4 minute read
Agriculture
Vegreville 4-H Beef Club November Report
Nate Pipke and Mason Yakubow - Club Reporters
Howdy!
We are Mason and Nate, the new club reporters for this year. We are both cleaver members in our club. We are excited to bring everyone regular updates on our activities.
Our club held its AGM at the Vegreville Ag Society boardroom on Oct. 1. We saw many returning members with the addition of new members to our club as well. This year our club has grown to 27 members. Nominations were held to fill all executive positions. This year our Club President is Allyson Huculak, Vice President is Brady Weleschuk, Secretary is Ella McCallum and Treasurer is Paiten Axten. District Representatives are: Casey Yakubow, Karly Weleschuk and Sydney Sen. Our Co-leaders are Kelly Weleschuk and Clark Pipke.
Weigh-in day was held at Kisilevich Farms on Nov. 5. Dr. Gracyn Micklich from the Vegreville Veterinary Clinic came out to give our animals vaccinations and to make sure they were fully castrated. Each animal was provided with a 4-H ear tag. The animals were then weighed-in using the scale provided by the Country of Minburn. A total of 33 animals were weighed.
Our members had to have their projects selected for the upcoming year. We will have 19 markets steers up for auction at our Achievement Day that will be held in late May of 2024.
At our next meeting, we will be learning about cattle health from Dr. Tawyna Copland as well as discuss future activities.
Pulse Crops a Great Alternative with Growing Global Demand for Protein
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Robert Semeniuk is one of 5,400 farmers in Alberta who grow pulse crops. The Smoky Lake area producer started farming with his father who always incorporated peas into his crop rotation. He has seen first-hand the many benefits of growing peas as well as faba beans and has done so for nearly 30 years.
Pulses consist of dried peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans and faba beans. All are high in protein and fibre and low in fat. They are also cholesterol-free, making them a healthy option as both a meat and starch alternative.
Pulses are unique among grain crops in their ability to partner with certain soil bacteria to take nitrogen, an essential plant nutrient, from the air and turn it into a form that can be used by plants.
Semeniuk is the past Chair of the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission and is one of two Zone 5 Directors. There are five zones in the province, and Zone 5 stretches north to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and south to the County of Paintearth. There are 16 municipalities throughout Zone 5, including: Smoky Lake County, County of Two Hills, County of Minburn, Beaver County and Lamont County.
The annual general meeting for producers in Zone 5 growers was held in Vegreville on Nov. 16. Research Agronomist Mark Olson said he began working with peas and faba beans 38 years ago and has seen the development and commercialization of these crops and that lupin is a new pulse crop that is high in protein, low in starch, and a source of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids.
Olson said it is a home grown plant protein source for feeding livestock and the nutritional quality of sweet and is considered similar to that of soybean. As well, the dairy industry in Australia, and South Korea are using lupin already and testing is occurring in Alberta. Some of the products that have been produced by Prolupin, a German based company are: milk and yogurt alternatives, salad dressings, mayonnaise, soft cheeses and as a fat substitute in creamy foods.
Olson pointed out the drivers for lupin as an alternative pulse crop, stating that:
· Part of Integrated Crop Management strategy, increasing the biodiversity of cropping systems
· Soil rhizosphere is more biologically active when growing a pulse crop
· Serves as a break crop and help reduce disease and insect cycles
· Tilth (referring to soft soil with better structure)
· Increased yield and quality of the following cereal crop
· Small amounts of residual nitrogen may be found after growing a pulse crop
· Lupin is non-host of Aphanomyces Root Rot
Olson offered other advice to growers regarding lupin. Generally speaking, Olson pointed out that sales of pulse crops in Alberta equate to $750 million. “If you look at the downstream benefits of pulse crops, those people processing those crops, it’s an industry well over a billion dollars in Alberta. Kudos to Alberta Pulse Growers and the producers who were in attendance.
