Farm & Field 2024

Pipestone farmer builds specialty beef brand

By Anne Davison

The partnership that resulted in 8Acres Inc. livestock marketing company has roots in the sandy soil of Pipestone, Manitoba where another kind of partnership between raising livestock and cropping land was formed.

A third generation family farm near Pipestone has grown by leaps and bounds, because agricultural entrepreneur Bryce Lobreau didn’t let a small start, sandy soil, the occasional drought and marketing challenges hold him back.

However, he’s the first to say that success hasn’t happened overnight, but by a series of observations, decisions and persistence.

The Lobreau farm was established by his grandfather in 1949 and Bryce grew up there where his father and mother, Danny and Robin Lobreau also farmed.

As a youth he didn’t see himself as a farmer, but after working out for a year following high school graduation, he returned to do just that.

The agricultural industry was evolving, profit margins were slim following sky high interest rates of the late 1990s, but by about 2009, Bryce was finding his way forward. “I knew that if I wanted to survive, I needed to do something niche.”

His parents worked along side Bryce in the operation from the start, Danny doing farm work and Robin taking care of bookkeeping.

Now, innovative agriculture is paving the way so that another generation can call the farm their home as Bryce and his wife Twyla put down roots to raise their family of three boys: Sterling, 5, Steele, 3, and Stiles who is 7 months.

Bryce began on the family farm with 50 head of cattle, along with hay and grain production. He broke some hay land and seeded it to fall rye. It was then that his journey into organic farming began - he discovered his neighbour’s fall rye crop was selling

for two dollars more per bushel than his. The difference? It was certified organic grain.

“Back in 2009, I had a few cows. I realized that if I wanted to survive farming and make a go of it on this farm, I needed to do something different than just the commodity world.”

He had to find a specialty that would add value. Seeing a neighbour having success with organics, he chose that path.

Certified by OPAM (Organic Producers Association of Manitoba), Lobreau began Pristine Prairie Organics with a small herd that year.

“I went ahead and finished 20 head of cattle in the first year.”

By 2011, the organic market was on the upswing. “There was a need for the cattle, so we just kept expanding.”

The key to making certified organic production pay, however, is strategic marketing.

“Over the years we sold to many processors across Canada and the US. Always in the back of my mind, thinking, it would be good to have our own [organic] branded beef program.”

But he recognized that would require a larger scale operation.

It was 2019 and a cattleman from New Zealand named Ben Stuart was growing grassfed cattle. Lobreau’s livestock was organic, and they were both working with a Saskatchewan beef processor. When that processor shut down, it was a blow to both their enterprises.

By that time Lobreau had talked with Calvin Vaags, founder of True North Foods meat processing plant near Carman, Manitoba. He knew that TNF had the capacity to harvest more cattle. He knew that plant was an option for them.

The pair sat down and began talking about what they could do to move forward. Stuart and Lobreau decided to start a new business together to bring volume to market and

create a brand. And 8Acres Inc. was born.

The company’s first harvest was April 20, 2020, just four years ago this spring.

Lobreau’s Pristine Prairie Organics farm raises crops, cattle and cattle feed. It includes a custom silage operation as well.

The farm has grown, and along with help from his family, Lobreau employs three full-time staff and 10 to 15 seasonal workers when the growing season ramps up. He usually hires workers from New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and the UK. Fluent English is an important requirement.

From a small start, Lobreau now operates a 600-cow breeding program and carries about 1500 head of cattle on the farm at any given time, fattening market calves, all organically certified. His land base has expanded to almost 8,000 acres, about half of it owned, the rest leased.

“We started small,” he acknowledges. “I’m going to be 35 this year, I’ve really learned in the last few years that success takes a long, long time. You look at other people that have been successful in your area or in your industry… you look

into it and realize nothing happens overnight, but it may seem like it from the outside. I used to be so impatient when we started 8Acres.”

Now, 8Acres Inc. is blazing a trail - a road less taken.

Lobreau includes cattle from other organic producers in his marketing plan and along with Stuart, they funnel about 2,000 head to True North Foods on an annual basis, saving thousands of dollars in shipping costs to processors farther afield.

Stuart’s Blue Rock Cattle Company near Canora, Saskatchewan operates an 800-cow herd where grass-fed cattle graze naturally 365 days a year. The cattle are part of a land improvement ecosystem, applying soil building

techniques that the rancher has developed over the last 12 years. His agricultural method and goal is to provide top quality, true ‘Canadian Grass Fed’ and finished cattle.

Sustainability is key to Lobreau’s organic program as well. With a wholefarm approach, intentional integration of cropping and cattle systems builds nutrient rich soil.

Testing on these cattlemen’s land has shown that 8Acres production methods sequester approximately half a million tons of carbon per year, a step towards re-writing the narrative around beef production in today’s world.

8Acres organic and grassfed meat products can be found in Sobeys, Whole Foods, Longos, Farmboy and a number of

other stores from Manitoba through to Quebec.

As for western markets, Lobreau says there’s a gap on the prairies, a need for value added processing. That will be the next leg of the journey to supply their brand of specialty beef, a healthy choice, for Western Canadian consumers.

A story about 8Acres in Pivot and Grow, a publication serving organic and sustainable agriculture, sums up the Lobreau /Stuart 8Acres Inc. enterprise:

“Stepping out on a limb in an industry rich in tradition is no easy feat. Where there is a will there is a way and the opportunity for change has inspired and empowered these two. Ben and Bryce have shown that collectively so much more can be achieved.”

8Acres Inc. includes organic and grassfed beef.

Ben Stuart and Bryce Lobreau, partners in 8Acres.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Finding solutions to the global food shortage

By Brenda Hunter

In this day and age with the world’s population increasing and a predicted global food shortage looming, it is more important than ever for farmers to be able to produce the most they can with even fewer acres available due to urban growth and development.

Statistics show that over a five-year period, Canada lost 4.1 percent of its farmland, which equates to around 6.8 million acres. In response, the United Nations predicted that farmers would need to up their production by 70 per cent without the use of additional land or water, in order to keep up with global food demands.

That’s where folks like Marcel Kringe of Bushel Plus help to provide a solution. He developed the Bushel Plus drop pan system which is used to identify and quantify yield loss for the farmer during harvest, and recently acquired MAD Concaves of Hamiota which offers a solution by reducing and/or eliminating rotor loss and dockage at harvest.

“When the guys from MAD concaves approached me about this opportunity a couple years ago,” said

Marcel Kringe, Founder and CEO of Bushel Plus Ltd. headquartered in Brandon, “it was more jokingly because I was ‘a young guy running around’ (who was) also helping farmers make their combines more efficient. But we quickly realized the synergy of our products and more importantly, our vision and determination to do the right thing for the farmer.”

The German-born Kringe, with multi-generational and global farm experience on his side, and an education in ag engineering and agronomy, worked in the ag industry for a time when he made the move to Canada in 2013 with little more than ‘a bag of clothes’ and the willingness to learn English on the fly. What he began to notice was that everywhere he had worked – Canada, Russia, Brazil – farmers, during the critical harvest season, were losing yields based on the amount of grain they were throwing over during combining. In his spare time, he worked on a method for farmers to safely and efficiently measure the amount of grain they were losing, and came up with the Bushel Plus Harvest Loss system – a drop pan system

that easily mounts to the combine which farmers can activate or ‘drop’ by remote, then quickly and accurately measure the loss using the smartphone app. This allows them to calculate dollars per acre and/ or hour lost, and make the necessary combine setting adjustments to correct it.

He built a prototype and gave it to some farmers to try. The results were astounding.

“One of them called me after he had used the prototype a week,” recalled Kringe. “He said, ‘Hey, we did the math on this and it saved us $60,000 to $70,000’.”

Needless to say, the invention went gangbusters, and soon he quit his job at Cargill and began to manufacture and market his product full-time, as well as develop new products designed with farmers in mind.

“I stood beside my great-grandfather, grandfather, and father and learned a lot,” said Kringe about growing up on the family farm in Germany, and the basis of his work ethic and problem-solving, entrepreneurial nature. “They could fix anything, and they worked hard. Growing up like that, you

gain a different perspective on life.”

Eventually, he crossed paths with the MAD Concaves marketing team of Alan Armstrong and Murray Skayman, and the rest, as they say is history.

“We started to help each other at tradeshows and took on the international shipping for MAD concaves,” said Kringe of the mutual and progressive move to merge both businesses. “The products they invented are very innovative and technical; we have a lot of respect for what (they have) created and that they trust us to take on their legacy.”

Bushel Plus have distributed their products around the world since their inception in 2016; on every continent and in 33 countries, including the Drop Pan system and a mini combine, as well as now, MAD concaves.

Kringe’s products have won many awards and accolades in the agricultural industry in the few short years he’s been operational, and in 2022 he received the Brandon Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He has also partnered with John Deere and Case IH.

“Our number one priority will always be making farms more profitable,” said Kringe on his farmers-first approach to business, which

is one of the things that attracted MAD Concaves do business with him in the first place. “Happy customers are what drives us!”

Marcel Kringe (c) of Bushel Plus, and Alan Armstrong (l) and Murray Skayman of MAD Concaves.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

To dock or not to dock...that is the question

By Brenda Hunter

Most people are familiar with the bobbed tails of the draft horse breeds, which are commonly docked, usually at birth or shortly after.

While the reasons vary throughout other species of livestock and some domestic pets as to why docking is done, the main reasons for it to continue in the draft horse world, is that of tradition, as well as safety.

In fact, many believe that this is the reason that tail docking originally began. Legend has it that tails were sometimes completely lost from getting caught in the heavy, fast-moving belting used to drive threshing machines back in the day. The position of the teams pulling up with the stook racks were such that it put them in close proximity to the drive belts which could wreak havoc if a tail got too close.

Of course, that is not the case today. However, there are still the lines to contend with.

Any Google search for equine tail docking suggests that it is done to keep a horse’s long tail from becoming entangled in harness, lines and/or equipment which could result in disaster.

“There is no documented evidence that driving horses with full tails is dangerous,” said Dr. Chris Bell, Past-President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association about the theory that leaving a tail intact may create a safety risk. “The main question here is: does the procedure benefit the animal in a manner that outweighs the potential for pain and other complications? In the case of tail docking of horses, our position is that it does not.”

However, one does not have to search very far to uncover experienced teamsters who would disagree with this statement and who have in fact, fallen victim to

a runaway horse, the result of a line caught under a tail.

The methods of tail docking range depending on the age of the animal and the preference of the person performing the procedure. The most common ways are surgical removal, also known as caudectomy or by ligature; a constrictive rubber elastrator band being placed on the tail of young horses causing the distal

respect to animal welfare. Each species of livestock has a Code of Practice that has been developed and is reviewed periodically to make changes as needed in accordance with deemed best practices.

In Canada, the only province without a ban on tail docking on any species, is Ontario. The Canadian national Codes of Practice states that tail docking and

In companion (animals) and livestock, veterinarians are able to determine if (tail docking) is a service that they would want to provide.

- Corey Wilson, Executive Director/Registrar The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association

part of the tail to eventually necrose and fall away. Both are said to be relatively safe and effective if done correctly and cause the horse little to no visible distress. Most species of animals have their tails docked at a very young age since it is thought to result in less pain and provides for more rapid healing.

Despite the Codes of Practice in place by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), and the CVMA’s position on tail docking, it continues to be a grey area.

“The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) does not currently have rules specifically prohibiting tail docking,” said Corey Wilson, Executive Director/Registrar of the MVMA. “In companion (animals) and livestock, veterinarians are able to determine if this is a service that they would want to provide.”

In recent years, there have certainly been more animal species than just the draft horse to come under fire for docking practices. Domestic pets like dogs and cats especially, as well as livestock: sheep, pigs and dairy cattle continue to face challenges with

For pricing or more information, contact John or Pat

alteration is prohibited in beef cattle and in horses, and is acceptable only with strict guidelines for pigs and sheep. (Dec 1, 2016)

“Tail docking is a relevant agriculture issue because of the thousands of animals which it affects every year,” said an anonymous source.

According to documentation, tail docking is a common industry practice in pork production to reduce tail biting - a destructive chewing of the tails in groups of pigs - which can compromise pig welfare, but can also lead to economic losses. The Canadian Code of Practice states that since July of 2016, tail docking performed at any age of pigs must be done with analgesics and that it is recommended that it be done, if deemed necessary, as early as possible, preferably between 24 and 72 hours of age, and must be left a minimum length.

Tail docking of wool-producing sheep is done to reduce the incidence of fly-strike that may result from urine and fecal staining of the perineum. While it is also done for the health and welfare of the livestock, the industry is constantly being taken to task for this practice.

“It is going to come at

• ¾” Crushed C Base Gravel

• ¾” Screened A Base Gravel

• 1 ½” - 4” Crushed Stone

• 1 ½” - 3” Screened Stone

• 8” Plus Rip Rap

• ½” Minus Gravel

• 3” Minus Screened Pit Run

• 1 ½” Shale

• Pit Run

• Clean Fill

• Shale

204-748-5603 Landscaping Rocks also available

some point where painkillers are involved, “said Brian Greaves, who raises sheep on his farm north of Miniota and also sits on the review board for the Canadian Code of Practice. He explained that it is not ideal, however, as the analgesics are required to be administered prior to the docking procedure and allowed to take effect, which means catching them twice which is not time or cost efficient. He also reported that the sheep industry is so small in Canada, that there have been no drugs licensed in Canada for this use which means that they have to be administered off-label. The

industry is working with veterinarians and other countries to secure a means of pain control moving forward.

There are five methods of tail docking for sheep: hot iron, rubber rings (like the draft horses), rubber ring combined with clamp, crush and cut, and the surgical method. Greaves reports that the most common being the rubber ring. Regulation states that if docked, it must be performed anywhere from 24 hours to seven days of age and that they must be left a minimum length, as docking too short can lead to other health risks.

The stated goals of tail docking in dairy cows include improved comfort for milking personnel, enhanced udder cleanliness, reduced incidence of mastitis, and improved milk quality and milk hygiene. However, the dairy industry in Canada prohibits the practice unless deemed medically necessary due to a tail injury, and pain control must be used. Frustrated by ongoing involvement in the issue and pressure from activist groups, one anonymous producer stated, “We, as rural hands-on operators, are being ruled by an urban population.”

Tradition and safety are the main reasons why docking continues in the draft horse world.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Generational seed farm aiming for the best

By Robyn Pyndykowski

Bartel Seeds is a familyrun seed farm near Cromer, Manitoba that has been in operation since 1983. The business has been supplying pedigreed seed to local farmers for over 40 years and is now in its third generation of ownership. The farm is committed to ensuring that major varieties of seed grains remain available to the local communities.

“There are always new varieties coming on board so it’s a challenge trying to keep ahead of the game to provide what’s best for everyone,” says co-owner Blair Bartel.

Bartel Seeds has a variety of HRS wheat, like Hodge VB, Hockley, and Brandon. Feed barley (Austenson) and oats (Douglas) are just a few more alongside a new forage barley (AB Advantage), forage oats, peas, and corn seed forages.

While Bartel always aims to supply the best, and always accommodate the farmers, the seed business also provides custom forage blends to suit all needs.

Bartel explained that cereal seed treatment application is another available option to customers; with that they use Raxil Pro as a preferred product.

“Raxil Pro is an excellent product to work with and

seems to work reasonably well. It’s a product that some farmers wouldn’t be without and for others it’s not worth the cost and hassle,” said Bartel.

Bartel notes that even with the very small amount of rain received during this past season, cereals did exceptionally well. The company was extremely satisfied with all their wheat varieties adding that AAC Hodge VB was their top yielder.

“Little or no disease pressure does make a difference noticeably. AAC Hockley looks like a consistent variety, just like Brandon’s been for the last eight years. The barley also was fantastic, CDC Austenson has been our main variety,” adds Bartel.

With the addition of a plot of AAC Durango feed barley in 2023, Bartel says it has a high yield potential compared to Austenson and a better standability, and the company looks forward to having the seed available to clients for the 2025 season.

Due to the lack of rain last season, Bartel notes that oats were decent for the year but ran out of moisture. “We did find that the AAC Douglas variety is one that doesn’t shatter easy and straight cutting worked well. Peas we thought would like it drier, but this year proved to be dry enough

it hurt the yield somewhat.”

He also notes they will be looking at new varieties of peas. “We’ve been growing CDC Lewochko yellow peas for the last while and we’re going to be trying a couple newer varieties this spring, so they will be exciting to watch in the field.”

The family seed business performs a significant amount of custom seed cleaning, and plans are in the works

to expand their services by incorporating a colour sorter into their cleaning facility within the next year. The colour sorter will allow them to divide seeds by their colour, resulting in a more precise cleaning process that can extract specific impurities which the mechanical machines have difficulty removing. The system utilizes cameras to monitor the seeds as they move through the machine

and air ejectors to blow the rejected seeds out of the main flow. This new process will help enhance the quality of the Bartel Seed cleaning services.

“Looking ahead can make us wonder how the growing season will turn out since it seems no two years are alike, yet I think that’s what keeps a farmer going. We look forward to another spring season,” said Bartel.

Samples of pedigree seed - top, wheat; bottom, barley - that Bartel Seeds works to produce.

The first cleaning machine at Bartel Seeds takes out any object bigger then the seed, such as straw and stones.

Results. Pure and simple.

My recipe to a very successful forage establishment is pretty simple. Start with your cleanest eld, not your dirtiest. Seed heavy and fertilize even heavier. My experience with DUC was spot on. Very hard working people, not to mention very knowledgeable.

Steven Sawchuk

Rossburn

MB

Ducks Unlimited Canada helped farmers grow 35,000 acres of forage in southwest Manitoba in the past 10 years.

We’ve reclaimed saline and weedy areas in elds across 33 municipalities.

We get results. Pure and simple.

We got 205 silage bales o 45 acres. Mind-blowing! Not only that but the kochia areas and the saline areas are shrinking, which is exactly what we want. I worked many years as a retail ag manager and grain farmers should look at my results. DUC’s Marginal Areas Program can rejuvenate some non-producing acres with perennial forage.

Cam Tibbett Neepawa MB

Alex

204-848-0514

204-861-2587

ag.ducks.ca/program/grow-more-forage/

The importance of hard work and a desire to succeed

By Brenda Hunter

Even though Brayden Heapy, sole owner of HBH Angus near Oak River is considerably younger than many of his fellow counterparts in the industry, he’s no stranger to the cattle business, having been involved in it literally his entire life.

“I knew from a young age that cattle farming was what I wanted to do, since I had been around it my whole life,” said Heapy, whose family of origin is second generation dairy on one side, and purebred Charolais cattle on the other.

He began working as a farm hand in 2018 after graduating high school for HBH Angusa company established in the early 2000s by his dad’s cousin. Last spring, he was proud to become the sole owner of the operation consisting of 170 head of purebred Angus cattle.

“The focus of my breeding operation is to continue to breed good genetics, which my bulls play a big role in that,” said Heapy, who is hosting an upcoming annual spring bull sale on the farm on March 24. However, he is quick to credit the important role of the cows in his operation. “It is also important to me to keep producing good females for the future. Overall, good genetics are at my forefront as it allows

my herd’s cycle to stay strong.”

As mentioned, he comes by his love of farming and the business, honestly. His maternal Grandpa and Grandma, Harry and Joan Airey of HTA Charolais near Rivers, successfully operated that purebred operation which has been in

hard work. Growing up helping my dad and watching him run a successful dairy operation has not only been very rewarding but has taught me many skills and allowed me to gain knowledge which is vital to running my own farm. I can’t thank my grandpas, parents, and uncle

Seeing top quality farms that have been around for generations is something that not only inspires me but is something I want to strive towards.

- Brayden Heapy, HBH Angus

the family now for over 50 years. His paternal Grandpa and Grandma, Dick and Ivy Heapy, operated a successful dairy operation for years before it was taken over by his Heapy’s mom and dad, Darcy and Lori. He credits his grandparents and parents for instilling in him, strong work ethic and the desire to succeed.

“My grandpa began farming on his own at a very young age,” said Heapy about the family who has supported him in his endeavors. “Being able to hear his stories and see for myself how successful he was in the Charolais business is something that inspires me. Both sets of grandparents have demonstrated the importance of

enough for showing me what hard work looks like and for continuing to support me.”

As a young person in business for himself, he is inspired to succeed, set goals and hopes to have a strong impact in the cattle industry.

“I love being around my herd and continually working to find ways to strive for the best,” said Heapy. “Seeing my work and dedication pay off motivates me to keep getting better. A big part of this industry is building trustful relationships with other ranchers and cattle producers to ensure they know the product they are getting. Seeing top quality farms that have been around for generations is something that not only

inspires me but is something I want to strive towards.”

“My goal will always be to

Brayden Heapy, owner of HBH Angus near Oak River, knew from a young age that cattle farming was what he wanted to do.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Agritourism: Helping farms diversify

As family farms continue to disappear across North America, diversification has never been more crucial to keep these small-scale operations afloat. One innovative avenue farmers are exploring to boost their income is agritourism. Here’s a look at how tourism is changing the agricultural landscape.

WHAT’S AGRITOURISM?

Agritourism is a commercial enterprise offering visits to rural environments or settings where visitors can partake in activities, events or attractions not readily available in urban areas. For instance, visitors can engage in farm activities like fruit picking, feeding animals, wine tasting and tree planting.

HOW DOES IT HELP SMALL FARMS?

By integrating recreational or edu-

cational components into their operations, farms can diversify their income streams, offsetting the challenges of traditional farming and unpredictable crop yields.

Guided tours of a working farm can also generate revenue while helping consumers understand where their food comes from. Additionally, selfpick fruit gathering experiences provide fresh produce to visitors, while reducing harvesting costs and labour for the farm.

Furthermore, agritourism can breathe new life into rural economies, attracting visitors from near and far and injecting much-needed capital into local communities. Farms can also share their stories, traditions and the history of their land with visitors, creating a sense of continuity and cultural significance.

Look for agritourism experiences to try out in your area to support your local farmers.

Unlock the skies

By Robyn Pyndykowski

Co-op is not only our beloved grocery store. Valleyview Co-op also offers many other options to the agricultural community.

Cassie Henderson, the new sales agronomist at Valleyview Co-op’s Farm & Ranch Centre in Virden said that Co-op also offers a full range of seed, crop protection and fertilizer portfolios with delivery as an option. They also offer scouting services all season long, tissue sampling, fall soil sampling and last, but not least, they also provide comprehensive crop planning. Henderson said in an interview, “We have a number of consistent growers that take advantage of these services which we greatly appreciate.”

As technology progresses through the years, opportunities to increase services come about as well.

Henderson is planning on introducing her camera drone to help with scouting services. This will also provide farmers with an aerial view of their fields, and hopefully help to bet-

ter identify problem areas where water can sometimes sit with our unpredictable weather in Manitoba.

“I’m also hoping to introduce opportunities for our growers to connect with the precision agriculture industry and try out more technologies that will help them be more efficient and economical,” Henderson said.

With this intriguing change coming about, one thing will stay the same and that’s where the farmers can still access all the information they’ve already received in previous years, in the same place.

The end goal is to increase their tools for the clients to

use, all while still receiving the same friendly service that Valleyview Co-op provides.

Valleyview Co-op offers their services from the Grow Team at the Farm & Ranch Centre off the Trans-Canada Highway in Virden. And while the Grow Team is centrally located in Virden, Valleyview offers their services to their entire Valleview Co-op coverage areas with locations in Oak Lake, Reston, Pierson, Melita, Kenton, and Oak River. Growers can talk to any of Valleyview Co-op agronomists at the Virden location for more information or to set up an appointment.

Valleyview Co-op is a different kind of business, investing back into the communities we serve.

members are our friends, neighbours, and family.

Valleyview Co-op will be introducing drone technology through the Farm & Ranch Centre in Virden to help with scouting services throughout all of Valleyview’s locations. PHOTOS/SUBMITTED

WOMEN IN AG celebrating

Dakota Burton

Grandview

I am proud to be a

As

sunrisecu.mb.ca

Brenda Hunter has a background in agriculture; having grown up on a farm and actively participated in mixed farming most of her adult life. She has a special interest in anything equine – having raised, owned and shown everything from ponies to draft horses. In addition to farming, her past also includes photography and graphic design. Her latest accomplishment is as a freelance writer, providing features for several different agricultural publications and newspapers. She especially enjoys penning human interest stories as well as researching and writing agricultural-based articles. She is currently working on her first book, a collection of inspiring stories gathered from folks across the province who have participated in a series of rural fairs in the area fondly known as “The Milk Run”, and invites those who have a story to tell about the experience, to contact her.

BRENDA HUNTER

Women in agriculture: closing the gender gap in farming

Farming has historically been a heavily male-dominated industry, but today, many women are choosing to pursue careers in agriculture.

Although the overall number of farm operators in Canada is going down, the number of female farmers is steadily increasing. In 2016, women accounted for

almost 30 per cent of all farm operators in Canada — nearly 78,000 out of 272,000 Canadian farmers total. Women farmers were most common among farm operators between the ages of 35 and 54, making up nearly a third of the age group.

In addition to the increasing numbers of female farm oper-

ators, more and more women are taking jobs in fields that support the agricultural industry, such as working for machinery dealers, food companies and agricultural research firms. The number of female students enrolling in post-secondary programs relating to agriculture is also increasing.

Despite these recent advances,

there’s still a significant gender gap in the agricultural industry. Women are considerably under-represented on agricultural boards and in farming associations and are still working to overcome out-dated cultural stereotypes that depict farming as men’s work.

The rising cost of farmland

Career paths in agriculture

As the world population grows, the role of the agricultural sector will become even more prominent. There should be significant demand for agricultural professionals capable of meeting the challenges facing the world as it confronts climate change and food shortages. That makes now a perfect time for students to explore potential career paths in the agricultural sector.

• Agricultural engineer: Agricultural engineers employ engineering principles to solve issues related to agricultural production. An agricultural engineer may design facilities or machinery or develop solutions to address problems related to irrigation and soil conservation, among other projects. Students interested in a career as an agricultural

engineer can expect to study mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer engineering, and, of course, engineering analysis and design as they pursue their degrees.

• Agronomist: Agronomists work with crops and soil management and may work as analysts, environmentalists or forecasters. Agronomists may be tasked with analyzing soil structure and chemistry and study how water is moving within soil. Students will study agriculture, biology, chemistry, and physics en route to earning a degree that will help them become an agronomist. Mathematics also will be part of their studies, and statistics courses will be part of those studies.

• Biochemist: Biochemists study

the chemical and physical principles of living things and biological processes. Within the agricultural sector, biochemists will contribute to the development of agricultural products, including those that will serve a medicinal function. Biochemistry, chemistry, biology, calculus, and physics will be part of students’ courseload as they pursue degrees that prepare them for a career as a biochemist.

• Climatologist: Climatologists will figure prominently in the agricultural sector as the effects of climate change manifest themselves more readily over the next several decades. Climatologists study climate change, variability and the biosphere. Climatologists offer insight about the effects of

climate change on the growth and development of agricultural products, including fruits, grains and vegetables. The natural sciences feature prominently in climatologists’ educations, and students also will study meteorology as part of their coursework.

• Food scientist: Food scientists study chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and engineering so they can assist in the development of new food products. Food scientists may manage processing plants and some serve as researchers in an effort to solve problems related to food production.

• Plant pathologist: Plant pathologists specialize in analyzing issues related to plant diseases. Research features prominently in plant pathologists’

also serves as a barrier of entry for women, who on average earn less than their male counterparts. Nevertheless, the growing numbers of women in agriculture suggests that the future of farming will be increasingly female.

work, and many work in university settings. Some plant pathologists work for companies attempting to develop pest-resistant plants. Advanced degrees are necessary to work as a plant pathologist, and students will study mycology, bacteriology, virology, and physiology, among other subjects, as they pursue their degrees.

The agricultural sector employs millions of people across the globe. Many of those people do interesting work as they attempt to address issues facing the agricultural sector.

By Robyn Pyndykowski

The Indigenous people of Manitoba were the first to cultivate the land in the 1300-1400s. Corn was discovered in the area now known as Lockport, Manitoba. They had a variety of crops including potatoes, turnips, and squash prior to the arrival of European settlers. When European fur trading posts were established, gardens and small acreages of wheat, barley, and oats were introduced. Additionally, cattle, poultry, and hogs were brought in at the same time.

In 1812, the Selkirk settlers arrived in Manitoba. They were the first agricultural immigrants to the region. Among the items they brought with them were 12 Merino sheep and seeds from Scotland. Though their farming efforts were not highly successful, their arrival inspired other farmers to dream of a better life and encouraged them to explore different ways to improve their skills and lifestyles.

In 1831, there were over 2,150 acres of land available in Manitoba for agriculture. 25 years later, in 1856, the amount of land had increased to 8,371 acres, and by this time, Manitoba Agriculture was able to support over one

A walk through farming history

thousand farm families. In the fall of 1876, Manitoba was able to produce its first wheat surplus.

Farming in Manitoba was quite challenging in the beginning due to various factors such as grasshopper infestations, diseases, and frost. Crop insurance was also risky and did not provide substantial payouts. Farmers were charged a fee of one per cent for deliveries, and they could only collect $2.50 per acre on half of their land if their yields dropped below five bushels per acre.

Since the end of World War II, the introduction of electricity to farming communities has been the most significant change. In 1941, only 480 farms had electricity, while by 1950, over 20,000 farms were powered.

It is incredible to look back and see how much agriculture has changed and progressed over the years. In the past, farmers had no access to electricity and performed all tasks manually. Today, we have advanced technologies and equipment that make farming much easier. For instance, picking stones in fields was once done by hand. However, now we have machines that cultivate the land and remove problematic stones, allowing farmers

more time for planting instead of spending days on end in the fields picking stones.

When the Scheurer family first moved to Manitoba almost 45 years ago, they began their farming legacy with their father’s purchase of 750 acres. Like many young rural Manitobans at the time, son Edgar pursued agriculture courses at the University of Manitoba to help support current and future farm work. In the mid-to-late ‘90s, Edgar along with his brother Uli went on to purchase and rent land together eventually build ing a hog farm. However, within the first year, hog prices dropped by half and the Scheurer brothers lost quite a bit of money. Brother Andy came back to the farm after the departure of brother Uli and over the next 18 years the new brother duo was able to purchase more than 3,000 additional acres. Today they successfully farm over 6,500 and still count the original acreage within their family’s land.

When asked by the Em pire-Advance what advice he would give to new farmers, Edgar gave some lofty advice. “New farmers, watch your spending. Don’t get sucked into shiny stuff. Don’t have more than a 30:70 debt-toequity ratio.”

Vern Johnson is a grain farmer from Manitoba who planted his first crop in 1986 on 900 acres. In 1992, he started his own trucking company called Johnson Argo. Although the trucking company was separate from the farm at the time, Vern did haul his own grain and even did some commercial hauling as well. He shared that it wasn’t easy when he started because the grain

Vern Johnson’s John Deere Combine is the heart of his farming operations. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

x Water Retention

x Cover Crops

x Nitrogen Management

x Alternative Watering Systems

x Shelterbelts

x Rotational Grazing

x Incentive Programs for Wetlands, Upland, and Riparian Areas

x Forage Establishment

x Education Funding for Schools & Daycares

x And More!

Today’s farming a prime example of evolution

By Brenda Hunter

Times are a-changing and the way we farm today is a prime example of that evolution. As agricultural innovations are discovered, the industry is ever growing and advancing as new technologies arise.

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are no exception. According to Manitoba born sprayer expert and scientist, Tom Wolf of Agrimetrix Research and Training in Saskatoon, Sask., in a recent Grainews article, spot spraying is a hot topic and he ranks it as one of the top three transformative technologies he has witnessed during his 25+ year career.

One of the newest players on the market is Precision AI founded in 2017. It is a multi-award-winning technology company based in Regina, Sask. who has developed a spray drone that can target and spotspray weeds in real time,

ultimately creating a win trifecta for farmers, the planet and the universe. And some of those first drones will be released in 2024 pending compliance with the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s spray regulations.

“Manitoba is on the short list of first to be serviced areas,” said Jessica Day, Senior Marketing Manager for Precision AI Inc.

According to Day, there are no other spray drones on the market that can do precision green-on-green application.

“Drones with approval to spray can be found in many places in Asia, but they are all broad-acre applications which doesn’t solve the issue of overuse of chemical on the farm,” she said. “We can target weeds only and avoid spraying the crop or bare ground, in real-time. Precision AI is the only company combining precision spraying for broad acre crops using

ZeroDrift drones.”

The Precision spray drone is presently designed with a 20 litre tank onboard and due to its stable, driftfree precision spraying capabilities and ability to differentiate weeds instantly with computer vision and onboard edge processing, it can provide maximum savings to the farmer and reduce chemical overuse substantially.

“Domestically in North America, there is an approximate annual overspend of $12.5 billion in broadcast spraying,” Day continued. “We forecast a massive savings on herbicide use, again depending on weed density, but potentially up to 95%. There is also diesel fuel savings and an increase of up to 6% in yield with the removal of soil compaction from tires driving over the crop.”

At that rate, it makes the estimated $100K retail price to own one (based on the current build), a little more palatable. Any producer with a sharp pencil can soon calculate their expected return on investment.

GPS is being used for field

mapping, and the drones are equipped with obstacle detection. Producers will have the ability to program their own flight map omitting unwanted areas from the drone’s flight path.

The spot spraying drone can be used on the most common crop types on the prairies, namely wheat, canola, oats, peas, and the list is growing. It has a long-lasting flight time meaning many acres can be covered in a fraction of the time it would take to do a broadcast application, a labour-saving feature that is worth considering if human resources are limited.

According to Day, their innovation at Precision AI comes from their proprietary technology methods using edge computing, artificial intelligence, and high-speed, high-accuracy pest detection.

“In a single pass, our

drones image the field, apply artificial intelligence to the images to separate the weeds from the crop, and then target spray the weeds specifically, all while flying 70km/h,” she explained.

“All image AI processing is done on the edge onboard the drone.”

Not only has Precision AI won numerous innovation awards for their design, but have also captured recent accolades for their incorporation of edge computing, which is not normally something associated with agriculture. However, the reasons they use it make total sense with respect to the rural areas where internet connections are often poor if there is even service at all.

They describe it like this:

“Imagine that the internet is a sphere, and your internet network is the center.

Pg 13 ►

Precision AI has developed a spray drone that can target and spot-spray weeds in real time. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

GPS is being used for field mapping, and the drones are equipped with obstacle detection.

Artificial intelligence being used for ag applications

◄ Pg 12

The further you go from the center, the less internet you have. Devices that use edge computing are at the very EDGE of that sphere, and don’t necessarily need to connect to the internet or the cloud to execute complex tasks. Instead, they can be their very own data center, holding and processing most or all their data internally. For example: self-driving cars, in-hospital patient monitoring, or smart cameras.”

Artificial intelligence has actually been around since the 1950s, however, it wasn’t until just recently that it started being used for ag applications. Common AI that most of us are familiar with are things like voice recognition (Siri, Alexa), automated decision-making in strategic computer games such as chess, etc., advanced web search engines (Google Search), and recommendation systems (YouTube, Amazon, etc.) to name a few.

According to their website, the founder of Precision AI, Daniel McCann, stumbled on to the idea for the prototype by accident, when he used his own AI to declutter his garage by auto-listing items on eBay. Having spent time

on family farms, he quickly realized that the same technology could be used for identifying plants. The idea took hold and Precision AI was born to create and develop AI drones for fully autonomous farming.

For now, the Precision AI drone is intended to be used as a compliment to current broadcast application systems as there will be times that an “old-fashioned sprayer” is needed such as when spraying pesticides or for pre-harvest burn off for example.

“This system can stretch out the life of your current asset, reduce the amount of driving required in your fields and spray further into the growing season/ hard to reach areas,” commented Day.

However, a spot-spraying drone with field mapping and weed detection capabilities is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak, as Precision AI reports having big plans for the future.

They were selected as one of two Canadian startups to participate in John Deere’s 2023 AgTech Startup Collaborator program.

John Deere CEO John May was quoted as saying at the Consumer Electronics Show 2023 where the

announcement was made, “In the past, farmers would grow more by using more. Bigger machines, more horsepower, more seed, more nutrients. This approach alone doesn’t work today. There is less arable land, less rural labour, less time to do their jobs due to weather volatility and rising input costs. Technology is the solution to these challenges. Technology allows farmers to create more with fewer resources. Doing

more with less. That is the path forward to providing for all of us and feeding our growing world.”

Not only can the Precision AI drone affect change in farming practices, but it can also impact the planet by reducing water usage by up to 95 per cent as opposed to broadcast application. It also eliminates the widespread use of chemicals as well as soil compaction, making it better for the environment

and the food we produce.

According to a report by Global Data, it is forecast that in the next five years, the global Ag Tech market will grow by over $10 billion. Canada is set to be a leader.

“Canada is one of the best places in the world for Ag Tech with vast swaths of fertile land, agriculture is one of our key industries, and the caliber of our food production systems and infrastructure is second

Saturday, March 23

Man-Sask

Wednesday, March 27 Regular Sale Feeder Sale Cows & Bulls 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, March 28

DLMS Internet Sale

Monday, April 1

& Bull Sale 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 3 Presort Sale 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 4

DLMS Internet Sale

Saturday, April 6 April Bred Cow & Heifer Sale 12 Noon

Wednesday, April 10 Regular Sale Feeder Sale 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, April 11

DLMS Internet Sale

Monday, April 15 Cow & Bull Sale 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 17

Presort Sale 9:30 a.m.

to none,” said McCann in a January 2023 Canadian startup news & tech innovation publication following the announcement by John Deere. “If you want to tackle scale challenges on farms bigger than a few acres, Canadian innovation leads the pack.

“The way we’ve grown food in the last 10,000 years is different than the way we will grow food for the next 10,000 years.”

Thursday, April 18

Tack - Sheep/Goats - Horse Sale 5:00 p.m.

Monday, April 22

Last Monday Butcher Cow & Bull Sale 8:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 24

Regular Sale Feeder Sale 9:00 a.m. Bred Cow & C/C Pair Sale 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 25

DLMS Internet Sale

Wednesday, May 1

Regular Sale - All Classes 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 2

DLMS Internet Sale

Wednesday, May 8

Presort Sale 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, May 9

DLMS Internet Sale

Wednesday, May 15

Regular Sale All Classes 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, May 16

DLMS Internet Sale

The Precision AI drone can also impact the planet by reducing water usage by up to 95 per cent as opposed to broadcast application. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Federally certified beef processor expands

By Anne Davison

It took a stubborn Dutchman, a cattle producer at Dugald with experience in meat processing, to bring a federally certified meat processing plant back to Manitoba. Calvin Vaags was that man.

Beginning in the late 1970s through to 2004, five beef slaughter facilities closed in Manitoba. But Manitoba’s cattle country continued to produce tens of thousands of head. In 2023 Manitoba cattle and calves numbered about 1 million head, with 44,000 being slaughter heifers and 68,000 steers. For decades producers had no choice but to send their fattened beef, cull cows and bulls to distant markets to be processed.

In partnership with a group of Manitoba-based entrepreneurs Vaags had True North Foods meat processing plant under construction in 2013 and by the fall of 2015, TNF was licensed to operate Manitoba’s only federally certified beef processing facility.

The company is fully compliant with regulations in the USA and by 2019 TNF had received EU certification which opened

the door to European markets for its Manitoba meat products.

With an existing 200 head per day capacity, TNF is a small player compared to industry giants Cargill and JBS located in Alberta and in eastern Canada.

But True North is busy and as CEO and president, Vaags’ business instinct told him it was time to expand.

“We’re just in the last leg of a major expansion and with that expansion, we should double our capacity to 400 head per day.”

He’s faced challenges throughout his years in business but nothing that could rival the competitive marketplace that TNF has elbowed its way into. Multinational companies are fierce competitors he explains, “These big companies like JBS and Cargill, they can be profitable in one area of the world and come into Canada, and they don’t care if they’re making money or not, because they’re making it somewhere else. It’s all about market share.

“The packing business is extremely tough, and competitive and especially so right now because the price of cows is so high. But we have managed to carve ourselves out a place in this

industry. And to make sure that we are competitive and able to continue, we’ve done that expansion, more or less just to protect ourselves and make sure we maintain our efficiencies.”

People in the industry know that. In a 2020 Western Producer story about the start-up packing plant, former provincial veterinarian and longtime cattle producer Allan Preston is quoted: “Running a beef-processing plant anywhere in the world, but in Western Canada in particular, is a highly competitive, low-margin business,” Preston said. “It works on volume. It works on having markets for every last piece of the carcass, including the offal and liver and kidneys and heart and tongue and so on. It’s not a venture for the faint hearted.”

Vaags acknowledges his plant is small by industry standards, but in 2020 COVID-19 triggered temporary closure of the large plant at High River, Alta. and partial shutdowns at the Brooks JBS plant causing a ripple of concern through cattle industry and the food supply chain.

He says the smaller local plants have distinct advantages that make them the

way of the future. “I think it’s the right business model to be pushing. It makes a lot more sense to bring these harvesting operations to the area where the cattle are and have smaller plants rather than truck cattle for 2500 or 3000 miles and keep them on a truck for 36 hours, 72 hours.…”

The TNF facility can slaughter and process multi-species ruminants, mainly beef, but also bison and elk, lowering transportation costs to producers and stress on the livestock. Transportation costs to distant processors can run as high as $10,000 when fuel prices are high. Pg

Workers on the processing floor at True North Foods.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

◄ Pg 14

It was a calamity in the cattle industry two decades ago that prompted Vaags, while a cattle producer at Dugald, to get into the beef processing business.

He explains, “I am a farmer. I farm 3000 acres of land and I’ve always had a feedlot. Today I have about 2200 cattle in a feedlot, and I was content to do that up until 2003, when the border closed due to BSE. That’s when I got into the meat business.

“I actually started a retail store in the city of Winnipeg.” The business, The Carver’s Knife, led to a wholesale program where he started selling to other meat shops, grocery stores and restaurants.

“That wholesale program grew, and I ended up owning a small provincial plant in Carman called Plains Processors.” It was then that he began to pursue his dream that would become True North Foods.

Gathering the start-up capital to build and become operational was also a huge challenge. “I have to give my shareholders a lot of credit for their commitment, just their standing behind True North Foods 100 per cent.

“One thing led to an -

TNF serves beef industry

other; one door opened into another. And I’m a bit of a stubborn Dutchman, so I persevered and kept at it. I’m still persevering today because the challenges are huge, and we continue to overcome challenges.”

Traceability means safer food

For the producers of grassfed or organic beef an innovative plant design and high-tech traceability system provides customers with greater certainty of the safety and quality of the meat products.

a brand, he’s got customers, but what he doesn’t have is somebody to harvest the animals and process them for him.

“We do that for Bryce, we do that for a few other large customers like that and many small ones. But still, when you add it all up, it’s not near the lions share of our business; 95 % of our business is product that we would buy and market ourselves. In our own marketing we have our very high quality AAA and prime fat cattle program.”

We have managed to carve ourselves out a place in this industry.

-Calvin Vaags

When you combine industry-leading software with a processing method that cannot be matched by larger volume processors, you get food security and traceability that is unmatched.

It was just such a capability and location that at attracted Pipestone businessman Bryce Lobreau to arrange for processing of 8Acres Inc. organic and grassfed beef.

“Bryce has his own marketing arm. He’s done a good job that way… he’s got

The best option is for producers to call the plant and sell their cattle directly to TNF.

“That’s by far and away the most efficient and best for the producers,” says Vaags. “But we also are at every auction mart in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan as well. We have a network of buyers that we use, but we’re basically head to head at every auction against whoever is bidding.”

The Manitoba processor means healthy competition, something producers and

auctions alike want to see. “If True North is there, then the market will be strong.

“We buy the lions share of the cull cows in the whole province of Manitoba. We also kill and process fat cattle, but that’s a much smaller percentage. We’re probably doing about 15% fat cattle and 85% cull cows and bulls.”

A&W is a good customer.

“A&W is one of our streams of market. It certainly isn’t the main one.” But with supplies of specially raised beef, TNF is well positioned to supply the burger joint. Since 2013, A&W boasts of serving beef raised without artificial hormones and steroids and now their patties are also grass fed and finished.

The Carman plant also supplies stores with regular ground beef. Since about 2017 the co-op stores in Manitoba and a good portion in Saskatchewan have sold ground beef purchase from TNF. They were among the processor’s first customers

Costco’s western markets and a number of Sobey stores both in western and eastern Canada also source beef from True North.

Humane handling of the animals they harvest is a priority. “Our animal

welfare is a very, very high bar at True North Foods. We are constantly audited by a high level, third party audit.” That goes for customers selling the beef and for the processor.

But for Vaags, its more than following the rules.

“My kids call me a cow whisperer. I’ve spent my whole life looking after animals, and cattle so when I’m harvesting them now, I make sure that it’s done

at a very high standard of animal welfare.”

True North Foods facility and equipment follow the designs of renowned animal psychologist Temple Grandin.

Calvin Vaags says, “Humans are entrusted with stewardship of the resources we’re given to look after, and we’ve got to make sure we’re doing it with respect and in the right way.”

Calvin Vaags is CEO and President of True North Foods at Carman, Manitoba.

PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Our nation’s agriculture industry has been helping to plant seeds of growth, strength and success here in Canada and around the world for generations. Here are some facts and figures surrounding this important sector:

$10,305

The average annual food expenditure per Canadian household as of 2021

7% The percentage of Canada’s total GDP

generated by agricultural input and service providers, primary agricultural producers, food and beverage processors, food retailers and wholesalers, and foodservice providers

Top 3 agricultural sectors

1. Dairy

2. Vegetables

3. Floriculture, nursery and sod by average 2018-2022 farm cash receipts

$87.7 billion Farm market receipts in Canada in 2022

2.3 million PEOPLE were employed in the agriculture and agri-food system industry in 2022, providing 1 in 9 jobs in Canada.

$

92.8 billion

The value of agriculture and food products exported by Canada in 2022

Canada’s top trading partner is the U.S.

189,874

The number of farms in Canada in 2022

62.2 million hectares of Canada’s land area is covered by farms as of 2022

11.9% of farms reported some form of renewable energy production in 2021

Exchange program enriches youth, farm families

By Brenda Hunter

According to the 2019 RBC report: Farmer 4.0, Canadian agriculture could see a skills and labour shortage of 123,000 by the year 2030. That’s only seven years away folks. Yet, the country could stand to increase its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by $11 billion in the same time frame, by changing the way we currently produce and market food globally. The report suggests that this could be done by beefing up the skill set of farm workers, developing and embracing technological advancements, as well as filling the labour shortage in the agricultural industry.

The agricultural labour shortage can be attributed to many things with the retirement of the baby boomers ranking at the top of the list. According to the report, 600 fewer young people are entering

the ag sector each year, despite a 29 per cent jump in students enrolling in post-secondary ag programs. As well, we don’t have to look very far to see that as the rural population dwindles, the cities grow. And as that happens, more and more people become one more generation removed from the farm and knowing where their food is produced.

Yet, given Canada’s broad expanse of fertile land and natural resources, the country could actually be in a great position to accelerate production.

“Scarcity breeds creativity, and problems lead to innovative thinking,” said Heather Watson, Executive Director of Farm Management Canada on the growing labour shortage. “It’s important to remember our agricultural sector is founded in innovation and problem-solving. If we could

put as much energy into the labour shortage as we do to yield and growth rates, imagine what we

could accomplish.”

employees, which is a testament to how much the need for farm labour has grown.”

One of the ways that the farm labour shortage can partially be addressed is through programs like A-Way to Work, run by the International Rural Exchange Canada Inc (IREC).

“The Canadian government increased our work permit quota numbers last year in an effort to help Canadian industry,” said Anita Warriner, Executive Director of IREC, who noted there was a marked increase in new host applications in 2023. “We know the demand is vastly greater and will continue to increase.”

The organization was founded in 1985 and has ties to the former International Agriculture Exchange Association (IAEA) which has now joined the IREC. At that time, some farmers in southwest Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan decided to form a regional organization similar to it. Warriner explained that the founding principal was to provide ways for young people to experience agriculture on an international scale, with access to farm labour being a side benefit. Back then, the need for seasonal employees was much less than it has become in the last 20 years making it all the more important in addressing the current and forecasted farm labour shortage.

“While the idea of providing life-changing experiences for young adults is still central to the organization, providing a source of skilled farm labour for the agriculture community has become equally important,” she said. “Today there are seven full-time staff and three contract/part-time

She went on to explain that the program offers an opportunity for foreign program participants between the ages of 18 and 35 years, to be placed on and paid for agricultural positions at host farms across Canada. Most applicants have a farming background and/ or have completed education in farming or other trades such as agricultural mechanics, making their skill set valuable to host families.

“Farming is a skilled trade in European countries and individuals must complete that training before they can take over their family farm or farm on their own,” she explained. “The skills and energy that come with our participants can be very helpful to a farming operation. It is a unique solution for farm labour that addresses the issues of the RBC report in unique ways.”

The trade-off being, of course, not just monetary in nature, but of the lasting connections and memories made while host families engage program participants and show them a little bit about Canadian culture.

“The relationships built can be very special and lifelong,” Warriner continued, who along with her family, have also been hosts with IREC since 2003.

The connections made are two-fold; both for the participants to the program (and often their families) as well as for the host families. Richard Stevenson and his wife, Mary Ann, who farm south of Kenton, have

been involved with the agricultural exchange program for a total of 50 years – first with Richard, as a participant with IAEA and more recently as a repeat host family for IREC. They, and their family, have made lasting lifelong friendships with both the trainees they have hosted, as well as host families.

In fact, the owner of the New Zealand farm that had hosted Richard many years prior, actually came to Canada in his 60th year for an entire harvest on the Stevenson farm, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“It was a highlight of his life and something he never thought he would do as he had missed the opportunity when he was young,” said Mary Ann of his experience. “He and his family are a great example of life-long friends (we’ve made) as a result of this program.”

The Stevensons often host a “trainee” and have done so for quite a number of years. In doing so, they have now developed a network of friends from around the world. They feel that through their involvement in the program, that it has also fostered an appreciation for other cultures and desire to travel, for their entire family.

“I know that it makes the world a better place,” said Warriner about what inspires her about the program. “When we meet people from other countries and cultures and live and work beside them, we come to understand both that the world is full of good people, and that Canada is a great place to live.”

A 2019 report suggests that Canadian agriculture could see a skills and labour shortage by 2030. However, given Canada’s broad expanse of fertile land and natural resources, the country could be in a position to accelerate production.

PHOTO/STOCK

Snail farming: a lucrative venture

Snail farming, scientifically known as heliciculture, has gained popularity as a lucrative venture in recent years. This unique agricultural practice involves the farming or cultivation of edible land snails for human consumption and various other purposes.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Snail farming can be carried out through different methods and in various environments. Here’s an overview of the key methods and environments for snail farming.

• Outdoors. Snail farms can be established in outdoor environments, such as gardens, open fields or dedicated snail farms.

• Indoors. Some snail farmers opt for controlled indoor environments that allow them to regulate the temperature, humidity and other environmental factors to create ideal conditions.

• Closed systems. Closed environments like plastic tunnel houses or greenhouses offer another option for snail farming.

Moreover, snails can be bred and hatched inside a controlled environment, such as an incubation chamber, and then transferred to outdoor pens to mature.

THE BENEFITS

Snail farming offers several advantages over traditional livestock farming, making it an attractive venture for both experienced and novice farmers. Snail farming offers the following benefits:

• It has a low carbon footprint

• It doesn’t require much space

• It has low startup costs compared to other types of farming Plus, snails are slow-moving, gentle and easy to control. Snails can be used for their meat, shells and eggs, providing farmers with various income streams, making snail farming an attractive option in the modern agricultural landscape.

Growing cover crops is an agri-environmental practice that offers several benefits. Cover crops are sown during or after the growth of a primary crop, such as corn, wheat or soybeans. Species are varied and may include ryegrass, radishes, biofumigant mustard and alfalfa. They’re neither harvested nor destroyed in the fall. Instead, they’re left to freeze and decompose naturally. Cover crops have positive effects on your current crops, as well as those in subsequent years. Here are some of their benefits:

• The roots of cover crops make the soil more porous, enabling better water infiltration. This improves the soil composition and helps prevent erosion. Reduced erosion prevents the formation of a crusty surface, thereby minimizing the pollution of waterways caused by runoff.

• Cover crops nourish subsequent crops when they die by increasing the activity of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, as well as enriching the soil with nitrogen. The crops you plant next season benefit from the nutrients, and you see better growth and higher yields.

• •Cover crops help control weed growth and provide an alternative to herbicides. Since the ground has constant cover, it’s less accessible to undesirable or invasive plant species. This practice can also be used in your garden. Find out which cover crops are best suited to your local climate and growing conditions.

PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE HOG INDUSTRY FOR FARMERS, ANIMALS, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY OUR CONCERNS

• Industrial hog production contributes to antibiotic resistance

• Negative impacts of living near an industrial hog barn

• The connection between the industrial hog industry and the health of our lakes

OUR SOLUTIONS

Learn about the alternatives to industrial style barns and why they help create happier, healthier pigs & farmers, more harmonious community relations and less pollution in our lakes.

BAD ODOUR FROM HOG BARNS AND LAGOONS?

Contact Hog Watch Manitoba for help measuring noxious gases

Spring into Wellness

Welcome to S.A.I.L.’s Wellness event!

Find connections, get the support and resources to enable you to live your best life in your golden years.

10:00 - 3:00

Doors open at 9:30

TUNDRA OIL & GAS PLACE SUNRISE BANQUET HALL Virden, MB FREE ADMISSION!

10:30-11:30 Presentation: “Taking Care of YOU & ME as We Age”

1:15-2:15 Presentation: “Mind Your Matter” by Alzheimer’s Society

Three “Spring Up” Active Breaks throughout day!

VARIETY OF VENDORS PRESENT!

Ashley’s Adaptive Apparel | Brandon Mobility | A.P.P.L.E.

Virden Centennial Housing | PMH | Border Regional Library and more!

Snacks and lunch available for purchase from Kliever Katering Contact Julie to RSVP (appreciated, but not necessary) and if you require a ride (204-851-7100)

Sponsored by: Town of Virden, S.A.I.L., Lions Club, R.M. of Sifton, R.M. of Wallace-Woodworth & Empire-Advance, Local Co-ops