Beef Business November 2014 by Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association

Beef Business â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;

Saskatchewanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest circulated industry magazine Saskatchewan`s Premiere Cattlecattle Industry Publication

September 2010

November 2014

A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Publication Publication Mail Agreement #40011906

Working for Producers

Contents

Beef Business

Cover photo courtesy of Tara Mulhern Davidson, Ponteix, SK

A Proud Saskatchewan Tradition Since 1913

A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) Publication General Manager: Chad MacPherson Administrative Assistant: Wilma Switzer 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

Industry News 6

NCBA Concerned About South American Beef Imports

Livestock Services of Saskatchewan Assists in Fraud Investigation

WTO Supports Canada on COOL

Study Finds Gap Between Ranching Practices, Public Knowledge

Sage Grouse Survival Depends on Cooperation With Landowners

Where's the Beef? It's Everywhere

AAFC Announces $7.5 Million for Traceability

Subscriptions - Wilma Switzer 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 Advertising Sales - Tracy Cornea Tel: 306-693-9329 Fax: 306-692-4961 email: tracy.cornea@gmail.com

Markets and Trade 15

Retail Meat Price Survey

Weekly Charts

Design and Layout - Jackson Designs Candace Schwartz Tel: 306-772-0376 email: cjacksondesigns@gmail.com

Features 17

Become Familiar With Wealth Tranfser Strategies

Flawed Study Claims We Could Save the World if We Just Gave Up Eating Cheeseburgers

Beef Carcass Grading: The Common Language of the Industry

Payment After the Sale of YOUR LIVESTOCK!

Where's the Beef? Active Missing Livestock Files

Science and Production

Association News and Reports 32

A Report From the SSGA President

Stewardship 33

SK PCAP - Students Set to Work on Native Prairie Project

Calendar of Events

Advertiser Index

Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Manager: Tara Mulhern Davidson 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

facebook.com/skstockgrowers @SK_StockGrowers cycle This M a

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Contributors Gilda Bryant Jude Capper Jeff Gaye Doug Gillespie

Charlie Gracey Chad MacPherson Leanne Thompson Cam Wilk

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

NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 5

Industry News NCBA Concerned About South American Beef Imports There have been reports that the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) in the United States is concerned that imports of fresh (chilled and frozen) beef from Argentina could expose the North American herd to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The SSGA is working with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to determine if the concern is valid. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has made a proposal to consider the Patagonia South and Patagonia North B regions of Argentina to be free of FMD. If implemented, this FMD-free status would allow for the importation of live ruminants and ruminant commodities from the Patagonia region into the United States. In neighbouring Northern Argentina, however, producers still vaccinate against the disease. According to current APHIS

rules, countries or regions that vaccinate against FMD are not eligible to export uncooked beef to the United States. The proposed APHIS rule would allow meat to be imported from the region based on APHIS’ own risk analysis. The APHIS risk assessment, carried out at the request of the government of Argentina, studied 11 risk factors. It concluded that fresh and frozen beef can be safely imported from Northern Argentina under specific conditions. But NCBA President Bob McCan is concerned. “We strongly believe that these recent actions by APHIS present a significant risk to the health and well-being of the nation’s cattle herd through the possible introduction of FMD virus,” he said. The NCBA says that APHIS’s risk assessment was not carried out transparently. They say that documentation has been withheld and

appropriate management controls have not been implemented. According to the NCBA, the risk assessment is questionable, and they say a third-party scientific review of the APHIS process backs them up. That review was conducted by a team from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, and the Center for Veterinary Population Medicine. SSGA General Manager Chad MacPherson says the association is aware of this debate and is watching it closely. “We’ve got our eye on it,” MacPherson said. “We believe in governments maintaining trade restrictions only where the scientific evidence justifies them, so we’re keeping an open mind. We will expect appropriate controls to be in place to prevent any legitimate threat to the health of our industry.”B

Johne’s Disease surveillance Program Any purebred cattle producer located in Saskatchewan who is interested in participating is eligible to apply. Program A blood test is conducted on every mature cow and bull in the herd. If Johne’s is found in a herd, veterinary consultation will be provided to complete a Johne’s disease risk assessment and develop a customized management plan. The identity of program participants and individual test results will be kept confidential. Costs Covered Veterinary fees for blood collection, laboratory testing, sample shipping and veterinary fees for Johne’s Risk Assessment and Management Planning are covered. How can I access this program? All purebred Saskatchewan cattle producers are eligible for this program. Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 50 herds per year. Space is available on a first-come, first serve basis. For more information, contact: Chad MacPherson, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association 306-757-8523, ssga@sasktel.net

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Industry News Livestock Services of Saskatchewan Assists in Fraud Investigation In September, a Sonningdale woman was charged with five counts of fraudulently keeping animals found astray after someone tipped off Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS). The animals, worth $13,000 - $15,000, had been missing for six years. The value of their offspring born over the six years they were missing is estimated at another $17,000. Cam Wilk of LSS says the case illustrates the importance of having a registered brand. “Our district office in North Battleford responded to a complaint,” Wilk said. “We worked with the Crown prosecutor’s office and the RCMP, and we came up with a plan to draw up a search warrant.” They then assembled a team of riders and conducted a land search. Though theft investigations are not the biggest part of LSS’s mandate, it is an important role for the non-profit organization. Police throughout the province rely on LSS’s industry expertise to help them with their own investigations. “For the most part we’re lucky to find an RCMP officer who has a ranching background,” Wilk said. “The vast majority have no experience in agriculture, and we’re a valuable resource for them.” He said the RCMP have a coordinator located in Swift Current who helps detachments with agriculture matters. LSS has 76 inspectors located from Winnipeg to Maple Creek, and as far north as Dorintosh. LSS is responsible for licensing of livestock dealers, looking after the brand registry, and the livestock insurance program.“Theft is a pretty small occurrence,” Wilk said. “Most of our work is around credit fraud.” LSS conducts seven to twelve theft investigations in a given year, resulting in two or three convictions. According to Wilk, registered brands are an immensely valuable tool for ranchers to protect their cattle. “The best way to secure your interest in your livestock is to put a registered livestock brand on them,” he said. “There’s people who see their CCIA tags as a security resource, but really they’re not.” Joann Vayro, of Sonningdale, is due in court in Biggar on November 5 to face fraud charges in relation to the recovered cattle. B

NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 7

Industry News WTO Supports Canada on COOL As of October 20, the battle over US mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) laws is playing out according to predictions. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, that day, announced the findings of a World Trade Organization Compliance Panel which as was widely expected sided with Canada and Mexico in the dispute. “Today’s WTO compliance panel’s report reaffirms Canada’s long-standing view that the revised US COOL measure is blatantly protectionist and fails to comply with the WTO’s original ruling against it,” Ritz said. The US now has a thirty-day window to appeal the Compliance Panel ruling and most observers, including Ritz, expect they will. “I think they will appeal. I think they will ride this right to the bottom,” he said. Should the appeal go Canada’s way – and so far every WTO ruling on this issue has – Canada will be in a position to impose trade retaliation measures.

Though the US is expected to appeal the ruling, 114 members of the US Congress have asked the Department of Agriculture to accept the WTO findings. They say the process has gone on for too long and is hurting American producers as well as trade relations between Canada and the US. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack replied, stating in part “it is imperative that the United States continues to show that we will honor our trade obligations and that we will support America’s farmers, ranchers and processors. We will continue to work closely with you to find that balance.”

The WTO compliance process was begun after the US made a rule to change to its non-compliant 2012 COOL legislation. Ritz said any further administrative measures would not satisfy the Canadian government. “We want to see a full repeal,” he said. “We don’t want to be looking over our shoulders or waiting for another shoe to drop.” B

Ritz said that the Canadian government will use the 30-day appeal window to make its retaliation strategy known to US lawmakers. “We will start the work toward retaliation during that same window,” Ritz said. The government has already published a list in the Canada Gazette outlining its retaliation strategy, which involves tariffs and duties against key industries in unfriendly legislators’ constituencies – “everything from California wine to Minnesota mattresses,” Ritz said. According to Ritz the WTO has sent “a clear message” to the US, “End this protectionist policy that creates economic harm on both sides of our border, and comply with your international trade obligations,” he said. Indeed, while Canadian exports to the US have suffered, the American packing industry is being seriously affected by a shortage of cattle. This has already resulted in job losses, and may drive prices down as fewer plants compete for animals.

Call Brad @

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

(306)897-8971

Box 637/Highway 13 West

NOVEMBER 2014

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or phone Carson Moneo 306-266-4414 Clay Moneo 306-266-4411 Email:peakdot@gmail.com SAV Radiance 0801 X Peak Dot Bold 204U BW: +1.3 WW: +47 YW: +95 M: +26 BW: 75 205 WT: 744

NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 9

Industry News Study Finds Gap Between Ranching Practices, Public Knowledge What does a typical consumer know about your operation? As consumers take a greater interest in their food and its sources, what are their perceptions of the ranching industry? How much do they know about your commitment to your herd’s welfare? On the other hand, what do you know about your consumers? What standards of animal welfare do they expect? Are they willing to pay more for beef that meets their expectations? Canada’s beef industry faces an increasingly diverse market, with demand rising for specialty products. The A&W “better beef” campaign is one example, and as that company’s Vice-President Trish Sahlstrom told the SSGA Annual General Meeting in June, retailers don’t see consumer education as their job – they sell beef by giving customers what they want. A study by Melissa McKendree and Glynn Tonsor of Kansas State University (KSU) seeks to identify where the “knowledge gaps” are between producers and consumers on questions of animal welfare. The authors surveyed both groups and have identified areas where they agree, and others where they differ. In a presentation at KSU, McKendree and Tonsor said that even producers have differing attitudes to end-user concerns about animal welfare. These ranged from “leave beef producers alone” to “the beef industry must take the lead on this before groups like PETA fill the public with ‘bull feces.’” The study found that two thirds of the US public is concerned about the welfare of beef cattle in that country. On the question “do you think beef producers face a trade-off between animal welfare and profitability?” there was a stark difference between the public and the producers. Consumers generally felt that there is a trade-off, that healthier

animals mean lower profits. Producers tended to strongly disagree, indicating that they consider taking care of their animals to be sound business practice. Both groups agree that the most important factors in animal welfare are clean fresh feed and water; adequate shade, windbreaks, and ventilation to ensure clean and dry living conditions; and prompt treatment or euthanasia of ill and injured animals. Eighty to ninety per cent of producers provide those conditions for their cattle. Three quarters say they monitor animal health daily, plan the timing of transport to minimize travel time and waiting time for cattle, and will not try to market cattle if there is a probability they won’t be able to walk on their own (and never drag cattle). A majority of producers report that they move cattle at a comfortable pace and in a humane way, use antibiotics only for disease treatment, and use pain control when castrating calves over three months of age. Fifty-eight percent develop herd health plans with the help of a veterinarian. Yet while 73 per cent of producers are confident that animal care on US ranches is appropriate, only 39 per cent of the public agrees. And while a majority of consumers would vote for measures requiring pain control for castration or restricting use of antibiotics to treating

infected animals, only a minority would pay more for beef raised under those conditions. The study shows that consumers’ lack of knowledge about ranching practices and about producers’ attitudes can be a threat to beef’s image. In many ways, production practices already conform to consumer attitudes, but consumers aren’t aware of it. It also shows that there are ranching practices that consumers find disagreeable, and producers would do well to understand what the public expects. Tonsor said one of the “take homes” from the study is that the issue of animal welfare is in the eye of the beholder and includes many different practices: providing pain control, using antibiotics, and providing adequate feed and shade as some examples.Yet some of the public’s concerns are matters that producers have already addressed. “That’s where our work comes in,” Tonsor said, “highlighting some of those issues or on-farm practices that might be either a threat to the industry with no action required or an opportunity to get the public up to speed with producers.”B With information from KSU Department of Agricultural Economics

SSGA Bulletin Sign Up Stay up to date with issues impacting the SK cattle industry by signing up to receive SSGA's weekly e-bulletin. http://skstockgrowers.com/email-consent-form/

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Industry News Sage Grouse Survival Depends on Cooperation with Landowners A 2014 study indicates that successful sage grouse conservation will greatly depend on cooperative ventures with private landowners, ranchers and farmers to help sustain vital summer habitats. The study, conducted by Patrick Donnelly for the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) in the United States, shows that late-summer wet habitats are important for sage grouse conservation, and most of the wet habitats in the sagebrush ecosystems studied are on privately-held land. Donnelly, of Intermountain West Joint Venture/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, co-authored the study with Dave Naugle and Jeremy Maestas with the Sage Grouse Initiative, and Christian Hagen of Oregon State University. The authors studied existing data from an area including parts of southeastern Oregon, Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada. They found that 85 per cent of sage grouse breeding areas (or “leks”) are located within 6.2 miles of wet habitat, and that breeding areas with the highest densities of birds were within less than two miles of wet habitats. “In other words,” the study says, “the scarcity of wet habitats in sagebrush ecosystems drive the location of grouse breeding sites on uplands: hens choose to mate and nest within a reasonable walk of where they can find late summer foraging for their broods.” The Europeans who settled in the area obviously needed water too. As a result, maps of privately-owned property dating from 1887 to the present, when overlaid on maps showing locations of leks and grouse populations, and maps of natural and irrigated wet habitat, showed that most late-summer wet land is on private land. Thus, while 80 per cent of upland breeding areas are on public land, 80 per cent of critical summer brood habitat is on private land. NOVEMBER 2014

“I don’t think it was so much a surprise that grouse rely on these wet areas and that wet habitats are limited; it was how much of this was private, and how much wet summer habitat controlled the distribution of grouse across the landscape,” Donnelly said. Sage grouse conservation has been typically focused on the mostly publiclyheld sage uplands. This leads to an important question. As Donnelly says, ““How do you conserve grouse that split their time between private and public lands?” “With 81 per cent of sparse summer habitat in private ownership, sage grouse success is inextricably linked to ranching and farming in the West.”

The study concludes that given the connection between seasonal habitats on public and private lands in the study area, conservation must involve cooperative efforts with private landowners. “By understanding the importance of privately-owned summer habitats to sage grouse, conservation practitioners can use existing volunteer and incentivebased programs to target conservation easements, and focus investment in cooperative programs to reduce threats to, restore, and enhance these habitats” the report says. B (Sage Grouse Initiative. 2014. Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat. Science to Solutions Series Number 4. Sage Grouse Initiative. 4pp. http://www. sagegrouseinitiative.com/.)

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www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 11

Industry News Where’s the Beef? It’s Everywhere It’s hard to imagine that an 1,150-lb. steer produces some 500 pounds of beef. That leaves 650 pounds of fluids, tissues, fats and organs to be transformed into useful items essential to modern living. Thanks to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists who think outside the box important products used in food, medicines and industry have been developed using beef byproducts. They are the ingredients of common food items, as well as beauty products and household supplies folks use every day. Beef byproducts are vital to the automotive industry and are necessary for the creation of life-saving medicines and first aid materials. Dedicated scientists constantly develop new products for our use. For instance, cooks wouldn’t have margarine and shortening without beef fats. Oleostearin goes into chewing gum and various candies, such as gummy bears. Gelatin derived from bones and skins is a major ingredient in marshmallows, ice cream, yogurt, canned meats and Jell-0®. Intestines provide natural sausage casings, and plasma protein is an important component of commercial cake mixes, pasta and imitation seafood. “Beef byproducts are the products we use every day … things that our kids enjoy like crayons,” explains Sara Bohnenkamp, American National Cattlewomen, Inc. executive director. Household items are chock full of beef byproducts. Fats, fatty acids and protein meals are major ingredients in candles, cellophane and plastics. They make grooming and hygiene a snap because they’re used in deodorants, detergents, mouthwash, soap and shaving cream. Cosmetics and perfumes contain bovine byproducts. Animal lovers feed their dogs or cats protein meal, a major component of pet foods. A wide variety of products, including ceramics, paper, floor wax,

insecticides and insulation all come from fats and protein meals. Artists use paint brushes that may be labeled “camel hair,” but most likely are manufactured with the fine hairs that grow inside cows’ ears. “A lot of people would be shocked to know that pharmaceutical [companies] use beef byproducts,” explains Bohnenkamp. “Collagen is used in plastic surgery and to make non-stick bandages. There are a lot of inflammatory drugs and [medicines] that promote healing in burns and wounds.” Plus collagen is used to make emery boards, glues for classroom and industrial use, such as wallpaper and sheetrock. Cured and tanned cowhide has been a traditional source of leather used in furniture, luggage, boots and shoes, gloves, belts, purses and wallets. Beef byproducts also hit the road. Another product that comes from fat is stearic acid, which makes vehicle tires run cooler, and allows them to last longer. This fatty acid also enables the rubber to hold its shape while rolling down the highway. Even the asphalt used to build highways uses glycerin from beef fat as a binding agent. Fats are a vital component of car polishes and wax. Surprisingly, antifreeze and hydraulic brake fluid depend on beef byproducts for their unique motor-saving characteristics. And because human bodies easily accept beef byproducts, they also save our lives. Over 100 individual drugs are prescribed for important treatments such as; settling an upset stomach, preventing blood clots, making childbirth safer and helping babies digest milk. It takes pancreases from 26 cattle to provide enough insulin for one diabetic person for a year. Beef blood provides thrombin, which enables blood to clot for hemophiliacs and for those who have had an organ transplant, anti-rejection drugs. Bone marrow is utilized for blood disorders and the soft cartilage is used in plastic surgery. Heparin, an anti-coagulant, comes from the liver, as well as Vitamin B12 and products that treat anemia. The beef

| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

pituitary gland provides prolactin, which promotes lactation in nursing mothers, plus other hormones that regulate blood pressure and kidney function. ACTH, also produced by the pituitary gland, benefits those with arthritis and allergies. One of the newest non-medical products recently developed by ARS scientists is a transparent coating created from bovine serum albumin for glass and plastics that allows water droplets to spread instead of beading up on surfaces. The coating provides improved visibility through home and office windows and may help solar panels stay cleaner, keeping dirt and dust from interfering with their operation. Whether using a traditional approach or innovative technology, everyone uses beef byproducts daily. From life-saving medicines to improved safety on the highway, as well as clothing and helpful household items, we use every part of the cow except the “moo”. B This article has been reprinted with the permission of CALF News

NOVEMBER 2014

Industry News AAFC Announces $7.5 Million for Traceability Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz has announced that the federal government will invest $7.5 million in a national livestock traceability database. Canadian Agri‑Traceability Services will develop, implement and operate the data service. Its goal, the government says, is to “collect, maintain and manage information in accordance with national standards, federal and provincial regulations, and the specific needs and requirements of industry.” The funding is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriMarketing Program, a fiveyear, up to $341-million initiative under the “Growing Forward 2” banner.

The new national database is intended to enhance food safety and reduce red tape. Traceability is also important for maintaining the worldwide reputation of Canadian beef. “Traceability is a growing requirement for many markets around the world,” Ritz said. The project is divided into two phases. The first phase will look at the development and implementation of the traceability database. The second phase will bring it into operation. According to Terry Kremeniuk, Chairman of the Board of Canadian Agri-Traceability Services, “traceability plays a significant role not only in preventing and managing

a disease outbreak but also in accessing markets globally.” He says that by combining two separate traceability databases, presently operated by Canadian Cattle Identification Agency and Agri-Traçabilité Québec, “the state of traceability in Canada will be improved while reducing the costs for industry and simplifying data reporting for producers.” B

Stock Grower Spring Break! Plan to attend the first annual "Stock Grower Spring Break" trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico during the Campeoneto Millonario Nacional Charro. For more information on this trip please contact the SSGA office at 306.757.8523.

NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 13

We have cash buyers looking for farms in Southwest & Central Saskatchewan

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Markets and Trade RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY

2015 Native Prairie Workshop

as of October 19, 2014 ($/lb)

CUTS

4.79

EXTRA FOODS 4.48

CO-OP

Ground beef/lean Ground beef/regular

SOBEYS

3.99

5.73

4.03

4.89

4.83

Roast/cross rib

7.25

7.11

7.33

Roast/rib

12.92

12.00

12.09

12.69

Roast/outside round

7.25

5.98

7.89

8.33

Steak/rib eye

13.60

14.28

16.92

17.09

Steak/round

8.51

7.99

Steak/sirloin

7.99

8.47

12.39

7.99

Steak/T-bone

13.60

12.37

8.99

15.09

18.49

27.08

Steak/tenderloin

SAFEWAY

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

Can prairie be restored once it’s lost? What are the building blocks of restoration? These are just some of the questions that experts, prairie practitioners, restoration and reclamation specialists will explore at the 2015 Native Prairie Restoration and Reclamation Workshop, held on January 28 & 29, 2015 in Saskatoon, SK. The workshop, hosted by SK PCAP, will be the fourth of its kind, and will garner participants from all across western Canada and the northern United States. A keynote speaker will include Chris Helzer, a restoration specialist from the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, who also writes the popular blog www.prairieecologist.com. The event will also include a trade show and poster display, plenary and break-out sessions, and an interactive case study exercise for participants. More information on the event, as well as registration details, will be available at: http://www.pcapsk.org/upcoming-events-workshops/2015-nprrw

2015 Native Prairie Restoration & Reclamation Workshop “Building Blocks of Restoration” TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK January 28 & 29, 2015 Poster Presentations • Trade Show • Plenary Session Join leading experts & prairie restoration practitioners from across the Northern Great Plains to share knowledge, gain insight, & network with colleagues.

Registration details will be available at www.pcap-sk.org throughout the fall. Contact Tara (PCAP) at (306) 352-0472 for sponsorship and trade show opportunities and other information. NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 15

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

2013 2014

290.00 270.00 250.00 230.00 210.00 190.00 170.00 150.00 130.00 110.00

2011 2012 2013 2014

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

2012

Price per hundred weight

2011

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

1.0200

160.00

1.0000

150.00 140.00

2011

130.00

2012 2013

110.00

2014

100.00

CDN $ - US terms

0.9800 0.9600

2013

0.9400

2014

0.9000

125.00

280.00

115.00

260.00

105.00

2011

95.00

2012 2013 2014

65.00

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

55.00

Price per tonne

300.00

75.00

Source: Bank of Canada

Lethbridge Barley Price

Alberta Weekly D1 & D2 Cows 135.00

85.00

Source: CanFax

0.8800

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

90.00

Price per hundred weight

5 yr avg

0.9200

240.00

2011

220.00

2012

200.00

2013

180.00

2014

160.00 140.00

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

170.00

120.00

Source: CanFax

Weekly Canadian Dollar

AB Fed Steer Prices

Price per hundred weight

305 285 265 245 225 205 185 165 145 125

SK Weekly Average Price Heifers 500-600 lbs

Source: CanFax

For more information visit www.canfax.ca

| ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com

NOVEMBER 2014

Feature Become Familiar with Wealth Transfer Strategies This article was written by Edward Jones on behalf of your Edward Jones financial adviser. Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisers do not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult with a qualified tax or legal specialist for professional advice on your specific situation. To retire comfortably, you need to save and invest regularly using an effective savings and investment strategy. Maximizing RRSPs or other retirement accounts will likely be essential to realizing your retirement goals. Once you retire, you’ll need to “switch gears” somewhat and begin considering wealth transfer strategies. An effective wealth transfer strategy can help you accomplish a variety of goals, such as distributing your assets the way you choose, avoiding probate fees and reducing estate taxes. You can explore a variety of wealth transfer tools, including the following: Gifting - gifting your assets to your adult children can help minimize the size of your estate, reducing the tax burden at death. This could also potentially lower probate, executor and legal fees. Be careful when gifting property (including cash and securities) to a spouse or minor child, as income attribution rules may apply, causing income earned on the gifted property to be taxed in your hands. If you donate securities with a capital gain to a registered Canadian charity then there is no tax payable on the capital gain, and you get full credit for the donation, up to the standard charitable deduction limit. Will - a will is simply a plan for distributing your assets to family members and other beneficiaries. If you were to die intestate (without a will), provincial laws would determine how your assets should be distributed - and there’s no guarantee that the end result would be what you would have chosen.

NOVEMBER 2014

Beneficiary designations - many of your financial assets including life insurance policies, RRSPs and TFSAs allow you to name a beneficiary. Upon your death, your beneficiary will automatically receive these assets, avoiding the sometimes time-consuming, expensive (and public) process of probate. It is essential that you periodically review these designations to make sure they reflect your current wishes and that they do not conflict with the terms of your will. Trusts - different trusts can help you accomplish a variety of wealth transfer and estate planning goals. For example, an inter vivos trust can help you leave assets to your heirs without going through probate. You can also structure the trust to stagger payments over a number of years, rather than all at once, or include other restrictions or incentives. A testamentary trust, created in your will, can allow your heirs to effectively income split with the trust, potentially decreasing overall taxation. As you can see, trusts are versatile instruments - but they are also complex.

Consequently, you’ll need to consult with your tax and legal advisers regarding your particular situation. Permanent Life Insurance — When building an estate for your heirs, you have typically considered both registered and unregistered investment accounts as your principal sources of accumulating wealth. Permanent life insurance can be used to effectively accumulate wealth and pass it along to children or grandchildren, typically in a very tax-efficient manner. All the wealth transfer techniques we’ve looked at will require some careful thought and preparation on your part - so don’t wait too long before getting started. Time has a way of sneaking up on all of us - but it’s especially sneaky when we’re unprepared. Insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (except in Quebec). In Quebec, insurance and annuities are offered by Edward Jones Insurance Agency (Quebec) Inc. Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund. B

SSGA Meeting Notice SSGA SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING January 22nd, 2015 at 12:00 pm Queensbury Centre · Regina, SK Please submit resolutions to: the SSGA office Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Phone: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga@sasktel.net For a full SK Beef Industry Conference agenda visit www.saskbeefconference.com www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 17

Feature Flawed Study Claims We Could Save the World if We Just Gave up Eating Cheeseburgers by Jude Capper, PhD

So is this simply another attack on the beef industry from vegetarian authors out to promote an agenda? Possibly. The multiple suggestions that we should replace beef with other protein sources seem to indicate so. Yet given that it’s published in a renowned journal, it must be correct, right? I’m the first to rely on scientific, peer-reviewed papers as being the holy grail for facts and figures, however, this paper has some startling errors in the methodology.

Another day, another study claiming that if we all just gave up beef, the planet would be saved, Elvis would come back from the dead, and rainbow-belching unicorns would graze rangeland. Admittedly, I may have exaggerated a little with the latter two claims, but media coverage relating to the paper “Land, irrigation water, greenhouse gas and reactive nitrogen burdens of meat, eggs and dairy production in the United States” published in the prestigious “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” seems to suggest that the results within are as exciting as seeing Elvis riding one of those unicorns. However, like so many papers damning beef production the conclusions are about as believable. Much as we’d like to we cannot deny that beef has an environmental impact – we use land, water, and energy to produce beef; and cattle have a pesky habit of belching methane. Yet, here’s the rub everything we eat has an environmental impact. From apples to zucchini; organic quail eggs to Twinkies. Some impacts are positive (grazing providing habitat for wildlife and birds), some are negative (water or air pollution), but all food production uses natural resources and is associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

Feed efficiency is the go-to argument for activist groups - claims that beef uses 10, 20 or even 30 lbs of corn per lb of beef are commonly used (as in this paper) as justification for abolishing beef production. However, in this case the argument falls flat because rather than using modern feed efficiency data, the authors employed USDA data which has not been updated for 30 years. That’s rather like assuming a computer from the early 1980s is equivalent to a modern laptop. If we look back at the environmental impact of the beef industry 30 years ago we see that modern beef production uses 30% fewer animals, 19% less feed, 12% less water, 33% less land and has a 16% lower carbon footprint per lbof beef.Given the archaic data used, is it really surprising that this latest paper overestimates beef’s environmental impact? The authors also seem to assume that feed comes in a big sack labeled “Animal Feed” and is fed interchangeably to pigs, poultry and cattle. By-product feeds are completely excluded from the analysis, which makes me wonder precisely what the authors think happens to the millions of tons of cottonseed meal, citrus pulp, distillers grains, etc, produced in the USA each year. Furthermore, I’ve yet to see a flock of chickens grazing effectively on rangeland. When we look at the proportion of ingredients in livestock

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diets that are human-edible (e.g. corn, soy) vs. inedible (e.g. grass, other forages, by-products), milk and beef are better choices than pork and poultry due to the heavy reliance of monogastric animals on concentrate feeds. Finally, the authors claim that cattle use 28x more land than pigs or poultry although they acknowledge that cattle are raised on pasture, it’s not included in the calculations which assume that cattle are fed feedlot diets for the majority of their life. This is a gross error and underlines their complete ignorance of the US beef industry. Without cow-calf operations, the US beef industry simply would not exist efficient use of rangeland upon which we cannot grow human food crops provides both the foundation for the beef industry and creates and maintains habitats for many rare and endangered species of plants, insects, birds and animals. Want to know how to reduce the environmental impact of food production overnight? It’s very simple - and it doesn’t involve giving up beef. Globally we waste 30% of food - and in developed countries that’s almost always avoidable at the consumer level. Buy the right amount, don’t leave it in the fridge to go moldy, and learn to use odd bits of food in soups or stews. Our parents and grandparents did it out of necessity - we can do it to reduce resource use and greenhouse gas emissions; and take the wind out of the sails of bean-eating anti-beef activists. B

NOVEMBER 2014

Visit us in the Credit Union Eventplex during Agribition Nov 24-29/14 NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 19

Feature Beef Carcass Grading: The Common Language of the Industry by Charlie Gracey

based on such assessments of “quality”, “youthfulness” and “conformation”. Little else was apparent to the grader and meat science was poorly advanced. In the ensuing years and up to 1972 the grades were changed from time to time but remained almost entirely subjective. By the standards of the day, including show ring standards, “conformation” became of utmost importance and a smooth and heavy fat cover made for a pleasing conformation as attested in this summary by the champion steer and a rib eye section. Charlie Gracey has provided us with a much shortened version of his original article by the same name. For those interested, a copy of the full version is posted on our website. The most important point I want to make is that beef carcass grading is “the common language of the industry” and as such belongs to the industry. When grading was first introduced in Canada in 1929 two statements made by the far sighted pioneers remain as valid today as they were when first uttered. “The grading or marking of beef according to quality provides a standard basis for buying and selling in all transactions from the producer to the consumer and permits each quality to find its proper level according to general acceptability.” And, the Stated Objective was “….to devise a system of grades suitable to indicate quality to the consumer, and useful as the basis of settlement to the producer if and when the buyer and seller elected to conduct transactions on the carcass basis ...”. I mention these early quotations to show that those responsible for industry progress did the best they could with the tools and knowledge available. Carcasses were graded in a very subjective manner

The debate about “how much fat is enough” reached a crucial point in the late 1960s when the industry decided a major overhaul of the grading system was needed and in 1972 a new system was adopted that, for the first time, required that the carcass be “ribbed” to expose the cut surface of the Longissimus dorsi muscle and to permit a more objective assessment of carcass quality.

In 1992, a further advance was made when the system was again changed to permit an assessment of the “lean meat yield” of a carcass. This was a well intentioned but flawed attempt as the yield percent or estimated by that system is unreliable. Recognizing this, efforts have been made to develop computer and camera assisted technology to permit a more objective and reliable assessment of both beef quality and lean meat yield. That technology now exists.

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Another crucial development is that Individual Animal Identification now exists and has been in place in the industry since 2002 and in response to that an entity known as BIXS (Beef Information Exchange System) has been created to, among other useful things, gather carcass yield and grade information and use it in information exchange systems for the benefit of the industry. I have been a participant in, or an observer of, all of these processes including most actively the grade changes of 1972; the privatization of the grading service; the creation of both the Canadian Beef Grading Agency in 1996; and the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency in 1998. Having been so closely involved I have seen how all of these initiatives can be combined and can complement and supplement a more precise grading system for the benefit of all segments of the industry. As we all know the two most important characteristics of a beef carcass are its quality and its yield. We also know that quality and yield can be, and often are, antagonistic one to the other. As I point out in the original article the justified pursuit of quality has been at the expense of yield. Since 1993 the proportion of AAA and Prime carcasses that are also Yield Class 1 has dropped from over 50% to about 37% while the proportion of Y3 carcasses in the AAA and Prime grades has risen from just over 10% to well over 20%. This is the natural result of good premiums for AAA and better carcasses and low confidence in our yield grade system. The important point is well established and is that we can combine both quality and high yield in the same carcass. We did this better in 1993 than we are doing it today. But the key to doing so on a reliable and repeatable basis is that we must measure yield more accurately and that information must be broadly shared across the industry and

NOVEMBER 2014

Feature Composition of Prime & AAA Carcasses 60

Percentage

50 40

2013

2011

2009

2007

2005

2003

2001

1999

1997

1995

1993

most particularly with the producers who produce the calves. My message is that the producers and industry leaders did the best they could with what they knew back in 1929 to first create a grading system as well as the improvements made to it in 1945, 1958, 1972 and 1992 as knowledge advanced. The industry has done much since 1992 to advance knowledge and improve capability. Now is the time to put that knowledge and capability into practice. Suffice it to say in this summary that the change that was finally introduced was a simple one but did not come easily. In response to the concern about over finishing, the industry (producers, packers and retailers with consumer input) decided to create just four grades for fed cattle based primarily on fat thickness measured at the ribbing site. This decision necessitated, for the first time, that the carcasses be ribbed between the fore and hind quarter so as to expose the Longissimus dorsi muscle for evaluation. This ribbing of carcasses was itself highly controversial yet it seems incredible today that carcasses were graded before that without any means at all of assessing the cut surface of the rib eye section that would allow an assessment of lean colour, texture and marbling. B

NOVEMBER 2014

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program The Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) provides funding assistance to Saskatchewan agricultural producers to develop non-potable water supplies for agricultural use. Livestock producers can access the program to develop new or additional source water infrastructure for their livestock in response to changing management practices or unreliable or inadequate water sources. Livestock-related projects include: -New well development -Well decommissioning and well head protection -Shallow and deep buried pipelines -Relocation of existing livestock water systems -Dugouts and dugout expansions For more information, call 1-877-874-5365 or visit www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/GF2-FRWIP.

www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 21

IT’S HARVEST . . . AND WE KNOW YOU’RE

BUSY !

Here’s a QUICK and EASY-TO-USE guide for handling the top three producer-support requests during fall-run:

ACTIVATE your CANADIAN LIVESTOCK TRACKING SYSTEM database account: If you have purchased approved Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in your name, you will already have a Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database account. The account will be set up with the name, address and telephone number that you provided to the tag dealer at the time of your first tag purchase. The account remains in Placeholder status until it is activated by a CCIA Client Support Representative (CSR). If you have not purchased tags, you will need to have a CLTS account created. If you would like to activate your web store account to order tags online, you will need to activate your CLTS database account first. 1. To activate your account or to have one created, contact a CSR by toll-free telephone at 1-877-909-2333 or email at info@canadaid.ca. 2. Provide a business name (optional), contact name (first and last), mailing or street address, telephone number and email address (optional). 3. Once the account has been created or verified by a CSR, the CSR will activate it and provide you with your account number, username and a temporary authorization code to set up a password for your account. 4. Go to www.clia.livestockid.ca. After Need to activate your account with Authorization code, select Click here. 5. Then follow the last few quick and easy steps to activate your CLTS database account !

Including an email address in your CLTS account information

IP: enables you to reset your password as well as receive system T R E US notifications and updates.

CREATE a COST-FREE email address: 1. Go to www.hotmail.com. 2. In the bottom right of the screen, select Don’t have a Microsoft account? Sign up now. 3. Enter your information into the data fields. NOTE: The User name will be your email address. Enter an email address of your choice and select @hotmail.com, @live.com OR @outlook.com from the User name drop-down menu. 4. Enter the captcha code as it appears on the screen. It is not case-sensitive. 5. Click the checkbox to opt-in or out of the offer to receive information about products, services, events and latest solutions. 6. If you agree to proceed after reviewing the Microsoft Services Agreement as well as the privacy and cookies statement, click Create account. You have now successfully created a cost-free email address ! 22

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NOVEMBER 2014

Tags... We’re it !

QUICK AND EASY-TO-USE

It takes fewer than five minutes to activate a web store account, choose and order from the full array of approved tags, and have the tags issued to your CLTS database account before you receive them in 3-5 business days !

ACTIVATE your WEB STORE ACCOUNT to order tags online: 1. 2. 3. 4.

At http://tags.canadaid.ca, click Place an Order for producers. The login page will appear, click Register – Create your Access Codes. Enter your CLTS account ID and telephone number, then click AutoFill. If you receive a notice indicating your account cannot be found, please contact us to confirm your account information or have your information entered into the tag order database to set-up your tag order account. 5. If your account can be found, your address will appear and you will have the opportunity to enter your user information. Once entered, click Submit. 6. The home page will appear with your tag order account information located on the right hand corner of the page. Go ahead and place your order ! NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 23

Science and Production Payment After the Sale of YOUR LIVESTOCK! by Cameron Wilk, P. Ag.

piece of any civil action you may have to take to recover monies owing to you. With the record setting values of livestock this fall it is appropriate to review the regulations surrounding payment following the sale of your livestock.

Most importantly, call in advance for a livestock inspection to ensure the required manifests or permits are going along with your cattle.

A licensed livestock dealer is required by law to pay for all purchases or sales of livestock within three working days, unless there is a written agreement between the parties to extend the date for payment.

If you do not get paid, within three working days, be sure to submit a claim against the livestock dealer’s bond within the next 30 days. Similarly, if you have complaints about the operations of any livestock dealer take those, in writing, to your nearest livestock inspection office. B

If you extend the mandatory payment date in writing, you cannot claim against the Dealers Bond if that payment is defaulted. Every livestock dealer (including feedlots, stockyards, auction marts and abattoirs) is required to be licensed and to maintain the appropriate levels of bonding to protect those offering livestock for sale. There are some exemptions from the requirement to hold a valid Livestock Dealers license; an example would be 4-H sales. Bonding levels are based on a dealer’s sales volume in the previous 12 months and range from $25,000 to $250,000. Before selling livestock, ensure that you have as much information in writing as possible. That information must include: a detailed description of the number of animals, age, breed, sex, weight, body condition, pregnant/open and individual brands or other means of identification (CCIA tags). Ensure that you obtain the purchaser’s name, full mailing address and phone numbers and the specific address that the livestock are to be delivered to (legal land description). Also, ensure that the payment amount is agreed to, along with the terms of payment (paid in advance, cash on delivery).

For more information: contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 for a referral to your nearest District Livestock Inspection office.

“Cattle coming into my feedlot are usually heavier, so I treat ’em with long lasting ZACTRAN on arrival.”

Heavier weight cattle are often at lower risk to BRD so it makes sense to treat them with the fast acting,1 long lasting2 product that won’t break the bank. (And it’s plastic, so you won’t break the bottle either.)

Ask your veterinarian why ZACTRAN is ideal for cattle in your feedlot.

Treat them with ZACTRAN . 1. Giguère S, Huang R, Malinski TJ, Dorr PM, Tessman RK & Somerville BA. Disposition of gamithromycin in plasma, pulmonary epithelial lining fluid, bronchoalveolar cells, and lung tissue in cattle. Am. J. Vet. Res. 72(3): 326-330 (2011). 2. Based on label claims. ZACTRAN® is a registered trademark of Merial Limited. © 2014 Merial Canada Inc. All rights reserved. ZACT-13-7560-JAD-E

This information will be an important BOV_14106_Beebusiness_nov_Zactran_metaphy.indd 1

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dossier : BOV-14106

client : Merial

description : Annonce Zactran eng. titre : « Metaphylaxis Zactran sq » nov.

10/10/14 11:58 AM

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NOVEMBER 2014100%

Foraging Into the Future VIII Using Livestock to Improve Soil Health December 3 & 4, 2014 • IPlex • Swift Current, SK Kit Pharo - Ranching for Profit in the 21st Century: Part I & Part II Dr. Christine Jones - Linking Carbon, Nitrogen & Water – Healthy Soils Ted Sutton: Land EKG Canada - Range Health Monitoring Made Easy

TRADESHOW • INDUSTRY EXPERTS PRODUCER PANEL • NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

$100 Producers - $150 Industry For more information or to register contact the SK Ministry of Agriculture at 306-778-8285 Other Topics include: Lessons from 10 years of Mob-grazing in Southwest SK, Grazing Annuals to add nutrition to your system, Update on Nutrient Management tactics for beef cattle operations, and MORE!

NOVEMBER 2014

www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 25

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NOVEMBER 2014

Science and Production Active Missing Livestock Files October 2014

Area Missing from

Number of head

Animal description

Brand Description

Brand Location

RCMP subdivision

Livestock Branch contact

Date Reported

Sonningdale

Cow/calf

Biggar

Saskatoon 306.933.7660

Oct 14

Langham

Cow Steer Heifer

Warman

Saskatoon 306.933.7660

Oct 14

Martensville

Black Heifer

NVB Blue tag 9A

Warman

Saskatoon 306.933.7660

Oct 14

Sonningdale

2 sorrel geldings white socks sorrel gelding buckskin gelding sorrel filly

NVB

Biggar

North Battleford 306.446.7404

Oct 5

Brightsand Lake

Yearling Steers

Turtleford

North Battleford 306.446.7404

Sept 27

Indian Head

Yearling Heifers

Indian Head

Moose Jaw 306.694.3709

Oct 1

Information provided by Livestock Services of Saskatchewan

SSGA 100th Anniversary Belt Buckles Please contact the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association office for orders:

$250 plus shipping and GST NOVEMBER 2014

Box 4752, Main Floor, Canada Centre Building Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 TEL: (306) 757-8523 FAX: (306) 569-8799 Email: ssga@sasktel.net www.skstockgrowers.com www.skstockgrowers.com | ÂŠBEEF BUSINESS | 27

SBIC 2015 Growing the Future Conference SASKATCHEWAN’S PREMIER BEEF EVENT

Beef & Forage Symposium | Industry Trade Show Industry and Breed Association Meetings Business Networking | Fun

January 21 – 23, 2015

Queensbury Convention Centre Evraz Place, Regina Saskatchewan

“The world is run by people who show up.” Bruce Vincent

Show up for SBIC 2015 at Queensbury Convention Centre! With beef prices reaching all time highs, it’s a great time to invest in the growth of your operation. Gain insight into forage management principles and technology from top researchers, combined with the hands-on experience of leading producers. Thought-provoking messaging on social license, industry advocacy and best management practices; it’s all on the agenda. Speakers from across Western Canada will be joined by some out-of-country guests, including: From the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, Dr. Flavio Santos, expert in intensive grazing systems and energy supplementation. Montana’s Bruce Vincent is engaging, compelling and passionate. This logger turned inspirational speaker will help you view familiar scenes through a new lens.

Show up for networking, information, fun and excitement. The Ramada Plaza will provide conference-rate guest rooms. Call 306-569-1666 ex 7200 and use the Group Code CGSBAC to book your room today. Free shuttle service will be provided to the meeting venue. For more information and to register visit www.saskbeefconference.com

NOVEMBER 2014

VERIFIED BEEF PRODUCTION IN SASKATCHEWAN

Beef Producers in Saskatchewan may qualify for funding provided through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative FOOD SAFETY 50% up to $750/producer

BIOSECURITY 50% up to $1,000/producer

Eligible equipment includes:

Eligible items include services provided by a Vet to undertake:

*squeeze with neck extender *individual livestock weigh scale *record keeping software

*Biosecurity Assessment *Biosecurity Protocol Development

NEW BIOSECURITY PROGRAM! Producer Funding Available for Vet Visits to Assess the Risks... and Develop Protocols

To be Eligible, Producers Must Have:

$2,500 in Cattle Sales, Completed VBP Training, Room Left in $750 Cap

To be Eligible, Producers Must:

Attend a Workshop and Receive the Vet Advice In-Person and On-Farm

To learn more about VBP in Saskatchewan, visit saskvbp.ca or contact Coy Schellenberg, Provincial Coordinator, at 306-859-9110 or office@saskvbp.ca

2014 FALL WORKSHOPS

BIOSECURITY & FOOD SAFETY AWARENESS In order to be eligible for any funding, producers need to complete the VBP training. For Biosecurity Funding, producers must attend a Workshop. For Food Safety Funding, producers must attend a Workshop or take the Online Course. All Workshops and Online Courses are offered at no cost! Please RSVP for the Workshop you plan on attending!

NEW BIOSECURITY PROGRAM!

Attend a Workshop to learn about Biosecurity in the Beef Industry, and the risks to your cattle operation. Producers that attend a Workshop may be eligible for funding towards a Biosecurity Assessment and Biosecurity Protocol Development conducted by a Veterinarian.

Association News and Reports A Report From Doug Gillespie President, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association provided recommendations on the draft Crown Conservation Easement that will be placed on former Wildlife Habitat Protection Act lands depending on the ecological sensitivity rating. We also met with MP David Anderson about the following issues: the Temporary Foreign Worker program; The Species at Risk Act; cattle import permits and The Animal Pedigree Act.

We went to visit family in California in August and while there we spent a day with a rancher who runs 500 cows. Things are so different there, but also so much is the same. An environmental group initiated an action to protect the Bay Checkerspot butterfly which stopped the grazing on a large tract of land and left it dormant. In a few years, the butterfly was disappearing and they did a study and found the butterfly was doing well when there was cattle grazing. Now they have leased it back for grazing and the butterfly is thriving. He says people seem to be starting to realize what good stewards of the land ranchers are, which is a very interesting development. Perhaps this sounds similar to what is happening with the sage grouse. Environmentalists pushing government action without studying the fallout from their actions. Everyone can play a big part in this so encourage everyone you know at all levels of government to move slowly and with a common sense approach to all Species at Risk actions. We must learn to have everything work in harmony as it has been since the beginning of time. We never want to promote anything at the expense of another. We have had numerous meetings the last couple of months. Here are a few highlights of the subjects discussed: we 32

The transition of brand inspection from government to industry management is continuing to progress. To help balance the books at Livestock Services of SK producers will be seeing some increases to brand registry and inspection fees.

We recently participated in a provincial cattle industry consultation meeting coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture. At this meeting we discussed several subjects, including The Horned Cattle Purchases Act, SK Cattle Producers Assurance Fund (SCPAF), Premises Identification and security declarations on livestock manifests. I feel that we are in danger of having The Horned Cattle Purchases Act repealed unless changes are made to make the fund more efficient and effective. Some sectors of the industry feel the horned penalty is unnecessary but the SSGA disagrees. There continues to be major challenges in establishing an assurance fund in SK. The two main challenges are a lack of support from all sectors of the cattle industry and a lack of a financial backstop. We have approached the Government of Saskatchewan to help backstop the fund until it would be financially sustainable but they currently are not in a financial position to backstop the fund. So it looks as if the SCPAF is on hold until the next non-payment wreck occurs in SK.

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The SSGAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Promotion Committee is in the process of launching a new membership drive initiative for 2015. We are encouraging everyone to participate. If everyone sells just one membership, then we have doubled our membership. The committee is also investigating the development of an SSGA member loyalty program. Under this program SSGA would form partnerships with local SK businesses in return for giving special offers and discounts to SSGA members. On a final note, the cattle markets look great. Good luck with your fall work and sell a membership. B

Cattle Industry Update Luncheon

Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists-Regina Branch in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association are pleased to host the seventh annual Agribition luncheon (roast beef buffet).

Animal Welfare & Why it Matters Dr. Jennifer Walker, Director of Dairy Stewardship for Dean Foods will provide an overview of the current issues in animal welfare and how consumers expectations specific to animal welfare are constantly evolving.

Time/Date:

Noon Wednesday, November 26th 2014

Location:

Queensbury Convention Centre - Salon 3

Cost:

$25 (cash or cheque)

You must RSVP Kathryn Tonita at (306) 787-5142 or reginabranch@sia.sk.ca by 5:00 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2014.

NOVEMBER 2014

Stewardship Students Set to Work on Native Prairie Project by Leanne Thompson

One of the ways to raise awareness of native prairie land management issues is by engaging youth and young adults – especially those whose career path may see them working in this area. That’s why an idea to include a native prairie land management case study as part of a Renewable Resource Management class at the University of Saskatchewan was met with great enthusiasm by SK PCAP Manager, Tara Mulhern Davidson. Davidson was contacted by Tom Yates and Angela Bedard-Haughn from the College of Agriculture to talk about a project that could assess land use changes in relation to native rangeland on the Canadian Prairies, possibly identifying the rate at which these land use changes have occurred, identify threats, as well as discuss the potential impact of these threats. Both the U of S Professors and Davidson quickly realized that a project of this size and scope would take years and require a significant amount of funding to accomplish. However through one of the project-based courses in the Department of Soil Science, there may be an opportunity to develop a methodology to approach this very big question. Renewable Resource Management 421 is a project-based course administered through the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. This unique course sees groups of students assigned to work on real land management issues where they are mentored by a professor from within the Department as well as a person from a partner organization. Students also receive tutorials in project management. The overall goal of the course is to have students work on a real world problem starting by doing the research, looking for the data and resources they need to work through the problem, and finally developing a management plan. Partner organizations who have provided mentoring in the past have included government departments (Ministry of Environment, Parks and Recreation,

NOVEMBER 2014

Photo courtesy of Tara Mulhern Davidson

Forestry), NGO’s such as Ducks Unlimited Canada and Nature Conservancy Canada, as well as City and Municipal groups from around the province. SK PCAP can now add their name to this list as Tara Mulhern Davidson will be providing mentorship to the students working on a native prairie case study during the 2014-2015 academic year. The native prairie case-study will look at the issue of quantifying native prairie acres, identifying threats and the scope of their impact at the Rural Municipality (RM) scale. Students will start with the existing grassland survey and use satellite imagery from the last 15 years along with other available resources to look at changes to the landscape and identify the possible cause for changes. The next step is to look at the potential impacts on wildlife and species at risk, wetlands, soils and other natural resources in the area. At the end of the project (April 2015), students will present their findings in both report and presentation format. The idea that this case-study could provide a road map for wider analysis of native prairie resources in

western Canada is exciting for all involved. While the majority of work on this casestudy will involve research and literature reviews, students are familiar with native prairie resources and most have had practical training in range assessment and soils classification which required them to spend time in native prairie landscapes. Soil Science Professor, Tom Yates commented that while most of the students in the program are from an urban background, they have developed a strong connection to native prairie and are engaged by the issues surrounding this important natural resource. As an organization concerned with the conservation of native prairie, could SK PCAP ask for anything more?! B

Calendar of Events November 4-9 November 5-8 November 18-19 November 23-25 November 24-29 November 27 November 28 December 3 December 4 December 6 December 10 December 10 December 10-11 December 11 January 21-23 January 25 January 28-29

February 7

NOVEMBER 2014 Farmfair International Harvest Showdown CanFax Cattle Market Forum Canadian Bison Association Convention Canadian Western Agribition Cattle Industry Update Luncheon Commercial Cattle Mixer DECEMBER 2014 Six Mile Ranch and Guests Commercial Bred Heifer Sale Peak Dot Ranch Ltd. Fall Bull and Female Sale 5th Annual Gehl Ranch and Raymond Land and Cattle Bred Heifer Sale 15th Annual Cudlobe Bull Sale Advertising deadline for January magazine Farm and Food Care SK AGM Big Gully Farm Herefords Online/On Farm Bull & Heifer Sale JANUARY 2015 SK Beef Industry Conference M.C. Quantock “Canada’s Bulls” Sale SK PCAP Native Prairie Restoration and Reclamation Workshop FEBRUARY 2015 Hill 70 Quantock “Barn Burnin’ Bull Sale”

Edmonton, AB Yorkton, SK Calgary, AB Regina, SK Regina, SK Regina, SK Regina, SK Swift Current, SK Wood Mountain, SK Hodgeville, SK Stavely, AB Saskatoon, SK Maidstone, SK Regina, SK Lloydminster, AB Saskatoon, SK

Lloydminster, AB

NOVEMBER 2014

Advertiser Index 36

Abe’s Signs

Allen Leigh Security & Communications 37

Man-SK Gelbvieh

Manitou Maine-Anjou

Arm River Red Angus

Masterfeeds

Big Gully Farm

McClay Design

Bill Laidlaw Chartered Accountant Professional Corp.

Merial

Canada Beef Inc.

INSERT

New-Life Mills

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency

22-23

New Vision Agro

Cowtown Livestock Exchange, Inc.

Norheim Ranching

Cudlobe Farms

Paysen Livestock Equipment

2,39

Cozy Caps

Peak Dot Farms

9,25

E Bourassa & Sons

Plain Jan’s

Edward Jones

Raymond Land & Cattle

Friendly Acres

Real Estate Centre

Frostfree Nose Pumps

Saskatchewan Angus Assoc.

GBT Angus

Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference

Gehl Ranch

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

21,25

Gem Silage

Saskatchewan Verified Beef

30-31

Gibson Livestock

Sittler Composting

Grayson & Co.

Six Mile Angus

Jackson Designs

Solar West

John Brown Farms

Superior Livestock Auction

Johnstone Auction

Target Cattle Concepts

19,37

Kelln Solar

Terra Grain Fuels

Kramer Auctions

Western Beef Development Centre

Kyle Welding & Machine Shop

Western Litho

LLB Angus

Zoetis

Lane Realty Corp.

11,37

Linthicum Ranch

SSGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE EXECUTIVE

Doug Gillespie President/Director at Large Neville, SK Phone: 627-3619 Shane Jahnke 1st Vice President/Director at Large Gouldtown, SK

Phone: 784-2899

Bill Huber 2nd Vice President/Director at Large Lipton, SK Phone: 336-2684 Harold Martens Past President/Director at Large Swift Current, SK

Keith Day, Lacadena Gerald Duckworth, Courval Kelcy Elford, Caronport Tom Grieve, Fillmore Dave Hoeft, Southey Fred Lansdall, Leross Henry McCarthy, Wawota Norm Nordgulen, Assiniboia Jason Pollock, Maple Creek Roy Rutledge, Assiniboia

ZONE CHAIR DIRECTORS Phone: 773-6782

Helen Finucane Finance Chair Regina, SK Phone: 584-2773

NOVEMBER 2014

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 - Zone 5 - Zone 6 - Zone 7 - Zone 12 -

Lloyd Thompson, Carnduff Helen Finucane, Regina Terry Ostrander, Hallonquist Robin Wiggins, Maple Creek Bill Huber, Lipton Brent Griffin, Elbow Kimberly Simpson, Kyle Kelly Williamson, Pambrun

375-2934 394-4211 355-2335 722-3504 726-2941 675-4499 739-2205 642-4961 662-3552 642-5358

AFFILIATE DIRECTORS

Garner Deobald - Charolais Affiliate, Hodgeville 677-2589 Jack Ford - SaskMilk Affiliate, Wishart 328-4700 Tara Fritz - SImmental Affiliate, Shaunavon 297-3147 Laird Senft - Angus Affiliate, Fort Qu’Appelle 332-4823 Jaime Whitworth - Shorthorn Affiliate, Mortlach 631-1400 Jeff Yorga - Limousin Affiliate 531-5717

APPOINTED DIRECTORS

Dr. Andy Acton- Veterinary Advisor, Ogema

459-2422

SASKATCHEWAN CCA DIRECTORS

486-2146 584-2773 553-2213 666-2103 336-2684 854-2050 375-5534 582-6102

Lynn Grant, Val Marie Brent Griffin, Elbow Pat Hayes, Val Marie Reg Schellenberg, Beechy Perry Rasmuson, Moosomin

298-2268 854-2050 298-2284 859-4905 435-3110

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

NEW LI STI N G

Reasonable and Reliable! Call Anytime! 306-577-4664

Pump Kit

cozycaps@outlook.com www.mcbethshorthorns.com/cozycaps Distributors located in SK, AB, and the USA

Calmar, Alberta

Maine-Anjou Bulls

custom printed roper gloves

those s” “famou

Roper

gloves