Beef Business March 2020

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Beef Business ‘

Saskatchewan’s largest circulated industry magazine Saskatchewan's Premier Cattle Industry Publication Saskatchewan`s Premiere Cattlecattle Industry Publication March 2020

A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Publication Publication Mail Agreement #40011906

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Between now and December 31st, 2020 active Members of the SSGA will receive a $1,250 Young’s Equipment Gift Card for Parts and/or Service at any Young’s Equipment location with the purchase of any of the following new units: - Case IH MFD Loader Tractor (60-185 HP) - Case IH RB565 Round Baler - NDE Vertical Mixer - Highline CFR Bale Processor

In addition to that, we will donate $250 per unit sold to the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association to support their formidable cause.

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CCIA is the responsible administrator for beef and dairy cattle, bison, sheep and pending regulation cervids and goats in Canada (with exception of Quebec where CCIA only administers bison and goats.)

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Contents Cover photo courtesy of Kimberly Simpson, Moose Jaw, SK

Industry News 6

SSGA Launches Unique Ag-focused Charitable Foundation

7

It’s All about the Bugs

8

On the Moooo-ve

10

Ag Ministry Updating Animal Legislation

11

New Grading Requirements Take Effect

12

SSGA Partnering on Crime Prevention Markets and Trade

14

On a High Note

18

Final Livestock Tax Deferral List Adds Regions

20

Weekly Chart

22

Retail Meat Price Survey Features

24

Filling the Global Protein Gap

28

Taking a Hiding Science and Production

32

Buying Power

34

Spring for a New Deal in 2020

35

Where’s the Beef? Missing Livestock Files

36

Grazing Rental Rates Stewardship

38

Snakes of Saskatchewan

40

Producers Surveyed on Conservation Programs Affiliate Reports

42

Saskatchewan Bison Association Report

44

Saskatchewan Charolais Association Report

46

Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association Report

49

Saskatchewan Limousin Association Report

50

SaskMilk Report

51

Saskatchewan Sheep Development Association Report

52

Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association Report

54

Saskatchewan Simmental Association Report

56

SLA Recognizes 2020 Honour Scroll Recipients

57

Building Partnerships to Protect Habitat

58

TESA Gate Sign Presentation

60

SSGA President’s Report

61

SSGA Welcomes New Director Aaron Huber

61

SSGA Holds Semi Annual Meeting

61

SSGA Semi Annual Meeting Resolutions

62

Calendar of Events

63

Advertisers Index

64

Business Directory

Association News, Reports and Events

MARCH 2020

Beef Business A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) Publication 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 Subscriptions Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga.admin@sasktel.net 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 Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Manager: Carolyn Gaudet Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-352-0472 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: pcap@sasktel.net 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 Krista Connick Todd Fonda Froats Carolyn Gaudet Lana Haight Kelly Howe Bill Huber Marusia Kaweski Les Kroeger

Chad MacPherson Carolyn McCormack Jeremy Pittman Jason Pollock Rob Schill Gordon Schroeder Jeff Yorga Betty Wyatt

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 5

Industry News SSGA Launches Unique Ag-focused Charitable Foundation Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) launched the SSGA Foundation (SSGF) at its Semi-Annual Meeting held in Saskatoon on January 30, 2020. The SSGF is affiliated with the SSGA, the oldest operating agricultural organization in Saskatchewan and a trusted voice in agriculture in the province.

“We are pleased to launch the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Foundation,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber. “We’ve been working on developing a charitable foundation and land trust for the past five years and we’re happy to see it come to fruition.”

The new Foundation is ag-focused with agricultural priorities. The goal of the SSGF is to conserve agricultural lands and carry out charitable activities, such as the Beef Drive for the Food Banks of Saskatchewan. The Foundation has four approved objectives: conservation of the environment, poverty relief, support for

education and disaster relief. The SSGF will fill a growing need in the ranching community for voluntary, private-sector options for agricultural land conservation.

In the future, the SSGF will also be looking to expand its activities and charitable works.

Chair Ray McDougald. There are eight directors who are primarily current or former agricultural producers with a personal and real-world understanding of agricultural and community issues as well as two academics bringing their research expertise to decision-making.

The SSGF is unique because it is the first and only provincial agricultural land conservation organization based in Saskatchewan and is the first to offer term conservation easements. It also has a specific focus on conserving agricultural lands.

“I look forward to working with the rest of the board on the Foundation’s goals,” McDougald stated. “We’re planning to meet these goals through term conservation easements, innovative conservation agreements, growing the awareness of tools available to maintain ranch lands and assisting in the research of new opportunities to conserve working agricultural landscapes.”B

The SSGA took its first steps towards forming the SSGF in Fall 2015 with some initial research, followed by a resolution from the board of directors in May 2016 that supported establishing the SSGF. The Foundation became a federally registered charitable organization in December 2019. The SSGF is operated by a board of directors led by interim

*For further information about the SSGF or to donate, contact the SSGA Office at (306) 757-8523, or visit our website at: http://skstockgrowers.com/resources.

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MARCH 2020

Industry News It’s All about the Bugs

Providing an Accurate Picture of Beef Cattle Impact on GHG Emissions

by Lana Haight Eat less beef… save the planet! It’s a common theme on social media and among celebrities. Yet, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, SK, are working to show that beef cattle in Western Canada shouldn’t take the rap for climate change. Several scientists are exploring the various aspects of raising cattle with the overarching goals of quantifying greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and identifying ways to reduce them.

One study, conducted at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence’s (LFCE) Termuende Ranch near Lanigan, SK, is heading into its fifth and final year. During the summers, cattle grazed in pastures with two paddocks that included nonbloat legume plants to determine the effects of these forage types on GHG emissions.

Methane collection from the cattle in the summer.

Photo credit: LFCE

“It’s a circle,” said Dr. Diane Knight, professor in the Department of Soil Science. “We’re trying to link what cows are eating, how diets influence the soil, how soil influences plants, which then influence cattle as they eat. The whole premise is to close the circle and look at the system rather than individual points in the system.” Knight is collaborating with Dr. Rich Farrell, another soil scientist, and animal scientist Dr. Bart Lardner, all in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

MARCH 2020

Misconceptions about GHGs and cattle abound, starting with from which end methane is emitted by cattle. It’s from belching, the by-product of cattle’s ruminant digestive system. As microbes in the animal’s rumen, the first of four stomach compartments, break down high fiber forages that people are unable to eat, the feed is fermented and the microbes release gas. Preliminary results show that the cattle grazing on the pasture where cicer milkvetch had been seeded produced about 20% less methane (litres of gas/kilogram of dry matter intake) than the animals that grazed in the control pasture.

“We want to find a pasture type that will produce a good yield and good quality pasture during the grazing season will result in adequate weight gains on the grazing animals and will potentially reduce emissions,” explained Lardner.

While bugs or microbes are chewing on the remnants of plants in the rumen, more bugs are chewing on roots in the soil.

“It’s all bug-driven, but it’s not the same bugs in the rumen and the soil. The ones in the rumen emit methane and the ones in the soil emit nitrous oxide, but they are both greenhouse gases,” said Knight.

“People may think that we have to get rid of nitrous oxide emissions. It’s impossible, but we do need to manage and minimize them.”

Another misconception involves manure which acts like a slow-release fertilizer. It’s the urine, providing water, that triggers the release of GHGs, not the manure. With moisture providing the right conditions, soil microbes break down the forages’ roots and the cattle’s manure and urine and provide nutrients that feed the plants.

While Lardner is looking at the legumes potentially reducing methane emissions from the cattle, Knight is looking at whether the legumes, which fix nitrogen, are causing more or less to be emitted

Janelle Smith and Brittany Ross, graduate students supervised by Dr. Bart Lardner, change the vacuum tubes used to collect methane emissions from the cattle.

Photo credit: LFCE

from the soil or whether the plants in the pasture are efficiently using the nitrogen as part of their growth.

All this will lead to a complete system number that can be incorporated into Canada’s GHG inventory, dispelling another misconception. “We know we are producing low carbon footprint cattle in Western Canada,” said Farrell. “If we want (climate) models to reflect what’s happening in Western Canada, we need to provide the data so the models can be adjusted to what’s actually occurring here.

That’s the knowledge gap that we are trying to fill.”

Part of that gap includes the effect of manure applied to cropland in the semiarid prairies. In another study, Farrell and Dr. Jeff Schoenau are comparing N2O emissions from manure spread at a constant rate with that spread at a variable rate on barley fields at the LFCE’s Forage Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit, located south of Clavet. B

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Industry News On the Moooo-ve

Termuende Cowherd Settles into New Home

by Lana Haight The University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) has taken another step toward bringing livestock- and forage-related research and education under one roof.

At the end of January, the LFCE trucked bred heifers and cows from Termuende Ranch near Lanigan, SK, to the Forage Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit (FCCRTU) south of Clavet. This included bred Hereford-cross cows that had called Goodale Farm home but had spent the fall swath grazing at Termuende.

The LFCE cowherd inventory is projected to be 400 bred females, 25 bulls and 200 open replacement heifers. The mature cows will be calved at the cow-calf unit south of Clavet and the first calf bred heifers will be calved at Goodale Farm southeast of Saskatoon. The replacement heifers and bulls are also housed at Goodale Farm.

Bred cows in pasture at LFCE. Photo credit: LFCE

With the transfer of animals from Termuende, the LFCE will no longer use the facility at Lanigan for calving.

The centre will continue to use the 12 quarters of land owned by the University of Saskatchewan for summer pasture for cows on research projects.

It is the end of an era, said LFCE Director Dr. Kris Ringwall. “As we look forward to the new, it’s always good to look back and appreciate our heritage.”

8

The Termuende family homesteaded in the Lanigan area in 1909 and quickly grew the farm from one quarter to three sections by the 1930s. In the early 1970s, the Termuende family and the university began discussions about transferring the farm to be used for livestock, soil or crop research, according to an article written

by Graham Scoles, plant scientist and professor emeritus.

“The university purchased most of the land (in the early 1970s) for an annuity valued at $65,443 (two-thirds of the value). The balance of $29,357 (onethird of the value) was a gift from the Termuendes. An additional parcel of land (valued at $17,200) was purchased with an annuity valued at $11,8734, providing the university with ownership of all three sections,” wrote Scoles.

From 1974 to 1991, the College of Agriculture operated Termuende Ranch as a research facility funded by the university and the provincial government. When this funding was no longer available, the university ran the farm as a commercial operation. In 1996, the newly established Western Beef Development Centre took the farm back to its research roots and operated with funding from the university and government. Management of the ranch changed hands again in 2004 when Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute took over the operation.

“We have come full circle. Termuende Ranch is again part of the University of Saskatchewan with the animals closer to campus and the pastures still in use in the summer,” said Ringwall.

Bred cows and heifers were moved from Termuende Farm to the cow-calf unit south of Clavet, SK. Photo credit: LFCE

compared to Termuende, which is more than 125 km from the city. Not only is this more convenient for the researchers, it will allow for more university students to participate in workshops, hands-on labs and other activities.

The LFCE is a world-class complex of field and science laboratories that brings together under one roof every link of the livestock production chain. Modelling all aspects of raising livestock on the Canadian Prairies, it is a powerhouse for innovative research, teaching and industry engagement. In addition to the 400-head cowherd, the LFCE operates a 1,500-head feedlot at the Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit (BCRTU) south of Clavet.

This unit also houses a 24-stall metabolism barn. The university owns 39 quarters of land used by the LFCE in three locations: at Goodale Farm, at the BCRTU/FCCRTU and at Termuende Ranch. B

The handling facilities at the Forage Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit are new and an upgrade from the facility at Termuende, which is showing its age. The proximity to Saskatoon and the university campus is another advantage. The new cow-calf unit is 36 km from campus

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MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

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Industry News Ag Ministry Updating Animal Legislation The Ministry of Agriculture has been undertaking a review of the legislative acts and regulations which it administers.

The Animal Health Act, proclaimed in November 2019, was the most recent piece of legislation to be modernized.

“For the last couple of years, we’ve focused on The Animal Health Act, The Animal Protection Act and those initial base pieces,” stated Tyffany Amy, livestock policy analyst for the Ministry of Agriculture.

Now, the ministry will be looking to update The Stray Animals Act, The Animal Identification Act and The Animal Products Act, which are all from 1978. “Now, we’re at a natural place to update the process side of things, and that’s where these next three acts come in. We’re going through them making sure they are modernized and up to date,” she added. There is also

the possibility of combining the Acts into a single streamlined document.

It’s too early to anticipate what changes will be made to these acts. “We’re in the very early stages,” explained Amy. The ministry will first complete an initial review of these pieces of legislation, then they will take these acts to stakeholders for their feedback and views.

The Stray Animals Act relates to a municipality’s authority to handle animals running at large. The Act is specific to livestock and does not cover wildlife or pet-related strays. It also addresses penalties and liabilities.

To begin discussions, the ministry held information sessions for livestockrelated boards and associations in late February 2020. The ministry intends to organize further discussions with the livestock sector and will take its cue for changes based on the consultations with stakeholders and their feedback. B

The Animal Identification Act primarily has to do with cattle branding, particularly the registration, application and inspection of animal identification marks, i.e., brands.

The Animal Products Act covers the inspection of animal products, livestock sales, manifests, premises identification, livestock dealer requirements and various licenses and fees.

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MARCH 2020

Industry News New Grading Requirements Take Effect The Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements went into effect on January 15, 2020. The document included a new amendment increasing the maximum weight for veal.

The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) is responsible for the delivery of grading service for beef, bison and veal carcasses in Canada. The CBGA also administers this grade requirements document including the ongoing

management and proposals for amendments.

The CBGA maintains a transparent and credible process to ensure that proposed amendments are available for broad stakeholder feedback, the impacts are properly considered, a suitable public comment period is provided and there is broad support for the proposed amendment.

The amendments are finalized after these conditions are met. The Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements is incorporated by reference into the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, administered and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. B

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Industry News SSGA Partnering on Crime Prevention Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) has partnered with SaskTip and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation to offer a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the conviction of anyone illegally shooting livestock.

The partnership came about after SSGA received reports last fall about the intentional shooting and wounding of livestock in southeastern Saskatchewan.

One Lampman area producer lost two animals and another producer in the Wawota area had several animals with non-fatal small-caliber gun injuries to the head. As a result, SSGA partnered with SaskTip and Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation on the reward. The aim is to work together to prevent crime.

12

“We have partnered with SSGA over the last few years on the unfortunate wildfire events,” stated Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. “We continue our partnership because we appreciate the relationship our members have with landowners and we want to provide any assistance we can to help bring the individuals responsible for these crimes forward.”

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) is a non-profit, non-government, charitable organization with 130 branches across Saskatchewan. Established in 1929, SWF is the largest wildlife conservation organization of its kind in the world.

SaskTip is a registered charity which maintains a reward fund to assist in the apprehension and prosecution of those who violate resource and environmental laws. It was formed to help Conservation Officers in Saskatchewan convict poachers of all types.

To report an injured animal or to turn in poachers, contact SaskTip at 1-800-6677561. B

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Anyone with information about livestock shootings should contact the local police agency or call (306) 216-8294.

MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

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Markets and Trade On a High Note

Strong Demand Brings Optimism to Cattle Markets The Canadian cattle market continues to see strong demand and steady pricing in 2020. Several factors shaped the market in 2019, including adverse weather, the dollar value, the shrinking herd and foreign trade issues. Beef Business spoke with Brian Perillat, Canfax manager and senior analyst, to find out how these factors have impacted North American cattle market trends and opportunities in 2020.

A Look Back to 2019 Looking back at 2019, the overall market prices were relatively steady. The 2019 average dipped slightly below 2018 levels.

“Mostly, prices traded in a fairly flat range,” said Perillat.

Last summer’s fire at Tyson Foods beef harvest facility in Kansas shut down processing at one of the biggest U.S. packing plants. The market anticipated a major interruption and felt some pressure initially. After the shock passed, it did not become the huge market factor as expected. The U.S. industry and other packing plants were able to process all the cattle. The Kansas facility was closed from August to December 2019 but has since re-opened and returned to full capacity.

The fire had only a short-term term impact on the Canadian cattle market with cattle being diverted to alternative locations.

Tyson stopped buying during that period and meat prices did rise as a result.

A compounding factor in Canada was the closure of the Ryding-Regency plant in Toronto in October 2019. The impact was especially felt in Ontario where their fed cattle market slumped. Saskatchewan and Western Canadian cattle producers saw a drop in buying demand for calves and feeders from Ontario last fall. Eastern Canadian fed cattle were even being shipped back to Western Canada to be processed. Thus, more cattle were kept locally in feedlots in Western Canada as demand for Western Canadian feeder cattle declined.

Calf prices particularly traded steady over the year and into fall 2019, maintaining a 14

range of $2.10 to $2.25 for 500 lb. steers.

Fall 2019 prices exceed those of fall 2018. The stable prices allowed cow-calf producers to remain profitable. However, margins are quite slim now in the cow-calf sector given the feed prices over the past winter.

The year ended with feeder cattle also staying at a steady level. “In fact, prices had remained relatively flat for the past two years,” said Perillat. The fed market did drop a few cents a pound below the previous year partly as the after-effect of the Tyson plant fire.

Canadian fed cattle prices dipped slightly.

Seasonal prices changes were seen from a spring low to a fall high. By the end of the year, new highs were reached on fat cattle prices. And 2020 started with prices stronger and higher than 2019, reaching their highest since spring 2018.

Feedlots were not very profitable throughout 2019. Although losses were not too large, feedlots struggled. By the end of the year, they did turn a profit and are gaining some profitability right now.

Cattle Feed “It was quite a volatile year for grain prices,” Perillat noted about the feed market. In early summer, prices jumped in reaction to the dry planting and crop conditions in both the U.S. and Canada.

Once the rains came, crops got planted in the U.S. and prices dropped. “Barley prices came down significantly early in the fall to just over $4/bu, and that’s what helped keep calf prices strong,” he added. Since fall, barley prices have grown again to well over $5/bu.

The reduced cost for feed helped feedlots.

“It was a big reason why they were able to pay steady money for calves last fall,” he said. With the late rains, the feed situation in Saskatchewan and Alberta improved in 2019 over the previous two years. Hay crops did come through and producers were also able to salvage other crops for sufficient feed.

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The Herd Shrinks The Canadian cattle herd declined by 1.9% in 2019 partly due to drought conditions earlier in the year. “The drought really eliminated any chance of growing the cattle herd,” said Perillat. The very dry conditions meant that heifers were not bred early in the year and many producers had to cull large numbers of cows, especially in Manitoba. There was less culling in Saskatchewan. The overall culling rate was not extreme but still too high to grow the herd.

“We’ve seen cow slaughter numbers drop from a year ago, so hopefully there will be some stability in the herd,” he noted.

Early in the year, cow slaughter climbed over the previous year when more cows were being exported, but, by the end of the year, Western Canadian cow slaughter was only slightly higher than the previous year. In general, the drought limited herd expansion, but there was no large-scale sell-off because weather conditions improved by the end of the year.

Another reason for the herd decline was the retiring of older producers. “You have a few who are the next generation and they are expanding, but they are quite limited now that the margins have shrunk,” Perillat explained. Driving the lack of herd growth is the inability of cowcalf producers to compete for land use at scale against the grain side.

The Dollar The Canadian dollar has followed calf pricing trends over the past three years.

“Calf pricing has been flat for the last twoand-a-half to almost three years and the Canadian dollar is similar,” Perillat said.

He speculated that this currency trend may be supporting stable calf prices.

The Canadian dollar remained in a narrow trading range between $0.74 to $0.75. Therefore, it was not enough to influence the calf market. “It will certainly be something to watch for in 2020, but mostly hasn’t been an issue in 2019,” he noted. continued on page 16 MARCH 2020

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Markets and Trade On a High Note cont. from pg. 14 Foreign Trade The ban on meat exports to China from June to November last year slowed export growth. Despite the ban, Canada still exported more beef to China last year than in 2018. China was the fourth largest export market in 2019. By the end of 2019, trade resumed. “What we’ve seen in China is a growing economy, a growing middle class and the demand for beef has been very strong,” Perillat said.

China has a huge meat deficit due to the decimation of its swine herd from African Swine Fever (ASF). ASF has a huge impact in China. Pork prices have skyrocketed and beef prices have also climbed. Globally, “a lot of beef is getting redirected to China and, overall, the entire global meat marketplace has grown,” he said.

Another concern regarding trade to China is the impact of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. “At this time, it’s hard to say how large of an impact the virus will have,” he said. COVID-19 is creating a lot of uncertainty and nervousness on financial markets. Still, Chinese consumers are still looking to fill the protein gap. “It just becomes a demand factor and how much will it affect China and global demand remains to be seen,” he added.

Countries like Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay are major beef suppliers to China.

South American countries like Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina are also seeing their beef prices rise quite dramatically.

Despite having a serious drought for the last couple of years, Australia has been able to ship beef to these Asian markets because they have been liquidating their herd and looking for buyers. The Australian herd is the smallest on record in 30 years. More Australian cattle have also gone on feed to feedlots. Perillat doesn’t see this liquidation trend continuing.

Moving forward into 2020, if Australia receives some good rainfall, the culling would be halted, and exports would drop.

“That would really provide an opportunity for us both in China and Japan as well as it would reduce their imports coming to Canada,” he added.

16

Meanwhile, North America is not seeing the strong export impact as have some other countries. Partly, Canada is focused on the North American market and Canada and the U.S. both have had trade issues with China. The trade war between the U.S. and China has greatly suppressed U.S. prices relative to the rest of the world.

Another key factor is that both Canada and the U.S. are still restricted in the type of beef that can be exported to China.

For example, China will only accept cattle under 30 months that are ractopaminefree. “There’s a lot of U.S. beef that didn’t qualify,” Perillat noted.

We’re starting 2020 on a higher note than a year ago with some of the best prices we’ve seen in almost two years.

Nevertheless, Canada has seen expanded exports to other Asian markets. There has been a growth of over 70% into the AsiaPacific area. The new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) reduced the Chinese ban’s impact somewhat. Starting in late 2018, reduced tariffs provided better access to Japan. There was huge growth in exports to Japan – 55% in volume and 75% in the value of exports. “Japan has become a very solid number two export market for Canada,” Perillat stated.

Other countries with good export growth included South Korea. Hong Kong and Macau have also been importing large volumes of Canadian beef. As for other regions, the strong U.S. market remains Canada’s biggest export market. The Middle East and Africa have minimal exports of less than 1% of total beef exports. The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has not brought the desired trade benefits with the European Union (EU). Looking at the first 11 months of 2019, trade with the EU increased 80% in value, yet it still makes up less than 1% of Canadian exports. “There are just a lot of restrictions in terms of the production

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practices the EU will accept and for the big slaughter plants to be able to meet all of their processing requirements,” Perillat noted.

At the same time, opportunities for EU products have opened up in Canada creating competition for domestic products. For example, veal producers in Ontario and Quebec have felt the impact of veal coming in from Europe. On the beef side, EU beef imports to Canada rose significantly, but it’s a very small segment and has not made as much of an impact.

Homefront As for the domestic market, there has been a slightly lower but still healthy consumer demand in Canada. Despite increased beef production, Canadian consumption has dipped partly due to the strong global demand for Canadian beef.

Retail beef prices have remained steady over the last year. After peaking about five years ago, they have dropped and levelled off staying flat for the past two years.

Projections for 2020 For now, the uncertainty over COVID-19 is adding more caution to the market. The protein deficit in China is unprecedented on the world stage, creating more demand and expanding the overall global marketplace. There offers more positivity in North America to increase beef exports to China. With the U.S. herd expansion coming to an end, there will be a slow down in the growth rate of the beef supply, while there remains a very strong domestic demand for beef in the U.S. The remainder of this year offers a lot of optimism. It’s anticipated that prices will remain strong and demand will be solid in 2020. “For the most part, we’re starting 2020 on a higher note than a year ago with some of the best prices that we’ve seen for over a year and a half,” Perillat said. B

MARCH 2020

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Monday,

April 6, 2020

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Cowtown Livestock, Maple Creek SK Wrath 246G

Kozi 149G

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Resource 160G

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Sale broadcast

by DLMS.ca

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Don & Connie Delorme

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dcdelorme@sasktel.net HOME: 306.299.4494 CELL: 306.299.7778

Markets and Trade Final Livestock Tax Deferral List Adds Regions On February 18, 2020, the Government of Canada released the final list of designated regions for the livestock tax deferral. The ongoing analysis of drought conditions and excess moisture has indicated a need to expand the list of designated regions for 2019. New regions were identified for British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The additional designated regions in Saskatchewan include the RMs of Beaver River No. 622, Britannia No. 502, Eldon No. 471, Frenchman Butte No. 501, Loon Lake No. 561, Meadow Lake No. 588 and Wilton No. 472. Low moisture levels resulted in significant forage shortages for livestock producers.

18

“Extreme and unpredictable weather made 2019 a very difficult year for many livestock producers across Canada,” stated Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “It’s a priority for our Government to help our farmers and ranchers get the resources and support they need to manage and rebuild their herds.”

Producers are eligible for the tax deferral if they are located inside the designated areas. They can request the tax deferral when filing their 2019 income tax returns.

To defer income, the breeding herd must have been reduced by at least 15% but less than 30%, allowing 30% of income

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from net sales to be deferred. If the breeding herd has been reduced by 30% or more, then 90% of income from net sales can be deferred. In a year in which a region has been prescribed, income from livestock sales are deferred to the next tax year when the income may be at least partially offset by the cost of reacquiring breeding animals, thus reducing the potential tax burden. B

MARCH 2020

Markets and Trade

210

2017

200 190

2018

180

2019

170

2020

160

260 250 240

2017

230 220

2018

210

2019

200

2020

190

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

220

Price per hundred weight

SK Weekly Average Price 500-600 lbs Steers

230

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

Source: CanFax

Weekly Canadian Dollar

190.00

0.78

180.00 170.00

2017

160.00

2018

150.00

2019 2020

140.00

2020

0.76

2019

0.75

5 yr avg

0.73

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

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

0.77

0.74

130.00 Source: CanFax

310.00

110.00

290.00

105.00

270.00

2017

95.00 90.00

2018

85.00

2019

80.00

2020

75.00

Price per tonne

115.00

100.00

Source: Bank of Canada

Lethbridge Barley Price

Alberta Weekly D1 & D2 Cows Price per hundred weight

Source: CanFax

0.79

CDN $ - US terms

Price per hundred weight

AB Fed Steer Prices

250.00

2017

230.00

2018

210.00

2019

190.00

2020

170.00 150.00

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

70.00 Source: CanFax 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

Price per hundred weight

SK Weekly Average Price Heifers 500-600 lbs

Source: CanFax

For more information visit www.canfax.ca

20

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MARCH 2020

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MARCH 2020

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 21

Markets and Trade RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY as of February 27, 2020 ($/lb)

CUTS

CO-OP

SAFEWAY

SAVE-ON-FOODS

SOBEYS

SUPERSTORE

3.49

5.00

6.60

6.00

3.48

*

2.99

5.30

2.99

*

Roast/cross rib

6.99

*

*

9.40

*

Roast/outside round

6.99

*

3.48

*

7.26

Roast/inside round

7.69

4.00

8.00

3.99

*

Roast/eye of round

6.49

*

6.99

7.80

7.26

Steak/rib eye

*

19.03

20.03

22.03

*

Steak /cross rib

*

*

*

9.40

7.26

Steak/round

6.99

5.00

5.80

5.99

6.30

Steak/sirloin

10.99

8.50

5.00

9.50

7.26

Steak/T-bone

10.99

*

*

15.02

*

Steak/tenderloin

19.99

21.02 * 21.03 *these items were not in the display case on this date

*

Ground beef/lean Ground beef/regular

22

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

Feature Filling the Global Protein Gap African Swine Fever (ASF) has devastated China’s hog sector and created a huge pork deficit. As China searches the world for protein supplies, it is influencing the global protein market, including beef production and marketing. To discuss the impact of ASF and China’s protein gap on the global beef trade, Beef Business spoke with Brett Stuart, founding partner of the U.S.-based Global AgriTrends, which provides timely market intelligence. He discussed the influence on global beef production and the supply role of Canada and the U.S. African Swine Fever African Swine Fever (ASF) is a global protein game changer, according to Stuart. ASF is not a new virus. It has been known since 1907-1908 when it was detected in Kenya. However, it came to world prominence in 2008 when it spread to the country of Georgia then to Russia and other European countries.

“Everything kind of changed when it hit China in August 2018,” said Stuart. It was no surprise that the virus began to spread quickly across China and throughout neighbouring countries like Vietnam and the eastern Asia region. The virus proved devastating because China has a huge hog industry with a closely tied infrastructure. China has half the swine in the world and its pork supply comprises 20% of the global protein complex – beef, pork and poultry. What this means, Stuart explained, is that “anything that affects the Chinese swine herd and the Chinese pork supply affects the global protein market because China is such a big piece of that.”

As ASF ravages China, the losses are difficult to assess. Because the virus has a high mortality rate of over 95%, it is estimated to be significant. The Chinese government has reported October inventories dropped 40%, while other sources believe this figure should be far higher. “We estimate that 65% of China’s herd is gone,” Stuart said.

With ASF in the EU and Asia, 75% of the world’s hogs are now threatened and there is no vaccine. “I don’t think the world 24

has really come to grips yet with how severe this virus actually is and how big the losses are in China,” Stuart stated.

The ASF virus is very hardy. For example, the virus has been found active in frozen meat after nearly 3 years. The main vector is blood and it’s highly infective, although not highly contagious. Moreover, ASF is difficult to eradicate, especially in wild boar. Wild boar presents a serious problem for ASF. “Once it’s in the wild boar herd and the herd is migratory, it becomes very, very difficult to eradicate ASF,” said Stuart, noting the European experience with wild boar. He anticipates that ASF on a hog farm in the U.S. or Canada could probably be controlled with strict biosecurity measures. “Now, if we find it in a wild boar, we may never get it under control. It’s very difficult to stamp out,” he said.

Thus, ASF will have a significant impact on

It’s a big vacuum out there on the global protein market. the global protein space. One third of the global swine herd has been decimated and it’s a huge gap that will need to be filled. Stuart pointed out that one of ASF’s impacts so far has been record high prices across China for pork as well as for beef. Hog prices in China are 400% to 500% higher than in the U.S. Prices are expected to stay high for some time – not just in China, but elsewhere. “Now, we are starting to see bigger trade flows from all supplying countries into China which, in turn, is raising prices around the world,” he explained. “We’re starting to see that global inflation impact from ASF in China from those gaps spread through the global beef sector, the global pork sector and beyond.”

Coronavirus Another cause for concern is the COVID-19 coronavirus and its potential market influence. “There has been a lot of concern about the coronavirus impact in China and it is very unsettling,” said Stuart. “To see

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a virus spring up and spread as quickly as it has in China is quite scary.” He pointed out that initially the Chinese cases were concentrated in Hubei province in central China.

Furthermore, the outbreak occurred over the Chinese New Year. There were some concerns that the ports would have insufficient workers to offload ships to keep beef and pork products moving into China from around the world. According to Stuart, these fears were unfounded as the ports did not show significant slowdowns beyond what was normally expected for the holiday period.

The Chinese city of Wuhan was at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Initially, Wuhan and other cities were in lockdown with about 50 million people quarantined. Since January, COVID-19 has now spread to other regions of China and around the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of press time, there are 88,948 confirmed cases globally, including 80,174 in China. China has had 2,915 deaths.

Despite this health crisis, the Chinese government is mobilizing to ensure food supplies throughout the market because there’s a genuine protein demand.

Because the Chinese pork supplies have been so depleted by ASF, peak prices remain. Stuart noted that hog prices after Chinese New Year were in fact higher than before this holiday. According to Stuart, the coronavirus won’t have much of a negative impact on the global protein supply.

China Market China represents a unique and diverse market for beef. Consumers buy a range of products. “They have markets across the spectrum,” Stuart said. For example, Chinese consumers are aggressively looking for beef omasum – one of the four stomach compartments of cattle – and are purchasing offal and organ meat products. In comparison, Japan is a very high value export market, but this market typically is looking for four or five specific cuts. continued on page 26 MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 25

Feature Protein Gap cont. from pg. 24 China’s market appears open to the gamut of suppliers because it is so diverse.

“There’s a market for every kind of beef,” he stated. “There’s grass fed Brazilian beef, Uruguayan beef – there’s even cow and bull beef going in from Australia.”

Spurred by the protein gap, China has been purchasing millions of dollars of the lowest quality beef in the world, Indian water buffalo, a tough lean meat, and it has been strongly bidding on cull cow beef out of Australia. At the same time, China has opened its market to Japanese wagyu and is purchasing Australian long fed wagyu, which are very expensive.

Opportunities Monitoring the shortage and the soaring inflation unfolding in China, the U.S. and Canada have been somewhat insulated from beef market opportunities. China’s requirement for beef produced without the use of hormone feed additives and its restrictions against U.S. and Canadian beef has meant only a small supply of beef from North America gets into China.

This changed in January when the American and Chinese presidents inked the new Phase 1 China agreement that took effect in mid-February. The coronavirus outbreak may have delayed implementation of some parts of the agreement. This deal lifted hormone restrictions for U.S. beef, marking the first time in history that China is truly open to U.S. beef, noted Stuart. Furthermore, the Chinese have agreed to massive purchases of U.S. agricultural products, meaning that U.S. beef exports to China could really start to grow. He expects to see significant U.S. beef shipments to China within the next five to eight months. “We’re not there yet. It’s going to take time,” he said.

The U.S.-China deal would also have implications for the Canadian market, which is closely tied to the U.S. A similar agreement for Canada could mean an opportunity to bring grain-fed beef to China. Grain-fed beef is rare and very expensive in China and it’s primarily supplied by Australian fed beef, which is about a third of their cattle. Moreover, with high prices and demand, a grain fed 26

beef supplier into China would not be competing against large beef suppliers like Brazil, Australia or India. Without it’s own trade deal, Canada will have to make do participating in opportunities through the U.S. market.

China is now the number one export market for Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina. “They are shipping more to China than anywhere else, so that’s been a real pull on all of those markets,” Stuart pointed out. “They’ve seen significant price increases as a result.” China has driven prices sharply higher in the southern hemisphere for Australia, New Zealand and South America as it draws on their beef supplies.

I don’t think the world has really come to grips yet with how severe this virus really is and how big the losses really are in China.

Australia – a major global beef producing country and competitor for Canada – is in a unique situation. After years of drought, Australia has experienced terrible fires recently in some of its key cattle areas.

The Australian cattle herd peaked around 2014 but, over the last five years, it’s been liquidated by 20% to about 24 million today because of the drought.

While beef prices have soared to new record highs, poultry prices have dropped.

Interestingly, poultry might be expected to be a reasonable substitute to fill the pork gap because it is easy to produce and to ramp up supplies, yet poultry prices have actually fallen in China. Looking at their prices, China seems to be pursuing beef supplies more aggressively than poultry.

Notably, there’s no real competitive pressure for suppliers. “I think there is room for everyone right now on the China market,” Stuart commented on China’s global scramble to find protein around the world, especially beef and pork. “It’s kind of a big vacuum out there on the global market.”

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Meeting Demand Given the opportunities in China’s protein market, neither the U.S. nor Canada seem poised to expand the herd and ramp up the beef trade to meet the large global demand. Canada is focused on the domestic and U.S. markets. Approximately 90% of U.S. beef is consumed domestically and the U.S. has a healthy domestic demand right now. The U.S. economy, which has been flourishing, is the main driver of beef prices. “If we see stronger Chinese demand for U.S. beef,” Stuart noted, “either they are going to displace beef that the U.S. would export into Mexico, Japan or Korea, or they are going to pull it away from the U.S. market.” The effect would mean prices would rise as supply is taken off the market. “Typically, when we see prices go higher that generally lends to expansion,” he added.

The U.S. herd went through a major cattle liquidation between 2006 and 2014, dropping by almost 4 million head. In 2014-2015 cattle prices soared with calf prices reaching $3 and fed cattle $1.70. In response, the U.S. began to expand the herd, adding about 3 million since that time. However, the U.S. just experienced a big expansion phase which appears to have peaked. The late January USDA cattle inventory survey showed the 2020 U.S. cattle numbers declining slightly from 2019. “If we were to see prices move higher again, that would potentially lead to further expansion,” he said. At the same time, the Canadian herd has not grown since 2014 and even shrunk 1.9% between January 2019 and January 2020. This is a 24.8% drop since 2005. “There really was no appreciable expansion in Canada, even with those higher prices,” Stuart noted.

Barriers Despite the opportunities on the global protein market, Canada still faces barriers to get into these promising markets. The big constraint for Canada and U.S. beef is the Chinese ban on all hormone feed additives. “We did the math and said, if we wanted to produce cattle that were raised without added hormones in feed, the cost would be somewhere above $160 USD a head to produce those cattle,” Stuart explained. Producers need to be able to continued on page 36 MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 27

Feature Taking a Hiding

Underdevelopment and Overregulation Shackle Canadian Cowhide Industry Cattle provide a wide variety of products for many industries in addition to providing food. Cattle by-products are found in medicine, shampoo, crayons, wallpaper, plastics, musical instruments and cosmetics, to name a few items.

Another familiar product is leather, which starts with the cowhide. Beef Business spoke with Greg Larson, CEO of the Larson Group and long-time hide exporter, to understand the hide market, the regulatory issues and global trends impacting the value chain.

A Slump The cowhide market has been in a significant slump. Larson has been seeing some the lowest prices for hides in his 30 years of dealing. “About three years ago, we were looking at about $89 USD for a steer hide, but today that is probably closer to $30,” he said. Previously, the global financial crash caused prices to plummet in 2009. Today’s nose-diving prices reflect a leather market crash, where the leather market is being singled out and prices are being driven down.

Canada’s hide market is especially depressed, shrinking considerably in the past few decades. “When I started buying hides in Saskatchewan, I had 400 customers,” Larson explained. “Now, we have probably about 60 customers.”

He has seen his regular customer base contract from 130 to about 15.

Canada’s hide industry is largely undeveloped. “We are not much of a player in the leather industry worldwide,” Larson explained. Canada’s hide market is export-oriented and it imports all of its leather. Some hide product is shipped to China with leather goods returned to sell in Canada. “We always have to rely on someone else to take it, refine it and then we buy the product back,” Larson said.

Canadian hide industry development lags far behind the U.S. level. The U.S. has tanneries and its producers can sell their hides on world markets. Hide dealers in the U.S. from smaller-sized packers are now receiving close to $20 USD. “We’re 28

not there yet. We need the market to go up a lot more before we can start shipping product into it again,” Larson added.

Regulation A major challenge for the Canadian hide industry has been regulatory issues.

Larson believes the present decline has a lot to do with changes in regulations.

A big issue is obtaining hides from an overregulated meat industry. Another set of regulations oversee the export of hides from Canada. Other countries don’t have this kind of regulatory burden for hide exports.

Larson described his own experience to provide a sense of how the regulations can impact hide dealers. When he first started buying hides, he used to supply salt for those slaughtering beef. Later, he would collect the hides, i.e., like weekly or monthly, depending on the volume produced. Concerned about the environmental risks of salting, his company in 2001 built a contained unit for salting, called a raceway, which is like those found at big plants and is more environmentally friendly.

However, the provincial government closed that plant to curing hides in 2007. “The closure was related to new environmental regulations that went into force in 2010 having to do with any industrial enterprise in Saskatchewan having to have a permit to construct,” he explained. In 2007 Larson’s plant was informed it didn’t have a permit to construct, although the facility was built in 2001 when a permit wasn’t required – nor was it needed in 2007. The plant remained open until 2010 when the new legislation took effect. Because the facility didn’t have a permit to construct an industrial works, it was shuttered.

Larson was left frustrated at the loss of this value-added opportunity. “I get approached all the time by people – in government as well, asking why we don’t build a tannery so we can bring value for these hides,” he said. “I just tell them, we can’t even salt a hide, let alone tan one.”

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Marketing Getting the product to market is another large obstacle for the Canadian hide industry. Overregulation is devaluing the hide to such a level that exporters can’t cover the shipping, effectively shutting down the market. For example, mediumand small-sized packers in Canada could get $10 for product delivered to Mexico right now, but delivery is stymied by the freight costs.

“I see in the world markets today everyone is talking about pipelines,” Larson commented. “But the truth of it is, the meat and hide industry have been facing this forever. We just can’t get our product to market.”

“There’s actually a very limited number of countries a beef hide in Saskatchewan could go to,” he stated. “We can go into the U.S., the Middle East, and a few countries in Asia, but not anywhere in Europe, Mexico or China.” Canadian hide dealers may have buyers in 40 countries, but they can only enter six.

China is the largest market for hides, but Canada hasn’t been able to ship there directly since 2007. A big market for Canadian cowhide is Mexico. After a case of blue tongue appeared in Ontario in 2007, Canada has been unable to ship hides to Mexico. Exports can go to Europe, but it’s a difficult region to enter. There is a requirement that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must confirm that the hides were taken from animals that had post-mortem and ante-mortem inspections, but the CFIA has been reluctant to fulfill this condition.

Canada has recently signed on to trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region and European Union to give preferential treatment for Canadian products. Larson doesn’t see these agreements as easing the regulation of hides.

Supply Buyers and tanners each have their own grading system for hides. It’s hard to continued on page 30 MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 29

Feature Hiding cont. from pg. 28 identify exactly what a tanner would demand. Many factors affect grading, including the age and sex of the animal, barbwire, fleas and ticks, how the hide was taken off the animal –knifed vs. pulled – skin diseases, caesarean marks, and any injury the animal would sustain.

Younger animal hides would command a higher price because they would be less blemished than hides from a mature animal.

Climate dictates much of the hide’s quality. The big, fat, young animals produced in Western Canada have all the qualities to produce good hides. Western Canadian cattle are well-cared for and don’t carry many ticks and insects that can damage hides. But winter hides are thicker and coarse. Some of Larson’s customers prefer summer hides, which are more supple. “It depends on what they are doing,” he said. Canadian hides at tanneries rank high, but never number one.

Dealing Generally, big packers handling large volumes of hides can command higher prices because large tannery operations are looking for high volumes. “In order to supply a tanner, you need huge numbers so you can select what an individual tanner would use,” Larson explained.

Smaller packers handling lower volumes hope to reach about 75% of the prices the large companies receive. For example, if a tanner needs 4,000 hides a day to fill their production, a hide dealer could secure a better price by being able to secure 1,000 hides a day. It’s really a numbers game, Larson noted. “If you don’t have huge numbers, you don’t want to keep product too long, so you have to make your selections a bit broader,” he added.

Because it takes time to compile a load and to avoid spoilage losses, dealers must be prepared to offer reduced prices, thus devaluing the product.

Canada has two large packing companies processing sizeable numbers, but still the slaughter isn’t sufficient. The small volumes of Western Canadian hides 30

compete against the northwestern U.S., which has a much greater production of very similar quality hides.

Tanneries Larson believes the solution lies in establishing a tanning industry in Canada. “That’s what should happen because we’ve become so remote – only due to regulatory issues not due to geographical issues. We just can’t get this product to market,” he added. However, there appears to be little interest from government to develop tanneries as a value-added opportunity to process hides.

Processing hides into leather and shipping leather would cut the regulatory burden greatly and would open Canadian leather to more markets. No longer perishable, leather is considered a textile and has minimal regulations.

Although Canada has 11.2 million head of cattle, it doesn’t tan its own hides or produce its own leather. It’s a Catch-22.

Canada doesn’t produce enough hides on its own to export on a steady basis, while a couple of minor tanneries produce insignificant output. “Because we have such a small market, what should happen is we should have a small tannery,” he maintained. “Then you could pick these hides up. You could turn them into leather which has a very good shelf life. Then, you could market this leather all around the world. There would be no barriers.”

Right now, Canada imports 100% of its leather. Besides Larson’s company, he’s aware of just one other company that ships raw hides abroad and brings back leather goods.

Trends Changes in the fashion world impact the hide industry. “The thing that has hurt us the most is shoes,” Larson explained.

Almost every shoe in the world used to have a leather sole. “Shoe leather is what kept us going. Now, they’re all plastic.”

The switch away from leather in the shoe industry is the key reason for the downturn in the hide industry. The slump began when the luxury car industry drove the price of leather up after 2009, making it too costly for shoe manufacturers to

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use leather. Shoemakers turned to other materials.

Leather can come back but it takes a lot of lead time to reintroduce it into shoe design because in the fashion world designs are made a year in advance, Larson explained. If leather is too expensive, then they design the leather out, and suppliers have to wait a season to get leather reintroduced. The wait can be devastating for parts of the value chain.

Larson explained that if a tannery that makes shoe leather has to wait a season, “it doesn’t put the shoe manufacturer out of business, it puts the fellow that makes the shoe leather out of business.”

However, when leather prices drop and leather is introduced back into the shoe market, “now we have a problem with not enough tanners that make shoe leather” because a lot of them didn’t survive the two-year transition back to leather.

Consumer Demand As for consumers, Larson believes they still demand leather shoes. “I think that there is a demand for leather. It just needs to be designed back in to sell it,” he added. Demand remains high for a range of popular products like leather gloves, leather in vehicles and leather furniture upholstery.

Demand is also driven by pop culture.

Larson cites the example of Timberland boots. Back in 1973 Timberland introduced the basic Timberland 6” boot #10061 with tough construction and superior waterproofing aimed at the blue-collar worker, writes Allan Leach in HighNobiety magazine about the history of the boot. Since the 1990s, hip hop artists like Notorious B.I.G. transformed the leather boot into a global symbol of hip hop style, which gave a boost to the leather-making and hide industries. “Sales went crazy,” Larson said.

Larson noted that some consumer demand for leather for shoes has dropped off because of changing social attitudes to animal products. The demand for leather for garments has fallen. Like the meat sector, the hide industry has felt the impact of emerging trends like vegan leather. continued on page 58 MARCH 2020

Tenth Annual Bull Sale

City View Simmentals, Ivanhoe Angus with

Sunnyside Simmentals & A Bound Livestock

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

at Johnstone Auction Mart, Moose Jaw, SK s of the

eo Watch for Vid

Bulls s u g n A e o h n a v I Images ad Livestock

re

by Golden Th March at DLMS.ca in MARCH 2020

Ivanhoe Angus

Ron & Marilyn Mountenay Box 23, Belle Plaine, SK S0G 0G0 Ron’s Cell: 306-630-5871 Home: 306-345-2560 www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 31

Science and Production Buying Power:

Bull Selection to Improve Your Bottom Line If it hasn’t happened already, soon your mailboxes and in-boxes will be filling up with catalogues for this year’s bull sales. How can you identify which bull is going to work best for your operation?

Purchasing the best bull for your operation’s needs starts with good recordkeeping to identify your operation’s strengths and weaknesses. From there, you can work to narrow down your search based on your breeding system, genetic goals and budget. The following tips can help guide you in the process of purchasing your next herd sire.

It’s not one size fits all when it comes to bull buying.

Breeding programs will be determined by operational goals and the management practices that fit those goals. A farm that auctions their calves at weaning may choose a crossbreeding program with high performance, while a farm that direct markets their beef may prefer the uniformity of a single breed.

There are many different types of bulls available, and effective sire selection requires an understanding of the available genetics as well as your own operation.

Aiming for complementarity of the bull’s genetics to your current cow herd and fit with your operational goals will contribute to increased revenue and reduced costs.

Each breed of cattle has distinct traits that allow them to excel in different geographical or managerial environments.

Depending on the goals of the operation, a sire can be chosen that has the potential to make positive changes for your operation in the areas you’ve identified for improvement.

Consider both the short-term gain and the long-term investment.

Bull selection is one of the most important decisions for cow-calf producers with implications for short- and long-term profitability of the operation. The choice of bull can be immediately seen in the subsequent calf crop. If the operation retains heifers and/or bulls, the genetics in the selected bull will be passed down to 32

subsequent generations. Introducing new genetics is a permanent change to the herd, compared to the temporary nature of supplements or management practices.

As such, bull selection can be seen as a long-term investment into the operation.

Research in the area of beef cattle genetics has been growing significantly.

There are opportunities to improve profitability through sire selection.

However, with a multitude of traits, breed differences, operational goals and management practices, bull selection is a complex decision.

To assist with making bull selection decisions, consistent record-keeping will help identify areas of strength and weakness in the herd and guide you towards the type of genetic change you want to see. Over time, your records will help monitor whether your changes have made the desired impacts. Once operational goals and breeding programs have been determined, a producer can focus in on specific Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) to guide their bull selection.

Narrow down your search.

Given the plethora of EPDs available, trying to sort through 10 or 20 individual EPDs that may not have relevance to your particular operation can easily lead to information overload. Many breed associations provide selection indexes that combine multiple traits with relevant weightings in order to combine several traits of interest into one number. By focusing on Economically Relevant Traits (ERTs), you can eliminate those bits of information that will not directly impact your operation’s profitability. ERTs are traits that are directly associated with a source of revenue, or a cost.

Not all EPDs represent ERTs – instead they use a related (or indicator) trait to estimate the ERT. One of the best examples is birth weight. Decreasing a bull’s birth weight by five pounds does not have any associated income or costs, but it is often used as a bull buying criteria in an effort to reduce

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calving problems.

The actual ERT in this case is calving ease as an increase in calving problems will reduce calf survival (fewer calves to sell), incurs higher labour costs (pulling calves or more time spent monitoring) and delays cow rebreeding (younger and lighter calves to sell next year). Birth weight is an indicator trait and, although related to calving ease, it only explains 36% to 64% of genetic variation between animals in calving ease.

Getting your money’s worth.

Identifying a fair price during sire selection contributes to higher efficiency in operational economics. To estimate the break-even bull price, a bull valuation calculator has been developed. The purpose is to provide a general idea of how much a bull is worth based on key farm parameters.

The value a bull provides depends on his individual performance, the environment (e.g., pasture productivity), management (cow to bull ratio) and markets (calf price). For example, large framed bulls require more feed, leading to a higher maintenance cost, but that may be offset by heavier calves at sale time.

A bull’s value is delivered through the calves sired over a lifetime, the long-term genetic change of the herd and salvage value at the end of a productive life.

The value provided depends on: • cost factors - i.e., bull maintenance cost and death loss; • performance factors - i.e., years of service, the expected cow to bull ratio, expected weaning rate, expected weight of feeders and proportion of the calf value attributed to the bull; and • price factors - i.e., expected price of feeders and salvage value. B *Reprinted with permission from Beef Cattle Research Council, www.BeefResearch.ca

MARCH 2020

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 33

Science and Production Spring for a New Deal in 2020

by Jason Pollock, CEO, Livestock Inspection Services of SK Most of my cows have figured out the program around here on the ranch. They stay where I put them. I do have the odd lass, bless her heart, who sees my fences as mere suggestions on where to graze.

Surely, I am not the only one who has received a text message from a neighbour that simply states, “She’s here again”. In my defence, I do try hard to prevent it from happening. I go around my fences before the cows are turned out and fix up any potential trouble spots that might leak a bit. It is a pretty mundane task and doesn’t rank high on my list of favourite things. The saying “good fences make for good neighbours” rings true no matter where you raise livestock. This principle applies to good cattle deals as well.

As a rancher, I am constantly looking for a good deal. I define a good deal as getting what I want at a fair market price and building a good relationship with the person I am doing business with. I think it is in most people’s nature to be mindful of their dollars and to search for a good deal.

Cattle producers are no different when it comes time to decide on how to buy or sell livestock and make good deals.

Whether buying or selling, the methods vary from using traditional brick and mortar auction markets, conducting an on-farm auction or using an online marketing service. Some will prefer using more independent methods like the classifieds or the services of free websites such as Kijiji or Facebook. Each of these platforms has their own pros, cons and costs. When making your decision, it is important to assess the risks and rewards to identify what best fits with your operation. This may vary depending on if you are planning to buy or sell livestock.

Regardless of the choice you make on how to buy or sell, there are regulatory items to be aware of for marketing cattle through both dealer and private transactions. Risk exists because not all people are honest.

34

This may or may not be a shock to you, but it seems we at LSS are made aware of this on a regular basis. We are brought in to help resolve cases where one party has not been fully honest with another and the deal has gone sideways. Usually, we are brought in at the end of the process when it is often too late for our services to do much more than piece together where things went wrong.

We operate in a high trust environment as an industry and so dishonest situations are the exception and not the rule thankfully. Unfortunately, when money changes hands, there is an opportunity for dishonest people to cause harm.

The livestock industry addresses this issue by providing input for rules that are incorporated into legislation by government law makers. For all the sales options listed above, there is some sort of applicable regulation. This is based on needs identified by industry to keep livestock production and commerce viable. A handshake deal works in a lot of cases, but it is good business to follow it up with a good paper contract to protect your transactions.

transactions should be relatively safe.

However, there are some things a producer should be aware of – even for these transactions. One of the most important is that a dealer must make full payment within three business days.

Other operational items a dealer must adhere to include providing settlement to the contributor indicating the date, weight, description of the livestock and the manifest number. The dealer is responsible to call for a brand inspection and to deduct and remit Saskatchewan and National Check-Off, and inspection fees.

The dealer must also maintain a livestock dealer bond in an amount prescribed by the Regulations that is based on the number of cattle traded. It is important to note that if you sign an agreement to extend payment past 3 days, you are extending credit to that dealer and forfeit your right to claim on that dealer’s bond.

Consider this very carefully if you are asked to receive payment beyond the three-day timeframe.

The Livestock Dealer Regulations, 1995 (the Regulations) pursuant to The Animal Products Act dictate licensing requirements and rules for the purchase or sale of “all livestock” in the province.

On the surface, the regulations may seem quite restrictive or limiting to commerce, allowing only dealers to buy and sell livestock. As we dig into the details, there are features that allow producers to trade livestock without a license if the title to the livestock is retained for 30 days. This allows for private treaty sales of livestock between producers. As a result, you are free to buy or sell in a wide variety of ways.

In most cases, if you know the dealer and have dealt with them in the past, you are not at a significant risk to agree to their terms. If you are not familiar with the dealer, get some references, call and make some inquiries. Being able to brag about selling your backgrounders for $0.15 over market makes no sense if you don’t get paid for them. Once they are on the truck and out of your yard, the only recourse you have is in a court of law. The premium you thought you were getting will be gone in no time if you must resort to the courts to get paid. Simply stated, do your homework if you haven’t dealt with the person before. We offer a quick look up on our website (lssc.ca) for licenced dealers in the province.

From a seller’s perspective, utilizing the services of a licensed dealer either through their market or for on farm

Producers being contacted by buyers from other provinces claiming to be licensed and bonded should be aware

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

Science and Production Active Missing Livestock Files March 2020

Area missing from

Number of head

Animal description

Brand description

Brand location

RCMP subdivision

Livestock Branch contact

Date reported

Warmley

7

2-year-old fillies

None

N/A

Carlyle

Moosomin 306-435-4582

January 13, 2020

Jansen

2

Cows

Right hip

Lanigan

North Battleford February 12, 2020 306-446-7404

Jansen

3

Cows

Left hip

Lanigan

North Battleford February 12, 2020 306-446-7404

Cando

1

Cow

Left hip

North Battleford

North Battleford February 16, 2020 306-446-7404

Cando

4

Calves

N/A

North Battleford

North Battleford February 16, 2020 306-446-7404

Craven

1

Cows

Right rib

White Butte

Moose Jaw 306-694-3709

January 6, 2020

Craven

2

Cows

Right hip

White Butte

Moose Jaw 306-694-3709

January 6, 2020

No brand

Information provided by Livestock Services of Saskatchewan that those licenses and bonds only cover transactions for the jurisdiction where the license was issued. A little business diligence and calls to references or to the licencing body in that province can be worth a lot to protect you.

One item to note is that producers selling livestock without the services of a dealer are not excluded from submitting CheckOff fees. It is the seller’s responsibility MARCH 2020

to remit these fees to the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA). There is also no buyer’s security from a bond for non-payment. They should take measures to ensure that a sales contract does not relinquish ownership of the livestock prior to satisfying full payment. Sales contracts that imply an extension of credit will complicate efforts to resolve nonpayment issues.

Livestock purchased through a dealer are to be free of any liens or encumbrances.

If you are buying private treaty livestock, take adequate measures to ensure the seller of the livestock has free title.

Saskatchewan producers purchasing livestock through private sales are not required to obtain a brand inspection, but it is highly recommended that they do so.

A brand inspection prior to the sale can continued on page 58

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 35

Science and Production Grazing Rental Rates Grazing Rental Rate Estimates, December 2019 October, $

November, $

Weighting, %

Rate, $

Slaughter, D1, D2 Cows

80.94

74.67

12.00

9.34

Feeder Steers, 800-900 lbs

192.70

185.80

17.00

32.17

Feeder Steers, 500-600 lbs

216.31

217.69

32.00

75.95

Feeder Heifers, >800 lbs

174.67

170.59

21.00

36.25

Feeder Heifers, 500-600 lbs

187.31

184.64

15.00

27.90 181.61

*Cattle prices from Canfax monthly data from Livestock Branch

Rent per AUM Beef Produced (lbs)

446

Weighted Price ($/lb)

1.8161

Constant Stocking Factor

0.8

Share (%)

0.1275

Per AUM

$8.52

Historical Rent Year

Rent, $

Change, %

2011

3.93

N/A

2012

6.09

54.96

2013

5.99

-1.64

2014

6.42

7.18

2015

11.19

74.30

2016

10.87

-2.86

2017

7.17

-34.04

2018

8.97

25.10

2019

8.50

-5.24

2020*

8.52 0.24 *Preliminary

Protein Gap cont. from pg. 26 receive high enough premiums to support this significant discount on such cattle.

China’s insistence on zero tolerance for any hormone residues in beef keeps Canada out of its beef market. On the other hand, Japan and Korea have adopted a world standard that permits a maximum residue level. “These hormone feed additives are widely used. They’re safe, they deteriorate very quickly, the

36

residues are in the single digit parts per billion,” he said. In the new Phase I deal, China has accepted the same world standards on hormone residues used by Japan and Korea allowing U.S. beef to enter.

China placed an export ban on Canadian beef and pork in May and June last year keeping Canadian meat out of the market for the rest of the year. “At the time, Canada was shipping a substantial amount of pork to China and a limited volume of beef because of those restrictions,” Stuart explained. “It just hasn’t been a market that can really grow based on the hormone restrictions.” On the other hand, he noted that Canada was shipping a considerable volume of pork. Now that the market is again open, Canada is now bolstering larger pork shipments to China. Meanwhile, beef shipments will continue but they are probably at very low levels, based on the hormone restrictions.

Other regions Over the past few years, Canada has hammered out trade deals in several corners of the world, including the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), but this hasn’t been translating into noticeable growth for the Canadian beef industry.

38.5% and dropping down to 9%. “We haven’t really seen a huge increase in that business,” said Stuart. “I think it takes a few years to really start to see the impact of those agreements.” Imported beef will become much more affordable on the Japanese market. The U.S withdrew from the CPTPP agreement but has signed its own agreement with Japan reducing tariffs for the U.S. to equivalent levels.

As well, Canada and the U.S. both have agreements reducing tariffs on beef into South Korea. “We’ve already seen those beef shipments to Korea increase significantly in recent years,” he added.

On the other hand, the beef trade to the European Union has stalled, despite the Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Part of the issue is that, like China, the EU also has a zerotolerance hormone policy. This means that a very limited number of cattle in the U.S. and Canada can qualify for the EU program. “It’s a very expensive production system to raise those cattle without the feed additive,” said Stuart. Another factor is that the EU has a quota for North American meat. The EU will only allow a certain tonnage of Canadian and U.S. beef, although the U.S. received a quota expansion this year to about 45,000 tons.

“That’s a very small amount of beef,” he noted. B

The CPTPP agreement reduces tariffs for Canadian beef to Japan. The rate will phase down over 16 years, starting from

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

South View Ranch 20th Annual Bull Sale - At The Ranch NEW DAY - Friday, April 10, 2020

— Offering Red and Black Angus Yearlings and Two Year Olds — DFCC 1Z Carlos 5C

Red SVR Ranger 16G

Sons Sell

SVR Desperado 409G

He Sells

Red SVR Bullseye 8G

He Sells

MJT Impressive 813F

He Sells

Red SVR Precise 13G

Semen Available We are excited to be offering his offspring in the 2021 sale Keith & Linda Kaufmann Box 130, Ceylon, SK S0C 0T0 306-454-2730 Fax 454-2643 svr@sasktel.net

Shane & Alexis Kaufmann & Family Box 40, Ceylon, SK S0C 0T0 Shane: 306-869-8074 Keaton: 306-815-7233 sakaufmann.svr@sasktel.net

www.southviewranch.com

He Sells

Red Sire Groups: Black Sire Groups:

Red SVR Cowboy 33D Red Flying K Arrow 13E Red Cockburn Conquer 593C Red Blairswest Enterprise 33D Red U6 Journeyman 17D Red SVR Casino 204E Red NCJ Coming In Hot 24E Red Allison Tankard 42E

HF Heist 82C DFCC 1Z Carlos 5C DMM Hoss 19C Anderson Balance 6149D Merit Gibson Creek 7026E FAR Appearance 329E

Stewardship Snakes of Saskatchewan

by SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan and EcoFriendly Sask So many people are terrified of snakes, which is likely where they get their bad reputation, and yet they are amazing creatures that play an important role in the ecosystem. We hope to turn your fear into awe.

Snakes, with their flexible skulls and long bodies, are very different from lizards, their closest relatives. Scientists believe that the first snakes both swam like eels and burrowed like worms. The prehistoric South American Titanoboa was 50 feet long and may have weighed as much as a ton. It’s assumed that it preyed on equally huge crocodiles. None of the snakes in Saskatchewan are anywhere near as large, but they are still a pretty interesting bunch.

1. Prairie Rattlesnake Prairie Rattlesnakes are Saskatchewan’s only venomous snake. They immobilize their prey (rodents, lizards) with toxic venom before swallowing them whole.

Digesting their food makes rattlesnakes sluggish, so they normally hide out for a couple of days after eating.

Each time the rattlesnake sheds its skin, a ring is added to the string at the end of its tail. The rings knock together and make a rattling noise.

The Prairie Rattlesnake carries her eggs inside her body and gives birth to live young as an adaptation to the harsh prairie environment.

Rattlesnakes have a thick body with a triangular head and are one to eight feet long. The scales usually form a dark geometrical pattern on a light background. They are found in southern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.

2. Garter Snake Garter Snakes are long and thin and usually have three stripes on their back.

They are not venomous. Garter snakes can be found right across Canada, including the Northwest Territories, but there are none in Newfoundland. The Plains 38

Garter Snake live throughout southern Saskatchewan and are often found close to water where they can find frogs and toads to eat. Red-sided Garter Snakes are famous in Saskatchewan for their large mating balls. Wandering Garter Snake are technically terrestrial, but they love to swim and eat fish.

3. Hognose Snake Hognose Snakes are short – two to four feet – and stout. Their colour and pattern are extremely variable. Western Hognose Snake will play possum and pretend they are dead as a way to deter predators.

You’ll find them in sandy areas where it’s easier for them to dig in the dirt using their upturned, pointed snout. Hognose Snakes eat rodents and lizards.

4. Bullsnake The Bullsnake is the prairies’ biggest snake. It is three to eight feet long and can weigh as much as five pounds. Despite being so large, they are very calm and are unlikely to bite or attack humans. They too are not venomous.

Bullsnakes have a large head, large eyes and a narrow neck. They are light brown to yellow with a cream-coloured belly and dark blotches on their back and sides.

An enlarged nose shield helps them to burrow in the sand.

Bullsnakes squeeze their prey to death.

They particularly like to eat gophers and mice, so you are lucky if you have them on your farm.

Bullsnakes spend up to 90% of their time in underground dens, although they spend so much time sunning themselves during the summer that they can develop skin cancer.

If you see a Bullsnake (dead or alive), especially in southwest Saskatchewan, email the Royal Saskatchewan Museum at snakes@royalsaskmuseum.ca to contribute to a current research project.

5. Smooth Greensnake Smooth Greensnakes are a bright emerald

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green colour with a creamy white or yellowish belly. They are often found in grassy areas where their colouring provides excellent camouflage. Smooth Greensnakes mostly eat insects, which they detect through smell, sight, and vibrations. They spend their winters in ant hills.

Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer snake.

Photo credit: Janet Ng

6. Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers are long, smooth-scaled, and quick moving. They have a yellow belly and olive-coloured scales on their back. They live in mixedgrass prairie and sagebrush thickets where they can hide from predators. The species is threatened and very rare. Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers don’t bask in the sun like other snakes. They are always on the move, hunting for grasshoppers with their heads up.

7. Northern Red-bellied Snake The Northern Red-bellied Snake is as thin as a pencil! Look for it in the Qu’Appelle area. It is the only Canadian snake with a bright red belly. Red-bellied Snakes can be found in forest clearings and grassy areas where there is plenty of ground cover, such as logs and rocks. Red-Bellied Snakes are nocturnal and help to control garden pests, such as slugs, worms, snails and insects.

Did You Know?

Snakes can swallow food larger than their head. Their jaw bones are not attached at the front and only loosely connected to their skull so they can open their mouths very wide and each side of the jaw can move independently. “The snake continued on page 40

MARCH 2020

MARCH 2020

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 39

Stewardship Producers Surveyed on Conservation Programs

gradually walks each side of its jaws over the prey until it can be swallowed.”

by Jeremy Pittman

Saskatchewan’s ranchers are stewards of the grasslands and the many species that call the grasslands home, including multiple species at risk. In order to design species at risk conservation programs that work in Saskatchewan, they need to ensure that they are aligned with the preferences of Saskatchewan’s producers.

Therefore, I conducted a survey of producers in summer 2019 to document the types of species at risk conservation programs that producers prefer.

Based on guidance from conservation program managers, the survey focused on four types of conservation programs: • Conservation management agreements - agreements to conduct certain practices or meet habitat targets;

• Market certification – participating

in verification programs that provide information to consumers;

• Conservation easements –

restrictions placed on a land title; and

• Land securement – selling your land to a conservation organization

There were approximately 51 producers from Saskatchewan who ranked these four types of conservation programs.

Conservation management agreements and market certification were the preferred options for the producers who answered our survey (see Figure 1 below).

Conservation management agreements were the top choice in Saskatchewan.

Conservation management agreements can take many forms, but they usually involve farmers and ranchers entering into agreements with various conservation organizations to undertake practices that benefit wildlife.

Annual payments for habitat management were the preferred incentive and cost-sharing arrangements were the second choice for incentives under these agreements.

The Results-based Agreements, which have been promoted by the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc. and the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, are prime examples of conservation management agreements in Saskatchewan.

Market certification was the second most preferred type of conservation program in Saskatchewan. Market certification involves having your operation verified or audited as part of third-party programs that is then used to communicate to consumers via special logos or other means of advertising that your agricultural production supports wildlife. This program provides a potential means of generating market-based premiums for conservation-friendly commodities. continued on page 54

Most preferred

Least preferred

73% 65% 55%

39% 31% 24%

24%

22%

8%

4% 1

Conservation easements

8% 2 Conservation management agreements

12%

10% 3

Land securement

10%

14% 4%

Snakes taste and smell the world using their tongues. Thanks to their forked tongue, they can tell which direction the scent is coming from.

Large-bodied snakes such as Bullsnakes, Yellow-bellied Racers and rattlesnakes appear to be completely dependent on major river valleys. Find out more in a presentation by Ray Poulin, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, on PCAP’s YouTube Channel.

Saskatchewan has the greatest snake diversity on the Canadian Prairies.

Snakes play an important role in controlling rodent populations, and they also serve as a food source for other wildlife, such as hawks, owls, mink, skunks and herons.

What can you do?

Conserve native prairie habitat and river valleys! Like many species, snakes depend on native grasslands for their home.

Give snakes a break. Don’t kill or harass snakes. They are afraid of people and will only defend themselves.

Keep an eye out for snakes on the roads.

Snakes will be crossing roads, especially in the spring and fall. Keep an eye out for them when you are driving in areas known to have snakes to avoid running them over. B *This article has been prepared by the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan in collaboration with EcoFriendly Sask.

EcoFriendly Sask is the personal initiative of Andrew McKinlay and Penny McKinlay.

It serves to inform, encourage, and support Saskatchewan environmental initiatives through an online publication (including a weekly EcoSask News), a calendar of nature/environmental events throughout Saskatchewan and small grants.

4 Market certification

Figure 1. Producers’ preferences for conservation programs.

40

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

Merit Herdbull Top 10 must have EXCEPTIONAL MOTHER - UDDER QUALITY-BALANCED UDDER, WITH SMALL TEATS CAPACITY - DEEP RIBBED, BIG BARRELLED FLESHING ABILITY STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS, GOOD FEET EYE APPEAL

Merit Sting 7047 | first sons sell

COCKBURN/MERIT

Bull Sale MONDAY, MARCH 30 . 2020 . 1PM . MOOSE JAW, SK

CHARACTER-STRONG MASCULINE HEAD, WITH A BROAD MUZZLE AND A DEEP WIDE SET HOODED EYE EYE APPEAL-STRUCTURALLY CORRECT AND PROUD CALVING EASE SUPERIOR FOOT STRUCTURE LARGE WELL SHAPED SCROTAL HAIR, LOTS OF IT! GOOD DISPOSITION ACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE-BALANCED TRAIT SELECTION EPD’S, STRIVE FOR BALANCE-NO EXTREMES

Trent, Janelle, Macy, Garrett & Carson Liebreich Radville, Saskatchewan Trents & Janelle 306.869.7207 Garrett 306.815.7078 Carson 306.815.7073

grassroots . family . passion . program MARCH 2020

www.meritcattleco.com

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 41

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Bison Association Report

by Les Kroeger, President

2019 was another busy year for the Saskatchewan Bison Association (SBA).

Many producers were coming out of the second dry year that saw some tight feed supplies and somewhat lower prices, especially for cow-calf operations. Spring saw very dry conditions for most of the prairies and concern for pasture quality was becoming severe. Late rains provided some ease of tension as feed supplies began to rebound. Quality and quantity of feed for the most part has returned to an adequate level.

We have been through several years of increasing prices and strong demand.

Several factors, including an ample supply of finished bison and increased slaughter costs, have resulted in reduced prices for finished bison. The effect of lower slaughter prices combined with increased feed costs has impacted cow-calf producers. These lower prices will create challenges for some cow-calf producers.

The expectation is that the marketplace will continue to rebalance the costs and returns throughout the value chain with prices rebounding later in 2020.

The Canadian bison industry is in its infancy. Price discovery continues to be a challenge for the industry. Building of domestic and export markets will require continued investment. More slaughter capacity in Canada will also assist in dealing with the slaughter challenges in the present marketplace.

soil health, it is not clear whether bison are able to maximize the benefits of these high energy crops in their diets.

Field days, clinics, pasture tours, industry conferences and networking at events are great ways to see and hear from other livestock producers about alternative ways to improve feed and forages. Current research is studying the impacts on ruminants to evaluate these advantages and disadvantages. We are working to have bison included in this research.

The SBA continues to participate with the Ministry of Agriculture in the Producer Assurance Rebate Program that contributes to improving animal welfare practices on bison farms and ranches.

We delivered the program in several locations in 2019 and will continue to deliver the program on an as-needed basis in 2020. We consult regularly with the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure they are aware of the issues and opportunities facing Saskatchewan’s bison sector.

We maintain working relationships with the Saskatchewan Forage Council, Ag In the Classroom and Canadian Western Agribition. We also continue to maintain an active relationship with the Saskatchewan Division of the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Saskatchewan.

The SBA has developed a new partnership I-HOG HFARM & RANCH TH

EQUIPMENT LTD.

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2020

with the Prairie Conservation Action Plan.

The cumulative effect has seen the bison industry become an important part of the livestock industry in Saskatchewan and Canada.

We are in the tenth year of collecting production and financial performance data from over 50 bison producers. This information has been very valuable for the industry in developing business plans, identifying areas of potential improvement, and providing aggregate information to financial institutions to assist them in evaluating business proposals.

On a more personal note, I had the opportunity to participate in many events and conferences in many provinces and U.S. states this past year. I was privileged to take part in and host one of the stops during the Beef Industry Pasture Tour and honoured to be a participant of the Guardians of the Grasslands documentary panel speakers. Networking with livestock producers across the country has become an important part of our operation.

Opportunities like these have also given the industry connections to strengthen relationships with restoration of the species and rangeland. B

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The SBA was again a part of many industry development events. We participated in the tradeshow at the Livestock Pavilion at Ag In Motion and participated with the Ministry of Agriculture in the Speakers Session. We also participated in the tradeshow at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Conference in Moose Jaw and the Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon. The Ministry of Agriculture, together with a local bison producer, held a Bison Field Day near Tisdale, SK. Many producers are exploring ways to improve forages on their operations.

While some of these new and innovative ways can greatly benefit and improve 42

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Page 47 Page 47

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Charolais Association Report

by Kelly Howe, President

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to send out best wishes for 2020. It has been a very busy and successful year for the Saskatchewan Charolais Association. The year 2019 marked another successful bull sale season building off 2018’s success. Thanks to you, the commercial cattleman, for consecutively purchasing more Charolais bulls year over year. With these results and the acceptance of the Charolais cross calf at the market these past three falls, we do believe our provincial Charolais breeders are producing a great product. I would like to thank every commercial producer for selecting Charolais genetics this past year and I hope you continue to trust in our great product.

If you are looking for a source for Charolais bulls in your area, please visit our website at http://www.charolaisbanner.com/sca/ index.htm for the Saskatchewan Charolais Breeder Directory with a listing of great Charolais genetics right in your backyard.

year terms: Justin Cay and Doug Harcourt.

The event was a huge success. Make sure you mark your calendars for the 2020 AGM and Pen Show in Saskatoon on July 18.

The Canadian Western Agribition this past fall was once again a first-class event.

Purebred show numbers were higher, and we hosted an amazing show and sale. It was great to see the excitement in the barns with the new facility fully completed. Between a successful commercial show and the purebred show and sale, once again, Agribition has proven itself the place to be in the livestock industry.

Congratulations to the following recipients who were given awards at Agribition: • 2019 Charolais Commercial Breeder of the Year: Einer and Richard Nielsen, Melfort, SK • 2019 Charolais Purebred Breeder of the

Year: Palmer Charolais, Bladworth, SK

• 2019 Herdsman Award: McCaw Livestock, Wacey McCaw

• 2019 SCA Honor Scroll: Serhienko

Cattle Co, Dennis and Lisa Serhienko and family

Once again, I extend heartfelt appreciation to all the commercial breeders within the province who allow us to be able to be in this business. The livestock industry is in good hands with the strength in Saskatchewan youth and their families producing a great product.

Be sure to check for Charolais pre-sorted sales at your local auction mart when you market your calves this fall. These sales fill up fast as buyers are looking for Charolais influenced cattle. Many sales are sponsored by your local purebred Charolais breeders.

All the best for a successful 2020!

B

Another thank you goes out to our 4-H and youth. We awarded over 100 promotional items to provincial youth for exhibiting Charolais influenced cattle this past year. This program continues to grow, and it is great to see the success of the Charolais steer and female working for our provincial youth. We also know that there is likely more out there. If you are showing a Charolais influenced calf, please follow the information in the 4-H guide and submit your picture and information to the Saskatchewan Charolais Association.

Submissions need to be in to the association before our Annual General Meeting on July 18, 2020.

We held our 56th Annual AGM and Pen Show this past year in Yellow Creek, SK, at Creek’s Edge Land and Cattle. We had a massive display from local breeders of cow-calf pairs, calves and bred heifers to enhance our AGM and a steak dinner was held that night. I would like to thank our retiring directors Jared McTavish and Mike Nielsen for their service to the board, to the breed and to the province. We welcomed two new directors to three44

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MARCH 2020

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Sires: Best Man C401 • Urgent 27E • Answer 459B • Banger 19D • One of a Kind A228 Mariota 90B • Power Eye 161X • Assassin 624D • Poker Face 613D • Roulette 5D

JaSon McLaren 204-476-6723 Doug McLaren 204-476-6248

MARCH 2020

caM TibbeTT 204-841-3060

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 45

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association Report

by Rob Schill, President

There has been a lot of activity over the past year with the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association (SGBA).

The organization collaborated with Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture to provide funding as part of the Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program in the province.

The SGBA hosted the Prairie Goat Expo in Moose Jaw, SK, in late July which included a trade show, meat and dairy goat shows and education. The event was a huge success with the association making a nice profit at the end of the event. Dr. Chris Clark from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, SK, spoke on a variety of topics. Gord Schroeder provided education training for the Quality Assurance Program.

The SGBA held a two-day education event in late October in Saskatoon. Dr. Fabienne Uehlinger gave a very informative lecture on parasites in goats. We also had Dr. Frank Pinkerton from Texas, U.S., speaking on a variety of topics from feeding and finishing kids to the marketing of animals.

At 93 years young, Dr. Pinkerton has years of knowledge and storytelling to inform and entertain.

The SGBA revived its old publication Prairie Goat Magazine in 2019 and began circulating it among our members on a quarterly basis. It contains educational articles, editorials, advertising of our

Prairie Goat Expo

sponsors, humour and recipes. If anyone has something they’d like to submit contact: slynn.wiebe@gmail.com.

After several years of involvement with the Saskatchewan Goat Breeders Association, this will be my last year on the

board of directors of SGBA. I’ve enjoyed my time here, formed many friendships and learned a lot of things. I’m humbled by all the well wishes and gratitude I’ve received from SGBA members.

The SGBA is actively looking for new board members. If you or someone you know is interested in helping promote the goat industry, please contact any board member, email the association through the website or contact us on Facebook.

Sending well wishes, a good kidding season and prosperity to all goat producers in 2020. B

Education event in Saskatoon

Prairie Goat Expo

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| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

WRAZ 30G One of the powerful sons of the High Selling Big Shot 118E. His Big Rock dam 23X has a near perfect black foot and one of the finest udders you will find.

WRAZ 109G One of the sons of the calving ease specialist, Deal 16E (son of Final Deal 78Z). His dam, 37E did a fine job on her first try. She has a very bright future.

WRAZ 123G One of three ET sons of the Red Round Up $10,000 Red WRAZ Sheba 40X and the $70,000 meat machine Assassin.

GBR 65G SOS Game of Thrones 98D x Bar J Trojan 68X • 3rd Gen Pld BW 101, 205 DW 735 • CE 5.9 BW .3 WW 36 YW 74 M 25 TM 43 Deep ribbed, volume and hair

GBR 188G BNE Conga 9C x G.Bros. Standout 8S • 4th Gen Pld BW 87, 205 DW 874 • CE 10.3 BW -2.2 WW 45 YW 89 M 24 TM 46 Top 15% for calving ease and birth weight EPD

GBR 185G McTavish Excel 20B x Bar J Trojan 68X • 3rd Gen Pld BW 98, 205 DW 846 • CE 5.2 BW .9 WW 35 YW 78 M 23 TM 41 Length & hair that is consistent in the Excel sons

OPEN HOUSE at WRAZ, Saturday, April 4 • 1:30 PM - Presale viewing of the bulls, their sires, dams & siblings with calves at foot View the catalogue online at www.bylivestock.com • Internet bidding available on DLMS.ca Phil & Lana Birnie & Family Box 461, Wawota, SK S0G 5A0 T 306-739-2988 • C 306-577-7440 “The program you wraz@sasktel.net • Gordon Murray can count on” T 306-739-2177 • C 306-646-7980

MARCH 2020

Sale Manager

charolaisbanner@gmail.com 306-584-7937 • Helge By 306-536-4261 Candace By 306-536-3374 Jon Wright 306-807-8424

Kelly, Tracy, William & Wyatt Brimner Box 93, Manor, SK S0C 1R0 T 306-448-2028 • C 306-577-7698

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 47

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Limousin Association Report

by Jeff Yorga

Friends, Its been another fantastic year in the Limousin breed. The Saskatchewan Limousin Association (SLA) is excited to report continued growth at the breeder level. Moreover, we have seen continued growth and acceptance from the commercial cattleman. It is well known that Limousin are a great terminal cross.

Astute cattlemen are realizing the benefit at calving time as well. Calves that come easy and get up and suck right away make calving time problem-free, especially in larger herds.

2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first Limousin cattle imported into Canada. The year of celebration started in Toronto and was capped off at another successful Canadian Western Agribition.

Speaking of the show road, Limousin cattle have risen to the top once again. A

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Limousin bull from Greenwood Limousin from Lloydminster, SK, won the Supreme Championship at Farmfair in Edmonton, AB, and completed the sweep at the RBC Beef Supreme at Agribition in Regina!

Congratulations to all the winners at the fall majors, and thank you to all the exhibitors who made the 2019 show season so exciting.

Bull sale season will be in full swing at time of printing. Your Saskatchewan Limousin breeders look forward to filling your order and helping to put pounds on your calves! Please check out the association’s Facebook page for more information and a list of breeders and sales.

Join us in June at the Elbow Golf Club for our AGM Meeting with golf to follow. The date and details will be announced soon. B

| ŠBEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

Congratulations to our 2020 Commercial Producer of the Year Les and Colin Tushscherer of Causeway Farms.

2019-2020 SLA Board of Directors President: Eric Martens Vice President: Ashton Hewson Secretary: Jay Bohrson Treasurer: Janet Hale Past President: Rhett Johnes Jeff Yorga Lee Carpenter Terry Hepper

MARCH 2020

Your Grandfather had Shorthorns…

…and he was a Smart Man It’s time for a Shorthorn bull. Simplify your search, and improve your selection, by picking from the bull pens of Canada’s largest Shorthorn producers.

Thick, Rugged, Real World Bulls Ultrasound and Actual Weights Including the 2019 Undefeated, CWA Champion Bull Bell M Royal Navy 180F Thursday April 2, 2019 1:00 pm CST - Lunch Provided Saskatoon Livestock Sales, Saskatoon SK Saskvalley Stock Farm Carl Lehmann 306-232-3511 cmlehmann@sasktel.net saskvalleyshorthorns.com

Bell M Farms

Richard Moellenbeck 306-287-7904 bellmfarms@outlook.com

Special Representatives

Larry Toner 306-834-7652 Harvey Welter 306-227-8283

Muridale Shorthorns

Scot Muri 306-741-6833 sjmuri@sasktel.net www.muridale.com

Video links on each Consigners Facebook page

Affiliate Reports SaskMilk Report

by SaskMilk Communications As with many other sectors, the past year has been challenging for the dairy industry. The industry is starting to feel the effect of the access to the Canadian market given in the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), resulting in lower growth.

While the dairy industry recognizes the importance of trade agreements for Canada’s export-based industries, it is frustrating to observe that, while nearly all dairy import allowances created under CETA are being utilized, many of Canada’s sectors are having difficulty exporting to the EU due to various non-technical trade barriers.

The ratification of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is expected to occur in the near future in Canada after further review of the agreement. While CUSMA has contributed to increased access of the Canadian dairy market, it has also placed limitations on Canada’s dairy exports for countries not party to the agreement, a novel and concerning addition.

Once ratified, these trade agreements and the existing accesses will provide foreign dairy access to nearly 18% of our market.

This is far more tariff-free access than many other countries allow to their own dairy market, including the United States.

The industry is undertaking significant work to attempt to mitigate the impact of these trade agreements to allow continued growth.

Within Saskatchewan, dairy farm numbers have remained constant at 165 in the province, with each farm milking an average of 180 cows (compared to the national average of 91 cows). The steady farm numbers are due in part to our Dairy Entrant Assistance Program (DEAP) that provides generous assistance to applicants wishing to begin dairy farming. Our farmers produced over 293

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following the retirement of long-time board member and chair Melvin Foth. The SaskMilk Board continues to work with other provincial milk boards and Dairy Farmers of Canada to ensure a sustainable future for Canadian dairy.

SaskMilk and Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan student tour to a local dairy farm.

million litres last year, most of which was processed right here in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan dairy farmers were pleased to supply both the Regina and Saskatoon Food Banks with charitable donations again this year, providing both organizations with milk for the summer.

Additionally, SaskMilk provided milk to Saskatoon’s Friendship Inn and Regina’s Carmichael Outreach and Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission for the families using their services and daycares. These donations provided the organizations with milk for nearly five months.

SaskMilk also continued significant sponsorship and community support activities including supporting Diabetes Canada, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation, Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association, Saskatchewan Heritage, Special Olympics, numerous local sports teams and tournaments and both provincial Universities.

Connecting with consumers is a priority.

SaskMilk has increased its presence on social media and has undergone a redesign of the SaskMilk website to make it more user-friendly. The environmental impact of the dairy industry is of interest to many consumers. The Dairy Farmers of Canada completed a life cycle analysis which summarized the impacts of Canadian dairy on the environment.

Overall, it was shown that innovation has resulted in a reduced impact on the environment with dairy accounting for only 1% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. It will be a continuing priority for all agriculture sectors, and especially animal agriculture, to inform the public about our responsible stewardship of the environment. B

Food baskets packed at the Regina Food Bank.

In December, the SaskMilk Board welcomed a new chair, Matthew Flaman,

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MARCH 2020

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board Report

by Gordon Schroeder, Executive Director

The Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board (SSDB) is responsible for promoting and developing the sheep industry. Five board members are elected from the five regions across the province who represent the lamb producers of Saskatchewan.

The board operates under the regulatory structure of the Saskatchewan Agri-Food Council. Data for 2019 shows that there are 785 producers registered with the SSDB representing a breeding flock of approximately 60,000 breeding ewes.

The sheep industry has seen steady demand and good prices for lambs. Sheep inventories are shrinking in many parts of the world and lamb consumption continues to increase. In Canada, an increasing immigrant population and the consumer’s desire for a new dining experience are helping to drive the increase in lamb consumption.

CBSA show stalls in Humboldt, SK, on July 20, 2019.

Approximately 60% of the lamb currently consumed in Canada is imported product.

There is a lot of room for the expansion of the sheep flock in Canada, especially in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has many advantages for livestock production. The SSDB has been working on initiatives to encourage increased lamb production.

We are seeing increased interest in the sheep industry. The SSDB hosts two Getting Started in Sheep Workshop events annually. The workshops have had full registrations during the last couple of years. In December 2019, SSDB hosted our first annual Advanced Sheep Production Course, which was full.

MARCH 2020

event featured a sheep show, shearing competition, wool displays, trade show and banquet, and concluded with a sale.

Sheep producers from across Canada brought their stock for the show and sale.

Over 500 sheep were entered into the event. The event was a huge success.

A judge at the Suffolk show at CBSA in Humboldt, SK, on July 20, 2019.

Lamb production provides several advantages for individuals wanting to enter agriculture or diversify their current farming operations. Advantages include, but are not limited to, production model diversity, family friendly, relatively low cost of entry, high expansion potential, environment synergies and financial reward. Lamb production can complement other farming enterprises.

We’re optimistic that the conditions are right for an expansion of the flock in Saskatchewan.

The year started with the development of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board Strategic Plan for 2019-2023. The SSDB operates with a strategic plan to assist the organization in focusing its activities. Facilitator Ken Ludwig of Short Creek Consulting helped us work through the process. Key focus areas of the plan are producer education and training; marketing; public image/trust and consumer awareness; extension and research; flock productivity; communication; SSDB financial stability and organizational effectiveness.

Saskatchewan hosted the 2019 Grasslands All Canada Classic in Humboldt, SK. The

Another highlight for 2019 was working with the Canadian Sheep Federation to help host the Global Sheep Conference in Saskatoon in July. The goal of this inaugural event was to share the common experiences, challenges and opportunities that the sheep industry faces, look for areas for future global collaboration and bring the Canadian sheep industry into the spotlight.

The year ended with our Annual Meeting and Symposium that was held at the Manitou Springs Hotel and Resort.

Keynote speaker Dave Ollila from South Dakota State University made several great presentations, including one called “Sheep’s Role in Regenerative Agriculture”.

It was a great presentation on holistic management using sheep and beef.

The Global Sheep Congress participants in Saskatoon, SK.

We are confident that 2020 will be a good year for the sheep industry. Lamb prices and demand have started strong. Interest in the sheep industry is good. Hopefully, Mother Nature brings the needed rain for producers’ pastures and hay crops and we see expansion in the industry. B *For questions or comments, please contact Gord 306-933-5582 or email: gordsheepdb@sasktel.net

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 51

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association Report

by Betty Wyatt, Secretary-Treasurer

As I compose this report, it is the first day of January of a brand-new decade 2020! I hope the past decade has been filled with more good memories than not, knowing that there has been a mix of both for everyone as well as tremendous change across the nation and throughout the world. Here’s to a great New Year and decade ahead!

The Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association had a quiet year. The new purple RFID Shorthorn tags are now available and we encourage breeders to tag their new calves accordingly. Contact Canadian Shorthorn Association for information.

Sales within the province remained steady with excellent cattle on offer. The offering of commercial Shorthorn heifers continues to draw people who are seeking the benefits of the Shorthorn breed. We do appreciate those who are consignors.

We continue to enjoy the new International Trade Centre building for the Western Canadian Agribition in Regina, SK. Our show numbers remained constant this year, whereas most other breeds had a significant fall off, due mainly to the uncertain fall harvest. This was one of the toughest crop-growing years in many, many years. It went from drought,

which affected seed germination, to flood that kept the combines at bay for much of the harvest season. However, the pastures went from near brown to substantial green and growth from the rains. Everyone will be going into the 2020 crop season with lots of moisture to start.

Let’s hope Mother Nature gives all a break and just supplies what is necessary. Got to be tough to be a farmer!

During Agribition, the Saskatchewan Shorthorn Commercial Breeder of the Year 2019 was presented to Kevin and Tammy King and family from Corning, SK. The Kings were awarded with an embroidered jacket at the annual Shorthorn banquet and gate signage during the CWA Shorthorn Show the next day. Congratulations to the Kings!

Lassies for the CWA show this year were Danica Keifer as outgoing lassie who assisted Hanna Huber, incoming lassie.

We appreciated both girls who assisted handing out ribbons and banners and were stand-ins as Saskatchewan Shorthorn representatives for the official pictures. Hanna also presided over the reception table at the banquet welcoming all guests.

We had one 4-H member submit his letter and picture as a Champion at club level and that was Royce Moellenbeck of Englefeld, SK, of the Bar West Club. Royce received an award from the Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association during the banquet. Royce has racked up many, many championships in his 4-H career with his Shorthorn projects.

Any Saskatchewan 4-H member who attains a Championship status at club or regional level with a Shorthorn influenced animal can send a hard copy photograph and a summary of your 4-H year with your project by September 1, 2020, to the secretary so that the Saskatchewan Shorthorn sponsored award can be ordered for you. We use the photographs as promotion for you and the Shorthorn breed at the Shorthorn booth during Agribition, so we appreciate a photograph size of at least a 5” x 7” (or larger).

The Canadian National Junior Shorthorn show will be held in Neepawa, MB, in early August. All Canadian Junior members are encouraged to attend the show in a very beautiful part of our country.

Best wishes to all for 2020!

B

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MARCH 2020

BURNETT ANGUS 36th BULL SALE Saturday - April 4, 2020 - 2:00 pm at the Ranch, Swift Current, Sask.

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Black and Red Angus Yearling Bulls s but it es in pp ha y bu ’t on w ey on M ULL will buy a BURNETT B ers which will make your heif HAPPY! Leptin tested, fertility tested, foot rot vaccinated over half the bulls have been genetically selected on the sire and dam side for breeding heifers low birth weight, short gestation, curve benders Sires include: Shipwheel Chinook, OCC Missing Link, Soo Line Motive, Pioneer, Element 215, Chisium 255

Annual Bred Heifer Sale (Purebred and Commercial) December 6, 2020 – at the Ranch

For catalogues and information contact: Bryce Burnett (306) 773-7065 | Wyatt Burnett (306) 750-7822

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 53

Affiliate Reports Saskatchewan Simmental Association Report

by Carolyn McCormack, Secretary-Treasurer

The Saskatchewan Simmental Association Board of Directors continues to work hard to promote and encourage the breeding of Simmental cattle. Their hard work and dedication in the past and in the future will ensure the Simmental breed will continue to thrive in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Simmental Association (SSA) had a successful year in 2019!

The SSA works hard to promote the Simmental breed and support its members. This is evident by another busy year. We are striving to promote the breed at the purebred and commercial levels as well as through the support and encouragement of our youth – the future of the breed and of the cattle industry.

Once again, spring bull sales remain strong and prove that the demand for Simmental genetics is still on the rise.

The SSA’s “Win a $2,000 Sale Credit Bull Promotion” has proven to be very successful. The buyer’s name of any bulls purchased from SSA members accompanied by the transfer of the registration papers are automatically entered into a draw for a $2,000 sale credit. The more bulls that were purchased, the more chances a buyer had to win. The draw for this credit was made at our annual meeting in June. The lucky winner has one year to use the credit to purchase a bull or female at public auction or private treaty.

Breeder of the Year

2019 Commercial Breeder of the Year: Hoffus Stock Farms. (left to right): Aaron and Amber Hoffus and children Grace and Vance accepting their Farm Sign from SSA President Kirsten Fornwald.

Congratulations to the 2019 draw winner Bar Crossroads Ranch, Steve Hardy of Edam, SK. Their name was drawn out of 1,400 Simmental bulls sold and transferred from current Saskatchewan Simmental members.

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Champion Open Pen

2019 Grand Champion Pen of Open Replacement Heifers, Canadian Western Agribition, Jackson Family Farm Ltd., Humboldt, SK.

The 2019 Commercial Breeders of the Year award was presented during the Simmental Show at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina in November. The 2019 Commercial Breeder of the Year Award was presented to Hoffus Stock Farms, Aaron and Amber Hoffus and family. They received a 3’ x 6’ farm sign in recognition of their achievement.

The Commercial Cattle Show and Sale at Canadian Western Agribition continued to be dominated by the Simmental breed! Champion and Reserve in the Open Replacement Heifer Pens and the Bred Replacement Heifer Pens were all Simmental or Simmental influenced.

The SSA continues to strongly support 4-H and youth programs in Saskatchewan.

All members exhibiting a Simmental or Simmental influenced animal received a pair of SSA gloves. The SSA also gave out hoodies to Grand Champions and Reserve Champions at all regional 4-H shows and to qualifying winners at spring steer and heifer shows.

The SSA awards scholarships to juniors moving on to post-secondary education.

This year’s recipients were Wyatt Miller and Brynn Whelan. To qualify to receive a scholarship, applicants or their parents must be current members of the Saskatchewan Simmental Association.

The application deadline is October 1, 2020.

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The 2019-2020 SSA Board of Directors are: President – Kirsten Fornwald, Vice President – Tyler Libke, Directors – Jody Woytiuk, Sarah Delorme, Kyle Ashworth, Lee Stilborn, Lane Scherger, Riley Lafrentz and Blaine Barnett.

For a list of upcoming spring bull sales or classifieds, see our website www.sasksimmental.com or follow us on Facebook. B

Champion Bred Pen

2019 Grand Champion Pen of Bred Replacement Heifers, Canadian Western Agribition, Hebert Livestock Ventures, Wawota, SK.

Conservation cont. from pg. 40 A central theme throughout the survey was the need to develop conservation programs that allow producers to undertake the practices that best align with their operations. That way both wildlife and agriculture can continue to thrive on Saskatchewan’s landscapes. B *Jeremy Pittman is an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo. His research involves conservation of species at risk on Canada’s native grasslands. Pittman recently conducted a survey of conservation programs in Saskatchewan.

MARCH 2020

Association News, Reports, and Events SLA Recognizes 2020 Honour Scroll Recipients The Saskatchewan Livestock Association recognized the recipients of the 2020 Honour Scroll for contributing to their communities and to the livestock industry in Saskatchewan. The scrolls were presented to Mike and Terrie Fleury, Wes and Kim Olynyk and Don and Doris Perrin on January 29, 2020, during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon, SK.

committee, receiving the award in 2016.

Mike was key in developing the LMS livestock handling video.

Over the years, Mike built a reputation as an honest businessman with impeccable business ethics earning the respect of producers, buyers, employees, industry as well as provincial and federal government agencies.

Mike and Terrie currently raise commercial cattle on the ranch and work with their son Matthew on his purebred Black Angus herd, Fleury Cattle Company. Mike continues to sell purebred cattle and to work with his Percheron horses.

Mike and Terrie Fleury, Aberdeen, SK Mike Fleury grew up on a mixed farm outside of Saskatoon where his family raised purebred Charolais cattle and grain.

He was very involved in the Saskatoon 4-H Beef Club. Terrie Mitchell was raised on a grain farm in the Blucher area and was in the Blucher 4-H Multiple Club. After Mike and Terrie married, they set up their ranch near Aberdeen, SK. Growing up in the Charolais business, Mike attended many purebred sales and shows. Early on, Mike knew his career lay in auctioneering and cattle marketing.

At 16 years of age, he began selling at the Saskatoon Auction Mart and went on to the Saskatoon Public Stockyards.

As Agriculture Manager at the Saskatoon Prairieland Exhibition, Mike brought agriculture to the foreground of their programming. He produced many livestock and horse shows as well as 4-H and junior activities.

Mike has managed Saskatoon Livestock Sales for 26 years. He’s been a board member and president of the Livestock Marketing Association of Canada (LMAC) and the Livestock Marketers of Saskatchewan (LMS). Mike is a past Manitoba-Saskatchewan Auctioneering Champion. He brought the LMAC Hall of Fame idea to the board and chaired the 56

Wes, along with his parents Mike and Irene, sold bulls and competed in the Regina Bull Sale for 25 years. They started their own on-farm bull and female sale in 1999 and 2020 marks their 22nd annual sale. This year marks 65 years of production for Crescent Creek Angus.

Crescent Creek still shows in the Purebred and Bullpen Alley Shows at Agribition with 2019 marking their 40th year of participation.

Wes has always believed in volunteering and promoting livestock and agriculture.

He was a SAA board director and president, served on the Canadian Western Agribition Commercial Cattle Show and Sale Committee, was a director and executive member of the Yorkton 4-H Regional Show and Sale Committee and became a Canadian Angus Foundation board member. Wes and Kim are active in their community and church, raising their children in the United Church and volunteering. Wes was a member of the Goodeve Community Club and served on the local school board.

Wes and Kim Olynyk, Goodeve, SK Wes grew up in the Melville, SK, area and was an active member of Crescent Creek Angus. He was a member of the Melville 4-H Beef Club actively showing cattle. He won Champion Junior Showman in 1977 and purchased his first heifer the same year, registering his WOS prefix in 1979.

Wes is the fourth generation on the original Olynyk homestead established in 1904. He married Kim Boreen from the Weyburn, SK, area in 1984. They took great pride in carrying on the family’s long tradition in agriculture. Kim worked off farm for 35 years as a nurse.

In 1985 Wes became project leader with the Goodeve 4-H Club and over the years spent countless hours leading lessons and field days. In 2018 he was inducted into the Saskatchewan 4-H Hall of Fame for his efforts. Wes and Kim have offered their farm for clipping, judging and showmanship demonstrations and for annual achievement day.

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Don and Doris Perrin, Maple Creek, SK Both Don and Doris were born and grew up in Maple Creek. After they married in 1955, Don started studying accounting and, at the same time, he worked in livestock commission at the Maple Creek Auction Ring and other jobs. He began a public accounting practice in Maple Creek in the early 1960s and was approached to act as secretary-manager for the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association.

What began as a short-term position turned into almost 20 years with the SSGA. Don finally stepped down in 1981

MARCH 2020

Association News, Reports, and Events to spend more time at his own practice.

Doris operated a florist business in Maple Creek for many years. They also owned and operated a small cow-calf ranching enterprise for about 35 years.

Don’s leadership helped to build trust in the SSGA among producers and other organizations and governments. He had a good understanding of the livestock

industry and a natural ability to produce and manage ideas from concept to implementation. As secretary-manager, Don guided SSGA through some difficult financial times and had a strong role in tripling the membership, setting up a province-wide zoning structure along with a new constitution, establishing a supply store for SSGA members and representing the association both provincially, nationally and beyond.

Don and Doris are active in their community. Don was a member of Maple Creek’s Kinsmen Club, Rotary Club, Curling Club and Golf Club. Don and Doris have sold their businesses, land and cattle, settling into a busy retirement. They sing and perform regularly at four senior establishments in Maple Creek. Doris has penned a book of poems related to her experiences in the cattle business and Don composes music and plays guitar. B Photo credit: Sherri Grant

Building Partnerships to Protect Habitat

by South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc.

The Saskatchewan Association of Watershed Stewards (SAWS) recently hosted a Starting Good Relationships Gathering at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina, SK. Much of the workshop focused on the importance of building solid relationships. One presenter spoke about the importance of building trust, sitting down face-to-face and meeting with the intention of listening.

South of the Divide Conservation Action Program (SODCAP Inc.) staff attended the gathering to learn more about building relationships specifically with local First Nations. “Much of our success can be attributed to our ability to build relationships with those who are actively managing habitat at the ground level,” said SODCAP Inc. Executive Director Tom Harrison, “Building mutual trust and finding common ground takes time, but the results are well worth it.”

Dr. Dana Reiter, Post-doctoral Fellow at the University of British Columbia, has recently drafted a review of the program where SODCAP and Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) have partnered to deliver conservation programming to agricultural producers in southwestern Saskatchewan using federal funds. One point that clearly stands out in Reiter’s review is that building relationships and true partnerships is instrumental in maintaining management programs.

Why focus on southwestern Saskatchewan? The simple answer is that a vast amount of critical habitat for species at risk has been identified in that area.

MARCH 2020

Detailed mapping of critical habitat has taken place to specify what is potentially present on those lands, both crown and deeded.

The results from Reiter’s study showed very positive feedback about the program.

All the producers directly involved were satisfied with the program and felt that it was beneficial. Many of these producers managed ranches that had been in the family for generations. They had a strong knowledge of land management handed down from previous generations. The goal for many was to protect their land and to be able to pass it down to their children to be at least comparable to when they received it.

The producers interviewed recognized that having a local delivery team was valuable to the success of the program.

One producer stated, “They are flexible, and they know the area – not from Calgary or Toronto – and have the same interests. And they leave us alone! They recognize what we have done in the past and that we want the same thing they do. So, they’re willing to work with us instead of telling us what to do – its like a partnership.” Building partnerships is exactly what SODCAP Inc. strives to do. “Relationships are often started over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table while sharing ideas about management and information on local species at risk and the type of habitat they require,” stated Harrison. Another producer in the program commented that one program benefit was becoming more aware of the habitat and the species sharing it, learning

Southwestern Saskatchewan grasslands which provides critical habitat to species at risk.

Photo Credit: Krista Connick Todd

from SODCAP Inc. staff that they’re doing some activities right for species at risk and being rewarded through a results-based program.

Are incentives enough to encourage producers to manage with habitat in mind? Sometimes just being recognized for the positive efforts ranchers do for the environment helps alleviate the feeling that the industry is always under criticism.

Sometimes, it takes more. The financial incentives of the program were meant to offset costs associated with managing for species at risk and to encourage producers with critical or important habitat to actively provide those specific habitat requirements. Results from Reiter’s study varied on that point. Most felt that incentives worked, but there is room for improvement. Some did not feel that the payments were adequate. Two suggestions were consistent throughout the interviews with program participants – the need for higher financial incentives and longer-term agreements. continued on page 58

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 57

Association News, Reports, and Events Habitat cont. from pg. 57

TESA Gate Sign Presentation

One of the concerns apparent in Reiter’s study was the lack of long-term funding for active conservation measures. With most ranches in the southwest having been managed by the same family for more than one generation, management practices and decisions are often created over decades not over years. Short-term funding is one way of testing a program’s effectiveness, but does it provide the integrity needed to truly protect habitat for future species at risk?

With a loss of one in four birds in North America since 1970, maintaining habitat is more important than ever. Grassland bird populations have dropped 53% across North America, since 1970. That’s more than 720 million fewer birds nesting on the grasslands. “We want to continue with programming in this area. In the future, the challenge will be to fit long-term funding into a four-year funding term,” says Harrison. “We also need to get this conservation message to the general public, so they know the positive actions ranchers are taking to maintain and protect habitat for species at risk within our own province. We want the people of Saskatchewan and across Canada to understand that grassland species are a priority and proper habitat management is essential to their future.” B More information on future funding opportunities in areas with prime critical habitat will be forthcoming.

Hides cont. from pg. 30 As a dealer, Larson must stay on top of news that impacts the hide industry.

He monitors everything from cattle production to track the raw materials to consumer trends like next fall’s Nike designs. “I follow the cattle side of it – that’s our raw material – and I try to follow the end user to predict where the market will be because we buy large volumes of hides,” he said. B

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Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association President Bill Huber (left) presented The Environmental Stewardship Award gate sign to Randy and Terry Stokke of the Willow Creek Ranch, who are long-time advocates for prairie conservation. The Stokkes from Govenlock, Saskatchewan, received The Environmental Stewardship Award (TESA) at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Annual General Meeting and Convention in Moose Jaw in June 2019, and they also represented Saskatchewan at the national level later in the year. Willow Creek Ranch is unique because it is covered by almost 95% native prairie grass and is the habitat for over a dozen species at risk. The TESA Award was established in 1995 to recognize excellence in environmental stewardship in the ranching industry. B

Spring cont. from pg. 35 help resolve a lot of misunderstandings before problems arise. You can schedule an inspection by calling your local inspector a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the scheduled shipping date.

Ownership disputes normally cause a significant resource draw on all parties involved, including those of LSS. Whether buying or selling, ensure that you have a clear understanding of the good and the bad in the method you choose. Understand the steps required to keep yourself as safe as possible. The regulations are in place to assist both the buyer and the seller. Whatever side of the coin you happen to be on, ensure that you know the risks and responsibilities.

There is no substitute for good business practices and good contracts. A good contract is like a good fence. They take time and effort to build but are hard for a wayward critter to get through and make for good neighbours and lasting relationships. B

Finally, take an adequate amount of time to put the right documentation in place and book inspection services to protect yourself from problems down the road.

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

MARCH 2020

Our bullS are winTered in HuGe penS wHere...

• Structural soundness and foot quality is a priority

AHPC 62F Open Country Son

• 60% of the bulls are suitable for heifers

BW: 55 lbs.

AHPC 83F Cash 4602 Son

BW: 75 lbs.

• Our calves are weaned with “nO Creep” and allowed to grow out naturally to maintain genetic integrity • all CalVeS are accurately weighed at birth with electronic calf scale

AHPC 89F Mindbender Son

BW: 78 lbs.

AHPC 54F Titan Son

BW: 82 lbs.

AHPC 87F Titlest Son

MARCH 2020

BW: 71 lbs.

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 59

Association News, Reports, and Events A Report From Bill Huber President, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association

We held a very successful Semi Annual Meeting on January 30, 2020, during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon. We adopted two resolutions on developing a conservation trust in Saskatchewan and on lobbying the provincial government to invest in water treatment research (see page 61). We will be forwarding these resolutions to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

The meeting included an excellent presentation by Dr. Cheryl Waldner from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon about best practices in disease control to minimize transmission within herds.

At the Semi-Annual Meeting, we also announced the launch of the SSGA Foundation (SSGF). It will be affiliated with SSGA but will operate with its own board.

The interim chair is Ray McDougald.

We’ve been working on developing a charitable foundation and land trust for several years since the board adopted a resolution in May 2016 that supported the establishment of the SSGF. The Foundation became a federally registered charitable organization in December 2019, allowing it to issue charitable tax receipts and be eligible for grants. The Foundation’s activities will involve the conservation of agricultural lands and charitable activities, such as the Beef Drive (see page 6).

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We welcome the news that the CanadaU.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has been signed by the U.S. and is now making its way through the Canadian parliamentary process. Bill C-4, the CUSMA implementation bill, was tabled in the House of Commons on January 29.

It passed first and second reading and has now been referred to the Standing Committee on International Trade which is now hearing from stakeholders and accepting online submissions. The committee has an April 2 deadline for recommendations and other submissions.

Canada is the only country left to ratify the agreement. Remaining in the process is discussion and voting on the bill by the committee, third reading in the House of Commons, then deliberation by the Senate. We encourage all members of the House to work together to get this agreement ratified as quickly as possible because it’s a top priority for the Canadian beef industry.

We continue to monitor the impact of the rail blockades on agriculture in Saskatchewan. Because livestock is moved by truck, the blockades have indirectly impacted the rail shipment of key inputs like feed grain and fuel.

The Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) program in Saskatchewan will end its term in March. Environment and Climate Change Canada introduced the SARPAL initiative in 2015 to work with farmers on voluntary stewardship initiatives. The SARPAL program has been a positive experience for the producers involved in the program and has provided a variety of conservation benefits. We encourage the renewal of this important program to continue to support the benefits achieved.

In the next couple of months, we will be planning to update our Strategic Plan.

We have received provincial funding for this from the Industry Organization

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

Development Program (IODP). This is an opportunity to re-evaluate the priorities for SSGA and set goals for the future.

SSGA has partnered with SaskTip and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation to offer a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the conviction of anyone illegally shooting livestock (see page 12).

The changes to the humane transport requirements under the Health of Animals Regulations” went into effect in February including all animals except beef cattle.

Implementation of the regulations for beef cattle will be delayed and given a two-year transition period. At our AGM, we adopted a resolution on lobbying for a delay in the implementation of the Health of Animal Regulations until research

by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is completed.

SSGA Zone meetings will be coming up during the next month. Zone 7 has its annual meeting in Kyle on March 4, Zone 4’s annual meeting is set for March 6 in Eastend, and the annual meeting of Zone 3 &12 will take place on March 7 in Hazenmore. I would like to encourage everyone to attend your local meetings and to bring forward any issues or concerns.

We also will be preparing soon for our Annual General Meeting and Convention on June 7-9 in Assiniboia, SK. I invite everyone to attend the AGM to participate in the business session, presentations, networking opportunities and trade show.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call! B

Bill MARCH 2020

Association News, Reports, and Events SSGA Welcomes New Director Arron Huber Bill and grandfather Art. During that time, AI and embryos were used to a greater extent. Bull sales and female production sales were also a mainstay for marketing animals as well as exhibiting at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK.

Arron and his wife Barb, along with their two children Hanna and Mitchel, operate Huberdale Farms Ltd., a mixed grain and cattle endeavour just north of Lipton, SK. Arron and Barb moved back to the farm in 2004 and started to manage the purebred Shorthorn herd established by his father

Over the last six years, there has been a transition from the purebred Shorthorns to a commercial F1 base and marketing those resulting bred females. The cows calve from March to April and then rotational graze on both tame and native pastures during the summer and fall.

The grain side of the farm is a modest 2,400 acres consisting of wheat, barley, oats and canola in rotation. This keeps Arron, with the help of his father Bill, busy from spring to fall.

SSGA Holds Semi Annual Meeting

Members of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) held their Semi Annual Meeting in Saskatoon on January 30, 2020, during the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference. The members adopted two resolutions on developing a conservation trust in Saskatchewan and on lobbying the Saskatchewan government to invest in water treatment research. The meeting provided an opportunity for members to discuss issues affecting the beef industry, to network and to participate in professional development.

“The Semi Annual meeting was a good occasion to discuss the issues facing the industry right now as well as ways to resolve them,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber. Huber provided an update of SSGA activities since the Annual General Meeting in June in Moose Jaw that included SSGA’s advocacy efforts and monitoring trade relations. He also announced the launch of the SSGA Foundation (SSGF) which will conserve agricultural lands and carry out charitable activities.

Attending the meeting was MLA Eric Olauson who brought greetings on behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Cheryl Waldner from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon gave a presentation on best practices in disease control to minimize transmission within herds. B

MARCH 2020

Arron has previously served as president of the Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association and as a director with Canadian Western Agribition. Arron was previously on the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) board of directors as an associate director representing the Saskatchewan Shorthorn Association. Arron rejoined the SSGA board as a Director at Large at the SSGA Annual General Meeting and Convention in June 2019.

SSGA would like to extend a warm welcome to Arron and looks forward to his contributions on the board. B

SSGA Semi Annual Meeting Resolutions Resolution #1 WHEREAS the Government of SK is committed to meeting Canada’s Target 1 goals; and WHEREAS the Government of MB has launched a $100M Conservation Trust endowment.

BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to explore the development of a SK Conservation Trust to help meet Saskatchewan’s Target 1 goals.

Resolution #2 WHEREAS the provincial growth plan has a goal of growing livestock cash receipts to $3 billion by 2030; and WHEREAS water quality is a limiting factor to growing the livestock industry.

BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to invest in research to develop innovative water treatment options.

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 61

Calendar of Events MARCH March 6

SSGA Zone 4 Annual Meeting

Eastend, SK

March 6

LaBatte Simmentals 40th Annual Bull Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 7

Zone 3&12 Annual Meeting

Hazenmore, SK

March 7

McMillen Ranching Annual Bull Sale

Carievale, SK

March 8

R+ Simmentals Annual Bull Sale

Estevan, SK

March 9

Ashworth Farm & Ranch Ltd. Annual Bull Sale

Oungre, SK

March 9

Palmer Charolais Bull Sale

Bladworth, SK

March 10

13 Annual Sun Country Shorthorn Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 13

Standard Hill Connection Sale

Maidstone, SK

March 13

Edie Creek Pre-Sale Meeting & speaker Steve Kenyon

Ashern, MB

March 14

Edie Creek Bull & Bred Heifer Sale

Ashern, MB

March 15

Early Sunset Ranch Production Sale

March 21

Canada’s Red, White & Black Bull Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 24

Diamond W Annual Charolais & Angus Bull Sale

Minitonas, MB

March 24

City View Simmentals, Ivanhoe Angus & Abound Angus Bull Sale

Moose Jaw, SK

March 26

Elder Charolais Farms 10 Annual Charolais Bull Sale

Coronach, SK

March 27

McTavish Farms Bull Sale

Moosomin, SK

March 27

28 Top Cut Black Angus Bull Sale

Maple Creek, SK

March 25

Bar H Land & Cattle Co. Annual Angus Bull Sale

Langenburg, SK

March 28

Borderland Cattle Co. Bull Sale

Rockglen, SK

March 28

Summit 3 Speckle Park Sale

Ardrossan, AB

March 28

Kenray Ranch Annual Open House

March 30

Cockburn/Merit Bull Sale

th

th

th

Edam, SK

Redvers, SK Moose Jaw, SK APRIL

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April 1-2

Kenray Annual On-Line Bull Sale

Redvers, SK

April 2

Moose Creek Red Angus Annual Bull Sale

April 6

Your Choice Bull Sale

April 7

JAS Angus 16 Annual Buy the Beef Bull Sale

Neepawa, MB

April 7

Cederlea Farms Git ‘R Done Bull & Female Sale

Hodgeville, SK

April 2

Who’s Your Daddy Shorthorn Annual Bull & Female Sale

Saskatoon, SK

April 2

Taylor’s Red Angus Bull Sale

April 3

Annual Northern Progress Bull Sale

Saskatoon, SK

April 4

Crescent Creek Angus Bull & Female Sale

Goodeve, SK

April 4

Burnett Black Angus Bull Sale

April 3-5

Saskatchewan Beef Expo

April 9

Sliding Hills Charolais & Mission Ridge Bull Sale

April 10

South View Ranch 20 Annual Bull Sale

April 14

Young Dale Angus Annual Bull Sale

Alameda, SK

April 17

Freyburn Angus Bull & Female Sale

Oxbow, SK

April 18

42 Annual Shortgrass Bull & Female Sale

Aneroid, SK

April 18

Cornerstone More Bang For Your Buck Bull Sale

Kisbey, SK Maple Creek, SK

th

th

nd

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

Cabri, SK

Swift Current, SK Saskatoon, SK Canora, SK Ceylon, SK

Whitewood, SK

MARCH 2020

Advertisers Index

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SK Beef SaskTip Short Grass Simply Ag Solutions Six Mile Ranch Sliding Hills & Mission Ridge Sale Smeaton Fencing SODCAP Inc. South View Ranch Summit 3 Speckle Park Sale Sweet Pro Taylor's Red Angus Top Cut Western Litho Who's Your Daddy Bull Sale Young Dale Angus Youngs Equipment Your Choice Bull Sale

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64

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

MARCH 2020

Phone: 784-2899

Jerry Chanig, Mankota Keith Day, Lacadena Glen Elford, Avonlea Calvin Gavelin, McCord Joe Gilchrist, Maple Creek Aaron Huber, Lipton Murray Linthicum, Glentwoth Barry Olney, Estevan Roy Rutledge, Assiniboia Rob Selke, Morse Lee Sexton, Hanley Barry Wasko, Eastend

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

Henry McCarthy, Wawota Karen McKim, Milestone Rod Gamble, Pambrun Brad Howe, Empress, AB Bill Huber, Lipton Brent Griffin, Elbow Kelly Williamson, Pambrun

478-2658 375-2934 436-7121 478-2558 662-3986 336-2684 266-4377 421-1495 642-5358 629-3238 544-2660 295-3852

AFFILIATE DIRECTORS

Garner Deobald - Charolais Affiliate, Hodgeville 677-2589 John Hylkema - SaskMilk Affiliate, Hague 604-798-6450 Tara Fritz - Simmental Affiliate, Shaunavon 297-3147 Ian Leaman - Shorthorn Affiliate, Chaplin 631-3694 Ben Rempel - SK Goat Breeders, Waldheim 321-7338 Gordon Schroeder - SK Sheep Dev. Board 933-5582 Marlene Monvoisin - Angus, Gravelbourg 648-3634 Jeff Yorga - Limousin Affiliate, Flintoft 531-5717

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Dr. Andy Acton- Veterinary Advisor, Ogema

459-2422

SASKATCHEWAN CCA DIRECTORS

739-2205 436-7731 582-2077 661-0409 336-2684 854-2050 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

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 63

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 65

B R E E D E RS Saskatchewan Stock Growers Associa�on, Advoca�ng for Independent Ca�le Producers in Saskatchewan for 106 Years.

SSGA MEMBERSHIP

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

Your AD could be here!

Contact 306-757-8523

Drive 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 for all paid new and renewal of existing 12’ BERGEN STOCK TRAILER 2 Year Old Bull Sale 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, 2-3,500 lb toreflex axles

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

Your AD could be here!

Call now!

New or Existing Memberships:

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

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

$525.00

4 entries

All draws will be made at the 2009 SSGA Annual Convention

306-757-8523

For more information or to become a member,

Contact: Man-Sask Gelbvieh please President contact the SSGA office at 306-757-8523 Joe Barnett at 403-465-2805

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

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Name _______________________________________________ _ Address_ ____________________________________________ _ City/Town______________ Prov_____

Postal Code _________

SSGA MEMBERSHIP

Drive

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

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com MARCH 2020 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

myflexfarm.ca

Ducks Unlimited Canada has a Forage Program to meet your needs Forage crops not only provide sustainable grazing sources for livestock, they’re part of sound land management, diversifying crop rotations, preventing erosion and retaining nutrients.

Forage Conversion Program Thinking of converting fields to forage this year? Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) has financial incentives that can help.

Forage in Rotation Program DUC agronomists will work with you to implement a rotational forage program and provide financial compensation for those areas that are seeded.

Some conditions apply. For more information contact DUC at 1-866-252-3825 or email du_regina@ducks.ca

Marginal Areas Program DUC agronomists will work with you to find areas on your land that are growing poor crops due to excessive moisture or salinity, and work with you to seed those areas to forage. DUC will also provide financial compensation of $125/acre on those forage lands. The remaining cultivated acres remain farmed to maximize your crop yield and profit on the most viable cultivated acres of your field.

WORK IT WEIGH IT WRAP IT FEED IT

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MIX IT

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Your Livestock Equipment Specialists

306.955.1350 306.690.5209 WWW.NORHEIMRANCHING.COM