Beef Business Saskatchewan's Premier Cattle Industry Publication September 2018
A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Publication Publication Mail Agreement #40011906
Working for Producers
Do YOU own or have care of regulated livestock? Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations to strengthen the livestock traceability system by reducing the time it takes to trace livestock. CFIA intends to use animal identification, premises identification (PID) and animal movement data submitted by livestock operators to the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) database to improve information accuracy and availability in the event of an emergency.
PREPARE in
TWO STEPS
1. CONTACT the SASKATCHEWAN PREMISES REGISTRY to confirm or acquire a valid PID for your livestock site by toll-free telephone at 1-866-457-2377 or visit premisesid.saskatchewan.ca/pid/ 2. CONTACT US to confirm or acquire a CLTS database account and enter your valid PID into it
PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) provides financial incentives for programs that preserve, protect and restore habitat on the land for waterfowl and wildlife. In addition these programs also provide other benefits for improvement of soil health, prevention of soil erosion, and flood and drought prevention. Here is a list of our current DUC programs that are offered in our priority areas:
Conservation Easements (CE)
DUC signs a CE with the landowner who agrees to protect the natural value of the land (wetlands, native prairie, and tame grasslands) in perpetuity in exchange for financial compensation. Haying and grazing are allowed on the uplands while the wetlands are kept intact.
exchange for a fee, then we invest those proceeds back into local conservation programs. Contact your local DUC office for more information on this program.
Forage Programs
DUC currently offers several types of forage programs including the following:
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Crop Production Services (CPS) Forage Program This program provides $100 reimbursement for each 50lb bag of CPS Proven Seed purchased and seeded.
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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.
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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 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.
Purchase of Land
DUC purchases land for the purpose of restoring and protecting the habitat on the parcels. DUC pays fair market value for land and retains ownership of these lands in perpetuity. DUC also buys land as part of our Revolving Land Conservation Program (RLCP), where we purchase the land, restore any upland or wetland habitat on the parcels and then sell the land with a CE.
Long-term Lease
The long-term lease program (minimum 10 years) provides annual compensation to landowners based on current fair market value for land (cultivated and grassland). DUC pays for all restoration (grassland and wetlands) and manages the land for the period of the lease.
Rangeland Programs
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DUC provides financial assistance to landowners for costs associated with constructing a new perimeter barbed wire fence (up to a maximum of $5,000) in exchange for protecting the wetlands and upland habitat on the parcel.
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DUC manages its lands through haying and grazing tenders, and we invite producers to use portions of our land in
Wetland Restoration
If wetlands have been drained or altered on your land, we can help you restore them back to their natural levels. These projects are usually combined with other programs such as our CE, lease or forage programs.
Some conditions apply. Contact DUC for more information at 1-866-252-DUCK (3825) or du_regina@ducks.ca
Contents
Beef Business
Cover photo courtesy of Dwane Morvik, Eastend, SK
A Proud Saskatchewan Tradition Since 1913
A Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) Publication
Industry News 6
Fall Trade Forecast Uncertain
6
Saskatchewan Export Picture
10
SSGA and GNP Launch Grass Bank Pilot Project
11
SSGA and Cherry Insurance AgSecure Partner on Unique Livestock Coverage
12
Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program Renewed
14
Health Canada Looking to End Strychnine Use
15
Change at the Helm of the Agriculture Ministry
General Manager: Chad MacPherson Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga@sasktel.net OR ssga.admin@sasktel.net Website: www.skstockgrowers.com Communications Manager: Marusia Kaweski Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 (306) 757-8523 (306) 569-8799 (fax) ssgacommunications@sasktel.net
Markets and Trade
Subscriptions Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-757-8523 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: ssga.admin@sasktel.net
16
Retail Meat Price Survey
17
Weekly Charts
18
Fall Calf Price Outlook
18
Drought Forces Producers to Make Tough Decisions
Subscription Rate: 1 yr $26.50 (GST included) Published 5 times per year
Features 20
Wild Pig Population Threat to Agriculture
24
A Passion For Soil Health Hjertaas Farm Wins TESA Award
28
Trip Inspections Focus on Safety First
Design and Layout: Jackson Designs Candace Schwartz Tel: 306-772-0376 email: cjacksondesigns@gmail.com
Science and Production 29
Who Does a Livestock Inspector Work For?
30
In Defense of the Cow: A look at the Canadian Context of Livestock Emissions
31
Where's the Beef? Missing Livestock Files
Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Manager: Diego Steinaker Box 4752, Evraz Place, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Tel: 306-352-0472 Fax: 306-569-8799 email: pcap@sasktel.net 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.
Stewardship 35
Livestock Grazing and Native Grassland Conservation
36
SSGA Welcomes New Director Barry Wasko
37
SSGA Holds 105th AGM and Convention
37
2018 SSGA Board of Directors
38
AGM Thank You To Our Sponsors
40
SSGA 2018 AGM Resolutions
43
Dr. McKinnon Awarded Honourary Life Membership
44
SSGA President's Report
46
Calendar of Events
47
Advertisers Index
48
Business Directory
Association News, Reports and Events
Contributors
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cycle This M a
Chad MacPherson Jason Pollock Diego Steinaker
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Fonda Froats Bill Huber Marusia Kaweski
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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 SEPTEMBER 2018
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
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Industry News Fall Trade Forecast Uncertain Saskatchewan’s bright export prospects have been overshadowed by trade uncertainties recently. There has already been a 9% slowdown in trade in 2018 compared to last year, mostly due to tariffs on pulses. As a major exporting province, particularly of agricultural commodities, the issues arising over NAFTA negotiations and other foreign trade agreements, sanctions, tariffs and global trade wars are causing concern among Saskatchewan producers and exporters as the agricultural season hits its peak. To update export issues, Beef Business spoke to John Masswohl, Director of Government and International Relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association to discuss recent developments in foreign trade relations as well as the impacts of new global sanctions and tariffs on Saskatchewan’s beef exports. NAFTA Update Back in the spring, NAFTA negotiators from the U.S., Canada and Mexico made a push to achieve progress in talks, anticipating a slowdown in the
negotiation process due to the Mexican presidential election in July and the U.S. Congressional elections in November. However, “since May, it’s been fairly volatile. In May the United States announced and, in fact, implemented tariffs on Canadian and other countries’ steel and aluminum products, and then Canada and other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs,” stated Masswohl about the latest developments surrounding NAFTA. There was concern that the situation might escalate, and the U.S. would respond with counterretaliatory tariffs. “Now, fortunately, there has not been a further escalation, but all through June and July there really were no discussions going on,” he added.
are also bilateral issues that need to be resolved between Canada and the United States, but they are choosing to work on the Mexican ones right now.” Some of these major issues between the U.S. and Mexico are the U.S. automotive sector and aspects of Mexican labour regulations as well as the treatment of Mexican fruits and vegetables entering the U.S. He is optimistic about the media reports that the U.S. and Mexico are close to an agreement on their bilateral issues, which would mean that Canada would re-enter the process soon. “I’m optimistic if that is the approach that it continues to take, it will be successful in having an outcome with a new modernized NAFTA agreement,” he stated.
Meanwhile, senior level talks resumed in August between Mexico and the U.S. While some media reports interpreted this step as a U.S. move to sideline Canada, Masswohl doesn’t think so. “I don’t really see that as a shunning of Canada,” he explained. “I think it is a logical step in that there are issues that are bilateral issues that need to be resolved between Mexico and the United States, and there
In the latest developments as of Beef Business going to print, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a bilateral deal with Mexico on August 27. Amidst media speculation that NAFTA would be shelved, Canada actually has returned to the negotiating table for trilateral talks after being left out of the bilateral U.S.-Mexico talks. continued on page 7
Saskatchewan Export Picture Beef Business talked to James Kettel, Executive Director of the Trade and Value-Added Branch from the Ministry of Agriculture, and Rob Swallow, Acting Executive Director of Trade Policy from the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, to find out more about where Saskatchewan fits into the trade picture. Agriculture is crucial to the Saskatchewan economy. The province’s agri-food exports make up almost half of total exports. After experiencing a downturn in 2016, the province saw recovery and a growth in exports in 2017. Saskatchewan agricultural exports were the fourth largest on record last year totalling $13.6 billion. This represents an increase of over 60% since 2010 and a rise of 8.2% over 2016. Agricultural commodities went to 143 different countries. The United States was the most important, importing $3.5 billion in Saskatchewan products. China 6
and Japan have grown as trading partners with $2.8 billion and $1.1 billion in exports, respectively. Canada recently signed onto the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union last fall and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership (CPTPP) earlier this year. It is currently renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the United States and Mexico. The Saskatchewan government is looking for a positive outcome. “We remain hopeful that a modernized NAFTA will be finalized shortly,” stated Swallow. For Saskatchewan, each of these trade deals means important new market access will be open for Canadian beef exports. Unlike other sectors, the province’s cattle exports have declined. Saskatchewan live cattle exports to all world markets
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dropped from a high of 222,226 tonnes in 2015 and 219,934 tonnes in 2016 to just 84,077 tonnes in 2017. The U.S. has remained the most important beef market for Saskatchewan. Last year, Canada exported $1.1 billion in live cattle to the U.S., of which $125 million worth of cattle came from Saskatchewan. While Saskatchewan exported $745 million in agri-foods to the EU in 2017, it did not export any beef last year. Saskatchewan also did not export any beef to the countries of the CPTPP in 2017. In 2017 total Canadian agri-food exports to the EU was $3.4 billion. In terms of how livestock will be affected by changes to NAFTA, Kettle said, “It’s a bit of an unknown at this point. If this administration does move to pull out of NAFTA, that would be a serious concern for the livestock sector as well as for a number of other sectors.” SEPTEMBER 2018
Industry News Fall Trade cont. from pg. 6 Nevertheless, there are a few bumps on the negotiating road. One interruption, says Masswohl, is a 2-3-3 investigation initiated by the U.S. on the automotive sector, which means “that our imports from that sector are negatively affecting the U.S. national security.” Another potential glitch was thought to be the Mexican presidential election and a new president’s possible shift in perspective on NAFTA. However, Masswohl noted that the incoming administration of Presidentelect Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico has signalled that it wants to conclude NAFTA. The talks are being conducted presently by the outgoing presidential administration of Mexico. Obrador takes office on December 1. Another factor on the horizon is the U.S. congressional midterm elections on November 6. According to Masswohl, each side will be evaluating NAFTA from the perspective of their voter base. “Will it be that they achieve a new negotiation? Or will it be that they are retaliating? Or will it be that they are negotiating or still working to improve it? So, that’s the political assessment that they are making on a constant basis,” he explained. In addition, work on the agreement’s technical side, which involves modernizing the provisions, also needs to overcome some obstacles. “The feeling I have is that they’ve gotten as far as they can get on the technical stuff without these larger big block political issues coming into better focus,” Masswohl said. Several key issues must be resolved before further technical progress can be made. Canada has to agree with the U.S. on the dairy and softwood lumber sectors and must resolve issues on dispute settlement and government procurement. Canada is also concerned about the U.S. proposal for a sunset clause for NAFTA. In terms of how the livestock industry will be affected by changes to NAFTA, Masswohl observed that the agreement has been highly beneficial for the beef industry of all three countries so far. “It’s been a good agreement. We like it. We want to maintain it,” he said. As for what developments can be expected this fall SEPTEMBER 2018
for NAFTA, Masswohl says that it’s difficult to predict: “That’s the question on a daily basis. What are the next steps?” CETA Update While both CETA and CPTPP have been signed, there have been delays in implementation. Regarding the CETA agreement with the 28-member European Union, most of the commercial provisions have been provisionally applied since September 2017, allowing reduced tariffs and duty-free access on some commodities. However, CETA must be ratified by all 28 member-states of the EU, after which other parts of the agreement such as the investment provisions will also come into force. So far, close to a dozen EU countries have ratified the agreement, but a snag has come up with Italy. The new Italian government declared that it will not ratify the agreement. However, Masswohl anticipates that the issue will likely be resolved in time. The ratification process is expected to take several years during which time disagreements could be resolved. Furthermore, the CETA agreement would apply to new members joining the EU. By the same token, Canada is still anxious to do business with those countries leaving the EU. In the wake of Brexit, Canada and the United Kingdom are exploring how to continue the benefits of CETA.
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Although it’s early days in trade relations, Masswohl has observed more Canadian beef on European store shelves. The EU market is becoming profitable for exporters as well as for Canadian cattle producers who are raising cattle according to European standards. The hormone-free requirement could limit opportunities for Canadian producers, but the growing market potential might sway some to become involved in producing hormonefree beef. Masswohl has a message for any producers uncertain about going through the regulatory hoops to enter the EU market: “If there are any producers that are kind of sitting on the fence in terms continued on page 8
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As for Canadian beef access, Masswohl observed that CETA’s technical issues still need to be resolved. “We still have some that we are working on and that’s probably at least a two to three-year timeline in terms of working on those,” he said. At the same time, Masswohl views strong opportunities for Canadian beef products in some of the European markets. Individual EU member-states are not ranked as top trading partners with Saskatchewan, but when all 28 markets are combined, the EU as a group forms a substantial market.
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Industry News Fall Trade Forecast cont. from pg. 7 of producing cattle eligible for trade for Europe, I would say, get off the fence and start producing them because, right now, our biggest constraint, our biggest problem, in terms of sending beef to Europe is that we are not producing enough of it.” CPTPP Update After a few obstacles and the U.S. dropping out of the process, the 11 countries that are part of the trans-pacific agreement – Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam – signed the CPTPP agreement at the beginning of 2018 and will now need to go through the ratification process. The CPTPP will come into effect when six of the 11 countries have ratified the deal. Three countries – Mexico, Japan and Singapore – have already done so. Canada has started the domestic ratification process. “The Canadian government did introduce the
implementing legislation into parliament just days before starting their summer recess,” said Masswohl. Bill C-79 has strong support from the Liberal government and the Conservatives but has met resistance from the NDP, which blocked unanimous consent for the bill. Now, the bill will have to follow a longer legislative process. It must pass three readings in the House of Commons as well as be adopted by the Senate. Tariffs and Sanctions Recently, Saudi Arabia has suddenly pulled out from the Canadian economy due to political reasons. Although Masswohl has not yet seen any impact, he noted that issues have been brewing for some time in Canada’s relations with the Middle Eastern state. About three years ago Saudi Arabia was a top Middle Eastern market for Canadian beef with $20 million in exports. It ranked in the list of top ten in export markets for Canada commodities. “They were a very high value market willing to pay top dollar for a good quality product,” he stated.
Since that time, Saudi Arabia has submitted a proposal to revise the halal requirements for beef entering the country to include the entire lifetime of the animal. Masswohl does not anticipate that Canadian cow-calf producers would have much interest in meeting the certification requirements for such a small market. Nevertheless, the Canadian Meat Council and the Cattle Feeders have been working with the Saudi officials to resolve this issue. However, their success is highly dependent on future good relations on the political front between the two countries. “I guess the thing you have to wonder about, in the current climate between Canada and Saudi Arabia, how likely is it that we are going to get a lot of good will and cooperation from them on things like that? I’m not overly optimistic,” Masswohl assessed the state of relations. Regarding U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Masswohl noted that the continued on page 9
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Industry News
Congratulations to Casey Forsyth of Herbert for receiving the SSGAsponsored show halter for being the youngest 4-H Beef exhibitor at the 2018 Frontier Days in Swift Current in June. The award was accepted on his behalf.
Fall Trade Forecast cont. from pg. 8 U.S. has not placed tariffs on any other Canadian products at this point, but the Canadian beef sector is concerned that beef products might be part of retaliatory tariffs in the future. While a minor trade item, already Canada has placed a 10% retaliatory tariff on beef jerky coming from the U.S. “Our preference would have been not to affect our sector,” he said. Other parts of the farming sector are beginning to feel the effects of steel and aluminum tariffs as well. For example, the cost of grain bins and farm equipment have risen since the tariffs were implemented. Trade wars between other countries could also impact Canadian trade. Some sectors of agriculture have been benefitting from the U.S.-China trade war on certain commodities. However, Masswohl cautioned that any benefits for Canadian trade would be short-lived and could be overshadowed by some bigger risks and threats down the road. For example, for the protein sector, Masswohl says it is simplistic to think that China’s tariffs on U.S. beef will mean more market share for Canadian beef. “The reality is that if that U.S. beef isn’t going into China – as well as U.S. pork which now has retaliatory tariffs on it,” he explained, SEPTEMBER 2018
“you have a lot of U.S. meat that is looking for a home.” According to Masswohl, this beef and pork will likely remain in storage but will end up eventually in the marketplace at reduced prices. Since Canadian prices are based on U.S. prices, it could pressure a drop in Canadian beef prices. “When there is a flood of protein looking for a home in the U.S. market, that’s going to have a negative impact on our prices,” he stated. Canada still has a few trade hiccups with other countries too. There is an issue
with Italy regarding a country-of-origin labelling requirement on durum. India has applied tariffs to Canadian lentils and peas earlier in the year, the majority of which come from Saskatchewan. This has dampened the province’s pulse sector considerably. Meanwhile, as agriculture reaches it peak, producers across Canada continue to nervously watch developments in foreign trade relations and hope for positive outcomes.
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Industry News SSGA and GNP Launch Grass Bank Pilot Project A unique pilot project will see cattle being used to help protect critical habitat for species-at-risk. Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is collaborating with Parks Canada’s Grasslands National Park (GNP) on a grass bank pilot project to conserve habitat for three species-at-risk – the Greater Sagegrouse, Sprague’s Pipit and Chestnutcollared Longspur. This grazing project is unique because Grasslands National Park is restoring grazing to a landscape where it was excluded for more than 20 years. This project also demonstrates the important benefits cattle grazing brings to the environment. It also means a return of historical ruminant grazing to this northern prairie ecosystem which had been grazed by bison for thousands of years until recently. The project demonstrates the type of cooperation that can be achieved between government, ranchers, scientists and the community. “By combining our conservation efforts in Grasslands National Park with those of local ranchers, we can influence and expand suitable habitat on a scale that would not be possible by any one party working in isolation,” stated Adriana Bacheschi, Acting Field Unit Superintendent of the South Saskatchewan Field Unit from Grasslands National Park. This project provides an opportunity for collaboration between ranchers, Parks and scientists to help species recover and measure conservation benefits. It brings the knowledge of producers about effective grazing practices together with applied science and research to reach specific species habitat targets. In this project, local ranchers will manage grazing of cattle on an area covering 40,000 acres on parts of the East Block of GNP and on their adjacent private land with a goal of achieving habitat targets for the three species-at-risk – Greater Sagegrouse, Sprague’s Pipit, and Chestnutcollared Longspur. Much of this landscape is considered critical habitat for these 10
Photo credit: Parks Canada, Grasslands National Park
species-at-risk. A vital aspect of the project is to preserve habitat not just in the GNP but on surrounding lands. For example, Canada’s Greater Sage-grouse population has been reduced to remnant populations in Alberta and Saskatchewan over the past several decades. About 80 square miles of critical habitat for the Greater Sage-grouse falls within the proposed boundary of the GNP’s East Block. “This project demonstrates the important benefits of cattle grazing for the environment,” stated outgoing SSGA President Shane Jahnke at the project launch in June. The ranchers participating in the project will aim to achieve habitat targets that will be set, monitored and measured by the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program (SODCAP). It should be noted that habitat targets are evidence-based and are developed from findings reported in scientific research and from expertise provided by scientists and species experts. When ranchers meet the habitat targets, they will benefit through a reduced grazing fee on GNP land and through a financial incentive from SSGA through the Species-at-risk Partnerships on Agriculture Land (SARPAL) program. The project is being undertaken with financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada through the SARPAL fund. To achieve habitat targets, the participating ranchers will use a specific grazing strategy to consider the habitat requirements of each species-at-risk. For
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example, the Chestnut-collared Longspur prefers heavier grazing in a localized area. As well, it will include extensive-based grazing with moderate stocking that is large and expansive. It also will be stocked following the nesting period of the species in this project. Moreover, grazing strategies are designed specifically for each species-at-risk in the project. Through the use of cattle, they will create a type of patchy mosaic of vegetation on the landscape to develop habitat for diverse species. “It’s a great initiative. It really showcases what grazing can do and what ranchers do in terms of protection of the environment,” stated Bacheschi. Furthermore, ranchers will adapt their livestock handling methods to suit the large remote landscapes and difficult terrain. For example, traditional environmentally-friendly practices will be employed by ranchers, e.g., riding, salt licks, tub placement, topography and time of use. “The SSGA is excited to be part of this project,” SSGA President Bill Huber added. “We would like to thank the Grasslands National Park for their partnership on this project as well as all of the producers who are participating in the project. They are not just achieving conservation and environmental goals, but also are showing the rest of world how cattle can be used to protect species and have a positive impact on the health and sustainability of this grasslands ecosystem.”B SEPTEMBER 2018
Industry News SSGA and Cherry Insurance AgSecure Partner on Unique Livestock Coverage Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) and Cherry Insurance AgSecure (Cherry) have collaborated to launch an exclusive livestock insurance product for SSGA members. This insurance product was unveiled for SSGA members at the SSGA Annual General Meeting and Convention in June. “This livestock mortality insurance is another way to get value from being a SSGA member. For the producer, it’s a very comprehensive, yet affordable insurance product,” stated outgoing SSGA President Shane Jahnke at the launch. The partnership between SSGA and Cherry was developed in response to last year’s wildfires with additional input coming from producers seeking an alternative, low-cost insurance option to protect against mass losses. The devastating wildfires of 2017 caused tremendous damage to homes, farms, pastures, fencing and cattle. Damage to livestock or their loss can be devastating, leading to year-over-year losses that can affect livestock producers in the long term. “This program is unique to anything on the insurance market because it offers premium coverage at higher deductible options than traditional packages which reduces premiums and makes it more affordable,” said Vern Randall from Cherry Insurance AgSecure. “Even blizzard coverage is included” he added. SSGA members have two options of which to take advantage. Option One is Cherry’s whole farm insurance package which includes the discounted livestock coverage. In addition to cattle coverage, this policy covers your home, bins, buildings, machinery and liability. In addition to the core coverage, Cherry includes a number of enhancements such as coverage for fencing, tools, stored fuel, swathed or standing crops, volunteer fire department charges and coverage for stored hay or feed. Properly set up, SEPTEMBER 2018
these farm policies can save producers a considerable amount. For cattle rates, they are as low as $.075 per $100 of herd market value.
and malicious mischief, among others. Cherry also is offering additional optional coverage for entrapment, escape, infertility and disease if requested.
With Option two, SSGA members can purchase a stand-alone livestock only policy which they can customize to suit their needs and budget. With this option, the cattle rates are as low as $.25 per $100 of herd value with a $10,000 deductible.
The policy has attracted a lot of interest among producers. The dry conditions in the southwest and the impact of last fall’s wildfires created great interest in mass casualty insurance. Mass herd death from fire, blizzard and drowning are the top three losses that are reported. B
This insurance package covers cattle for death or loss due to a large range of events from the most common – fire, wind, lightening, blizzard, drowning and accidents while in transit on the road – to extraordinary events – accidental shooting, dog or wild animal attack
For more information on this mass casualty livestock product, contact Vern Randall at Cherry AgSecure: 1-800-667-3919 (toll free) or 1-306-653-2313 (office) or agsecure@cherryinsurance.net
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Industry News Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program Renewed The Saskatchewan Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program has been renewed for another five years. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is the administrator for the Johne’s program and funding will be provided under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program. For this term, the funding has been increased. “The SSGA is pleased that the Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program will continue to be funded under CAP for another five years. The renewed funding will mean that more animals can be tested. It has been a popular program among purebred and commercial producers,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber. Incidences of Johne’s Disease has been growing in the province over the past 15 years. According to the Western Canadian Cow-Calf Surveillance Network, 23% of herds tested had at least one cow testing positive. To help detect and control Johne’s in the province, the Ministry of Agriculture has developed a surveillance and control program for Saskatchewan cattle. The Saskatchewan Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program first began in the fall of 2013 and concluded in March 2018 with funding provided by Growing Forward 2, the federal-provincial-territorial agriculture program. Initially, the program involved purebred breeders but was opened to commercial producers in late 2014. Funding for the program has been renewed under CAP. Thus, the program provides interested cow-calf producers some assistance in Johne’s prevention and control in their herds. Over the past five years, the Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program has tested a total of 106 herds including 15,283 cattle, of which 500 cattle, or 3.3%, tested positive. At the herd level, 76% recorded animals with positive tests. Within herds with positive testings, up to a quarter of the herd had tested positive. “It’s important to note that the program
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results don’t represent the average situation in Saskatchewan cattle herds. The majority of producers who signed up to participate in the program had suspected there was Johne’s in their herds,” Huber stated. Johne’s is a debilitating bacterial disease affecting the intestines of cattle, sheep and goats. It is caused by the Mycobacterium avium ss. paratuberculosis bacteria (MAP). The long incubation period makes Johne’s difficult to detect and prevent. Animals that look normal can still shed the bacteria and infect other animals in the herd. Many animals within a herd may be infected before any clinical signs are observed.
a laboratory to test for Johne’s. If the disease is found in the herd, a Johne’s Disease risk assessment management plan (RAMP) must be completed. The program covers costs for veterinary fees for blood collection, sample shipping, lab testing, and veterinarian fees for the Johne’s risk assessment management planning. *Please note, we are in the process of adding small ruminants to the program.
B
“If you suspect Johne’s in your herd, it’s important to get animals tested because one case of Johne’s in a herd could indicate that others might be affected as well, but they may not be showing any symptoms,” Huber added. Infection usually occurs as a calf through contact with manure, milk or colostrum, as well as in utero. Symptoms include chronic diarrhea, weight loss despite the animal having a good appetite, and thin frames. Detecting infections may be further complicated because calves may show no symptoms for up to two years. There is no treatment for Johne’s Disease. Once the clinical signs are evident, the affected animals eventually die. Therefore, it is managed as a herd problem by testing animals and usually culling those that test positive, and by managing colostrum and exposure to manure. Prevention is also difficult. In addition to herd management, producers are encouraged to check that new animals brought into the herd are not infected, and to avoid exposing calves to infected animals. Johne’s is diagnosed by laboratory testing of blood or feces. The MAP bacteria is difficult to detect and may give negative results. Under the provincial Johne’s Disease program, mature cows and bulls in a herd receive a blood test that is sent to
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To Apply for the Johne’s Program All Saskatchewan cattle producers are eligible to apply for the Saskatchewan Johne’s Disease Surveillance Program. The identity of program participants and individual test results are kept confidential. Applications can be downloaded from the SSGA website: http://skstockgrowers. com/johnes-disease-surveillanceprogram/ Complete and mail applications to: SK Stock Growers Association Box 4752 Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 Fax: (306) 569-8790 Email: ssga.programs@sasktel.net
SEPTEMBER 2018
STAY ONE STEP AHEAD Your work doesn’t stop when the summer ends. Look ahead and protect what you’ve earned. We know what it takes to prepare your livestock for market — and how an unexpected turn can impact your future profits. That’s why the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program is there to help you protect your business. Producers can purchase price insurance year-round for their feeder cattle, finished cattle or hogs. Price insurance for calves will be available for purchase again in February 2019. Choose from a range of coverage options every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. www.wlpip.ca
Industry News Health Canada Looking to End Strychnine Use Health Canada wants to end the use of strychnine for ground squirrel control following a re-evaluation. This has raised the concern of the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association as well as other farm organizations and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM). According to Health Canada, its Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) carried out a scheduled re-evaluation of strychnine and identified environmental concerns about the potential poisoning of non-target animals, including speciesat-risk such as the swift fox and burrowing owl. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act and based on a scientific evaluation, Health Canada is proposing to cancel products containing strychnine for control of ground squirrels as not meeting current standards for environmental protection. Strychnine is the active ingredient in restricted-class products applied as baits to control certain types of ground squirrels, including the Richardson’s ground squirrel. Two types of products are registered in Saskatchewan and Alberta: ready-to-use baits and a 2% concentrate that can be mixed into grain by users – Maxim 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate and S.A.R.M Gopher Poison R.T.U. What Health Canada has in mind is to cancel the registration of Maxim 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate, and to require removal of “ground squirrel use” from the label of S.A.R.M Gopher Poison R.T.U. The PMRA carries out regular reevaluation of all pesticides to monitor that they continue to meet current health and environmental safety standards and continue to have value. Its risk assessment report on strychnine determined that non-target species might eat either the poison-treated grain used to attract ground squirrels or scavengers that eat the dead rodents. The PMRA’s report noted the death of songbirds, eagles, hawks, owls, ravens, coyotes and dogs as a result either of eating poisoned bait or
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from secondary poisoning from eating dead gophers. According to the risk assessment, the number of non-target animals affected by strychnine use is difficult to determine. Now, the PMRA has started a public consultation on its proposal to cancel the use of strychnine for ground squirrel control due to effects on non-target animals. This consultation runs for 90 days from June 29 to September 29. However, the timing of the consultation is not conducive to participation from the agriculture sector given that it is taking place during the peak of the agriculture season. As a result, it appears that those most likely to use gopher-control products with strychnine might not have an opportunity to participate. The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) is asking for the comment period to be extended.
Richardson’s ground squirrels (RGS), more commonly called gophers, are native to short grass prairies and, thus, are plentiful in Saskatchewan. With their endearing looks, Richardson’s ground squirrels have become popular in urban centres as an exotic pet. However, back on their native turf, gophers are the bane of farm life. They cause millions of dollars in damage from lost crops, broken machinery and livestock injuries. During infestations of RGS, agricultural producers can amass significant financial losses, as they did during the infestation a decade ago. To properly assess the use of strychnine, it would be worthwhile for researchers to view a gopher infestation in its prairie
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context to understand the impact on farmland. Such is the gopher’s reputation on the prairies that the Saskatchewan government declared the RGS pests in 2010, allowing local governments to use gopher control measures. The Ministry of Agriculture has conducted the RGS stewardship program since 2011, which focuses on an integrated approach to their management. Under this program, strychnine is an effective rodenticide for the control of RGS and has limited environmental impact if used carefully. SSGA also supports the retention of strychnine use for ground squirrel control. Strychnine is a useful tool for producers and the most effective and safest way to control gophers and to prevent infestation. Gopher management is labour-intensive regardless of the control method used. Control measures are designed to develop a long-term, sustainable management system that would include rodenticides as well as other non-chemical means to keep infestations below economic threshold levels. The economic threshold is the level at which the pest damage exceeds the cost of the management options. Currently, rodenticides are the most effective method of managing gopher damage over large agricultural areas. Grain-based poison baits are preferred being relatively inexpensive, accessible and easy to use. Other control methods prove less reliable. It is too difficult to rely on predators because their population size is dependent upon the prey population and cannot be regulated. The use of keeping vegetation tall as a control measure is difficult to maintain and is weather-dependent. The practice of shooting RGS is also problematic to implement because it is not a systematic method of control. continued on page 15
SEPTEMBER 2018
Industry News Change at the Helm of the Agriculture Ministry premiers over the past six years. However, given my current circumstances, I didn’t feel I would be able to give that position the attention it deserved, so I have asked Premier Moe to appoint a new Minister.” Stewart will remain as MLA for LumsdenMorse. He was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1999 and has served as the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation since May 25, 2012.
Lyle Stewart steps down as Minister of Agriculture.
Saskatchewan Agriculture, one of the most important portfolios in the government, underwent some unexpected changes in mid-August. Lyle Stewart stepped down as the Minister of Agriculture due to health reasons on August 9. “I was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer and will be undergoing several months of pretty aggressive treatment,” Stewart said. “It has been a tremendous honour to serve as Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister under two great
“We will miss him as Minister of Agriculture and send our thoughts and prayers for his return to good health,” stated SSGA President Bill Huber about Stewart’s departure from Cabinet. To replace Stewart, Premier Scott Moe made a minor shuffle to his Cabinet on August 15. David Marit was appointed the new Agriculture Minister. Marit, who is the MLA for Wood River, previously served as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. Lori Carr takes over as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure.
David Marit was appointed the new Minister of Agriculture.
to strengthen the livestock industry by enhancing the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the sector,” the SSGA President added. B
“The SSGA looks forward to a good working relationship with the new minister, David Marit, as we work together
Gopher Control cont. from pg. 14 Therefore, there does not seem to be an equivalent or an adequate alternative to strychnine available as an option for gopher control presently. The loss of strychnine to control RGS could have a major financial impact on Saskatchewan producers as an infestation can cause millions of dollars in damage. Furthermore, it should be clarified for the PMRA that strychnine is not being purchased unless there is a specific need. For example, there were approximately 5,000 units of product sold this year. This
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is substantially less than the 300,000 units sold during 2008-2009 when there was an infestation. A decline in use in fact reflects that people are using strychnine responsibly. According to the PMRA, all comments are welcome, and a final re-evaluation decision will be published after the PMRA considers the comments and information received. B
To participate in the consultation The public can submit comments and information to the PMRA through its website: https://www.canada.ca/en/ health-canada/corporate/contact-us/ pest-management-regulatory-agencypublications.html.
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Markets and Trade RETAIL MEAT PRICE SURVEY as of August 30, 2018 ($/lb)
CO-OP
SAFEWAY
Ground beef/lean
4.49
6.00
SAVE-ONFOODS 6.99
Ground beef/regular
5.49
*
*
Roast/rib Roast/outside round
CUTS
SOBEYS
SUPERSTORE
4.99
3.64
5.30
5.30
3.19
9.49
*
*
*
9.49
8.40
*
*
*
6.50
*
8.99
11.00
11.98
Steak/rib eye
*
16.99
*
15.99
*
Steak/round
7.72
*
7.99
4.99
6.22
Steak/sirloin
9.99
*
8.99
14.03
11.90
Steak/T-bone
13.49
*
*
17.03
12.04
Steak/tenderloin
16.99
21.09
22.99
28.64
25.48
Roast/cross rib
* these items were not in the display case on this date
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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
2016
210 2017
2018
160
180
170
130
160 150 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 Source: CanFax
190
2015
160 2016
150 2017
140
2018
2015
2016
2017
2018
Source: CanFax Source: CanFax
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
260
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
SK Weekly Average Price 500-600 lbs Steers
210
AB Fed Steer Prices
200
120
Alberta Weekly D1 & D2 Cows
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
2015
Price per hundred weight
310
CDN $ - US terms
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
Price per hundred weight 360
Price per tonne
Wk 1 Wk 4 Wk 7 Wk 10 Wk 13 Wk 16 Wk 19 Wk 22 Wk 25 Wk 28 Wk 31 Wk 34 Wk 37 Wk 40 Wk 43 Wk 46 Wk 49 Wk 52
Price per hundred weight
Markets and Trade SK Weekly Average Price Heifers 500-600 lbs
280
230 2015
2016
180 2017
130 2018
0.88
0.83
0.78
230.00
210.00
190.00
170.00
For more information visit www.canfax.ca Source: CanFax
Weekly Canadian Dollar
0.98
0.93 2018
2017
0.73 5 yr avg
0.68 Source: Bank of Canada
Lethbridge Barley Price
290.00
270.00
250.00
2015
2016
2017
2018
150.00
Source: CanFax
Markets and Trade Fall Calf Price Outlook As summer draws to a close, calf prices remained strong and were trending high. However, calf markets could feel more pressure from a complex of factors as the fall run gets underway, concluded Brian Perillat, Canfax manager and senior analyst, who spoke to Beef Business about the outlook for fall calf prices. “For the most part, we are seeing pretty good prices. We are even seeing some taking advantage and forward selling calves,” Perillat noted. However, he expects the price highs to drop off as the fall season begins. “There could be a bit more pressure to come to the calf markets,” he stated. Perillat sees four or five key factors influencing prices for the fall. One of these
issues is that feedlots are taking a loss as they sell off cattle to markets. “They might pull back a little bit on the calf market in the fall,” Perillat said. Another major issue is the weather. The south of Saskatchewan and Alberta have experienced extremely dry conditions following a summer heatwave that has led to very high feed costs. “That could continue to stay strong or rise, and that could take a bit of a bite out of the calf market as well,” he said. The dry conditions and hay shortages could mean that some producers may not be backgrounding calves this year. He noted that hay prices are extremely high this year. Some producers with feed shortages are looking to alternative
rations. As a result, these conditions could lead to bigger volumes of calves coming to market this fall, which in turn could pressure the calf market as the fall progresses, according to Perillat. “We’re seeing a number of cows being processed and slaughtered and we’re expecting it’s going to continue into the fall run due to the shortage of feed,” he said. Given this factor, Perillat has also observed another tendency – falling cow-calf prices. Cow-calf prices have declined markedly in the last few weeks of the summer months. He also projects a sizeable drop in demand for breeding females this fall due to the shortage of feed. continued on page 34
Drought forces producers to make tough decisions Severe dry conditions in southern Saskatchewan are forcing some cattle producers to make tough decisions. A mid-summer heatwave across northern B.C., Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba combined with a lack of rainfall have scorched pastures. Producers soon must decide whether they will dig deeper for soaring hay and feed prices or sell animals early and cull herds. Southern Saskatchewan has been hit hard, having gone through dry conditions last year also. Saskatchewan Agriculture gave 29% of pastures a poor rating and another 26% a very poor rating. Grass is in short supply, and even winter feed is decreasing, while water supplies are low. With hay and feed prices climbing, producers are looking for alternative feed supplies and additives to stretch supplies. Meanwhile, hay is available in some of the central and northern parts of Saskatchewan that received more rainfall, but the cost of transportation south exceeds the value of the hay. Water quality is also a concern. A lack of rainfall and high temperatures have led to water shortages and increase salinity and algae toxicity 18
in water sources. Producers are being encouraged to test water sources before letting out cattle for grazing. Southern Alberta has been hit hard with 60% less rain than normal in the last 6 months. Hay yields have been estimated between 25% to 40% lower than average and silage is 30% below average. Alberta Beef Producers are reporting feed shortages and skyrocketing prices. Hay prices have been reported to reach as high as $200 per tonne, doubling last year’s prices, while feed barley jumped 30%. Feed barley for September through December delivery is currently at around $255 per tonne. In Manitoba, the Agriculture Ministry was warning producers about livestock poisonings from toxic plants like western water hemlock, stinkweed, velvety golden rod and seaside arrowgrass as regular forage runs low. Market analysts project that if dry conditions persist, feed stores will run low and producers will be liquidating their herds this fall leading to falling prices.
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Although it is not reflected in the markets yet, many in southern Saskatchewan are thinking about downsizing herds to get through the feed crisis. Some producers are reporting they might need to cut over 60% of their herds. It is reported that cattle producers in Alberta and Manitoba are also looking to cull animals. These reductions will mean that Canada’s shrinking herd size will fall still further. For producers, building heard quality back could take years. Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Ministry has asked the federal government to activate the livestock tax deferral now to help producers in affected areas. There has been no response yet from the federal government. Cattle industries globally are feeling the effects of extreme dry conditions. The U.S. plains have had severe dry conditions leading cattle to be sold off early and more beef to hit the market. Europe has one of the worst droughts in decades. Australia has a drought and its cattle producers are reaching the end of their hay crops and looking for alternative feed sources.
SEPTEMBER 2018
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Feature Wild Pig Population Threat to Agriculture Ask the average Saskatchewan resident and they’ll be surprised that the province has a wild pig problem. The upsurge of wild pigs in the province and their rapid expansion in the last decade threaten cattle production and cause severe damage to forage and grain crops. Dr. Ryan Brook, associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan, is one of the province’s experts on wild pigs. He believes that these illusive animals could soon develop into a major threat to agriculture in Saskatchewan. He sat down with Beef Business to talk about this growing menace, the impact on cattle production and wild pig control. Brook is principal investigator for the Wildlife Ecology and Community Engagement Lab based at the university where he supervises the wild boar project. The researchers on his team are tracking wild pigs in the province to determine their distribution, movements, and habitat. His team has also been active in communicating to the public about the wild pig problem using multimedia, social media and speaking events. What’s In A Name? Wild pig? Feral pig? Wild boar? The terminology related to wild pigs is complicated and is connected to their origins. Wild boar is the name of the animal native to Europe, Asia and northern Africa that was brought to Canada to be farmed for meat. The farmers were strongly encouraged to cross them with the domestic pig giving hybrids. Brook noted that Saskatchewan also has some free-ranging domestic pigs which are truly feral. Brook uses the term “wild pigs” because most of the province’s wild pigs have some domestic pig genes. It also best captures all the types of pigs living in the wild in Saskatchewan. The Problem In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was a major push to diversify agriculture in the province and farm exotic species like elk, emu and ostrich, explained Brook. One of these was wild boar. However, wild
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boar farms never reached their projected success. Neither the market to domestic restaurants or exports really developed. Wild pig farming peaked in 2001 and has since rapidly declined, Brook observed. “In Saskatchewan right now, we are probably below 20. We don’t really know because they are not registered, and animals are not tagged in any way,” he added and hopes that will change soon with a new ID program in the works. Meanwhile, producers were encouraged to cross the wild boar with the domestic pig. The resulting hybrids are longer with an extra rib and larger in size. Brook noted that the largest wild pig that has been handled in his program was 638 pounds. Both wild boars and hybrids have escaped over the years from these farms and ended up in the wild. “They are very smart animals and very capable of escaping,” Brook said. Another huge problem comes from farmers cutting their fence and letting them go because they are difficult to raise. He learned of a case where 300 wild pigs were released into the wild. Thus, since wild boar are not native to the province, the only potential source of wild pigs are escapes and releases from wild boar farms.
Wild Pig Distribution in Saskatchewan
Distribution map courtesy of Dr. Ryan Brook
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Baby Boom Brook’s tracking data shows an alarming exponential curve for the wild pig population starting in the mid-2000s. “That is a classic sign of exponential growth where the growth is almost completely vertical,” he stated. “We are seeing massive expansion and that is mostly explained by the high reproductive rates of pigs and relatively little control that has been exerted on them.” The researcher noted that one of the key factors for the wild pig’s success is that the reproductive rates are much higher in the hybrid animals. Domestic pig genetics have allowed the hybrids to produce litters more frequently and in larger sizes. True wild boar usually have one litter of about four per year, but Brook has observed that the wild pigs have continuous breeding throughout the year producing about six per litter, which is six to 12 times more per year than any native ungulate species like moose or elk. “So really, that is why they are so successful at expanding,” he said. And because they mature very quickly, “one animal can turn into a hundred animals very, very quickly,” he said. Habitat Combined with their high reproduction and larger size, wild pigs can eat almost any food item, allowing them to adapt to a variety of habitats. These factors have contributed to their rapid expansion across the province. “In Canada, we are seeing a range of expansion of 25,000 km sq per year over the last eight years,” Brook explained. “Most of that is in the prairie provinces and the large majority of that is in Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan has by far the largest distribution of wild pigs as well as has the fastest rate of their increase. East-central Saskatchewan has the highest density of wild pigs in Canada. These rates also reflect that Saskatchewan historically has had the highest production of domestic wild boar, noted Brook. One of his recent surveys showed that over half of rural
SEPTEMBER 2018
Feature municipalities in Saskatchewan have wild pigs. In fact, wild pigs are found all over the province – from the forest line all the way down to the U.S. border. “We haven’t seen any regression in the population, we’ve seen expansion,” he said. Brook’s research project has data tracking wild pigs from 1990 to the present. Impacts Wild pigs cause a tremendous amount of damage to ecosystems, fields, wildlife, species at risk and other livestock. Brook describes wild pigs in Saskatchewan as highly mobile animals that move around frequently in all seasons. Initially, producers did not believe that the escaped pigs would survive an unforgiving Saskatchewan winter, but they have adapted very well. Brook’s team has documented pig nests and diets. Saskatchewan’s large tracts of agricultural lands have been a main factor in the wild pigs’ success. Fields with crops provide large amounts of food, as does road kill, fawns, frogs, waterfowl and roots. “They eat anything they can find,” he noted. They also provide stiff competition for food for other native species, driving deer, coyotes and other species out of their natural territories. Brook observed that back in the 1990s, the impact of wild pigs on native species was not an issue. “I predict that we’ll see an impact on whitetail deer populations, moose populations, and breeding waterfowl,” he stated, adding that evidence of waterfowl damage has already been documented. “They do a tremendous amount of crop damage. They can rip up natural ecosystems,” Brook described the damage caused by the pigs. Not only do they eat the crops and the top of the plants, but wild pigs rip up ground and eat the roots, severely damaging the ground. They also wallow in the water, churning up mud and leave water sources spoiled for waterfowl. Wild pigs pose a huge risk to cattle production. “One of the important innovations in cattle production is bale grazing and swath grazing, and in agriculture production in general is the grain bag that you can leave out in the field. The problem is it leaves massive amounts of food available to pigs on the
SEPTEMBER 2018
landscape,” said Brook, describing some of the reports from producers about the pig damage. Wild pigs extensively damage forage crops. They have ripped apart bales covering it with urine and , which cattle avoid. He also described cases of wild pigs acting aggressively towards cattle, scaring them off of water sources and supplemental feed sources. Producers have had to move water systems because the cattle are too scared to return to those locations. Wild pigs are vectors for disease. Brook is most concerned about the potential for disease given the opportunities for cattle and pigs to mingle. “That is the biggest concern I have around wild pigs,” he stated. A case of an important disease in wild pigs would be very difficult to manage and can put livestock at risk. “So far, the Food Inspection Agency has not supported or been willing to do any testing of wild pigs in Canada. I think it is a concern. I think we should be looking at disease and monitoring it,” Brook maintained. He noted that no wild pigs have been tested in Canada for any of the important reportable diseases, like Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). For example, he noted that during the Bovine TB outbreak two years ago there were some elk tested but no wild pigs were tested even though they are very effective reservoirs of Bovine TB. “I think it’s a major oversight,” he commented. There are also real potential threats to human health by wild pigs. Brook described the wild pigs as extremely aggressive with razor-sharp tusks. He noted that his team members have been charged by boars on several occasions. Control Efforts to control or mitigate wild pigs have not been successful, says Brook. His research shows that any management efforts are far from adequate. The wild pigs, which are not native to the province, have no predators to control their populations. Black bears and wolves may feed on them in their own range areas in small numbers, but out on the prairies where the pigs are really multiplying, there are virtually no natural predators.
Wild pig sighting in a field. Photo credit: Dr. Ryan Brook
Coyotes are potential predators but given the aggressive nature of the pigs and the smaller size of the coyotes, it is unlikely they will prey on wild pigs too much. Moreover, the wild pigs have expanded so much that predation is unlikely to make any great impact on their numbers. Brook commented that the next step is for Saskatchewan to decide how it wants to treat wild pigs. There is no consensus among stakeholders and they must identify goals – whether to eradicate wild pigs or to control their population. Moreover, it is the only province that does not have a wild pig control plan. “The first thing that needs to be developed is some sort of plan. Alberta has a plan. Manitoba has a plan. Ontario is working on a plan. B.C. has a plan,” he said. Brook has identified some of the barriers to consensus. There is a certain segment who hunt and would like to maintain wild pigs for hunting. Other groups like cattle producers are very alarmed by the threat to their livelihood and want wild pigs eradicated. The legislation also does not support mass control efforts. Unlike the case for invasive plant species, rural authorities need landowner permission to enter their land for wild pig eradication measures. If a landowner refuses, it is difficult to have any success. “In the absence of that same legislation continued on page 22
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Feature Hog Wild cont. from pg. 21 there really is no chance in controlling wild pigs,” said Brook, comparing wild pig regulations with the legislation for invasive plant species. Brook noted that if the province commits to eradication, “then that requires massive and really significant efforts, coordinated with many different groups,” such as the CFIA, the federal and provincial governments, livestock producers and other stakeholder groups. Eradication also requires an aggressive approach using ground trapping, capturing animals from helicopters and employing ground shoot teams. His team has had success with Judas pigs, a collared boar that can locate and infiltrate other wild pig groups, leading control teams to eliminate the groups. “There is no silver bullet. There is no one thing that will fix this. It really needs to be a multipronged effort,” he concluded. Saskatchewan regulations allow residents to shoot pigs at any time and there are many hunters who shoot pigs for sport. In Saskatchewan pen-shoot operations are legal where people pay to come and shoot wild boars. The government supports sport hunting of wild pigs as a control measure. However, “there is no evidence that sport hunting really has any beneficial effect,” stated Brook. He
pointed out that the idea looks good on paper and has been very effective with other species like the elk population, but it is ineffective with wild pigs. “You can’t shoot your way out of a wild pig problem,” he added. Because of the high reproduction rates, shooting makes almost no dent in the booming wild pig numbers. It also causes reverse effects. Shooting a few members of a wild pig group only serves to split the group which migrates and expands territory. At the same time, Brook views shooting as effective when carried out by groundbased control groups who do planned hunting and eliminate an entire wild pig group. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC) is the lead in removing wild pigs in the province through its Feral Wild Boar Control Program. If landowners spot wild boars on their property, Brook discourages producers from trying to deal with the problem on their own. Wild pigs are dangerous and need to be eliminated with specific methods to be effective. Instead, he recommends that landowners contact his project or the SCIC for assistance. B
The wild pig project tracking wild pigs with a helicopter. Photo credit: Dr. Ryan Brook
Wild Pig Information • Wildlife Ecology and Community Engagement Lab, University of Saskatchewan http://wildpigscanada.ca/about/ our-team/
• The Feral Wild Boar Control
Program is administered by the SCIC and is part of the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. It is involved in compensating for damage as well as for controlling feral wild boar. To report a sighting call 1-888-935-0000, or see https://www.saskcropinsurance. com/wildlife/feral-wild-boarcontrol-program/
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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Feature A Passion For Soil Health Hjertaas Farm Wins TESA Award
Blain and Naomi Hjertaas of Redvers received the TESA environmental award at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association Annual General Meeting and Convention in June. They have been farming for 45 years on the Century Farm his grandparents from Norway homesteaded back in 1915. For the Hjertaas family, being good stewards of the land has always been important. The family’s goal has always been: “You should leave the land in better shape than you received it.” When Hjertaas first began farming, taking over from his parents, he focused on growing grain using the latest in technology. But by the early 2000s, he worried that the future of his farm’s productivity might be in doubt. “After about 25 years of doing that, I began to realize that my soil health was going backwards,” Hjertaas explained. Looking for a solution, he gradually phased out of grain farming, replacing it with perennial grasses and acquiring some cattle. “Ever since, things got better and better,” he said. Soon after, the family also adopted a different model for the farm called regenerative agriculture that uses holistic management principles. “Basically, all holistic management is is a better decision-making system,” he stated. Regenerative agriculture is a huge movement around the world that is
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helping to restore depleted farmlands in places like Africa and India. “It’s not mainstream yet, but it’s getting there,” he added. The Hjertaas family was one of five families who formed the Southeast Holistic Management Group in 2003 which was an important factor in the family's success. The group meets monthly to share ideas and offer each other support. Holistic management helped them to make better decisions as they began to regenerate the land, develop their farm and grow their cattle herd.
They don’t understand how animals will fix the environment. They aren’t the problem. The main principles of holistic management are improving the land, achieving financial security and realizing quality of life. Soil health is an important factor in regenerative farming. “So, when we begin to build that soil all sorts of good things happen,” Hjertaas noted. Soil health has become his passion. According to him, having healthy soil is the key to human health and profitability. “Healthy soil is directly related to how
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much carbon is in the soil,” he explained, adding, “Over the last 130-140 years, we have been farming carbon out of the soil.” A sign of depleted soil health is the rise in fertilizer use in Canada in the last 30-40 years, which actually masks the loss of soil quality, he maintained. After switching farming models, it took a few years to build and recover the soil. On his own farm, Hjertaas saw increased production in about three to five years. “You can start to increase the number of cattle on the same piece of land, and things start to get better,” he added. Notably, he hasn’t changed the amount of land he farms, but the land has become more productive allowing him to increase his herd size. He also points out that holistic management and regenerative agriculture is not the same as organic farming. Equipment, technologies and fertilizers are still used but their use is managed differently. “But what I think what tends to happen is that we use way too much of it” and fertilizers then mask any problems with the soil, he said. In regenerative farming, “sustainability is probably the gateway to regeneration.” For Hjertaas, sustainability means staying level and he wanted to take it a step further with the regenerative model “where your soil health gets better, your profits get better, your quality of life gets better – and that’s what regenerative agriculture is.” To improve soil health in regenerative farming, the key is photosynthesis and returning carbon to the soil. A wellmanaged regenerative pasture can capture solar energy and stay green for about 220 to 250 days of the year, compared to a conventional crop which is green about 70 days. “It has the potential to capture solar energy and put sugar down into the ground. The sugar from the photosynthesis goes down into the roots and it exudes out into the soil which feeds the microorganisms. And the microorganisms are ultimately what create the carbon in the soil,” Hjertaas explained. One of the effects of increased
SEPTEMBER 2018
Feature There are some in Canadian society today who believe that cattle harm the environment. Hjertaas responds to them by saying, “They don’t understand how animals will fix the environment. They aren’t the problem.” He noted that it’s the management of livestock at issue, not the livestock itself, when people point to an overgrazed pasture. Producers can change their management to make livestock healthy for the land. There needs to be huge herds of herbivore grazers to get the grass healthy. “That’s the message that we need to get out to the consumers of the world. They see the negative all the time,” he said.
soil carbon is the ability of the soil to hold more water and maintain productivity through a dry spell, whereas on poorer soils large amounts of rainfall drain away and production drops. Capturing solar energy is connected to carbon sequestration, a huge environmental issue today. As part of the Soil Carbon Coalition, Hjertaas began testing his soil for carbon in 2011. When it was tested three years later, soil carbon increased by 6.19 tonnes/ha per year. He noted that these results demonstrate that adaptive grazing has allowed plants to maximize their photosynthesis, ultimately increasing microbial life and soil carbon. One of the foundational elements in regenerative farming and healthy soils is animals, particularly cattle. “If you want to be a regenerative farmer growing crops without animals, it becomes more difficult,” said Hjertaas. “We need animals for healthy soil.” He pointed out that animals, especially huge herds of grazing animals, have helped to develop the soils among the various plains regions around the globe. “If you want to have healthy, fertile, carbon-rich soils, it’s very difficult to do with cropping alone,” he added. At the same time, Hjertaas sees a huge opportunity for cooperation in developing healthy soils between those raising livestock and those growing grains.
SEPTEMBER 2018
The basis to success in building healthy soils is the movement of animals across the landscape. Movement allows for plants to have a maximum recovery time for photosynthesis and for building soil carbon. “In planned grazing, we’re planning for the health of the animals and the health of the plants, and so the key is the recovery time,” Hjertaas explained. Hjertaas plans the movement of his cattle to allow vegetation to fully recover so that when they come back to graze, they will not hurt the plants in any way. Grazing management and knowing how long to rest the grass comes down to the experience of the producer. Management is the key to keeping cattle in regenerative agriculture. It is not an organic operation, so he still needs to brand his cows and provide health care like other operations. “They probably graze longer than most,” he said.
that showed that his regenerative farm had almost double the number of birds and four or five more species compared to a conventional farm. It had 32 species of birds and 16 types of grasses. “To me this is an indicator of a healthier ecosystem,” he said. He is currently part of a study conducted by the University of Alberta on carbon sequestration, plant diversity, wildlife and the socioeconomic impact. Quality of life is one of the features of holistic management. Hjertaas has seen a change in lifestyle and positive social benefits. “Life got better,” he said. By working smarter, he has been able to reduce the number of hours needed for farm work and to lower the stress load. As for the future, Blain and Naomi Hjertaas are transitioning out of the farm as a new generation of the family is taking over the family farm. Meanwhile, they continue to be involved in the regenerative agricultural movement, teaching and sharing knowledge about holistic farming through workshops, conferences and farm tours for individual farmers and organizations. There is a huge opportunity in the regenerative movement to produce and market nutrient-rich foods. “It is not difficult. Anyone can do it,” Hjertaas recommends for anyone interested in farming regeneratively or improving their soil health. B
Another benefit of healthy soil and good livestock management is the return of endangered species and wildlife. He has observed flourishing flora and fauna such as deer, moose and birds as well as the rare lady slipper and tiger lily. “As I begin the process of building the soil health, then the conditions that the tiger lily liked are all of a sudden there again and it will start to grow again,” he explained. Hjertaas said that his farm has been involved in a number of studies that have helped to quantify the revitalization of the soil and environment. For example, it was part of an Agriculture Canada study
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 25
Connecting Sustainability and Beef Production in Canada
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DRIVING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
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Our 3rd party auditors are also beef producers and understand the industry. It takes about 4hrs and is mostly done in the comfort of your home, through discussion and review of your records. This 3rd party verification gives credit towards the excellent things you do.
ENHANCING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE WHOLESOMENESS OF BEEF To learn more about Visit verifiedbeefproductionplus.ca or contact Coy Schellenberg, VBP+ in Saskatchewan: SK Coordinator, at 306.859.9110 or SK@verifiedbeef.ca
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SEPTEMBER 2018
NEW FUNDING UNDER CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP (CAP)
IN THE NEWS: McDonald’s Canada To Serve ‘SUSTAINABLE’ Beef!
• VBP+ Registered (on-farm audited) Beef Producers in SK may be eligible for:
• 50% up to $15,000
• towards eligible livestock equipment and practices
• TO LEARN MORE, VISIT saskatchewan.ca/CAP - click on ‘Risk Management’, click on ‘Assurance Systems Programs’, click on ‘Producer Rebate’. *Information regarding eligible equipment/practices, and how to apply, should be updated regularly.
WANT TO BECOME REGISTERED WITH THE VBP+ PROGRAM? VBP+ REGISTRATION STEPS •
contact our office to request a validation on-farm audit
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complete: Enrollment Form, SelfAssessment, and VBP+ Training
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VBP+ IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY THE CFIA To learn more about Visit verifiedbeefproductionplus.ca or contact Coy Schellenberg, VBP+ in Saskatchewan: SK Coordinator, at 306.859.9110 or SK@verifiedbeef.ca
Feature Trip Inspections Focus on Safety First Safety is the main goal for developing legislation governing trip inspections and safety is also the main message that the government wants to get out to trucking operators. Being safe not only protects the owner or driver of the vehicle but others on the road. Safety also extends to the commodity being transported by farmers related to the moving of livestock, bales and grain. One of the foundations of safety is the trip inspection. Regulations surrounding trip inspections are explained in the Saskatchewan Trucker’s Guide. Some commercial vehicles meeting a certain weight threshold need to be inspected. According to the most recent regulations, commercial vehicles that transport goods or passengers and that have a registered weight of 11,794 kg or more, as well as buses seating over 10 people, need to be inspected. The trip inspection is carried out by the driver or a qualified person every 24 hours that the vehicle is in use before traveling on a public road. The purpose of the trip inspection is to ensure that the owner and driver of the vehicle inspect the vehicle or vehicle and trailer for certain items. Thus, when minor or major defects are found, they can be corrected within the time frame required by the regulations. The carrier must provide a list of inspection items to the person carrying out the inspection in the form of Schedule I of the Regulations. This schedule must be carried by the driver and produced on demand at an inspection. If the trip inspection is completed by someone other than the driver, that name has to be on the report and carried with the driver during the 24-hour period until the next inspection. Drivers must submit copies of the trip inspection reports to the carrier every 20 days and carriers have to keep the reports on file for six months.
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The inspection schedule has to be a written document or an electronic document that is equal to a written document. An inspection schedule may vary in format, but it has to list the required information. There are 23 items to be inspected. The Trucker’s Guide provides a sample form of the schedule, but it can also be purchased. A trip inspection makes the vehicle owner responsible for training the driver to conduct an inspection properly according to the schedule, complete the correct documentation on the report, and notify the owner about defects. Minor defects must be corrected before the next trip inspection, but for a major defect the vehicle cannot be operated on or over a public highway until corrected. It also makes the driver responsible for the inspection to be conducted properly, and they can be liable for any violations of the inspection. The legislation does not call for a pre-trip or post-trip inspection, but many commercial carriers have their own internal policies requiring employees to conduct both as part of a preventable maintenance program. Questions often arise about trip inspections for agricultural vehicles that travel out of province, such as trucks transporting cattle herds from pasture to farm across the border or within the province or trips with show animals to events. It is important to note that trip inspections are not just for Saskatchewan vehicles, but are required all across Canada, although the requirements may vary slightly from Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan drivers must be ready to comply with requirements in other jurisdictions, while commercial vehicles registered elsewhere in Canada must comply with Saskatchewan’s regulations. Moreover, trip inspection requirements for agricultural equipment, livestock trucks and livestock trailers depend on
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whether they meet the definition of a commercial vehicle. All vehicles that the regulations classify as commercial vehicles have to be inspected if they are traveling on a public road. There are no situational exemptions or distance requirements for agricultural purposes. However, a farm vehicle is a commercial vehicle with certain exemptions. A twoaxle or three-axle straight farm truck that is not towing a trailer or farm equipment would be exempt. The regulations define farm equipment as equipment that is designed and intended for use in farming operations. Some vehicles are not regarded as farm equipment, including a truck, semi-trailer, full trailer, pony trailer, farm equipment loaded on a truck or trailer or that is towing nonfarm equipment. Therefore, a three-axle tandem grain truck would not need a trip inspection report. But a two-axle truck towing a trailer on a public highway and having a combined weight of 11,794 kg would need a trip inspection report even if it is hauling agricultural goods. Furthermore, vehicles hauling hay or straw bales are exempt from the requirements if the bales are hauled by the farmer within 50 km of the location of origin. The vehicle cannot operate on provincial highways listed in the regulations, except to cross a highway. The regulations also set out how the bales need to be loaded. B For further information on trip inspections and truck class and weight regulations, see: The Saskatchewan Truckers Guide http://publications.gov. sk.ca/documents/18/95455-95455MHI-0082_2017_Truckers_Guide_Final. pdf; or https://www.saskatchewan. ca/business/transportation-and-roadconstruction/information-for-truckersand-commercial-trucking-companies/ regulations-and-road-restrictions.
SEPTEMBER 2018
Science and Production Who Does a Livestock Inspector Work For? by Jason Pollock, CEO, Livestock Services of SK
In a recent conversation with some frontline inspectors, I had the opportunity to ask them this question: Who does a livestock inspector work for? It was an interesting conversation as they told me a variety of stories about their experiences. The obvious answer is that an inspector works for LSS as that is who signs their paycheck. That is true in a sense, but the fact is that LSS inspectors work for the livestock industry. We work for the producers and owners. The inspection fees cover off not only inspections when things go smoothly but, more importantly, they cover costs associated with the many incidents where discrepancies and additional verification is required resulting in redirects, withholds, and returns to rightful owners. This is where our inspectors add the most value to the industry. As a producer, I have been the recipient of a call from an inspector informing me of some abnormalities in one of my shipments to market. It was a little embarrassing, but I was really glad he was doing his job and I didn’t sell one of my neighbour’s yearlings by mistake. It happens easily especially when we are in a hurry and the trucks are waiting. My kids say everything is calm in the corrals until I see the first truck rolling in and then they just look for cover. In this business, we all strive to keep things straight and our livestock where they belong, but “stuff” happens. When this “stuff” happens, our inspection team is there to work for the industry to keep things straight. They are trained to look for secondary and tertiary brands, abnormalities, marks of other sorts, tags and RFID buttons, etc., to figure out the full ownership details before releasing funds. The legislation we operate under requires us to ask questions, to seek proof of ownership and to sort through various circumstances when you unload your cattle. SEPTEMBER 2018
When your livestock is being inspected, the inspector is not working for you at that point in time. They are working for every other livestock owner in the industry when they look at your animals. They are operating under the expectation that they will not find any abnormalities between the manifest that you filled out and the animals they are inspecting. They verify that the animals bear the same information contained in the manifest. When there is a difference, they attempt to identify why there is a difference immediately, if possible. This type of action happens often, but due to workload and efficiency needs at unloading, it is often done after you’ve left. You may get a call regarding your consignment when you get home, or the inspector may be able to sort things out using a database transaction search verifying what you’ve told him or her. Our goal is to provide our service to the industry without holding up the business transaction. We want to support the business transaction and verify for the buyer that they are getting what they paid for and that there will be no issues with their purchase. We are also supporting the timely payment of the owners of the animals. Having said all this, inspectors are human, and conditions are not always
favourable. It is important to do your part by clearly branding and by describing your consignment accurately. Your effort will aid in inspection efficiency and accuracy. Every year, LSS inspects over 1.5 million head of animals which translates into a significant sum of money. Our people are dedicated to facilitating commerce while fulfilling their regulatory responsibility. The next time you crack the latch and watch your hard work walk off the trailer, remember that the friendly face inspecting your manifest and comparing it to the load of animals is working hard for everyone else at that moment in time. They will work just as hard for you when all the other trailer doors open and your neighbours unload their livestock. Our team works diligently to keep all the mishaps and mistakes straight as they repeat the process week in and week out all across the province. They are dedicated to keeping things in order and going the extra mile for everyone when required. I am proud of the team we have and know that they are a dedicated bunch. They are dedicated to you, the animals’ owner, because that’s who a livestock inspector works for. B
Volunteers at the Beef Education exhibit in Regina from August 1-5. The exhibit was part of the “The Farm” at the Queen City Ex.
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 29
Science and Production In Defense of the Cow A look at the Canadian Context of Livestock Emissions In environmental circles, cows get blamed for a large share of climate change. While they do contribute to carbon emissions, their part is often exaggerated while the benefits from cattle go largely unmentioned. In addition, misunderstandings about livestock contributions to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) has resulted in government policies that could lead to alarming social shifts. At the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences taking place in Regina in this past June, Dr. Ryan Katz-Rosene, assistant professor at University of Ottawa’s School of Political Studies, made waves by challenging the oversimplification that cattle and meat are “bad” for the environment. Instead, his research strives to present a more complex and balanced picture of the relationship between livestock and the environment, considering both their costs and benefits. Beef Business spoke to Dr. Katz-Rosene about his research and the relationship between cattle and carbon. Katz-Rosene’s research examines the greenhouse gas footprint of the livestock sector globally and domestically and it strives to contextualize what he calls a “very complicated dynamic.” What makes his research unique is that it considers the Canadian cattle production context apart from the global and looks at costs as well as benefits. He also hopes to get across the important message that certain types of livestock production provide ecological benefits. His conclusions come at a time when the popular press and parts of society are emphasizing the environmental damage caused by livestock. “Livestock offer a tremendous number of benefits to our society in terms of food production and a whole range of other benefits, and in terms of the social impact of those foods, the health impact of those foods, and the economic impact of their production,” he stated. Furthermore, because policy is affected, the negative environmental costs that are associated with livestock production have to be presented in a balanced way that 30
take into consideration the contextual factors. Blame the Cow The prevailing negative image of the cow as an animal that damages the environment has gained steam in popular culture and has even permeated public policy so that Canadians are being discouraged from consuming cattle byproducts like nutritionally-rich meat and dairy.
Livestock offer a tremendous number of benefits to our society in terms of food production and a whole range of other benefits Katz-Rosene recalls where the negative image of cattle originated. One specific document that had a profound impact on shaping views about livestock was Livestock’s Long Shadow, a report put out about a decade ago by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. “It was the first major cataloguing of a whole range of impacts associated with livestock production,” he explained, calling it the first headlinemaking report on global GHGs. Based on the FAO’s own research, the report claimed that livestock emissions were responsible for 18% of global anthropogenic emissions, emphasizing that this was equivalent to the transport sector. “That was really one of the first instances where livestock were vilified in environmental terms,” he observed. Subsequently, this figure gets replayed in the media many times. However, KatzRosene believes that it is a disingenuous comparison because this 18% figure is calculated by using all components of the entire livestock production chain, including such factors as emissions from
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deforestation in planet hotspots like the Amazon. “If you are going to compare it to another sector like transport, you would have to do a similar kind of catchall and use the entire supply chain and that’s not the case,” he noted. Transport sector calculations only use tail-pipe emissions and don’t consider emissions as the result of the construction of highways and airports and the whole transport infrastructure. Another influential work was the popular film Cowspiracy that also used an inflated figure of 51% for GHG emissions and factored in carbon emissions from animal respiration. For Katz-Rosene, the science being used is troubling, and the GHG claim is unsubstantiated in research. He noted that the scientific literature continues to emphasize global level emissions without considering the broader picture – that there are carbon sources and sinks and the impacts from different types of emissions. “My worry is that if we don’t really think about livestock production both ecologically, in terms of the way livestock fits within the carbon cycle, and in broader socio-economic and socio-ecological terms, we kind of miss out on all of the benefits, which in my view do have some sort of negating impact on the cost,” Katz-Rosene stated. The Canadian Context These populist views of cattle also fail to realize that beef production practices in Canada differ from other parts of the world. Canadian beef production gets lumped into the global picture and is vilified, although it is one of the most efficient and has one of the lowest emission levels of beef-producing countries. “We have very different production contexts here in Canada,” he pointed out, adding that several aspects of the Canadian beef production context have helped lower emissions. For example, there has been a decline in the beef herd over the last decade, and there is no real growth in the amount of land used for beef production. continued on page 32 SEPTEMBER 2018
Science and Production Active Missing Livestock Files September 2018
Area missing from
Number of head
Animal description
Brand location
RCMP subdivision
Livestock Branch contact
Date reported
Maryfield
30
Yrlg steers
LH
Moosomin
Moosomin 306-435-4582
Aug 20, 2018
Stenen
3
Heifers
LH
Sturgis
Yorkton 306-786-5712
Aug 8, 2018
Norquay
2
Heifers
RR
Sturgis
Yorkton 306-786-5712
July 17, 2018
Meadow Lake
1
Steer
LH
Meadow Lake
North Battleford 306-446-7404
July 9, 2018
Brand description
Information provided by Livestock Services of Saskatchewan
SEPTEMBER 2018
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 31
Science and Production Livestock Emissions cont. from pg. 30 “There is certainly not very much if any deforestation for the purposes of livestock or feed production as there is in other parts of the world,” he observed. One of Katz-Rosene’s research areas focuses on calculating emissions in the Canadian domestic livestock supply chain in the same way that the FAO has carried out calculations for global levels. Using GHG emissions that are collected by Environment Canada, he estimated that direct enteric emissions from livestock including enteric fermentation and manure management equal about 4.7% of Canada’s total anthropogenic emissions, which is about 56% of the agricultural sector’s emissions. Furthermore, in comparison, the global supply chain figure is about 14.5% to 16% of global emissions, while Canada’s is much lower at around 6%. “It’s a much smaller share of Canada’s GHG emissions and I think that is a message that is just not out there,” he added. He added that cattle producers in Canada have to make it known “about the
relative lower impact at the domestic level because this growing attention to the livestock sector is just going to continue to grow,” he said. Katz-Rosene stressed that the problem with calculating livestock emissions is that it’s a complicated issue. A number of factors have a negating role, such as carbon sequestration, which is underreported. He sees several issues that will continue to put more and more pressure on the livestock sector in the future. These include the growing effects of climate change, Canada Food Guide recommendations shifting towards a plant-based diet and a reduction of meat consumption, growing ethical arguments and the pursuit of ideological narratives. “If the livestock sector is smart they will start to consider how they are getting out their message in terms of the real impact and the real benefits,” Katz-Rosene concluded. Misused Science One of the factors that has helped to shape the negative impact of cattle for
the environment has been imperfect science and a misuse of scientific data. But according to Katz-Rosene, it is not so much the scientific figures themselves, but how they are being interpreted. The same set of data has been used to support positions on each side. Rather than crossing swords with detractors over data, Katz-Rosene suggested that cattle producers would be better off by cataloguing their achievements and emphasizing and discussing their benefits as well as honestly recognizing the contributions of livestock to GHG emissions in order to “demonstrate awareness that the industry is trying to be even better and trying to produce those benefits with a lower impact.” He pointed out that the livestock industry has a lot to offer in terms of nutrient dense food, livelihoods for Canadian farm families, jobs, and a contribution to domestic food production. He also noted that the message is not reaching popular culture circles about all of the steps being taken to improve the sector like the Beef Code of Practice, the
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Science and Production traceability program, sustainable beef programs, new anti-microbial regulations, improved genetics, reduced water use, participation in environmental projects as well as the innovative pasture grazing practices found in Saskatchewan. “In terms of a take-away for your members, they are seeing pressure from the nutritional side of things, pressure from the environmental side of things, and pressure from the ethical side of things, and the way all of those narratives are iterated are probably too simplistic and over-simplified,” Katz-Rosene summarizes. “Therefore, focus on what your industry has to offer and be honest about the costs.” Good Meat, Bad Meat Because of environmental impacts, some media reports have been plugging the idea of a meat tax. Katz-Rosene cautioned that it’s too simplistic to label meat as bad for health and the environment and tax it to reduce consumption. He does not believe a meat tax will adequately deal with actual environmental concerns. “In a domestic context, I’ve seen in the scholarly literature about a tax on ruminants specifically and, again, for me that doesn’t make sense, because it doesn’t get to the real heart of the problem – which is fossil fuels,” he stated. Furthermore, he pointed out, livestock production in the Canadian context contributes to reduced emissions through practices like rotational grazing, planting trees and “really thinking restoratively about how to produce livestock.” “Some forms of grazing can be carbon neutral if not carbon negative on the lifecycle,” he noted. On the other side of the equation, KatzRosene believes that there needs to be a better understanding of the carbon flux and more study is needed to understand carbon sequestration. “Grasslands sequester carbon and we have very little scientific knowledge about that and it differs from one plot of land to the next,” he explained. Carbon sequestration is a very complicated issue that needs to be included in the net carbon balance. Furthermore, “if you tax meat you get a double negative,” he pointed out. The SEPTEMBER 2018
situation would arise where carbonintensive forms of crop production requiring inputs, fertilizers and fossil fuels would escape any taxation for emissions from their production chain, but a tax on meat would cause meat prices to rise. As a result, consumers would shift to buying protein foods produced by carbonintensive forms, which would lead to their increased production, thereby increasing fossil-based emissions. “That’s why a carbon price based on the carbon flux makes sense rather than a tax on a specific food which doesn’t make sense,” he explained. Katz-Rosene feels that it would be unfortunate to tax food produced from ruminants given the potential role they can play in the food supply and food security without drawing tremendously on resources.
The point of sustainability is about thinking broadly – it’s not just about reducing emissions. Instead, the Ottawa assistant professor believes that real change for the environment would come from providing incentives to agricultural producers who are producing their commodities in a more ecologically friendly way. The carbon tax attempts to address the underlying issue in a more neutral way. “The price of a carbon-based fuel will go up, and those producers who can produce what they do in a more efficient or environmentally friendly way will be able to stay in business, and the others will have to figure out how to innovate to produce with less fossil fuel sources,” he stated. Sustainability One of the key concepts for the beef industry has been sustainability. The term is also a buzzword used by environmentalists which has been borrowed from the foundational human development goals of the 1980s. KatzRosene stressed that sustainability means different things to different people. Citing an early definition,
“sustainable development was defined as developing the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations,” he said. “That’s one core definition that the cattle industry could look at and ask, ‘how is what we are doing sustainable in the present without compromising the needs of the future?’” He also suggested that the livestock sector might wish to take a new robust approach to the concept by looking at the United Nations sustainable development goals for 2016-2030. By examining the 17 wide-ranging goals like reducing poverty and hunger, the industry can explore its contribution to these goals and the areas where it needs to improve. For example, “in terms of clean water, there are ways of managing livestock that can damage water bodies and there are ways of managing livestock that don’t have such a negative impact on water quality,” he explained. In another example, the industry can talk about its contribution to food security, and how efficient production methods in Canada are working towards producing healthy, nutritious and affordable food including meat and dairy. “And, of course, climate change, you could talk about the different types of production and shifts in thinking in producing livestock ecologically,” he stated. Moreover, the current simplistic thinking about livestock emissions also misses the big picture that Katz-Rosene is trying to capture in his research. He observed that there is a lack of ecological thinking about healthy ecosystems. He supports the idea of systemic thinking about the role of the large ruminant in a prairie ecosystem as well as treating the farm ecosystem as a natural system within that ecozone. Before industrialization, large grazing ruminants filled an important role in that ecosystem. “But the point of sustainability is that you are thinking about things broadly. It’s not just about reducing emissions. It’s a big picture approach. It’s about the social side, the economic side, the environmental side, and the political side,” he summed up. Sustainability can be viewed in terms of how the livestock sector as a whole contributes to these aspects. B
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Science and Production Market Prices cont. from pg. 18 Perillat sees the strength of the Canadian dollar as another major factor impacting prices. A rising dollar would see a decline in calf prices, while a drop in the dollar value could boost the calf market. Trade uncertainty related to foreign trade agreements and potential sanctions is another factor leading to caution on the markets. Perillat has not yet observed any substantial impact on the beef markets from the trade wars between the U.S. and China or from the U.S., Canada and Mexico over NAFTA. However he does see concern remain about the insecurity of future trade relations and fears of dramatic shifts in NAFTA negotiations. Perillat points to the decline in the hog market and lowered fourth quarter projections for hog and pork prices as a result of the trade volatility. “That could put some more pressure on the cattle market too and be negative that way,” he added. The effects of trade sanctions and tariffs have not yet been felt on the cattle markets, but only add to the general atmosphere of uncertainty for markets. On the other hand, Perillat notes that any positive developments on the foreign trade front with successful negotiations and signed agreements could exert a positive influence and would mean that calf prices stay high. “It’s so unpredictable,” he stated.
Looking to year-on-year trends, Perillat observed that, until recently, producers have been enjoying higher cattle prices than last year, especially for calves. “The feeders and even some of the fed cattle prices are a bit higher than a year ago,” he said. He views the price trends last fall as rather counter-seasonal. “We actually saw prices increase a bit into October on the calf market last fall, which isn’t normal,” he explained. Perillat does not expect to see the same trend of strengthening calf prices again this fall. From this point and into the fall run, he anticipates calf prices will move downward rather than grow stronger. “But for the most part,” he observed, “we’ve been stronger than a year ago.” In terms of demand trends, the U.S. has shown a very high level of demand, including for calves, which has supported the Canadian market. There is potential for U.S. buyers to step into the Canadian calf market and buy, unlike last year when they were not active. U.S. buyer support would help to boost calf prices. Perillat has also observed two different trends in U.S. and Canadian herd sizes that could exert a negative impact on the market. Over the past three years, the U.S. herd has expanded significantly. Last fall, this growth put pressure on the calf market with an influx of calves on the market. Although U.S. calf numbers have remained high, the market still has shown strong beef demand. “There is going to be more cattle and a bigger calf crop in
the U.S. That’s something that could be a negative on the market,” Perillat observed. On the other hand, growth in the Canadian herd has remained flat during the last three years. He projects that the Canadian herd could even shrink in 2018 due to the dry conditions and a resulting sell off by producers. How these herd numbers might affect fall prices is more difficult to predict given the close connections between the Canadian and U.S. markets. “We’ve seen our prices go premium to the United States,” he noted, cautioning that the larger volumes of cattle on the U.S. market may limit the movement of prices upward. “Even into next year, cattle supplies are going to remain pretty ample around North America,” Perillat added. Regarding key market trends going into the future, Perillat has observed the basis levels change over the past year, especially on the fed cattle market. “Alberta traditionally has been at a discount to the U.S., but, for the most part, over the last almost two years Alberta has been at a premium to the United States. It basically had the strongest fed cattle market in North America for the last year or so, which has been very positive,” he stated, adding that this trend has supported calf prices. In the medium term, though, producers can expect calf prices to stay relatively strong compared to other regions. B
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Stewardship Livestock Grazing and Native Grassland Conservation by Diego Steinaker, SK Prairie Conservation Action Plan
Prairie grasslands are our most threatened ecosystem, making them a conservation priority. Around the world, temperate grasslands are faced with continuing habitat loss and fragmentation, mainly due conversion to cropland. In North America, tall-grass prairie has been reduced to 1%, and mixed-grass and short-grass prairie to 20-30% of their former range, together exceeding losses reported for any other major ecological community on the continent. In Saskatchewan, it is estimated that between 17% and 21% of the original native prairie remains intact. The endangerment of grassland habitat in Canada has cascaded into the endangerment of many grassland species. More than 60 Canadian species at risk depend on this habitat, including plains bison, swift fox and Greater Sagegrouse and many grassland birds such as Sprague’s Pipit and Chestnut-collared Longspur. Livestock grazing is one of the few recognized land uses compatible with native prairie conservation. Grasslands evolved with and depend upon herbivory. Proper grazing management can stimulate plant growth, enhance nutritive value and accelerate nutrient cycling. Grazing plays a key role in maintaining species-rich habitats by controlling more dominant species and allowing other species to increase in the understory. Moderate grazing also removes excessive litter and alters the fuel-load, changing fire-return cycles and fire intensity. Thus, grazing can be used to intentionally manipulate fire fuel-loads in prescribed burning programs. Overall, effective grazing management may contribute to sustainable and healthy natural grasslands. There are a number of agencies and organizations representing producers, industry, provincial and federal governments, non-government organizations and research and
SEPTEMBER 2018
Photo credit: D. Steinaker
educational institutions, that deliver prairie conservation activities which benefit the social, cultural, economic and ecological fabric of Saskatchewan. Since 1998, the Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) Partnership has brought those groups to work together under a common vision for prairie conservation in Saskatchewan. The PCAP Partners believe that more can be accomplished by acting together than by acting alone, and that it is possible and desirable for groups with diverse interests and needs to find mutually agreeable solutions to the challenges of prairie conservation. The PCAP Partners see prairie as a working landscape that can include people and their livelihoods as a positive part of the ecosystem. Key and unique to this partnership is the collaboration with the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), that provides a Chair and a Representative to the Partnership as a means to recognize the critical importance of the ranching community to the conservation of native prairie, and to emphasize how central the concept of a working landscape is to the vision of the PCAP Partnership. The SK PCAP Partnership recognizes the importance of collaboration beyond Saskatchewan borders, including nationally and internationally. Across provinces, the PCAP Partnership
interacts with the Alberta Prairie Conservation Forum, the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association, and the Carolinian Canada Coalition. On an international scale, PCAP liaises with organizations including the Chihuahua Mexico Grasslands Partnership, which was modelled on PCAP, the Grassland Foundation in Nebraska, U.S., the Transboundary Grassland Partnership, and the Alliance for the GrasslandsInitiative for the Conservation of the South American Southern Cone Grasslands, in Argentina. One main goal of PCAP is to promote adoption of land management and grazing practices that have a positive impact on biodiversity, species at risk, and prairie ecosystem health. An effective grazing management seeks to optimize livestock production and maintain productive grasslands by minimizing overgrazing, improving forage production and increasing plant and animal diversity. An effective grazing management involves, among other practices, adjusting stocking rates to livestock demand and forage availability, allowing effective rest periods after grazing and deferring grazing during sensitive periods by implementing appropriate rotation systems. Grazing, when well-managed, allows healthy grasslands to be sustained, livestock operations to meet economic continued on page 36
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Stewardship Livestock Grazing cont. from pg. 35 requirements and other plants and animals to flourish. Well-managed grazing practices can even reverse damage and help to restore grassland health. PCAP partners have developed during the last years’ successful programs that include livestock grazing management as a conservation strategy. For example, the SSGA in partnership with the South of the Divide Conservation Action Program Inc. (SODCAP Inc.) have developed Habitat Management Agreements with producers who own or manage identified critical habitat for species at risk in southwest Saskatchewan. Producers are funded for implementing sustainable management practices such as upholding appropriate stocking rates and applying sustainable grazing plans. Another example that uses livestock grazing as a tool in conservation projects is the named “Grass Banks”, which are lands where forage is made available to
ranchers, at a reduced fee, in exchange for tangible conservation benefits being produced on participants’ home ranches. Lands in grass banks can be entirely private, public, or a mix of both. The main goal of grass-banking is to have a community-based conservation plan that provides meaningful benefits for both the environment and participating ranchers. Several grass banks have emerged across the U.S. and Canada. A recent example in Saskatchewan is the grass bank project implemented among Grasslands National Park (GNP), SSGA, SODCAP and local ranchers to conserve habitat for species at risk, particularly the Greater Sage-grouse, Sprague’s Pipit, and Chestnut-collared Longspur. The project area covers 40,000 acres of public and private land, much of which is considered critical habitat for these species at risk. Local ranchers manage grazing on portions of the East Block of GNP and their adjacent private land with a goal of achieving habitat targets for the three species. Habitat targets are set
and measured by SODCAP Inc. Ranchers benefit from the program when they meet the habitat targets through a reduced grazing fee on GNP land, and through a financial incentive from SSGA through the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agriculture Land (SARPAL) program. The project is being undertaken with financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada through the SARPAL fund. With this project, Parks Canada is implementing recovery and conservation for the species at risk by restoring grazing on a landscape where it was excluded for more than 20 years. With parks and protected areas insufficient to sustain prairie biodiversity, the role of private land in grassland conservation is becoming increasingly significant. We have to recognize ranchers and land managers who carefully steward the native prairie. Sustainable prairie management takes years of hard work and compromise, and the positive role of these stewards should be appreciated as well. B
SSGA Welcomes New Director Barry Wasko
Barry Wasko of Eastend, Saskatchewan, joins the SSGA Board of Directors as Director-atLarge.
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) welcomes Barry Wasko to its Board of Directors. Barry was elected as Director-at-Large at the SSGA’s 105th
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Annual General Meeting and Convention in Swift Current on June 12.
boards will also complement his work with SSGA.
Barry and his wife Anne operate Bar 4 Bar Ranches Ltd. near Eastend, Saskatchewan, a third-generation ranch founded in the 1920s. Their ranch includes a commercial cow-calf herd and both backgrounding and grass yearling programs. They run the ranch with the help of one full-time employee.
Barry feels the biggest challenges and concerns that the livestock industry is facing currently are being able to listen to consumers and to communicate knowledge about the livestock business to them. The sustainability and advances achieved by producers need to be conveyed to those outside the industry. Part of being sustainable means remaining viable and profitable.
Together, Barry and Anne have three adult children and eight grandchildren. Barry’s youngest son and family operate a ranch nearby and they work together when needed. For Barry, being involved with SSGA gives him the advantage of being able to stay involved with industry issues and to keep up-to-date on its developments. He feels his experience of being involved on other
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In order to support the livestock industry into the future, Barry believes that SSGA must ensure that our industry’s activities are accurately communicated to producers, government and consumers. In addition, he sees another important role of the SSGA as working proactively on trade issues with national cattle groups.
SEPTEMBER 2018
Association News, Reports, and Events SSGA Holds 105th AGM and Convention Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA) held its 105th Annual General Meeting and Convention on June 1012 in Swift Current. This year’s theme “Raising the Bar” reflected the efforts by cattle producers to strive for continuous improvement, while meeting new industry challenges in sustainable production, profitability and consumer demand. The AGM business session debated 13 resolutions, including those resolutions adopted at the SSGA Zone meetings earlier in the year as well as new resolutions from the floor. There were twelve resolutions adopted. Delegates also voted to fill a Director-at-Large vacancy. Barry Wasko from Eastend joins the SSGA Board as a new Director-at-Large (see pg. 36). At its meeting following the AGM, the Board of Directors elected a new executive. Bill Huber became the new SSGA President, and Shane Jahnke, whose term came to a close, moved to fill the role of Past President. Kelcy Elford was elected First Vice President, Garner Deobald was elected Second Vice President, and Jeff Yorga was re-elected as Finance Chair.
The AGM and Convention included a number of special recognitions. A unique collaboration between the SSGA and the Grasslands National Park on a grass bank pilot project to conserve habitat for species at risk was announced by outgoing SSGA President Shane Jahnke and Adriana Bacheschi, Acting Field Unit Superintendent of the South Saskatchewan Field Unit from Grasslands National Park (see pg. 10). The SSGA also announced it was collaborating with Cherry Insurance AgSecure to offer mass casualty livestock insurance exclusively for SSGA members (see pg. 11). Also, Dr. John McKinnon from the University of Saskatchewan was honoured with a SSGA Honourary Life Membership for his dedicated support and contributions to the beef industry (see pg. 43). The TESA environmental stewardship award was presented at the banquet to Blain and Naomi Hjertaas, who have grown their operation using holistic management practices (see pg. 24-25). The SSGA invited special guests to attend and speak to convention delegates. ThenAgriculture Minister Lyle Stewart opened
the AGM and Convention with an address on provincial achievements and new programs. Deputy Mayor of Swift Current Ryan Plewis brought greetings to the convention. David Anderson, Member of Parliament for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, spoke at the banquet about federal policies and legislation that could impact the livestock industry. David Haywood Farmer, President of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, provided an update of the cattle industry from the national perspective as well as initiatives and activities undertaken by the CCA. The Convention provided a wide range of presentations for producer education and development. Dr. Tom Noffsinger began the first day with a presentation at Heartland Livestock Services on animal care and gave a well-attended demonstration using live cattle on low stress cattle handling. Karen Hodgson, Deputy Director of Trade Negotiations from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provided a trade update, focusing on the NAFTA negotiations which are a top priority for producers right now. Dr. Judy continued on page 46
2018 SSGA Board of Directors
The 2018 SSGA Board of Directors present in photo: (Back row left to right) Henry McCarthy (Zone 1), Norm Nordgulen (Director-at-Large), Joe Gilchrist (Director-at-Large), Roy Rutledge (Director-at-Large), Stephanie Deg (Zone 2), Glen Elford (Director-at-Large), Paula Larson (Director-at-Large), Laird Senft (Angus Affiliate), Jerry Chanig (Director-at-Large), Brad Howe (Zone 4), Chad MacPherson (General Manager); (Front row left to right) Kelly Williamson (Zone 12), Barry Wasko (Director-at-Large), Kimberly Simpson (Zone 7), Shane Jahnke (Past President), Bill Huber (President), Kelcy Elford (First Vice President), Jeff Yorga (Finance Chair), Rod Gamble (Zone 3). For a complete list of board members, see pg. 47. SEPTEMBER 2018
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SSGA 105 th
AGM & CONVENTION June 10 - 12, 2018
Stockade Building - Kinetic Park, Swift Current, SK
Thank You to Our Sponsors Heritage Crescent Point Energy Corp. MNP LLP Pattison Agriculture
Real Agriculture Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Western Litho Printers Western Producer
Gold Ducks Unlimited Canada Merck Animal Health
Union Forage Vetoquinol Canada Inc. Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Young’s Equipment Zoetis
Silver Allflex Canada BMO - Bank of Montreal Canadian Cattle Identification Agency Canadian Western Agribition
Elanco Canada Ltd. Gibson Livestock 2017 Ltd. Great Western Brewing Company JGL Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence
South West Animal Health Centre (2013) PC LTD TD Canada Trust Titan Livestock Inc. Westway Feed Products
Bronze Bio Agri Mix LP Mankota Stockmen’s Weigh Co. Ltd. Boehringer Ingelheim Canada Ltd. Real Estate Centre - Gord Kozroski Canadian Hereford Association Red Coat Cattle Feeders Inc. CIBC Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Farm Credit Canada SaskTel Heartland Livestock Services Solvet 38 | ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
South Country Equipment TEAM - The Electronic Auction Market Tourism Swift Current Tru-Test Group VIDO-InterVac Weyburn Livestock Exchange SEPTEMBER 2018
Thank You to Our Tradeshow Exhibitors Canadian Cattle Identification Agency Cherry Insurance AgSecure Cows in Control Inc. Dutch Industries - Biospreader Gallagher Animal Management Innovation Credit Union Livestock Services of Saskatchewan Merck Animal Health Norheim Ranching Pattison Agriculture Paysen Livestock Equipment Inc. PCAP Proveta Nutrition Ltd. Range Ward Inc. Rebel Nutrition Saskatchewan Bison Association Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association Saskatchewan Charolais Association Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation Saskatchewan Forage Council Saskatchewan Verified Beef Production Inc. Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association Saskatchewan/Canadian Angus Association Simply Agriculture Solutions Inc. Smeaton Fence Supplies Ltd SODCAP Inc. STOCKBOSS Energyfree Livestock Waterer Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards The TIMELESS FENCE System Union Forage
Box 4752, Regina, SK S4P 3Y4 P: 306.757.8523 F: 306.569.8799 SEPTEMBER 2018
E: ssga@sasktel.net W: www.skstockgrowers.com www.skstockgrowers.com |
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Association News, Reports, and Events SSGA 2018 AGM Resolutions Resolution #1 WHEREAS there is funding for the study of Johne’s Disease in beef cattle, but not in multi-grazing species, i.e., goats and sheep, BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby to have funding included for multi-grazing species. Carried Resolution #2 WHEREAS the remaining native prairie is recognized as an imperiled ecosystem; and WHEREAS livestock grazing is one of the few recognized compatible land uses that maintain native prairie; and WHEREAS programs based on the purchase of lands and conservation easements by land trusts have very
limited voluntary uptake by the ranching community, BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the Government of Canada to invest a significant portion of the Nature Fund into styles of programming based on fixed term, renewable agreements, that leverage existing habitat protection services that the ranching community provides and will therefore be more efficient in achieving ecosystem-scale conservation. Carried Resolution #3 WHEREAS The Trespass to Property Act puts the onus on landowners to visibly post their land; and WHEREAS posting land creates additional work and costs for landowners,
VALUE ADDED!
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of SK to amend The Trespass to Property Act to implement a mandatory permission requirement into the trespass act. Carried Resolution #4 WHEREAS Health Canada is proposing to implement a Front of Package label for foods high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar; and WHEREAS scientific data does not support Health Canada’s existing recommendation for saturated fat and sodium; and WHEREAS the implementation of the front of package recommendation would likely cause harm to Canadian health,
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Association News, Reports, and Events BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby Health Canada in opposition to the current Front of Package label proposal. Carried Resolution #5 WHEREAS the high cost of purchasing fire-fighting equipment makes it unaffordable for individual RMs to purchase them, BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby SARM to encourage neighbouring RMs to work together to collaborate on purchasing fire-fighting equipment. Carried Resolution #6 WHEREAS the spread of wild pigs is a growing and serious problem in Saskatchewan,
BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the Government of Canada to expedite the ratification of CPTPP to ensure Canada is one of the first six countries to ratify the CPTPP. Carried Resolution #10 WHEREAS the ability of water suitable for livestock consumption is limiting the growth of the livestock industry in regions of Saskatchewan; and WHEREAS the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) is designed to support the development of secure and sustainable water; WHEREAS water treatment system are currently not eligible for FRWIP funding,
WHEREAS the Government of Saskatchewan doesn’t currently have a plan to address the spread of wild pigs,
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to expand FRWIP to cover water treatment systems. Carried
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Saskatchewan to develop a comprehensive wild pig eradication plan. Carried
Resolution #11 WHEREAS Forage Rainfall Insurance Program (FRIP) is a valuable risk management tool for livestock and forage producers; and
Resolution #7 WHEREAS there are corporations, processors and food manufacturers currently marketing plant proteins for consumption in Canada;
WHEREAS FRIP is currently calculated using provincial production averages,
BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA work with SCIC to make enhancements to FRIP to improve coverage and coverage levels. Carried Resolution #12 WHEREAS the Species at Risk Partnership on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) Program is set to expire in 2020; WHEREAS SARPAL is delivering measurable conservation benefits for species at risk habitat; BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Canada to renew and expand SARPAL funding beyond 2020. Carried Resolution #13 WHEREAS the Government of Canada has identified southwest Saskatchewan as a priority area for conserving species at risk habitat; WHEREAS the SSGA is currently leading a SARPAL project in southwest Saskatchewan that is being well received by local landowners, BE IT RESOLVED that SSGA lobby the Government of Canada to fund a conservation business plan to strategically target conservation investment to further enhance SARPAL programming and to meet priority action measures. Carried
WHEREAS the labelling of these products use terms such as meat and hamburger, BE IT RESOLVED that the SSGA lobby the Government of Canada to not allow the use of the terms meat and hamburger on the labels of plant and lab based protein products marketed in Canada. Carried Resolution #8 WHEREAS Canada is a signatory to the CPTPP trade agreement; and WHEREAS the agreement comes into effect for the first six countries to ratify the agreement, Volunteers at the Beef Education exhibit in Lloydminster from July 11-14. The exhibit was part of the Country Lane at the Colonial Days Fair.
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Association News, Reports, and Events
Premises Identification Brad Howe, Zone 4 chair, presents a donation of $2,500 from Zone 4 to the SSGA. Shane Jahnke, outgoing SSGA president, accepted the donation at the SSGA’s Annual General Meeting in Swift Current in June.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Association News, Reports, and Events Dr. McKinnon Awarded Honourary Life Membership and expert on beef cattle nutrition and management. As a professor at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, he teaches and mentors as well as holds the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Research Chair since December 1, 1992, in the Department of Animal and Poultry Science at the university.
Dr. John McKinnon, professor and researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, received an Honourary Life Membership from the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA). The award was presented during the SSGA’s Annual General Meeting and Convention in Swift Current on June 11 and was given to recognize McKinnon’s support and contributions to the beef industry.
As a teacher and mentor, McKinnon has guided many students in their academic training. He has supervised or co-supervised over 35 masters-level and doctoral-level students and supervised numerous post-doctoral researchers. Many of these individuals have gone on to make their own significant impact in the beef industry and research community.
“John’s someone who has touched the lives of many, if not all, the people in this room through his teaching, his research and outreach work,” Shane Jahnke, outgoing SSGA president, stated during the award presentation at the SSGA AGM and Convention in Swift Current in June. Jahnke, like many attending the convention, was one of McKinnon’s former students.
McKinnon takes a whole systems approach to beef production in his research. His academic work has centered on nutritional and environmental factors influencing the growth and carcass quality of feeder cattle and the nutrition of the breeding herd, the use of wet distiller’s by-products for feedlot cattle, nutritional evaluation of grain screenings for growing cattle, use of real-time ultrasound for predicting carcass quality of breeding and finishing cattle, the impact of the environment on the performance of cattle in Western Canada and the use of high lipid feeds for growing and finishing.
McKinnon is a nationally and internationally respected researcher
McKinnon’s contributions to advance the competitiveness and sustainability
of the Canadian beef industry have been extraordinary. His leadership in collaboration and cross-discipline research has been extremely beneficial to improving the competitive advantage of Canadian beef producers. For cattle producers his research has been more meaningful because it has always had a real-world application in the beef cattle industry. In addition to his academic publications, McKinnon has written numerous articles in cattle industry publications. As well as sharing his research, McKinnon has spearheaded the development and coordination of industry extension events to ensure innovative research findings are communicated directly to producers and cattle feeders, including the Saskatchewan Beef and Forage Symposium, the Western Canadian Feedlot Management School and the Western Nutrition Conference. He also works directly with numerous cow-calf producers, feedlot operators, veterinarians and feed industry personnel on their feeding and management programs. McKinnon has won numerous awards for his many contributions in outreach and public service, most recently the 2015 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. B
Congratulations to the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo team competing at the National High School Rodeo Association Finals on July 15-21, 2018, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. SEPTEMBER 2018
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Association News, Reports, and Events A Report From Bill Huber President, Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association We also welcome David Marit as the new Minister of Agriculture. We look forward to a good working relationship with him as we work towards building a viable and thriving beef industry in the province.
As I write this president’s message after the Annual General Meeting earlier this summer, I must say that being elected SSGA President was a great honour. In these few months since being elected in June, I have received tremendous support from the Executive and the staff at the SSGA office. I sincerely appreciate all of their efforts and assistance. Over the course of my term, I will be looking forward to working with our great Board of Directors on improving the competitiveness and sustainability of our beef industry, starting with our next board meeting at the end of August. Since the AGM, we have been dealing with some important developments that affect our industry. Just a few weeks ago, we were taken by surprise by the unexpected announcement of Lyle Stewart stepping down as Minister of Agriculture. Although we will miss him as Minister of Agriculture, the first thoughts that come to mind are for his health and recovery. I’ve met with Lyle Stewart on several occasions and we had a meeting with him recently this summer. The SSGA has developed an excellent working relationship with (former) Minister Stewart. I respect the work that he has done for agriculture in the province and the support that he has given to our industry. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the former Minister and his family for a swift return to health.
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In the matter of trade, we are constantly monitoring developments on trade issues, particularly the NAFTA negotiations. Trade is one of our major concerns, both with the United States and with other countries as we develop agreements with them. All of us in the province’s farming sector are following the news developments and hoping that no other trade barriers or tariffs will be placed on Canadian products, especially agriculture products. Health Canada has recently announced it has launched a 90-day public consultation on its website on canceling the use of strychnine to kill Richardson’s ground squirrels. The consultation runs to September 27. I encourage everyone to participate in the consultation and make your views known. We all know how much damage ground squirrels can do to pastures and fields. In terms of management, strychnine is a useful tool when used responsibly by producers. SSGA along with other farm groups support the Saskatchewan premier as he continues to oppose the federallyimposed carbon pricing. The federal carbon tax will hurt our province’s beef industry, reducing profits and making the industry uncompetitive on global markets. As part of this equation, the federal government also has not considered or given due credit to the contribution of our grasslands and pastures as important sources of carbon sequestration.
and their responses have been posted to the SSGA website (http://skstockgrowers. com/policy/). We thank the ministries and departments for their attention to our concerns. The resolution regarding The Trespassing Act has been referred to the Ministry of Justice. We appreciate that the government has been open to considering the trespassing issue and that it is supporting the rights of landowners in making changes to The Trespassing Act. It’s been a challenging year again for producers. We have seen moisture and good crops in some of the province, while other areas are suffering another year of drought. Many parts of the province have dry pastures, poor hay and little rain. But other parts of the province have had adequate moisture and good hay and feed crops. Some might want to blame it on global warming, but looking back, it seems like we are going through another weather cycle like we had back in the 1930s and 1980s – periods of drought followed by wet years. Our producers in Saskatchewan are strong-willed people and I’m confident we will pull through this tough period like we have in the past. In closing, I wish that everyone has a successful harvest and has been able to bring in enough straw, hay and winter feed. B
Bill If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call!
Our 105th Annual General Meeting successfully concluded in Swift Current in June with 12 resolutions adopted. The resolutions were forwarded to the respective ministries and departments responsible for the topics being addressed
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
SEPTEMBER 2018
CANADIAN WESTERN AGRIBITION
NOVEMBER 19 - 24, 2018 REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
BEEF EVENTS
Visit agribition.com for the full schedule of events SEPTEMBER 2018
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 45
Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER September 19-20
Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef AGM
September 28-29
Junior Stockman’s & Riding Recitin
Calgary, AB Swift Current, SK
OCTOBER October 1-31
Agriculture Month
October 11
Advertising Deadline for November Edition of Beef Business Magazine
October 23-26
Bud Williams Marketing & Stockmanship School
October 24-27
Manitoba AG EX
Virden, MB Brandon, MB
NOVEMBER November 7-10
Yorkton Harvest Showdown & Fall Cattle Show
Yorkton, SK
November 7-11
FarmFair International
Edmonton, AB
November 8-9
BeefTech
Edmonton, AB
November 14-15
Canadian Forage and Grassland Association AGM
Calgary, AB
November 19-24
Canadian Western Agribition
Regina, SK
November 27-28
Regenerative AG Conference
Brandon, MB
DECEMBER December 5-6
Farm & Food Care SK – Farms at the Table Conference
December 11
Advertising Deadline for January Edition of Beef Business Magazine
Saskatoon, SK
December 11-12
Foraging into the Future Conference
December 12
Prairie Livestock Expo
Swift Current, SK Winnipeg, MB
JANUARY January 16-18
Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference
Regina, SK
January 18
SSGA Semi-Annual Meeting
Regina, SK
SSGA 105th AGM cont. from pg. 37 Currie from the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association explained the federal changes to regulations of medically important anti-microbials for veterinary use coming in December and answered producer questions on the veterinarianclient-patient relationship (VCPR). Shelley Jones, Livestock Development Manager from the Ministry of Agriculture, spoke on the provincial livestock and forage strategy. Dr. Ryan Brook, Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, drew producers’ awareness to the growing problem of invasive wild pigs across Saskatchewan and their impact on cattle production. Shea Ferster, Business Advisor from MNP, spoke on a business risk management strategy
46
for producers, focusing on optimizing financial goals. Leah Clark, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist from the Agriculture Ministry, made producers aware of the key factors affecting livestock water quality. Dr. Cameron Carlyle, Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta, spoke on ecosystem goods and services derived from rangelands on the Canadian Prairie focusing on how producers can capitalize on benefits from their grasslands. Ben Stuart, Technical Director for Union Forage, brought a practical perspective on multi-species cover crop grazing and forage crops, sharing his experience from his own farm in Alberta. Kathy Larson, Research Associate at the University of Saskatchewan, presented some of the recent results of the Western Canadian
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
Cow Calf Survey II. Mark Elford, Chair of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, provided a summary of the agency’s key activities over the past year, and Anne Wasko, President of Cattle Trends Inc., concluded the presentations with an outlook for the beef cattle market. The Convention provided opportunities for producers to network and exchange views, while the trade show running alongside featured the latest information and technologies. B
SEPTEMBER 2018
Advertisers Index Adair Sales
31
Gem Silage
48
New Life Mills
48
Allen Leigh Security & Communications
49
Gibson Livestock Ltd.
34
New Vision Agro
49
Apollo Machine & Products
48
Golden Thread Livestock Images
48
Norheim Ranching
52
ArcRite Welding
48
Grassland Trailer
49
Northstar Seed
48
Arm River Red Angus
50
Hand N Hand Livestock Solutions
49
Paysen Livestock Equipment
2
Assiniboia Livestock Association
40
Hi-Hog Farm & Ranch Equipment
7
Pneu Dart/Target Cattle Concepts
48
Barr & Olney
50
John Brown Farms
50
Saskatchewan Angus Assoc.
23,50
BeefTech
16
Johnstone Auction Mart
49
Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Assoc.
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
3,51
Kelln Solar
48
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
42
Canadian Western Agribition
45
Kramer Trailer Sales
49
Saskatchewan Verified Beef Production Inc.
26-27
Cowtown Livestock Exchange, Inc.
49
Kyle Welding & Machine Shop
49
SCIC
13
D&R Prairie Supplies
22
Lane Realty Corp.
11
Simply Ag Solutions
48
DeaYani Holdings Dispersal
32
Linthicum Ranch
50
Solar West
49
Ducks Unlimited Canada
4
Man-SK Gelbvieh
50
Stockmen's Financial
42
Edward Jones
48
Manitou Maine-Anjou
50
Sweet Pro
19,48
FeedMax Corporation
49
Masterfeeds
9,49
Titan Livestock
34
Foraging into the Future
8
N.M. McMahon Chartered Professional Accountant
48
Western Livestock Price Insurance Program
13
Nahachewsky Charolais
50
Western Litho
49
Frostfree Nosepumps Ltd.
49
GBT Angus
50
Take the Trespassing Legislation Survey Review of Trespass Related Legislation The Government of Saskatchewan is reviewing trespass related legislation in Saskatchewan to determine whether to make changes to consolidate the approach taken in existing legislation and better address the appropriate balance between rural land owners and members of the public.
As part of this review, the government is seeking feedback from Saskatchewan citizens on the current approach to trespass in Saskatchewan through a questionnaire: http://publications.gov.sk.ca/ documents/9/107841-Consultation%20 Paper%20on%20Trespass%20to%20 Property%20-%20August%207%202018. pdf
Please provide written comments or recommendations by October 1, 2018 to: Ministry of Justice Legislative Services Branch Attn: Review of Trespass Related Legislation 800 – 1874 Scarth Street Regina, SK S4P 4B3 Or by email to: LSBQuestionnaire@gov.sk.ca
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: 690-5309
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
SEPTEMBER 2018
Phone: 784-2899
Jerry Chanig, Mankota Keith Day, Lacadena Glen Elford, Avonlea Calvin Gavelin, McCord Joe Gilchrist, Maple Creek Paula Larson, D'Arcy Norm Nordgulen, Assiniboia Barry Olney, Estevan Roy Rutledge, Assiniboia Lee Sexton, Hanley Barry Wasko, Eastend
ZONE CHAIR DIRECTORS Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 - Zone 5 - Zone 6 - Zone 7 - Zone 12 -
Henry McCarthy, Wawota Stephanie Deg, Weyburn Rod Gamble, Pambrun Brad Howe, Empress, AB Bill Huber, Lipton Brent Griffin, Elbow Kimberly Simpson, Kyle Kelly Williamson, Pambrun
478-2658 375-2934 436-7121 478-2558 662-3986 379-4523 642-4961 421-1495 642-5358 544-2660 295-3852
AFFILIATE DIRECTORS
Garner Deobald - Charolais Affiliate, Hodgeville 677-2589 Jack Ford - SaskMilk Affiliate, Wishart 328-4700 Tara Fritz - SImmental Affiliate, Shaunavon 297-3147 Ian Leaman - Shorthorn Affiliate, Chaplin 631-3694 Laird Senft - Angus Affiliate, Fort Qu’Appelle 332-4823 Ashley Kattler - Goat Breeders, Indian Head 695-7340 Jeff Yorga - Limousin Affiliate, Flintoft 531-5717
APPOINTED DIRECTORS
Dr. Andy Acton- Veterinary Advisor, Ogema
459-2422
SASKATCHEWAN CCA DIRECTORS 739-2205 891-9894 582-2077 661-0409 336-2684 854-2050 375-5534 582-6102
Pat Hayes, Val Marie Lynn Grant, Val Marie Reg Schellenberg, Beechy Duane Thompson, Kelliher
298-2284 298-2268 859-4905 675-4562
Listings of email and fax numbers can be found on the SSGA website at www.skstockgrowers.com
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 47
www.edwardjones.com
Forage Seed Mixes Corn Seed
Know your goals so you can choose your investments. Tyler Knibbs
Financial Advisor .
461 King Street Unit 3 Estevan, SK S4A 1K6 306-634-4870 www.edwardjones.com
Neil McLeod 306-831-9401
Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund
Machine & Products Ltd.
• ROLLER MILLS ~ Electric or PTO models ~ 10 sizes available ~ Increase the nutrition value of your feed! ~ Manufactured in Saskatoon • SILAGE COVERS & GRAIN BAGS We regroove roller mill rolls - most brands
2502 Millar Ave, Saskatoon 306-242-9884 or 877-255-0187 apm@sasktel.net www.apollomachineandproducts.com
Working to create opportunities for farmers in Saskatchewan We are a Canadian distributor for Pneu-Dart Habitat Protection & Enhancement Phone: 306-955-5477 / 1-866-298-7222 www.simplyag.ca
48
Pneu-darT
306.681.5340 sarah@goldenthread.ca www.goldenthread.ca SARAH BUCHANAN
| ©BEEF BUSINESS | www.skstockgrowers.com
Graham McKenzie
306.861.7074
INC.
Dale Watson
306.861.4618
SEPTEMBER 2018
STOCK WATER TROUGHS Made of 12 gauge galvanized metal
All types of commercial and purebred livestock auctions and farm sales. Wash rack facilities for livestock
www.johnstoneauction.ca
Popular sizes: 400, 500, 1000 Imperial gal.
Wayne or Scott Johnstone Box 818, Moose Jaw, SK 306-693-4715 (Bus) Fax 306-691-6650
“Bud Williams” Livestock Marketing & Proper Stockmanship
with Richard McConnell & Tina Williams
Virden, MB — October 23-26
Kyle, SK 306-375-2271
www.handnhandlivestocksolutions.com info@handnhandlivestocksolutions.com 417-327-6500
kylewelding@sasktel.net | www.kylewelding.com
CT
Cowtown Livestock Exchange Inc. Maple Creek, SK
Regular Sales every Tuesday @ 10:00 a.m. Locally Owned & Operated Call for info on Presort & Other Sales Phone 306-662-2648 Toll Free: 1-800-239-5933
www.cowtownlivestock.com
Your AD could be here! Contact 306-757-8523
COWCAM
Wireless & IP Systems DEALER FOR:
Makes your calving €easier, safer & more profitable! • Smartphone compatible • Save more calves • Stop disturbing them and check more frequently
GOOSENECK
GRAIN AND FERTILIZER BINS
20', 25' AND 30' LENGTHS TWO DIVIDER GATES TORSION AXLES
Allen Leigh
Security & Communications Ltd.
Cam
545 Assiniboine Ave, Brandon, MB I TF: 1.866.289.8164 T: 204.728.8878 I info@allenleigh.ca
www.precisioncam.ca Trusted Quality,
Trusted Support,
Trusted Service!
BUMPER-PULL
15'& 20’ IN STOCK • 16" WHEELS DIVIDER GATE
kramertrailersales.com
FOR ALL OF YOUR BEEF NUTRITION SOLUTIONS CALL:
Humboldt / 1-306-682-2668 Regina / 1-306-790-5576 Saskatoon / 1-306-384-2144 Swift Current / 1-306-773-3001
NEW VISION AGRO Box 479 Hague, SK S0K 1X0
BEEF & BISON FEED AVAILABLE IN: COMPLETE FEED PELLETS SUPPLEMENTS MASH FEEDS
CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-FEEDMAX (333-3629)
SEPTEMBER 2018
PH: (306) 225-2226 FX: (306) 225-2063
email: newvisionagro@sasktel.net www.newvisionagro.com
Dealer & Distributor For: - Jay-Lor Vertical Feed Mixers - Masterfeeds - Cargill Rite Now Minerals - Baler twine, netwrap, silage bunker, covers, plastic wrap, Grain Bags
Check with us before you buy!
Pump Kit
There is a Dealer near You!
Solar West 500
Calmar, Alberta
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 49
B R E E D E RS Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association, Advocating for Independent Cattle Producers in Saskatchewan for 105 Years.
SSGA MEMBERSHIP
The Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association has entered into a partnership with Flaman to increase Memberships and Subscription readership.
Drive (306) 567- 4702
Box 688, Davidson, SK S0G
Helen Finucane
phone: 306-584-2773 cell: 306-537-2648 Carlyle, SK
As of September 1, 2008 the Saskatchewan Stock Growers will be offering a major prize Annual Online draw 2 Year Old Bull Sale for all paid new and renewal of existing 12’ BERGEN STOCK TRAILER memberships as follows: Specs: Full rear door, side door, 3rd Friday in March The sponsored membership prize by Flaman will be a
slots for side window slides, rock guard, 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.
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
PUREBRED LIVESTOCK
New or Existing Memberships:
1 year
$105.00
1 entry
2 year
$194.25
2 entries
2 year spousal
$97.12
1 entry
3 year
$262.50
3 entries
3 year spousal
$131.25
2 entries
Life
$1050.00
10 entries
Life spousal
RR #1 Norquay, Saskatchewan S0A 2V0
Your AD could be here! $525.00 4 entries
306-757-8523
All draws will be made at the Contact 2009 SSGA Annual Convention
For more information or to become a member, please contact the SSGA office at 306-757-8523
Email: nahachew@yahoo.ca Phone: (306) 594 2627 | (306) 290 6005
Membership type: Member
Associate
Membership status:
Affiliate (call for rate)
Renewal
New
1 Year $157.50................... Spousal $78.75 Spousal $145.69 2 Year $291.38 .................... 3 Year $393.75 .................... Spousal $196.88 Lifetime: $2625.00 ............ Spousal $1312.50 Junior Membership 1 Year $26.75 2 Year $52.50 3 Year $78.75 Subscription 1 Year $26.25 2 Year $47.25 3 Year $68.25
50
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
SEPTEMBER 2018
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
Order online: tags.canadaid.ca by toll-free telephone: 1-877-909-2333 or email: tags@canadaid.ca
“Your staff is excellent to deal with and the tags come real quick. I’m impressed.”
Ray McDougald Saskatchewan Beef Producer
SEPTEMBER 2018
www.skstockgrowers.com | ©BEEF BUSINESS | 51
Available at
Your Livestock Equipment Specialists Welcome to the
Next Generation of Feed Processors
Lee Norheim - Owner
1.306.227.4503
Kelcy Elford - South West Sask
1.306.690.5209
www.supremeinternational.com 1.800.563.2038 WWW.NORHEIMRANCHING.COM