Beef Business January 2019 by Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association

Beef Business â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Saskatchewanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest circulated industry magazine Saskatchewan's Premier Cattle Industry Publication Saskatchewan`s Premiere Cattlecattle Industry Publication January 2019

A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Publication Publication Mail Agreement #40011906

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Contents

Beef Business

Cover photo courtesy of Wanda Knoss, Rockglen, SK

A Proud Saskatchewan Tradition Since 1913

A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) Publication Industry News 6

Changes Around the Corner for Commercial Truck Driver Training

Canadian Yield Grading System Expands to Five Classes

Saskatchewan Amends Trespass Legislation

Saskatchewan Beef Advocate Wins FFC Award

General Manager: Chad MacPherson Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga@sasktel.net OR ssga.admin@sasktel.net Website: www.skstockgrowers.com Communications Manager: Marusia Kaweski Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 (306) 757-8523 (306) 569-8799 (fax) ssgacommunications@sasktel.net

Markets and Trade 14

Weekly Chart

Retail Meat Price Survey

The Agricultural Year in Review: An Interview with David Marit

Ontario Corn Fed Beef: A Regional Brand with National Benefits

Food Trends for 2019: Higher Prices and Alternative Proteins

Climate Change and Carbon Tax Set to Transform the Agriculture Sector

Features

Subscriptions Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga.admin@sasktel.net

Science and Production 39

The Livestock Manifest

Where's the Beef? Missing Livestock Files

Subscription Rate: 1 yr $26.50 (GST included) Published 5 times per year Design and Layout: Jackson Designs Candace Schwartz Tel: 306-772-0376 email: cjacksondesigns@gmail.com

Stewardship 42

Water Development on Sage Grouse Critical Habitat

SK PCAP Working to Renew the 2019-2023 Framework

SK PCAP at the Canadian Western Agribition

Managing for Optimal Habitat Attributes for Species at Risk

With Gratitude

Beef Drive

SSGA Zone Scholarship

SSGA Semi-Annual Meeting Notice

SSGA President's Report

Calendar of Events

Advertisers Index

Business Directory

Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Manager: Diego Steinaker Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-352-0472 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: pcap@sasktel.net

Association News, Reports and Events

SSGA reserves the right to refuse advertising and to edit manuscripts. Contents of Beef Business may be reproduced with written permission obtained from the SSGA Manager and proper credit given to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association. Articles submitted may not be the opinion of the Association. SSGA assumes no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader from this publication based on any and all information provided. Publications Mail Agreement #40011906 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses (covers only) to: Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Box 4752, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4

Contributors

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Ple as

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Fonda Froats Bill Huber Marusia Kaweski Chad MacPherson

Jason Pollock Diego Steinaker Krista Connick Todd

This magazine is printed on paper that is comprised of 50% recycled paper and 25% post-consumer waste. It is acid-free, elemental chlorine-free and is FSC certified

www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 5

Industry News Changes Around the Corner for Commercial Truck Driver Training New mandatory training for commercial semi truck drivers will be coming this spring. As of March 15, 2019, the Government of Saskatchewan will require those seeking a Class 1 commercial license to drive semi trucks to take a compulsory minimum 121.5 hours of training. “We just need to make sure that everybody is good and safe out there on the highway,” Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) Joe Hargrave explained the aim of the changes for training. Saskatchewan will become a leader among the other provinces in mandatory training. “Right now, the only other mandatory truck driver training that has been laid out is in Ontario. They are at 103 hours of mandatory training,” said Hargrave. Saskatchewan worked with other provinces in developing the commercial training. It used some standard training from Ontario “and added what we needed and took out what we think we didn’t need,” he added. “The province worked closely with Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia to set up some minimum standards,” said Hargrave. Alberta and Manitoba also plan to develop mandatory Class 1 driver training, which has yet to be announced. At the same time, the government introduced an exemption that anyone wishing to drive a semi truck used in farming operations will need to successfully obtain an “F” endorsement on their existing driver’s license as of March 15, 2019. “To get an "F" endorsement, a driver must be at least 18 years old and not a novice driver, have a medical and pass all the written and road tests, trip inspection and air brake test,” Hargrave explained, adding that they “will be restricted to driving semis only within the borders of Saskatchewan.” He noted that these requirements are similar to those currently in place to obtain a Class 1 commercial license.

The driver training changes will only apply to new drivers going forward as of March 15, stated Hargrave. “Everyone who currently has a Class 1 license will be grandfathered in. It will be on a go forward basis,” he stated. However, if Class 1 drivers wish to take additional training, it will be made available.

I look at training as an investment, not as a cost. For temporary foreign workers, including those working in the agriculture sector, requirements do not change. They do not need to be tested for the “F” endorsement. “Temporary foreign workers with an existing equivalent Class 1 license from their home country at this time don’t need to retest,” he explained. Because temporary foreign workers are regarded as visitors to Canada, their home country licenses are recognized and honoured. Hargrave added that future requirements for international commercial drivers and temporary foreign workers will be part of the consultations. While changes for commercial truck driver training have been announced, “we are still consulting a bit as it pertains to the agricultural sector,” said Hargrave, “so we do get it right with the ag sector.” The government is holding consultations with stakeholders in the agriculture sector over the next two months to seek additional feedback on the impact of potential mandatory training requirements on agriculture. “We will see what comes of it and what they feel the agricultural sector should have for training, if anything,” Hargrave noted. While commercial drivers travel long distances, farm vehicles typically are in seasonal use and travel less frequently, shorter distances and through low populated areas. “That’s one of the reasons that we thought it was so important to do this additional

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consultation,” Hargrave noted. “We believe that some form of training is important, but exactly what kind of training we need is the other factor,” he stated. Hargrave said that government is open to all feedback about semi truck training in agriculture. “We’ve sort of left it pretty open for them to ask any questions and take any input we can get,” he said. The government is hoping to receive a lot of feedback from the agriculture sector. “I’m anxiously awaiting to hear that feedback,” he added. Training for commercial truck drivers will be offered at various schools throughout the province as it is now. “However, they will all be certified by Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI), they will all be given the curriculum and they will all be trained in the new curriculum that they have to teach. That will include the number of hours behind the wheel the number of hours in the yard, and the number of hours in class in studying,” Hargrave stated. The schools will also be audited to ensure that they are following the new curriculum. The curriculum was based on earlier consultations and was developed by SGI. Some of the training will relate to hauling different products. Hargrave noted that they plan to upgrade training for all of the driving classes. For example, they want to highlight road awareness and courtesy towards semis in Class 5 training. The schools have already begun their training to be fully prepared by March 15. “We’re training the trainers,” he added. “We want to make sure that everybody that is out there who is going to be involved in the training of truck drivers is fully trained on our curriculum and knows exactly what needs to be trained, and what needs to be done.” As for road testing, SGI will now conduct all of the commercial driver testing going continued on page 8 JANUARY 2019

Industry News Canadian Yield Grading System Expands to Five Classes The new year ushers in two important changes in Canadian beef grading. As of January 15, 2019, Canadian beef yield grades will change from its current three lean yield classes to five cut yield classes. Secondly, the incoming Safe Foods for Canadians Act will now provide an Incorporation by Reference for the Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) that will give an opportunity for the Canadian beef industry to actively manage the grading requirements moving forward. These changes are tied into the implementation of the Safe Foods for Canadians Act on January 15, 2019. The Act, which will affect all food, marks the biggest change happening in Canadian food regulation in the past 25 years. It strengthens food safety requirements, including requiring traceability of food by all supply chain partners, and governs domestically-produced, imported and exported food. Beef Business spoke with Marty Carpenter, president of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency, to find out what the yield and regulatory changes will mean to the Canadian beef industry. Background to Grading Modern beef grading in Canada was established in the early 1990s with three yield grades as the standard. The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) took over monitoring and providing of beef grading in 1996. Yield assessment is not a quality score but pertains to meat yield, which is used between the packer and cattle producer as a measure of settlement. Every beef carcass is unique, so it is important to have a mechanism to determine overall yield. However, during the last seven years, the beef industry has been looking to change the number of classes to align with the five-yield class system used in the U.S., our largest trading partner. Sales of cattle to Canadian packers and U.S. packers were difficult to compare due to the different yield assessments. Aligning the systems made sense. “In addition, we found

JANUARY 2019

that the three classes did not have the same bell curve distribution as the USDA classes,” Carpenter said. He explained the difference between the two systems was the motivation prompting the change. The Canadian system had less room for differentiation of yield classes. Carpenter noted that the change had been in the works for some time. The reason that it took as long as it did was because any change required a significant bureaucratic movement and agreement, essentially calling for a change to a Federal Government act. “It’s not a small matter,” he explained. Because it was soon rolling out the Safe Foods Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) decided to wait to implement the yield grading changes with the coming into force of the new Act. Grading The CBGA believes that the change to a five-yield class system is a positive change that will now align Canada with U.S. trading partners and make trade easier and more transparent. The additional class distinctions will provide more variation between higher and lower yielding carcasses, providing an opportunity for improved targeted finishing practices. Carpenter described this potential benefit of the yield grading change, “It’s important to understand that, with a fiveyield class system, we’d be able to identify and potentially adjust feeding practices and enhance genetic practices to be able to zero in on better yield outcomes over time.” The measurement is meant to establish the carcass cutability yield, but it is also a tool for the plant to settle with the feeder. And for the feeder, it can serve as an evaluative tool to become more efficient and improve the overall outcome. The feeders can try to determine the influencing factors that result in Y4 and Y5 yield grades, looking at their feeding practices and the genetic makeup of the cattle, to understand how their cattle performed. The feeders can then take

this information about the poor yielding carcasses and adjust and change their production methods. “That sharing of information back down the value chain is a critical component,” said Carpenter. They can change food rations and avoid overfeeding to reduce input costs, thereby becoming more efficient. “It really comes down to a fine balance between correct finishing and overfinishing,” he said. In the end, it makes the Canadian industry more competitive. Development The new five-yield class system was developed to reflect the Canadian herd in relation to the U.S. yield grade. The CBGA and the CFIA worked with the Lacombe Research and Development Centre (LRDC) in Alberta to develop an evaluation metric – an algorithm that examined the results of changing the three yield classes to five yield classes based on an analysis of 45,000 past yield records. Subsequently, the LRDC, CFIA and CBGA tested the measurements on site at plants with about 600 carcasses to validate that research and to develop the inputs for a new grading rule that would be used in plant to evaluate these carcasses under a five-yield class system. This research aimed to ensure that the five-yield class system was going to be an effective way of assessing the yield class on the carcass. “There was a high degree of rigor to ensure that the measurements were going to be accurate and reflective of the Canadian herd,” Carpenter said. Thus, before changes can be implemented, thorough research needed to be carried out. The CBGA pointed out that the change will allow for alignment and transparency with the U.S., our largest trading partner. Canada already uses the same marbling standards as the USDA. “We need to understand how beef is graded in other countries and ensure that we are competitive with those countries,” said Carpenter. “Because we are an exportcontinued on page 8

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Industry News Grading System cont. from pg. 7 focused nation as we export over half of all the beef that we produce – we do need to ensure that our grading system is competitive and well understood by buyers in the rest of the world and it can be readily differentiated.” This differentiation supports a Canadian beef advantage. Incorporation by Reference Incorporation by Reference means the requirements document is held by industry, not government, but retains the force of law because it has been “referenced” in the Act. Prior to January 15, 2019, any proposed changes to the Canadian beef grading system had to be submitted and approved by the CFIA, then a long process to change the Regulations governing grading would have to be undertaken. “After January 15, we are going to be in a position where the standards are maintained by the CFIA, but the requirements for what constitutes a grade are going to be enabled by a method known as Incorporation by Reference,” said Carpenter. This change is significant, he explained, because the CBGA, in consultation with the industry, will now manage the grade requirements, potentially make changes to the grade assessment, and really manage the system proactively. These changes will make the grading system more efficient, allowing it to react in a timely fashion to industry needs with the opportunity to adapt to new grading technologies. Previously, changes to the grading system took time. “With the Incorporation by Reference, we would be able to propose a change

Driver Training cont. from pg. 6 forward after March 15. Currently, SGI does most of the testing, although some of the testing is done by schools. The cost for the new training is expected to reach about $6,500 to $9,000, for which the drivers are responsible. Hargrave noted that some trucking companies

within industry, assess its impact, ensure industry is onside with that change, and then take it to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for recognition,” he said. The requirements for beef grading will now become easier to manage and amend, making them more responsive to changes in the marketplace and helping Canada stay competitive. “It puts the change opportunity in our hands instead of strictly in the government’s hands,” Carpenter added. “We get to manage our own destiny.”

The ability for us to manage our own grading standards is a win for the industry. It’s important to note that beef along with bison and veal are the first commodities to be allowed to try this model. “We are definitely on the cutting edge as we were when carcass grading was privatized and the CBGA was first developed and put into place,” Carpenter stated. “At the end of the day, I think it is a good news story for our industry in helping us become better at what we all do.”

the direction of its board, the Livestock Grading Regulatory Standing Committee (LGRSC), which brings together a diverse membership from all aspects of the beef value chain – feeders, the Canadian Meat Council, the Retail Council of Canada, as well as meat research expertise. The CFIA is a member of the standing committee with observer status and still has final approval over changes. The committee held its first meeting in November 2018. Implementation Prior to January 15, all plants must prepare to implement the new yield grade system. New rulers for objective measurement of five classes have been developed and training videos are being completed to train the graders. The grading data needs to be captured and provided back to the CBGA office through the packers. Carpenter noted that, along with the training, there will continue to be an auditing process of all graders that will include a follow up to the yield implementation process. “Both of these stories are good news for the industry. They are helping to keep us as competitive as possible,” Carpenter concluded. B

As far as the process around managing potential change, Carpenter says, “We have the responsibility of maintaining, reviewing, managing and updating the meat grades requirements document, which is essentially the standards for meat grading in Canada.” To manage this new regulatory environment, the CBGA established a new committee under

do assist their drivers with the costs of training. In addition, “the Saskatchewan Government has asked the federal government if it would include truck driver training as part of the student loan program, and they are considering that,” he stated. For the “F” endorsement, there will be a cost for taking the examinations which are currently in place.

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As for the potential impact of mandatory training on the ability of the agricultural sector to attract workers, Hargrave pointed out that nowadays many people expect to have some training as part of their job. The government sees driving semi trucks as a profession and the drivers are professionals. “Everyone just wants a safe highway for their friends and family members to be out on the highway,” stated Hargrave. B JANUARY 2019

16th Annual Bull Sale • On the farm Monday, March 4, 2019

On offer 80 Red & Black Simmental & Simm/Angus Bulls

KWA 146F Red Mountain Sons

KWA 9F Odyssey Sons

KWA 186F Capone Sons

KWA 68F Missile Sons

KWA 136F Authority Sons

KWA 22F Equity Sons

Ashworth Family

Farm & Ranch Ltd. JANUARY 2019

Oungre, SK Kelly: (306) 861-2013 Kyle: (306) 861-9352 jashworth@sasktel.net or kyleashworth@hotmail.com

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 9

Industry News Saskatchewan Amends Trespass Legislation In November 2018, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced legislation changing the way the public can access rural land. These proposed amendments follow up the trespassing survey the government had conducted in early Fall 2018. Amendments were made to three different acts to bring them into harmony: The Trespass to Property Act, The Snowmobile Act, and The Wildlife Act, 1998. The changes aim to strike an equitable balance of access rights of rural landowners and the public. This legislation will clarify and ensure consistency in the rules regarding trespassing, and it will shift the responsibility from rural landowners to individuals seeking to access the property. Individuals who want to access private land and leased Crown land must received permission from the occupier of the land first before entering the land for any activity. However, this does not apply to vacant Crown agricultural land, Crown resource land and park land. “There have been concerns raised over the years that the current legislation unfairly places the onus on rural landowners to post their land to legally deny access,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. “This legislation shifts that responsibility to those wishing to access the land, by requiring them to obtain prior permission from the land owner or occupier.” There are exceptions for some individuals who are not regarded as trespassing if they enter the property and they do not need permission to access land. These individuals include peace officers, firefighters, ambulance attendants, paramedics, first responders or other emergency personnel and their emergency vehicles who access any property to carry out their duties for emergency situations. Also, individuals who are carrying out their duties and are authorized to install, inspect, replace, remove or read meters or service

connections which are part of a public utility, and electricity or gas inspectors. Notably, the legislation specifies an “occupier of a premises”. It does not distinguish between a landowner or lessee for granting permission. This reference presumes a single landowner, but more distinction will be needed regarding multiple landowners. It opens up a potential grey area should there be a nonagreement over permission that would have to be clarified elsewhere. At the same time, the legislation makes clear that “the onus rests on the defendant to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that he or she had the consent of the occupier to enter in or on the premises or to engage in the activity.” The person seeking access must receive permission from the owner or occupier. It will fall to the person accessing the property to prove they had reasonable grounds to believe they had consent. This requirement for improved communication will help ensure that landowners and occupiers are aware of the presence of others on their property. In addition, the legislation protects landowners and occupiers against property damage and the risk of agricultural diseases. The Trespass to Property Amendment Act, 2018 contains a limitation of liability clause to protect occupiers from liability that might arise from a trespasser’s presence on a premises. According to the legislation, “An occupier owes no duty of care to a person entering onto the premises of the occupier in contravention of this Act.” However, the owner cannot do harm to the trespasser. The legislation stipulates providing limited permission: “If notice is given that one or more particular activities are permitted, all other activities and entry for the purpose of engaging in those other activities are deemed to be prohibited.” The amendments do not cover the length

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of time or the period of time that the permission is valid. The occupier and the individual seeking access to the property will need to determine these details prior to access. Thus, in giving permission, a landowner would want to specify the details of the permission – the explicit activities, the period of time, and so on. Regarding First Nations hunting rights, the Treaty and Aboriginal Rights for Hunting and Fishing Guide from December 2018 stipulates that permission is required from a landowner or lessee prior to hunting on private lands and leased provincial crown lands and all instructions must be followed. Notably, former PFRA and provincial pastures are closed to hunting when livestock are present. The permission can take the form of written or spoken permission or signage. A sign to give notice should have the name of the activity being prohibited and an oblique line drawn through the name of the activity or a graphic of that activity with an oblique line. For example, if permission is not given for campfires, then a sign with an image of a campfire with an oblique line through it would need to be posted. Furthermore, according to the amendments, “A notice given pursuant to this section may relate to all or part of any premises and different notices may be given or posted in relation to different parts of any premises.” The act is enforced by peace officers. They have the authority to arrest without warrant any person found in or on premises if the peace officer believes on reasonable grounds that the person has violated the provisions. The amendments also increase the fine for violators up to $5,000. The government held an online survey from August 9 to October 2 to gauge public opinion on trespassing. The survey results showed that a large majority favoured requiring those who wish to access rural land to gain prior permission. B

JANUARY 2019

Industry News Saskatchewan Beef Advocate Wins FFC Award Sherri Grant from Val Marie, Saskatchewan, received the Food & Farming Champion Award presented by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan at their annual meeting in December 2018. The award looks at each nominee’s agriculture experience as it relates to 10 criteria, including advocacy, communications, leadership, participation, support, policy, teaching, publications, innovation and research. Sherri’s passion for agriculture has seen her dedicate countless volunteer hours to promote the beef industry and help the consumer, especially children, to understand the beef production lifecycle. She sees it as an opportunity to teach the agriculture story whether it is directly engaging with students or members of the public, or with the teachers and parents who can further share the information. Sherri got involved in doing student education about the beef industry many years ago. She was motivated by wanting to help people to understand the origins of their food. “If we know where our food comes from, if we know where it was grown, then we have a better understanding of what it is that we’re eating, and we understand the whole system,” she said. The Agvocate brings both a practical and scientific knowledge of food production to her student education and advocacy. With an education background in the science of nutrition, she ranches with her husband and family at Val Marie and volunteers in the industry. Sherri has been instrumental in representing the Saskatchewan beef industry at agriculture education events throughout the province, including preparing and overseeing the Beef Education exhibit at Canadian Western Agribition. “We are trying to open them up to understand that there is more: That cattle on the land share the land with other species. That producers provide water for all those species. That it’s

JANUARY 2019

Sherri Grant, centre, explains the beef production story to school groups and families at the Beef Education exhibit in the Family Ag Pavilion at Canadian Western Agribition in November 2018.

important that cattle enhance the land for other species. That they are using land that can’t be used for other kinds of production, but that cattle can convert that grass that is growing there into something that is healthy and nutritious for us,” she explained. Sherri pointed out that, while the setup may be slightly different at each exhibit location, the basic message remains, “It’s about the land; it’s about the ruminant digestion, and it’s about the nutritive value of the meat.” Although the displays are aimed at children, they also help the adults who accompany the children to understand about beef. It is the adults who will be supporting the learning after Agribition ends, Sherri stressed. To develop some supports, Sherri co-wrote a children’s book, Where Beef Comes From, presenting the beef cattle production cycle in Canada through text and photos. The book is also widely used by educators and parents in their teachings on agriculture. “The curriculum gives teachers lots of avenues to teach concepts. What we offer to teachers are curriculum links where we are providing materials that fit in to those learning opportunities,” she stated. Sherri has noticed over her years of volunteering that there is a growing

disconnect between people and their knowledge of where their food comes from because there is less direct connection with production agriculture. This has made education about beef cattle production so vital. She does not shy away from any of the hot topics of the day, and instead provides information for current topics of consumer interest: beef nutrition, environment, carbon, hormones and antibiotics. During the thousands of interactions with students, teachers and parents over the year, she aims to start a dialogue with exhibit-goers to get them thinking. Sherri ensures that she and her staff working the exhibit are trained and prepared with the tools to have these important discussions with anyone who is interested. She observed that society has become tangled up in the latest food fads which are tied into the marketing strategy of using fear. “It’s not a good way of enhancing health,” she said, adding that people listen to a marketing strategy and think it’s real, but it’s just a marketing strategy. “I think that it’s very important to help people understand the basics of where our food comes from, how things are produced and why, in particular, beef producers are so passionate and care so continued on page 12

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Industry News FCC Award Winner cont. from pg. 11 much about creating a healthy product, a clean product, a product that they themselves want to eat and feed their families and that they know nourishes their own health,” Sherri added. Sherri has also seen over many years a lack of understanding about the concept that cattle are able to take the grasses on nonarable land and use forages that people can’t and convert this into highly nutritious food. “It is a basic message that is lost in the fear of the latest marketing strategies and food fads,” Sherri said. Sherri not only presents at beef industry events, but also creates content for the Beef Education exhibit to reflect school curriculums. As well, as part of the Beef Education programming,

Sherri has developed the website www. beefeducation.ca. She has found social media a valuable format for posting on current consumer and beef industry topics. She uses her blog (GrantRanch.ca) to feature daily life on a working ranch. As an accomplished photographer, she uses this visual medium to share the ranching story and educate the public about how and why things are done on the ranch and the stages of beef production. In addition to her educational and advocacy work, Sherri has participated and continues to participate on agriculture boards and committees, including the Board of Directors for Canadian Western Agribition, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) AgriStability Appeals Committee, SCIC Provincial Appeal Panel and the

national producer advisory committee reviewing Business Risk Management programing under Growing Forward. B

Sherri Grant, centre-left, answers questions about Madonna the purebred Shorthorn cow from South River Shorthorns near Melfort, SK.

Mar 7 @ 1 p.m. O n - line bi d ding w ith DLMS

Horned Herefords Polled Herefords Ranch Horses

w w w. c a l g a r y b u l l s a l e . c o m

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For more information contact ALBERTA CATTLE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION (403)852-0154 finsethjudy@gmail.com

JANUARY 2019

Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

Price per hundred weight

14 2017

2018

130

180

170

130

160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 Source: CanFax

190

2015

160 2016

150 2017

140

2018

2015

2016

2017

2018

Source: CanFax Source: CanFax

| Â©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

2016

Source: CanFax

Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

180

Price per hundred weight

SK Weekly Average Price Heifers 500-600 lbs

210

AB Fed Steer Prices

200

120

Alberta Weekly D1 & D2 Cows

Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

230 2015

CDN $ - US terms

Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

Price per hundred weight 280

Price per tonne

Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52

Price per hundred weight

Markets and Trade SK Weekly Average Price Steers 500-600 lbs

360

310

260 2015

2016

210 2017

160

2018

0.88

0.83

0.78

Source: CanFax

Weekly Canadian Dollar

0.98

0.93 2018

2017

0.73 5 yr avg

0.68 Source: Bank of Canada

Lethbridge Barley Price

290.00

270.00

250.00

230.00 2015

210.00 2016

190.00 2017

170.00 2018

150.00

Source: CanFax

For more information visit www.canfax.ca

JANUARY 2019

www.skstockgrowers.com | Â©BEEF BUSINESS | 15

Markets and Trade RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY as of December 22, 2018 ($/lb)

CO-OP

SAFEWAY

Ground beef/lean

4.00

2.92

SAVE-ON FOODS 6.99

Ground beef/regular

4.70

2.99

Roast/rib

CUTS

SOBEYS

SUPERSTORE

6.49

3.99

5.44

3.99

2.99

11.99

13.00

13.16

Roast/outside round

5.49

Steak/rib eye

11.99

16.99

11.01

17.00

14.09

Steak/round

9.40

7.49

6.41

Steak/sirloin

10.99

10.46

8.00

7.99

8.17

Steak/T-bone

11.99

17.00

16.00

17.00

24.01

Roast/cross rib

Steak/tenderloin

* these items were not in the display case on this date

On the Ranch, Russell, Manitoba Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Black and Red Simmental, Angus and Simm-Angus Bulls

Miles, Bonnie & Jared Glasman Home: 204.773.3279 Miles’ Cell: 204.773.6275 Jared’s Cell: 204.796.0999

mjsimmentalangus@gmail.com

www.mjsimmentalangus.com mlg@glasmanfarms.com

www.glasmanfarms.com find us on

Matthew & Leanne Glasman Home: 204.773.3209 Matt’s Cell: 204.773.6055

Sale Managed By: T Bar C Cattle Co. Ltd. Chris: 306-220-5006

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JANUARY 2019

THANK YOU STOCK EXCHANGE EXHIBITORS ABC CATTLE CO. - WHITEWOOD, SK ANDERSON CATTLE COMPANY INC. - SWAN RIVER, MB BECK FARMS - LANG, SK BRIDGEWAY LIVESTOCK - WAWOTA, SK CEDARLEA FARMS/WINDY WILLOWS FARM - HODGEVILLE, SK CRESCENT CREEK ANGUS - GOODEVE, SK DAVIDSON GELBVIEH - PONTEIX, SK DIAMOND C LIBERTY ANGUS - MELVILLE, SK DOUBLE ‘F’ CATTLE CO - PARKSIDE, SK DUAL E CATTLE CO - WYNYARD, SK EASTONDALE ANGUS - WAWOTA, SK HEXTALL LIVESTOCK - GRENFELL, SK HOWE FAMILY FARM - MOOSE JAW, SK JP CATTLE CO. - MCAULEY, MB JPM FARMS - GRAVELBOURG, SK KENRAY RANCH - REDVERS, SK LV FARMS LTD. - MIDALE, SK MCCOY CATTLE CO. LTD. - MILESTONE, SK MCINTOSH LIVESTOCK - MAYMONT, SK PK HEREFORDS - CANORA, SK SELTE CATTLE CO. - VERMILION, AB SIX MILE RED ANGUS LTD. - FIR MOUNTAIN, SK SMART FARMS LTD. - MOOSOMIN, SK T BAR K RANCH - WAWOTA, SK VERMEULEN GRAIN & CATTLE CO INC - CEYLON, SK WARD’S RED ANGUS - SASKATOON, SK WILD ROSE CATTLE COMPANY - PERDUE, SK WINDY HILL LIVESTOCK - MOOSE JAW, SK ANDERSON CATTLE COMPANY INC. - SWAN RIVER, MB

BECK FARMS - LANG, SK CEDARLEA FARMS - HODGEVILLE, SK COCKBURN RED ANGUS - BRIERCREST, SK CRESCENT CREEK ANGUS - GOODEVE, SK DOUBLE ‘F’ CATTLE CO. - PARKSIDE, SK EASTONDALE ANGUS - WAWOTA, SK FORDEN FAIRVIEW FARM - PUNNICHY, SK GOODVIEW GELBVIEH - PUNNICHY, SK JP CATTLE CO. - MCAULEY, MB

JPM FARMS LTD. - GRAVELBOURG, SK LV FARMS LTD. - MIDALE, SK MADER RANCHES - CARSTAIRS, AB MCCOY CATTLE CO. - MILESTONE, SK MCINTOSH LIVESTOCK - MAYMONT, SK MUSTANG LAND & CATTLE CORP. - WAWOTA, SK PHEASANTDALE CATTLE COMPANY LTD. - BALCARRES, SK PK HEREFORDS - CANORA, SK SMART FARMS LTD. - MOOSOMIN, SK STANDARD HILL LIVESTOCK - MAIDSTONE, SK T BAR K RANCH - WAWOTA, SK T&S FARMS - ROSE VALLEY, SK TRIANGLE 33 SIMMENTALS - EARL GREY, SK WPLB CHAROLAIS - RAYMORE, SK 619 LAND & CATTLE - VERMILION, AB DEVON BARNARD - MOOSOMIN, SK

BLAIRSWEST LAND & CATTLE - DRAKE, SK BRIDGEWAY LIVESTOCK - WAWOTA, SK BROKEN TRIANGLE RANCH - MINTON, SK CAB RANCH - WHITEWOOD, SK FLYING F RANCH - WEYBURN, SK FLYING TL SIMMENTALS - EARL GREY, SK GEHL RANCH - HODGEVILLE, SK TOM GRIEVE - FILLMORE, SK HARM-N-E LONGHORNS - CLINTON, ON HEBERT LIVESTOCK VENTURES - WAWOTA, SK JACKSON FAMILY FARM - HUMBOLDT, SK JP CATTLE CO. - MCAULEY, MB LAKELAND COLLEGE - COMMERCIAL BEEF UNIT - VERMILION, AB MCVICAR STOCK FARMS LTD. - COLONSAY, SK MEBS RANCH - BROADVIEW, SK MURIDALE SHORTHORNS - SWIFT CURRENT, SK PHEASANTDALE CATTLE COMPANY LTD. - BALCARRES, SK RAYMOND LAND & CATTLE LTD. - ANEROID, SK ROCKY MEADOW RANCH - WELWYN, SK SENTES FARMS - RAYMORE, SK SMART FARMS LTD. - MOOSOMIN, SK THREE STAR SIMMENTAL - WEYBURN, SK TRIANGLE 33 - SILTON, SK TRIPLE H CATTLE - CUPAR, SK WADELLA RANCH WESTMAN FARMS - VERMILION, AB WTT LIVESTOCK - MOOSOMIN, SK

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! NOVEMBER 25-30, 2019 JANUARY 2019

www.agribition.com

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 17

Feature The Agricultural Year in Review: An Interview with Minister of Agriculture David Marit increase our global exports. With the new trade agreements, it has given us an opportunity to expand our market and to grow the livestock sector here in the Province of Saskatchewan. BB: What do you see as the highlights for the beef industry in Saskatchewan for 2018?

David Marit was appointed in late summer 2018 as the new Minister of Agriculture and Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation. Marit is the MLA for Wood River and previously held the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure portfolio. He is no stranger to the agriculture sector as an owner-operator of a farm and past president of SARM. Minister Marit spoke with Beef Business to summarize the 2018 agriculture year in Saskatchewan and opportunities in 2019. BB: Thank you, Mr. Minister, for taking time for this interview. You were recently appointed as Minister of Agriculture. How are you settling in to your new portfolio? DM: I’m very honoured and humbled to be appointed Minister of Agriculture by the premier. Moving to this ministry is something very near and dear to me. I’m settling in pretty well. It’s been quite an adjustment and a learning curve. I’m trying to meet with as many commodity groups and farm groups as I can over the last few months. BB: What do you see as your top priorities? DM: As far as priorities, I think it’s really important to find ways to grow the agriculture sector, not only within the province, but also outside the province. What I mean is adding value so we can

DM: Probably, the biggest highlight is the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence near Clavet that was opened. It’s a world class facility and it’s amazing to have someone like Dr. Kris Ringwall come in to this facility. When I had a brief discussion with him at the opening ceremonies, I asked, “What made you come here?” and he said, “This is a world class facility. There isn’t another one like it in North America.” It’s integrated from the cow calf producer to the feedlot side and the forage side. He said it’s just amazing to have the capacity to do it all in one facility. Finding opportunities to grow the livestock sector here in Saskatchewan is important to me. The previous Minister Stewart and Minister Bjornerud had made a lot of programming changes in agriculture and I can just continue from there. Some of the changes that we made with crop insurance and forage coverage are important. If we can continue to see the numbers going up for the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP), that means the program is headed in the right direction and we’re doing the right thing – that’s what the cow calf producer wants. BB: This fall, we welcomed the USMCA deal and the ratification of the CPTPP. How can we capitalize on these trade opportunities and get our beef products to these foreign markets, especially to Japan, as well as to other Asian markets like China? DM: It’s important to show these markets just what we do here in the province of Saskatchewan in producing livestock from

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the cow calf producer to the end-product. I think the opportunities are tremendous for us. When you look at the expected dollar values, obviously, the United States is still our biggest trading partner at well over $3.5 billion annually, and Mexico is our fourth largest trading partner with well over $700 million dollars. Also, it’s important for us to grow the markets outside of that. When you see the CPTPP, I think the opportunity for Canadian beef and pork is phenomenal. When you look at estimates just under $400 million, that’s a significant increase. That’s almost 50% of what we do into Mexico alone, just for the beef side. I consider it a huge opportunity for us to get into a market that is looking at opportunity for growth. We know we grow some of the best beef in the world here. We have the second largest livestock herd in Canada. We are an integral part of that trade and, geographically, access to those markets via Vancouver gives us a great opportunity to grow. The private sector is doing their part in it and we, as government, will assist in those trade opportunities. That’s the role that we should be playing. BB: With so many trade opportunities abroad, can you speak to the challenges of getting our Saskatchewan agriculture products to market? DM: We’ll always have that challenge because we’re landlocked. We have to find ways to either have value added here or try and get a better value there. How do we work with the industry players to assure that? They want guaranteed supply and quality and that’s what the customer wants. We just have to make sure that when we’re talking to the customer that we can deliver that. And I think that is the important part. We’ll always be challenged by transportation here in Saskatchewan. When you look at all the entities growing within the province – all the other sectors: oil and gas, potash, forestry, grains and continued on page 20 JANUARY 2019

JANUARY 2019

www.skstockgrowers.com | Â©BEEF BUSINESS | 19

Feature Year in Review cont. from pg. 18 oilseeds – they are all looking for more capacity to transport, and that puts a challenge on everybody. BB: In your view, what kind of impact would the federal carbon tax make on our livestock industry, in the event that it would be implemented? DM: The court challenge will be going to court here shortly into 2019 and we’ll await that outcome. We feel confident in our challenge to the federal government on it. Now, we have other provinces signing on with us – New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba. We’re getting support outside of our provincial boundaries which is important. Hopefully, we can win this court challenge. In the event that something does happen, we are very concerned about the impact that it is going to have on agriculture as a whole, as well as for the livestock sector. It’s going to be greatly impacted because all of those costs will be handed back down to the primary producer and those costs have to be borne by somebody. That will just have a huge impact on our bottom line and come back as a huge cost. Unfortunately, in the agricultural sector, we are price takers not price setters. It’s going to have a huge trickle down effect that’s really going to have an impact on the bottom line of our primary producers in the livestock sector and we’re very concerned about that. If you look at the livestock sector – we haul all our cattle somewhere, so there’s going to be a tax there. We put up our own hay, so there’s going to be fuel taxes. Plus, there will be secondary costs that will be passed on as a result of another sector being impacted by the carbon tax. I just look at municipalities. Municipalities will be impacted by the carbon tax. Would the property taxes go up? Hopefully, with the offset system which we have proposed within our strategy, agriculture would be recognized and all the good work that our livestock producers do out there to improve the environment.

BB: How will the carbon tax impact our beef’s ability to compete on world markets? DM: We are an exporting province. We export globally 70% to 80% of what we produce here, so it’s going to have a huge impact when we go up against Australia, the United States – countries that are in the same export markets that we are and don’t have a carbon tax. That’s the challenge that we are going to have with this. We also have a huge challenge because of our geographical location and the impact it has for us to get our product to market. When you bring into play everything that’s going to have a carbon tax on it, it’s going to have a huge impact on the cow calf producer here in the province of Saskatchewan. BB: What would an offset system in the provincial climate change strategy look like in Saskatchewan? How would our livestock producers participate in such a program? DM: We’re just in discussions about that. First of all, getting it recognized. Right now, it’s not, so we haven’t made a decision on how it will look like for the province of Saskatchewan at this time. If you look at it the way the federal government is doing and putting a dollar value on a ton of carbon, then I hope they would recognize that same value as an offset at some point with the sequestration process that we have here in the Province of Saskatchewan that is science-based. BB: Amendments to the provincial trespassing legislation were recently introduced in the legislature. Can you summarize the main changes to the Act and what they mean for landowners? DM: The biggest issue here is treating rural landowners the same as we do any urban landowner. You have to have permission to go on anybody’s property in an urban community, so we’ve done the same on the rural side. There’s a lot of reasons why because there are so many challenges now. Safety is number one,

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and to protect the landowner so he knows who is coming on his land. There is also safety for the person who is trying to get access to that land. It’s just to protect them as well as to protect the landowner. Even with biosecurity issues, we have noxious weeds on pastureland like leafy spurge, valley brome and others that can be spread by vehicle movement. It is important that we try and control those kinds of things. The legislation is something that a lot of rural landowners had been asking for and had been wanting. When we did the survey, we saw that. It was important to take the first step in bringing this legislation forward that now you seek permission to enter on land. A lot of people in the hunting world were doing that anyway. I think it’s the right thing to do. BB: Can you speak to the importance of public trust in the beef industry and what we, as beef producers, can do to build public trust? DM: I think this is important, I really do. We’ve come a long way post-BSE with tracking and tracing. We have to show the customer we’re doing the right thing on the farms and we have the verified beef production program. It’s pretty easy for us to say that we grow safe sustainable beef, but the customer is going to demand how we do it, and they’re going to want us to prove to them that we’re doing it. Premises ID and the verified beef programs all work together. I think it gives us a huge opportunity to grow the beef industry here and nationally and that’s really what we want to do – to develop new customers and to build on those trade agreements. There’s huge opportunity for us within the trade agreements as people will be looking for beef. I think the cow calf producer right through the whole value chain in the livestock sector know that the customer wants this. We just have to get everything in place so that we can deliver. continued on page 22

JANUARY 2019

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W C C Primrose S414 - G Primrose 2424, the dam EARose Rose 918 918 --An An impactful impactful dam dam in in North NorthAmerica. America.Bar Most EA Most Herdsires. recently, in in the the 2018 2018 ZWT ZWTfall fall sale, sale, Rose Rose 918's 918's Sensation Sensation female female recently, sold for for $50,000 $50,000 and and her her Sudden Sudden Impact Impact bull bull calf calf sold sold $42,500 $42,500 sold Jean Paul & Mar for 1/2 1/2 interest. interest. for

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Feature Year in Review cont. from pg. 20 BB: Research shows that Saskatchewan has significant opportunities to expand our existing irrigation infrastructure. What is the province’s position on investing in the expansion of irrigation? DM: We recognize the opportunities for irrigation and there are many. I was just at Outlook about a month ago and met with one of the districts. I think there are many opportunities for a lot of in-fill where they can expand in one of the districts. We know that to expand further is going to take a lot of money. I think there is an opportunity for us to work with the private sector to invest in it and the landowners as well. Unfortunately, when you have revenue shortfalls as we are having, and we have priorities in education and health and social services and highways and everything else that is taking up a big chunk of the budget, to find extra dollars for us as government to invest in further irrigation at this time obviously causes some fiscal challenges. I’m hoping that there is an opportunity that we can find a way for the private sector to invest with some long-term returns on their investment. I think we are looking at opportunities to in-fill what we do have, and I know there are always requests for expanding it. It takes a lot of money and we just have to find the resources to do that. BB: Earlier this year the province announced the discontinuation of the Livestock Loan Guarantee (LLG) Program. Could you provide us with an update on the current status of the transition? DM: This was obviously something that we felt as government that we shouldn’t be in the business of doing – securing loans for the private sector – and we looked at moving out of this program by December. After a lot of discussion we’ve had in the short time that I’ve been here with some of the co-op groups, and even a few weeks ago meeting with the financial institutions, we have decided to extend that date to July 31, 2019. This was

something that all sectors had a concern with was the timeline, so we’ve extended it. The co-op groups are very happy with that and the lending institutions, with the call I had with them, were really on board. I think that long before July 31 we are going to see most of this already transitioned. I think it just shows that the program has a place, but it just doesn’t have a place that the government should be securing, that’s all. BB: Recently, changes were announced for mandatory commercial truck driver training in Saskatchewan. Do you have any insight into what a mandatory training program would involve and how such a program would impact farmers and ranchers? DM: I know that they are going to mandatory training on the commercial side. That will harmonize Saskatchewan with what the rest of Western Canada has done. From the agriculture side right now, there’s going to be a consultation process taking place. BB: CFIA is proposing to implement the new livestock movement regulations in 2019. Are we as a province prepared to deal with these regulations? DM: Actually, the federal government is still working on the regulations. We’re concerned about it and we don’t exactly know where they are going yet. We are keeping in close contact with them to see what this is going to entail. We’re very concerned as to animal health safety. I think this is really important because it shows the importance of the Premises ID program. We are encouraging everyone to get a PID number. It relates back even to the whole discussion about sustainable beef. If we are going to grow the industry globally, the customer’s going to want to know where that beef came from and how it was grown. These are real demands that the customers are asking for that we have to meet. BB: Within the new Provincial Lands Act, there is an allowance for Crown lessees to be able to borrow against

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their leases. Has Saskatchewan Agriculture made any progress on developing a structure to enable this process? DM: We have just been developing some guidelines now. We are just in the final stages of taking that out to the stakeholders here in NovemberDecember. That’s where it is at right now. Hopefully, in the new year, we will see what they will come back with if we’re going to implement something or not. BB: In conclusion, going into 2019, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges facing the livestock industry in Saskatchewan? DM: We’ve done some great things. Programs are in place to really assist to ensure the cow calf producer and the feeders have what they need. Next year, in 2019 the opportunity is to grow the export markets to our new clients. That is something that I’m really going to work hard on – trying to build those trade relationships with those new partners that we have. We do a great job of promoting ourselves here in the province. You look at Agribition and look at the growth it had again this year. When you look at the international side of it and the countries that come over to see what we have here, I think there’s opportunity there. Transportation will always be a challenge for us and, hopefully, we can come to some resolve on a lot of that. Rail capacity is an issue, even the trucking side has challenges with the amount of trucks and drivers. We want to see the industry continue to grow, we all do, and it’s important that we do that. As government, we have to be there to facilitate that growth – that’s our role. We are also challenged by interprovincial issues too. We have to talk to our provincial counterparts about how we continued on page 45

JANUARY 2019

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Feature Ontario Corn Fed Beef: A Regional Brand with National Benefits The Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program (OCFB) has grown into one of the largest producer-owned branded beef programs in Canada over the past two decades. The program was developed in 2001 to ensure the sustainability of beef and cattle production in Ontario and to provide high quality, locally-produced beef using onfarm quality assurance protocols and food safety assurances. With domestic and international success, the program can now provide a blueprint for branded programs across Canada that promote the Canadian beef advantage. As proof of the quality that can come from this type of rigorous program, Ontario Corn Fed Beef has won the Three Golden Star Superior Taste awards in four of the last five years. The OCFB program is owned by the Ontario Cattle Feeders Association and is directed by a 13-member Board of Directors. Beef Business spoke to Ontario Corn Fed Beef program’s John Baker, director of brand management and business development, who shared how the OCFB developed into a regional brand that benefits the beef industry nation-wide. The Beginning Back in 2001, the Ontario Cattle Feeders Association realized that they needed to do something unique that would safeguard the sustainability of beef and cattle production in Ontario, explained Baker. At that time, its beef industry was facing tough times. Cattle slaughter in that province was starting to decline, while high-volume processing began popping up in the West, and U.S. beef began making significant inroads into the Ontario market. Unlike industry developments in Western Canada, Ontario occupies a unique position in Canada facing very stiff competition from imports. Over 85% of U.S. beef imports to Canada lands in Ontario, Baker pointed out. In addition, the recent foreign trade agreements have given up even more market access with signatory countries

pegging Ontario as their priority export market. Given these factors and the future of the province’s industry, the Ontario cattle feeders developed a branded beef program which would differentiate itself in the market. Since then, “the program has grown in significant volume and value for the producer,” Baker said. One of the program’s biggest achievements was developing a meaningful and relevant brand story. “We had to put equity and value in the brand story,” he said. “That has been achieved through very innovative marketing approaches and a very transparent communications strategy around the production aspects of Ontario Corn Fed Beef.” The OCFB program developed market-leading partnerships in all sectors, including in retail food service and processing. After the first decade of building, the program really took off in 2010 once Loblaws came on board as a retail partner, propelling the brand onto mainstream grocery shelves. Producer Training The program is built around good production practices, many of which are common to the industry in general. To be able to produce consistent-tasting beef, OCFB takes a consistent and standardized approach using the same types of cattle that are all raised, handled and fed the same. “We make sure that everything is done in a consistent approach so that everyone is following the exact same set of production practices, so that all areas of animal health, food safety and responsible farming as well as elements that contribute to consistently great-tasting beef like our feed rations, is consistent,” Baker explained. Producers can participate in the program by undergoing an initial audit to become registered and additional ongoing audits to maintain their involvement in the program. The producer would also receive an initial training session that

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Ontario Corn Fed Beef on store shelves in the Asian market.

includes reviewing the program modules, documentation requirements and all the program manuals. The program’s Quality Assurance staff conducts the audits and training to ensure that the producers understand their responsibilities in the program. “The long-term audits ensure that the feed ration meets the program requirements built around composition and nutritional value as well as ensure that the required records are kept,” said Baker. Subsequently, these requirements are highlighted in the program marketing as being “raised on local family farms, utilizing responsible farming practices under mandatory documents and quality assurance program” which includes protocols around animal health. Once the producer completes the requirements, plants in Ontario that are licensed to produce OCFB are notified of the producer’s certification. “When the cattle arrive at the plant, they are identified as coming from a certified Ontario Corn Fed Beef farm,” Baker stated. That identity is maintained throughout the slaughter and processing. The carcasses are segregated in the plant as being OCFB and they would go through all the safety inspection and quality grading criteria, he added. continued on page 26

JANUARY 2019

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 25

Feature Corn Fed Beef cont. from pg. 24 Reaction The OCFB program has gained popularity with producers. As demand grew, especially after 2010, provincial participation continued to blossom. “There’s currently over 500 producers enrolled in the program,” Baker said. OCFB produces 300,000 head of cattle annually. “Consumer reaction has been very positive,” said Baker. After 20 years, OCFB has become one of the longest-standing branded beef programs in Canada. Having captured market interest, the OCFB program strived to remain relevant with consumers by being sensitive to consumer demand. “One of the things we do is talk to consumers about things that are real and tangible,” connecting with them about personal and social values, explained Baker. They work with partners on innovative approaches in branding to reach out to consumers. The program uses transparent communication methods and audio-visual formats to show what their members do on their farms. Baker observed that consumer demands have changed significantly since the program was established. “I think their need for information has changed,” he noted. Initially, the OCFB focused on consistently great-tasting beef and developed specific program protocols around that. Today, consumers are concerned about social responsibilities. “They want to know more about the responsible farming practices, what practices are utilized by the farms, how are they utilized, and who is responsible,” he stated. As a result, said Baker, the OCFB mandatory on-farm Quality Assurance program differentiates the beef produced and speaks to consumer concerns about production. Branding Baker explained that the program’s success is rooted in its clear concise brand story. “The focal point has always been about who we are what we do and why we do it,” he added. At the same time, he sees a change in how that message has been presented. “The program has

definitely evolved from 20 years ago when consistently great-tasting was our differentiating factor,” he said. “As the social issues evolved, so has the brand story and how we communicate that story.” Baker noted that the mandatory production practices, the defined feeding protocols, mandatory quality assurance and the record-keeping have always been foundational in the program, but at different times have become more relevant in the marketplace. Because different demographics of consumers vary in how they absorb information, Baker explained that the methods of communicating the program’s messages will vary. “We need to be cognizant of that,” he said. Baker observed a strong movement in Ontario for the development of Ontario brands and for buying Ontario-produced meats.” However, being local is not enough for Ontario consumers, and brands are built on more than just being local. Nevertheless, the province has considerable import competition in this market. Ontario beef represents about 50% of the consumption in Ontario. “It’s very important for Ontario that we have a lot of unique brands in the marketplace that we can differentiate ourselves with,” he stated. “Consumers, at the end of the day, want choices.” At the same time, Baker does not see Ontario Corn Fed Beef competing against Canada Beef in the global marketplace. “We are a truly Canadian beef brand. Ontario Corn Fed Beef producers source calves from all over Canada. Over 300,000 calves annually are sourced from western provinces,” he said. There are several other regional programs that are being marketed in Canada which leverage some of their regional attributes, he noted. He sees this diversity of regional programs as an advantage for Canadian beef on world markets to enhance the national strategy. “One of the key reasons for that – and this is really pertinent – is that not all customers want to buy the same product as their competitors,” Baker explained. Markets want differentiation, even within national suppliers. For the beef industry

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to flourish in Canada, it has to offer more than just a low price. “We as a country need to be able to offer the market more than one product. We need to be able to be able to offer unique brands that are being marketed on a consistent national basis that are complementary in nature,” Baker stated. Benefits The OCFB program benefits the beef industry across Canada, Baker pointed out. OCFB producers receive a premium on their cattle in the market. According to independent reports, the program provided a $26 per head increase in the Ontario fed cattle market. The program’s feedlots source beef from all across Canada because the Ontario cow calf production is too small to consistently supply its feedlots. The Ontario cow calf herd is currently around 175,000 and has been shrinking over the past 15 years, while and OCFB has grown to produce 300,000 cattle. “A large feedlot needs to be able to buy lots of calves of consistent quality which are generally sourced from western Canada,” he said. OCFB feedlots are high-volume purchasers of calves from western Canada, primarily from Saskatchewan and Alberta. By being large bidders, the program also helps drive up the prices of calves in western Canada and creates more demand. In addition, the OCFB program supports the Ontario packing sector, which benefits all of eastern Canada. “Most importantly, it has provided Ontario packers with a unique brand of beef, which has provided them with a unique product offering compared against their higher volume import competitors,” said Baker. Through its sustainable practices, the program supports the local feed sector. “We grow a lot of high-quality corn here in Ontario, and 70% of feed grade corn is mostly here in southern Ontario where most of our feedlots are located,” Baker said, noting that it is much more efficient for producers to produce their own feed or have access to regional corn. continued on page 28

JANUARY 2019

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Feature Corn Fed Beef cont. from pg. 26 Foreign Trade With local success, OCFB turned its attention to capturing foreign markets. “We began our export strategy in 2014 and we focused on Japan, China, UAE and Saudi Arabia,” Baked described. “The Ontario Corn Fed Beef program went over extremely well in Japan because quality assurances are very important to the Japanese marketplace.” He added that brands that are unique in the marketplace are able to successfully compete because consumers demand differentiation and not all retailers want to sell the same product. “We as a country need to offer brands with attributes that people want to buy in foreign markets, not sell them what we produce on a generic commodity basis. That’s simply not going to deliver value to Canadian producers,” he added. Canada wrapped up a number of international trade deals over the past year, which it touted would boost Canadian opportunities globally. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would enhance the OCFB program in Asia, but Baker sees the benefits only for the short term and expects the U.S. to enter this market soon with its own agreement, negating any tariff advantage. Australia and the U.S. are our competitors in virtually every market. Other markets like Vietnam also represent opportunities for growth for premium Canadian beef programs. He maintains that Canadian beef can’t expect to compete only on a price advantage alone. “We as a country need to develop a portfolio of products that we can sell in markets,” said Baker. “A long-term strategy will still be focused on identifying, developing strategic distribution relationships and bringing forward unique Canadian beef brands that offer competitive differentiation in the marketplace,” he stated. “Not everybody in Japan wants to sell the same product. They want something unique and different.” The European trade deal, CanadaEuropean Union Comprehensive

Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), potentially holds good opportunities for very specific unique brands, but technical barriers remain, Baker explained. He remains hopeful that the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), for all its promise, could address some of the challenges faced by the Canadian beef industry. He noted that the border inspection issue is a significant barrier to commercially viable trade in the largest trading market for Canadian beef. Domestic Market Baker said that OCFB along with Canadian beef has to keep an eye on the growing non-meat proteins that is certainly “chipping away at the market.” “It’s going to be a significant competitor from this point forward into the future,” he said. “We need to understand what is the attraction to the product, and what is the perception of why those products are better than a beef product source.” He observes changing consumer expectations, and the beef industry as a whole has to be open to providing information demanded by the marketplace. Communication is core in addressing misperceptions about beef production, says Baker, “A lot of things that consumers want to hear that producers are doing are in fact being done. We just need to make sure that we are getting enough of those messages out there that speak over the noise of misperceptions.” Although consumer focus on the environmental impact and carbon footprint have only risen to prominence in recent years, Baker points out that the OCFB program has been addressing environmental sustainability on the farm long before environmental sustainability became such a focal point. “We in Ontario here have a program called the environmental farm plan that we’ve always endorsed and strongly endorsed so each of our feedlots have an environmental plan that addresses environmental impacts in 23 areas on the farm.”

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Ontario Corn Fed Beef at an Ontario grocery.

Most importantly, the OCFB program has to work with its brand partners in all markets to focus on implementing demand-building activities that drive the value of Canadian beef. Evolving Story Baker believes the biggest success for the program has been its growth. It started as a small program with hundreds of cattle and has grown into a program with hundreds of thousands of cattle annually that is globally recognized for its taste and quality. He is also proud that OCFB supports the entire beef industry. “The Ontario corn fed program is a truly national program that provides benefits for all sectors of beef production,” Baker concluded. The OCFB program is a great story of value added and value captured, Baker stated, adding value to Western Canadian calves and capturing value in the OCFB finishing program that has something unique. “That value is captured in the brand and marketed throughout the world,” he added. It’s a unique Canadian beef brand not replicated by U.S. beef. At the same time, “we’ve always focused specifically on who we are and what we do and how it contributes to producing great beef,” Baker concluded. B *For more information about the Ontario Corn Fed Beef Program see: www.ocfbeef.com.

JANUARY 2019

influential sires

DAGGER

Feb

BANKROLL

WASHINGTON

JUGGERNAUT

2019

LAW MAKER

Best of both

Worlds bull sale DOUBLE BAR BANKROLL 421F

140

DOUBLE BAR BANKROLL 564F

head sell

at the farm, Grenfell, SK DOUBLE BAR BANKROLL 507F DOUBLE BAR BANKROLL 505F DOUBLE BAR BANKROLL 449F

INCLUDING THE FIRST SONS OF BANKROLL (ALL PICTURED OCTOBER 2018) Sales managed by

Double Bar D Farms Box 580 Grenfell Saskatchewan Canada S0G 2B0 www.doublebardfarms.com kenshau@yourlink.ca Ken Dimler 306-697-7204 Richard Dimler 306-697-7298 Allan Hjertaas 306-452-8427

JANUARY 2019

www.skstockgrowers.com | Â©BEEF BUSINESS | 29

Feature Food Trends for 2019: Higher Prices and Alternative Proteins on the Horizon Consumer food decisions and contemporary approaches to food consumption will be influenced by multiple factors and consumer trends in 2019, forecasted the annual Canada’s Food Price Report for 2019. Consequently, food producers need to take notice of these factors which have the potential to change the food industry and approaches to production. The Food Price Report was produced by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph led by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and Dr. Simon Somogyi. Charlebois is Dean and professor at the Rowe School of Business, School of Public Administration, School for Resource and Environmental Studies, and Department of Business and Social Sciences at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Somogyi is a professor at the College of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Food Prices The 2019 report contained forecasts for nine categories of food, an increase on the number of categories reported on last year. It projects that overall food prices are expected to rise by 3.5% in 2019, which is a slight increase on last year. “This forecast means that the annual food expenditure for the average Canadian family is expected to increase by $411 in 2019 to around $12,157 for the year,” stated the report. An important factor behind this increase is the cost of vegetables, which have the greatest growth. However, for the first time since its inception nine years ago, the report expects meat and seafood prices to decline, while the cost of plantbased proteins is on the rise. Furthermore, meat prices are projected to spiral downwards into 2020 with the growing number of consumers reducing or eliminating meat consumption. Moreover, food prices have gained volatility since the 2008 financial crisis, after which bakery and dairy reached price levels above normal inflationary patterns. Other food categories have also risen above inflationary norms, such as meat, which crossed this level in 2012. 30

According to the report, another factor influencing Canadian food prices in 2018 was the uncertainty surrounding international trade, particularly the negotiation of the United States-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA). That ambiguity raised questions for food sectors that were affected by the USMCA, particularly the five supply-managed agricultural sectors. “Once again, one of the most established industries in Canada, part of the backbone of our economy, will likely see unfavourable outcomes from an international trade agreement,” stated the report. It forecasted that the Canadian dairy, egg and poultry sectors will lose about 3.6% of their total current market share to U.S. producers. In addition, the report noted that the U.S.-China trade disputes have affected Canada’s entire food supply chain regarding procurement, exports and imports. However, new trade deals in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific region have created new opportunities for Canadian food products. Another influence on food prices in 2018 came from interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada. Food prices felt the impact of the rate hike in addition to inflationary increases, said the report. With wages stagnating, food expenses for households will continue to increase into 2019. In contrast to national trends, Saskatchewan experienced a 0.4% decrease in food prices in 2018, although they are projected to rise in 2019. Ontario saw the highest increase of 2.7%. Consumer Behaviour The report noted that consumer shopping and food behaviour is swiftly changing. Partly, the change is prompted by a large and diverse choice of foods. For example, a couple of years ago the average grocery store carried 8,000 stock keeping units (SKU), but today has over 20,000 SKUs, noted Charlebois. Consequently, the abundance in choice has left the consumer confused, and, as a result, has impacted their food choice behaviour.

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Canadian consumers have changed their shopping behaviour, visiting more food stores regularly but spending less time per visit, according to a study by Dalhousie University on consumer perceptions of the grocery shopping experience which was featured in the Food Price report. For example, they shopped at 2.3 different grocery stores regularly an average of 1.29 times per week. Most study participants, 62.3%, shopped weekly for food, while only 3.8% shopped once a month. These numbers have shifted downward from previous years, signaling that consumers are gravitating towards other grocery formats like convenience stores and online shopping. The survey also showed that shoppers spent an average of 32 minutes in a store, down from an average of 43 minutes per visit in 2008. “Canadian consumers appear to be gravitating to convenience and visiting more food stores regularly while spending less time per visit. And visits to the same food store are much less frequent,” the Food Price report concluded. Less time per store visit significantly impacts the grocery stores and the food industry as a whole, concluded the Dalhousie study. Food retailers are also changing the consumer experience, stated the report. It noted that retailers are increasingly influenced by technological advancements and e-commerce has become a priority with growing consumer demand for online sales. The Dalhousie study found that 34.3% of participants indicated an interest in buying food online. However, online sales are still minimal with half, 49.4%, reporting that they did not intend to buy food online and only 1.9% of study participants purchasing food online weekly. The Food Price report concluded that consumers with technological know-how and digital confidence may be more open to using the Internet to buy groceries, while those with more traditional approaches are likely to be less comfortable with buying food online. continued on page 32 JANUARY 2019

12th Annual

Sun Country Shorthorn Sale

March 5th, 2019 1: 00 PM Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK

In the past 11 years, we have sold herd bulls to purebred breeders in 7 provinces and 12 states, but we are most proud to have had over 90% of our bulls sell to commercial producers across Canada and the US. This sale offers thick made, easy fleshing breeding stock for the beef industry. Sale will be broadcast live at www.dvauction.com

A sampling of the type of bulls that will be offered:

Offering

yearling and two year old Shorthorn bulls and

replacement heifers.

For more information contact : HORSESHOE CREEK FARMS LTD. Grant & Chris Alexander Box 580, Weyburn, SK S4H 2K7 306-861-5504 (c) horseshoecreek@sasktel.net www.horseshoecreekfarms.com

ROCKING L CATTLE COMPANY Hector & Dylan Lamontagne Box 452, Wawota, SK S0G 5A0 306-739-2598 hj.lamontagne@sasktel.net www.rockinglcattleco.com

ANWENDER CATTLE CO.

Gary, Kim & Sadie Anwender Box 770, Radville, SK S0C 2G0 306-442-2090 gks.acc@sasktel.net www.anwendercattlecompany.com

Feature 2019 Food Trends cont. from pg. 30 The report also took note of greater innovation in the agri-food sector. Consumers are being offered new foods and greater choices. Along with new technologies, other forms of self-directed purchasing are increasing. Self-checkout counters are gaining popularity, especially in urban areas: 66% of survey participants used a self-checkout at least once at a grocery location, with 11.1% using selfcheckout all the time. The report projects that Canadians will continue to see more use of technology at the decision-making and point-of-sale stages in food buying. Shifting Food Patterns Another major shift in consumer food behaviour is what Charlebois calls “the rise of the conscious carnivore”. Over the last few years, veganism and vegetarianism eating patterns have become popular and there has been an overwhelming interest among consumers to seek alternatives to meat and dairy, found a recent Dalhousie study on attitudes toward plant-based protein alternatives in Canada. This finding corresponds to a growth in interest in plant-based diets seen in other parts of the western industrialized world. The findings highlight that Canadians are becoming less interested in eating meat and may be reducing meat in their diets. The survey found that 6.4 million Canadians are following a diet that either limits meat intake or eliminates it altogether. Over half of respondents are willing to reduce their meat consumption, and one-third are willing to do so in the next six months. “The number is growing, a lot of people are concerned,” said Charlebois, who was surprised to see the numbers so high. The trend to plant protein consumption is being driven by younger consumers who are concerned about health, animal welfare, the environment and taste, noted the report. “We are expecting that number to grow because of the younger generations,” stated Charlebois. In the study, 63% of vegans and vegetarians were under 38 years of age. A Dalhousie meat consumption study found that younger consumers are more receptive to

the idea of lab-grown meat, although labgrown meat and insect-based proteins are still not appealing to Canadian consumers as a whole. Another group reducing meat consumption is the Baby Boomers, the largest demographic in the country. They make up the majority, 42%, of a new consumer group called “flexitarians” who eat a vegan or vegetarian diet during part of the week and consume meat the rest of the week.

Contemporary consumers expect diverse choices. Globalization has made food more available. In addition to age, consumers favouring plant proteins were also defined by their education and income status. The Dalhousie study showed that middle class consumers – those earning between $75,000 and $99,999 – indicated the greatest desire to reduce meat consumption over the next six months. Those with university degrees were also more likely to seek plant-based alternatives. Meat-eating also differed among the regions. Meat consumption has dropped in Ontario, while Atlantic Canada is the least likely to want to reduce their meat consumption. Nevertheless, Charlebois pointed out that those subscribing to veganism and vegetarianism are still a marginal group making up only about 2% to 3% of the population. The Meat Picture A 2018 Dalhousie study on attitudes to meat showed a decline in demand from Canadian consumers for meat products. Beef consumption in Canada has dropped with 94 million fewer kilograms being eaten in 2018 compared to 2010. The study also highlighted that over 3 million Canadians were eliminating meat as part of their diets. Yet, meat-eaters are not disappearing. Just under half of the study participants, 48.51%, eat meat daily, with an additional 40.1% saying they eat meat

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once or twice a week. Furthermore, a significant number, almost half, are not willing to reduce their meat intake. In other words, almost 90% of the study participants are still eating meat on a daily or weekly basis, while only a marginal number, 2.28%, are rejecting meat. The Dalhousie meat study also looked at the factors influencing meat consumption and why people are moving away from meat finding health, animal welfare and the environment as the top three concerns for consumers. Other factors at play in attitudes to meat consumption include demographics, geography and financial ability, stated Charlebois. “Canada is not a homogeneous market,” he pointed out. Each region differed in consumption and concerns. All provinces expressed concerns about freshness, prices and product quality, but some provinces valued quality more highly, while others were most concerned about availability. “Health is a big one,” Charlebois said. Both men and women cite health as a reason to reduce meat consumption. He explained that a 2015 United Nations (UN) study was very influential in turning consumers from meat. It placed meat and processed meat in the same category as cancerous products. Although this UN study has been refuted since by other research, it still continues to influence consumer thinking. The environment is another major factor in moving away from meat. “More and more people believe the livestock industry is bad for the environment,” Charlebois described the study results. “Consumers are really starting to link the environment with the product.” Price was a major factor for consumers in choosing beef. Charlebois explained that 2014 was the tipping point for beef prices. “What really happened in 2014 was that we invited consumers to look elsewhere,” he said. The Food Prices report showed that meat first rose above inflationary norms in 2012 and increased further in 2014. Beef was enjoying a good market, but then prices skyrocketed, climbing 20% in six months. This price point was continued on page 34

JANUARY 2019

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Feature 2019 Food Trends cont. from pg. 32 too high for consumers who began to reduce their meat consumption and look for alternatives. “That’s when veganism showed up,” Charlebois said. “2014 got people thinking differently about meat products, in particular about beef.”

2019, concluded the Food Price report. While some meat shops are closing, the ones remaining are getting more visitors: 52% of study participants visit a meat shop regularly. This number is growing, said Charlebois, adding, “There are more and more Canadians who are going to a specific butcher shop.”

Gender equity has caused a shift in consumer patterns. The Dalhousie meat study found gender differences appear to play a role in determining meat-eating habits. Meat consumption has been traditionally tied to the male demographic, and the study found that older men were committed to meat and less likely to reduce and stop eating meat. However, women appeared to be more concerned about animal welfare and taste preferences. They were also more likely to agree that meat is replaceable by other sources of protein with about half knowing how to replace meat in their diets with other proteins. “Women seem to be more aware of options,” Charlebois observed.

Food Guide The revised Canada Food Guide, expected to be released in 2019, comes at a time of changing consumer preferences. The food supply is more diverse than it has been in the past. There are significant shifts in consumption, perception and production processes driven by consumer demands, according to the report. The Food Guide is projected to reflect how Health Canada plans to address these changes in consumption patterns.

The decline in meat consumption has impacted other businesses in the meat value chain. In 2018, many local butchers closed their doors due to lack of demand. “The problem is that there are fewer and fewer butcher shops,” said Charlebois. This trend is expected to continue in

Since 1942 when the Food Guide was introduced, it focused on promoting Canadian agricultural products, but the revised Food Guide has shifted these priorities. Thus, consumers have completely different expectations when it comes to food selection and how they might choose foods for health. The report expects that if Health Canada retains it principles from 2018, the new Guide will likely prioritize consumption of plant-based foods, but it is unlikely that animal-based proteins altogether will

be completely excluded. Contemporary consumers expect diverse choices and globalization has made food more available. However, this shift in Health Canada’s principles leave food analysts worried about its long-term impacts on health and industry into the future. “I’m concerned because we don’t actually get to the bottom of what that actually means to our food systems, to our industry, and to consumers, in the end,” Charlebois said about the shift in food priorities. In conclusion, Canada’s Food Price Report for 2019 illustrates that many factors shape the food decisions of consumers today, including concerns about the environment, animal welfare, product origins, human health impacts and packaging as well as prices and taste. Even social movements are influencing consumer preferences in food. The Dalhousie meat report has shown that the landscape for meat protein is evolving and that the beef sector will have to adapt in order to remain sustainable and profitable. Although the survey notes a consumer trend towards plant-based protein alternatives, it is still marginal. The majority of consumers, from half to up to 90%, continue to consume meat. The challenge for the beef sector now is to address consumer concerns and develop its consumer base. B

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JANUARY 2019

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Feature Climate Change and Carbon Tax Set to Transform the Agriculture Sector If the federal government wants to combat climate change, it must do more to support Canada’s agriculture and forestry sectors from the rising costs associated with the proposed carbon pricing regime. That’s the key conclusion emerging from a new report released by the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in December. This unique report, called Feast or Famine: Impacts of Climate Change and Carbon Pricing on Agriculture, Agri-Foods and Forestry, examined the intersection of the impact of climate change on Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors, and the potential effect of carbon pricing on producers and consumers. The report also suggested ways the federal government might support these sectors as they contribute to meeting Canada’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The senators spent 2018 traveling the country and interviewing dozens of witnesses from stakeholder groups and individuals in agriculture, agri-food and forestry. “We have been studying the effect of climate change on agriculture, agri-food and forestry for quite a number of months and we have been trying to get a sense of how the coming carbon tax regime could further transform these sectors,” stated Committee Chair, Senator Diane Griffin. The committee members investigated measures taken for adaptability and resilience, repercussions of carbon pricing on the competitiveness of stakeholders in agriculture, agri-food and forestry, and the role that federal, provincial and territorial governments can play in meeting the target for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The committee pointed out that the agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors contribute significantly to the Canadian economy. In 2014, the agriculture and agri-food sector provided 1 in 8 jobs in Canada, employing 2.3 million people and generating nearly $112 billion of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). Forestry 36

contributed $23 billion to the GDP and saw a 2.4% growth in 2015-2016, twice the rate of growth of the national economy. Speaking on the impact for business in these three sectors, Griffin stated, “If they can’t be profitable, they may have to close down, threatening sectors that employ millions of Canadians that generate billions of dollars of economic activity.” Given these contributions, the committee looked at two aspects. She added, “We wanted to know, can we move toward a more sustainable existence without threatening parts of the Canadian economy? Also, can we move toward a more sustainable existence without making it harder for Canadians to put food on their tables?”

The contributions of agricultural producers and forest managers should not only be recognized, but also receive some form of compensation. Climate “We are alive to the urgency of climate change. It is real and is already affecting all of us, particularly those in the agricultural and forestry sectors,” she said. “We must take action, but we must do so making sure producers and consumers receive proper support.” Citing research by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Guillaume Gruère noted that, without adaptation action, agriculture is projected to be the second most economically damaged sector from the effects of climate change. Yet, the two sectors differ in their climate change trends. Agriculture is responsible for about 10% of GHG emissions, but forests absorb carbon from the atmosphere, stated Griffin.

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The committee heard from producers from across the country who struggled with the effects of climate change – dry weather, harsh winters, excess rainfall, leading to more parasites and disease in livestock. At the same time, climate change had some reported positive effects, such as more frost-free days for livestock wintering and the ability to grow new crops with a longer growing season. “Climate change is definitely causing problems for some producers, but it is also creating opportunities for others,” Griffin said. Carbon Impact and Competition Part of the senate report examined carbon pricing and its impact on competitiveness in agriculture and forestry. Carbon pricing is expected to impact all Canadians. It is anticipated to bring higher costs for fertilizer, packaging, transportation and fuel. Witnesses told the committee that carbon pricing would make their products less competitive globally. Furthermore, highly traded sectors such as cattle, wheat, or canola would have no way of passing on the additional cost of a carbon price, because prices are set globally, resulting in lower incomes for producers. Canadian producers export over 60% of their products and have to compete abroad with farmers who operate their businesses in an environment that will not have these additional costs. Some presenters to the committee were concerned that international competition would lead to production and processing moving to other jurisdictions, particularly, to the United States. For example, there was a concern that some meat packing plants close to the U.S. border might find it worthwhile to avoid increased taxation, workforce challenges, and regulatory burdens by relocating south of the border. The committee also heard reports on the risk of carbon leakage – a decrease in production in Canada and an increase in production in other countries without carbon pricing. As a result, there would be no net change in GHGs, but perhaps even more emissions produced. JANUARY 2019

Feature The committee reiterated the need to combat climate change, but the senators worried that producers and consumers will suffer hardship from the imposition of carbon pricing. “Carbon pricing may be a good idea if we are to meet our emissions targets, but what happens to producers who may end up fighting higher costs? It’s something that affects all of us,” Griffin noted. “If a producer wants to grow food, they will have to pass on those costs to consumers or eat them as part of their business. High costs eat into the profit margins.” Innovation Another main conclusion in the report was that agriculture and forestry have already been doing innovative work to develop more sustainable practices. For example, the committee heard a report that the Canadian livestock and meat sector has established a continuous reduction in its environmental footprint. Animal genetics have been used to breed livestock which requires less food. Crop diversification and organic farming are also reducing emissions. Some farmers, particularly in the Prairies, are using different practices to trap carbon in the soil. In fact, the rate of soil organic carbon in the Prairies is increasing. One witness estimated the value of this trapped or “sequestered” carbon at $1 billion, if carbon dioxide were valued at $15 a tonne. “The committee wants producers to continue to adapt to climate change to find more sustainable ways to feed and house Canadians,” stated committee member Senator Terry Mercer. “Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and forestry sector workers contribute billions of dollars to the Canadian economy. We are impressed at their efforts to shrink their carbon footprint,” stated Senator Ghislain Maltais, deputy chair of the committee. “Our report shows how the federal government can support their work to increase the sustainability of their operations.” He urged the federal government to develop an indicator for baseline levels of soil organic carbon to support the development of offset protocols. Other innovations in the report include the use of Environmental Farm Plans JANUARY 2019

(EFPs), which were generally seen as useful tools to help farmers adopt practices that address the risks they face and improve their environmental sustainability. In some provinces, the EFPs were underutilized. As well, organic agriculture is a sustainable agricultural practice that enhances soil health and fertility and retains soil carbon, without reliance on external inputs. It has the potential to use less fossil fuel than a conventional farm and build resiliency to climate change. Those presenting to the senators all agreed that producers need to adapt to succeed economically. In adapting to current and anticipated impacts of climate change, many producers and retailers are taking measures that increase both the efficiency and the sustainability of their operations, thus enhancing competitiveness and building resilience. Rewards Many witnesses recognized that producers and forest managers undertake many activities to reduce GHGs.

Producers wanted to be recognized for this contribution. The committee heard from many presenters that it was extremely important to reward the ecological contribution of well-managed agricultural and forest lands, especially given that there are costs involved with implementing these management practices. “Their contributions should not only be recognized, but receive some form of compensation when carbon pricing becomes an actual reality,” Maltais explained. “That’s why we recommend that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) builds on existing provincial models to develop offset protocols to allow producers to receive additional income in carbon credits.” Some witnesses were concerned that producers would not be fairly rewarded. Proposals for rewards included receiving carbon credits to be sold as carbon offsets, exempting producers from paying a price on carbon like a farm continued on page 38

CANADA’S AGRICULTURE DAY | February 12, 2019

Post a pic of your favourite Canadian food Tag it with #CdnAgDay

Let’s celebrate the food we love AgDay.ca

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 37

Feature Climate Change cont. from pg. 37 fuel exemption. Maltais stated that the committee is asking the ECCC to reexamine the exemptions for agriculture activities. “We believe heating and fuel costs for farm buildings should be exempt from carbon pricing, and propane and natural gas used in farming activities should also be exempt,” he said. “One of our recommendations relates to offsets,” stated Griffin. “There are other provinces that are saying that they are not getting enough credit for the work they are already doing. We had ministers and head officials from the Saskatchewan government speaking with us as expert witnesses. Saskatchewan has done a lot of work in terms of reducing its carbon emissions and their complaint was they are not getting credit for it.” The report identified several challenges to establishing carbon credit systems. Currently, it is technically challenging to quantify emissions and sequestration from agriculture and forestry, making it difficult to agree on a baseline comparison. There will be a need for certification or verification.

Some recommendations looked to the federal government for support. These include to undertake research that will help to establish baseline levels of soil organic carbon to support the development of offset protocols for carbon sequestration across Canada; to support the development of water management infrastructure by provinces, territories and municipalities to help address anticipated extremes of water availability; to support those already using lower-emissions approaches, including organic farming; and to ensure that there are incentives available across Canada for beneficial management practices. Some recommendations are intended to insulate producers – and thus consumers – from possible increases in production costs. These include recommendations to exempt fuel costs for heating and cooling machinery used in farming, as well as propane and natural gas used in farming activities, to provide incentives for

beneficial management practices, and to develop offset protocols that would allow agricultural producers and forest owners and managers to receive income through carbon credits. Finally, the committee noted that Canada set ambitious targets to reduce GHGs. As stewards of the land, those working in the agriculture, agri-food, and forestry sectors recognized the importance of reducing GHGs in Canada. These sectors can help meet reduction targets, while competing in an international market and contributing to Canada’s economic growth. Stakeholders in the agriculture, agri-food, and forestry sectors are already adapting to climate change, working towards becoming more resilient, and reducing their GHG emissions. As they continue these efforts, continued support from government, researchers, and industry will be instrumental in helping them succeed. B

Recommendations The senate committee concluded its report by urging the federal government to act on its 16 recommendations, which aim to help Canada in combating climate change while supporting Canadian producers and consumers. The report identified innovation as crucial to Canada’s success, and made several recommendations to strengthen Canada’s innovators. These include recommendations to support research into the most effective and economical climate change investments; to expand and develop incentives that recognize and reward resilient practices and the provision of ecosystem services; and to ensure that information that will build resilience in farm and forest land, such as predicted precipitation data and floodplain maps, is collected, analyzed and made available to Canadian agricultural producers and forest owners/ managers. 38

Premises Identification A premises identification number is now required to access funding under any program administered by the Ministry of Agriculture. Be prepared: get your premises identification number today.

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JANUARY 2019

Science and Production The Livestock Manifest

by Jason Pollock, CEO, Livestock Services of SK In Saskatchewan livestock are transported and traded through markets, electronic sales and private treaty sales on almost a daily basis. It is an industry challenge to capture the information for these movements and commercial transactions and have that information readily available to address issues that impact our industry’s stability. A critical cog in our cattle commerce machinery for tracking movements and commercial transactions lies with a document called the Livestock Manifest. The livestock manifest, as defined in The Livestock Inspection and Transportation Regulations, 1978, means a document in the form issued by the Department of Agriculture and Food, properly completed and executed as required by these regulations. The regulations also speak to how livestock producers are to use this document. It is important that producers take the time to properly complete the manifest as it may be the only link to your assets that just rolled out of your yard. If the regulations are followed, the manifest will ensure your interest in the livestock is acknowledged from the time it leaves your premises to the time it is sold or transported to other locations for care or finishing that may not be under your supervision or control. As I mentioned, the manifest will ensure your interest in the livestock if the regulations are followed. Logically, you won’t be able to follow the regulations, “the rules,” if you don’t know what they say. Below, I have attempted to touch on the more critical rules for completing and using a manifest. I will also reference a second document called a livestock permit. Simply put, the livestock permit is used as a transportation document. It indicates that the livestock have been inspected, who owns the animals, the animal’s description, brands and the destination of the movement.

JANUARY 2019

Rule One No person shall transport livestock between points within Saskatchewan, prior to the inspection of that livestock, without a livestock manifest in his or her immediate possession at all times during transport. Rule Two No person shall transport livestock between points within Saskatchewan after the inspection of that livestock unless that person holds in his or her immediate possession, at all times during transport, a livestock permit with respect to that livestock. With the exception that a livestock producer may transport livestock between points within Saskatchewan after the inspection of that livestock without a livestock permit, but only if the livestock producer holds in his or her immediate possession, at all times during transport, a livestock manifest with respect to that livestock. Rule Three No person shall transport livestock destined for a point outside Saskatchewan unless: • the livestock have been inspected and he has obtained and holds in his immediate possession at the time a livestock permit in respect to the livestock being transported; or

• in the case of cattle or horses that are

to be delivered to a livestock market that is an inspection site in Alberta, as that term is defined in the Livestock Identification and Commerce Act (Alberta), the person holds in his or her immediate possession, at all times during transport, a livestock manifest with respect to those cattle or horses;

• the person holds in his immediate

possession at the time a livestock manifest in respect to any cattle or horses being transported and such

animals are delivered to a stockyard in Manitoba where the department has negotiated an agreement for the collection of statutory deductions from Saskatchewan livestock owners, and where such cattle or horses shall be inspected prior to their sale.

Exceptions to the Rules There are exceptions to the above rules that allow practicality within the system. • No livestock manifest, permit or horse transportation permit is required to transport livestock to or from a veterinary clinic or between properties that are located within Saskatchewan, owned or fully controlled by the owner of the livestock and not separated by no more than 50 kilometres, measured by way of the route taken in transporting the livestock.

• No livestock permit or horse

transportation permit is required to transport livestock between points within Saskatchewan by a purchaser who is not a livestock dealer provided the livestock are inspected within five days before transportation.

Properly Completing Your Livestock Manifest Before livestock are transported, the owner of the livestock should, to the best of their ability, complete the manifest by providing the following information. • the date the livestock are to be loaded or shipped;

• the name and address of the owner of the livestock or the owner’s authorized agent;

• the consignee’s name and address; • the number of livestock; continued on page 40

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 39

Science and Production Active Missing Livestock Files December 2018

Area missing from

Number of head

Animal description

Brand location

RCMP subdivision

Livestock Branch contact

Date reported

Moose Jaw south

Calves

Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw 306-694-3709

Nov. 7

Verwood

Cows

Bengough

Moose Jaw 306-694-3709

Dec. 4

Verwood

Calves

Bengough

Moose Jaw 306-694-3709

Dec. 6

Neudorf

Cows

Melville

Yorkton 306-786-5712

Nov. 20

Neudorf

Calves

Melville

Yorkton 306-786-5712

Nov. 20

Debden

Yearling steers

Big River

North Battleford

Dec. 15

Brand description

Information provided by Livestock Services of Saskatchewan

Livestock Manifest cont. from pg. 39

• the colour description of the livestock; • the species of livestock; • the number of each gender of animal; • the description and the location of all

brands and other marks of ownership on each animal;

• the name and address of the vehicle owner; and

• the licence number of the vehicle mentioned above.

So, what happens to all these manifests and permits that travel along with your livestock? For cattle that enter 40

the inspection system, your inspection dollars pay for the infrastructure to verify ownership for the cattle listed on the manifest and for entering the information from every manifest into the LSS database. Having that information ready and available is key to addressing health-based inquires and to developing statistical reports that are used to paint a picture of what is happening in the Saskatchewan livestock industry. The information is also accessible to those who find themselves in contractual, marital or estate disputes related to livestock. For handshake deals or those with poor written contracts, the manifest may be the only document that supports an investigation. It is important to note that LSS maintains manifest information in accordance with FOI legislation and can only share the information with those that can rightfully access it or those that obtain a court order.

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I hope that this article sheds some light on the importance of these documents and the role they play in the inspection system and in our industry. The information collected on manifests and their associated permits has been used to support health-based traceback activities and to provide a statistical picture of our industry’s activities. The manifest is an important instrument that helps to provide confidence for those who would financially participate in the livestock industry. B Manifest books may be obtained at your local market or brand inspection office. For information on the location of your local brand inspection office you may call: (306) 546-5086, or email: brands@lssc.ca

JANUARY 2019

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www.skstockgrowers.com | Â©BEEF BUSINESS | 41

Stewardship Water Development on Sage Grouse Critical Habitat by Krista Connick Todd, PAg, SODCAP Inc.

What is critical habitat? Do you know if you have any? Critical habitat is the natural home necessary for the survival or recovery of a species at risk, such as the Greater Sage-grouse. The Action Plan for Multiple Species at Risk in Saskatchewan: South of the Divide (2017) identifies critical habitat for a number of endangered and threatened species in Saskatchewan. Critical habitat is identified on federal, provincial Crown, and private lands. A recovery strategy exists for nine of the species at risk listed in the plan, suggesting activities that threaten habitat and should be avoided. The Claydon Grazing Co-op operates in the Milk River Basin in southwestern Saskatchewan, with 21 patrons. Formed in 1929, it is one of the oldest grazing coops in Saskatchewan. Nearly 2,000 acres of prairie that the Co-op manages were listed under the Emergency Order for the Protection of the Greater Sage-grouse (EPO) five years ago. Dry conditions have impacted their existing water sources over the past couple of years. In the fall of 2017, they applied to the provincial Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) for funding to build a new dugout in one of their fields in the EPO area. It was declined. Federal regulations under the EPO restrict any development with a footprint larger than 30 m2 as well as structures greater than 1.2 m tall and artificial noise greater than 45 decibels in the spring. Craig Dumontel, a board member for the Claydon Grazing Co-op, explained that last year the Co-op decided to re-evaluate its water resources on the pasture having faced several dry years. “Water distribution is the most efficient way of managing our grass,” said Dumontel. “These consecutive years of drought remind us of how bad things can get. This is dry country by nature, so we have learned to expect drought and manage for it, but you can only do so much without water. Water improvements were needed in some fields, so we

thought that the dry conditions would allow us to get into those spots and get the work done. When we applied to FRWIP, we realized we were limited in what we could do because of the species at risk habitat.” The Co-op began to investigate other options for water development that would work with the EPO restrictions. Almost the entire field was also listed as Sage-grouse Critical Habitat, so they could not simply choose a different location for the dugout. Pipeline would be allowed from an existing water source, but if they planned to use solar power to deliver the water to the pipeline, the panels needed to be set low to the ground to meet the 1.2 m height restriction. As well, any storage tanks would have to be sunk into the ground to avoid destroying sage brush habitat, according to the height restriction. After many hours of contemplation and discussion, they decided to develop a spring in another field and pipeline it to the field in need of extra water. They gravity-fed the pipeline and installed two large troughs to provide the necessary storage. The cost will be close to four times as much as the initially proposed dugout. Federal and provincial funding sources will provide some of the extra funds needed to make the project work within the habitat guidelines. You might be wondering “Don’t Sagegrouse need water to survive too? How can more water be a bad thing on the prairies?” Beatriz Prieto, who is the Sagegrouse Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, explained that once federal critical habitat for a species is identified, the province is responsible for its conservation. “Water developments by themselves are not a bad thing. When it comes to species at risk, it’s all about site location,” Prieto stated. “Once we know those areas where it would be more risky to place a dugout, we try to find alternatives for producers

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The Claydon Grazing Co-op installed a gravityfed pipeline from a spring developed in one field to another in need of extra water. Photo courtesy of Craig Dumontel

to have a water source that does not negatively affect habitat for that species. By doing this, we are trying to avoid the risk of getting another federal Protection Order.” According to the maps created for the Action Plan for Multiple Species at Risk, the Claydon Grazing Co-op provides potential habitat for several different species at risk. Most of these species need vast expanses of native prairie for their homes, which makes large portions of the southwest prime habitat. The Co-op has co-operated with a variety of different conservation agencies over the years. “We realize we are in a sensitive area being watched closely by the outside conservation world,” explained Dumontel. “But it really hit home when we learned of the EPO and all that comes with it.” “After attending some of the meetings Environment Canada held in the area, we tried to figure out how this would affect us, and felt the need to be proactive in our approach. We feel it’s important to try continued on page 45 JANUARY 2019

Stewardship SK PCAP Working to Renew the 2019-2023 Framework by Diego Steinaker, SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan

The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) partner representatives are working on renewing the SK PCAP Framework. The new 20192023 Framework will outline SK PCAP’s strategies and focus areas for the midterm future. The 2019-2023 Framework applies to prairie grassland and riparian habitats within the Prairie Ecozone of Saskatchewan, and is built on the mission of delivering prairie conservation activities that benefit the social, cultural, economic and ecological fabric of Saskatchewan. Thank you all PCAP partners for their time and hard work! Since 1998, the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Partnership has brought together agencies and organizations representing producers, industry, provincial and federal governments, non-government organizations and research and educational institutions under a common vision for prairie and species at risk conservation in Saskatchewan. The

SK PCAP Partner representatives met in Riverhurst, Saskatchewan, on October 1516, 2018. Photo credit: D. Steinaker PCAP partners believe that more can be accomplished by acting together than by acting alone. These partners include Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Environment Canada – Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Nature Saskatchewan, Parks Canada – Grasslands National Park, Prairie

Wind and Silver Sage – Friends of the Grasslands, Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve Association Inc., SK Association of Rural Municipalities, SK Association of Watersheds, SK Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, SK Stock Growers Association, SK Cattlemen’s Association, SK Environmental Society, SK Ministry of the Economy, SK Ministry of Environment, SK Ministry of Agriculture, SK Forage Council, SaskOutdoors and South of the B Divide Conservation Action Program Inc.

SK PCAP at the Canadian Western Agribition by Diego Steinaker, SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan

As every year, the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) was present at the Canadian Western Agribition that took place in Regina on November 19-24, 2018. Taking this opportunity, SK PCAP had a display booth where producers, landowners, ecologists, students and teachers learned about species at risk and the importance of the conservation of native prairies. In addition, SK PCAP delivered an interactive activity planned for Grades 3-6 students, “The Pitch for Pipits and Plovers Game Show.” This educational activity was coordinated by PCAP Stewardship Coordinator, Caitlin Mroz, and PCAP Education Coordinator, Julie-Anne Howe. During the week, 23 classes and almost 700 students participated and learned about how they can help Sprague’s Pipit and Piping Plover recovery. JANUARY 2019

The SK PCAP booth at the Canadian Western Agribition. The overall Agribition attendance was 126,900 during the entire week, and there were an estimated 9,500 students visiting the Family Ag pavilion! Photo credit: D. Steinaker

“The Pitch for Pipits and Plovers Game Show” was delivered to 700 Grades 3-6 students at the Canadian Western Agribition. Photo credit: D. Steinaker

These SK PCAP activities could not have been successful without the help of people who volunteered their time, so a big thanks go to Lacey, Melanie, Beatriz,

Kaitlyn, Larry, Mackenzie, Marusia, John, Emily and Becky for your efforts and contribution! B

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 43

Stewardship Managing for Optimal Habitat Attributes for Species at Risk by Diego Steinaker, SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan

As habitat for species at risk declines and threats to populations increase, it becomes critical to provide optimal conditions on what remains if we are to conserve or recover a species. The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP), with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of the Environment, the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, as well as other SK PCAP partner contributions, is publishing a series of guides on managing for optimal habitat attributes for some key species at risk in Saskatchewan prairies. The most recent guides were developed for the Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides), Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus circumcinctus) and Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens).

The second part of the guide presents an index that places values on the habitat targets and BMPs in combination with other considerations. An Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) is a compound index that considers multiple environmental factors when determining an ecosystem outcome. Managing for a single species may result in habitat that is undesirable for another species. Conflicts between species are addressed in the Environmental Benefit Index (EBI). Thus, EBIs can be used to evaluate and prioritize opportunities for conservation programs. An EBI is of considerable importance in determining priority sites to invest in, particularly when funds are limited. The overall goal of the EBIs for species at risk habitat is to ensure maximum environmental value for an investment in

The guides provide habitat targets and non-habitat related beneficial management practices (BMPs) for land managers who may have the opportunity to aid in the conservation of species at risk on the land under their control. Additionally, the habitat targets and BMPs may be used by conservation organizations in designing resultsbased agreements with land managers. These very valuable publications were developed by Sue Michalsky and Heather Peat Hamm with technical and editorial input from a group of experts, including Corie White, Ashley Vass, Ryan Dudragne, Michelle Lanoie, Andrew Didiuk, Kris Kendall, Lea Randall, Dave Prescott, and Julie Mackenzie. The guides are generally presented in two parts. The first part summarizes the important spatial and temporal needs of the species and presents habitat targets and non-habitat related BMPs. Habitat targets are presented at two major spatial scales: landscape-scale (e.g., land cover and topography), and site-scale (e.g., physical vegetation, plant communities, soil parameters, among others).

results-based conservation programming. You can find these “Guides to Managing for Optimal Habitat Attributes for Species at Risk” in the SK PCAP website: www. pcap-sk.org/resources-literature/resources

A family of Loggerhead Shrikes (also known as Butcher Birds). The species is threatened and conservation efforts are being made to increase its numbers in Saskatchewan. Photo credit: George Tosh

TARGETED GRAZING ACADEMY

WEED IDENTIFICATION

•

WEED MANAGEMENT

•

TARGETED GRAZING PLANNING

•

INVASIVE WEED MAPPING

February 5 – 7, 2019 Swift Current, SK

3-Day Event! Join us, with grazing specialists, to learn how to create a grazing plan targeting invasive weeds. Learn what small ruminants need, temporary fencing strategies, emergency strategies & about invasive weed management.

Limited Space! Melanie Toppi aegp@sodcap.com 306.621.3545

Day 1 & 2 • Intensive target-grazing school – planning & the ins and outs of grazing (supper & lunch provided) Day 3 • Weed ID & Management, mapping invasives, CAP programs (lunch provided) COST - $250/person all three days or $20/person for Day 3 only Contact us about discounts & for more information!

https://www.pcap-sk.org/rsu_docs/documents/grazing-academyfinal.pdf

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JANUARY 2019

Stewardship Sage Grouse Habitat cont. from pg. 42 to learn what these conservation groups are interested in, and what their priorities are, so that we can understand the whole thing better,” stated Dumontel. “Our Coop felt it was better to let them in and build a good relationship than lock them out until they force their way in! This also helps us make management decisions that line up with their regulations.” The Co-op has been managing that same piece of ground for nearly 90 years. “This is a great piece of country that has been managed very well over the years. Like lots of our neighbours, this place has survived drought, fires, hailstorms and other wrecks and still provides excellent habitat for cattle and wildlife,” Dumontel stated. “It’s far from easy or cheap to get through these hard times, but with some tough management decisions, and a little help from mother nature, it can be done!” Managing for habitat isn’t a simple matter. Prieto explained that Greater Sage-grouse need a mosaic of landscapes to survive through all of their life stages, just as cattle do. “As long as there is good habitat available, there is still hope to recover the species, since other linked populations are still doing okay,” she stated. “Moreover, we are helping a whole lot of other species and individuals that would also use these native habitats.” Land managers need to check for approvals and habitat before starting water development. B *For more information on critical habitat, and developing water infrastructure on Greater Sage-grouse habitat, please contact Tom Harrison, Executive Director of South of the Divide Conservation Action Program, at: 306-530-1385 or ED@sodcap.com. **For more on critical habitats for species at risk: http://donnees.ec.gc.ca/data/species/ protectrestore/critical-habitat-species-atrisk-canada/ http://www.registrelep-sararegistry. gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/ApSouthofTheDivide-v01-2017NovFinal-Eng. pdf.pdf JANUARY 2019

Year in Review cont. from pg. 22 can make it easier for us to trade with our own provinces here in the country of Canada. Sometimes it is easier to trade internationally than it is to trade nationally. BB: Do you have any final comments for our readers? DM: I’m just really excited for agriculture in the province of Saskatchewan. We have so much opportunity and potential for growth here being a world class provider of agriculture and the food sector – beef, pork, grains and oilseeds. There’s an opportunity for phenomenal growth here and it’s my role to find those customers and convince them that Saskatchewan is the right place to come and do business

I-HOG HFARM & RANCH TH

EQUIPMENT LTD.

E OU AN TSTANDING B R

1974

♦

2019

– and it truly is, I really believe that. I’m passionate about it, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been farming for over 40 years myself. It’s vital for our livelihood here in the province of Saskatchewan. The livestock sector contributes a significant chunk to our economy. It’s important that we see this sector thrive and grow. In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone all the best in the New Year 2019 and to have a very safe holiday season wherever they may travel this holiday season. BB: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Minister Marit.

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Creep feeder panels provide safe calf access to feed

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 45

Association News, Reports, and Events With Gratitude Thank you to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association as well as to all those individual donors, corporate contributors and the Saskatchewan Government for providing matching funding! We are truly grateful to all of you for being there for us while we were dealing

with the aftermath of the southwest Saskatchewan wildfires in Fall 2017. Your contributions large and small, donations and in-kind materials made a real difference in helping us to get back on our feet.

We appreciate all the hard work that was done on our behalf. We feel overwhelmed and blessed by the generosity and support of so many people coming to our aid – many of whom we did not even know. Your efforts encouraged us as we continue to move forward. Thank you,

Cindy Straub

on behalf of the recipients of the SSGA Wildfire Relief Fund

SSGA BEEF DRIVE H E L P F I G H T H U N G E R T H I S H O L I D AY S E A S O N DONATE LIVESTOCK OR $ TO HELP PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS BEEF TO SK FAMILIES IN NEED. DONATE TODAY BY GOING TO: WWW.SKSTOCKGROWERS.COM/BEEF-DRIVE OR CALL (306) 757-8523

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JANUARY 2019

Association News, Reports, and Events LANE REALTY

SSGA Zone Scholarships

For the most VALUE & EXPOSURE that you deserve when selling your farm or ranch property, contact one of our Farm & Ranch Specialists today!

Are you a student entering or pursuing secondary education? Do you have family members who are active SSGA members? Then you are eligible to apply for the SSGA Zone Scholarships.

BOB LANE – Broker (306) 569-3380 MURRAY MURDOCH – Rosetown / Saskatoon / Davidson (306) 858-8000 DALE MURDOCH – Swift Current / West Central (306) 774-6100 JASON BEUTLER – Yorkton / Estevan (306) 735-7811 ED BEUTLER – Yorkton (306) 735-7780 DARRELL HERAUF – Regina District (306) 761-1863 JASON SELINGER – Regina / South Central SK (306) 539-7975 DOUG JENSEN – Melville / Raymore (306) 621-9955 STAN HALL – Strasbourg / Watrous / Humboldt (306) 725-7826 MORWENNA SUTTER – Prince Albert / Melfort / Kelvington (306) 327-7129 ASHLEY MURDOCH – Outlook Country Residential (306) 860-8686 "Now representing purchasers from across Canada, and overseas!"

73 Registered Sales in 2018!

Application deadline is February 1, 2019. For more information and applications: http://stockgrowers.com/resources/

SSGA Meeting Notice SSGA SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING January 18th, 2019 at 8:30 am Delta Regina Hotel (Part of the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference)

Regina, SK

PH: 306-569-3380

WITH OVER 36 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS

Visit our website at www.lanerealty.com to view current listings and virtual tours

Please submit resolutions to: the SSGA office Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Phone: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga@sasktel.net *Please note that you do not have to be registered for SBIC to attend our semi annual meeting*

sk stockgrowers.com JANUARY 2019

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 47

Association News, Reports, and Events A Report From Bill Huber President, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association new drivers and make the roads safer for everyone as commercial trucking is projected to increase on our roadways as the economy grows. At the end of the year, I attended a meeting with PMRA officials about the re-evaluation of the use of strychnine for Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (RGS) control. The SSGA has been working hard on this issue and joining with other farm groups to make sure that the agricultural viewpoint is considered, and that strychnine can remain in use to control RGS in agriculture and in rural communities. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas enjoying the company of family and friends over this festive season. The new year 2019 brings a lot of opportunities for the beef sector, especially on the export front. Looking back, 2018 was a busy year with many issues in trade and legislation that will have a continuing impact our industry. Starting last fall, the Saskatchewan Government conducted a survey on trespassing, and after reviewing the results, introduced legislation to make changes to The Trespass to Property Act. We appreciate that the government has considered the rights of landowners in making changes to trespassing that standardize our legislation with other provinces. As with any legislation, it will take some time for everyone to adjust to the changes. The government has also introduced changes to make commercial semi truck driver training mandatory. The changes will go into effect on March 15. This training will now be required for all new drivers not holding a Class 1 license. The government will still be carrying out consultations with agricultural stakeholders to resolve the details of a proposed agricultural exemption. This mandatory training should benefit 48

We concluded another successful Canadian Western Agribition with our SSGA trade show booth and events. It was a time to reconnect with old friends, network and strike up new acquaintances. Many of our members were involved in the show and sale of their cattle. The Beef Education display in the Family Ag Pavilion saw record numbers of school children and families attending. This highlights the growing interest in beef production and an awareness of agriculture in our province. The busy week was capped off with our Commercial Cattle Mixer which attracted a large attendance. We were pleased that Minister of Agriculture David Marit brought greetings from the province to everyone attending. Last fall, the CFIA announced it was investigating an isolated case of bovine tuberculosis in British Columbia. No new cases have been found, but it is an issue to monitor into the future as the investigation proceeds. Canada has stringent inspection standards and, from time to time, an isolated case appears. Canada is now recognized as being free of bovine TB and this latest case in B.C. does not affect that status or trade relations. After some poor weather in early fall, we received enough favourable weather to complete the harvest and the fall work.

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Our SSGA semi-annual meeting is coming up in January during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in Regina. The SBIC takes place January 16-18, 2019. I want to invite everyone to our meeting that starts at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, January 18, 2019, at the Delta Regina Hotel. The semi-annual meeting is an opportunity to bring forward any resolutions and items that are of concern. I hope to see you all there. I would like to remind everyone that SSGA memberships are due throughout the year. Our staff is working hard to contact all members, but I would ask everyone to check your membership and please get in touch with the office to renew. Your membership fees are important to support the activities, programs and advocacy work that are carried out for your benefit. We provide regular reporting on our activities at our meetings. I would also like to encourage all those interested to join the SSGA as new members. A membership provides you with a voice on issues important to you in the beef industry as well as professional development, resources, networking and member benefits. If you would like more information, phone our office and we’ll be happy to help you out. With the new year, we will be preparing for our zone meetings. I would like to encourage everyone to attend your local meeting and prepare topics and bring forward issues of concern. In closing, I wish all cattle producers much success in the new year so that we build on our achievements from 2018 and grow our opportunities in export and trade in 2019. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call!

Bill

JANUARY 2019

25th Annual Bull Sale

Saturday, March 2, 2019 - 1:00 pm

At the Ranch, Carievale, SK (heated sales arena)

180 Bulls Sell Herd Bulls Designed by Ranchers for Ranchers • All bulls born, bred & developed right here at MRL • Large sire groups 1/2 and 3/4 brothers Penfulls of uniform bulls in every category • Sight Unseen Buyer’s Program (Can’t make it sale day, give us a call. Almost 25% of our bulls sell SUS. Quality in Quanity and 95% go to Many repeat customers year after year.) Commercial Cowb oys. • Semen evaluated and guaranteed • Free Delivery in Western Canada. Cost sharing to the East (Our trailer is most likely going right past your gate.) • Sound rugged Bulls developed on a high roughage ration (Born, bred and fed to work and stay working) • Extra age bulls ready to cover some ground. Offering 50 May/June coming Two Year Olds and January/February born yearlings. • Genetically engineered to excel for the commercial cattleman. Calving ease, performance and packed full of maternal traits.

Red & Red Blaze Simmental Bulls

50 20

Polled Yearlings Coming Two Year Olds

• Affordable Bulls •

Black & Black Blaze 50 Polled Yearlings Polled Simmental Bulls 20 Coming Two Year Olds

“THE BULL BUSINESS” IS WHAT WE DO! Supplying Quality Herdbulls to progressive Cattlemen for over 40 years!

Red & Black Angus Bulls

30 15

Polled Yearlings Coming Two Year Olds

For over 40 years we have been committed to and focused on providing herd bulls that will excel for commercial cowboys. Over the years we have listened to our customers to provide herd bulls that work in today’s industry under real world ranching conditions. Our breeding program isn’t influenced by the showring or the flavour of the month but rather genetics that work for everyday cattlemen who make their living in the cow business. Herd bulls that will sire calves with moderate birth weights, explosive growth, structural soundness with eye appeal and packed full of maternal power. Extra age bulls Jan/Feb born yearlings and check out the large group of May/June coming two year olds for 2018. Sound, rugged herd bulls that will cover some ground. No fluff, no puff. The top 170 bulls from our highly regarded cowherd of almost 700 mother cows and the most elite herd bulls in the business. Come see for yourself what keeps the commercial cowboys coming back year after year. Give us a call, text or email for a full color catalogue and bull video.

Red & Black Simmental & Angus Bulls April/May Coming Two Year Olds

Calendar of Events JANUARY January 16-18

Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference

Regina, SK

January 17

Invasive Weed and Animal Workshop

Melfort, SK

January 18

SSGA Semi-Annual Meeting

Regina, SK

January 30

Moose Creek Red Angus 2 Year Old Sale

Kisbey, SK

January 26

M.C. Quantock Bull Sale

Lloydminster, AB

February 1

SSGA Zone Scholarship Application Deadline

February 2

Hill 70 Quantock Ranch ‘Barn Burnin’ Bull Sale

Lloydminster, SK/AB

February 5-7

Targeted Grazing Academy

Swift Current, SK

February 6-8

Western Canada Feedlot Management School

Regina, SK

February 7

Carlrams Ranching 10 Annual Bull Sale

Cutknife, SK

February 14

Advertising Deadline for March Issue of Beef Business

February 14

Nordal Limousin and Angus Bull Sale

FEBRUARY

Saskatoon, SK

February 18

JPM Farms Inaugural Yearling Bull and Female Sale

Parkbeg, SK

February 19-21

Prairie Conservation & Endangered Species Conference

Winnipeg, MB

February 20

M&J Glasman Farms Bull and Female Sale

Russell, MB

February 21

Chapman Cattle Co. 13 Annual Angus Bull Sale

Stettler, AB

February 22

Standard Hill Livestock Sale

Maidstone, SK

February 26

Double Bar D Best of Both World Bull Sale

Grenfell, SK

MARCH March 2

McMillen Ranching 25th Annual Bull Sale

Carievale, SK

March 3

R-Plus Simmentals 19 Annual Bull Sale

Estevan, SK

March 4

Ashworth Farm & Ranch 16th Annual Bull Sale

Oungre, SK

March 4

Windy Hill Livestock Online Bull & Female Sale

March 5

12th Annual Sun Country Shorthorn Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 10

Early Sunset Ranch Production Sale

Edam, SK

March 11

Palmer Charolais with Nielson Land & Cattle Bull Sale

Bladworth, SK

March 16

Canada’s Red, White and Black Bull Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 29-30

Longview Angus Online Bull Sale It’s FINALLY Here!

The World’s first cordless, hoseless fence stapler...

Stockade staplers are a great addition to our full line of Gallagher products...

Power Fencing as well as Livestock Weighing & Electronic ID management systems. Call any time to discuss Union Forage options. F O R A G E

Roger Meyers

Saskatchewan | 306.221.1558

Darren Keown

Manitoba | 204.937.7333

Partnered with Global Forage Leaders to test & select the best products for Western Canada Committed to Local Research & Testing

World Leaders in Annual forage for grazing / stockpile / swath grazing

www.unionforage.com

...The Revolutionary ST400i Quietly & effortlessly drive up 2 - inch barbed staples to desired depth with the simple pull of the trigger. Available from D&R Prairie Supplies 306-221-1558

We have an experienced, knowledgeable support staff to help select the proper annual Cocktail Cover Crop or Perennial Forage blend for your operation. Roger Meyers • D&R Prairie Supplies • (306) 221-1558

JANUARY 2019

Advertisers Index

Allen Leigh Security & Communications

Gem Silage

Nahachewsky Charolais

Apollo Machine & Products

Grassland Trailer

New Life Mills

ArcRite Welding

Hand N Hand Livestock Solutions

New Vision Agro

Arm River Red Angus

Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment

Nordal Limousin

Arrowquip

Hill 70 Quantock

Norheim Ranching

Ashworth Farm & Ranch

John Brown Farms

Northstar Seed

Barr & Olney

Johnstone Auction Mart

Palmer Charolais & Nielson Cattle

Calgary Bull Sale

JPM Farms

Pneu Dart/Target Cattle Concepts

Canadian Western Agribition

Kelln Solar

R-Plus Simmentals

CR Ranching

Kramer Trailer Sales

Red, White & Black Sale

Chapman Cattle Co.

Kyle Welding & Machine Shop

Saskatchewan Angus Assoc.

Cowtown Livestock Exchange, Inc.

Lakeland Farm & Ranch

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

D&R Prairie Supplies

Lane Realty Corp.

Simply Ag Solutions

Double Bar D

Linthicum Ranch

Smeaton Fencing

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Longview Angus

Standard Hill

Early Sunset

M&J Farms

Sun Country

Edward Jones

Man-SK Gelbvieh

Sweet Pro

Canada's Agriculture Day

Manitou Maine-Anjou

Targeted Grazing Academy

FeedMax Corporation

Masterfeeds

Western Litho

Frostfree Nosepumps Ltd.

McMillen Ranching

Windy Hill Livestock

GBT Angus

N.M. McMahon

SSGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE EXECUTIVE

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Bill Huber President/Zone Chair Lipton, SK

Phone: 336-2684

Kelcy Elford 1st Vice President/Director at Large Caronport, SK

Phone: 690-5209

Garner Deobald 2nd Vice President/Affiliate Director Hodgeville, SK

Phone: 677-2589

Jeff Yorga Finance Chair Flintoft, SK Phone: 531-5717 Shane Jahnke Past President Gouldtown, SK

JANUARY 2019

Phone: 784-2899

Jerry Chanig, Mankota Keith Day, Lacadena Glen Elford, Avonlea Calvin Gavelin, McCord Joe Gilchrist, Maple Creek Paula Larson, D'Arcy Norm Nordgulen, Assiniboia Barry Olney, Estevan Roy Rutledge, Assiniboia Lee Sexton, Hanley Barry Wasko, Eastend

ZONE CHAIR DIRECTORS Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 - Zone 5 - Zone 6 - Zone 7 - Zone 12 -

Henry McCarthy, Wawota Stephanie Deg, Weyburn Rod Gamble, Pambrun Brad Howe, Empress, AB Bill Huber, Lipton Brent Griffin, Elbow Kimberly Simpson, Kyle Kelly Williamson, Pambrun

478-2658 375-2934 436-7121 478-2558 662-3986 379-4523 642-4961 421-1495 642-5358 544-2660 295-3852

AFFILIATE DIRECTORS

Garner Deobald - Charolais Affiliate, Hodgeville 677-2589 Jack Ford - SaskMilk Affiliate, Wishart 328-4700 Tara Fritz - SImmental Affiliate, Shaunavon 297-3147 Ian Leaman - Shorthorn Affiliate, Chaplin 631-3694 Laird Senft - Angus Affiliate, Fort Qu’Appelle 332-4823 Ashley Kattler - Goat Breeders, Indian Head 695-7340 Jeff Yorga - Limousin Affiliate, Flintoft 531-5717

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Dr. Andy Acton- Veterinary Advisor, Ogema

459-2422

SASKATCHEWAN CCA DIRECTORS 739-2205 891-9894 582-2077 661-0409 336-2684 854-2050 375-5534 582-6102

Pat Hayes, Val Marie Lynn Grant, Val Marie Reg Schellenberg, Beechy Duane Thompson, Kelliher

298-2284 298-2268 859-4905 675-4562

Listings of email and fax numbers can be found on the SSGA website at www.skstockgrowers.com

Smeaton Fence Supplies Ltd. Box 222, Smeaton, SK Canada S0J 2J0 Phone or Fax (306) 426-2305

TOM JENSEN, President

SUPPLIER OF AG FENCING PRODUCTS

www.edwardjones.com

Forage Seed Mixes Corn Seed

Know your goals so you can choose your investments. Tyler Knibbs

Financial Advisor .

461 King Street Unit 3 Estevan, SK S4A 1K6 306-634-4870 www.edwardjones.com

Neil McLeod 306-831-9401

Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund

Machine & Products Ltd.

• ROLLER MILLS ~ Electric or PTO models ~ 10 sizes available ~ Increase the nutrition value of your feed! ~ Manufactured in Saskatoon • SILAGE COVERS & GRAIN BAGS We regroove roller mill rolls - most brands

2502 Millar Ave, Saskatoon 306-242-9884 or 877-255-0187 apm@sasktel.net www.apollomachineandproducts.com

Working to create opportunities for farmers in Saskatchewan We are a Canadian distributor for Pneu-Dart Habitat Protection & Enhancement Phone: 306-955-5477 / 1-866-298-7222 www.simplyag.ca

Pneu-darT

Graham McKenzie

306.861.7074

INC.

Dale Watson

306.861.4618 JANUARY 2019

STOCK WATER TROUGHS Made of 12 gauge galvanized metal

All types of commercial and purebred livestock auctions and farm sales. Wash rack facilities for livestock

www.johnstoneauction.ca

Popular sizes: 400, 500, 1000 Imperial gal.

Wayne or Scott Johnstone Box 818, Moose Jaw, SK 306-693-4715 (Bus) Fax 306-691-6650

Kyle, SK 306-375-2271

“Bud Williams” Livestock Marketing & Proper Stockmanship

with Richard McConnell & Tina Williams

Springfield, MO — Feb 4-6, 2019 in conjunction with the 2019 Bud Summit www.handnhandlivestocksolutions.com info@handnhandlivestocksolutions.com 417-327-6500

kylewelding@sasktel.net | www.kylewelding.com

Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc. Maple Creek, SK

Regular Sales every Tuesday @ 10:00 a.m. Locally Owned & Operated Call for info on Presort & Other Sales Phone 306-662-2648 Toll Free: 1-800-239-5933

www.cowtownlivestock.com

Your AD could be here! Contact 306-757-8523

COWCAM

Wireless & IP Systems DEALER FOR:

Makes your calving €easier, safer & more profitable! • Smartphone compatible • Save more calves • Stop disturbing them and check more frequently

GOOSENECK

20', 25' AND 30' LENGTHS TWO DIVIDER GATES TORSION AXLES

GRAIN AND FERTILIZER BINS

Allen Leigh

Security & Communications Ltd.

Cam

545 Assiniboine Ave, Brandon, MB I TF: 1.866.289.8164 T: 204.728.8878 I info@allenleigh.ca

www.precisioncam.ca Trusted Quality,

Trusted Support,

Trusted Service!

BUMPER-PULL

15'& 20’ IN STOCK • 16" WHEELS DIVIDER GATE

kramertrailersales.com

Animal Nutrition Programs designed to achieve optimum health, results & profits – delivered with service beyond the competition.

“Masterfeeds is the only brand we trust. It just works.” MASTERFEEDS CUSTOMER SASKATCHEWAN:

Humboldt / 1-800-747-9186 Regina / 1-877-929-8696 Saskatoon Premix / 1-888-681-4111 Swift Current / 1-877-773-3001

NEW VISION AGRO Box 479 Hague, SK S0K 1X0

BEEF & BISON FEED AVAILABLE IN: COMPLETE FEED PELLETS SUPPLEMENTS MASH FEEDS

CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-FEEDMAX (333-3629)

JANUARY 2019

PH: (306) 225-2226 FX: (306) 225-2063

email: newvisionagro@sasktel.net www.newvisionagro.com

Dealer & Distributor For: - Jay-Lor Vertical Feed Mixers - Masterfeeds - Cargill Rite Now Minerals - Baler twine, netwrap, silage bunker, covers, plastic wrap, Grain Bags

Your AD could be here! Contact 306-757-8523

B R E E D E RS Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Advocating for Independent Cattle Producers in Saskatchewan for 105 Years.

SSGA MEMBERSHIP

The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association has entered into a partnership with Flaman to increase Memberships and Subscription readership.

Drive (306) 567- 4702

Box 688, Davidson, SK S0G

Helen Finucane

phone: 306-584-2773 cell: 306-537-2648 Carlyle, SK

As of September 1, 2008 the Saskatchewan Stock Growers will be offering a major prize Annual Online draw 2 Year Old Bull Sale for all paid new and renewal of existing 12’ BERGEN STOCK TRAILER memberships as follows: Specs: Full rear door, side door, 3rd Friday in March The sponsored membership prize by Flaman will be a

slots for side window slides, rock guard,

Contact: Man-Sask Gelbvieh President 2-3,500 lb toreflex axles Joe at 403-465-2805

Trevor, Cheryl, Brett & Carter Branvold Box 205 Wawota, Saskatchewan S0G 5A0 Ph: 306 739 2924 | Cell: 306 577 9141 gbtangus@sasktel.net | www.gbtangus.com

New or Existing Memberships:

The member that sells the most SSGA new memberships will receive a free registration for two to the2009 SSGA AGM.

PUREBRED LIVESTOCK

1 year

$105.00

1 entry

2 year

$194.25

2 entries

2 year spousal

$97.12

1 entry

3 year

$262.50

3 entries

3 year spousal

$131.25

2 entries

Life

$1050.00

10 entries

Life spousal

RR #1 Norquay, Saskatchewan S0A 2V0

Your AD could be here! $525.00 4 entries

306-757-8523

All draws will be made at the Contact 2009 SSGA Annual Convention

For more information or to become a member, please contact the SSGA office at 306-757-8523

Email: nahachew@yahoo.ca Phone: (306) 594 2627 | (306) 290 6005

Membership type: Member

Associate

Membership status:

Affiliate (call for rate)

Renewal

New

1 Year $157.50................... Spousal $78.75 Spousal $145.69 2 Year $291.38 .................... 3 Year $393.75 .................... Spousal $196.88 Lifetime: $2625.00 ............ Spousal $1312.50 Junior Membership 1 Year $26.75 2 Year $52.50 3 Year $78.75 Subscription 1 Year $26.25 2 Year $47.25 3 Year $68.25

Name _______________________________________________ _ Address_ ____________________________________________ _ City/Town______________ Prov_____

Postal Code _________

SSGA MEMBERSHIP

Drive

Phone (________) _________________________________Email ______________________________ Ranch/company name___________________________________________Herd Size ________________ Fall Sale Dates___________________________Spring Sale Dates ________________________________

JANUARY 2019

In order to be eligible to receive the prize a member, subscriber or advertiser who’s entry is drawn must answer a g skill question. testin The chances of winning the sponsored membership prize draw is dependant on the

RAGE AHEAD

WITH HIGH-QUALITY SEED

As a producer, you care about your land and the environment. You know that high-quality forage crops are important because they help produce healthy, hefty cattle – and that makes you happy. Forage crops not only provide sustainable grazing sources for livestock, they’re part of sound land management. Forage crops also diversify crop rotations, prevent erosion and retain nutrients. The 2019 Forage Program helps with the cost of seeding, and includes the extensive line-up of Proven® Seed forage varieties. Sign up and get your ducks in a row before spring! Ask us about our other programs including fencing, wetland restoration and more.

JANUARY 2019

Available at

Your Livestock Equipment Specialists Welcome to the

Next Generation of Feed Processors

Lee Norheim - Owner

1.306.227.4503

Kelcy Elford - South West Sask

1.306.690.5209

www.supremeinternational.com 1.800.563.2038 WWW.NORHEIMRANCHING.COM