Organic Processors Directory a Useful Tool for Industry

source: Farm and Food Report

The 2005 Organic Processors Directory published by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) opens a world of possibilities for our province’s organic industry, according to Market Development Specialist Chandra Mark.

“It is used to promote our organic processors to domestic and international buyers at trade shows and during trade missions in which the industry and its members participate,” says Mark. “It lists 19 companies based in Saskatchewan that are engaged in supplying consumer-ready products, food ingredients, bulk commodities, nutraceuticals, supplies and services, as well as non-food products.”

Mark explains how the directory makes it possible for buyers to find the products they are looking for, at a glance.

“Saskatchewan has over 1,000 certified organic farms. Our province is the leading Canadian exporter of organic grain and oilseed products, as well as of cereal-based food ingredients. Many people are not aware that Saskatchewan’s total organic acreage accounts for 58 per cent of Canada’s production land. Unless buyers have first-hand knowledge of our industry, finding out who to contact can be a little challenging.”

In preparing the directory, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food does the groundwork for the buyers by contacting organic certifying agencies and obtaining lists of processors. SAF then investigates them individually to find out which products and services they offer. Often, the processors are producers themselves or a group of producers.

One such organization is Farmer Direct Co-operative Ltd., a producer-owned organization that sells ethically grown and traded food produced on 80 organically certified farms. They specialize in organic grains, pulses, oilseeds and meats.

Sales Manager Jason Freeman recently returned from attending Bio-Fach 2005, the world’s largest organic trade fair, in Germany.

“Our co-op is a portal that sells directly to food manufacturers worldwide,” Freeman says. “Because we primarily export, it is to our advantage to let these manufacturers know that Saskatchewan has a greater organic land base than anywhere else in North America, and a mature network of processors. The directory helps buyers access our products without having to go through a broker — that makes a huge difference at our end.”

Freeman says that making the directory available to our embassies and consulates around the world, and to marketing agencies like the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership for distribution wherever Saskatchewan is commercially active domestically and internationally, helps build bridges toward the prosperity of the organic industry in Saskatchewan.

The 2005 Organic Processors Directory is available online here.

For more information about the 2005 Organic Processors Directory, contact Renata Bereziuk at (306) 787-8541.

For more information, contact:
Renata Bereziuk
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-8541

Jason Freeman
Farmer Direct Co-operative Ltd.
(306) 352-2444
http://www.farmerdirect.ca

Canada's Holstein Breeders to Converge on Saskatoon

source: Farm and Food Report

About 500 delegates of the Holstein Association of Canada are expected to gather in Saskatoon from April 20 to 24 for the Association’s National Convention.

The organization is made up of over 12,000 members from across Canada for whom Holsteins are a way of life, according to Holstein Canada National Convention Liaison Nancy Watts.

“This is our big event. When you think that the Association goes back to 1884, celebrating our heritage is always front and centre. Our purpose is to improve the Holstein breed; prepare, maintain and make available a genealogical record of the breed; and promote the best interests of breeders and owners of Holstein cattle in Canada.”

The Master Breeder Award is the highest honour conferred by the association to its members. Only .015 per cent of members earn this prestigious distinction each year. Twenty-one breeder members will receive the award on the evening of April 22.

“The award is based on a history of breeding excellence. The methodology involves analysis of animal records for both production and conformation. Conformation data is collected by association classifiers who travel to the farms and conduct an objective and subjective analysis of traits in comparison to the ideal cow,” says Watts.

One of the most pressing issues that will be on members’ minds at this year’s meeting will be the Canada-U.S. border, which remains closed to replacement stock and causes much grief to breeders, according to Watts.

“It is a major concern for our members because most Holstein breeders sell their genetics in the form of live animals. Even when the border opens up, that initiative will be directed at animals that are going to slaughter. Animals intended for breeding purposes won’t qualify.”

Watts points out that 80 per cent of live Holstein genetics exports were to the United States before the border closed. Her organization is hoping the plight of Holstein breeders gets the ear of policymakers everywhere, as she believes dairy cattle producers have done their share of work to ease safety concerns.

“In terms of cattle identification, the dairy industry has its own national program. We are now hoping that the traceability aspect will become more of a priority than it has so far at the federal government level,” she added.

Also to be discussed will be Holstein Canada’s efforts to respond to other dairy breeds’ request to provide classification services for all dairy breeds. While Holsteins account for about 93 per cent of Canada’s dairy population, there are six other breeds that make up the rest. They are: the Jersey, the Ayrshire, the Guernsey, the Brown Swiss, the Milking Short Horn and the Canadienne — a rare breed.

“Our association has the expertise and economies of scale to make this valuable service accessible to producers who focus on these breeds. Our staff members will go to individual farms and evaluate the cows for body conformation. The records will then be compared to the ideal true types for each breed. In many ways, the more activities we engage in, the better for the Holstein Canada organization as a whole. This particular initiative makes sense for everyone involved.”

For more information on the Holstein Canada National Convention, click here.

For more information, contact:
Nancy Watts
Holstein Canada
(519) 756-8300
http://www.holstein.ca

Efforts to Track Yellow Colour Gene Could Boost Durum Sales

source: Farm and Food Report

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre are looking to strengthen Canada’s position in top world durum markets through efforts to track the gene responsible for the wheat’s bright yellow colour.

Dr. Curtis Pozniak is a plant breeder at the Centre.

“Our premium customers in the U.S., Venezuela and Italy like the bright yellow colour, which comes from the presence of carotenoids, a type of pigmentation that is also responsible for the yellow colour of corn and cornmeal. A high concentration of carotenoids in durum translates into bright yellow pasta, a desirable trait.”

Currently, Canada is responsible for about 60 per cent of the world’s durum trade. The three-year study currently under way will help ensure Canadian durum wheat producers remain competitive with other wheat producers, such as Australia, that are becoming major forces in durum breeding and biotechnology.

“In Canada, cultivars like AC Avonlea, AC Navigator and the newly released Commander, have very good yellow pigment concentrations. Our objective is to identify the genes that contribute for that good colour so that we can ensure all new cultivars that are developed have the same or higher levels of yellow colour pigment.”

Pozniak says his research builds on earlier efforts by Dr. Ron Knox, Biotechnologist Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and co-research on this project, which have exposed the chromosome regions where the genes for the yellow pigment can be found.

“Finding the chromosome region is like finding the town the genes live in. With this information, we can now go into the town, find the genes and confirm that they are responsible for high yellow pigmentation. When we find the genes, we can use routine DNA testing to follow them through our breeding program.”

Pozniak explains that, because the gene sequences for yellow pigmentation have already been identified in rice, there is a DNA catalogue available to guide the gene identification process in durum.

“Rice is a model species for grass species like wheat and barley in terms of genome organization and structure allowing us to use DNA sequences from rice to isolate genes from durum.. It gives us a definite advantage in our investigative work to find the genes.”

The ramifications of such an achievement would be considerable. Understanding the genes involved, would allow breeders to identify breeding lines with the desirable carotenoid concentration in the grain, and important trait for our premium export markets.

“As plant breeders, we are constantly busy selecting for agronomy, disease resistance and a whole host of end-use and quality traits If we can isolate the yellow pigment genes and track them in our program, it will help insure our breeding lines have the genetic potential for high yellow pigment content. This will allow us to concentrate our efforts the other traits we are trying to imporve and produce varieties that will preserve Canada’s position on the world durum stage more efficiently.”

For more information, contact:
Dr. Curtis Pozniak
Crop Development Centre
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2361

Oilseeds an Attractive Supplement to Feeder Cattle Rations

source: Farm and Food Report

Saskatchewan cattle feeders are getting a first-hand look at the latest developments in the use of oilseeds as a supplement to cattle rations this month.

The Saskatoon-based Prairie Feed Resource Centre (PFRC) recently organized a series of tours of feedlot facilities that included the Pound-Maker Agventures feedlot in Lanigan. It is hoping to increase awareness of the benefits of integrating more edible oil crops in feedlot rations.

Vern Racz is Executive Director of PFRC.

“Every year in Saskatchewan, we have oilseed commodities that are unfit for human consumption. For instance, last year we had a lot of green and sample canola, due to frost and poor growing conditions. We are showing producers how they can use these off-grade oilseeds in the diet of their cattle in a way that is beneficial for both oilseed and livestock producers.”

Racz points out that PFRC’s edible oilseed project also shows how the Canadian beef industry is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“When sunflower, flax and canola seed are integrated as protein and energy replacements in barley-based rations, the oil they contain is fermented differently. You get a more efficient rumen fermentation for a unit of oil than you get for a unit of starch.”

To actually measure this, researchers use an apparatus fitted as a yoke around the neck of the animals, which captures the gas that comes out of cattle’s nostrils. The contraption doesn’t bother the animals and provides an accurate read of emissions.

Research has shown that rations with higher oil content significantly reduce production of methane, a greenhouse gas produced in the rumen of cattle.

In order to ensure effectiveness, a certain amount of feed processing has to take place. For instance, canola has to be ground with barley at a rate of one-third as much barley as canola, in order to keep the hammer mill screens from getting plugged.

Initial results are encouraging, according to Racz. “We have also been looking at the effect of oilseeds on carcass composition and the fatty acid content of the meat. We will follow up with the animals to study how they respond to the diet with the intention of stimulating developments in specialty meat products — what is increasingly being referred to as designer meats.”

The use of edible oils in rations is becoming increasingly attractive, not only because of their ability to increase production efficiency; reduce greenhouse emissions; and produce meat and milk products with enhanced health benefits; but also because it eliminates some of the negative side effects and digestive disorders that can be associated with feeding more fermentable carbohydrates found in high grain rations.

“With oils, producers have the benefit of increasing energy density in the diet without increasing the risk of acidosis. All of these factors make for a very promising field of opportunities for agricultural producers. Stay tuned,” says Racz.

For more information, contact:
Vern Racz
Prairie Feed Resource Centre
(306) 966-5622

Hog Producer Carves Out Chunk of Global Market for Saskatchewan

source: Farm and Food Report

With Florian Possberg, what you see is what you get.

The Chief Executive Officer of Humboldt’s Big Sky Farms even sounds like the voice of common sense.

He is a man on a mission, whose journey is dotted by opportunities to list more communities on his great big map of rural prosperity, his sights set on grabbing a piece of the global hog market for Saskatchewan.

“To build the type of sustainable hog sector we envision here in the province, we need to realize that we are competing with the world: the Japanese, the Brazilians, the Americans and the Danes,” Possberg says. “As a hog producer, I say to myself: we must tailor our industry to go head on with them. You can be the best pork producer in the world, but if you don’t have the processing facilities and all those resources you need to get there, you won’t succeed.”

Possberg is taking an active role in enhancing pork sales around the world as a Board member of Canada Pork International. He is particularly passionate about the need to manage the Canadian brand.

“What we sell in Japan is no longer generic pork. It is a quality product that evokes in consumers there as distinctive a standard of quality and safety as, let’s say, Coca-Cola evokes in soft drinks. Pork consumers are increasingly that discriminating.”

Possberg has been producing hogs since he graduated from university in 1975. Big Sky Farms Inc. grew out of the Possberg farming operation, then known as Possberg Pork Farms Limited. Big Sky now takes to the market 740,000 hogs a year, raised at 31 different sites in the province, mostly in the Northeast. Big Sky also contracts finishing activities to 12 sites in Saskatchewan and three in Iowa.

Reached upon his return from a business mission to Mexico, he reiterated his belief in the value his industry represents for rural Saskatchewan.

“I am convinced that many of our citizens would prefer to live in rural Saskatchewan if the economic and employment opportunities were there. We know there are great people out there and that our citizens have incredible work ethics. We are naturally drawn to areas that are sparsely populated and where the population experiences some worries about the long-term sustainability of their community. We approach them in good faith and we are rewarded for it.”

Today, the operation is managed by four Saskatchewan businessmen, who together have more than 60 years experience in the hog industry. Big Sky owns and operates production units in the Humboldt, Goodeve, Kelvington, Lintlaw, Preeceville, Sturgis, Ogema, Rama and Porcupine Plain areas.

The large-scale production approach of the company has not always raised unanimous support, admits Possberg himself.

“There is an audience out there that doesn’t particularly care for what we are trying to accomplish, because it translates in their minds into fewer and bigger farms. But we can’t turn the clock back 20 or 30 years. We must change with the times or the times will leave us behind.”

Between 1993 and 1999, world consumption of pork rose by 15 million tonnes. Export markets account for over 58 per cent of the Canadian hog production, which totaled approximately 30 million hogs in 2003.

The growing popularity of pork is creating a huge market demand, and hog producers like Big Sky Farms are expanding to meet this demand. Within the last five years, Big Sky Farms has become one of the largest producers in Western Canada.

In essence, what Possberg advocates is a transformation of agricultural economic means in what he calls a socially responsible manner that gives the host communities the choice to come on board with him and his team for a lasting, mutually beneficial relationship.

“If you run a good business and you have the support of all the partners, you will inevitably become more competitive with other producers around the world. That is what we are after.”

For more information, contact:

Florian Possberg
Big Sky Farms Inc.
(306) 682-5041
http://www.bigsky.sk.ca

Provincial Weed Inspectors Gather for Annual Refresher

source: Farm and Food Report

It may not be the most glamorous job in the province, but weed inspectors are really the first line of defence in preventing noxious weed invasions from gaining new ground.

Noxious and other invasive weeds are, in essence, biological pollution that has been introduced to the province, either intentionally or accidentally, that have the potential to spread quickly while competing aggressively with agricultural crops, forages and native vegetation.

To help weed inspectors in the battle for the preservation of the economic and ecological integrity of Saskatchewan land, each year, the provincial government organizes a series of training clinics featuring the latest developments and tips to success.

Clark Brenzil is the Weed Control Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

“This is the fifth year we have offered the Weed Inspector Training Clinics, and they have grown in popularity each year,” says Brenzil. “Talking with the weed inspectors who attend, they get something new out of it each year. This builds their motivation to protect their community from the negative economic and environmental impacts of these plants.

“The number of rural municipalities appointing a weed inspector has gone from less than 70 to over half of the 296 rural municipalities since we started these clinics.”

The Noxious Weeds Act is provincial legislation that gives authority to municipalities to enforce control of noxious weeds — for instance, plants like leafy spurge, scentless chamomile and purple loosestrife. Weed inspectors are appointed by municipalities as the enforcement agents for the Act.

Brenzil explains that the role of a weed inspector is not necessarily to spray the weeds, but rather to monitor and enforce the provisions of the legislation in a fast changing environment. Many times, though, the weed inspector might also be the municipal pesticide applicator or pest control officer, to allow for the efficient use of available people and skills at the local level.

“In the past, there was not a lot of information available specifically for weed inspectors on how to coordinate municipal weed control programs. When we began the clinics, municipalities didn’t know where to begin to control noxious weeds. Now we have a wide range of experience, from beginners to seasoned veterans who have attended every year.

“The day-long sessions we offer at three different locations across the province during the second week of April are a good way to kick off the season before weeds start growing in May.”

There are always new aspects to explore, explains Brenzil. The agenda deals with integrated control methods on noxious weeds, and there is a refresher on how to go about enforcing the Act. Displays of live weeds are also available to help with identification.

“Because weed inspectors are not necessarily agriculture professionals, we encourage them to contact us and seek assistance when in doubt about weed control strategies. What we promote in our clinics is the use of integrated weed management.”

Integrated weed management entails making use of a variety of non-conflicting methods, including physical, chemical, biological and ecological methods. “Relying only on chemical control of noxious weeds can be expensive and less effective in the long term,” says Brenzil. “By integrating several complimentary strategies, the noxious weed manager can cut costs and improve long term control, while minimizing the impact on the environment.”

Proactive enforcement involves weed inspectors actively monitoring their municipality with the goal of locating noxious weeds early, when they are easier to control, and to detect any new weed entering their territory. In the event they find an undesirable weed, they are to document where the weed is, then follow up with the landowner on its control.

“We suggest they make use of GPS technology, which allows the easy recording of the weed’s location so that it can be revisited over time to ensure that the weed has been eliminated or has not spread. Weed inspectors are encouraged to keep long term records of noxious weed populations, since many weeds can survive for decades as dormant seeds in the soil.”

The Weed Inspector Training Clinics feature a mini-trade show, where companies involved in industrial weed control activities - like spraying roadsides, rail beds and power line rights of way - get to show off their technology and, at the same time, help to support the clinics. Industrial weed control is critical to invasive and noxious weed control, since all these roadways and other rights of way act as corridors for the introduction of new noxious weeds.

The Weed Inspector Training Clinics take place on April 12 in Humboldt; April 13 in Rosetown; and April 14 in Indian Head.

Those planning on attending should pre-register by Friday, April 8, by calling (306) 787-9719.

For more information, contact:

Clark Brenzil
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4673

Scientists on a Quest for Slow Rumen Degradability

source: Farm and Food Report

It may seem like a monumental task University of Saskatchewan’s Murray Drew and his colleagues have embarked upon: finding a variety of barley that has the slow rumen degradability of corn.

However, the Department of Animal and Poultry Science researcher felt it had to be done:

“In Western Canada, producers tend to feed their cattle barley, a type of grain in which the starch gets broken down very quickly in cattle’s rumen. This leads to increased acid production, and eventually to acidosis, a phenomenon that occurs when the rumen becomes acidic. The animal then stops eating and just doesn’t feel well. It can lead to all kinds of problems.”

In the United States, according to Drew, this is less of a problem because producers feed corn to their cattle. Corn has slow rumen degradability.

“We need to find a variety of barley that we can commercially produce, which is more like corn. We know it can be done because our neighbours to the south have already created one: the Valier barley. The problem is that it is not licensed for growing in Canada, and it may not perform as well under our growing conditions.”

Drew and his team have examined all the grain and forage varieties they could find — including commercially grown wheat and barley. They borrowed seeds from Department of Plant Science’s Brian Rossnagel’s collection and tested samples through proximate analysis, which reveals things like energy, protein, ether and fibre content.

“We ended up with a database of information on these different grains, from which we identified winners — 38 good candidates in all, coming out of Brian Rossnagel’s huge catalogue. What we will do now is test these winners in both cattle and pigs to find out how slow their degradability is.”

The way scientists find that out is through feces analysis — a messy, but flawless, investigation process.

The results of the study, funded by Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s Agriculture Development Fund, will eventually be made available to growers who will be able to make their own choices as to which grain varieties have the greatest dietary potential in terms of raising healthier livestock.

For more information, contact:

Murray D. Drew
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2367

Use Licenced Professionals for Custom Pesticide Applications

source: Farm and Food Report

If you are looking to hire a pesticide applicator this spring, it doesn’t matter if you manage a small urban yard or farm a couple of sections: you would be well advised to make sure the individual doing the job is licensed.

There are many advantages to this, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Pesticide Management Specialist Cameron Wilk.

“Make sure the contractor produces a copy of his or her license upon request,” says Wilk. “Licensed applicators are trained professionals with a good background on integrated pest management strategies, which allows them to minimize the amount of product they have to put in the field. They use products at their lowest possible rate.”

Wilk adds that “if an agricultural producer is looking at a large scale pesticide application, or if the purpose of the pesticide application is to clear an industrial right-of-way on behalf of a company, the applicator should also have drift insurance. It is important because the likelihood of something going wrong during the application is very real.”

Working with a licensed applicator is the best way to ensure the type of pest management product used is registered with Health Canada. It also ensures that the pest control product is applied as directed on the product’s label. Every year, both homeowners and farmers experience financial losses due to “off-label” applications of pest control products, or use of a pest control product in a manner not intended. A common example is use of a herbicide registered for cereals on forages or special crops.

“In the city, homeowners are regularly approached with naturally-occurring products that may or may not be registered,” says Wilk. “You should ask to see a copy of the product’s label before it is applied on your property. An applicator may tell you the product they use is natural. Keep in mind that 95 per cent of products are. You should be aware that natural products can also be among the most harmful. For instance, strychnine, which can be deadly, is derived from the seed of a tree grown in India.”

Pest control may be very expensive. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada is responsible for registering pesticides for use in Canada. Before a product is registered for use, it must undergo a comprehensive and rigorous scientific assessment to ensure the product does not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. The assessment also ensures that the product has value and will provide a level of control.

According to Wilk, using trained applicators is an internationally recognized way of reducing risks of contamination, creating safer workplaces, and keeping the environment safe for the public.

The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) trains between 700 and 1,000 pesticide applicators a year. David Warnock is SIAST’s Instructor of Agricultural Programs.

“This is an industry with a high turnover rate due to the seasonal nature of the work, and a number of the people we train are working on recertifications. They include municipal employees, golf course staff and applicators who work in agriculture. Pest control is usually done from April to October, except for structural pest control activities for insects and rats that can take place during winter.”

There are 13 different licenses available in Saskatchewan, for which there are classes that run from two and a half days to a week.

“We are primarily concerned with safety and personal protection. We discuss the risks associated with pesticides for the applicators themselves and the environment around them — especially when it comes to drift and water contamination. Students devote time to label interpretation, which is really the most important document for people using the product.”

Participants in classes are taught what to do in emergency situations, such as an accident where someone is exposed to toxicity. They learn about storage and transportation precautions; they study legislative provisions such as the Pest Control Products Act of Saskatchewan (PCP Sask.), which creates the 13 categories of licensing; and the Pest Control Products Act of Canada, which legislates product registration with Health Canada.

“The legislation allows some exceptions in mandatory licensing,” Warnock points out, “in the case of agricultural producers and homeowners applying pesticides on land they own or farm, but they still have to follow the directions prescribed on the label.”

Licensed applicators not only know this inside out, but they also understand application technology and equipment. They are familiar with the modes of action of different pesticides, as well as with pest biology, so they know the environmental relationships at stake — such as those between pests and their predators.

“There is a fine balance in nature that can be upset easily,” says Warnock. “If someone is carrying out a rat control management strategy, he or she should be aware of the potential for secondary poisoning. In situations like that, it is important that the pesticide applicator puts adequate procedures in place to prevent other animals, like pets, from consuming dead carcasses.” Applicators must also ensure that drift from insecticide applications does not impact on bee operations, biological weed control agents and organic farms.

Nothing works better to prevent grief for friends and family than a few extra precautions as spring rolls in and brings with it a new pest management cycle.

For more information, contact:

Cameron Wilk
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-2195

David Warnock
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology
(306) 798-6310

Agri-Mex A Tradition Dating Back to 1885

source: Farm and Food Report

As the Northwest Resistance unfolded nearby in 1885, a small, budding farming community launched the Battlefords Agricultural Society.

Excellence in agricultural practices and the quest for economic prosperity in a land where the buffalo — until two decades earlier — had been roaming the Plains region was what they sought.

One hundred and twenty years after its creation, the Society is perhaps the oldest in Saskatchewan, and certainly one of the most active.

Agri-Mex 2005 — the Society’s progeny — is about to embark on its 21st edition. Jocelyn Ritchie is General Manager of the Battlefords Agricultural Society.

“We have people who attend Agri-Mex whose great-grandfathers were members of our agricultural society,” Ritchie says. “We have had literally generations of families involved in organizing activities with the Society. There is a real pride in this for many of our members.”

Because this is one of the earliest settlement regions of the former Northwest Territories, many families in the area live on farms that have been passed down from generation to generation.

“Every year, we honour a farming family that has farmed the same land for over a century as a way to celebrate local agricultural achievement. How they have diversified their activities also comes into consideration in the selection process.”

Ritchie, her colleagues and area producers relish this agricultural heritage and the fact this is the largest event of its kind in northwest Saskatchewan. “Every year, over 5,000 consumers from the Battlefords and surrounding communities attend Agri-Mex to see the latest in ideas and innovations for the farm and home,” Ritchie says.

Many businesses and implement dealers capitalize on the number of people coming to town by hosting various open houses and customer appreciation events, which help to ensure people come. The show draws visitors from a 160 km radius, and many travel from Alberta for this celebration of a livelihood that has come under some pressure lately.

“The primary production sector of the agriculture industry is the back bone of our community,” says Ritchie. “At times, we are victims of other countries’ trade actions, or simply of our own country's lack of acknowledgement of the role we play in food production. This is our opportunity to shine in the public eye.

“Agri-Mex is about business, but it is also about education — a chance to interpret how important what we do is for the local economy. It is a time for renewal; meeting old friends; and expressing hope for agricultural prosperity.”

Agri-Mex runs from April 1st to April 2nd at the Exhibition Park in North Battleford. For more information, visit: http://www.bexhib.com/events/agrimex.html

For more information, contact:
Jocelyn Ritchie
Battlefords Agricultural Society
(306) 445-2024

New Agri-Business Program Facilitates Value Chain Development

source: Farm and Food Report

What does it take to create agriculture industry networks made up of partners who look after each other’s interests?

A little mutual understanding; a desire to work collaboratively; and a genuine belief that, by doing everything possible to remove barriers to efficiencies, every network member will assist each other in their success.

Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization just launched a new initiative that aims to assist potential partners in doing just that. The new provincial Value Chain Program will help diversify and grow Saskatchewan’s agricultural economy, by funding and providing technical expertise to encourage individuals and businesses to work together with these goals in mind. The program budget is $1.5 million over the next three years.

The Value Chain Program encourages co-operation, communication and co-ordination between three or more organizations or businesses from the following groups: producers, processors, distributors, brokers, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. By working together, members of the network can build their competitive advantage, identify sustainable marketing opportunities and improve their response to market demand. This network is known as a value chain.

“Growing, diversifying and adding value to our agricultural sector is a priority for our province,” Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. “Programs like this one support individuals and businesses in their efforts to add value to our agricultural products. This will have a spin-off effect that will benefit all sectors of our economy.”

The ValueChain Program helps partners work together to identify objectives, share risks and benefits — and share their investment in time, energy and resources to make the relationship work. The benefit of these partnerships is a competitive advantage for every member of the value chain.

“Our value chain enabled us to establish the type of rapport with several chain partners that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” Canadian Prairie Lamb President Gordon Schroeder said. “We are a common alliance dedicated to finding new consumers for lamb products.”

To qualify under the program, projects must involve the development of a value chain, and of one or more specific activities. These would include the differentiation of products in the marketplace; efforts to reduce system costs; initiatives that aim to build, establish or enhance food safety or quality assurance; or the formulation of a response to a specific consumer demand through a new product.

Each project will be eligible for funding up to a maximum of $100,000.

Specialists at any of the nine Agriculture Business Centres around the province can help clients explore ideas, answer questions and apply for funding. Just call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 to find out how to take advantage of this new agri-business resource.

The Value Chain Program is part of the Food Safety and Quality Chapter of the federal/provincial Agricultural Policy Framework.

For more information, contact:
Sherri Dobbs
Market development and Food Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306)787-8537

Gordon Schroeder
Canadian Prairie Lamb
(306) 933-5582

New Phosphorus Findings Could Help Hog Producers Save Money

source: Farm and Food Report

The fundamentals of animal nutrition are all about allowing livestock to achieve their genetic potential, but what seems simple on the surface is a rather complex chain of efficiencies.

For instance, phosphorus, an essential element of our diet contained in barley, wheat or oatmeal, plays a key role in allowing all creatures to metabolize the energy contained in food to grow a proper bone structure and live healthily - like calcium does. Phosphorus, however, is not absorbed equally well by all creatures.

At the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatoon, scientists working specifically on hogs are concerned with just how much phosphorus contained in rations is simply wasted. Dr. Denise Beaulieu is a Research Assistant there.

“About 70 per cent of the phosphorus contained in hog rations is simply evacuated without being processed,” Beaulieu says. “It ends up in manure and eventually in the field. Fortunately, in Saskatchewan, our soils tend to be phosphorus-deficient, so this doesn’t pose an environmental risk, but it does impose an additional cost for hog producers.”

In fact, pork producers must add artificially produced phosphorus from a mineral source in Florida, which is expensive. Beaulieu and her colleagues have been working on the use of an enzyme, which, when added to the feed, helps animals digest the naturally occurring phosphorus contained in their diet.

“The beauty of the enzyme is it allows the animals to fully take advantage of available phosphorus. We tried integrating the enzyme to barley — specifically the phytase enzyme — that was fed to chickens and hogs with promising results. By feeding closer to requirements, you don’t have to over-apply phosphorous. Our results indicate that we can get the same performance in animal nutrition with the enzyme, without adding phosphorus.”

Economical use of the phytase enzyme is dependent on current market prices. Over the past six months, as grain and protein prices have fallen, the economic benefit has declined somewhat. However, there is still a net benefit of at least $0.33 per pig.

“Put another way, a farm with 3,000 sows would save over $24,000 annually by making use of this enzyme,” concludes Beaulieu. “The economic benefits are substantial. Moreover, it provides producers with more options for where to incorporate their manure in their nutrient management farm plan.”

Located in Saskatoon, the Prairie Swine Centre Inc. is a non-profit research corporation affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan. It is recognized globally for its contributions to practical, applied science in pork production in the disciplines of nutrition, engineering and animal behaviour.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Denise Beaulieu
Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
(306) 667-7441

or

Lee Whittington
Prairie Swine Centre Inc.
Phone: 306-667-7447

Agroforestry Conference to Highlight Range of Possibilities

source: Farm and Food Report

Is there a possible marriage of interests between agriculture and forestry? Well, it seems that there is, according to the Saskatchewan Forest Centre’s (SFC) Joanne Kowalski.

“If you have a hog barn in your area, there is value in asking yourself if the effluent could be used for irrigation purposes or as fertilizer on a nearby tree plantation,” Kowalski says. “If you have a woodlot on your agricultural land, perhaps this production could be processed in a local sawmill and turned into value-added goods like furniture or flooring that could create new jobs and benefit the entire community.”

In essence, this is what the March 22 and 23 Agroforestry Conference in Regina seeks to address. The Saskatchewan Forest Centre — a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to grow a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable provincial forestry sector — favours a holistic approach to community economic development.

“We chose to hold the event in Regina to attract a variety of participants,” says Kowalski, “municipal, provincial and federal government employees, but also economic development officers, agricultural producers and representatives from organizations that may not be as familiar with opportunities in the forestry sector — and especially with the alliances and partnerships that can be struck between forestry, agriculture and value-added industries.”

The conference will look at how agroforestry systems can be integrated into future economic development for communities, and at the same time constitute appropriate responses to climate change.

Examples of what has been achieved in other jurisdictions will be featured through presentations by the likes of Dr. Theo Verwijst of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Upsala, Sweden.

Agricultural over-production in Europe has resulted in very large areas of farmland being no longer required for food crops. Modern poplar hybrids are very fast growing trees, highly suitable for ex-arable land. Poplar wood has many potential uses: fuel for heat or electricity, fibres for paper or fibreboard, pallets, food crates, and furniture veneers. Verwijst will explain how even the longest rotations are short, compared to those for other forest crops — increasing flexibility for integration into agricultural systems.

Kowalski and her team have arranged quite a line-up of international, national and local presenters, which includes Dr. Jud Isebrands of Environmental Forestry Consultants in New London, Wisconsin, who will elaborate on the U.S. experience. Angus Carr of the SFC and Jeff Thorpe of the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC) will talk about agroforestry and climate change on the prairies, and Jack Klassen of the Carlton Trail Guest Ranch in Victoire will talk about ecotourism prospects from agroforestry.

“We have also invited Mike Carlson of the Kalamalka Research Station in Vernon to talk about the uses of lagoon waste water; Dave Dombowsky of Forintek Canada will give us the scoop on wood fibre products from agroforestry; and Sherry Michalyca of the Nipawin Ethanol Cooperative will share with participants what is happening in her sector. The sheer range of experiences and possibilities that will be discussed at one conference is unprecedented.”

The organizers are hoping that the conference will broaden everyone’s horizons as to the emerging potential and contributions of agroforestry, as a sector that is more accessible to agricultural producers and communities than they might initially believe.

The conference will be held at the Delta Hotel. Call (306) 765-2840 or e-mail info@saskforestcentre.ca to register.

For more information, contact:
Joanne Kowalski
Saskatchewan Forest Centre
(306) 765-2840
http://www.saskforestcentre.ca/

Special Crop Company Synopsis Offers Useful Snapshot

source: Farm and Food Report

Keeping track of who’s who can be a little daunting in the world of special crops.

But help has arrived with the publication of the 2005 Saskatchewan Special Crop Company Synopsis, published by Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization (SAFRR).

Ray McVicar is the Provincial Specialist who looks after compiling the synopsis.

“Every year, we carry out a survey of companies that are involved in buying special crops in Saskatchewan. We make sure we provide the correct contact information; many of them have websites that explain their particular areas of activity. We do this to find out who is buying special crops, and to make sure that information is available to Saskatchewan producers.”

Many of the companies listed in the synopsis are based outside of Saskatchewan. However, all of them will buy special crops such as lentils, beans, peas, chickpeas, canaryseed, mustard, coriander and caraway in the province.

“We recommend that producers investigate prospective buyers before they decide to grow a special crop. Find out if they are licensed and bonded with the Canadian Grain Commission. Not all of them are.”

Some of these companies offer production contracts before the growing season, adds McVicar.

“If you wish to sign and get a guaranteed price and volume ahead of time, you can do that in some cases. The difference this year is that there are fewer companies offering contracts for 2005, compared to other years. But there are still options out there.”

The synopsis describes 55 companies; often mentions the names of individual buyers; and describes the types of crops they buy.

For Renata Bereziuk, an International Business Development Specialist with SAFRR, the synopsis has proven useful more than once.

“Our department works very closely with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), who regularly visit established and emerging markets for Saskatchewan specialty crops. They never leave the province without several copies of this publication close at hand, and they ensure it gets distributed to existing and prospective buyers. The synopsis is an excellent marketing tool. It provides international exposure to marketers of our specialty crops and puts their products front and centre.”

The 2005 Saskatchewan Special Crop Company Synopsis is available online here.

For more information, contact:
Ray McVicar
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-4665

Renata Bereziuk
Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
(306) 787-8541

A Game to Help Cattle Feeders Understand Markets

source: Farm and Food Report

“Saskatchewan cattle feeders are very good at what they do,” according to Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association (SCFA) General Manager Jamie Blacklock, “but the industry is complex and constantly requires new skills,” she quickly points out.

“The Fed Cattle Market Simulator event will make our members work as competing teams in a virtual market environment they will be able to shape through their decisions. What better way to learn than a classroom setting with a registration fee of $85.00, instead of losing thousands of dollars to learn from real life experience?”

At the core of the March 31 and April 1 session at the Sandman Hotel in Saskatoon will be a tool developed by livestock marketing economists at Oklahoma State University and Colorado State University: the Packer-Feeder Game. It provides cattlemen an opportunity to sharpen their fed cattle marketing and purchasing skills in a fun, game-like environment. The game provides a realistic market for fed cattle and live cattle futures.

“A similar event was successfully held for Alberta cattle feeders in the fall,” says Blacklock. “We thought Saskatchewan feeders would very much benefit from this workshop as well.”

Participants role-play as cattle feedlot managers trying to market cattle at a profit, and as packing plant managers trying to buy cattle at a profit. Actions by players direct market prices.

Players learn to compute feedlot break-even prices for fed cattle; they find out how to estimate packer break-even bid prices for cattle and how to determine the number of cattle packers need; they bargain head-to-head to negotiate cash prices or forward contracts; and they learn to determine how to best market three genetic types of cattle either on live weight, dressed weight, or with a price grid.

Participants get to use the futures market to hedge sales or purchases; they use financial statements to plan their marketing/buying strategy; they see the dynamics of the market over time; and they discover who has the bargaining edge when cattle supplies are tight, as well as when cattle supplies are plentiful.

Blacklock says the response so far has been encouraging. “Everybody is quite excited about this opportunity. Word of mouth is getting around. The real-life aspect of this training session is a big draw among our members and outside the association.”

The number of participants is limited to 45.

For more information and to register for this event, contact the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association office at (306) 382-2333.

For more information, contact:
Jamie Blacklock
Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association
(306) 382-2333
http://www.saskcattle.com