SAVE $2/ACRE Inputs and Iron

92 Pages·2017·24.48 MB·English

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IN THIS ISSUESEE PAGE 65
Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240
Volume 14, number 5 February 27, 2017
CoVer CroPS: Inputs and Iron:
The potential is
huge, but so is the
relentless price hikes
learning curve
those looking for
a one-size-fits- squeeze producers
all solution will be
disappointed
BY GLENN CHEATER
AF STAFF When crop prices soared, so did costs — and they stayed high
Looking over at the emptied even as farm revenues fell back to earth
room that had been packed
with attentive farmers a few
minutes earlier, cover crops guru
Kevin Elmy could only shake his BY JENNIFER BLAIR
head. AF STAFF
“If I had given a talk here five
years ago, maybe the front row Record-high grain and oilseed prices
might have been filled — maybe,” are a speck in the rear-view mirror,
the Saskatchewan farmer said but they’ve left a legacy of higher costs.
after his FarmTech presentation, “When we see higher grain prices, we can
expect to pay higher inputs,” said Scott Keller,
sEE COVER CROPs }page 7 a mixed grain farmer near New Norway.
“All the companies selling crop inputs
look at farmers’ margins and then basically
increase their prices to see what the market
will bear. They gobble up a good chunk of that
extra profit when we see those higher grain
prices.
“We can pretty much bank on that happen-
ing every time we see an increase in commod-
ity prices.”
From 2013 to 2016, barley prices fell six
per cent, wheat went down 15 per cent, and
canola dropped 18 per cent, according to
provincial statistics. During the same period
some inputs also fell (urea by 11 per cent
and wheat and barley seed by three and five
per cent respectively) while others rose (an
11-51-0 fertilizer blend is up by 10 per cent
and Roundup Ready canola seed costs eight
per cent more). When farm revenue goes up, farm equipment and input companies are quick to raise prices,
says scott Keller. but when it comes to those costs, what goes up rarely comes down, he notes.

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2 news » inside This week
febRuaRY 27, 2017 • albeRTafaRmeXpRess.ca
inside » livestock crops columnists
MILLENNIAL HAVE A PLAN HERBICIDE
brenda schoepp
GET-TOGETHER AND HARVEST RESISTANCE SHOWING The chicken wing cRaze shows 5
CLOSES THE GAP BOUNTIFUL FORAGES UP EVERYWHERE whaT cleveR maRkeTing can do
Young farmers and
urbanites linked by a 52 Gord Gilmour
passion for good food abandoning The biofuel push 4
would hammeR cRop pRices
A NEW DAY FOR RAIL
POLICY OR THE SAME
OLD, SAME OLD? alan GueberT
Rail expert says tinkering The saying ‘a goal without and the billion-dollar bill for donald TRump ReallY isn’T a 5
needs to give way to 26 a plan is just a wish’ applies 12 combating these weeds is 17 poliTician — he keeps his pRomises
meaningful change to pastures only going to rise
TURNING DATA INTO ACTION:
The last big challenge for drones
Advanced technology to spot disease, pest, and health issues early on is already here —
but using that data still has many challenges
BY JENNIFER BLAIR
AF stAFF
Sure, drones are cool and all. But
when it comes to your farm, it’s
all about the data they gather —
and figuring out how to use all that
info.
“Ultimately, that is what’s going to
change the way we manage our crops,
by giving us better information about
them,” Markus Weber, president of
Edmonton-based LandView Drones,
said at the recent Farmtech confer-
ence.
And for an eye in the sky, it starts
with the camera.
“We start with the sensor, and then
find the drone that can carry that sen- “Drones just let you see your
sor reliably, and then lastly package
farm in a different light. You
in all the software you need to use it
effectively,” said Weber, whose com- will see problems you just
pany sells drone packages ranging
didn’t know you had before.”
from $2,250 to $17,850 plus Gst.
Drones — or unmanned aerial vehi-
cles (UAVs) — can, among many other
things, measure the size of silage pits, Markus Weber
count animals, check crop health,
determine yield potential, assess hail The big payback from drones will come when software can analyse data and recommend
damage, and compare crop trial strips. practical, effective remedies, says Markus Weber of LandView Drones. phoTo: ThinksTock
But more importantly, they offer “a
lot more insight into what is going on growing season, said Weber. But while or a W-pattern or, if short on time, go The caveat
in that field,” by using near-infrared they’re low cost and don’t require straight to known problem spots. But so far, drone software hasn’t
sensors that provide a Normalized an operator, their lower-resolution “that’s what we all do. We need to advanced as far as sensors have.
Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), images limit their usefulness mid- be fast, but it’s not the same level of “A lot of the drone hype you’ll hear
which measures vegetation and, season. insight,” he said. “this lets you get a out there is ‘fly to apply’ or ‘from drone
hence, crop health. “At the start of the season, for vari- look at your whole field mid-season, to tractor,’” said Weber.
“Healthy and unhealthy plants able-rate fertilizer or seeding, satellite when normally we lose sight of our “Yes, they do create the ability to
reflect that kind of light differently,” is as good as UAV or better,” he said. field when the crops get knee deep. move data because they’re all cloud-
said Weber, adding that near infra- “For those types of zones, you can Realistically, we don’t see the back end based systems, but there is no software
red is the “magic sweet spot for plant establish that with satellite imagery. of our canola mid-season.” out there right now that is going to
health.” It’s the same thing with post-harvest. It only takes a couple of minutes to effectively, in my opinion, go straight
“You’re taking in stuff you can’t see there really isn’t too much to do with “get you airborne,” he added. from a GeotIFF map to an effective
with the human eye, and that’s giving a drone there. “If you’ve been walking that field for prescription.”
you more insight into your crops.” “But UAVs excel with all the other 20 years, that will give you insight. It that functionality may be coming in
this takes crop scouting to an stuff that’s happening mid-season.” will get you to places in that field that the next few years, but it’s not there
entirely different level and using you didn’t typically go to.” yet, he added.
drones in mid-season is perhaps “the Getting very precise though drones with near-infrared “I think we’re going from spotting
biggest use for this thing,” said Weber. Drones can detect insects and disease sensors have dropped in price, high- where the problems are to telling you
However, that also means employing early on with astonishing detail. end packages (drone, sensor, and soft- what that problem is. You’re going to
precision ag techniques since you’ll “If you fly this really low and slow at ware) can come with price tags push- be able to see individual weed species
want to tailor your pesticide, fungi- 40 metres above the ground, it will use ing $20,000. But if used effectively, the and create a map of them.”
cide, or in-crop fertilizer applications the NDVI to count individual plants,” payback can justify that expense, said But right now, there are too many
to the scouting info from the drone. said Weber. “It will give you a popula- Weber. factors that go into making an effective
“Unfortunately, not a whole lot of tion count of the entire quarter section “Drones just let you see your farm prescription.
people have adopted variable rate — not an estimate, a count. in a different light. You will see prob- “Ultimately, this is where there
wholeheartedly, and I think a big part “that is especially useful if you’re lems you just didn’t know you had needs to be a person involved,” he
of that is it’s difficult to manage all that growing some high-value crops and before,” he said. “It lets you confirm said. “Regardless of the fact that
data,” he said. “Data acquisition has hybrids where germination is an issue. your own management decisions — there’s data flow, you want a person
been difficult, and I think drones will Double-checking those kinds of things and that double-check on equipment in there making those decisions. And
eventually change that, especially as makes a whole lot of sense.” and management decisions is worth a in a lot of cases, it’s the person who
they get even easier to use.” And when used for crop scouting, lot of money. For one problem you fix farms the land.”
satellite images have their uses, drones do a better job. someone with equipment, that’s thousands of
especially at the start and end of the scouting on foot might use a diamond dollars right there.” [email protected]
3
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • FEBRUARY 27, 2017
Need for speed is the key to
Cereal
commissions
Vegreville’s two new elevators
launch
mentorship
program Viterra’s and GrainsConnect Canada’s new facilities will both be
able to load huge unit trains in little more than half a day
Staff
BY GLENN CHEatER
The province’s two main cereal AF STAFF
groups are launching their ver-
sion of a mentorship program Vegreville will soon be
that has already been a proven home to two new high-
success in the beef sector. throughput elevators,
“The AdvancingAg Future and the demise of the Canadian
Leaders program is about foster- Wheat Board is a big reason why,
ing a strong network of future says the head of GrainsConnect
agriculture leaders for a progres- Canada.
sive and vibrant cropping indus- The company’s two owners
try in Alberta,” Kevin Bender, — Japan’s Zen-Noh Grain Corp.
vice-chair of the Alberta Wheat and Australia’s GrainCorp —
Commission, said in a release. both want access to Prairie grain
Like Cattlemen’s Young Lead- and that prompted the decision
ers program, the program pairs to spend $120 million on four
young producers (aged 18 to grain terminals in Alberta and
35) with leaders in the sector Saskatchewan, said Warren Stow.
“who can share their knowledge “It’s very difficult in Western
and experience and facilitate Canada, given that you have a
key professional development closed loop supply chain,” Stow
opportunities.” The program said from his Calgary office. “We
lasts a year, with mentees select- don’t have access to Viterra’s
ed by a committee and then supply chain or Richardson’s or
paired with a mentor based on Cargill’s, P&H’s, and Paterson’s.
their interests and career goals. In order to access the grain, you
“We felt it was important to pretty much need to build out a
launch a program like this for supply chain of your own.
the cropping sector because “That’s become very apparent
we want to advance the skills in the last three or four years post-
of young agri-professionals as deregulation and I think that’s
they start their careers and pro- why you’re seeing a number of
vide them with industry-specific folks spend some capital to access GrainsConnect Canada’s four new elevators and loop tracks — all virtually identical to the one currently
training, networking, and learn- that grain.” under construction at Maymont, Sask. — are designed to greatly speed the transportation of Prairie grain.
ing opportunities,” said Alberta Just days after GrainsConnect PHOTO: GRAINSCONNECT CANADA
Barley vice-chair Dave Bishop. announced its plans for Vegre-
“The program will be flexible ville, Viterra said it, too, will build While his company’s bid to “For us, it will be get out there;
and tailored to the goals and a new elevator near the town of have “the first site in the region get out early; start engaging the
aspirations of the mentee.” 5,700. Both facilities will feature a with a 130-car rail loop” will community and the growers; and “In order to access the
Applications, available at loop track rail system, have a stor- now depend on who finishes work hard to deliver service to the
grain, you pretty much
www.advancingag.ca, must be age capacity of 35,000 tonnes, and construction first, the key issue growers.”
submitted by March 13. Eight be able to load 130 or so rail cars is that these types of facilities Viterra said it plans to start con- need to build out a
mentees will be selected this in little more than half a day. will change the nature of grain struction in spring while Grains-
year, with that number expected In fact, all four of GrainsCon- transportation, Stow said. Connect is looking at a start in supply chain of your
to grow to 15 in subsequent nect’s facilities will be largely iden- “We have a vision to change mid-year.
own.”
years. Each mentee will also tical. The first one, at Maymont, how grain moves out of West- Vegreville’s closest federally
receive funds for professional Sask., is due to be operational this ern Canada, and CN is very licensed high-throughput eleva-
development opportunities. fall, while Vegreville and one at supportive of that vision. These tor is Richardson Pioneer’s facil-
The deadline for the Cattle- Wilkie, Sask. are slated to be com- loop tracks and 135-car unit ity at Lavoy, about 15 kilometres
men’s Young Leaders program pleted in 2018. An announcement trains will be the most efficient southeast of town. Viterra oper-
is March 31. Applications can be on a second Alberta location will way to move grain to the West ates high-throughput elevators
found at www.cattlemensyoung happen by mid-April or earlier, Coast.” at Star (65 kilometres to the
leaders.com. The website also Stow said. (The company previ- Stow predicted competition northwest), Killam (100 kilome-
WarreN StoW
has lists of mentees and their ously announced plans to build between grain companies will tres south) plus smaller eleva-
mentors going back to 2010. near Bowden before putting that intensify further and more ele- tors at Vermilion and Camrose.
project on hold last fall.) vators will be built. — With staff files
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4
FEBRUARY 27, 2017 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
EDITOR
Glenn Cheater
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
twitter: @glenncheater
REpORTERs
Alexis Kienlen, Edmonton This U.S. policy debate could hit
780-668-3121
Email: [email protected]
Jennifer Blair, Red Deer
403-613-7573 you where it hurts — the wallet
Email: [email protected]
CIRCULATION mANAgER
Heather Anderson
Email: [email protected]
If Washington puts the brakes on the biofuel bandwagon, the
pRODUCTION DIRECTOR
repercussions will be felt in every grain-growing region in the world
Shawna Gibson
Email: [email protected]
DIRECTOR Of sALEs
it’s become enough of an issue by 136 per cent, corn by 125 per policy, and the renewable energy
Cory Bourdeaud’hui
BY GORD GILMOUR that even former U.S. agriculture cent and soybeans by 107 per cent, industry is finding its feet in the
Email: [email protected]
Manitoba Co-operator editor secretary tom Vilsack, a noted according to USda data. lobbying game and inevitable
NATIONAL ADVERTIsINg sALEs
biofuels proponent, recently fret- in the ensuing years, farmers propaganda war. Vilsack himself
Jack Meli What would a world with ted publicly about their future. in around the world have responded had earlier predicted there would
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected] another 400 million an editorial board meeting with to that price signal like they be a lot of sabre-rattling but no
bushels of corn on the the Des Moines Register just before always do. they’ve upped their concrete action, and despite his
LOCAL ADVERTIsINg sALEs
market look like? Christmas, Vilsack said he’s begun game, made investments to grow growing alarm, that may still be
Tiffiny Taylor
i am willing to bet that the grain to see mixed signals about the U.S. their productivity, and met that the case.
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected] growers among our readership renewable Fuels Standard, pre- demand. in 2006, the U.S. pro- but it is clear that the policy is
just felt a small blood pressure dating even the contentious U.S. duced 10.5 billion bushels of corn. back in play and must be pro-
CLAssIfIED ADVERTIsINg sALEs
spike at the very thought, antici- election. Vilsack even went so far in 2016, it produced 13.6 billion tected. in Canada there’s only
Mitchell Tityk
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] pating dramatically lower crop as to indicate he’s “concerned” bushels, according to USda data. been a few shots fired so far, but
Email: [email protected] prices. about the future of the U.S. bio- Similar, and even greater, pro- the industry will need to respond,
that figure represents the por- fuels mandate. duction increases can be seen in or risk being overlooked.
ADVERTIsINg CO-ORDINATOR
tion of the U.S. corn crop con- the trump administration’s other locations around the world. there’s little anyone on this
Arlene Bomback
verted to biofuels annually. How- appointments to key cabinet posi- Ukraine corn yields, for example, side of the border can do to influ-
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] ever, the world’s oil producers and tions haven’t been much source have more than doubled in the last ence the U.S. decision, so the best
refiners have made it more than of comfort. the newly elected 15 years. course of action is likely going to
pUBLIsHER
clear they’d love to see that stop. president has nominated two that country is a relatively small be hoping for the best while pre-
Lynda Tityk
the oil companies have attacked fierce renewable fuel foes to key producer, but that figure under- paring for the worst.
Email: [email protected]
the mandates as wasteful, unnec- positions — former governor of lines just how much potential that means playing defence,
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR essary, a subsidy by another name, texas rick perry has been tapped there has been to increase yields keeping a careful eye on the bottom
Laura Rance and the fuels themselves as infe- to head up the energy department globally. line, and using current conditions to
Email: [email protected]
rior energy sources that could be and oklahoma attorney General We’ve seen very similar results prepare for future challenges.
pREsIDENT damaging to engines. they’ve also Scott pruitt is slated to run the in other crops as well. For example, interest rates remain
Bob Willcox challenged the assertion they’re U.S. environmental protection the black Sea region, once very low, so paying off debt now
Glacier FarmMedia environmentally friendly. agency. a major grain importer under might make a lot of sense. another
[email protected]
proponents have responded there’s little doubt an elimina- the Soviet system, has become similar wind at the back of the sec-
204-944-5751
the industry creates jobs, lowers tion, or even just a reduction, in a fiercely competitive wheat tor is the lower value of the loonie. it
The AlberTA FArmer express is published 26 times a harmful emissions and keeps a the U.S. biofuel mandate would exporter. presented with the has lost about 25 per cent of its value,
year by Glacier FarmMedia LP. We acknowledge portion of the US$1 trillion spent be disastrous for the grain sector. first meaningful price signal protecting Canadian farmers from
the financial support of the Government of on motor fuel annually at home When the mandates became real- since shaking off the shackles of lower global grain prices.
Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of rather than shipping it overseas ity with the U.S.’s energy indepen- that moribund economic sys- What the sector shouldn’t do is
the Department of Canadian Heritage.
to unfriendly regimes. dence and Security act of 2007, tem, farmers there responded by blithely assume the mandates will
Publications mail agreement number 40069240 Like all political fights, both the effect on grain prices globally quickly adopting technology and continue forever. if recent geopoliti-
CAnADiAn PoSTMASTER: sides seem intent on presenting was immediate, pronounced and genetics to spike yields. cal events have taught us anything, it
Send address changes and the facts in the most positive light extremely positive. between 2006 it’s too soon to say for sure that should be to expect the unexpected.
undeliverable addresses (covers only) to possible to make their case. but and 2008 average world prices for the U.S. mandate is doomed.
Circulation Dept., P.o. Box 9800, making their case both sides are. rice rose by 217 per cent, wheat plenty of people support the [email protected]
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7
iSSn 1481-3157
Wheat growers support free trade
1-800-665-1362
Call
or U.S. subscribers call
1-204-944-5568 U.S. farmers should have the opportunity to sell into the Canadian system on fair and equal terms
For more information on The AlberTA
FArmer express and subscriptions to other artificial price distortions that
Glacier FarmMedia LP products,
BY LEVI WOOD AND frustrate farmers and can cause
or visit our web site at:
JASON SCOTT ill will.
www.albertafarmexpress.ca
WCWGa and U.S. WHeat aSSoCiateS Grain producers in both coun-
or email: tries have worked hard to main-
[email protected] Since the end of the Canadian tain a good relationship and these
Wheat board’s government ongoing concerns need to be
monopoly control over the addressed to prevent any future
At Glacier FarmMedia LP we are committed to marketing of western Canadian trade restrictions, which would be
protecting your privacy. Glacier FarmMedia LP will wheat, there has been a great deal bad news for farmers and industry
only collect personal information if it is required of change in the Canadian wheat on both sides of the border.
for reasonable purposes related to our business
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customer service, we may also share personal tion of many regulations. ers on both sides of the border
information with our affiliates or strategic one of the most significant strongly support co-operating
business partners. For more information regarding changes to come from marketing to ensure an open market. Last
how we collect, use and disclose personal freedom for wheat farmers has year, we also worked together
information, please refer to our Privacy Policy been the growth in sales of Cana- should U.s. wheat be treated on par with Canadian wheat? to recommend that the regula-
athttp://farmmedia.com/privacy-policy, or write to:
Privacy officer, Glacier FarmMedia, P.o. Box 9800, dian wheat into the U.S. market. PHOTO: CREATIVE COMMONS/JIMz47 tory Cooperation Council and
Station Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3K7. Currently, Canadian farmers the pacific northWest economic
delivering wheat into the U.S. urge the House of Commons to tem cannot access these U.S. sup- region work to address this trade
occasionally we make our list of subscribers
available to other reputable firms whose products receive equitable treatment with address open, cross-border wheat plies. disparity.
and services might be of interest to you. if you grain grown south of the border. trade, and we support updating in a typical production year, We hope that work on this sub-
would prefer not to receive such offers, please However, because of legislation the law to ensure wheat is treated USda estimates show that over ject in the House of Commons
contact us at the address in the preceding
and regulation that existed for consistently on both sides of the three million tonnes of wheat are can result in free and equitable
paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502.
years before the marketing free- border. produced in the U.S. within 50 wheat trade across the Canada-
The editors and journalists who write, contribute dom changes came to Western as farmers, we want access to miles of a Canadian elevator. U.S. border. that would be good
and provide opinions to AlberTA FArmer express and Canada, U.S. producers who cur- the most competitive wheat mar- this inequity has created sig- news for grain growers, the wheat
Glacier FarmMedia LP attempt to provide accurate
and useful opinions, information and analysis. rently deliver wheat into Canada kets, but this often is not the case nificant concerns in the Cana- value chain, and consumers in
However, the editors, journalists, AlberTA FArmer automatically receive the lowest for U.S. wheat farmers near the dian and U.S. wheat industries, both countries.
express and Glacier FarmMedia LP cannot and do grade, regardless of the quality or Canadian border. Some of these especially given the potential of
not guarantee the accuracy of the information variety of grain, even if the variety farmers live closer to a Canadian reopening the north american
contained in this publication. Use or non-use of Levi Wood is president of the
is registered in Canada. grain elevator than an american Free trade agreement (naFta).
any information is at the reader’s sole risk, and Western Canadian Wheat Growers
we assume no responsibility for any actions or our organizations, the Western one but cannot take advantage of a free flow of grain in both direc- Association and is a wheat farmer
decisions taken by any reader of this publication Canadian Wheat Growers associ- selling their wheat into the bulk tions will improve the efficiency in Saskatchewan. Jason Scott is
based on any and all information provided. ation and U.S. Wheat associates, grain-handling system in Canada, of the grain-handling systems chairman of U.S. Wheat Associates
have been working together to and the Canadian marketing sys- in both countries and eliminate and is a wheat farmer in Maryland.
5
ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • FEBRUARY 27, 2017
Chicken industry takes wing on
some very creative marketing
Lowly chicken wings used to be a big problem for processors,
now they are a huge and growing source of profits
chicken and 90 per cent of them eat it and particularly wing sales, are taking business practice. if found, the industry
By BRENDA SCHOEPP regularly. in canada per capita consump- flight. And sales have managed to hold itself may find new regulations that make
AF columnist tion is strong at 31.86 kilograms annually, their own despite year-on-year increases the cost of business more expensive and
with more than 60 per cent of the birds in chicken prices. with the transparency involved, will
If there is one thing that north Ameri- being produced in ontario and Quebec. But that steady price has created its experience some difficulty passing that
cans love to eat — it is chicken wings. What has changed with chicken is the own set of problems. along to the consumer. Woody breast
During the super Bowl game alone, way it is raised and how quickly it grows. lawsuits filed in chicago claim that a may involve the production of a little
one billion wings are consumed along certainly there are condemned wings group of large chicken processors, which smaller bird and that could also influ-
with an ocean of beer. canadians are but there is also a problem with one out collectively controls 90 per cent of the ence supply. there is a host of possibili-
right in there chowing down on the once of every 10 birds having a ‘woody’ breast chicken production in the u.s., has col- ties here.
tossed tidbit, and continue to eat a few (with hard or woody fibres in the meat). luded to keep prices high. the claim is An old argument of what comes first —
birds each year themselves. the problem has scientists and nutrition- that these companies co-ordinated con- the chicken or the egg — could tie up this
in the u.s., wings sales top us$839 ists scratching their heads, but it looks tracts and plant closures, and even broke case in the courts for years.
million each year with cooked wings like a little slower growing period at the eggs and killed hens to control the sup- But there is one thing for certain: An
from the deli bringing in another $633 front end along with diet changes could ply. the lawsuit alleges that’s driven up industry that can sell chicken balls,
million. the hotter the wing, the hotter circumvent a lot of the issue. prices by 50 per cent since 2008. chicken fingers and flavoured wings
the demand — and sales of the scorchers consider that in 1925 it took almost these companies are praying they stay (that are mostly bone) while folks pay a
prove it to be so. 45 days for a broiler to gain a pound of out of the pen but it is hard to reconcile premium for those meals has some cre-
But the real flight in wings is in the nat- weight. today it takes 7.7 days for the the massive increase in productivity with ative minds in the home office. When it
ural and organic categories with sales of same performance. And, the birds are the rising cost of chicken. the squawk- all comes to roost, i imagine folks will
natural wings up more than 90 per cent bigger. in 1925, the average finished ing has attracted a flock of lawyers that still eat chicken — particularly cana-
and organic chicken wings up 21 per cent broiler was a featherweight at 2.5 pounds is circling the wagons. And yet, despite dian chicken, whether in conventional,
to 46 per cent (depending on the region while the same bird today weighs in at all the flapping, and the suspicion and natural and organic form — because they
in the u.s.). 6.24 pounds. worry about co-ordinated supply – folks want to.
it is pretty obvious that the wing plat- Woody breast is particularly evident in are still buying a lot of chicken — and
ter is no longer just for the beer-guzzling these heavier birds. much of this product they are especially fond of wings at home,
Brenda Schoepp is a farmer from Alberta
sport fanatic as now 30 per cent of all ends up ground. in the restaurant and at the deli counter.
who works as an international mentor and
classes of restaurants offer a winged still, with nearly 90 per cent of cana- let us hope that the investigations do motivational speaker. She can be contacted
plate. dians and Americans eating chicken, it is not uncover the unnecessary destruction through her website www.brendaschoepp.
canadians and Americans alike love easy to see why all portions of the bird, of eggs and hens that is outside of normal com. All rights reserved. Brenda Schoepp 2017
Give the new president credit —
he aims to keep his promises
You can always count on politicians to break their promises once in office —
but Trump doesn’t see himself as a politician
reportedly legal, or other than the border tax, explained First, explains Krugman, any
By ALAN GUEBERT legal — are core conservative White House press secretary border tax “can’t be country
FArm AnD FooD principles but, their silence These Big Ag, mostly sean spicer, is less about our specific” — aimed solely at, say,
seemed to say, ‘it’s the presi- “ridiculous” — yes, he said mexico — therefore it cannot be
Of all the words used to dent’s first week so we’ll act like Trump backers very well “ridiculous” — free trade policy imposed and will never pay for any
describe President Don- we didn’t hear him.’ knew Candidate Trump and more about, well, one tall, border wall anywhere.
ald J. trump during his Farm leaders, however, with beautiful wall between the u.s. second, a border tax “might
had made that promise
first weeks in office — bold, both more to lose and more cour- and mexico. well be considered Wto illegal”
boastful, alternative facts — age than their trump-shrunk but they very well didn’t “right now our country’s because the World trade orga-
here are two that almost no per- congressmen and senators, policy,” said spicer, “is to tax nization often views it as “a com-
son or pundit uttered: promise howled when trump announced know President Trump exports and let imports flow bined export subsidy and import
keeper. his tPP-killing action. freely in, which is ridiculous. By tariff.” neither is allowed under
would keep his promise.
love him or loathe him, trump these Big Ag, mostly trump doing that (20 per cent border Wto rules signed by both mexico
took no time in checking off key backers very well knew can- tax) we can easily pay for a wall and the u.s.
items from his unconventional didate trump had made that just through (sic) mechanism so, a border tax is no bueno no
campaign’s list of unconven- promise but they very well alone.” matter what the White House says.
tional promises. didn’t know President trump A border tax to pay for a border But that fact won’t quiet Ameri-
toss out the trans-Pacific would keep his promise. What wall, however, wasn’t one of his can farmers and ranchers. they
Partnership (tPP): check. backslapping politician ever boss’s campaign promises and made a quid pro quo when they
start process to build a wall: does? it caught American Big Ag lead- voted for the non-politician
check. But trump doesn’t see himself ers and Enrique Pena nieto, the trump: We’ll risk your populist,
impose “extreme vetting” on as a politician. in fact, neither president of mexico, flat-footed. anti-trade babble in return for a
immigrants and refugees from do most farmers and ranchers tic trade and investment Part- nieto immediately cancelled a favourable rewrite of the tax code,
various muslim-majority coun- who overwhelmingly voted for nership between the u.s. and planned White House meeting a dehorning of the EPA, and a 2018
tries: check. him because, as they said in poll the European union. with trump. extension of today’s revenue-
Gut the Environmental Pro- after poll, “He’s not a politician; if these trade-smacking still, after so much awful ag- based crop insurance programs.
tection Agency: check is on its he’s like us, a businessman.” moves were too subtle to ag’s related trade news from the so far they’ve got the quid right
way. they were right — on both free traders, the president gave White House, there is good in the eye — just as trump prom-
congressional republicans counts. so, stick a fork in tPP; all another red-hot dose of his news in its terrible border tax ised. What’s next is anyone’s
kept their mouths politely shut it’s cooked because trump promise-keeping serum last idea, says New York Times col- guess.
when the president acted on thinks it’s bad business. month when he endorsed a 20 umnist Paul Krugman, a nobel
the list’s first two items. Free He later signalled the same per cent “border tax” on imports Prize-winning economist and The Farm and Food File is published
trade and free access to much- fate for t-tiP, the not-yet-fin- entering the u.s from free trade no trump acolyte (he calls Pres- weekly through the U.S. and Canada.
needed, cheap labour — legal, ished euro-centred transatlan- partner mexico. ident trump “Agent orange”). www.farmandfoodfile.com.
6 Off the frOnt
february 27, 2017 • albertafarmexpress.ca
INPUTS AND IRON }from page 1 “We get by with our little bit
smaller equipment and work a
But it’s over the longer term that little bit harder to get it done.”
you really see the effects of price For many young producers, the
creep, said Keller. only option is to “take what the
“In 2008, InVigor canola seed bank will give you for equipment
was just below $6 a pound, and and find the best you can run,”
you could buy some Canterra he added.
Roundup Ready for $5.60 a pound, “There’s lots of opportunities
and those were hybrid varieties,” for young producers to jump in
said Keller. on a piece of equipment or go
“For your clubroot-resistant custom, but there’s also oppor-
varieties — which is what we tunities to run some smaller,
grow around here — and any of older equipment and make it
your other hybrids, no matter work.”
what the company is, they’re in
that $11-a-pound range. They’re Managing costs
almost double. That’s over eight or But it’s not all “doom and gloom,”
nine years.” Vandervalk said.
On his grain farm near Fort Improved equipment is mak-
Macleod, Stephen Vandervalk is ing farmers more efficient and
welcoming the rare sight of price there’s also a lot more money
drops for a few of his inputs. passing through farms, he said.
“This year was one of the first Not much of it sticks around,
years where we saw fertilizer had but it still makes life a lot easier,
decreased quite significantly. Even he said.
some of the canola seed packages “There’s absolutely no doubt
have come down in price from last there’s been a huge increase in
year,” said Vandervalk. cash flow on farms — especially
“But in a 10-year period, there’s “Lots of farm equipment has doubled or tripled in cost over the last 10 years,” and that’s just not sustainable, from 15 years ago,” he said. “Back
no doubt costs have gone abso- says Stephen Vandervalk. pHOtO: supplIeD in the ’90s and even the early
lutely through the roof. Since 2006 2000s, it was a real grind.
to now, you used to buy urea for “I’d rather be here today trying
$240 to $250 a tonne, and in gen- to figure out if I should buy new
eral, we’ve been sitting around that equipment based on how much
“You can’t have 20
$500 to $600 mark for urea in the money I’m making, versus 15
last three or four years. per cent inflation on years ago when prices were low
“That’s up double or triple from and equipment was low.
equipment over the last
10 or 15 years ago.” “Even though things are much
five to 10 years, because riskier today and things on the
equipment prices equipment side have got a little
you’re not seeing 20 per
But it’s the cost of iron where pro- out of hand, it’s still better than
ducers are noticing the biggest cent inflation on your it was in the past.”
jump. Over the last three years, But higher costs and more risk
new Class 7 combines have risen in commodity prices.” are also upping the importance
price by 21 per cent, while tractors of farm management.
have increased between 29 and 40 While Steeves keeps watch
Stephen
per cent, depending on the model. on the used equipment market,
VanderValk
“Farm equipment is probably Vandervalk looks to get “the big-
the worst increase — lots of farm gest discounts possible” by pre-
equipment has doubled or tripled buying inputs.
in cost over the last 10 years,” said Now that cattle prices are off their record highs, Kevin Steeves figures “A perfect example is urea. In
Vandervalk. “When’s this going to Swathers have also more than he’s making the same money as his dad did prior to BSE. pHOtO: supplIeD July, it was $360 a tonne, and by
end? You can’t just keep going like doubled in price, he added. spring, it’s going to be $500,” he
that. “You could buy a swather 10 buying a used loader to kill two going to drop in value in the five said. “You’re talking a full 30 per
“You can’t have 20 per cent infla- years ago for $60,000 or $70,000, birds with one stone.” or 10 years that we own it? Is the cent difference in price or $20 an
tion on equipment over the last and when they hit $100,000, we And while the equipment costs depreciation worth it?” acre difference. On an average-
five to 10 years, because you’re not thought that was ridiculous,” have risen quickly in the short time Saving some money — whether size farm, that could be $100,000
seeing 20 per cent inflation on your said Vandervalk. “Within three Steeves has been farming, revenue on equipment or any other cost difference in your costs.”
commodity prices. It definitely years, they were at $160,000 and hasn’t. Before BSE, calves were — is extra important for younger For Keller, the increasingly
can’t continue. It’s not sustainable now, they’re close in at $200,000. fetching around $2 a pound, and farmers, especially now. expensive business of farming
for sure.” They’ve almost tripled. following the short-lived highs of “With reduced commodity means spending more time with
Vandervalk last bought a new “They are quite a bit more pro- the past two years, prices are back prices, it gets a little bit harder to spreadsheets.
combine in 2011, with a price tag ductive than the old ones, but down to around $2 a pound. get financing,” said Steeves. “The “Now more than ever, you need
of $287,000. In 2016, that same some of those old ones are pretty “When you look at it that way, lenders are just a little more careful to know what your costs are and
combine was around $470,000, good yet.” we’re not really getting that much than they were when we started.” track that,” he said. “You need to
and while some of those costs are For Kevin Steeves, who’s been more from our cattle than what we He and his wife both work off- know which crops are making you
a result of improved emission con- farming for five years, “the sticker were getting prior to 2004,” said farm jobs, which helps with cash money.”
trols, the machines “haven’t really price is more of a sticker shock.” Steeves. “But when Dad bought flow, but they’re still “heavily But the goal needs to be long-
had many differences over the last “We’re on the used market, and his last loader tractor just before financed.” term financial viability, he added.
five years,” he said. that’s gone a little bit higher,” said BSE, we didn’t pay no $200,000.” “We’ve got way more financ- “It’s quite easy to focus on one
“It’s not quite double in five Steeves, who has a mixed farm ing now than we did when I first or two crops that make money
years but almost, and you can near Rimbey. Young and indebted started out, and the increments get and just steer all your acres
argue that that combine isn’t all “We went to replace our loader But as long as the resale value stays harder to get,” he said. “The first towards those ones. But in the
that much different. It’s a little tractor, and it was $200,000 to up, “it’s not the end of the world,” $50,000 was fairly easy to get. Now long run, that’s going to bite you
nicer inside, but as far as capac- replace. For 100 cows, that just he added. if I went to the bank and asked for in the ass.”
ity, it’s definitely not more than wasn’t feasible, so we ended up “Depreciation is what’s scary. another $50,000, it would be a dif-
five per cent higher.” going with a smaller tractor and What is that piece of equipment ferent ball game. [email protected]
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7
AlbertAfArmexpress.cA • februAry 27, 2017
COVER CROPS }from page 1 have five years where it works out
well, three years where it works
which had drawn a standing- “We’re at a very early out pretty well, and two where
room-only crowd of 200 or so it doesn’t work at all. But those
stage of it, but the
farmers. five good years will pay for all 10
“We’re at a very early stage of it, snowball is getting years.”
but the snowball is getting big. It’s There are a number of compa-
growing quite quickly. big. It’s growing quite nies selling cover crop blends (at
“And it’s not just one sector least 10, including Elmy, in Sas-
quickly.”
— it’s grain guys, it’s livestock, katchewan and 11 in Alberta), and
it’s mixed farms, it’s organic, it’s while Elmy’s orders are growing
conventional, people in dry areas, significantly, he predicts the use
people in wet areas. It’s everyone. of cover crops will take a long
They’re looking at the level of time. He spends much of the
inputs we’re using right now and winter “driving across the Prairies
saying, ‘It’s not sustainable.’” giving talks” and while the crowds
Elmy’s jam-packed presenta- are getting bigger, there’s still lots
tion highlighted both cover crops’ health and structure that means, of skepticism.
potential and why their adoption among other things, easier plant- “A lot of producers just say, ‘I
won’t happen overnight — the ing and better germination. don’t have time for it. I’m busy
learning curve is as steep as the Then there’s the cost-benefit enough already and don’t need
list of benefits is long. equation. any more work,’” he said.
His 50-minute talk proceeded at That’s easier to calculate if But the growing interest in
a breakneck pace, starting with a you’ve got cows (or access to cover crops is a strong sign that
primer on soil health basics (from them) because the feed value of more and more producers are
organic matter to mycorrhizae) the cover crop can offset the cost deciding a different approach is
and ending with a bewildering Saskatchewan seed grower Kevin Elmy says cover crops are the future, of seed (which can vary widely needed for issues such as worsen-
smorgasbord of choices for the but admits it’s not an easy system to learn. pHOtO: friendly Acre seed fArms depending on what’s in your ing weed and disease outbreaks,
three components of cover crop ‘cocktail’ mix). For a straight grain compaction, and poor soil health,
blends (grasses, broadleaf plants, who sells a variety of cover crop Elmy first tried cover crops operation, the benefits are both he said.
and legumes). blends. on his seed farm near Saltcoats harder to measure and further out And cover crops are worth the
The latter was an eyeful — three Along with your goal, it will because he wanted to dry up wet in the future, Elmy said. time and effort, he said.
slides each listing 20 different depend on your soil type, how fields. Since then he’s dramati- It’s not a ‘do-this, get-that’ pro- “Any time you do management
types of cover crops — along with healthy the soil is, when you’re cally cut his fertilizer bill; finally cess, he said. in an operation, you’re going to
quick pointers on some. Phacelia going to seed it, and whether got the upper hand on his worst “People in the States who have increase your returns.”
puts lots of sugar in the soil and you’re going to graze, cut, or ter- weed (volunteer canola); and has been doing this for a long time say
so is great for mycorrhizae (the minate it. seen big improvements in soil that out of every 10 years, you’ll [email protected]
fungi that colonize roots and
make nutrients more accessible).
Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids can
cause cyanide poisoning under
certain circumstances. Careful
with buckwheat because it goes to
seed in 60 days. And what works
where, all depends.
“You have to adapt this to where
you are,” he told attendees. “If
you’re up at Manning and you
have cold soils, you’re going to
need a different (cover crop)
blend than you would if you’re
down at Seven Persons.”
There are principles that apply
to every situation — “If you don’t
keep your mycorrhizae happy,
you’re going down a slippery
slope,” he warned — but the
details are specific to both the
conditions on an individual farm
and the problem that the farmer
is trying to address.
Elmy, who started experiment-
ing with cover crops eight years
ago, is the first to admit it’s all
rather daunting. And it can be
especially challenging for some,
he added.
“It depends on how much
diversity is already in the per-
son’s rotation, it depends on
how healthy their soils are,” he
said in an interview. “If you’ve got
healthy soils and good rotations,
it’s really easy. When you’re deal-
ing with a wheat-canola rotation
relying heavily on fertilizer and
multiple passes of fungicide, it’s
a long process. You can’t buy a
solution in a jug.”
Sustainability is important – for you and the generations ahead. So we’re making tank mixing a little
The cost-benefit equation
His advice to his audience, how- easier on your bottom line. Qualify to earn cash rewards when you tank mix Roundup WeatherMAX®
ever, was ultimately simple: Fig- or Roundup Transorb® HC herbicides with select Nufarm herbicides.*
ure out your goal and then do
your research.
Additional terms and conditions apply. Register at RealFarmRewards.ca
The list of ills that cover crops
can address is lengthy, and Elmy
listed a bunch: building organic
matter, improving water infil-
tration, repairing compaction,
boosting microbe levels, drying
up wet ground, smothering trou-
blesome weeds, fixing nitrogen,
boosting phosphorus levels, and
feeding cows (whether your own
Get a customized chemistry recommendation at MonsantoCMS.ca
or a neighbour’s).
There are mixes designed for
each (or a combination) of those
goals, although most of the avail- *Registration required. Growers must purchase a minimum of 32 bags of a qualifying brand of Genuity®
able information comes from the Roundup Ready® canola to be eligible to earn rewards. Visit RealFarmRewards.ca for full details.
U.S. and doesn’t automatically
translate to Alberta. Again, you ALWAYS FOLLOW GRAIN MARKETING AND ALL OTHER STEWARDSHIP PRACTICE AND PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Tank mixtures: The applicable labeling for each
need to zero in on your particu- product must be in the possession of the user at the time of application. Follow applicable use instructions, including application rates, precautions and restrictions of
lar area. each product used in the tank mixture. Monsanto has not tested all tank mix product formulations for compatibility or performance other than specifically listed by brand
name. Always predetermine the compatibility of tank mixtures by mixing small proportional quantities in advance. Genuity®, Real Farm Rewards™, Roundup Ready®,
“If you phone me and say, ‘I
Roundup WeatherMAX® and Roundup Transorb® are trademarks of Monsanto Technology LLC, Monsanto Canada, Inc. licensee. ©2016 Monsanto Canada Inc.
want to do a cover crop,’ don’t
expect me to say, ‘Oh, then you
need Blend No. 1,’” said Elmy
8
FEBRUARY 27, 2017 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
Urbanization, not foreign ownership,
the real threat to farmland
Three per cent of Canada’s arable land was lost to sprawl between 2001 and 2011, investor says
based hedge fund that wanted Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s
BY ALEX BINKLEY to convert it into what would restrictions on farmland owner-
AF contributor have become north America’s ship to only canadian individu-
largest aggregate quarry,” he als and landed residents are
The real threat to farmland said. well intentioned, but are not
is our growing cities, not that land is now being farmed evidence based, he said.
the tiny amount foreign by “six local farm families,” he “they are short sighted
owners hold. said, and farm buildings and because they inadvertently
People looking to protect houses on that land have now restrict the flow of capital to
farmland need to look at the been repaired and sold, adding canadian farmers, therefore
real issues, tom Eisenhauer, to the local population base. making them less competitive,”
recently told the Senate agri- Eisenhauer also said bon- he said. “they force farmers in
culture committee. nefield’s studies found most those provinces to rely more
“the biggest threats are foreign farmland purchases heavily on debt than they oth-
urbanization, rezoning and involve people who intend to erwise would.”
the conversion of farmland farm it. the agriculture sector in can-
for real estate development, “We are aware of, and deplore, ada is predominantly made up of
quarries and industrial uses,” isolated purchases of farmland businesses run by farm families,
said Eisenhauer, president and by non-canadians in places like large and small, he said.
cEo of bonnefield Financial, a the Lower Mainland of b.c., “Some of these farm families
toronto-based firm which buys where farmland has been taken operate very large, sophisticated
land for investors and leases it out of production and where the businesses, but contrary to pop-
back to farmers. owners benefit from tax breaks ular belief, there are very few, if
“Statistics canada reports intended for bona fide farmers,” any, corporate conglomerates Growing cities are gobbling up more farmland than anything else
that 2.4 million acres, which is he said. operating farms in canada.” in Canada. PHOTO: THINKSTOCK
almost three per cent of all the
arable land in canada, was lost
to urbanization between 2001
and 2011,” he said. “that is a
staggering statistic that dwarfs
all other threats to canadian
farmland. Building a Legacy Quality that lasts generations.
11
“We believe that rezon-
ing high-quality farmland for
non-agricultural use should Meridian SmoothWall Bins—First in Innovation and First in the Industry.
be expressly prohibited every- Meridian SmoothWall Bins
Meridian’s SmoothWall and Hopper design revolutionized on farm storage of
where in canada,” said Eisen-
feed, grain, seed and fertilizer. Engineered design provides safe and efficient
hauer, whose company is can-
ada’s largest farmland invest- storage, versatility of use and durability. Strong resale value with great return on
ment and property management investment. Largest size selection of SmoothWall hopper bins on the market
firm. “rezoning applications
with up to 10,700 bushel capacity.
for farmland should not be the
purview of unelected officials...
or elected municipal officials
who often favour rezoning as a (cid:31)25"
means of increasing their local
22 1'-7 5/16"
tax base.”
instead, rezoning applica-
tions for high-quality farmland 5'-11 3/16"
35°
should not be permitted, except
with the agreement of elected 20" 1 Premium Powder Coating
government officials at the with salt-spray rating 3-4x
highest level, and only in excep- more than wet paint used
tional circumstances deemed by some competitors.
to be in the national interest, Backed by Meridian’s
Eisenhauer said. 5 year warranty
“Farmers sometimes have a
Superior
perverse incentive, especially
25'-0"
those who have made the deci- Investment 2 All Welded SmoothWall
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fringe of urban centres, to seek No bolts, stiffeners or holes
rezoning of their land and sell that contribute to product
it to developers,” he said. “this hang-ups and contamination.
is a problem that sale-leaseback
financing of the type that bon-
nefield provides can help solve. 3 Support Ring and
With a sale-leaseback, a farm 40° Horizontal Band.
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24 3/8" strength and support.
Eisenhauer also stressed that
protecting farmland would not
5 1/16" 4 Hopper Design provides
require Senate investigations
smooth clean-out and
into agricultural policies or 33
safe handling.
onerous new regulations.
“it is as simple as enforcing
existing zoning regulations
already on the books of every
Find your nearest dealer at
municipality in every farming
region across canada,” he said. meridianmfg.com/locator/
He also insisted foreign own-
ership of farmland is not a wide- [email protected]
spread problem in canada.
“it might amount to a quar-
ter of one per cent of the land
base,” he said. PPrroovviiddiinngg iinnnnoovvaattiivvee sseeeedd ssttoorraaggee aanndd 44 World Class Quality. Locally Made Relationships.
bonnefield was formed in
2009 to acquire farmland and hhaannddlliinngg ssoolluuttiioonnss tthhrroouugghh ggeenneerraattiioonnss
lease it out to farmers, he said.
“our largest transaction to
date was our purchase in 2013
© 2017 Meridian Manufacturing Inc. Registered Trademarks used under License. (02/2017) meridianmfg.com
of a large tract of mostly class
1 farmland in Dufferin county,
ontario.
“We purchased it from a u.S.-
9
AlbertAfArmexpress.cA • februAry 27, 2017
Bioproduct innovators adding unique
value to agriculture seed stocks
Flax is one crop that’s been receiving plenty of attention from this Ontario-based effort
he said. It is high in omega-3 poly- possibilities from orbitides, said
By John GreiG unsaturated fatty acids. It also con- Reaney. they include making
Staff tains lignin, a soluble dietary fibre, light-emitting diodes from flax,
and the orbitide component that which allows them to displace met-
Researchers and entrepre- Reaney has found. als from diodes. He also believes
neurs are delving deeper He was first introduced to flax- he can construct lighter, stronger
into the natural properties seed oil research when he was materials for building materials.
of crops, as seed stocks for every- approached to figure out how to Other researchers are working
thing from construction resins eliminate the bitter taste in flax- on a more directly practical use
and boards and panels for build- seed. of biomaterials for construction
ings and cars to concentrate health “Some people who take it think materials.
foods. it tastes awful,” he said. at the University of toronto,
Many of those projects are being In doing that research, it set him Professor Dr. Ning Yan is com-
funded by the Bio-products agSci on the road to isolating the orbit- bining wood pulp with flax fibres
Cluster, brought together as part of Research on getting the bitter taste out of flax oil caused researcher ide, a cyclic peptide that dissolves in order to create biodegradable,
BioIndustrial Innovation Canada Martin Reaney to discover something new. pHOtO: tHINKstOcK in oil. lightweight sandwich board pan-
with funding from Growing “Peptides shouldn’t dissolve in els for use in construction and the
forward 2. meeting, several companies and and the strength and usefulness of oil, but this one does,” he said. automotive sector.
the Sarnia, Ont.-based cluster researchers with funding from the its fibres. He believes that the health-pos- She created a skin for the pan-
aims to help new bioproducts get cluster explained how they derive at Prairie tide Chemicals in Sas- itive biological activity of flaxseed els with a higher content of flax,
to market through funding, creat- from and use agriculture products. katoon, president and CEO Martin oil and flax lignin products are as they wanted the skin to be what
ing networks and supporting bio- flax is one of the stars of bio- Reaney has isolated what he calls derived from the orbitides. holds the board together and gives
products companies. products research, both because orbitides from flaxseed oil. Beyond health improvement, it rigidity, while the inside, made of
at the cluster’s recent annual of the health effects from its seeds “flaxseed is biologically active,” there are other more complex wood pulp and a lower percentage
of flax, is light and insulating. a mix
that includes 10 per cent flax fibre
and 40 per cent pulp fibre appears
to be optimum, said Yan.
Yan said she can work with any
agriculture fibre and hopes to try
Building a Legacy Quality that lasts generations. with others than flax. She said it
11
has been difficult to get a clean,
reliable supply of agriculture
Meridian SmoothWall Bins—First in Innovation and First in the Industry. fibres, like flax.
Meridian SmoothWall Bins they aren’t creating new prod-
Meridian’s SmoothWall and Hopper design revolutionized on farm storage of
ucts, but are using bioproduct
feed, grain, seed and fertilizer. Engineered design provides safe and efficient
fibre products and testing their
storage, versatility of use and durability. Strong resale value with great return on quality, including resins and epox-
investment. Largest size selection of SmoothWall hopper bins on the market ies and products that can replace
fibreglass. they have found that
with up to 10,700 bushel capacity.
flax-based materials can replace
synthetic materials in applications
such as re-enforcing degrading
(cid:31)25" bridges.
at EcoSynthetix, researchers
22 1'-7 5/16"
are taking low-value agriculture
feedstock materials and upgrad-
5'-11 3/16" ing them to displace synthetic
35°
material. they make use of poly-
20" 1 Premium Powder Coating saccharide from corn and upgrade
with salt-spray rating 3-4x it through a reactive extrusion pro-
more than wet paint used cess.
by some competitors. the company had its first hit
Backed by Meridian’s product with a more environmen-
5 year warranty tally friendly coating for paper. the
paper business is highly competi-
Superior
tive, so they looked, along with
25'-0"
Investment 2 All Welded SmoothWall some funding, for another industry
40'-10 13/16"
Construction. to disrupt.
No bolts, stiffeners or holes they found it in wood compos-
that contribute to product ites with no added formeldahyde
hang-ups and contamination. or isocyanate, said Peter Van Balle-
gooie, vice-president of corporate
development at EcoSynthetix,
3 Support Ring and based in Burlington, Ont.
40° Horizontal Band. “We’re all surrounded by wood
composites,” he said. “the driv-
18" Complete support ring
9'-6 1/2" and horizontal band ers (of demand for their product)
are around health and ecological
for superior structural
benefits.”
24 3/8" strength and support.
their DuraBind product found
a market last September with one
5 1/16" 4 Hopper Design provides
of the world’s largest producers
smooth clean-out and
33 of composite wood products, the
safe handling.
Swiss Krono Group. that group
had helped EcoSynthetix develop
its DuraBind product, and in the
Find your nearest dealer at process they found that using their
product improved the efficiency of
meridianmfg.com/locator/ the production process with less
gumming up of equipment.
[email protected] Sellings of composite wood
products, whether they be Walmart
or Ikea are all looking for options
that off-gas fewer chemicals, said
PPrroovviiddiinngg iinnnnoovvaattiivvee sseeeedd ssttoorraaggee aanndd 44 World Class Quality. Locally Made Relationships. Ballegooie, and EcoSynthetics has
options for them.
hhaannddlliinngg ssoolluuttiioonnss tthhrroouugghh ggeenneerraattiioonnss the major projects funded by
the Bio-products agSci Cluster
are at various places in their com-
mercialization, but they are all tied
© 2017 Meridian Manufacturing Inc. Registered Trademarks used under License. (02/2017) meridianmfg.com
together in their potential to make
use of agriculture products, some
of which are now left on the field
or discarded.
10 NEWS » MarkEtS
FEBRUARY 27, 2017 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA
AustrAliA hits wheAt production record livestock incomes to fAll, crop receipts up
The Australian wheat harvest is done — and it was a bin buster. The nation produced a Overall farm incomes will decline seven per cent this year, but remain at above-average levels,
record amount of wheat of more than 35.1 million tonnes during the 2016-17 season, said says Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It predicts net cash income (revenue minus operat-
the country’s chief commodity forecaster. The supplies from Australia added to bumper ing expenses) will slide by $1 billion, to $13.8 billion in 2017, following a two per cent decline
global stocks, which pushed benchmark wheat prices to a 10-year low in August 2016. The in 2016. Those two years are still expected to be among the highest-income years on record.
previous record was 29.9 million tonnes in the 2011-12 season. Heavy rains in September Livestock receipts, which dropped seven per cent last year, are expected to fall a further four
across much of the country’s largest producing regions saw production rise nearly 11 per cent. But crop receipts are expected to rise one per cent to $32.9 billion in 2017. The net
million tonnes from a year earlier. — Reuters worth of the average Canadian farm is expected to rise to $2.8 million in 2017. — Reuters
canola prices weather headwinds
Other growing regions might be set for a decent crop,
but markets are watching physical stocks
previously reported, said Keith Ferley of Based on figures from the Cana- able, as one Argentinian industry group,
BY JADE MARKUS RBC Dominion Securities, which could dian Oilseed Processors Association Rosario Board of Trade, pegs the coun-
CNSC add to estimated stock numbers. (COPA), if the current pace continues, try’s production at 54.5 million tonnes,
“It’s the old battle of how big was the crush would hit 9.4 million, while Ag which indicates a recovery from flood-
Strong demand for canola and spec- crop last year,” Ferley said. Canada estimates are around 8.9 mil- ing seen earlier in the season.
ulation about supplies this spring Statistics Canada estimates peg 2016 lion tonnes. Brazil’s industry group, Conab
have allowed prices to hold rela- canola production around 18.4 million The highest crush hit in one crop year expects soybean production to reach
tively steady, despite bearish pressure tonnes. was 8.3 million tonnes in 2015-16. a record 105.6 million tonnes.
from competing growing regions. “The jaded side of me says, well, we On the downside, competing supplies
Traders have turned their focus to probably produced a larger crop than are set to emerge from South America, Jade Markus writes for Commodity News
physical stocks of canola in warmer what was told to Stats Canada, or we have which caused declines on the week. Service Canada, a Winnipeg company
months, which has generated mixed stocks still hanging around from previ- South American soybean crop condi- specializing in grain and commodity market
opinions. ous years,” Ferley said. tions are expected to be mostly favour- reporting.
“We might end up with some pretty Ferley added that strong demand could
tight markets going into the spring, pos- eat into exports, while crush runs at a
sibly, so that’s keeping canola pretty well good pace.
supported right now,” said Ken Ball of PI “So you could still probably get an For three-times-daily market reports from Resource News
Financial Corp. ending stocks number around a million
The most recent Agriculture and Agri- tonnes,” he said. International, visit “ICE Futures Canada updates”
Food Canada supply and disposition “If you think the crop wasn’t any big-
estimates show ending stocks around ger, or some of the canola that’s left in at www.albertafarmexpress.ca.
two million tonnes as of July 31, which the fields is not going to remain in good
some analysts think may be too high. condition.”
“I think we’re probably in the 1-1/2 Exports to date, reported by the Cana-
(million tonnes) area,” said Mike Jubin- dian Grain Commission, total nearly 5.8
ville of ProFarmer Canada. million tonnes, which compares with the
Demand may be slower moving for- same time frame the previous year, when
ward, but crush activity has the potential sales of canola were at about 5.3 million
to hit nine million tonnes. tonnes.
Demand from China will also likely eat Crush margins have fallen from the
into stocks, Jubinville said. highs reached in January, but the domes-
But production may be bigger than tic crush pace is at a record high.
Italy’s pasta labelling plan raises Canadian concerns
Labels would be required to identify where the durum was grown
“We’re working back and forth decree in December, a commis-
BY ROD NICKEL AND ISLA BINNIE with our officials. Anything that sion spokesman said.
WINNIPEG/ROME/REuTERS would hurt the farmers, we don’t The labelling plan has gener-
want,” said Agriculture Minister ated mixed reaction in Italy.
Canada has raised concerns Lawrence MacAulay. Italian farmers’ group Col-
with Rome about Italy’s He said the impact on Canada diretti supports the plan. But
plan to require country-of- would depend on how broadly Italy pasta makers, while in favour
origin labels on pasta sold there, applies the plan. of transparency, are concerned
Canada’s agriculture minister said European lawmakers have shown the labels would confuse origin
on Wednesday about a move that is an increasing appetite for label- with quality, said Luigi Cristiano
alarming Canadian wheat export- ling due to consumer demands for Laurenza, secretary general of
ers just as a free trade deal gained information about food, and Italy the Association of Pasta Manu-
European approval. has also said labelling would help facturers of the European union
Rome sent a draft decree to the its pasta industry better compete (uNAFPA).
European Commission in Decem- with foreign competition. Such The decree also contains provi-
ber, seeking approval for labels on labelling might, however, be con- sions that are only valid for Italy
pasta sold in Italy that would iden- sidered disruptive to the single Artisanal pasta on display at a wine and spirits exhibition in Verona, Italy and could distort competition
tify where the durum wheat was market, which Eu authorities are in April 2016. Proposed new label rules would have to identify where the within the Eu, he said.
grown and milled into semolina charged with safeguarding. durum used in Italian pasta was grown and milled. PHOTO: REUTERS/STEFAnO RELLAndInI Canada and Mexico won a
for pasta making. The “protectionist measure” similar labelling fight in 2015
Canadian exporters and farmers would create extra cost for Italian Canadian durum farmers last durum crop near Rosetown, when the u.S. repealed country-
fear the move would depress prices pasta makers using Canadian sup- year grew their biggest-ever crop. Sask., was devalued by disease of-origin labels on meat, after a
in Canada, the biggest durum plies, resulting in lower prices for Italy is Canada’s biggest foreign last year. World Trade Organization (WTO)
exporter, as it would require Italian Canadian farmers, said Cam Dahl, durum buyer so far in 2016-17, as panel ruled against the program.
pasta makers to segregate supplies president of Cereals Canada, an of December. ‘keep trade flowing’ MacAulay said he did not know
by country. industry group whose members “More bad news stories just It is too early for the European if Ottawa was considering a sim-
The European union and Canada include farmers and crop export- put more pressure on the entire Commission to comment, since it ilar complaint to the WTO, but
secured clearance earlier on Feb. 15 ers Richardson International and agriculture industry in Canada,” has up to three months to express said Canada’s aim is to “keep
for their contentious free trade deal. Cargill. said Morgan Nunweiler, whose observations after receiving the trade flowing as freely as we can.”