Crop Advisors' Workshop Answers Frequently Asked Questions

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Crop Advisor’s Workshop is designed for the needs of those who provide professional advice to farmers on financial, agronomic or livestock issues. The workshop, organized annually by the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association (SSCA), provides technical answers to those questions most frequently asked by agricultural producers, according to SSCA Assistant Manager Juanita Polegi.

“This year’s workshop will be held on December 1 and 2 at the Ramada Hotel in Saskatoon. We expect about 100 advisors to attend,” says Polegi. “Our goal is to answer the questions that arise throughout the year at a technical level. The advisors can then take this information and relay it back to their clients in the most useful manner for them.

“For instance, this year we have asked Professor Ken Rosaasen of the University of Saskatchewan to elaborate on the effect of fuel prices on the agricultural sector. This is obviously a major challenge in many Saskatchewan operations.”

The topics this year include: “Mid Row vs. Sidebanding” with Gord Hultgreen of the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) in Humboldt; “What’s New With Pulse Varieties” with Dr. Tom Warkentin of the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan; and “Dealing With Wild Oats Resistance” with Dr. Hugh Beckie of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon.

“In light of the increasing importance of water quality issues, we have asked Dr. Jane Elliott of the National Hydrology Research Centre in Saskatoon to address some of the latest findings about the situation in Saskatchewan,” adds Polegi.

“In addition, we have asked SSCA Vice President Edgar Hammermeister to provide a progress report on the soil carbon front. This is an area where Edgar has been involved quite actively, so he’ll be able to share the view from inside.”

Tom Harrison of the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority will deliver the latest on riparian area management and watershed planning; Stu Brandt of AAFC will talk about the issues and benefits around brown bagging canola; Bill May (AAFC) will provide an update on canaryseed issues; Mark Akins of Ducks Unlimited will discuss winter wheat management in the spring; Dr. Bart Lardner of the Western Beef Development Centre will talk about nutrient capture through extensive winter feeding of beef animals; and Dr. Harold Steppuhn (AAFC) will address the issues of salinity and alkalinity reclamation.

“Lyle Cowell of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool will give some insight into how you can help your clients develop their environmental farm plans; Dr. Tom Wolf (AAFC) will talk about pesticide rates, water volumes and nozzles; while Dr. Diane Knight of the U of S will address soil microbial activity and the enhancement of fertilizer rates with green manure,” concludes Polegi.

To register for the workshop, contact the SSCA Head Office at (306) 695-4233 or 1-800-213-4287.

For more information, contact:

Juanita Polegi
Assistant Manager
Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association
(306) 786-1526

Agri-Environmental Group Planning in Lower Souris Watershed

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Agricultural producers have being weighing the merits of developing environmental farm plans (EFP) lately as a way to bring about beneficial management practices in their farming operations.

Meanwhile, a consortium of producers in the southeastern part of the province has opted to pilot a group approach to environmental farm planning by focusing on their local watershed.

Ross Madsen is Co-Chair of the 4 Creeks Watershed Advisory Committee, which began looking at water issues in the Lower Souris watershed in 2004.

“With all the drainage and land leveling activities in our area, I and other producers had started to wonder if local economic activities around agriculture were starting to affect the quality of water in our watershed. I noticed the water table was dropping locally. In the fall of 1999, we received 27 inches of rain, and all of a sudden we found ourselves in a flooding situation. It was time to take stock of our agricultural practices.”

As a result, the 4 Creeks Watershed Advisory Committee was formed. Rural Municipalities around Stoney, Jackson, Graham and Gainsborough Creeks got together and were later joined by producers near Pipestone and Antler Creeks, so the whole Lower Souris River watershed was covered.

Karmen Kyle is the Beneficial Management Practices Technician working with the group planning project. She encourages individual producers to also go through the EFP process, because this enables them to assess their environmental practices on their farm operations.

“The intent of the group planning approach is to promote good land and water management practices with one issue in mind: the watershed. In the Lower Souris project, we are addressing surface water quality. Upon approval of the group plan, producer members of the group became eligible to apply for funding from the Canada-Saskatchewan Farm Stewardship Program. Funding was approved for riparian areas and wintering site management projects, with the cost of the project shared between the producer and the program. Forty-one projects were approved in the first intake of the group planning project.”

The main advantage of the group approach – or, to use its official name, the Saskatchewan Agri-Environmental Group Planning initiative – is that it provides a one-on-one contact between the technician and the producers to help them develop and complete their project.

The group plan led to 41 individual producer projects that included 29 watering projects in all: 24 fencing projects, one buffer strip initiative, and two planned portable windbreaks. More than 47,800 acres were affected. These included project sites and all pasture acres for each producer.

Kyle lists how funds can be applied to “remote watering pipelines, forage systems, cross-fencing, buffer establishment in the form of shelterbelts and seeded areas along sloughs or creeks, portable windbreaks or shelters, fencing modifications and improved stream crossings.”

In dollar terms, fencing project costs amounted to $77,620 for nearly 30 miles of fence; water systems amounted to $56,500, 50 per cent of which came from the program. The largest watering and fencing project is valued at $22,900. This is also the largest project overall.

“One of the first things we did was to identify the issues that needed to be dealt with,” says Kyle. “A Lower Souris Environmental Scan was developed. That document identified all environmental issues around air, soil, water and biodiversity. Each issue was given a priority assessment, drawing on available data for the area.

“This information was presented to all area producers at a meeting. All of them had a chance to discuss the information provided, after which they broke off into small groups to assess which issue was most important to them. From this process, it was established that surface water quality was the greatest concern in terms of run-off, wetlands, permanent and intermittent creeks.”

The way Kyle sees it, “this gives producers an opportunity to take ownership of the project, which then adopts a bottom-up approach, rather than top-down. The collective decision-making process ensures the success of the initiative. We are now starting to involve additional producer members in the group planning, who will submit an application in the spring.”

The three-year program is valued at $340,000.00 and runs until March 31, 2008. Given the success of this pilot project, the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are now looking for proposals from other watershed groups.

For more information, contact:

Karmen Kyle
Beneficial Management Practices Technician
4 Creeks Watershed Advisory Committee Inc.
(306) 452-3292

Prairie Berries Makes Inroads Into Processing of Saskatoons

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Introducing new products to international markets can be a daunting task, to which many food processors in Saskatchewan can attest.

Keeler’s Prairie Berries, owned by Sandy and Ken Purdy, has been working at it for some time, and is making progress in introducing new products to international markets.

The difference between niche market processing and commercial scale production is the volumes required by the end markets, Sandy Purdy explains. “This is generally achieved through technological advances, formulations, end user specifications, and the ability to make adjustments to the product during the process.”

Purdy’s company is currently benefiting from the Agri-Value Program, a research investment program targeted to value added processes. Prairie Berries is working with the POS Pilot Plant in Saskatoon to upscale processes for their puree and concentrate.

“It is programs such as the Agri-Value Program that allow us to test different systems and examine how we could match end user specifications to large production runs,” Purdy says. “Once we can achieve the volume and reach the end user specifications, we can move forward with our German importer to position saskatoon berry products into their marketplace.”

“For example, on our own, we could only extract about 55 per cent of the total weight of the berry. We are now looking at extracting much more, perhaps as much as 85 per cent of the weight of the fruit, which makes the process more cost effective, and therefore more competitive when dealing in the ingredient market.”

Sandy Purdy is clearly optimistic about the future, because Saskatchewan producers have proven they can grow saskatoons consistently, which is important in guaranteeing the volume required to enter overseas markets. She believes that, by working with other producers and processors, they will benefit in the long term by the market opportunities.

“This is very exciting. The $6.5 million research and development investment in Saskatoon berries made by the federal and provincial governments, though programs such as the Agri-Food Innovation Fund, the Agriculture Development Fund, and the Agri-Value Program, brings us closer to reaping the rewards of industry development,” says Purdy.

“Much credit for the development of the saskatoon berry industry goes to the foresight of individuals in the industry, and to government, for supporting and believing in the value of this authentic Saskatchewan product. Because of their vision early on, now the sky is the limit for the saskatoon berry industry,” she concludes.

Further information for the Agri-Value project “Commercializing the process of concentrate and puree,” #20050011, may be obtained by phoning the Agriculture Research Branch at (306) 787-5929 in Regina.

For more information, contact:

Sandy Purdy
Prairie Berries
(306) 788-2018

Southwest Agribusiness Conference Focuses on Innovation

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

If the line-up of presenters at the Southwest Agri-Business Conference in Gull Lake on November 30 is indicative of the spirit of innovation with which the region is infused, the event will be well worth attending.

Gerry Holland, a Business Planning Specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is one of the organizers of the “Creative Innovation in Agriculture” conference.

“This is an opportunity to bring together agricultural producers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and community economic development professionals to share some of the creative transformations occurring on farms and in agricultural operations in our part of the world,” Holland says.

“Last year, we held the event in Eastend. We are moving its location around to reach as many as possible in the Southwest. We bring in speakers who have often broken new ground in their agricultural activities.”

Speakers include people like Cam McLeod, a Cabri fruit producer who has successfully ventured into this emerging agricultural sector.

To elaborate on the opportunities around fruit production, Richard Wharton, a Production Economics Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, will share some of the latest findings around apples and cherries. Holland says opportunities are numerous with fruits.

“Apples, especially, could be very profitable for fresh eating or storage. We are finding more varieties with winter hardiness. There are opportunities in the processing sector, as well. The prospect of producing 20 to 40 pounds per tree, in smaller trees where the fruits are easier to pick, that can be developed at a lower cost than elsewhere in the country because of the lower cost of the land in Saskatchewan—all this bodes well for producers.”

Add to that the fact that apple and cherry trees can be grown in a wide range of soils, and that there are opportunities to build small processing plants, and you have a winning combination.

“Plus, processors increasingly have access to facilities like the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan to develop actual value-added products. That is what Dan Prefontaine will share with participants at the Gull Lake conference,” adds Holland.

Other presenters will include Brad Nelson, General Manager of Honeybee Manufacturing in Frontier, who will talk about opportunities, obstacles and obligations in rural business activities.

Gord Colledge of Lethbridge will elaborate on how he helps prairie families cope with economic downturns and personal reversals, with a view to guiding community professionals in the process of becoming adaptive leaders in an unstable environment.

Leslie Johnson of Fillmore will also share some of his findings on the use of ultrasound in his post-BSE cattle marketing activities.

“We should also mention a contribution from Marty and Marie Bohnet of Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery in Maple Creek, who are involved in a very innovative agri-business venture.”

There will be something for everyone at the conference, which will be held at Gull Lake’s Elks Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Admission is $15.00 per person and $25 per couple. Lunch is included.

Co-sponsors for the event include Southwest Community Futures, Cypress Hills REDA, Western Economic Diversification, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, as well as local sponsors Southwest Credit Union, Royal Bank and Southwest Terminal.

Pre-registration is required by November 25. Call 1-888-667-7923 or (306) 773-0900 for more details.

For more information, contact:

Gerry Holland
Business Planning Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4051

Western Canadian Grazing Conference Coming to Saskatoon

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

This is the event of the year for stock growers who have chosen to integrate grazing activities into the heart of their operation.

The Western Canadian Grazing Conference will be held at Saskatoon’s Radisson Hotel from December 7 to 9, 2005, and conference Chair Ross MacDonald promises a rack of sessions loaded with useful information.

“This is a coming together of Alberta and Saskatchewan graziers,” MacDonald says. “The event alternates between the two provinces, so it has to feature some leading edge presentations. This year, we are bringing in a couple of keynote speakers from Colorado with very impressive credentials.”

Kit Pharo grew up on a ranch in eastern Colorado. In the early 1980s, he had an opportunity to lease and manage a ranch of his own. His initial goal was to show everyone how to wean bigger calves and succeed at ranching. Fortunately, that was a very short-term goal. He soon discovered that bigger calves did not necessarily generate bigger profits. Pharo has devoted the past 20 years to creating a very efficient and profitable cow/calf operation.

“He has sought out and learned from some of the most profitable ranches in North America how to increase profits while improving the land,” MacDonald says. “It has nothing to do with weaning bigger calves. His approach is about focusing on animals that fit the environment in which you operate. It is all about functionality—things like calving ease and reducing costs. It is about forage tested genetics.”

The other Colorado keynote speaker is Dr. Gary Smith of Colorado State University. MacDonald has high hopes for the value this researcher will bring to the conference.

“Dr. Smith has won both the Distinguished Research Award and the Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Society of Animal Science and from the American Meat Science Association. He is a world meat trade expert who has a fantastic ability to make world meat market information relevant for primary producers. His presentation is bound to be thought-provoking for all conference participants.”

The conference includes a trade show and sessions on watering systems, reducing costs with non-traditional feeds, and custom grazing.

The Thursday evening address will feature Ted Perrin, winner of the 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award and a well-known rancher whose family has a long association with the legendary Matador Ranch.

To find out more about the Western Canadian Grazing Conference, visit: http://www.skstockgrowers.com

For more information, contact:

Ross MacDonald
Conference Chair
Western Canadian Grazing Conference
(306) 757-8523
http://www.skstockgrowers.com

Taking Another Look at Winter Grazing

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Long thought to be a practice that entailed more disadvantages than benefits, more producers today are wintering their beef cows extensively on fields and pastures with swath grazing, crop residue grazing, and bale feeding.

Lorne Klein, a Forage Development Specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, sought to acquire a clearer picture of what the advantages truly were. He approached the Western Beef Development Centre (WBDC) in Lanigan to find out more.

“In past decades, it was common practice to feed and bed beef cows intensively in confined areas during winter, usually close to where the feed and straw supply was assembled,” explains Klein. “During the following summer, the manure pack was hauled out and spread onto the land.

Our search for other solutions raised a few questions about the environmental impact of extensive wintering because, when it occurs, the manure and urine is being spread during winter, which contradicts current recommendations encouraging producers not to spread manure during winter months.

The WBDC began a trial in the fall of 2003 to compare the environmental and economic implications of intensive and extensive wintering systems. The study site was an old pasture of Russian wildrye. Four treatments were applied.

In the intensive system, cows were fed in a corral and the manure pack was spread onto the pasture.

Two of the treatments involved spreading composted manure from a previous year, and spreading raw manure from the current year.

In the extensive system, cows were fed on pasture.

The other two treatments involved bale grazing and bale processing in rows. All of the four treatments were applied at a rate of 832 cow days per acre, which is the normal manure application rate.

The trial found significant environmental and economic advantages to feeding extensively on pasture during winter.

“Researchers found that bale grazing and bale processing captured a higher level of nitrogen in the soil, when compared to manure spreading. On average, these two practices captured about 100 pounds per acre more nitrogen than the manure spreading treatments,” Klein says.

Using a nitrogen price of 50 cents per pound, and an estimated volatilization loss of 20 per cent during broadcast application, this is equal to introducing approximately $2.25 worth of nitrogen into the soil for each month that a cow is fed on the land.

“The increased nitrogen in the soil resulted in greater forage yield and quality,” Klein points out. “After the first growing season, the bale grazing and bale feeding treatments produced on average about 1,500 pounds per acre more forage than the manure spreading treatments. And it appears this effect will last for another three to four years afterwards,” Klein says.

“Using assumptions and average numbers, this translates into the following basic formula: for each month a cow is fed extensively on pasture, you will get four to five days of extra grazing over the next four years. This is extra production over and above the yield advantage that manure spreading will produce.”

When asked why this is occurring, Klein has this answer.

“At this point, it is believed the nitrogen from the urine is lost in a confined situation. About half of the nitrogen excreted from a cow is in the urine; the other half is in the manure.”

One added benefit of extensive wintering is reduced or eliminated manure hauling. Most producers are equipped to haul feed, but have to pay for hauling manure,” adds Klein.

So is it advantageous to winter extensively? The answer is yes, no, and maybe, according to Klein.

“Each producer has a unique set of circumstances and will have different costs associated with different systems. The figures above are a starting point for discussion and calculations. Hats off to WBDC for doing the research and getting us the numbers!”

For more information, contact:

Lorne Klein
Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 848-2382

Growing Fresh and Dried Herbs Turns Into Profitable Ventures

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Soon after she launched Fran’s House of Herbs in 1997, the customers Fran Eldridge met at Saskatoon’s Farmers’ Market started to ask her if she could grow other herbs, as well. Now she has quite a greenhouse operation going south of Saskatoon on Highway 11, just north of Dundurn.

Eldridge grows 20 to 30 varieties of herbs in her greenhouses and the great outdoors. Her main focus is on culinary herbs, which are all grown without the use of pesticides.

“We have people from Regina stopping by regularly, and our product is also found in Saskatoon grocery stores. I would say that our number one seller is dill, followed by basil. We only grow basil in the greenhouse because of its need for heat. Our most popular dried herb is the Poultry Blend,” says Eldridge.

“The first time people come, they often ask: how do I use this? Part of our role is to educate customers in how to use the herbs, and one of the ways we do this is by including instructions on how to use a particular herb on each of our packages. One of the biggest factors that has influenced people’s appetite for herbs is the increasing popularity of TV cooking shows. They really shape consumer choices, because they show them how to prepare foods that were previously unknown to them.”

The increased popularity of herbs is being felt in Weyburn, as well. Listening to Paradise Foods’ President Grant Marcotte, it seems basil is a much sought after emerging commodity.

Started in 1996 out of a Regina apartment, Paradise Foods quickly found its niche supplying fresh herbs and 100 varieties of dry organic herbs and spices for culinary and medicinal usage to specialized grocery stores like the Italian Star Deli in Regina.

“My Weyburn-based partners convinced me of the wisdom of moving to Weyburn in order to expand the business,” quips Marcotte. “In 1998, we bought the 1912 McKinnon Building downtown and quickly set up production facilities at the new location.

“Technically, we are a hydroponic producer of fresh herbs: basil, oregano, thyme, dill and Tiny Tim tomatoes. But we grow mostly basil that we use to make our pesto.”

Paradise Foods makes four different types of pesto: basil pesto, nut-free basil pesto, Italian sun-dried tomato pesto and Kalarnatia pesto, that are available in fine food and organic food stores across Saskatchewan.

“We have seven employees. Being involved in a business like this is demanding in many ways,” Marcotte says. To set up their production facility, Marcotte and his partners gutted the entire second floor of the building to access 10,000 square feet of space. At the moment, Paradise Foods has between 3,000 and 4,000 square feet of production surface. The operation runs 365 days a year.

“Our production system is its own ecological system. We grow our plants in a water culture that runs continuously, to which we add nutrients. There is no soil involved, which means we use about one-thirteenth the quantity of water a typical greenhouse operation would use for a comparable production output. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has classified this as an artificial growing environment.”

Instead of regular sunlight, the operation relies on a metal halide lighting system. It even makes use of artificial wind in the form of fans, as wind also plays a role in production. There is an air exchange system for the facility, as well.

“Twice a day, temperature, humidity, nutrient and ph levels are checked by staff. They also perform a visual inspection for leaks or any kind of production troubles,” explains Marcotte.

“We monitor for pest problems and treat them naturally if they occur. As a precaution, we only allow staff inside of the production area.”

The proof of the quality of Paradise Food’s product is in the pudding… or shall we say in the pesto?

Such an approach to agriculture may appear unconventional to some, but the bottom line is catering to the expectations of consumers and so far, they are coming back for more.

For more information, contact:

Fran Eldridge
Fran’s House of Herbs
(306) 373-9014
http://cndcountrygifts.com/GOU-029.html

Grant Marcotte
President
Paradise Foods International Inc.
(306) 842-0148

Lumsden Area Cherry Producer Thinks Chocolate

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Up until a few years ago, Dean and Sylvia Kreutzer were city dwellers who longed for life in the country. Dean, a computer programmer, had always been an “extreme” fruit lover. He and Sylvia had checked out orchards from the Okanagan Valley to Fresno, California.

“We found this 25 acre parcel of cropland close to the Deer Valley lot development, just northeast of Regina. We loved the view. We did a lot of research, and we figured the place would be suitable for agritourism.”

This is their fifth year of operation, and so far, they have planted eight acres into fruit—over 3,000 trees in all.

“Looking at our climate here and the amount of land we had to work with, we made some choices. We knew we wouldn’t be able to grow peaches successfully, and we knew we were after a higher value crop than grains. I took horticulture classes at the University of Saskatchewan and started to network with growers within the fruit industry.

“Eventually, we set our sights on producing chocolate covered cherries. We had seen dried cherries covered in chocolate before and fresh cherries dipped in chocolate, fully knowing that fresh cherries are very seasonal—we opted to crank out all year round cherries that are frozen, then dipped into chocolate. As you can imagine, this is a very labour intensive and time consuming process.”

Over the Hill Orchards has been selling these delectable cherries successfully since last December. Their cherries can now be found in three stores in Saskatoon, at six locations in Regina, in Moose Jaw, and soon in Yorkton.

“When Her Majesty the Queen came to Saskatchewan this summer, one of our cherries found its way on her plate, and the plates of 670 other guests. When Premier Calvert looked for a Valentine’s Day present for his wife Betty, our cherries proved to be the perfect gift. Our chocolate covered cherries are part of the latest Saskatchewan mission to Asia. They are certainly getting around.”

Kreutzer’s latest venture is no less intriguing. He is now looking at producing organic cherry juice.

“This is a little tricky, because you have to sacrifice a lot of cherries to produce juice. One must also dilute it a little, as natural juice is way too strong for consumers to drink straight—so to speak. We also have to work out the packaging, which is no small feat.”

Over the Hill Orchards has plans also for cherry tarts, ice cream topping and a pre-cooked five-fruit crumble. Much of the research and development work required is accomplished through trial and error, with different recipes, and also by tapping into the experience of fruit people.

“But I must admit that, of all these production aspects, I personally derive the most joy out of breeding the fruit itself,” says Kreutzer. “I am following the trail broken by 70 years of research at the University of Saskatchewan. I am playing with late blooming apricots, seeking hybrids that will best withstand the hardships our climate imposes on our fruits. Incidentally, our cherry trees won’t end up being giants on the Plains. They will be eight feet tall, more like a saskatoon bush, but they will still yield 20 to 30 pounds of cherries per tree.

“There are advantages to that: you don’t need ladders to harvest them, and you don’t have to pay the correspondingly high insurance premiums. That’s a bonus.”

For more information, contact:

Dean Kreutzer
Over the Hill Orchards
(306) 530-9133
www.overthehillorchards.ca

Early Maturing Italian Millets Show Promise in Saskatchewan

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Millets might not figure as ingredients in our local recipes, but they are certainly part of daily diets of people elsewhere in the world… and they are a staple in many birdfeeders.

Italian (Setaria italica) and Proso millet (Panicum milaceum) are major components of birdseed mixes, but are not generally grown in Saskatchewan because of their late maturity.

Saskatchewan is the world’s leading exporter of canaryseed. Building on that experience, there might be increased opportunities for a birdfeed packing industry, if we managed to grow millet in Saskatchewan.

Dr. Pierre Hucl of the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan has been doing his best to see if this can be done.

“Millets tend to perform well under high temperature conditions. They are physiologically similar to sorghum and corn,” Hucl explains. “Proso and Italian millet can be harvested with conventional equipment. Proso millet seems better adapted to Saskatchewan than Italian Millet, which tends to be grown further south in the Great Plains. We have identified the early maturing Italian millets in the USDA crop gene bank, and we have tested these particular lines at contrasting sites in the province.”

Dr. Hucl and his colleagues had carried out an earlier screening study in 2001. He sought a wider environmental sample for his second project. Of the 730 millet seed samples accessed, 13 were tested for grain at four sites in 2003 and 11 at four sites in 2004.

“Averaged over six trials, the Italian millet lines yielded 50 to 70 per cent more grain than the Proso millet check variety, while they were, on average, a week later maturing than the Proso Millet. It should be noted that the Italian millet lines had smaller seed and lower test weights than the Proso millet check variety,” Hucl says.

“We determined that the earlier-maturing Italian millets can be grown successfully in Saskatchewan for grain production. Based on this baseline agronomic data, we feel that an economic feasibility study should be conducted. We have also initiated breeder seed production of the most promising lines, should there be interest in commercial production.”

Hucl points out that one of the main impediments to grain millet production is currently a lack of registered weed control products. Research will be required in the area before any commercial production is undertaken.

A copy of the final report on the ADF project Selection of Italian and Proso Millets For Birdseed or Forage # 20020219 may be obtained by phoning (306) 787-6566 in Regina.

For information, contact:

Dr. Pierre Hucl
Crop Development Centre
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8667

Contract Finishing a Good Way for Producers to Share the Risk

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Agricultural producers looking at on-farm diversification activities might want to take another look at contract finishing arrangements, says Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Business Attraction and Investment Consultant Monique Lischynski.

“It seems there are a number of developers and producers interested in contract finishing hogs in the province. As a result, we are starting to receive more inquiries on the subject,” Lischynski says. “Contract finishing typically involves an agreement between an owner of pigs and an owner of a pig barn. The agreement outlines the details under which the owner of the barn will care for and manage the pigs on behalf of the livestock owner.”

Contract finishing has been used extensively in Manitoba and various parts of the United States, and is currently gaining in interest in Saskatchewan. Some contracts are structured so that the barn owner purchases the hogs but markets the animals under agreement with the seller of the hogs.

“There are several reasons why both parties may choose to enter into a contract finishing agreement,” explains Lischynski. “The owner of the pigs may choose to contract finish his animals in order to reduce the capital requirement, operational costs and/or the financial risk to the business, or to reduce the input requirements and the work associated with hiring labour and maintaining the facility and site.”

The owner of the facility may choose to contract finish animals in order to avoid the risks of buying feed and of selling weanlings and market hogs on the open market.

“If the facility owner is new to the business, contract finishing can reduce the management risk associated with a new venture, which can also assist in securing financing for the business. In other words, it is a good way to share the risk between operators—especially for someone who is just starting.”

Many factors will influence the decision to contract finish, but key considerations include the expectation of financial returns and of reduced risk. “In addition to understanding the fixed and variable costs of either contract finishing or finishing your animals yourself, you will need to consider the following: generally, ownership provides better returns, but the risks are greater. In effect, through contract finishing, you are exchanging a portion of financial return for risk reduction,” clarifies Lischynski.

“A written contract is essential to any contract finishing arrangement because it details the responsibilities and expectations of both parties. The specifics of any contract will vary, depending on the circumstances of the individual parties, but there are a number of standard issues that need to be considered when drawing up a contract.”

The contract needs to clearly define the services that will be provided by the pig owner and by the barn owner. Typically, the barn owner provides the barn, utilities and water, labour, manure removal, maintenance and barn supplies; while the owner of the pigs provides the animal management, health and marketing protocol, medical supplies, feed and nutritional program, veterinary services and supplies (drugs and needles), dead-stock disposal plan, transportation/assembly and marketing costs.

“The contract should cover information about the pigs that the pig owner will provide: for example, the source, weight and health status of incoming animals. The contract should reflect the production, marketing, biosecurity and other related routines that are to be followed by the barn owner in caring for the pigs.”

Accurate record keeping is essential to the success of any livestock operation. Knowing what kind of records the barn owner will be expected to keep on the pigs (i.e. treatments, mortality, weights, production performance, Canadian Quality Assurance, etc.), and how often this information will be required is important.

“Disagreements over money have ended many successful business agreements, so it is essential that monetary issues are clearly addressed in the contract. What will the barn owner receive for payment? How often will payments be made and what affects the amount? Will payment be made on a per-pig or a per-pig-space basis? Will pig performance, mortality, market results or other production performance measures affect the amount paid?

“These are all factors that need to be addressed,” adds Lischynski, “as well as contract duration, renewal and extension options, and circumstances that could change the duration or negate the contract: for example, a natural disaster like a fire or tornado that damages the barn and prevents the housing of pigs, or a disease outbreak that prevents the livestock owner from supplying pigs.”

In addition to these specific questions, it is important to understand the history, motives and business practices of the group with which you are contracting. It is important to understand what the livestock or barn owner wants to achieve and how the contract agreement fits with that. This type of understanding is important in the development of any business relationship or business arrangement.

Getting it right the first time is always the preferred option. Now, if only that could be written into the contract.

For more information, contact:

Monique Lischynski
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-5096

35th Edition of Canadian Western Agribition as Relevant as Ever

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

After all these years, it seemed fair to ask Canadian Western Agribition Association General Manager Leon Brin how the star of agricultural fairs in the province manages to stay as relevant and fresh after 35 years, as it was the first time. Brin gave a straight answer:

“I know it will sound simplistic. In this field, the status quo isn’t an option. I would say that it is our governance structure that makes the difference in our case. We have a very hands-on Board of Directors. The only way a show like this can sustain itself is if it is producer led, and our Board is producer led.”

The Canadian Western Agribition Association (Agribition) was incorporated under The Societies Act in June of 1971. Regina was the chosen site primarily because the show’s founders were Saskatchewan livestock breeders, and the City of Regina is located centrally, not only to Western Canada but also to Canada as a whole, and North America in general.

“Initially, this was very much a beef show, and beef still is the foundation of this event,” says Brin. “The producers felt the way the livestock industry was evolving in the province should also be reflected in the breeds that are part of Agribition. And it is the producers themselves who provide us the guidance for the experience we stage.”

Regina was one of the few locations with facilities to house a winter stock show of this magnitude. Agribition now hosts 13 purebred beef shows—nine of them Canadian national shows. This is the highest proportion of national shows in the country.

Few agriculture exhibitions in the world can claim to be a focus for agricultural export, education and entertainment to the point where the culture of agriculture is equally on display.

“Agriculture is very much part of who we are in Saskatchewan,” Brin says. “We must ensure the tradition carries on. This is why there is a higher emphasis this year on junior beef programming. We are instigating the Canadian Junior Beef Extreme on the final Saturday, November 26. This is an amalgamation of all of the shows of all the junior breeds.

“In the past, junior individual breeds were scheduled within the individual shows. Now what will happen is all the champions of all the junior breeds will compete in a finale where an overall Junior Beef Champion will be declared.”

Brin and his fellow organizers see this as a way to highlight the accomplishments of those who will be called upon to carry the flame in the future.

“These juniors are the future of Agribition. We need to provide them opportunities to feel this is their show as well.” The juniors certainly are visible throughout the show and the 21 acres of indoor floor space located at Regina Exhibition Park.

Agribition is one of North America's largest and best-known agricultural marketplaces. Annually, over 4,000 head of livestock including purebred beef, commercial and dairy cattle, heavy and light horses, sheep, goats, llamas, and bison are on display during the six-day show.

Agribition also hosts over 400 trade show exhibits featuring agri-business and technology products and services, western arts and crafts, home and lifestyle products, as well as "Prairie Cuisine" food products and samples.

It is in great part due to the effort of sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors, visitors, staff and others that Agribition is the success that it is today. The Canadian Western Agribition takes place from November 21 to 26, 2005.

For more information, contact:

Leon Brin
General Manager
Canadian Western Agribition
(306) 565-0565
www.agribition.com

Agricultural Skills Development Program Fosters Better Business Practices

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Helping farmers and their spouses increase their family income through improved business practices or off-farm income has become a major priority for both provincial and federal agriculture authorities under the current Renewal initiative.

“This initiative is about recognizing that agriculture is one of the sectors that have been identified as having significant potential for economic growth, especially in value-added activities,” says Gerry Holland, a Regional Business Planning Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

“Farm families continue to acquire new skills and knowledge. This is why the Canadian Agriculture Skills Service (CASS) program was launched this summer. CASS makes the acquisition of new skills more accessible. Research has shown that investment in education and skills training is three times more important to economic growth, over time, than investment in physical capital such as machinery or equipment,” he added.

Saskatchewan is receiving $21.96 million under CASS. Specifically, CASS provides financial assistance to help participants develop learning plans and access training in all areas of farm business, or training to acquire skills for starting a new business or developing employment opportunities.

“For instance, a consultant is available to help you decide which courses or workshops would be most helpful to you. Individuals identify beneficial training courses in their Individual Learning Plans. Funding is available for any non-degree courses provided by registered learning institutions or for privately delivered workshops or short courses pre-approved by CASS management. The program could cover tuition, course materials, travel, dependent care or replacement labour,” explains Holland.

What are the eligibility criteria? You and your spouse are eligible to participate if you are an established producer with gross farm sales of at least $10,000 per year, or if you own 20 per cent of a farm corporation, co-operative or other farm group enterprise with $10,000 annual gross farm sales.

“You would also qualify if you are a beginning farmer, defined as someone who intends to establish a farm, or has already owned or operated a farm for less than six years,” Holland points out. To be eligible for the program, potential participants must also have been out of school for at least two years and have a net family income of less than $45,000 per year.

For more information on the CASS program, call toll-free 1-888-887-7977 or visit the website www.agr.gov.sk.ca; click on the Agricultural Policy Framework Programs button, then on Renewal.

Producers can also contact their Regional Business Planning Specialist through the Saskatchewan Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

For more information, contact:

Gerry Holland
Regional Business Planning Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4051

New Ethanol Plant is Set to Start Production in Weyburn

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

There is always a great sense of accomplishment when a project like this gets off the ground.

The old Weyburn distillery had been sitting empty. A small group of NorAmera BioEnergy shareholders stepped in, intending to turn the facility into a state-of-the-art fuel ethanol production plant, that will employ up to 20 people and convert 2.5 million bushels of wheat into 25 million litres of climate-friendly fuel ethanol and 24,000 tonnes of high protein animal feed annually.

Brad Hill is President and Chief Operating Officer of the NorAmera BioEnergy Corporation. “We are ready to start production after three and a half years of planning and anticipation. It has been quite a ride. The end research I did points to a bright future for ethanol production. One of the big challenges for us was using the existing infrastructure built in the 1970s to produce spirits—with its old equipment—and adding new equipment to realign production to ethanol needs,” says Hill.

“All of our production staff are hired—mostly local folks and others from across the province who are eager to get going. Our product is intended for the Saskatchewan market, to meet the demand resulting from the impending mandated use of ethanol blends throughout the province. We have a contract in place with Pioneer Grain to supply us with wheat.”

One of the challenges ahead with a project like this one, according to Hill, is to produce the ethanol economically. “Running the facility efficiently will become our focus as soon as the plant becomes fully commissioned. We use wheat, but you can use any complex sugar material to make ethanol. They use corn in the United States and in Ontario. Brazil, the largest producer of ethanol in the world, uses sugar cane to make it. Here in Saskatchewan, using wheat makes sense because of its proximity.”

Hill is confident the abundant supply of our quintessential cereal crop in the region will enable NorAmera BioEnergy to compete effectively with the best in the field.

For more information, contact:

Brad Hill
President and Chief Operating Officer
NorAmera BioEnergy
(306) 842-3922

Compensation for Crops Damaged by Wildlife

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance reminds producers that, under the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, you can receive compensation for crops damaged by white-tailed and mule deer, antelope, elk, moose, bears, bison, ducks, geese and sandhill cranes.

You do not need to carry Crop Insurance to receive compensation. Crop Insurance administers the wildlife damage program on behalf of the federal and provincial government, meaning there are no costs to you or premiums involved.

Wildlife damage inspections must be made prior to harvest. Producers who have received wildlife damage are asked to contact a Crop Insurance customer service office immediately so that damage can be assessed. Compensation is provided on a spot-loss basis; compensation will be based on the yield-loss of the crop in the damaged area.

As soon as damage is detected in stacked hay, sod farms, tree nurseries, market gardens and bee structures, notify Crop Insurance. You will be compensated for damage to hay stacks if all reasonable prevention measures have been implemented, including those recommended by Saskatchewan Environment. All hay must be stacked to receive compensation; producers will not be compensated for bales or hay swaths left in the field.

Compensation is 80 per cent of the calculated loss. Claim per crop must be a minimum of $100. Payments are made on a spot-loss basis based on the forecast market price and grade at the time of adjustment, reflecting actual harvested quality.

If you are unable to harvest and further damage occurs after inspection, call a Crop Insurance customer service office for a reassessment. The entire damaged portion of the crop must not be harvested prior to inspection, and be standing or in swaths.

If you must combine before an adjuster can inspect the crop, the entire damaged area plus a representative portion of the undamaged crop must be left for inspection. Checkstrips are not acceptable.

If you have not made every effort to complete harvest in a timely fashion, compensation will not be paid. This may include denying any claims where damage occurred after harvest was generally completed in the area.

Complete Wildlife Damage Compensation Program information is available at www.saskcropinsurance.com.

For more information, contact:

Shawn Jaques
Crop Insurance
728-7242

Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition Celebrates Destiny

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

When Saskatchewan regions move forward, every step deserves a little celebration.

On November 3, the Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition (ASBNC) will host a public dinner in Shaunavon with the theme Determining Our Destiny. The event is intended to be a celebration of the recent Engaging Industry Innovation strategy’s completion, according to ASBNC’s Project Manager Sandra Blyth.

“The strategy aims to facilitate the establishment of a world-class business environment in the Southwest while retaining, attracting and encouraging investments in our capacity to create wealth,” she says.

“ASBNC’s strategy was initiated in November last year, as a bottom-up, collaborative effort with a mission to grow a greater Southwest Saskatchewan. This broad-based regional initiative is all about crossing boundaries and creating a united economy in the Southwest by beginning to think regionally.”

Thinking regionally and applying collaborative practice is the key to building regional advantages and achieving a sustainable and prosperous economy, believes Blyth and her colleagues.

Over 120 leaders from across the region’s communities and industries agreed it was time for a new way of thinking, and to act on that.

“Together, we can shape our regions’ next steps in development,” Blyth says. “As the development of this initiative has clearly shown, the people of the Southwest care deeply about their region and are willing to move forward together.”

The celebration will highlight the need to build beef processing and packing plants in the region, as well as the Cypress Agri Energy ethanol plant project and the Wind Power Interpretive Centre Project in Gull Lake.

Reeve of the RM of Gull Lake Les Potter keeps about 300 cows and seeds around 3,000 acres in the area. He would sure love to see the Interpretive Centre project take off.

“There are 33 wind towers visible from the Trans Canada Highway,” says Potter. “Many people stop in town and ask us a lot of questions. We think building an interpretive center like this makes sense. It would feature six to eight display panels focusing on wind energy, but also on the grasslands environment, the Cypress Hills, the cattle industry in the region and farming in general.”

Potter figures the interpretive centre would attract thousands who would normally just drive by Gull Lake without stopping.

As a proponent of the Engaging Industry Innovation strategy, Potter hopes local passion for the region’s economic aspirations catches on like prairie fire.

Call (306) 778-6445 or send an e-mail to manager.bnc@sasktel.net to secure tickets for the November 3 dinner.

For more information, contact:

Sandra Blyth
Project Manager
Action Southwest Business Networks Coalition
(306) 778-6445
http://www.actionsouthwest.com

Time to Submit 2006 Organic Farming Exchange Application

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Here is a one of a kind opportunity to share a little organic agriculture production knowledge with new friends in an exotic location.

The Saskatchewan Federation of Production Co-operatives (SFPC) and the Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) are now accepting applications for the 2006 Organic Farming Exchange, until October 30, 2005.

What does this involve?

The 2006 exchange is with the Philippines. At the beginning of January 2006, 10 selected individuals will begin a six-week stay at the SoroSoro Ibaba Development Co-operative near Manila, Southern Luzon Island, Philippines.

Cabri area organic producer Ross Keven is a Board Member and the Special Projects Coordinator with the SFPC.

“The SFPC is a non-governmental organization committed to uniting, representing and serving co-operatives throughout Saskatchewan and internationally,” Keven says. “The main objective of the SFPC Organic Farming Exchange is to give rural and urban youth and adults the opportunity to represent Canada while working with local Filipino farmers in a rural co-operative.

“Throughout the six weeks, Canadian participants will live and work with Filipino counterparts on the SoroSoro Ibaba Development Co-operative in the Philippines. This hands-on experience will allow the participants to foster lasting international friendships and linkages, to experience the culture and customs of another country, and to develop leadership skills and an understanding of rural co-operatives.”

One to two weeks will also be spent touring the country and seeing some of the gorgeous beaches and scenery in the Philippines.

“We are looking for people who are over the age of 18; are Canadian citizens or permanent residents eligible to work in Canada; have a demonstrated interest in co-operatives and international development; have an interest in organic agriculture; demonstrate cultural sensitivity and adaptability; are in good health; and who will be willing to share their experiences when they return to Canada. Specific skills related to hog production would be a distinct asset,” Keven says.

“This co-operative is primarily focused on hog production, but is presently expanding to include organic vegetable farming,” explains Keven. The participants will be working hands-on with the farmers to help develop these skills.

“Applicants should be aware that the Filipino farmers who take part in the exchange will be spending three to six weeks in Saskatchewan afterwards, to learn about our provinces’ farming techniques. It is hoped that the participants will also contribute to the second phase of the exchange. It is also hoped that participants will be advocates when they return to Canada, sharing their experiences through speaking engagements and other activities on behalf of SFPC and CCA.

“Each participant is also expected to contribute $3,000, which they are encouraged to raise in their community, to help offset the costs of the exchange program. Upon acceptance into the program, participants will be provided with a fundraising kit to help achieve this goal.”

Ross Keven is an old hand at this. He was part of the first group of farmers who went for two weeks to China in 1981, as part of an initiative to help local farmers from the dryland regions of Mongolia avoid making the same mistakes we made in the thirties on the Prairies.

“An exchange program like this is a real eye opener. Sometimes, you know, it is the Canadian exchange participants who end up learning the most.”

For the past 25 years, SFPC has hosted farming exchanges throughout China, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, and Cuba, and has partnered with the Canadian Co-operative Association on exchanges to Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, and Cuba in the past.

For more information, contact:

Ross Keven
Special Projects Coordinator
Saskatchewan Federation of Production Co-operatives
(306) 587-2329

Processing for Profit

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Call it an opportunity to realign one’s goals and objectives. The Processing for Profit Conference on Tuesday, November 29 in Saskatoon is a chance to get the latest on processing pulse crops.

The Western Canadian Marketers and Processors Association, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, is putting the event on. Garth Patterson is Executive Director of the SPG.

“The conference is a chance for the province’s pulse processors to get together and for everyone to find out where things are at on a number of issues, like the movement of U.S. peas and lentils into Canada or the variety commercialization program.”

The conference will feature everything from technology to trade issues.

Renata Bereziuk is a Marketing Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food.

“The pulse industry is an important component of our agriculture sector. From our perspective, it is important that we foster opportunities to increase value-added processing activities in Saskatchewan. In order for this to occur, the industry as a whole needs to gain a better understanding of international markets and trade considerations.”

This is why the organizers have invited Hakan Bahceci, Managing Director of Hakan Agro-Commodities Trading Company in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to share his expertise about the Middle East and North African regions on trading pulses, oilseeds and other commodities.

On the processing side, Dr. Joyce Boye, scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will elaborate on processing products and technological developments to process pulse crops.

These guest speakers will take care of the morning plenary sessions.

In the afternoon, participants will break out into concurrent sessions along two streams: Moving Up the Value Chain, and Marketing in the World.

On the value chain side, Glen Olson of the Saskatchewan Food Processors Association will elaborate on working with the food distribution broker industry; Kellie Jackson, a Food Quality Assurance Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, will talk about traceability in the food system; Carmen Ly of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre will elaborate on the resources available to help in the development and commercialization of products; and Dave Sippell of Canterra Seeds will address the whole issue of branding Canadian special crops.

On the marketing side, Dr. Linda Malcolmson of the Canadian International Grains Institute will talk about their pulse processing and specialty milling facility; Armand Lavoie of Foragen Technologies Management will address the area of business financing with venture capital; and Bruce Wilson of Wilson International Trade Consultants will take us inside the investment side of the industry and talk about partnerships and procedures; and Craig Zawada of Wallace Meschishnick Clackson Zawada will talk about strategic alliances and joint ventures, with a focus on legal and cultural aspects when dealing internationally.

As a closing keynote address, Dr. Bob Tyler and Gerald Henriksen of the University of Saskatchewan will bring future prospects on using pulses in food, and Greg Simpson of the Western Canadian Marketers and Processors Association will share final thoughts with all participants, at the end of the day.

The conference, which is funded in part by CARDS, takes place at the Saskatoon Travelodge starting with registration and trade show exhibits at 8 a.m. For agenda details, visit the SAF website at www.agr.gov.sk.ca and click on About Us | Calendar of Events | November.

For more information, contact:

Garth Patterson
Executive Director
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association
(306) 668-6676

Ray McVicar
Special Crops Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4665

Simpson Seeds in the Business of Providing Options for Pulse Producers

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

John Simpson is a rural Saskatchewan community member trying to make a difference for his fellow agricultural producers. Along with his brothers Tom and Greg, he’s an economic leader.

Simpson Seeds in Moose Jaw has been processing pulse crops since 1979. This is a family-owned company that has, over the last 25 years, developed a reputation as a reliable shipper and supplier of high quality pulse products. They have shipped to 50 different countries in all, and still do so to 20 to 25 countries on a regular basis.

“We are basically an outlet for producers to market their lentils. These account for about 90 per cent of our business—we also work with peas and chickpeas. And we supply seeds for growers, meaning we bring in the latest varieties of green and red lentils that are developed through the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, and we propagate them from the breeder seed, right down to producing certified seed,” Simpson says.

“We have two facilities located in the heart of lentil, pea and chickpea production country. The main plant is located on Petrolia Road in east Moose Jaw, and we have a rail site plant right on the CP tracks on the service road along Highway 1 in Moose Jaw.”

Simpson Seeds has become one of the largest exporters of pulses in the province. The brothers’ company has enjoyed steady growth over time. It takes years to establish the relationship with the buyers, and the growers as well—one needs reliable suppliers.

“The original site was our farm location, just a few miles from Moose Jaw,” explains Simpson. “In 1992, we developed a new location where we can both process pulses and load bulk hopper cars and bagged boxcars with 100-pound bags.

“Just the fact that we can give local agricultural producers another option to traditional cereal grains gives us something to be proud of. We supply pulses around the world, and everywhere we go, people comment on the reliability and quality of our Saskatchewan product. This gives us much satisfaction—this and just understanding better how the wheels of the world turn.”

These happen to be particularly difficult times for the industry, with pulse prices being at some of their lowest levels. There is an oversupply of pulses right now. Much of it is just is sitting in bins and likely will be there for some time.

Low prices affect revenues for the industry as a whole. For Simpson Seeds, it is just another opportunity to excel in the quality of product and service they deliver. After all, the Simpson brothers are in this business for the long run.

For more information, contact:

John Simpson
Vice President
Simpson Seeds
(306) 693-2132
http://www.simpsonseeds.com/index.php

28th Annual Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With a theme like "Strengthening Our Industry," the 28th Annual Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium on November 8-10 at the Saskatoon Inn in Saskatoon is sure to load participants’ plates with tons of ideas and information.

Organized jointly by Sask Pork and Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, the Symposium is recognized as one of the major pork industry seminars in Canada.

"The program attracts Western Canadian producers and their network of advisors from the public and private sectors," says Neil Ketilson, General Manager of Sask Pork. "Attendance has grown to over 400 participants annually," he adds.

As the Saskatchewan pork industry expands across the world, keeping abreast of developments becomes crucial. To achieve this, a host of shakers and movers are being brought in as speakers for this year’s program.

One of them is Ed Bernacki of The Idea Factory in Ottawa. He helps people and organizations develop their capacity to innovate. Another contributor is Dr. Susan Jones, Vice President of Agribusiness, Food and Animal Health at Ipsos Reid. She will shed light on what consumers really think of the industry. Jones is a veterinarian who specializes in animal health marketing, marketing research and marketing communications.

"The agenda looks at a number of issues important to producers in managing their operations," explains Ketilson.

Highlighted topics in this year's program include an in-depth review of the European pork industry; contract finishing opportunities; preparing for foreign animal disease outbreaks; reducing utility costs through energy efficiencies; occupational health and safety inspections; implementing a national traceability system; carbon credits; and profitability through value chains. There will also be a panel discussion of important issues of the day, including grading, slaughter capacity, trade, and processing plants.

The ever-popular Stock Persons' Seminar offers its own range of pertinent topics on November 8.

A welcome reception is planned for that evening and a gala banquet program will take place on Wednesday night, November 9. The banquet will include a silent auction themed The Sky is the Limit, reflecting the many opportunities now available to the pork industry through the newly constructed Pork Interpretive Gallery (PIG). All proceeds will be directed toward the operations of the gallery.

The Symposium winds up on November 10 with lunch, and is followed by the Sask Pork Annual Meeting.

The early-bird cost (prior to October 31) for the two-day main program is $135 plus GST, which includes the banquet. The cost of the Stock Persons' Seminar is $50 plus GST.

Daily registration rates are also available. Program information including the complete agenda, speaker profiles and the registration form is also available online at www.saskpork.com under "Happenings." The PDF version of the symposium brochure is available at www.saskpork.com/pdfs/brochure.pdf

For more information, contact Patty Martin, Coordinator, Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium, by phone at 306-249-3512, by fax at 306-244-4497 or by e-mail at office@agribiz.ca.

For more information, contact:

Patty Martin
Coordinator
Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium
(306) 249-3512

West Central Pelleting: A Community-Based Success Story

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With its 1,000 shareholders from across Saskatchewan, West Central Pelleting Ltd. (WCP) is the kind of success story that would make many communities envious.

The company has processed grain screenings, weed seeds and feed grains into quality livestock feeds for the beef, horse, bison, elk and deer industries since 1998, out of Wilkie. WCP opened another plant in Wolseley in November of 2002.

As she drives the combine to bring in this year’s harvest, WCP President and Acting General Manager Margaret Skinner has lots of time to ponder how much ground the company she runs has covered over the years.

“The concept for West Central Pelleting had its origins in November of 1995, as my family discussed the potential spin-offs from another economic development project we were involved in: a producer-owned inland terminal (North West Terminal Ltd.) near Unity,” Skinner says.

“We found that a pelleting plant would allow us to make local use of an abundance of screenings in the area. It would make sense in terms of a logical next step in economic development. Hundreds of tons of screenings were already available from a specialty crop cleaning facility in the area. Plus, the new terminal would just add to that supply.

Up until that time, screenings produced locally were either making their way west for value-added processing in other provinces, being dumped as refuse in farmer’s sloughs, or being shipped to port as part of the uncleaned grain in rail cars. That frustrated Skinner and others.

“Farmers were paying freight and cleaning costs on weed seeds delivered to port, and they were not even being paid for them - an expensive arrangement, not only for farmers, but also for the economy of Saskatchewan,” Skinner says.

That’s when a number of rural and urban municipalities in the Northwest region of the province started to look beyond the confines of their individual communities and worked together to build the regional value-added diversification project, explains Skinner.

“Later on, the regional concept was expanded to a provincial concept—in February 2001— when a committee from the Wolseley area asked if they could join the company, providing they raised $1,000,000 toward the construction of a second plant,” Skinner says.

“Thirty-six promoters from 12 communities in the Northwest region raised the capital for the first plant; 47 promoters from 15 communities raised the capital for the second facility.”

WCP became the first community-based grain screening pelletization plant in the province. The facilities were built specifically to handle products with flow ability problems. Together, both plants produce 150,000 tons of pellets annually.

“Sufficient storage is available on site so that raw materials can be binned separately when they are delivered from an assortment of grain terminals and specialty crop cleaning plants,” Skinner says. “The processed feed is mixed specifically to meet the requirements of the livestock producer who places the order. Protein, energy levels and pellet durability are guaranteed. Only 100 per cent plant protein is used.”

WCP’s vision includes feeding livestock within the Prairie Provinces, and growing the livestock industry.

“There are no corporate partners and there is no government ownership in WCP. On September 1, 2004, a strategic alliance was formed with Cargill Animal Nutrition. As a result of the Alliance, WCP has gained access to additional nutritional, processing and marketing expertise.”

What does Skinner feel about these achievements?

“Optimism and a sense of empowerment. The community-based success story raised the spirits of those who, until then, had been resigned to the steady decline in the population, economic viability and regional importance of rural Saskatchewan. The employment opportunities generated by WCP and the other new companies that followed opened an assortment of positions for highly educated and skilled employees. Value-added agricultural initiatives are the future in rural Saskatchewan.”

There is an apparent sense of pride with the shareholders in each region. They built the processing plants and they own the company. The future looks bright for West Central Pelleting.

For more information, contact:

Margaret Skinner
President
West Central Pelleting
(306) 843-2810

Seeded Native Forages Viable Option for producers on Dry Prairies

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Finding the right forage crops has always been a challenge for producers from the dry regions of the prairies, especially in the Southwest where the number of tame species they can choose from is somewhat limited.

Trevor Lennox, a Forage Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, believes seeding native forages instead is a viable option.

“Generally, tame forages are adapted to areas with higher precipitation levels. This is where native species come in handy when putting together grazing systems. They are well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions experienced on the southern Canadian Prairies,” says Lennox. “They have evolved for centuries under harsh environmental conditions, and the Southwest is where we find the highest concentration of unbroken native grasslands in the province.”

If one rates native grasses from a productivity standpoint, compared to tame grasses, the tame grasses will usually win. However, Lennox believes the advantages to seeding native grasses in this particular part of the province far outweigh the perceived loss of capacity.

“Ranchers who currently have native rangeland know the true value of native grasses when left until later in the year, due to their quality preserved within the leaves. Native species require very few inputs, as they have evolved under low fertile conditions.”

More specifically, the species mix of cool and warm season grasses provides a succession of freshly grown leaves throughout the grazing season.

“When seeding these native species on annual cropland, graziers will initially witness a higher production rate during the first five or six years, due to the availability of nutrients in the soil. Then the pasture will achieve a certain equilibrium, as nutrients incorporate into emerging root system.”

But this resource will be available for years, explains Lennox.

“The key is to manage the grazing system effectively. Native species provide grazing later into the growing season, allowing producers to keep their cattle out on the land because of the grasses’ ability to cure well on the stem.

“Native grasses are sometimes referred to as hardgrasses, whereas tame grasses are quite often referred to as softgrasses. Soft grasses are great for grazing when they are green and actively growing, but once they go dormant, their forage quality rapidly declines when left standing. On the other hand, native hardgrasses are able to lock in a higher level of nutrition when they go dormant on the stem.”

Landowners end up with a richer community of grasses in their pastures to tap into, and this diversity is beneficial from an ecological standpoint. How much does it cost to seed native species?

“A simple mix of four to five species can be put together for a cost of approximately $40 per acre. By contrast, a more diverse mix of 14 species would cost somewhere between $60 and $80 per acre. Once established, the stand should last in perpetuity, provided it is managed properly.”

If you have severely marginal land (Saskatchewan Crop Insurance rating of “L” or lower), you may qualify for the Greencover Canada Land Conversion component where you will be compensated $75 per acre to seed native species, plus an additional $25 per acre once it is successfully established.

For further information on the Greencover program, check out the web page at: http://www.agr.gc.ca/greencover-verdir/applic_e.phtml, or call toll free 1-866-844-5620. For more information about seeding native forages, call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

For more information, contact:

Trevor Lennox
Forage Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 778-8294

First Nations Potato Venture Endowed with Team Approach

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Ask Kahkewistahaw First Nations’ Director of Corporate Operations Wanda Wilson if the community’s potato farm is managed according to aboriginal ways, and she’ll beam a smile right back at you.

“We are in our fourth year of operation,” Wilsonsays. “We are located right on the south bank of the Qu’Appelle Valley. We planted 47 acres of the Red Norland variety potato this year that we irrigate on the edge of Qu’Appelle River. We have established a four-year crop rotation so that we don’t tap the land out. You see, potatoes are a high-risk crop that is susceptible to disease. We are very conscious of that, and take whatever measures are necessary to minimize that risk. We are able to grow other crops, like barley, wheat and canola. To illustrate, this year we have grown 90 acres of canola in addition to the potatoes.”

“Until recently, we hired production managers from outside our community. We felt we really needed to hone our marketing strategy, so this year I have been asked to look after our activities along with our team of dedicated employees. We sit down as a group and agree on our respective areas of responsibility. Now we are running the potato operation more along the principles of a team approach.”

Wilson is obviously proud of what Kahkewistahaw is achieving.

“It makes me feel good to be able to draw on my 15 years of administrative and business experience for this venture. Right now, we are working with two potato brokers to generate as much revenue as possible from our table potatoes. The other option we are working on is to eventually distribute our potatoes to other First Nations around the province, which represents a significant market as you can imagine.”

Now that Kahkewistahaw draws on its own resources to grow its potato crop, extra care and attention goes into every production step, explains Wilson.

“We have learned so much. For instance, we use a desiccant that kills the plant and prepares the skin for table quality. We are hoping to harvest 175,000 pounds altogether this year, at roughly 30,000 per acre. I figure we should be able to take to market around 17, 500 pounds per acre after we discard those that are too small, too big or oddly shaped.”

“We are also a certified seed grower registered with the Saskatchewan Seed Potato Growers Association. We have all the specialized equipment that is required: a mechanical harvester, a sizer/shaker and a climate-controlled storage shed that can hold two million pounds of potatoes in the dark over winter.

Wilson estimates that this year’s crop will bring at least $211,000 in revenue to Kahkewistahaw First Nation, and perhaps as much as $380,000.

For more information, contact:

Wanda Wilson
Director of Corporate Operations
Kahkewistahaw First Nation
(306)696-3291
http://www.kahkewistahaw.com/index.php

Ross' L-7 Tender Meats Puts Ranch's Product into Consumer's Hands

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Ross’ L-7 Tender Meats advertises “AAA locally raised beef” on its marketing literature.

In many ways, the store with gold-and-black-coloured walls on Estevan’s Fifth Street incarnates the perfect urban version of the farm gate. Crystal Ross is one of the store’s co-owners.

“Rosalie and I live every day with cattle and horses in our own backyards. When mad cow disease affected the agriculture industry, times became difficult for all involved indirectly and directly. We decided to do something about it.”

Crystal and Rosalie Ross opened Ross’ L-7 Tender Meats in town to give themselves a chance to market directly to consumers.

“We know that the product we raise, grow and nurture is worthy of being shared in Estevan and surrounding areas. It didn’t take us long to realize how great it really was. Two loads of fat cattle were shipped out in May and rated 96 per cent AAA.”

It was Crystal’s husband Chad Ross’s first time finishing cattle. All the cattle sold at the store is finished or raised at the Ross’ L-7 Ranch, just outside of Estevan. With four generations and over 250 years of experience, the Rosses feel they have the know-how to make this work.

“Rosalie and I enjoy our jobs. It allows us to educate consumers about an industry that is dear to our hearts. Too much damage has been caused and created by uneducated decisions about beef, and we are here to turn that around for ourselves and all of our neighbors and friends in the cattle industry.”

So far, so good. Clients walking off the street are intrigued by the store’s concept. The family operation has enjoyed success, especially with groups across the city. Supplying corporate functions where large BBQs are needed also provides a promising market.

“The public likes us because service is number one. We are able to inform our shoppers as to what they are buying and exactly where it comes from. We make our own money here and like everyone else, we spend it here too. We are 100 per cent local. We are 100 per cent Canadian.

“It is our philosophy that, in order to be successful in the agriculture industry, we are going to have to be vertically integrated within our industry. In other words, pasture to plate. By supporting Ross’ L-7 Tender Meats, you support perhaps yourselves, your neighbour, family and friends. We buy our fuel here, our parts here, our food here, and anything and everything that it takes to make it day-to-day. And we hire locally, too.”

As the Rosses themselves will say around town, “the next time you say ‘eat beef,’ say ‘L-7.’”

For more information, contact:

Crystal Ross
Ross’ L-7 Tender Meats
1-1104 5th Street
Estevan
(306)-637-2555
l7meats@sasktel.net

Mossbank Producer Looks for New Ways to be a Steward of the Land

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Garry Noble always new the way he practiced his profession as an agricultural producer had to be beneficial to the land of which he is the steward, as well as the environment around the community of Mossbank.

“We have three children we are raising on this farm, and we wanted it to be a safe place for them to grow up.”

So when he was invited to join a group of producers earlier this year to take part in an Environmental Farm Planning (EFP) Workshop, he figured this is something he should be part of.

“We participated in the initial workshop on February 9th. We went home and prepared our plan, which we submitted on February 25th. It was then reviewed, and on April 15, our Environmental Farm Plan was endorsed,” Noble says.

“To be truthful, our motivation was a combination of things. The whole issue of liability for irresponsible practices is a very vivid one when we think of the Walkerton, Ontario crisis. We felt that if one day, an unmarked van came to our yard and unloaded a bunch of people wearing biological suits and masks, we would have a document to wave at them and we would be in a position to ask them: ‘what are you doing here?’”

At the same time, Noble feels that food safety issues alone warrant serious consideration of the EFP process.

“If we look at other sectors in society and the business world, professional accreditation is now a way of life. If you want your warranty to remain valid on your computer, you must have the repairs performed by a technician whose qualifications have been approved by the appropriate company, right? On a farm, it is a good thing to look for opportunities for accreditation. It says that we are not just some backwoods outfit, but rather that we are professional operators.”

After they finish harvest, the Noble family will explore how it can now tap into the funding opportunities that their Environmental Farm Plan opens up for them.

“One of the things we would like to do is to produce an accurate farmstead map of our operation—one that would show the location of all the structures we have above ground, and underground as well. Telephone lines, the sewage system, wells, anything to do with the water and electrical system would be featured in this plan.”

Noble admits that he was mildly surprised at what the EFP process brought to his attention that he should attend to.

“I would honestly encourage anybody who is engaged in agricultural activities to undergo the process. And I am the first to admit that we are not doing everything perfectly. But at least now, we have a strategy in place to develop better environmental practices, and we are proud of that.”

There is comfort in knowing that you are doing the right thing.

For more information, contact:

Shelanne Wiles Longley
EFP Program Coordinator
Provincial Council of ADD Boards
Box 248, RR # 4, Site 412, Saskatoon, S7K 3J7
Phone (306) 955-5477
Fax (306) 955-5473
Email: efpcoordinator@saskpcab.com

New Colts Require Extra Special Care When They Come Home

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

With a horse industry made up of about 95,000, horses according to the latest survey, there are likely to be quite a few colts ending up in new homes across Saskatchewan this fall.

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food’s Livestock Development Specialist Jim Graham has a few tips to help make this transition to a new yard as stress-free as possible for both the animals and their new owners.

“Fall is the season for horse sales. This is the time many colts change hands, as well as trained horses. Freshly weaned colts need to be handled carefully. They find themselves in new surroundings, away from mom. Some make new friends, and others are kept by themselves. The big challenge is to get them on feed and water,” Graham says.

“Make sure the water is clean and good quality. Colts will just pick at feed to start, so it needs to be good quality and nutritious. Good quality hay; an alfalfa-brome mix; oats or a prepared supplement; minerals and vitamins are a must. Sixty-five per cent of a horse’s growth occurs in their first year, so this is the time to feed them well. Colts eat about three per cent of their body weight, so a 400-pound colt will eat about 12 pounds of hay and grain per day—this should be divided into two or more feedings.”

This is particularly important in light of the fact that many of these colts and fillies will have been weaned that same day, explains Graham.

“They are under quite a bit of stress as a result, and they will tend to do a lot of pacing, burning energy—they can put on a lot of miles the first three days in their new pen. It might be easier for them to be with another colt or even another mare just across the fence to keep them company,” Graham says.

“Putting some feed at different places around the pen will multiply the opportunities for colts to pick at it. Of course, providing them some shelter from the elements will ease the adjustment, as well.”

Graham points out that even just a human presence in the pen with them will have a beneficial effect, especially if the colts have been around humans since birth.

“These are likely to be the ones that are halter broken. Grooming them, working on their back and on their neck will also help. The wilder colts that haven’t been around people will take a little more work, but they too will benefit from a human presence in time.”

A few days after their arrival, Graham suggests de-worming the animals to make sure they are as prepared as can be for the winter ahead.

It is never too late for new owners to learn as much as they can to help their colts and fillies become healthy yearlings. “New owners can call on the Saskatchewan Horse Federation, one of the organizations that speak for the horse industry,” Graham says. “If you are looking for information, they are a good contact. They can be reached in Regina at 306-780-9244. The different breed associations are also good contacts for new people in the industry.”

For further information on resources available to current and potential horse producers, contact Jim Graham at the Agriculture Business Centre in Swift Current at (306) 778-8289.

For more information, contact:

Jim Graham
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 778-8289

On the Fine Art of Breeding Plants for Disease Resistance

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

It is a perpetual race against time. Genetic manipulation for disease resistance through plant breeding is an art for which patience could be the greatest required virtue.

Ron Knox is a Pathologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Prairie Agricultural Research Centre in Swift Current.

“The time frame is an important consideration, always. We know it is just a matter of time before we see a mutation in the disease pathogen and the old resistance no longer does the job. It takes 10 to 12 years in general to develop cultivars that will not be adversely affected by the mixing of genes in the breeding process, and will exhibit the disease resistance trait. But sometimes it can take as many as 25 years,” Knox says.

“It's important in the breeding process, if possible, to have more than one line of resistance waiting in the wings. For example, Prairie plant breeders have done such a good job over the past 50 years in developing spring wheat varieties with common bunt resistance that the disease is rarely an issue for producers anymore,” explains Knox.

Common bunt, caused by a fungus, can attack spring and winter wheat crops. Prior to the development of chemical treatments and genetic resistance, it was regarded as one of the most devastating diseases of wheat in Canada and other countries.

The abundance of moisture producers have experienced has brought the work of Knox and his colleagues to the forefront again, as disease pressure increases with higher moisture levels. Interest is particularly strong regarding wheat disease resistance for Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in the western Prairies.

In the eastern Prairies, FHB has been the most frustrating and costly wheat disease in decades. Though it hasn't become a major problem in the western Prairies, FHB nonetheless has become the most talked about concern for farmers and researchers in this part of the region.

“At a fundamental level, as plant breeders, we are there to help develop solutions that will benefit farmers. At a professional level, I find this type of work extremely rewarding,” Knox says. “You can track the differences in traits in the plants in the testing nurseries. You cross plants possessing beneficial traits with local varieties. In the progeny of these, you get a mix of genes from the adapted plants, plus the traits you were looking for, like disease resistance.

“You are hoping to introduce the new genes and reconstitute the genetics you knew worked. Finding the right mix of the many combinations of genes is a little bit like a lottery at times. You just have to keep trying until you pick the winning number.”

For more information, contact:

Ron Knox, Ph.D.
Pathologist
Prairie Agricultural Research Centre
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(306) 778-7262

Baba's Makes Sure There is a lot of Saskatchewan in Every Bite

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Take a team of dedicated employees, some good old-fashioned Saskatchewan ingredients, a little Ukrainian cooking know-how, plus a commitment to the handmade touch, and you end up with a place called Baba’s Homestyle Perogies.

There is actually no other place like this 18-year-old business, located in Saskatoon’s industrial district at 720 51st Street East. Baba’s is a processing plant, an eatery and a drive-in, all in one location. Ron Bodnar is Baba’s Sales Manager.

“We have regulars who come in for lunch,” Bodnar says. “Our drive-in is unique in Saskatchewan, serving perogies and an extensive selection of homestyle foods. At the same time, we are the largest privately owned distributor of handmade perogies in Canada.”

According to Bodnar, the only way to make sure the dough, and every perogie, is done to perfection is to feel it and make the perogie by hand.

“Because each perogie is hand-pinched, our employees carry out the ultimate quality control. A mechanically pinched process would never compare. Each potato is visually inspected because they are all quartered by hand. And only the ones that pass the test are used. As a result, our perogies taste exactly as if they’d been made at home.”

Baba’s makes six different types of perogies and three types of cabbage rolls, as well as borscht and homemade pies.

“All the flour we use is milled locally; we use canola oil that is crushed locally. We go through about 7,500 pounds of potatoes a week. They all come from Saskatchewan suppliers, as does the cabbage we use in cabbage rolls and our sauerkraut, and the beets for borscht.”

Bodnar is particularly proud of the fact Baba’s uses no food additives of any kind. He has actually compiled a list of 34 different additives found on competitors’ product labels that he produces upon request.

“Quality and authenticity is what Baba’s Homestyle Perogies is all about,” Bodnar says proudly.

“We live in a changing age when it comes to food processing. Perogies have been a staple food around our province since the days of the first homesteaders. People have been making them in church basements, in schools, garages and private kitchens as fundraising activities for nearly a century,” Bodnar says.

“The perogies we make at our plant are produced in a highly controlled environment, in facilities inspected by food safety professionals, working closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, because we believe consumers deserve the highest standard. That is why we welcome inspections with open arms.”

There is something else in the back of Bodnar’s mind: franchises.

“Baba’s does catering; our products are in constant demand with orders to be filled. We’ve got licensing, zoning and regions available with procured trademarks. We’re ready for the next step.”

For more information, contact:

Ron Bodnar
Sales Manager
Baba’s Homestyle Perogies
(306) 933-4280