired with mentor Sandra Vos, as the two share a common tie as firstgeneration cattle producers and backgrounds working in the health care sector. Holly McGill from Listowel, Ontario has been paired with Cargill’s Shannon Borden for a mentorship focused on the animal nutrition field. And Madi Lewis from Meaford, Ontario has been paired with BFO President and feedlot producer, Jack Chaffe, for a mentorship focused on leadership and animal nutrition. The mentorships started in November 2022 and will formally conclude at the end of July 2023.

Happy holidays from the staff at CCA. Our team looks forward to making things happen for cattle producers in Ontario and across Canada in 2023. OB

CANADA BEEF UPDATE

The Gateway: A New Digital Ecosystem for Canadian Beef

By Gina Teel, Manager, Stakeholder Communications, Canada Beef

Asregular readers of this column will know, the Canadian Beef Information Gateway (Gateway) launch is underway in Loblaw Companies Ltd. Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS) locations across the country. The Gateway launch started with 38 Ontario RCSS outlets in September. Canada Beef is pleased to report the Gateway is now rolling out to twice as many RCSS stores across Western Canada.

Once the RCSS launch is completed, the Gateway’s distinctive QR code label on packages of beef at the retail meat counter will enable the digital delivery of consumer-friendly beef information and recipes to shoppers at all 120 RCSS outlets.

Canada Beef thanks Loblaw and RCSS for embracing the vision and potential of the Gateway and sharing it with their shoppers.

Canada Beef continues to showcase the Gateway to retailers, producers and consumers. The Gateway was the focus of the Canada Beef booth at the Grocery Innovations Canada (GIC) tradeshow in Toronto this October.

As Canada’s largest grocery tradeshow, the GIC brings retailers upto-date on the latest trends and best practices in the retail industry. The 2022 GIC was the first in-person event since 2019, and featured 500-plus exhibits from more than 850 companies and hosted 5,600 attendees.

The Gateway was also at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto and Farmfair International in Edmonton.

The Gateway’s digital ecosystem provides consumers with all the information they need to produce a perfect beef dish with confidence, every time. The ability to access beef recipes, ingredients lists and nutrition information using a smartphone in store or by scanning a QR code in a flyer will open consumers to the myriad of possibilities of beef’s place in budget-friendly meal planning at a time when the high cost of food is top of mind with consumers.

Interest from Canadian beef clients to visit Canada picked up over the summer and fall as COVID-19 travel restrictions eased even further.

The Export Market Adaptation (EMA) category of Canada Beef’s Export Market Development (EMD) Program helps provide cost-shared support for travel costs of Canadian beef clients in markets outside of Canada.

From September to early November, the EMD program helped provide funding for five separate incoming missions in order to

support Canadian beef suppliers and their importer and foodservice sector clients in Mexico, Vietnam, Japan and Spain to visit Canada. The visits included tours of the Canadian beef supplier’s harvesting and processing facilities and their cattle supply partner farms as well as exploring opportunities for new beef cuts and specifications. The objectives of the visits were to expand opportunities and to help grow Canadian beef sales in the restaurant and foodservice distribution sectors in these countries.

During the visit to Canada, staff from the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence (CBCE) engaged with three separate groups and provided demonstrations on cutting and merchandising options for various beef cuts that the Canadian beef suppliers were interested in further promoting to their clients.

One of the CBCE presentations was for the Golden Gate Restaurant Group, a popular chain located in Vietnam that has nearly 400 restaurants with more than 22 different brands across 40 provinces. Their facilities include hotpot-style offerings, barbecue, Asian cuisine, Western cuisine and institutional operations.

CBCE presented a Distributor Education Program (DEP) to the Golden Gate Restaurant Group at Cargill’s High River, Alberta facility in October.

CBCE Culinary and Innovation Manager Cameron Pappel presented the Canadian Beef Advantage (CBA) to the group. This included new animated CBA videos with Vietnamese subtitles created for this audience followed by an interactive discussion of the CBA’s four pillars to provide an overview of the foundational elements that contribute to producing premium quality Canadian beef.

Pappel then provided a cutting demonstration that showcased innovative foodservice options that fit the export partner’s operations with a special emphasis on Traditional Hot Pot and Asian Barbeque applications and Canadian cuisine.

A culinary presentation followed with the merchandised cuts then cooked and samples presented for tasting. This provided an opportunity to discuss the quality attributes that contribute to flavour and juiciness of Canadian beef.

Finally, we have another update to share with readers. This year’s Cooking by Degrees consumer digital and social media marketing campaign took home two awards from the Canadian Agrifood Marketers Alliance (CAMA) in November 2022.

The campaign took top honours in the Best of CAMA 2022 categories of: Company or Industry-Funded Marketing Campaign Directed at the General Public as well as the News or Feature Article, the latter for the article: Ukraine specialty one of the most popular homegrown meals.

The Cooking by Degrees campaign is a collaboration between Canada Beef, the Canadian Cattle Association’s Public and Stakeholder Engagement (PSE) team and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), in partnership with the Canadian College and University Food Service Association, and the Star Metroland group of digital and print publications.

The campaign ran from mid-June to mid-August 2022 and featured Canada’s best college and university chefs and their favourite Canadian beef recipes along with a wide variety of sustainability perspectives and stories of Canada’s beef farmers and ranchers.

The Best of CAMA 2022 competition received 304 entries in 46 categories. All submissions had three rounds of judging with three different judges judging each category.

On behalf of the team at Canada Beef, we wish to extend our warm wishes for the holiday season and the coming year. OB

FARM & FOOD CARE ONTARIO

Beef Farmers Celebrated as Agri-Food Leaders in Ontario

By Amber Anderson, Communications Manager, Farm & Food Care Ontario

Both Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) and the Dibble family of Oxford County were recognized with separate awards during Farm & Food Care Ontario’s (FFCO) Ontario Harvest Gala in Guelph on November 17, 2022. The evening was an opportunity for farmers and agribusiness leaders from across Ontario to come together to enjoy an evening of fellowship and celebration.

During the gala, Feed Ontario presented the recipient of the 2022 Paul Mistele Award to BFO. Named for the late farm leader who founded Ontario Pork’s Donate-A-Hog program in 1998, the award recognizes agricultural partners who have shown a significant and enduring commitment to ending hunger in Ontario.

The award was accepted by BFO President Jack Chaffe and Executive Director Richard Horne. BFO was chosen for its steadfast and longstanding commitment to Feed Ontario.

“The Beef Farmers of Ontario provided 52,000 servings of beef to Feed Ontario member food banks across Ontario this year and an incredible 750,000 servings since the program began in 2014,” said Feed Ontario’s Executive Director, Carolyn Stewart. “As food banks continue to do their best to ensure there is sufficient, nutritious food to meet the growing need in our province, we could not do what we do without the support and generosity of our incredible partners like the Beef Farmers of Ontario.”

“BFO is honoured to be named as the recipient of the Paul Mistele Award this year, and we would like to gratefully acknowledge the partnership we have established over the years with Feed Ontario,” remarked Jack Chaffe, BFO President. “Unfortunately, now more than ever, Ontarians are struggling to absorb the increased cost of goods and services, including food. We continue to be committed to our beef program to supply food banks with ground beef, and finding ways in which we can help address food security to support our communities and those in need across the province.”

In celebration of its tenth anniversary, Farm & Food Care Ontario also invited its platinum level members to nominate agri-food champions that represented excellence in their industry and in building consumer connections on behalf of food and farming.

Gordon and Melanie Dibble and their newborn daughter Loretta accepted the award on behalf of Dibhurst Farms in Ingersoll. Nominated by BFO, they were honoured for their commitment to responsible and sustainable beef production and their efforts towards consumer and public engagement work.

The family operates a mixed farming operation near the town of Ingersoll. There, they feed around 900 head of cattle in their feedlot, and they also have a small cow herd. They grow all of their own feed for the cattle in their feedlot, and they also do some custom work for neighbouring farms.

Regarding the beef side of their operation, Dibbhurst Farms is a strong proponent of quality assurance programs and certifying their

on-farm practices to meet the consumer demand for beef. Dibbhurst Farms is certified with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef through an on-farm audit with the Ontario Corn-Fed Beef Quality Assurance Program and the Verified Beef Production Plus program.

Their commitment to responsible and sustainable beef production has always made them great champions of the beef sector, and the icing on the cake has been their unwavering willingness to assist BFO with their consumer and public engagement work. Gordon continues to assist with farm tours, media requests, photo and video shoots, and last year he invited a couple of food influencers to their farm for a “day in the life of a beef farmer” experience. Gordon’s ability to speak eloquently and confidently about raising beef in Ontario and his relatability make him an excellent spokesperson for the 19,000 beef farmers in Ontario.

Gordon is also a member of BFO’s Feedlot Committee and an active member with the Oxford County Cattlemen’s Association.

Also recognized were: Ashley Brown of Browndale Farm & Market in Paris, nominated by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario; Gary West of Shakespeare, nominated by the Egg Farmers of Ontario; Amanda Dooney of Suncrest Orchards near Simcoe, nominated by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association; and Donna Rogers of Waterloo Region was nominated by Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Joining the sold-out crowd was Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson and Parliamentary Assistant Trevor Jones, Member of Provincial Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. In addressing the crowd, Minister Thompson spoke about the important work Farm & Food Care Ontario does on behalf of Ontario’s entire agrifood industry.

All funds raised at the event will be put into future public trust initiatives. Anyone wishing to make a charitable gift to support FFCO’s work can visit www.FarmFoodCareON.org. OB

BFO accepting the Paul Mistele Memorial Award from Feed Ontario (left to right) BFO President Jack Chaffe holding the award, Feed Ontario’s Adelaide Wimpenny, BFO Vice President Craig McLaughlin, BFO Executive Director Richard Horne, BFO Director Jason Reid, BFO Director Jason Leblond, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Lisa Thompson

FOCUS ON HERD HEALTH

By Daniel Pecoskie, DVM, Metzger Veterinary Services

Bladder Stones and Urinary Blockages in Beef Cattle

Urinary obstruction is a painful condition that variably occurs in feedlot cattle. Obstructive urolithiasis, also known as bladder/ urethral stones or “waterbelly”, is a disease affecting the normal urination of cattle. This condition occurs more commonly in steers due to the smaller diameter of their urethra, when compared to intact bulls and heifers. In addition, the overall length and S-shape curve of the urethra makes it more likely for a bladder stone to become lodged and block urine flow out of the bladder. It is important to consider the risk factors for developing bladder stones and how we can decrease those risks.

Although multiple factors contribute to the formation of bladder stones, it is overall influenced by the nutrition of the cattle. Particularly important is the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the ration. Certain feedstuffs, such as dried distillers’ grains and corn gluten meal, can have high levels of phosphorus and lower calcium content. These levels can be balanced in the ration by consulting a nutritionist, who may suggest supplementing calcium in the mineral premix. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the ration should be between 2:1 to 1:1.

Steers on pasture, particularly in the western provinces, have a higher risk of developing silica or oxalate stones. Many range plants on pasture contain silica and oxalates and if consumed in high quantities can present as bladder stones later in the feeding period. This is especially true after periods of stress, such as transportation and diet change, where feed and water intake may vary and influence urine pH and concentration.

to urinate, with no production of manure or urine. They can also potentially prolapse their rectum. Abnormal posture, such as arching of the back or exaggerated stretching to find a comfortable position, may also be observed. These animals present as recently off-feed and dull. Some animals appear full or “bloated” when in fact their abdomen is full of urine. In those cases, the exiting urethra has been blocked and the bladder has ruptured. Though the animal may appear relieved by the ruptured bladder, it should be humanely euthanized. In other cases, there may be swelling between the legs, that extends up along the sheath to the opening of the prepuce. Bladder stones that lodge in the lower urethra can cause damage and urine leakage under the skin of the belly, inspiring the name “waterbelly”. These animals can be helped with a surgical approach to redirect the urethra and allow for urination.

The emergency surgical approach for a blocked urethra is a standing surgery where the steer receives a local block and pain control. An incision is made below the rectum and the urethra is dissected out and pulled back through the incision. The damaged end of the penis, often containing a stone or crystal sludge, is amputated and the remaining healthy tissue is redirected and sutured in place. This allows the steer to urinate out the back as a heifer would. While this surgery has a reasonable success rate, there are challenges. Infection is a risk due to the location of the surgery. For this reason, the steer will frequently be started on a broad-spectrum antibiotic. As the incision heals, long-term risks include stricture, where scar tissue around the urethral opening seals off urine flow. In this case, the steer may need to be catheterized to allow urine to pass. Overall, emergency surgery for a blocked urethra is considered a salvage procedure. However, steers may do well and can put on some weight after the surgery. It is important to note that this approach is not possible in cases where the bladder has already ruptured. Prompt diagnosis and action are required to save an affected steer.

Stone formation in the bladder is affected by the pH (acidity) and concentration of the urine. Under the right conditions, cells lining the bladder, proteins in the urine and dissolved minerals come together to form stones. These stones can vary from sandy crystals to firm pearl-like structures and range in size from a few millimetres to several centimetres. It is easy to see how these stones can then cause blockages at the exit of the bladder, or further along the narrow urethra. If water intake is poor and the urine concentrates, stones and crystals are not flushed out of the bladder, the problem can worsen.

When pen-checking your herd, cattle with urinary blockages will often present as uncomfortable, colicky animals that may get up and lie down frequently. They often flag or swish their tail and strain

In addition to proper nutrition, bladder stone prevention relies on adequate water intake. Water intake can be influenced by the taste of the water (i.e. sulfur water, or abnormal odours) and the animal’s salt intake. Supplementing salt to the ration and providing several clean, available water sources in the pens can increase water intake. It may also help to offer water in a trough on arrival to the feedlot to ensure all cattle off the truck can find water, in case they are not yet used to water bowls.

Diagnosis and intervention for bladder stones in cattle involves a working relationship between the producer, nutritionist and veterinarian. This, along with the proper preventative steps can reduce the risk of it occurring in your herd. OB

the protection of farm animal welfare in Ontario. During our annual barbecue at Queen’s Park, BFO met with multiple MPPs to convey the same points. BFO in consultation with our animal care advisors recently developed a resource which provides beef farmers with recommendations should a PAWS inspector visit your farm after receiving a complaint, what an inspector is legally allowed to do during an inspection, what happens when an inspector issues an order and how to appeal should you disagree with a compliance order or the removal of an animal. BFO will be sure to keep the members apprised of any developments on the draft MOU with the Solicitor General’s Office and any progress on our request for a full review of the PAWS Act.

22-19: Vet Apprenticeship Program

BFO Directors and staff have been engaging with the provincial government and other organizations that are impacted by veterinary shortage concerns to discuss solutions to address this problem. There are two programs currently provided by the Ontario Veterinary College to allow students to get on-farm experience, the OVC Externship Initiative and the two-week Beef Rotation program for students looking to work with beef cattle. BFO continues to take part in the Veterinary Medicine and Beef Farming Sector Working Group that was created to discuss how best to solve access to large animal veterinary care in historically and newly underserved areas of the province. BFO has recently connected with the OVC Food Animal Student Club, particularly, the students interested in working with beef cattle, to share information about the Ontario beef industry and to get a better understanding of how we can create opportunities to get interested students on-farm experiences.

Our

22-20: Transfer of Care Documentation

There have been some growing pains with respect to the transfer of care documentation that the new CFIA Humane Animal Transport Regulations have put in place. BFO has been in regular communication with CFIA and the Canadian Cattle Association regarding this component of the regulations. The transfer of care requirement is intended to maintain a line of care and responsibility of the animals from a producer’s farm to the sales barn or abattoir. To assist producers in the implementation of the transfer of care record requirement, BFO developed an Animal Transport Record and a Q&A document to address common questions about the regulations.

22-21: Beef Cattle Marketing Act Email Collection

BFO staff receive membership information in multiple formats (i.e., electronic and hard copy) and from multiple sources (i.e., auction markets, packing plants, licensed dealers and producers). Oftentimes, the submitted information has varying levels of completeness, accuracy, and legibility. Nevertheless, membership lists are reviewed regularly by BFO staff by: manually checking and comparing the names and addresses submitted to us against information in our existing database; cross-referencing our mail-out list for Ontario Beef magazine with the check-off (member) information that is submitted to us by other parties; and following up on discrepancies by correcting spelling mistakes, checking online public address information, deleting duplicates wherever they are identified, or by contacting the individual directly if possible. BFO recognizes the value in communicating electronically with its members and we will suggest this change during the next review of the Beef Cattle Marketing Act with OMAFRA. OB

Thanks To Our 2022 Buyers

Auction Markets’ Holiday Sales Schedule 2022

The Beef Farmers of Ontario office will close at noon on December 23 and will be closed December 26 and 27. The office will also be closed on December 30 and January 2 and will re-open on January 3, 2023.

Aylmer Stockyards Inc.

Dec. 21 - Regular Sale

Dec. 28 - Regular Sale & Month End Stocker Sale

Brussels Livestock

Dec. 20 - Fed Cattle & Cow Sale

Dec. 22 - Veal, Lamb, Sheep & Goat Sale Dec. 23 - Stocker Sale Dec. 24-31 - Closed

Jan. 3, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Keady Livestock Market Ltd.

Ontario Livestock Exchange Inc.

Dec. 13 - Regular Sale (last sale of 2022)

Dec. 14-Jan. 16, 2023 - Closed

Jan. 17, 2023 - First sale of the new year begins at 9:00 a.m.

Dec. 20 - Regular Tuesday Sale - Fed Cows, Veal, Sheep, Lamb & Goats

Dec. 21 - Regular Wednesday Vaccinated Stocker Sale

Dec. 22 - Regular Thursday Sale - Fed Cattle, Cows, Stockers, Dairy & Bob Calves

Dec. 24-25 - Closed

Dec. 26 - Closed, but receiving livestock after 3:00 p.m. for Tuesday’s sale

Dec. 27 - Regular Tuesday Sale - Fed Cows, Veal, Sheep, Lambs & Goats

Dec. 28 - Special Stocker Sale at 1 p.m. - receiving cattle for Thursday after 3:00 p.m.

Dec. 29 - Regular Thursday Sale - Fed Cattle, Cows, Stockers, Dairy & Bob Calves

Dec. 30 - Office Closed at Noon

Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 2023 - Closed

Jan. 2, 2023 - Closed, but receiving livestock after 3:00 p.m. for Tuesday’s sale

Jan. 3, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Community Livestock ExchangeHoards Station

David Carsons Farm & Auctions Ltd.

Dec. 13 - Regular Sale Dec. 20 - No Sale, Closed Dec. 27 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 3, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Dec. 24-26 - Closed Dec. 28 - Beef Cow & Calf Sale at 11:00 a.m., Followed by Stocker Sale

Ontario Stockyards Inc.

Dec. 19 - Regular Sale - Veal, Lambs, Goats & Sheep

Dec. 21 - Regular Sale - Fat Cattle, Cows, Bulls Dec. 22 - Regular Sale - Stocker Sale

Dec. 23 - Jan. 1, 2023 - Closed

Jan. 2, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resume

Ottawa Livestock Exchange/ Embrun

Livestock

Dec. 19 - Embrun Regular Sale

Dec. 20 - Open Dec. 21-27 - Closed Dec. 28 - Open Dec. 29 - Regular Ottawa Sale

Jan. 2, 2023 - Regular Embrun Sale

Jan 3, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Denfield Livestock Exchange

Kawartha Lakes Community Sale Barn Inc.

Maple Hill Auction Market

Dec. 20 - Regular Sale Dec. 27 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 3, 2023 - Regular Sale

Dec. 17 - Regular Sale Dec. 19-Dec. 27 - Closed Dec 28 - Regular sale rescheduled at 10:30 am Dec. 29 - Jan. 6, 2023 - Closed Jan. 7, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Renfrew Pontiac Livestock

Dec. 20 - Regular Sale Dec. 27 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 3, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Temiskaming Livestock Exchange

Closed for the holiday season. Sales will resume in the new year. For more information call 519-379-1370.

Vankleek Hill Livestock Exchange Ltd.

Dec. 19 - Regular Sale

Dec. 26 - No Sale, Closed

Jan. 3, 2023 - No Sale, Closed Jan. 9, 2023 - Regular Schedule Resumes

Dec. 26 - Closed

Contact the auction market for further updates.

MARKET INFORMATION UPDATE

By Jamie Gamble, BFO Market Information Coordinator markets@ontariobeef.com • www.ontariobeef.com

The Ontario fed cattle market continues to trend high and strong and is following a similar trend to 2021 and the five-year average. From the second week in September until the week ending October 27th the market was sideways at $303.00 cwt delivered. The first week of November prices increased slightly to $306.00 and at time of writing (November 15th) the market has increased further to $310.00 cwt Looking at the last 20 years, fed prices have increased into December in all but four of those years. Producers are reported as current as cattle have been marketed in a timely fashion, partially due to high input costs. The recent decline in the Canadian loonie has cleared the way for some U.S. packer buying interest in Ontario, along with tight supplies of fed cattle in the U.S. Ontario fed cattle are trading at a premium to Alberta and have been since November 2021, however the spread has narrowed considerably the last few weeks (mid-November). The U.S. is currently trading at a premium to Canada by over $20.00 which will also be a contributing factor to the U.S. buying interest north of the border.

Looking at the beef side, Ontario federal processing volumes as of November 5th are at 517,980 head, which is down 0.03 per cent from last year at this time but up 4.7 per cent from the same time in 2020. Up until April/May, weekly processing volumes were strong and above year ago levels and the five-year average but over the early summer months volumes dropped off considerably. Since late July, volumes have been back in line with earlier in the year with volumes steady to slightly higher week-over-week compared to last year and the five-year average. Carcass weights in Ontario were low the first half of the year, but since July have increased and are currently above last year and the five-year average. Interestingly, Ontario weights are below the Candian carcass weight for the last two months which is unusual, and has only happened approximately six times since January 2009, on a month-to-month basis. Part of this can be attributed to the cattle backlog in Alberta resulting in higher Canadian carcass weights.

As of October 31st, the volume of Ontario cattle grading Prime and AAA is below that of 2021, but remains above 2019 and 2020. The volume of cattle grading AA and A is above last year, but below 2019 and 2020. Canadian beef exports are up very slightly from 2021 as of September 30th at 382,354 tonnes, which is an increase of two per cent year-over-year, but up 25 per cent from the same time in 2020. Boxed beef imports into Canada are up 2.9 per cent over 2021 but 14.8 per cent below 2020. The largest increase of imports year-over-year is from the U.S., while imports from nonCUSMA countries and the EU have declined from last year. Total beef

imports year-to-date are above 2021 and 2019, but below 2020 and 2015-2018.

The cull cow market has been strong this year with volumes sold declining nine per cent from the same time in 2021 and down around 11 per cent from 2020 at 91,132 head as of October 31st. Demand has been strong along with the prices. Year-to-date 2022 cow prices are averaging $20.00 higher than 2021 and $25.00 stronger than 2020. Prices generally decline as the year closes, but this year could be different. Demand remains strong and volumes continue lighter than usual. Part of the lighter offerings is due to dairy receiving one more incentive day for November and December. This could push off culling to the new year.

Stockers have been in strong demand this fall with cattle being priced accordingly. As of October 31st, there were 186,470 head of stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets year-to-date, which is five per cent below the same time in 2021 and 6.5 per cent fewer than in 2020. The largest decline in volume from 2021 has been in the 1,000 lb plus steers and heifers over 900 lb categories, which is down 16 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. All other categories are steady to slightly lower than last year with only steers 800-900 lb and heifers 500-600 lb seeing increases in the volume sold. Cattle 700 lb and over have been selling at prices above 2021 and 2020 along with the five-year average for all of 2022, while lighter weights started out steady-to-lower and only advancing above year ago prices after the first quarter for most categories. The average price for November 2022 was calculated from November 1-15th due to publishing deadlines. Majority of classes are currently following historical trends at time of reporting mid-November, but at prices approximately $40.00-$50.00 cwt higher on the steers while heifers are up around $40.00 cwt over 2021 prices. Steers over 900 lb are averaging close to the record high prices experienced in 2015 while all other categories remain below the record highs. 800900 lb steers remain around $14.00 below the top price in 2015, while lighter steers from 300-800 lb are still $30.00-$65.00 below the record highs. Heifers 800 lb plus are down by $21.00-$27.00 cwt from the 2015 record highs, while lighter heifers are down $45.00-$60.00. Heifers under 300 lb are off by $90.00 cwt from the record high price in 2015. It is important to note that in 2015 corn averaged $4.77 per bushel which is almost half of the current corn prices. Markets continue to note that vaccinated and protocol cattle bring higher prices than non vaccinated cattle which sell on a tougher demand. OB

UHF Tag Numbers Now Supported in National Tracking Database

Responding to a need brought forward by industry and under the direction of their board of directors, Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has just launched an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency Technology (UHF) secondary tags to approved CCIA tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS), database. This new feature allows UHF users to link the UHF tag to the CCIA tag, so when either tag is read, it points to the same animal in the database.

“This is a positive step forward in supporting UHF currently being used for management purposes and in some cases, it will facilitate cattle exports and provide accurate information for accompanying health papers,” says CCIA’s General Manager, Anne Brunet-Burgess.

UHF technology is of interest to some segments of the industry where the technology is being leveraged for better record keeping. Some of the potential advantages of a UHF technology-based system

include a longer read range and the ability to read many tags at once, making handling more efficient. UHF tags require dedicated reading equipment for this technology. This new feature in the CLTS was made possible with the financial support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the AgriAssurance Program.

The global standard currently in use for electronic livestock identification uses low-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) ear tags for livestock. Discussion regarding the move to a new technology which uses ultra-high frequency has been going on for over a decade. While the international standard for a UHF numbering scheme for livestock is still under development, CCIA’s tag pairing initiative makes it possible for industry to get a head start using this new technology. To activate this feature, CLTS account holders must contact CCIA. OB

BEEF EXPORTS - CANADA (AAFC)

United States Mexico

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, ‘22 % Change Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, ‘22 % Change

Total 264,515 tonnes 0% 19,487 tonnes +10% Japan China

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, ‘22 Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, ‘22

Total 54,461 tonnes +21% 14,727 tonnes +81%

BEEF PRODUCTION - CANADA (AAFC)

Jan. 1 - Oct. 29 ‘22 Last Year Same Time % Change

Fed 948,863 tonnes 943,966 tonnes +1% Non-fed 127,893 tonnes 127,460 tonnes +0%

BEEF IMPORTS - CANADA (AAFC)

Jan. 1 - Oct. 29, ‘22 Last Year Same Time % Change

US 89,005 tonnes 82,939 tonnes +7%

Non-NAFTA 27,054 tonnes 28,026 tonnes -3% EU-28 (beef/veal total) 11,928 tonnes 12,621 tonnes -5%

Total 138,561 tonnes 134,684 tonnes +3%

LIVE CATTLE - CANADA (AAFC)

IMPORTS EXPORTS EXPORTS

Jan. 1 - Sept. 30, ‘22 Jan. 1 - Oct. 22, ‘22 % Change

Pure bred 10,264 Slaughter steers & heifers & cows 389,270 +11% Non-Purebred 177,082 Feeder cattle & calves 172,539 +66% Bulls 34,929 +12%

LIVE CATTLE EXPORTS - ONTARIO

Week ending Oct. 29, ‘22 Week ending Oct. 22, ‘22 Year to Date

Total to US. 2,243 1,937 75,622 Steers, Heifers, Cows 2,235 1,813 70,719 Bulls 107 124 4,903

The information provided on this report is based on weighted averages for actual data collected. Input costs are a guideline only and will vary from producer to producer. BFO does not take any responsibility and accepts no legal liability arising from or connected to damages or losses experienced by producers when using this information. This is to be used at your own risk.

Every cattle seller (including sales by private treaty) is required under Regulation 54 of the Beef Cattle Marketing Act (BCMA) to pay a $4.50 per head Ontario license fee and a $1.00 per head national levy, for a total of a $5.50 per head check-off. Breeding stock, cull dairy cows, and beef calves are included. Exemptions exist only for cattle sold for the production of milk and veal. Fees are payable by the 15th of the month following deduction. Please note: Licenced Livestock Dealers who sell cattle within seven business days of having purchased them may apply for a rebate with proper documentation.

Forward cheque

report. Please

one

Beef Farmers of Ontario with

for

files.

represents a true and accurate statement of check-off deductions required to be made under Regulation 54 of the BCMA and the Canadian Beef Cattle Research Market Development and Promotion Agency.

declare that this

Date: Signature: Print Name: Address:

Mail to: Beef Farmers of Ontario 130 Malcolm Road Guelph, Ontario N1K 1B1 HST# R107797128

CALENDAR Ontario Beef Industry Events

January 4 – Grey-Bruce Farmers’ Week 2023 Beef Day. Visit www.gbfw.ca to register.

January 4-5 – Ontario Agriculture Conference. Visit www.ontarioagconference.ca for program details.

January 4-18 – On-Farm Climate Action Fund. Intake opens on January 4th and closes on the 18th.

January 12-14 – Beef Industry Convention. Best Western Lamplighter Inn, London. www.beefindustryconvention.com

January 26 & February 2 – Virtual Beef Symposium. Stay tuned for program details.

February 22 – Beck McCoy Annual Bull Sale, Milestone, SK

February 22-23 – BFO Annual General Meeting, Delta Hotel Toronto Airport and Conference Centre. Visit www.ontariobeef.com to register

March 25 – Clarke Family Farm Bull and Heifer Sale, Blenheim, ON

BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO PRIVACY STATEMENT

The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of producers’ personal information in compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Subscribers to Ontario Beef magazine, the official publication of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, do so on a voluntary basis. By subscribing, subscribers are consenting to have their contact information used for the purposes of receiving the magazine and developing an BFO mailing list.

This mailing list will be used for the distribution of the BFO magazine.

The BFO will not sell, trade or otherwise share its Ontario Beef mailing list under any circumstances. A service may be provided whereby items are submitted to the BFO and mailed internally with the magazine but all materials must be approved by and acceptable to the BFO. In rare instances where external, non-commercial organizations, like the provincial or federal government, wish to use the Ontario Beef mailing list to distribute information, the government must provide their mailing materials in a finished format to BFO and/or its mailing house. BFO will then coordinate the mailing, at the requesting organization’s cost, thus maintaining confidentiality of the list. In cases where the BFO may commission a mailing, the company providing the service is required to sign a mandatory confidentiality agreement.

Subscribers to the Ontario Beef mailing list who wish to have their names removed, should call 519-824-0334 or email bethany@ontariobeef.com. Please allow 15 business days to allow us to update our records accordingly.

BFO’s complete privacy statement, covering areas of information including the electronic update system, Website, membership list and market information can be viewed on its Website at http://www.ontariobeef.com/privacy.asp

WELLNESS ON THE FARM

By Bethany Storey, BFO Communications Specialist

New Year’s Resolutions and How to Keep Them

After the busy holiday season, the new year can be a great time for a fresh start for you, your family and your farm. You may already have some new ideas and plans for this year’s resolutions – improving production practices, working on succession planning, or just spending more time with family.

You may also be thinking about ways to improve your mental health in 2023. Here are some helpful tips and strategies on how you can focus on your mental wellbeing heading into and throughout the new year.

1. Get more sleep. The average adult needs around eight hours of sleep a night to be fully rested and, in general, farmers tend to lean on the sleep-deprived side. Some people consider “functioning” on lack of sleep a sign of superiority, but poor sleep often contributes to depressive symptoms and anxiety. The act of sleeping helps us to recuperate both physically and mentally, resulting in alertness and a positive mood.

2. Put down your phone. There’s no question that social media and the accessibility of news at our fingertips is a great way to stay connected. However, with increasing use, social media and an influx of negative information can have a detrimental impact on our mental wellbeing. Social media can increase stress levels and decrease our moods by comparing our own lives to the “perfect” lives other people are presenting. The steady stream of negative news that is ever present in the media is also not healthy for our mental wellbeing, and can be difficult to pull away from. As a way of starting off the new year on a positive note, try logging off social media for a while and evaluating the impact this has on your stress and anxiety levels. For news, focus on issues within your sphere of influence, or areas of interest.

3. Exercise more. Getting active is one of the easiest ways to boost mental health. Exercise boosts endorphins in the brain, which ultimately improve your mood and sense of wellbeing. By treating exercise as a goal, you’re more likely to succeed, as well as feel good about yourself too.

4. Stay connected. This may come across as the opposite of putting down your phone, but it is important to socialize this winter. Just not always through social media. The winter months can be a hard time for some, with poor weather and shorter days leading to a negative effect on mental health. For these reasons, taking the time out to join a local club, a sport’s team or even volunteering can help encourage healthy habits and provide emotional support.

5. Practice self-care. Give yourself a break. It’s so easy to be hard on yourself, being critical and putting others’ needs before your own. Taking just a small amount of time for yourself can do a great deal

for your mental wellbeing. Try to plan some time for yourself, at least once a day or a few times a week to do something you enjoy, allowing you something to look forward to. Make a list of things that make you happy and bring enjoyment to your life.

How Can I Make My Resolutions Stick?

If you’re like a large number of well-intentioned people, many of your resolutions will become a distant memory before January is over. Unfortunately, setting goals or plans without following through can have a negative impact on our mental health. In a way, we’re reiterating the point to ourselves that we can’t achieve what we’d like to.

So how can we avoid this? Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time Bound (SMART).

Specific - Think about what you actually want to accomplish. Practicing self-care is a great goal; however, it’s pretty vague and could mean a variety of things. What do you actually want to achieve? Will you write a list of daily activities? Will you take time to meditate and relax your mind? Keep a journal?

Measurable - How will you know when you’ve achieved your goal? How will you actually measure your progress or success? This is where you put a plan into place. If you wish to exercise more in 2023, perhaps you will aim to exercise three days per week for 30 minutes.

Attainable - Ask yourself, is your goal something that you can achieve in the context of your current responsibilities? For example, if your farm relies a great deal on farm-to-fork marketing, taking a break from social media may not be feasible for your operation. Instead, maybe limit the number of visits per day online.

Relevant - Why do you want to achieve this goal? Is it actually important to you? If you’re lukewarm about the idea in the planning phase, chances are it will fall by the wayside with other forgotten resolutions. Once you have solid reasons for wanting to achieve this goal, place them in a highly visible spot or one frequently used, this way you will see them if your motivations start to wane.

Time Bound - When do you want to achieve your goal? Is this something you’ve been saying you’re going to do for years and never done? Having a deadline can go a long way to making a bucket list item a reality.

Making changes can be hard and they take time and motivation. Surrounding yourself with people who support and understand you is a great first step to make a long-lasting impact on your mental health and happiness in 2023! OB

WHY SHORTHORNS?

The Martin family (Jim, Birgit, Nick and Alex) operate Martin Farms on Manitoulin Island. They have 350 cows in total, including 50 purebred Shorthorn and 50 purebred Angus. The operation is a cow-calf to finish with some seedstock sales.

Animals are finished either traditional grain fed or as grass finished beef and marketed through their Pure Island Beef brand. The branded beef goes to butcher shops, country markets and direct to consumers through their online store.

Bulls and females are sold to both commercial and purebred producers. Cows are expected to perform well on grass and throughout the winter outside. “Shorthorns have excellent carcass traits, are quiet with good milk production, and above average performance. Excellent mothers.”

Martin’s run 6 or 7 Shorthorn bulls and 3 Angus bulls, mostly home raised, occasionally bring in outcross genetics and use AI.

Nick finds “the Angus and Shorthorn just work well together. They complement each other really well for F1 cows and both breeds have excellent carcass traits. Shorthorns are an incredibly well-rounded breed that can complement pretty well any other breed when crossed in a commercial setting.”

25TH ANNUAL BEEF INDUSTRY CONVENTION

Hosted by Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association and Ontario Corn Fed Beef

Once again, the Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association and the staff of the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre are pleased to offer our Industry Partners, Associations and all Stakeholders opportunities to share, learn and socialize at this beautiful venue.

As one of the leading agricultural information sessions in Ontario and Canada, the OCFA is committed to meeting everyone’s expectations once again. We feel this venue is a perfect fit for us, as well as for our attendees and their families.

You, and the organizations you represent, are the future of the beef industry and your active participation is key to the success of this Convention.

For more information and to register, please go to: www.beefindustryconvention.com or call 519-686-6226.

Thursday, January 12, 2023

4:00pm - Exhibitors Hall opening 5:30pm - Ontario Corn Fed Beef Welcome Reception/Supper

7:00pm - Sponsored Speakers Industry Sponsored Reception Note:

Friday, January 13, 2023

8:00am - Registration, Coffee, Exhibitors Hall

9:30am - Morning Session Speakers

12:00pm - Lunch

1:00pm - Afternoon Session Speakers

4:00pm - Wrap up, Trade Show

5:30pm - Exhibitors, Networking, Cocktails

6:00pm - Banquet

8:00pm - Live Auction Industry Sponsored Reception

Saturday, January 14, 2023

8:00am - Exhibitors Hall Opening Sponsor Breakfast