Buying local: a smart choice
News Advertiser You might be surprised by the variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and beverages produced year-round in your region. There are many reasons to privilege these locally made products, and it’s a lot easier than you might think. Why buy local? Buying local ensures that you’ll get in-season produce. This means that products destined for local markets are harvested when they’re ripe. Many studies have found that naturally ripened fruits and
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vegetables contain higher concentrations of important nutrients compared to artificially ripened varieties. In addition, buying local is better for the environment. Food transportation is a significant source of greenhouse gases and when you buy local products, you reduce your carbon footprint. Furthermore, buying from the source, especially at farmers’ markets, allows you to learn more about how your food is produced. This fosters a stronger sense of community. Finally, buying local allows you to support the local economy in your region. Where can I buy local? In some areas, stores are required by law to indicate the place of origin for the fruits and vegetables they sell. If provenance information isn’t available, you can always ask someone. Additionally, some stores have dedicated sections for local products. Depending on the season, you might also be able to find a farmers’ market in your area. Buying directly from producers allows you to stay informed about what you consume. Another option is to seek out food co-ops or delivery services that supply fresh produce. Buying local has many advantages, and it’s easier than many people think. Keep an eye on what’s in season and privilege these products to get tastier and cheaper meals.
New Export Orders Anticipated Alberta Agri-News Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF) collaborated with Canada Beef and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service in the Philippines to host a delegation from the Association of Purchasing Managers of Hotels and Restaurants of the Philippines (APMHRP) from June 24 to 29, 2019. The delegation consisted of both their key executive members from major hotels, resorts and a food service company as well as their designated food importer. The delegation visited a cow-calf operation, beef feedlot and beef retail operations. The group met with and toured a major beef processing plant, and met with a number of other Alberta food and beverage processors and exporters interested in exporting to the Philippines. A full day train-
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Keeping Cows in Good Condition when Pasture is Limited Alberta Agri-News “Feeding cows was a balancing act last winter,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre. “Lower feed quality, limited feed supplies and the use of non-traditional feeds made it challenging to keep cows in good condition both pre and post calving prior to turn out onto spring pastures.“ Nutritional requirements of a cow is highest the first 12 weeks after calving, and Yaremcio says that it is difficult to have cows gain weight during this time. “The first step to address weight gain is to make sure that forage availability is high. If forage growth is less than about 1500 (lb.) pound per acre of forage mass, a cow cannot eat enough to meet her dry matter intake needs.” “That amount looks like roughly one bale per acre of forage cut at one inch above ground level. This is how
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Export orders - CONTINUED from PAGE 3 ing in Canadian Beef Butchery and Culinary Innovation at the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence rounded out the five-day program. “As a direct result of this initiative, new orders for Canadian beef products and other Alberta food products are currently being negotiated,” says Albert Eringfeld, manager with the International Relations and Marketing Section of AF.
“With a large and growing population, the Philippines’ key economic growth drivers include an expanding middle class as well as fast growing retail, food service and food processing industries.”
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limited pasture - CONTINUED from PAGE 4 severely cows can graze a pasture.” He adds that early season pasture growth typically has more than adequate amounts of protein to meet require-
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ments, but with insufficient amounts of energy to promote weight gain. “With poor pasture conditions in many parts of the province, supplementing cows is an option to maintain or improve cow condition. It can result in improved reproductive efficiency and calf growth rate. It will also reduce the number of pounds of fresh grass the cows need to consume on a daily basis, which stretches the available forage supply.” “Supplying a higher energy feedstuff such as barley or oat grain at five to six lb. per head at least three times a week will improve total energy intake and improve digestive efficiency compared to a straight forage diet,” explains Yaremcio. “By feeding six lb. of grain per head, 25% of the energy requirement is provided by the grain and fresh grass consumption is reduced by 35 to 40 lb. per head per feeding. Feeding the grain should be done midafternoon or towards evening. The grain can be fed on the ground but it is important to spread out the grain in windrows or in piles so that all animals have equal access to the grain at the same time.” By-product feeds such as grain screening pellets, bakery waste, cull potatoes, or distillers’ grains can be another source for animals on pasture. “Consider cost, availability of the product and hauling distance when evaluating the overall usefulness of the alternate feed. Concerns with importing weed seeds is a consideration when using screening pellets.” He notes that most of the by-product feeds contain higher amounts of phosphorus, and it may be necessary to increase the calcium and magnesium content to provide a balanced mineral program. “Calves at 45 to 50 days of age have a digestive system that can digest grains very efficiently,” says Yaremcio. “These animals can consume two to three lb. of grain per day, which reduces the demand for milk from the cow.”
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Salvage Canola Crops Can Make good Salvage Feed Alberta Agri-News “With dry conditions in the northern and southern parts of the province, late seeding and hail storms in others, some canola crops could be candidates for salvaging and used for cattle feed,” explains Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre. “If the flowers are blasted from the heat, or are in full bloom now, or have been damaged by hail, it will be difficult to realize a high yield. It will be difficult to have a late seeded crop mature sufficiently to produce mature - black - seed prior to a fall frost.” He says that canola plants in full bloom to early pod stage can have the same nutritional value as a good quality first cut mixed alfalfa-grass hay. “Cattle will readily eat canola greenfeed or silage. If the animals have not previously experienced this feed type, it may take them 2 or 3 days to readily consume it. Depending on quality, canola greenfeed or silage could possibly make up 100% of the daily ration. Hail-damaged canola is more difficult to evaluate, and a feed test result is needed before any recommendations can be made.” He notes that there are two additional concerns when feeding canola silage or greenfeed compared to using a cereal crop as cattle feed Nitrate and sulphur – If the canola has been fertilized to
produce a high yielding crop, Yaremcio says that nitrate and sulphur content could be a concern. “Nitrate is more of a concern with dry conditions because the crop did not develop sufficiently to use all the applied
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Salvage Canola - CONTINUED from PAGE 7 fertilizer. High sulphur content - above 0.4% in the complete ration - can cause polio. A representative sample needs to be sent in for analysis - including nitrate and sulphur - to establish feed quality.” Oil content – Canola seed can contain up to 42% oil by
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weight when fully mature, and oil is starting to develop in the immature seed two weeks after full flower. As the plant matures, the oil content continually increases with most of the oil developed between 35 and 55 days after full flower. “Rumen function is impaired when total fat or oil content in the ration exceeds 7%,” he explains. “Rumen contents do not ‘turn’ properly, and that causes a reduction in feed intake, possibly even a bloat situation. A test for fat or oil content should be requested when testing the feed.” Plants drop leaves as they mature, and those leaves contain a large percentage of protein and energy contained in the plant. Yaremcio says that bacteria involved with the ensiling process obtain energy from soluble sugars obtained from the leaves. “If the leaves have dropped, less energy is available and the ensiling process could take one to two weeks longer compared to a crop that supplies adequate sugars.” He adds that producers should consider working with various industry professionals including private consultants, feed company nutritionists or government specialists to develop a feeding program for the different types of animals that can utilize canola greenfeed or silage.
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Stacking Bales Alberta Agri-News “Storage losses from improperly stacked bales can be anywhere from 15 to 20% of the dry matter yield while protein and energy losses can be anywhere from 5 to 10%,” says Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist at the Alberta Ag-Info Centre. “It takes a lot of time and money to put up a good quality hay, so why risk losing 10 to 15% of your productivity by just not stacking the bales properly?” Before bringing the bales home, Yaremcio recommends mowing the grass that is already present in the feed yard. “This helps reduce a lot of the moisture and soil-to-bale contact, and it helps prevent bottom spoilage. If possible store the bales in a high area, so the bales don’t end up sitting in water after a rain.” Leave 2 to 3 feet - 60 to 90 cm - between the rows of bales, and stack them from northwest to southeast to allow the prevailing winds to blow through them. “This space allows the wind to blow the snow from between the bales, so the snow doesn’t melt and water accumulate between the bales come spring,” he says. Different methods for stacking bales in the field can affect
their quality. The pyramid style - with three bales on the bottom, two in the middle, and one on the top - is the
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Trends in Ethnic Foods
Alberta Agri-News “Knowing the ethnic food consumer and how they shop helps food manufacturers and retailers to develop their long-term growth strategies,” explains Jeewani Fernando, provincial consumer market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. According to the 2016 Census, Canada has become more ethno-culturally and racially diverse since 2006, comprised of people from more 250 different ethnic groups. “Between 2011 and 2016, Alberta had the highest percentage point change in proportion in immigrants, com-
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pared to other provinces,” she adds. “Sixty-six per cent of Alberta’s immigrant population is from Asia - primarily from the Philippines and India.” Fernando says that according to Statistics Canada, South Asian and Chinese Canadians are the largest ethnic food consumer groups in Canada, accounting for about 1.9 million and 1.6 million people, respectively. Retail grocery sales data provides evidence for unique shopping preferences of these two groups. Looking at the food service sector, she says that Mexican limited service restaurants and Asian full service restaurants are among the fastest growing concepts. “As well, the outlook for food services notes a growing trend for Indigenous, Middle Eastern flavours and Filipino cuisine.” Fernando adds that understanding these ethnic food trends and capitalizing on exiting segments and evolving segments will benefit the Alberta agri-food sector’s value added food businesses.
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Thanks Diary
Antoinette Fortier After the harvesting is done in the fall you might want to take a break and enjoy the beauty of the world around you. An easy way to do this is to walk and sketch. You do not need to be a pro-
fessional artist to do this activity. All you need is a sketch book, a drawing pencil, colour is wonderful too so you might want to include pencil crayons. Drawing is mostly about opening your eyes to the beauty of nature. Everything
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in nature is made of shapes. You draw the shapes and that is really all there is to drawing. A half and half book is a good way to use your sketches. You can write everything you are thankful for and use your sketches to illustrate the words. The more you sketch and draw, the more grateful and joyous you will feel. It is that simple.
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The Perfect Shawl For Fall Antoinette Fortier
When the evening starts to get a little chilly you will be happy you crocheted this shawl. I used left over yarn. If you knit or crochet you can do the same or if you do not knit or crochet you can get scrap yarn from friends who do knitting. It would look pretty in yard the shades of fallen leaves, smoky pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows with shades of brown mixed in. Materials Needed: about 600 grams of knitting worsted yarn. I used scraps from other knit-
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ting and crochet projects, 6.5 mm crochet hook, scissors. CH 5 - Row 1: 3 dc, ch2, 3 dc ch1, 1 dc into first ch, ch4 twin. Row 2: 3 dc into first space, ch2*, 3 dc, 2 ch 3 dc into middle space*, ch 2 3 dc into next space, ch 1, dc into 3 rd chain of end chain, ch 4, twin. Row 3: 3 dc into first space, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 space, ch 3 dc, ch 2 3 dc in middle ch 2 space, 3 dc in next ch 2 space, ch 2, 3 dc in next ch 2 space, ch 2 3 dc in last chain space, ch 1, dc in 3 rd chain of end chain, ch 4 twin.
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Repeat Row 3 having one more 3 dc groups and one more chain 2 on each side of middle group and one more on each end. Repeat until shawl is the desired length and width. How many rows you crochet depend on the size and height of the person you make the shawl for. Your shawl will keep you warm and cozy.
Science Based Agriculture
with trusted vets, nutritionists, local agronomists or simply read popular press or online sources.”
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Susan Markus Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
“Some ranchers are most comfortable with getting their information from their peer group and that may include neighbouring ranchers and farmers,” said Susan Markus, livestock research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Others consult
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Reeve’s Message On behalf of County Council and the rural residents, I welcome you to the County of Minburn No. 27. The County is the large rural area extending from west of Vegreville to east of Mannville. Our urban communities include the hamlets of Lavoy, Ranfurly, and Minburn, as well as the Town of Vegreville, and the Villages of Innisfree and Mannville. When in the County, you will find yourself in an area rich in agriculture, with welcoming communities, bountiful wildlife, beautiful scenery and miles of peaceful country roads. The “Acres of Passion” salute to farmers booklet gives us the opportunity to showcase our relaxed yet vibrant agricultural community. We encourage you to experience our campgrounds, picnic sites and parks. Sincerely, Reeve Roger Konieczny
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science based agriculture - CONTINUED from PAGE 13 How people search out information changes over time, and it can often be linked to certain demographics. Innovators look to be the first to try something while others need to see proof the innovation works under their conditions before they adopt it. Younger producers may be more comfortable with social media and technology compared to an older generation who may rely more on newsprint, radio and field days. Markus added that regardless of the preferred method to gather information for decision-making, it needs to be from a credible source. “On top of that, if the information or innovation is not a priority or comes at the wrong time, no matter how
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good, it will not be easily adopted. Time, desire and economics have to come together to implement change.” Not all scientific discoveries have immediate practical use for the farm. Research projects often take several years before pieces of that research have practical value to a producer. Groups such as the Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre have a number of extension specialists, scientists and government management staff who meet regularly to discuss research projects and upcoming issues. Karin Schmid, with the Alberta Beef Producers, said that producers who provide valuable input and insight during research funding direction and priority discussions ensure that limited industry funding is being used in the most efficient way that provides the best return. “These committee members are active ranchers and farmers in the province dealing with the complexities of crop and livestock production. While we know not everyone will agree with which projects are chosen to be funded in any given call for proposals, we do know that potential positive impact to the industry is the top priority.” She added that once these projects are at their final reporting stages, it is important to implement an outreach, extension and technology transfer component to aid in awareness and provide the information to facilitate adoption where possible. “Government, industry, and groups like the applied research and forage associations, partner and work together to develop effective extension/technology transfer strategies. This is how the data gets translated for practical use, but due diligence on the part of the farmer is needed to make it applicable to specific farm situations.” Testimonials and unproven results sometimes get a lot of traction in the farming community when marketing, social media and misinterpretation spread too easily among many people. It is
easy to get caught up in what seems like a silver bullet solution, but know that “quick, easy and cheap” is usually too good to be true. The group conducting this project included researchers at the Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre (ABFGC) along with specialists at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, members of the Alberta Beef Producers and the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta.
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Soil Health
Susan Markus Alberta Agriculture and Forestry A pilot project aimed to help Alberta producers adopt new
technology and innovation recently brought ranchers and farmers together with experts and scientists during a tour of east central Alberta farms. The group discussed the importance of soil health and how to measure it. “Ranchers often focus on the performance of their livestock to measure productivity and ranch economics,” said Susan Markus, livestock research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “It is difficult not to when your income appears to be derived from the sale of commodities. However, ranchers understand that they are stewards of the land, which ultimately means soil health contributes to their success.” Darren Bruhjell with Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada conducts applied research and extension with forages and soils. As part of bale grazing and swath grazing projects, he showed that both extended winter grazing practices increased soil fertility and soil carbon. He found that increased forage production above ground and increased root biomass below ground, combined with an increase in soil moisture associated with more plant residue, was related to improved soil carbon when annual crops are winter grazed. Soil fertility improvements were attributed to the deposition of urine and manure in addition to increased plant litter under these conditions. Yamily Zavala, soil scientist with the Chinook Applied Research Association in Oyen conducts laboratory testing for soil health. She said she cannot stress enough that the soil results are only as good as the sampling techniques and that they reflect a specific time and
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stacking bales - CONTINUED from PAGE 9 poorest way to stack hay, according to Yaremcio. “When it rains or when the snow melts, all the moisture moves from the top down between the bales and through the stack. It causes spoilage wherever the bales contact each other.” He adds that the mushroom stack with the flat side of the bottom bale flat on the ground and the second one on top - is better than the pyramid but still will end up with damage primarily to the bottom bale. “The best method if you have the space, is to put single bales in rows with the individual bales separated by about 6 to 10 inches - 15 to 25 cm - so they don’t touch.” He suggests if covering a stack of bales with a tarp,
leave the ends open so air can blow between the tarp and bales. “Build the stack so it aligns with the prevailing wind. That way, the wind can carry any moisture that has evaporated out of the bales and has condensed on the inside of the tarp. If the moisture drops back onto the tarped bales, the damage that can occur is no different when bales are left unprotected from the weather.”
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Prevent Tractor Runovers and Rollovers
Alberta Agri-News According to the Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting, the leading causes of farm fatalities across Canada are tractor runovers and rollovers. Although today’s tractors
have many more safety features than machines of the past, they can still be extremely dangerous.
Runovers
Tractor run overs tend to happen when there is a lack of rules on when and how to approach equipment. “Setting clear rules, keeping a safe distance from working machines, conducting equipment walkarounds and having the discipline to not take short cuts will save more than just time,” says Blair Takahashi, farm safety specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “The risk of another person approaching unannounced or unexpectedly is increased because many farms are also homes. That can put those approaching a tractor in a dangerous situation.” Runovers also happen to operators, particularly if they exit equipment without properly engaging the brakes and kill the power to the machine. The following are some safety practices to adopt: 360 degree walk around equipment before startup and before movement. Shut down equipment before service or any equipment adjustments. Chock the wheels to prevent unintentional movement. Educating bystanders on blind spots so they understand what you can and cannot see from the cab. Never allow kids to play on or near farm equipment, even when not in use.
Rollovers
The risk of injury or death due to tractor rollovers is high, particularly when operators do not properly
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wear seat belts or similar occupant restraints. “Some maneuvers increase the likelihood of a rollover such as turning on slopes, carrying raised objects, and
sliding into ditches,” says Takahashi. “Spring typically has ever-changing soil conditions, so operators need to identify and take extreme care around these areas, even more so when trailing implements.” Some practices to follow to prevent farm-machinery rollovers: Keep a safe clearance from the edge of roadways. Have tractor wheels set as wide as possible. Reduce your speed while turning. Limit turning movements
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when driving up and down slopes. Keep heavy loads as low as possible when moving material. Be alert and minimize distractions when operating machinery. In response to the recent changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Code to include farms and ranches that employ waged, non-family workers, Alberta Labour is funding a farm health and safety producer grant that is administered by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.
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Agriculture in Alberta
Alberta has one of the world’s most productive agricultural economies, and it is Canada’s 2nd largest agricultural producer, earning 22% of Canada’s farm cash receipts. There are over
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70,000 farmers in Alberta. The diversity of landscapes within Alberta allows for the wide variety of products over its 21 million hectares of agricultural land base, accounting for 31.3% of the total farm area in Canada. The agricultural sector is diverse and includes crop production, livestock production and many others. Farming and ranching helped build the economy and attracted early immigrants to Alberta. Crops in Alberta In 2008, agriculture accounted for around 1.8% of Alberta’s GDP. Total production of major crops was estimated to be 19.1 million ton in 2008 (Statistics Canada) or around 5,500 kg per person per year. Wheat remains the largest crop, with production estimated at around 9 million tones, followed by barley and canola in 2009. Wheat, barley and canola together accounted for over three fourths of the total crop production. Livestock in Alberta Alberta leads Canada in cattle and calf, with 5.9 million head as of 2006, or 40% of the Canadian total. Beef cattle production is Alberta’s largest agricultural sector providing $2.9 billion in farm cash receipts annually or 34% of Alberta farm production income. Of Alberta’s estimated 2009 beef production, 16% is sold within the province, 45% to other provinces, 31% to the US and 8% to other countries. Beef is Alberta’s number one agrifood export. Annual exports of Alberta beef and cattle are valued at approximately $1.4 billion in 2009. For other livestock, Alberta has 14% of Canada’s total hog receipts. In 2004, provincial support totaling $6.6 million was made available to sheep, goat, deer, elk, reindeer and bison producers to help maintain their heads.
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soil health - CONTINUED from PAGE 18 location on the ranch. Zavala added that there is great value in deriving a baseline of soil health qualities as it not only provides information on the current status of the soil, but creates an opportunity to measure the impact of various management practices over time. Qualities such as aggregation, water infiltration, active carbon and microbial health all influence productivity, quality of production as well as carbon sequestration. The group conducting this project included researchers at the Alberta Beef, Forage and Grazing Centre (ABFGC) along with specialists at Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, members of the Alberta Beef Producers and the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta.
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Reeve’s Message On behalf of Beaver County Council, staff and our residents we would like to wish all of the agricultural producers and their families a safe and productive harvest season! Your countless hours of hard work and dedication to produce the many products found in this region is celebrated and appreciated. The agricultural industry is an important part of our vibrant community and rural way of life. Driving around the countryside it is evident that agriculture, and those that work in the industry, have had a significant mark on our past, the present and our future. Beaver County strives to provide opportunities for this industry to thrive and expand in our County and we appreciate the investments that the agricultural industry contributes to our local economy. Reeve Jim Kallal
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