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Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s
Connection
The voice of saskatchewan’s cattle producers
Vol. 6 No. 1
IN RED
AND
WHITE
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016
| P. 6
Connection is published in Saskatoon in partnership with
Western Producer Publications. Mail Agreement No. 40069240
inside:
THE YEAR AHEAD
| P. 28
SCA RESOLUTIONS
| P. 32
FEBRUARY 2016
Vol. 6 Issue 1
Published for the
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association
www.saskbeef.com
10 IT’S TIME TO HEAL THE PAIN
Jan. 1 – Beef Code of Practice expects producers to use pain control to mitigate pain
under certain conditions.
contents
20
Beef Centre reports 18 high
usage
Trade missions and large retailers line up
to use Beef Centre of Excellence.
The tale of pintail
Could this be the next new
feed option?
4 Chair Report
5 News in Brief
12 Livestock Price Insurance
14 Time To Take Tracking
Seriously
SASKATCHEWAN CATTLEMEN’S
CONNECTION
THE VOICE OF SASKATCHEWAN’S CATTLE PRODUCERS
16 CCA President’s Message
VOL. 6 NO. 1
22 Outstanding Research &
Innovation
24 Agriculture Goes To School
IN RED
AND
WHITE
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2016
| P. 6
26 Livestock & Forage Centre
of Excellence
28 The Year Ahead
Publisher:
Editor:
Art Director:
Layout Designer: Advertising Director:
Creative Director:
Marketing Manager:
SCA Representative:
Shaun Jessome
Bonnie Warnyca
Michelle Houlden
Philip Magorrian
Kelly Berg
Robert Magnell
Jack Phipps
Ryder Lee
Editorial:
P: 306-695-3976
C: 306-539-9381
Editorial fax: 306-665-3587
bonniest@sasktel.net
Advertising:
1-800-667-7776
Advertising fax: 306-653-8750
connection.advertising@producer.com
Retail sales: Trevor Malkoske 306-665-3553
National sales: Lisa Graham / Denise Bott
Suite 201-300 Willow Road Guelph, ON N1H 7C6
Tel: 519-836-4072
Fax: 519-836-2499
Subscriptions:
1-800-667-6929
Subscriptions fax: 306-244-9445
subscriptions@producer.com
Send inquiries to: Connection Subscriptions,
Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4.
Connection magazine is published in partnership with
Western Producer Publications. Contents copyright
2014. All rights reserved.
No part of Connection magazine may be reproduced
in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.
The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or staff. Connection and
Western Producer Publications do not take responsibility for any unsolicited materials. Advertising in Connection does not indicate an endorsement by the SCA.
We strive for accuracy in presenting articles and charts.
However, we are not responsible for errors or liability in
the event of losses resulting from readers’ use of our
magazine and website.
Connection is published in Saskatoon in partnership with
Western Producer Publications. Mail Agreement No. 40069240
INSIDE:
THE YEAR AHEAD
| P. 28
SCA RESOLUTIONS
| P. 32
On the cover: The
Howe family expands their
customer base with two
cattle breed options | P 6
30 Food For Thought
31 SBIDF Funding Report
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association,
102-2255 13th Ave., Regina, SK., S4P 2M6.
32 SCA Resolutions
38 CEO Report
@saskcattlemens
™
Printed with inks containing
canola oil
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240
Registration No. 10676
chair report
let’s introduce ourselves
As the new chair of
SCA, I would like to use my first
report to introduce myself to
those of you who don’t know me.
I was raised on my family’s
ranch nine miles south of Fort
Walsh on Battle Creek, about 70
kilometres southwest of Maple
Creek.
My dad and brother still operate a commercial, purebred
Black Angus, and backgrounding operation there.
I went to school in Consul,
then took ag-business at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta.
2016 SCA BOARD MEMBERS
Front row: Ryder Lee (SCA
CEO), Rick Toney, Ryan
Beierbach, Bill Jameson,
Levi Hull
Middle: Arnold Balicki, Paula
Larson, Brad Welter, Larry
Grant, Lloyd Thompson,
Chad Ross
Back: Mike Spratt, Garrett Hill
Missing: Harold Martens,
Philip Lynn, Laurie Disney,
Dean Moore
4
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After graduating from college, I
moved home and ranched with
my dad and brother for a couple
years, then rented my grandpa’s
place near Irvine, Alta.
I married my wife, Tania, and
we lived there for two years,
then moved to Whitewood,
Sask., in 2002.
We have three kids: Lara, 11,
Rana, 10, and Jace, 9. They help
on the ranch and enjoy riding
horses. We run a cow/calf operation focused on raising top quality females and sell bred heifers
each fall. We also operate a ranch
supply and tack store.
I have been chair of the environment and animal health
committee on SCA, as well as
representing Saskatchewan
producers on the Beef Cattle
Research Council and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. I look forward to
serving you as Chair of SCA in
the coming year.
We are enjoying a profitable
time in the cow/calf business.
We need to use this as an opportunity to make our industry more competitive, and do
what we can to make sure we
are getting the most value for
end products.
Research and adoption of
best practices, along with new
technology, will keep us competitive in the world market.
This keeps more dollars in the
pockets of everyone along the
value chain and helps us improve our end product.
Having competitive tariffs or
free trade agreements with important markets means that
each part of every animal can
go to where it is worth the most.
Having an effective marketing strategy to show the value
of Canadian beef vs beef from
competing countries enables
us to sell our premium product
at a premium price.
Our marketing strategy,,
along with freer access to foreign markets, creates a bigger
pie and that should allow for
each part of the industry to
have a larger piece.
The National Beef Strategy,
along with the funding plan for
it (funded by our $2.50 per
head national checkoff), once
implemented, will tie all of this
together.
This will put us ahead of
countries that we compete
against and help us to get better
value out of our check-off dollars. It was great to see really
strong support for both the
strategy and increase of checkoff at our annual meeting in
January.
We have exciting initiatives
planned for the coming year,
please send your email address
to our office (communications@saskbeef.com) and keep
reading the Cattlemen’s Connection so you know what is
going on in our industry. We
also communicate via our website, Twitter and Facebook.
RYAN BEIERBACH | SCA CHAIR
District 1:
Ryan Beierbach • Whitewood, SK
P: 306-532-4809 C: 306-735-1341
E: shophighplains@me.com
District 2:
Philip Lynn • Marquis, SK
P: 306-788-4421 C: 306-361-9299
E: Philip@bpcattle.com
District 3A:
January, 2016, beginning of demolition at Evraz Place to make room for the new
International Business Centre which is scheduled to open in 2017.
Laurie Disney • Rockglen, SK
P: 306-476-2729 C: 306-476-7522
E: odiznee@gmail.com
District 3B:
NEWS IN BRIEF
Larry Grant • Val Marie, SK
P: 306-298-4901 C: 306-741-9867
E: drylake@sasktel.net
RESEARCH FUNDING
ANNOUNCED
District 4:
While attending the Saskatchewan Beef Industry
Conference in Saskatoon in
January, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle
Stewart announced more
than $7.8 million in funding for 26 livestock and forage research projects. This
investment through the
ADF (Agriculture Development Fund) includes the renewal of five year core funding for the Prairie Swine
Centre and the Vaccine and
Infectious Disease organization.
Examples of research
projects include the efficiency of feed and nutrient
status based on the core
body temperature of beef
cattle, comparing cicer
milkvetch varieties and advancing the control of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.
An additional $800,000
was also invested by third
party organizations including the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, the
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association, the Western Grain Research Foundation and the Saskatchewan Pork Development
Board, among others.
National Check-Off
Agency appoints new
general manager
NEW RESEARCH
CLARIFIES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Rick Toney • Gull Lake, SK
P: 306-672-3703 C: 306-671-7900
E: rtoney@xplornet.com
The Canadian Beef Cattle
Research, Market Development and Promotion Agency (the Agency currently
operating as Canada Beef),
announced the appointment of Melinda German as
the new Agency General
Manager.
Under the direction of the
Board of Directors, German’s role will be to ensure
transparency and accountability around the National
Check-Off. She will work
closely with funders, including importers, exporters, and cattle producers, as
well as with provincial and
federal stakeholders, and
be accountable for organizational performance and
alignment with activities
under the purview of the
Farm Products Agencies
Act. She begins her new
post on March 1, 2016.
Canada’s beef industry continues to improve efficiencies that lessen its environmental impacts, with production of one kilogram of
Canadian beef creating 15
percent fewer greenhouse
gas emissions in 2011, compared to 1981, according to
a new study.
Conducted by researchers at the University of
Manitoba, Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Lethbridge and Environment Canada, the study
found that there has been a
15 percent decrease in
methane, 16 percent decrease in nitrous dioxide
and 13 percent decrease in
carbon dioxide from beef
production in Canada over
the recent 30 year period.
Comparing the same time
periods, it took 29 percent
fewer cattle in the breeding
herd and 24 percent less
land to produce the same
amount of beef.
To read more go to: www.
beefresearch.ca/blog/newresearch-clarifies
Levi Hull • Willowbrook, SK
P: 306-641-6271
E: levihull507@msn.com
District 5:
District 6:
Garret Hill • Duval, SK
P: 306-725-4909 C: 306-725-7451
E: lbranch.ghill@gmail.com
District 7:
Paula Larson • D’Arcy, SK
P: 306-379-4523 C: 306-221-0509
E: larsonranchphoto@sasktel.net
District 8:
Michael Spratt • Melfort, SK
P: 306-752-6336 C: 306-921-7175
E: mspratt@sasktel.net
District 9A:
Arnold Balicki • Shellbrook, SK
P: 306-468-2935 C: 306-468-7240
E: balickiangus@yahoo.com
District 9B:
Dean Moore • Paradise Hill, SK
P: 306-344-5370 C: 306-344-7981
E: dsmoore@bellevista.ca
SCFA
Bill Jameson, Board Chair • Moose Jaw, SK
P: 306-692-4911 C: 306-631-0005
E: billjameson@jglcattle.com
Brad Welter . Viscount, SK
Phone: 306-365-4281
E: welter@pound-maker.ca
SSGA
Lloyd Thompson • Estevan, SK
P: 701-340-5133
E: tfourranches@xplornet.com
Harold Martens • Swift Current, SK
P: 306-741-3961 / SSGA: 306-757-8523
E: mranchltd@shaw.ca
Staff
Ryder Lee, CEO
P: 306-585-2333 E: ceo@saskbeef.com
Christina Patterson, Policy Analyst
P: 306-585-2333 E: policy@saskbeef.com
Scott Sakatch, Communications Specialist
P: 306-585-2333 E: communications @saskbeef.com
cov er story
IN
RED
AND
WHITE
The Howe family raises
two purebred breeds
By Bonnie Warnyca | EDITOR
6
| connection
When Charolais cattle began
appearing on the Prairies in the 1960s, they
were an oddity. But when paired with popular British breeds, they became known as a
performance animal and were used as a terminal breed.
Dale and Doug Howe, south of Moose Jaw,
were some of the first breeders to acquire
purebred Charolais genetics. When paired
with Hereford and Angus cattle, Charolais
proved effective, gaining about eight to 15
percent more in calf weaning weights, and
were sought after in the sales ring.
In 1986, the family added a purebred Angus herd to complement the Charolais.
“Under the banner of White Cap Charolais and Howe Red Angus, the family has
done extensive showing and marketing of
the Charolais genetics and attracted a strong
purebred and commercial customer base,”
Charolais and Red Angus cattle in a paddock at the Howe family ranch | DAVE FURMAN PHOTO
says Dale’s son, Kelly Howe.
“But over time, the focus of the genetic
combinations has changed. When they first
came to Canada, the Charolais were new
and shiny. But the long-term sustainability
wasn’t in the show ring. With the Charolais,
we still wrestle with the perception of being
referred to as the terminal breed in the industry. But the larger, flatter cattle of years
ago have become more moderate, easy fleshing, with a good foot, sound udder and good
hair coat.”
Howe says if you go through the two herds,
you will find that the cows in both breeds
have become similar. The Charolais cows
are now more moderately framed and weigh
in the 1,400 to 1,500 pound range while the
Red Angus cow herd has grown in frame
size to 1,300 to 1,400 lb. Both herds exhibit
the easy fleshing and longevity.
“Having our cow herd in this range means
we aren’t caught in one extreme or the other,” says Howe. “If the market demand is
there for a bigger female, we can use a larger
framed performance bull to meet that demand. Much of our current customer base
is mixed farming operations with anywhere
from 60 to 600 head of cattle who don’t want
calving problems during seeding.”
He says commercial cattle producers are
still breeding Charolais to gain hybrid vigor
but want lower birthweight calves in the 90
to 100 lb. range. Years ago, 120 lb-130 lb.
birth weights were acceptable.
“Our Angus customers want easy calving
but they also want calves with bone and
muscle pattern similar to the Charolais
calves. We look for younger calves to wean
anywhere from 500 to 550 lbs. and the older
calves to wean out between 700 to 750 lbs.”
In the past couple of years, they’ve seen
more of their bull customers using artificial
insemination and running their bulls with
the herd to boost productivity, especially in
light of the higher cost for bulls.
Doug Howe stepped back from the operation in 2009 when Kelly and his wife JulieAnne bought his cattle shares and land.
They now own about one quarter of the operation, while brother Michael and his partner Lisa Cunningham (a veterinarian) and
father Dale and mother Lois, own the rest.
Michael and Dale handle the day-to-day
operation while Lisa heads to the Moose Jaw
Animal Clinic. Lois does the bulk of the financials, administration and record keeping. Kelly works as a grain marketing advisor for Cargill and Julie-Anne, with a Mascontinued on page 8 ››
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
7
Kelly Howe focuses on the judge during the 2015 CWA Charolais show | DAVE FURHMAN PHOTO
We feed less grain and still keep our
heifers and older cows in good shape,
and I think our cows are better for it.
Kelly Howe
ter’s degree in Animal Science, works for the
Ministry of Agriculture. The combination
of experience in animal nutrition, grain
marketing and animal health on farm is invaluable for this third generation of cattle
producers.
“Julie-Anne and I help out with chores
nights and weekends and we look after the
social media and grain marketing. We also
handle the registrations and other office
work,” says Kelly. “Michael has a diploma in
marketing but prefers the hands-on work
with the cattle.”
Between the two herds, they will calve out
280 cows this spring. Calving begins in Feb-
8
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ruary and the bulk of the herd is calved out
by the end of March. The Howes run a synchronized AI program for the heifers to improve fertility and management at calving
time. Additionally, cows are inseminated
upon heat detection for their first two cycles
until they are turned out to pasture in May
in breeding groups. During the breeding
season, they manage the cows in separate
pastures in smaller groups with 25 cows per
bull.
“As a family business, management and
marketing decisions are made collectively;
depending on the year and the available
crops and economics, we aren’t afraid to ad-
just the ration plan. Long-term management strategies such as herd health programming are reviewed regularly.”
Howe says, like many ranchers over the
years, they fed the traditional bale of hay
and a pail of chop when feeding fewer than
100 cows. But with the larger herd size,
they’ve used several other combinations, including haylage and silage, and have incorporated corn. They’ve swath grazed and
found screening pellets economical. He says
they can feed pellets cheaper than they can
grow barley, roll it and process it and the pellets, contain all the trace minerals and Rumensin.
“The cattle get more energy from silage
and a hay and straw diet and maintain condition,” says Howe. “We feed less grain and
still keep our heifers and older cows in good
shape, and I think our cows are better for it.
“Cows need to be fed well in order to handle the nutritional needs of calving, milking
and returning to cycle but they can’t be too
fat or too thin. We work hard to have them
milking well, but not overly fleshy, and
C OVER STORY
breeding in the first cycle. We estimate our
feed costs to be $1.25 per day overall.”
Irrigation allows the family to crop 1,200
acres and grow alfalfa, grass, barley, wheat,
flax and canola. The pivots were erected in
1982 and the water source is rather unique.
“The idea sprouted from irrigation/sustainability work by Saskatchewan Environment and the City of Moose Jaw,” explains
Howe. “It is a means of disposing effluent
water through a wastewater treatment plant
to create a sustainable agriculture system on
land that wouldn’t normally be productive.
Our soil composition of loamy sand seems
a perfect match for the project.
“We also practice rotational grazing on
1,100 acres in paddocks ranging in size from
20 to 100 acre fields, and protect riparian
zones by fencing them off and pumping out
water, which in turn provides higher quality
drinking water for livestock. The grazing
land encompasses close to 2,400 acres of
tame and native grass.”
The Howes market about 70 bulls annually through a video sale in April and sell
another 15 or so from the farmgate. Having
a video sale removes the stress of a live bull
sale, both for the animals and the ranchers.
The bulls are in pens with their herd-mates
and viewers get a better picture of the program when selecting new herd sires.
“We do sell some semen but we prefer to
keep much of our genetics in herd keeping
the offspring more exclusive,” says Howe.
“Our philosophy is not to market a lot of semen but market the offspring of these bulls.
“We’ve done more business in the U.S. and
Mexico in the past two years. We shipped 60
purebred Red Angus heifers to South Dakota and Mexico and some of them have
been quite successful. At the World Angus
Technical Forum in Mexico this past Octo-
ber, one of the females was shown with calf
at side and won reserve champion female.
Another female was undefeated after multiple shows during the summer and fall
show season in the U.S.”
While some people might think that managing and marketing two different breeds of
cattle is more difficult, the Howes see it as a
way to provide choice and more value to
their commercial customers.
Currently, Michael is president of the Saskatchewan Angus Association. Kelly is the
second vice-president of the Saskatchewan
Charolais Association, and sits on the Saskatchewan Livestock Association board of
directors and on the Agribition youth
board. Association meetings take them
away from home, but it’s a great way to stay
on top of the issues that affect their dual
breed program.
Three generations of Howes work together to make this purebred cattle operation successful | DAVE FURMAN PHOTO
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
9
Pa i n fu l p r o c e d u r e s
time to
deal
with
the pain
U of S vet student Travis Marfleet castrates a young calf during one of their trials
using pain control with the procedure | Dr. John Campbell PHOTO
By Shirley Byers
Pain mitigation is a hot topic these
days, says Dr. John Campbell, professor and
department head of Large Animal Clinical
Sciences at the Western College of Veterinary
Medicine.
“It’s talked about at veterinary conferences
and lots of papers are presented on it. It’s
now a major part of the curriculum in veterinary programs.”
As of Jan. 1, the Code of Practice for the Care
and Handling of Beef Cattle expects producers to use pain control, in consultation with
their veterinarian, to mitigate pain associated
with dehorning calves after bud attachment
and when castrating bulls older than nine
months. There are also recommendations to
discuss pain control with your veterinarian
when doing other painful procedures such as
branding.
Campbell says in the past several years, a couple of things have happened that helped to
bring about this change. More products for
pain control in large animals have been developed, and there’s been a growing awareness of
the necessity for pain control in terms of healing.
“We know that in people, if pain is managed,
recovery will be faster and the patient will feel
better,” he says. “I think the same is true in
animals. We’re gaining more knowledge as
time goes on regarding various options for
pain control. We’ve always taught about local
anesthetics and pain control during surgery.
It’s the post-surgery we probably didn’t manage as well back then.”
10
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Types of pain management drugs
Anesthetics and analgesics are the two
types of pain control that are available for use
in cattle. Local anesthetics such as Lidocaine
are administered before a procedure to freeze
the area and dull the pain. Analgesics, comparable to Aspirin and Tylenol for humans,
are given for pain relief after a procedure.
Most of the anesthetic and analgesics are
available only through a veterinary prescription. “They are the best people to give advice
on dosage and use,” says Campbell.
The main class of products available for
pain mitigation in cattle are NSAIDs or nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. “The
NSAIDs are the same products humans use
such as Ibuprofen and aspirin. They address
both inflammation and pain control.
The three NSAIDs approved for cattle use
include Anafen, with the trade name of Ketaprofen; Flunixin with the trade name
Banamine; and the newest Meloxicam or
Metacam, which has been available as an injectable drug and has just been released in
Canada as an oral product. All of the aforementioned products provide good pain relief.
“All of these drugs are fairly safe unless
they’re given multiple times,” he says. “You
can start having a variety of issues using them
in longer term. For one dosage, at application
dosage there’s nothing to worry about.
“Whether or not dehorning and castration
without pain management has an economic
effect over time is pretty tough to show in the
long run, but some studies on calves show
that if they had pain control during castration, they’re less likely to get sick afterwards.
Furthermore, lots of behaviour studies show
differences in behaviour after pain control.
The calves tend to reunite with their mothers
sooner, so time is saved as they move faster if
they’ve had pain control.”
Using pain medication doesn’t necessarily
mean a return of a lot of extra dollars at the
end of the day because it’s hard to show those
long term effects in gain. Some studies have
shown minor effects but others didn’t show
anything.
Are producers receiving the message?
As yet there’s not enough data to answer
that question, says Campbell. “A survey of
about 100 producers is currently being done
by us and Dr. Clair Windeyer and Dr. Melissa Moggy at the University of Calgary
School of Veterinary Medicine, which should
tell us more.”
Anecdotally, he says some producers are
very happy with the new code, while others
are just learning about it, so it will take time
for it to filter down to most producers.
He emphasizes that the Code is not meant
to be a regulatory document but more to offer
advice on how the industry should approach
pain mitigation and do the right thing. A
PDF version of the Code is available at www.
saskbeef.com/links under the Government
Regulations heading.
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FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
11
W LPIP
Livestock price
insurance works
By Rae Groeneveld | Communications Consultant, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp.
In 2015 the cattle market went
through substantial ups and
downs. Producers who purchased livestock price insurance were able to gain a level of
protection to help offset the impact of market volatility.
In the spring of 2015, 1,018 calf
price insurance policies were
purchased in Saskatchewan
through the Western Livestock
Price Insurance Program (WLPIP). This resulted in approximately 120,000 calves or 15 per
cent of the provincial marketable calf crop being covered
through the program. The total
coverage provided was $186
million.
At the time the coverage was
purchased, markets were at re-
12
| connection
cord highs. Producers were locking in price insurance protection
from $226 per hundred weight
(CWT) to $286 per CWT. Some
producers selected higher coverage levels for a higher premium,
while others selected lower coverage levels at a lower premium
cost. Producers were evaluating
the market, their risk protection
needs and finding the right fit for
their operation with the price insurance options.
In September and October the
cattle market came off from its
record highs earlier in the year.
This decline in prices put producers who had purchased the
calf price insurance into a claim
position. During October, November and December produc-
ers who had purchased calf
price insurance in the spring
were receiving benefits as the
market prices were lower than
the prices the producers purchased coverage on. WLPIP
provided over $4 million in
benefits to Saskatchewan producers who purchased calf price
insurance in the spring.
Where do your settlement
values come from?
When a producer purchases
price insurance for their cattle
they have a forecasted price
based on a number of factors including the futures market, currency exchange and basis.
The producer also selects the
time frame for when their in-
surance will provide coverage,
which is anywhere from 12 to 36
weeks. Claims are made during
the final four weeks of the insurance policy. Producers compare
their insured price to the settlement price offered by the program. If the settlement price is
lower the producer is in a benefit position.
This settlement price is based
on the actual sales data from
Western Canadian auction
marts. Depending on the area
the policy was purchased for, either Saskatchewan/Manitoba
or Alberta, the settlement price
reflects the market sales in those
regions. WLPIP accesses market data from 42 auction marts
across the western provinces
Sample calculation
On May 28, 2015, a producer had 100 calves they planned to
market in mid-October, each weighing an average of 600 lb.
Insured weight = number of head x expected sale weight ÷ 100
= (100 calves x 600 lb.) ÷ 100
= 600 cwt
The premium table on May 28, 2015 offered insurance coverage
for mid-October at $282/cwt or $2.82/lb.
The coverage costs $2.80/cwt.
Premium cost = 600 X $2.80 = $1,680
The producer has a floor price of $2.82/lb. In October, during the
final four weeks of the policy, the producer reviews the settlement
prices.
• Week 1 of claim window, Sept. 28 = $294.54: above coverage
• Week 2 of claim window, Oct. 5 = $280.82: below coverage
• Week 3 of claim window, Oct. 12 = $269.83: below coverage, can
make a claim
including the internet auctions
of TEAM and DLMS. This data
provides a true reflection of the
current prices producers are receiving for their livestock. This
is the most comprehensive collection of cattle market data in
Western Canada.
WLPIP is on sound financial
footing. The claims producers
had this past fall did not exceed
the premium collected during
the two years the program has
been operating. WLPIP has
been designed to be actuarially
sound; over time claims will
equal premiums collected. If
claims should surpass the premium collected, there is deficit
backing from the federal government and reinsurance is a
part of the program to cover sizable payments.
What’s next?
The opportunity to purchase
price insurance for feeder cattle,
fed cattle or hogs is available
year-round. Calf price insurance has a deadline to purchase,
• Week 4 of claim window, Oct. 19 = $274.98: below coverage, claim
automatically settles
During the second and third week of the claim window the producer
could have submitted a claim for a portion or all of their insured
weight. In week four, if the producer had any of the insured weight
remaining it would have automatically settled. For this example the
producer let the claim automatically settle in the final week for all of
the insured weight:
Claim= (Insured weight x selected coverage price) - (insured weight x
settlement price)
= (600 x $282) - (600 x $274.98)
= $169,200 - 164,988
= $4,212
• This producer would have automatically received a payment from
WLPIP for $4,212.
as it is designed to protect
against price declines on calves
born in the spring and marketed in the fall.
Calf price insurance became
available for purchase on February 2, 2016. The deadline to purchase calf price insurance is
May 31, 2016.
Price insurance is purchased
through an online process. If a
producer does not have an online account and is interested in
purchasing calf price insurance
before the May 31 deadline, they
need to contact their local Crop
Insurance office to start the application process.
SCIC can also provide more
information on how livestock
price insurance works, the signup process and how to purchase
policies.
For more information regarding the Western Livestock
Price Insurance Program, visit
www.saskcropinsurance.com/
wlpip, call 1-800-935-0000 or
contact your local Crop Insurance Office.
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
13
TRA C EA B ILITY
it’s time to take tracking seriously
BY Deborah Wilson | Sr. vice-president of BIXSco Inc.
and Joni Avram
After another exportthreatening case of BSE was reported in Canada last year (and,
nine months later, deemed an
isolated incident), South Korea
re-opened its borders to Canadian beef. That’s great news for
our multi-billion dollar beef industry. But there could be even
better news for exports on the
horizon. That’s because there are
other, much bigger markets for
beef, mostly notably, China. But
it’ll take significant industry collaboration to fully capitalize on
this opportunity.
We’d all like to believe that international importing decisions
are based on science, and not
emotion. But, realistically, fear is
a driving factor. That’s why even
the possibility of a new case of
BSE hastens the need to enhance
our reputation at home and
abroad. A system for effectively
tracking cattle through every
stage of the food chain — from
producer to feedlots, packers to
retailers —is critical for the reputation of the entire industry, its
long-term sustainability, and access to emerging markets.
It’s hard for Canadians to fathom the size of the Chinese mar-
ket. There are more people in
China learning English than
English speakers in the entire
United States. Over the course of
10 days during Chinese New
Year, telephone companies generated nearly $750 million dollars on SMS messages — at pennies per text.
Canada enjoys a good reputation among the Chinese. There’s
a high level of trust and respect
within China for Canada. Plus,
they like the taste of our beef —
once they have a chance to try it
— especially in comparison to
Australian beef, a much more
common import. But Australia
can only produce so much and
not nearly enough to meet the
growing demand for beef in
China.
If you look at who’s buying imported beef from China, it’s the
affluent. They want to show their
success, and they want to enjoy
what the world has to offer. Even
more than designer bags and
fancy cars, they want beef. And
they’re willing to pay a premium
price for it. One Canadian wine
manufacturer that sells his
product for $55 here in Canada,
gets US$900 per bottle for the
same product in China. If Canadian beef is properly marketed,
producers can command these
same premium prices.
Despite the massive opportunity the Chinese market represents, there’s one problem —
food safety is a top priority for
China. So whatever claim Canada’s beef industry makes for exports to China, we’re going to
need to back those claims with
verifiable data. With at least 19
BSE cases reported over the 12
years, the Canadian beef industry has to do more to prove to the
Chinese government that the
quality of our beef can be trusted, and that trust can be verified.
To build trust with international governments like China,
the entire supply chain will have
to collaborate to allow us to track
our beef from farm to fork. Until
recently, parts of the supply
chain have been more interested
in domination than collaboration. But, by necessity, that’s
changing and rapidly. As consumers everywhere demand to
know more about the history of
care and quality of their beef, a
coordinated response is the key
to maintaining consumer trust
As an ancient Chinese proverb suggests,
‘Opportunity knocks at the door only once’.
Twelve years after the first BSE case, it’s time to
get serious about tracking our beef.
HUBERT LAU
president and CEO of BIXSco Ltd.
14
| connection
and credibility that will sustain
the industry and allow us to expand into bigger, more lucrative
markets.
We’re not quite there, but
through the Beef InfoXChange
System (BIXS), an unprecedented number of industry leaders
are beginning to work together
to make the dream of industrywide tracking a reality. By working with different parts of the
value chain as an independent
value-added provider, BIXS is
becoming the backbone of Canada’s beef industry. Building a
system that verifies the quality of
Canadian beef is not only helping to unlock the value of data
for everyone from producers to
retailers, it’s building trust in the
entire supply chain, which is vital here at home, and the rest of
the world.
The information needed to
open the door to emerging markets like China lies dormant in
thousands of desktops and
smartphones across the industry.
Unlocking the value of that data is as easy as signing up to
BIXS. What are you waiting for?
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SouthViewRanch_Cattlemen.indd 1
Tuesday, February 09, 2016 5:01:53 PM
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
15
C a n a d i a n C at t l e m e n ’ s A s s o c i at i o n
CCA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Several significant
developments occurred in 2015
that will help to unlock the potential of the Canadian beef industry. The successful repeal of
U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) in December is a historic achievement that
represents the culmination of
years of hard work by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
(CCA) and industry and government allies. Beef producers who
paid the $4 million in legal fees
to fight COOL through their
provincial check-off share in this
victory.
New trade agreements are offering the strongest market access prospects industry has seen
in nearly three decades. The
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
Agreement is among those
agreements. The CCA is lobbying the government of Canada to
ratify the TPP Agreement
reached in October. The TPP offers beef producers improved access to Japan and other growing
markets in Asia. Canada could
double or triple its annual beef
exports to Japan to nearly $300
million under the agreement
once ratified.
In January, I relayed the importance of the TPP to Canada’s beef
producers directly to Interna-
Tokyo, Japan – Ready to
increase Canadian beef
imports | iStock PHOTO
16
| connection
tional Trade Minister Chrystia
Freeland at a roundtable meeting
in Edmonton. CCA also sent the
Minister a formal letter outlining the full value of the agreement and the need to ratify the
deal. I encourage all producers to
contact their Member of Parliament to communicate the importance of the TPP and to urge
the government to ratify the
agreement.
Trade with South Korea resumed in time for the one-year
anniversary of the implementation of the Canada-Korea Free
Trade Agreement, enacting the
second of 15 tariff reductions on
Canadian beef and offals under
Korea’s beef tariff phaseout with
Canada. The value of Canadian
beef exports to China more than
doubled in 2015 and there is further potential once access is expanded to also include bone-in
beef.
The long-term outlook for
Canada’s beef industry looks solid supported by tariff reductions,
market access expansion and
continued world growth in high
quality beef demand. The goal of
the National Beef Strategy is to
unlock further potential through
strengthening industry competitiveness, the brand appeal of Canadian product and the connec-
tion between industry and customers, consumers, and the
public, enhances the outlook.
The National Beef Strategy was
a key feature of the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference
(SBIC) held in Saskatoon in January. I attended the SBIC and
was part of the Canadian Beef
Advisors Panel, which discussed
the National Beef Strategy and
the benefits it holds for industry.
The benefits of a robust industry
are clear to Alanna Koch, Deputy Minister, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. At an evening reception prior to the Panel,
the Deputy Minister spoke passionately about agriculture and
trade. I later thanked her for her
supportive remarks, and also
Lyle Stewart, Minister of Agriculture and Premier Brad Wall
for making the Saskatchewan
Government such a strong voice
for agriculture.
My fellow Canadian Beef Advisors panelists did an excellent
job explaining the Strategy and
how it intends to address a number of issues facing the industry.
I pointed out that in order for
the strategy to be successful,
there is a need to expand the national cow herd. Part of our competitiveness relies on the infrastructure we have now. With the
New trade agreements are offering the
strongest market access prospects
industry has seen in nearly three decades.
repeal of COOL we could again
exceed 1 million head of live cattle exports. That’s going to
squeeze domestic supply at home
and could put pressure on Canadian processing plants. Also,
Asian markets love Canadian
beef but reliability of supply has
been a problem. I would like to see
the cow herd rebound to 5 million
head. Currently we’re under 4
million head.
The strategy was well received and the Saskatchewan
Cattlemen’s Association unanimously agreed to support the
strategy and the National
Check-off increase required to
achieve its goals.
Trade and market access will
be continuing themes going forward. CCA will be meeting with
Alberta Ministers of Agriculture
and Trade as members of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance to encourage strong support for the TPP. Next up is a trilateral meeting with the U.S. and
Mexico beef producer associations at the National Cattlemen’s
Beef Association (NCBA) annual meeting. I am looking forward
to celebrating the COOL victory
with these important allies.
Rick and Marilynn Deagle
Rick:403 575 5521
Trevor and Danica Deagle
Home: 403 577 3078
Box 535 Consort, AB T0C 1B0
Trevor: 403 575 5237
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The 4th. Annual 'Maine Difference Bull Sale,
April 2nd. 2016. 1pm at
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Visit our website for a catalogue in March
Dave Solverson | CCA President
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FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
17
IND U STRY
Beef centre reports
high usage
BY BONNIE WARNYCA | EDITOR
Open less than a year, the Calgary-
Marty Carpenter | DAVE FURMAN PHOTO
18
| connection
based Beef Centre of Excellence has welcomed an unexpected number of foreign
and domestic visitors. The centre has hosted
16 different trade missions from key global
markets in addition to large domestic retailers and food service companies.
“The trade missions come from international beef customers looking to grow their
beef sales with Canadian beef, such as Asia,
Latin America and the Middle East,” says
Marty Carpenter, director of the centre.
“Some of the trade missions are driven
from the Canada Beef business development teams located worldwide while others
come to us from the federal and provincial
governments under trade initiative programs.
“Preparing for each trade mission is an extensive undertaking. When the group arrives, they are given a tour of a ranch, feedlot
and a packing plant. After that, it’s back to
the centre for the technical outline of designated products they’ve shown an interest in.
In the demo lab we are able to break down
the raw product and then head to the stateof-the-art kitchen to prepare the food for
sampling. Once the client sees the quality of
the meat and tastes the product, we discuss
various ways to market them in their regions.”
While the international interest is brisk,
the centre facilitates discussions around
helping the Canadian food industry more
effectively engage their customers.
“First and foremost we educate our customers about the story behind Canadian
beef and then we look at ways to convey that
story in order to build loyalty around that
brand,” says Carpenter. “It’s important to
emotionally connect the client to the brand.
“In today’s higher priced beef market, it’s
even more important to educate the consumer about how to select the right cut of
beef for each recipe and give them cooking
tips.”
Carpenter admits that the beef retail
counter is probably the most complex of any
in the store. Research has shown that most
consumers have a favorite recipe list of
about eight items and cycle it through their
monthly meal plan. While it may be a challenge to move them outside their comfort
zone, it’s also an opportunity to introduce
them to new, more economical and easy-toprepare menu items.
The home-based kitchen is no different
than kitchens in the restaurant chains or
high-end restaurants - if the beef portion of
the meal is not successful, you could lose a
customer.
“We recently worked with a group from
Loblaw’s discussing some of the beef cuts
outside the more traditional ones,” says
Carpenter. “We offered up ideas on how to
provide more information either on the
package or with store signage. Retailers are
looking for ways to provide more information, such as how many family members the
beef cut will feed and more recipe ideas.
The Roundup App | Screen Capture
“Retailers recognize that they must continue to adopt new methods of interacting
with the beef customer to provide a satisfactory eating experience.”
The Beef Centre of Excellence also recently completed a session with Fairmont Hotels, which includes the Banff Springs, the
Palliser in Calgary and the Jasper Park
Lodge – all international venues.
“We discussed a number of beef cuts outside the traditional middle meats such as petite tenders, skirt meat and chuck flats,” says
Carpenter. “These meats can be utilized for
different theme dishes.
“The chefs liked the different ways we
showed them how to cook the petite beef
tenders to include them in their lunch and
dinner menus. Our work with the food industry is aimed at creatively helping them to
build a more diverse menu utilizing more of
the carcass cuts.”
An unexpected interest for the centre has
been from the number of wineries looking
for ways to pair Canadian wines with beef
features such as offering a rich cabernet to
go with a braised chuck flat.
“We also see a number of R & D chefs from
restaurant chains looking for new menu
ideas,” says Carpenter. “They need menu
items which can be duplicated quickly and
perfectly every time.”
The centre hosted an Alberta organic beef
group first working with professional chefs
and retail butchers, and followed up with a
group of consumers.
Carpenter found it interesting that many
group members were only familiar with a
few of the carcass cuts and didn’t always
know how to prepare them properly. It reinforced the whole purpose of the Beef Centre
of Excellence, which is to connect, innovate
and inspire.
“We can only obtain the true value of a
Canadian beef carcass by being able to market every cut from nose to tail,” says Carpen-
Tips for success in
the kitchen:
Rest steaks and roasts after cooking. Use foil to tent a roast and let it
sit for about 10 minutes before eating. Steaks can rest for about three
minutes before eating.
“Resting allows the meat to relax
after cooking and become more
tender and juicy,” says Marty
Carpenter, Certified Chef de Cuisine.
ter. “We’re seeing renewed demand for cuts
such as beef cheeks and oxtails.
“On the R & D side, the centre is looking at
whole categories and creating new recipes
and marketing strategies for the lessor
known cuts and products.”
Take sausage, for instance: Carpenter says
other cultures do a great job around the sausage trade yet Canada doesn’t sell a lot at retail. The centre is testing new gourmet flavours for the beef sausage market such as
Saskatoon berry maple, which they believe
has the potential to fly off the shelves, especially in western Canada.
While the centre personnel can’t be in every kitchen in the country, there are now
many aids for the home cook.
Canada Beef has developed a new generation of apps that are designed to offer instant
help for consumers. The Roundup app for
smart phones provides beef menu options
and suggestions about what cut of beef offers
the best results. Canada Beef’s new online
MakeitBeef club provides additional information around buying beef and preparation. In addition, the Beef Centre of Excellence home economist Joyce Parslow offers
foodies new beef recipes and pairing options
as well as beef buying, handling and cooking
information at www.makeitbeef.ca.
M A K E Y O U R O W N G E T AWAY
STOP DREAMING
START
BUILDING
12720 - 126 Avenue, Edmonton, Ab. | 780.484.2224
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
19
NE W F EED OPTION
The tale of Pintail
A new hardy winter wheat
could be a game changer
BY SHIRLEY BYERS
When the drought of 2015 hit the
Prairies, Sundre seed grower Bob Mastin received calls from cattle producers looking
for triticale.
“I was getting phone call after phone call,”
he says. “The first couple I told producers it
was hard to come by. Then I started thinking
that I had winter wheat that’s as tough as
triticale, why won’t it work as a substitute?”
The winter wheat was Pintail and substitute he did. When the dust settled, Mastin
had shipped 20 B trains of Pintail from his
farm, two thirds of which went to cattle producers.
A new winter wheat
Winter wheat seeded in summer can be
lightly grazed in fall, re-grazed in spring
and then turned into a grain or silage crop.
Mastin believes Pintail is a good alternative
for livestock producers who traditionally
seed rye or triticale for grazing. Normally,
winter wheat is the least hardy of the winter
crop trinity of rye, triticale and wheat, but
Pintail is a game changer; it’s just as robust
as triticale and rivals fall rye in hardiness.
Mastin obtained the worldwide exclusive
rights for Pintail in 2013 and began multiplying the seed. He planted two acres in a
one quarter mile strip in a field along a highway. That winter the temperature dropped
to – 40 C in January and parts of his long,
narrow plot had no snow cover. “They told
me it was tough,” he says “I thought, well, I
guess this is going to be a test. It’s got to perform in the real world.”
When spring came, he was more than
pleased with the results: one hundred per
cent survival and that two-acre plot yielded
110 bu/acre.
in its genetic background, produced 104 per
cent of the general purpose checks over
three years of testing. Mastin attributes
those high yields to the length of the heads,
which are almost twice as long as normal
wheat (see illustration.)
In its technical bulletin, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry describes Pintail as having
good resistance to stripe rust and good lodging resistance, moderate resistance to leaf
spots and powdery mildew, intermediate resistance to stem and leaf rust (Puccinia
graminis and P. triticina), and a test weight
within the range of general purpose checks.
On the negative side, it is susceptible to fusarium headblight and common bunt, with
resistance equal to general purpose checks.
Acing the tests
What growers are saying
Pintail, with hardy Canadian winter
wheat varieties such as Norstar and Norwin
Mastin is hearing positive feedback from
producers who have grown Pintail. Paul
20
| connection
Pintail Wheat heads are almost twice as long as normal wheat | MASTIN SEEDS PHOTO
Hofer, field boss at the Silver Creek Colony,
says Pintail was first grown there in the fall
of 2013. It was a dry year and seeding depth
was uneven. “Some was down two inches,
some sat in the dust,” says Hofer.
Germination was uneven and to make
matters worse that winter there was little
snow cover. “But in the spring, I’ve never
seen a nicer crop. The whole field was covered and it was just beautiful.”
Hofer was impressed with the length of
the seed heads, too. That’s where the yield
comes from, he says. “The first year even
though we got 40 per cent hail, we still averaged 85 bu/acre.”
In 2014, Pintail was sown again at Silver
Creek, this time with a Bourgault precision
drill into excellent moisture, but in a hilly
area. The crop emerged five days later.
Snow was sparse again and the hills were
bare in - 30 to - 40 C weather.
The only problem I see with Pintail is
trying to kill the volunteers in the
previous crop. It is hard to get it out of
the land. It is a very, very hardy crop.
Paul Hofer | Silver Creek Colony
“But in spring you wouldn’t have
known the difference,” says Hofer.
“Come April, the hills were lush,
grass green. That’s how it over wintered.”
Rye is known to be the most hardy
of the three winter crops, says Hofer,
adding, “ I would say Pintail is as
good if not even better than fall rye.”
Pintail did well in the drought of
2015 too, he says, with a 95 bu/acre
yield on less than three inches of
rain.
“The only problem I see with Pintail
is trying to kill the volunteers in the
previous crop. It is hard to get it out of
the land. It is a very, very hardy crop.”
Dave Solverson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, is
also interested in Pintail.
He says he can see the advantage in
having some winter annual forage to
turn cattle onto in the spring, when
they’re lactating, especially if that
pasture could later be used for silage
or harvested as a wheat crop.
“This is the kind of thing we need
to concentrate our research dollars
on,” he says.
“Our cereals have been left behind
when you compare it to canola and
how far it has come; from 30 bu/acre
being a good crop 15 years ago to now
expecting 50-60 bu/acre. Corn has
also doubled in yield in the last 20
years, whereas our cereals have only
had limited research and it’s been
somewhat the same with forages.”
For more information, contact Bob
Mastin at Mastin Seeds, RR 1 Sundre, AB T0M 1X0, (403) 556-2609, or
visit the website at: www.mastinseeds.com.
Bob Mastin believes Pintail wheat is a good
alternative for livestock producers who traditionally
seed rye or triticale for grazing | MASTIN SEEDS PHOTO
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
21
RESEAR C H
Outstanding research
and innovation
Dr. John McKinnon receives
the Canadian Beef Industry
award for outstanding
research and innovation
at the Saskatchewan
Beef Industry Conference
in January | (Photo (L-R):
Tim Oleksyn (Chair, BCRC), Brad
Wildeman (Nominator), Dr. John
McKinnon (Recipient), Sandy RusseLl
(Nominator). | SHERI GRANT PHOTO
Nominations wanted
John McKinnon is a re-
searcher, professor and the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Research Chair at the University of
Saskatchewan and well-known
to many Saskatchewan cattle
producers.
“Dr. McKinnon has made
phenomenal contributions to
advancements in the competitiveness and sustainability of
the beef industry through his
long-term passion and dedication to progressive science,” says
Tim Oleksyn, cow-calf producer and Chair of BCRC.
“His research focuses on nutritional and environmental
factors influencing the growth
and carcass quality of feeder
cattle and the nutrition of the
breeding herd.
“Areas of emphasis within his
research program include the
use of wet distiller’s byproducts
22
| connection
for feedlot cattle, nutritional
evaluation of grain screenings
for growing cattle, and use of
real-time ultrasound for predicting carcass quality of breeding and finishing cattle. Other
areas include the impact of the
environment on performance
of cattle to Western Canada and
the use of high lipid feeds for
growing and finishing.”
Dr. McKinnon takes a whole
systems approach to beef production and his leadership in
collaboration and cross-discipline research has been extremely beneficial to improving
the competitive advantage of
Canadian beef producers.
As a leader in research extension, McKinnon has authored
many scientific publications
and countless articles appearing in Canadian beef industry
magazines and publications.
He also makes himself available
to speak at producer meetings
and industry events. In addition,
he works directly and one-onone with numerous cow-calf producers, feedlot operators, veteri-
narians and feeding industry personnel on their feeding and
management programs.
As a dedicated professor at
the University of Saskatchewan, Dr. McKinnon has mentored numerous students and
researchers throughout his
long career. He has supervised
or co-supervised more than 35
M.Sc. and Ph.D. students to
program completion and supervised numerous post-doctoral researchers.
“Dr. McKinnon is dedicated
to keeping a practical focus in
his research initiatives and has
always maintained the need for
real-world application with the
beef industry,” says Oleksyn.
“He continues to provide leadership for the future of the industry through his ongoing efforts in the development of the
Beef Cattle Research and Teaching Unit. This infrastructure
will be a tremendous asset in
maintaining the competitiveness of the Canadian beef industry well beyond his career
with the U of S.”
The Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding
Research and Innovation
is presented annually by
the BCRC on behalf of
Canada’s industry stakeholders. The award recognizes scientists and academics that are involved in
strong research programs
aligned with industry priorities, continually engage
with industry stakeholders, and demonstrate their
passion and long-term
commitment.
Nominations are accepted by the BCRC from industry stakeholders and
must be accompanied by
letters of support from both
industry and scientific colleagues. The recipient for
2016 will be selected by a
committee comprised of
beef producers, industry experts and retired beef-related researchers across the
country. Deadline for nominations is May 1. Remaining
nominations will also be
considered for the 2016
award, which will be presented at the Canadian Beef
Industry Conference in August of this year.
NEWS IN BRIEF
HALL OF FAME
The Saskatchewan Agricultural
Hall of Fame will induct six new
members on August 6, 2016 at
their induction ceremonies at
Saskatoon’s Western Development Museum.
This year’s honourees include
Brynne Rothwell, Florian Possberg, Barry Andrew, Linda
Braun, Robin Morrall and Pat
Beaujot.
AGRIBITION RECOGNITION
Canadian Western Agribition
recognized two individuals for
their efforts in promoting CWA
internationally as a showcase
for Canadian livestock genetics
and agriculture technology.
Brian Rossnagel who led a
highly successful 35 year career
at the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan began his involvement with CWA as part of the
Grain Show and later became
CWA president for a total of 18
years of volunteer service to
CWA. He received the coveted
Jim Lewthwaite Memorial
Award.
Neil Jahnke received the
Chris Sutter Award (originally
known as the CWA Builder
Award), posthumously for his
activities as vice-president of
CWA. Jahnke was a founding
member of Canada Beef Export Federation, president of
the Saskatchewan Livestock
Association, and president of
the Saskatchewan Stock Growers’ Association.
CCIA RELEASES TAG
RETENTION PROJECT
FINDINGS
The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency’s national Tag
Retention Project involves animals from various geographical areas across Canada with
various farming styles and en-
vironments. The study tagged
more than 5,000 animals with
equal distribution of approved
CCIA radio frequency identification (RFID) tag types/brands
at each test site.
“The mature cow data collected
in 2014 includes cattle of varying ages from those tagged as
calves in the spring of 2011 to
mature cows tagged in 2011,”
says CCIA vice-chair and tag
retention committee chair
Mark Elford. “Tag readability
at the first stage of the project
was greater than 99 percent.
Recent preliminary findings
on tag retention across all of
the project herds averaged 88.9
percent, with a range of 64.7 to
100 percent. This means within
three years, tag loss ranged
from 3.8 to 35.3 percent, with
an average of 11.1 percent.”
“The average mature cow tag
retention percentage was 89.7
percent across the 13 herds
where data was gathered in
2014,” says CCIA Tag Retention Project Manager Ross
MacDonald. “Since the final
calf/yearling tag retention percentage presented in April,
2013 was 98.9 percent, the preliminary mature cow data represents an average decrease in
retention of 9.2 percent.
“Although the mature cow data
has yet to be analyzed for statistical significance, preliminary
tag retention data for the mature cows is lower and more
variable than in the calf/yearling group. We will summarize
and analyze the mature cow
data for tag retention across all
herds, tag loss by herd and tag
brand as well as readability.”
CCIA anticipates completion
of the mature cow scans, final
analysis and final report in the
second quarter of 2016 to be
posted online at www.canadaid.ca
FEATURED AGROLOGIST
The future of your business deserves a professional.
Agrologists | Qualified. Committed to Ethics. Regulated. Professional.
By Saskatchewan law, only a registered member can practice agrology.
Janice Bruynooghe MSc, PAg
Ag Consultant
Spring Creek Land & Cattle Consulting
Outlook, SK
Janice provides consulting services in the area of
livestock, forage and grazing management. Her
current focus includes working with stakeholders
(producers, industry groups, government, and
academia) ensuring that research initiatives meet
the needs of all.
“A professional agrologist (PAg) designation gives
recognition of the training and provides opportunities to connect with other
agrologists across Canada with an instant recognition of qualifications.”
Janice was raised on a cow calf operation near Outlook, SK. She received
a BSA in animal science and an MSc in grazing management from the
University of Saskatchewan. Janice previously worked with the Western Beef
Development Centre and the Saskatchewan Forage Council, starting the
consulting firm in 2003.
Amanda Van De Kerckhove, MSc, PAg
Ruminant Nutritionist
Co-op Feeds
Saskatoon, SK
As a nutritionist with Co-op Feeds, Amanda is
responsible for ration formulation, ingredient
standards and quality control, and compliance with
CFIA regulations. She provides technical support
for producers and sales people. Amanda also has a
role in research initiatives.
“The professional agrologist (PAg) designation is
recognition of the science-based professionals in
agriculture who are highly trained and bound to a code of ethics, practice
standards, and continuing professional development.”
Amanda was raised on an acreage at Moosomin, SK. She received her BSA
in Animal Science and MSc in Ruminant Nutrition from the University of
Saskatchewan. Amanda joined Co-op Feeds in 2010.
www.sia.sk.ca/find-a-member
Guardians of the Food System | Stewards of the Environment |
Innovators in the Economy
Supported by:
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
23
ADVO C A C Y
Agriculture goes
to school
The winning Grade 10 team named their
presentation AGing and used plastic
eggs filled with slime to bring awareness
to the many job opportunities in
agriculture | CAMPBELL COLLEGIATE PHOTO
BY BONNIE WARNYCA | EDITOR
Last fall, a new agriculture pilot project for students at Campbell Collegiate in
Regina was introduced as a case study in the
business and social technology classes.
Todd Klink, executive vice-president and
chief marketing officer for Farm Credit
Canada (FCC), felt this initiative would help
to introduce urban and rural high school
students to career opportunities within the
Ag sector.
“My children attend Campbell and often
talked about (Jorden) McFarlen’s business
classes,” says Klink. “They also talked about
how industries sent people to talk to the students about careers yet agriculture didn’t
appear on the list of visitors. I realized our
industry was missing an opportunity to
reach out to students in Grades 10 to 12 to
consider jobs in the Ag sector in areas perhaps they weren’t aware of, such as human
resources, IT, research and marketing, to
name a few.
“I called Mr. McFarlen and, after a few
24
| connection
meetings, we put together a survey on the
students to find out just how much they actually knew about one of the biggest economies in their province. Only three out of 65
students had some connection with agriculture and almost all admitted they had no
reason to look at it as a career choice. None
understood the breadth and depth of the industry outside primary production. Nor did
they realize how agriculture impacts the
Canadian economy and its relevance internationally.”
Sixty-five students were divided into 16
case teams and tasked with marketing Agrelated careers to students with little or no
knowledge of the Ag industry.
“We got their attention when we explained
to them that one in eight Canadian jobs is
currently related to agriculture and Agrifood,” says McFarlen. “And by 2050, there
will be nine billion mouths to feed worldwide, and in the next 15 years, the middle
class will have increased by three billion and
will expect more protein and better quality
food.
“To fill that void, agriculture requires
leading-edge technology, management
skills and innovation.”
The AgriBiz case study began Sept. 28, 2015
and finished Oct. 23. During the month-long
project, members of the agricultural community, including Marty Seymour, CEO of
Agribition, Kim McConnel founder of AdFarm Marketing in Calgary, Murad Al-Katib, CEO of Alliance Grain Traders and local
grain farmer Peter Flaman, went to the
school to speak to the students.
The students were also bused to nearby Regina locations of South Country Equipment
and Richardson Pioneer. ThinkAg members from the Ministry of Agriculture
joined the bus tour to discuss livestock-related opportunities including primary production, feedlot sectors and other possible
spinoff career paths.
The high school teams were encouraged to
use social media to engage fellow students to
learn about agriculture and its many job opportunities.
The winning team was a group of Grade 10
students who borrowed their “AGing” idea
from the ALS ice bucket challenge that went
viral on the internet a few years ago. Team
member Ben Katz came up with the idea.
“Our goal was to bring agriculture to the
student body by using something fun and
with a sense of humour,” says Kodiak Reinson, a member of the winning team.
“I was surprised how much work it was to
develop a marketing plan and how we had
to rely on each member of the team’s
strengths to make it happen.
“In the end, we named our presentation
AGing and instead of cracking real eggs
over people’s heads, we used plastic eggs
filled with shampoo to represent slime. We
put a sticker on each egg to represent a particular career in agriculture.”
To get the word out among the student
Marty Seymour, CWA CEO toured Campbell Collegiate students around Agribition to teach them more about agriculture
business opportunities | DAVE FURMAN PHOTOs
Agri-ed program
body, the team put posters around the
school, created a social media campaign using #AGhead and invited the industry judges and others to participate in the AGing.
Many were willing to join the fun.
As an unanticipated perk for the AGing,
the Saskatchewan Egg Producers joined in
the event and donated 15,000 eggs to the Regina Food Bank.
Ryland Hanley, a Grade 10 student at
Campbell Collegiate, also participated in
the agriculture case study. He lives on a
2,700-acre grain farm near Rouleau.
“I had always thought I would take agron-
omy after high school, but having gone
through this case study, I have become more
interested in heavy duty mechanics,” he says.
“I have done well with welding in my high
school shop class and enjoy the hands on
work. I can still see myself as a partner on
the farm in the future and being able to repair farm equipment would be a huge bonus
to the operation.”
Currently, FCC and Campbell’s business
teacher Jorden McFarlen are discussing ways
to share the agriculture case study with other
high schools throughout the province and
potentially across the country.
For 29 years, Agribition’s Agri-Ed program has been one
of agriculture industry’s best
tools to educate elementary
school children in grades K-6
about agriculture and its role
in food production. And, in
the last few years, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Ag
Awareness Initiative part of
Growing Forward 2 has supported more than 40 programs focusing on closing
the gap between food production and young consumers. One of the programs,
thinkAG, profiles young
people working in diverse careers in agriculture to help to
spread the message that Agriculture offers many career
opportunities for young people with or without any Ag
experience.
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
25
RESEAR C H
checking in with the
Livestock & Forage Centre of Excellence
BY SHIRLEY BYERS
It’s one thing for the uni-
versity to build facilities,” says
Professor John McKinnon, Saskatchewan Beef Industry Chair,
“but the Livestock and Forage
Centre of Excellence, to be built
with industry and the federal
and provincial governments,
shows the commitment for generating research and technology
the industry can utilize as well as
for training university graduates to serve the industry.”
The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association will contribute $1 million over five years to
the construction of the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence. Final cost of the facility
is estimated at $25 million. The
Federal and Provincial governments kicked in $10 million in
funding for the Centre under
26
| connection
Growing Forward 2 and the
University of Saskatchewan has
committed $10 million as well as
providing the land.
The state of the art research facility will be based in two locations, both easily accessible
from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. It will consist of a Beef Cattle Research and
Teaching Unit near Clavet and
the Forage and Cow-Calf Research and Teaching Unit at the
Western College of Veterinary
Medicine’s existing research
farm near Floral, Saskatchewan.
The Clavet side of the project is
fairly well advanced in terms of
its planning, says McKinnon.
“Engineers’ drawings for conceptual designs have been completed for a few years, as have detailed costing estimates and research plans for use of the
facility. Once initial environ-
mental work has been done,
construction should start in the
spring.
“The Clavet facility’s focus is
the intensive side of beef production. Its resources will be
used to look at research questions facing the management
and operation of backgrounding and finishing operations as
well as very intensive metabolic
and physiology studies.”
McKinnon says the Floral
site’s emphasis will be on herd
health and reproductive management as well as the cow/calf
forage interface, balancing the
intensive emphasis at Clavet.
The existing facility at Floral has
been managed by the Western
College of Veterinary Medicine
while cow-calf forage research is
currently managed at the Western Beef Development Centre at
Termuende Research Ranch
near Lanigan. Potentially, cows
from Termuende will be transferred to the new facility at Floral, and the work of the WBDC
will be transferred to the Floral
site.
Why was a new centre needed?
The current beef cattle research site at Saskatoon was
built around 1963 and has not
changed appreciably since then,
says McKinnon. “There are numerous feedlots across Western
Canada that probably have
greater technology in terms of
cattle handling and management than we do. It’s challenging to provide current and upto-date information for the industry to use when you don’t
have the facilities to generate it
in.”
Some of the studies researchers
want to look at centre on issues
like feed efficiency, animal be-
OPPOSITE PAGE: Cow-calf research currently managed by
the Western Beef Development Centre now takes place at the
Termuende Research Ranch near Lanigan | U of S PHOTO
RIGHT: Research cattle at the Termuende Research Ranch
near Lanigan will potentially move to the Floral site when
construction is completed | U of S PHOTO
haviour and genetic selection of
cattle for different genotypes,
carcass composition and eating
quality.
For example, he explains, to
measure feed efficiency we need
to know individual feed intake
of animals. To study genetic selection, facilities are required
that allow the management of
animals according to genotypes.
“We need to be able to get the
information on individual animal performance,” he says.
The new facility will address
this issue. It will have specific
pen construction, design and
equipment that allows for individual feed intake of cattle and
that allows for individual management of cattle.
A classic example of the work
done at the U of S has been in the
area of by-product feeds such as
distiller’s grains. The new facility will allow researchers to enhance this type of work, particularly in terms of nutrient metabolism and optimum feed and
diet utilization, which they will
be able to evaluate using the new
Metabolism Barn. “We will look
at opportunities for the industry
to utilize new feed products as
they become available, such as
the emergence of corn as forage
and cereal grain sources, or novel protein sources such as carinata meal in Western Canada,”
says McKinnon.
Other studies might look at the
absorption capabilities across
the rumen or immune function.
“The possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the
people who will use it,” he says.
An opportunity to study
environmental impacts
The land where the facility will
be located at Floral has never
had intensively housed cattle on
it before. This will present a
unique opportunity for the
study of environmental effects
of intensive feeding operations.
The facility will be designed to
allow analysis of runoff from selected cattle pens and extensive
monitoring of local surface and
ground water. This will be used
to look at the environmental impacts of intensive cattle feeding
operations, and to develop mitigation strategies for best management practices.
“We don’t have sound, scientific numbers about the impact
of cattle operations on ground
water quality and nutrient
movement through soil,” he
says.
“This is our opportunity to
take land that has really never
seen cattle before and put this
facility onsite. Through this
project we’re proposing very intensive monitoring of the environment, to be able to document how fast nutrients are actually moving through the soil.
The College of Engineering is
collaborating with us on this.
“Another benefit of this new
facility will be that it will allow
a continuum of research from
the lab to field trials to commercial application. For example, at
his lab in the Animal Science
Building on the U of S Campus,
Dr. Greg Penner can look at isolated segments of the rumen.
He can look at metabolic factors
that influence nutrient absorption, factors that influence immune function and digestive
upsets such as acidosis. “
Now researchers will be able
to take the information from
local laboratories to metabolism pens, and from metabolism pens where they can do
single animals studies in very
intensive nature to the small
pens planned for the feedlot.
“So we see a continuum of research at a very basic scientific
level to intensive nutrition physiology studies with commercial
application,” says McKinnon.
“That’s where we see the real
value of this facility as future researchers come on stream, as
they will have the resources to
conduct basic to applied research at one facility.”
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27
sca outlook
The year ahead
By Scott Sakatch
The repeal of mandatory country of
SCA CEO Ryder Lee outlined some
of the challenges facing the industry
in the year to come at the AGM in
Saskatoon. | SCA PHOTO
28
| connection
origin labelling legislation in the United
States is a testament to the success of Canadian beef advocacy, but Saskatchewan producers will have to wait and see what comes
next as the industry enters the new year, says
SCA Chief Executive Officer Ryder Lee.
“In any market where we are successful,
we can be sure competitors will be looking
for ways to push us back.”
One thing is for sure: Producers are the key
to success of any advocacy undertaking.
“The cattle industry’s voice is as loud and
respected as it is because we show up and we
bring the answers to the problems we are addressing,” Lee told the crowd of delegates at
the SCA’s annual general meeting in Saskatoon Jan. 21.
Lee says the SCA will continue to work
with and influence the CCA to prioritize activities that will improve competitiveness of
the Canadian cattle and beef production
sectors on the international stage, and continue to lobby in Ottawa on dedicated “fly-in
days” that allow decision makers to meet directly with Saskatchewan producers.
“It takes real producers showing up to deliver messages and to build momentum
when lobbying.”
Competitiveness in production relies on
research, says Lee, and reminded the audience that the SCA dedicates 30 cents of every dollar of national check-off to research,
the highest of any province. Those funds go
to the Beef Cattle Research Council in sup-
port of the National Beef Research Strategy
via the Beef Science Cluster, a partnership
with the federal government. The $5 million
in check-off dollars is leveraged with $15
million from Growing Forward 2 in a fiveyear project.
The National Beef Strategy (NBS) will require an increase in national checkoff of
$1.50 per head, which received unanimous
support at the AGM. Lee says the National
Beef Research Strategy and the next Beef
Science Cluster depend on the NBS moving
forward. The SCA will continue to work
with other provincial funders to ensure the
national check-off administration, Canada
Beef and the BCRC are well-funded and
well-managed.
Another key to moving the beef industry
forward is sustainability, says Lee. That may
be a buzzword for many, but beef producers
need to keep taking an active role in applying it to their own operations and to the industry. The development of new modules
for Verified Beef Production will provide
producers the tools to tell the positive story
they have when it comes to sustainability.
This will help retail and food service answer
the increasing demands from consumers
looking for information about their food
purchases.
“The industry is working to provide tools
that work for producers while providing the
information that consumers demand.
“Working together and making sure we
are all heard at the Canadian Roundtable for
Sustainable Beef is important. The goal is to
have decisions based on an improved un-
Working together and making sure we are all heard at the Canadian
Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is important. The goal is to have decisions
based on an improved understanding of beef cattle production in Canada.
RYder Lee | SCA CEO
SEC-HAYM15-M_SKCC_SEC-HAYM15-M_SKCC.qxd 2016-01-25 11:30 PM Page 1
Produced by: SeCan
Product/Campaign Name: SeCan CDC Haymaker
Date Produced: January 2016
Ad Number: SEC-HAYM15-M
Publication: SK Cattlemen’s Connection
Half page island: 4.5” x 7”
derstanding of beef cattle production in
Canada.”
Providing tools to producers is the SCA’s
job, says Lee, and one of the key tools for the
coming year will be education in dealing
with volatile markets and taking advantage
of alternative markets. A series of afternoon
meetings in the spring will be designed to
offer information on price insurance, crop
insurance, business risk management and
the beef code of practice, among other topics.
“The aim will be to have something
around the lunch hour and after, so you can
come after doing your chores but be done
before the end of the day and take home
some new information that may help you
tweak your business in a positive way.”
Producers can learn more about the information sessions by following the SCA on
Twitter and Facebook, via the www.saskbeef.com website, and by making sure
they’re on the SCA’s email list.
Marketing will also be the focus of a new
initiative to link Saskatchewan producers
with buyers who are not in the local market.
Lee said buyers abroad may be missing out
on buying Saskatchewan cattle because of a
lack of information on things such as brokers and shipping distance. The SCA is
working on a resource that will offer buyers
that information and make it easier to understand and take advantage of the Saskatchewan market.
“More buyers usually means better returns,” says Lee. “This is one way we see to
help make that happen.”
On the ground, the SCA has heard from a
number of producers about issues such as
hunters and land access, predators, and the
regulations and difficulties involved in
grazing on Crown lands. Lee says the SCA
will continue to address all of these issues in
the year to come, particularly in engaging
the RCMP and educating them on what the
beef industry needs from them.
Follow the SCA on Facebook at facebook.
com/saskbeef and on Twitter at @SaskCattlemens.
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FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
29
food for thought
Once the mercury starts to drop
and the inches of snow start to
climb, it’s time to seek out a
steamy beef bowl recipe to
warm your hands (and heart):
noodle bowls, hot pots, fondue
and soups – seems like every
cuisine has their take on it.
Canada Beef’s Hub in China
hosted a Foodie Weekend event
back in December and seeing
their Hot Pot demo got me digging through the files for recipes
like this to share.
Big Benefits: The best thing
about this style of cooking is
that it helps to stretch your grocery budget. Your meat goes
further sliced thinly or into cut
into small pieces.
You can use less expensive less
tender cuts when you cut meat
thinly. And don’t stick to pricey
veggie imports – feel free to use
what you have or what’s affordable: instead of bean sprouts, try
thinly sliced cabbage, use frozen spinach or kale instead of
fresh, sub in frozen peas for
fresh green beans. Think cooking local and in season for savings – and don’t dismiss your
frozen veg options – there is no
nutritional compromise when
compared to the fresh.
Joyce Parslow is a home economist with Canada Beef. She
champions all things culinary
when it comes to buying, handling and cooking beef at home.
beef noodle bowl Made with a simple ginger-infused broth and thinly sliced lean Flank Steak for beef, this delicious
meal-soup is low in fat and high in flavour. You can substitute stir-fry strips or other thinly sliced
steak. Cooked spaghettini or capellini pasta or two 85 g packages of dried oriental noodles can
sub-in for the fresh chow mein noodles (omitting the flavouring sachets). Stay warm and think
cozy! Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 20 mins
1/4 c. 1 tbsp. 12 oz 5 c. 3
2
2 c. Half a pkg 1/4 c.
1/4 c.
soy sauce (low sodium)
Asian chili sauce
beef flank or other steak cut in very thin slices across the grain
beef or chicken stock (low sodium)
slices ginger root, cut into 1/4-inch thick pieces
cloves garlic, sliced
sliced bok choy or shredded spinach leaves
refrigerated fresh steamed chow mein noodles
slivered sweet red pepper or carrot
sliced green beans or snow peas
chopped green onion and fresh cilantro to taste
sesame oil, fish sauce and/or oyster/hoisin sauce to taste
| connection
50 mL
15 mL
375 g
1.25 L
500 mL
175 g
50 mL
50 mL
Combine soy sauce and chili sauce in large sealable freezer bag. Add beef strips and set aside.
Combine stock, gingerroot and garlic in stock pot; bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce
heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir in bok choy and noodles; return to simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Add beef and its marinade; return to simmer and cook for 3 minutes or until beef is just pink inside and noodles are
tender.
Transfer about 1 cup (250 mL) noodles, meat and bok choy with tongs to each of 4 soup bowls.
Top each with sweet red pepper, green beans, and onion and cilantro to taste and about 1 cup
(250 mL) hot broth.
Finish each with a few drops of sesame oil, fish sauce and oyster or hoisin sauce.
Nutritional information per serving: Calories: 276 Fat: 3 g Carbohydrates: 31 g Protein: 30 g.
For more information, visit www.beefinfo.org.
30
| serves 4
Trim: 8.125” x 5.312” Bleed 8.625” x 5.625”
Date Produced: February 2015
S B ID F F U NDING REPORT
SBIDF FUNDING REPORT
The Saskatchewan Beef Industry Development Fund provides
money from the provincial levy to support various research,
promotion, education and advocacy projects that benefit the
Saskatchewan beef industry. The following is a list of projects
approved by the SBIDF committee in 2015:
APPLICATIONS APPROVED FOR FUNDING SPRING 2015
APPLICATIONS APPROVED FOR FUNDING FALL 2015
SSGA
Travel Fund,
$20,000.00
Prairie Diagnostic Services
Preparing for emerging
Viral Diseases
$40,000.00
Livestock Marketers of Sask.
Promoting Careers in
Sask. Cattle Sector
$43,850.00
WBDC
Evaluation of New Triticale Varieties
$30,000.00
WBDC
Performance and Characterization of New Forage Legume Varieties
$15,000.00 over three years
SCFA
Western Canada Feedlot
Management School,
$20,000.00
Farm and Food Care SK.
$25,000.00
SEC-MAV14-M_SKCC.qxd
Ag in the Classroom
$25,000.00
2/9/15
WBDC
Evaluating Core Body Temp as
6:26 PM Page 1
an indicator of feed efficiency
$10,000.00
Farm and Food Care Sask.
$25,000.00
Sask Forage Council
$135,000.00 (over 3 years)
SSGA
103rd Convention and AGM
$2,500.00
SSGA
Agri Ed Showcase
$36,300.00
Sask Conservation Action Plan
$20,000.00
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FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
31
RESOL U TIONS
SCA RESOLUTIONS
The SCA’s annual general meeting
Jan. 21 saw a unanimous vote for a $1.50
increase in national checkoff to fund the
National Beef Strategy, as well as a number of other resolutions to guide the asso-
ciation for the coming year.
The meeting, which was in conjunction
with the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference in Saskatoon, also saw the election
of Duane Thompson to a one-year term as a
new representative to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, along with the re-election of Reg Schellenberg and Pat Hayes to
two-year terms with the CCA.
Ryan Beierbach was elected Chair of the
RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
BSE TESTING
CHECKOFF REFUNDS
Resolution 1:
That SCA investigate the feasibility of
product liability to protect producers from
liability suits brought against their product
Resolution 1:
Whereas BSE testing numbers are
dropping below OIE requirements. Be
it resolved that SCA investigate the
feasibility of doing inspections at
provincially inspected slaughter plants
»»
»»CARRIED
»»
Resolution 2:
That SCA move that for those producers who
are involved in custom grazing of private
land or grazing associations should be able
to participate in some program covered
through forage insurance in order to protect
their financial risk
»»DEFEATED
Resolution 3:
That SCA continue to engage WLPIP to
work towards more equality in insurance
programming by allowing livestock
producers to defer premium payments tied
to the expiration of their policy
FORAGE RESEARCH
»»
»»CARRIED
»»
Resolution 2:
»»That SCA lobby CFIA for the feasibility of
Resolution 4:
technology to allow producers to better
manage the time sensitivity of the program
»»CARRIED
»»Whereas a viable cattle industry relies on
a productive grass and forage resource
base. Be it resolved that SCA increase its
effort (both funds allocated and lobbying
effort) to ensure increased research and
breeding activity in grass and forage
production
»»CARRIED
»»CARRIED
PREDATORS AND COMPENSATION
LIVESTOCK SERVICES SASKATCHEWAN
»»That SCA lobby the provincial government
Resolution 1:
»»
That SCA lobby the LSS board of directors
to hire a RCMP enforcement officer to work
exclusively with LSS
»»CARRIED
HORNED CATTLE
»»Whereas the administrative costs required to
enforce the collection of fees on cattle with
horns far exceed the revenue generated and
whereas the market place already discounts
the value of those animals, therefore SCA
supports the repeal of the Horned Cattle
Purchases Act
»»TABLED
32
| connection
refunds on the advice of their accountants.
Whereas accountants can use a blank
refund form to give to producers. Be it
resolved that the SCA begin only allowing
check off requests on forms issued from
SCA’s office and accomplish this by
numbering request forms
»»CARRIED
paying $350.00/head for BSE testing cattle
»»DEFEATED
»»Be it resolved that WLPIP updates their
»»Whereas some producers receive check off
»»
to create an appeal process independent
of SCIC control for suspected losses
due to predators and to address how
the compensation paid to producers is
determined
CARRIED
Resolution 2:
»»That SCA lobby the provincial government
to remove the designation of fur bearing
animal as it pertains to wolves in the
agriculture areas of the province
»»CARRIED
BOARD APPOINTEES
»»That SCA lobby that the U of S Board of
Governors contain members with agriculture
backgrounds
»»CARRIED
NATIONAL CHECKOFF /
NATIONAL BEEF STRATEGY
»»That SCA support the increase to the
National Check Off to $2.50 to support the
National Beef Strategy
»»CARRIED
PER DIEM RATE
»»That the per diem rate for SCA board
members is $230/day or $115/half day and
that the board’s Chair per diem rate is $300/
day
»»CARRIED
SCA Board of Directors, with Rick Toney
becoming finance chair, Philip Lynn becoming research chair and Levi Hull becoming executive member at large.
FLOOR RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 1:
Whereas the beef industry is under
increasing pressure to be more efficient in
the areas of production and environmental
footprint all while maintaining our social
license through enhancing biodiversity on
the land we operate on. This challenge
depends on a viable and productive research
program.
»»
Therefore be it resolved that the
Saskatchewan cattle industry increase
the portion of National Check Off going to
research by 10% of the check off
»»TABLED
Resolution 2:
Whereas the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders
Association recognizes the importance
to support the pillars and outcomes of
the National Beef Strategy therefore,
be it resolved that the Saskatchewan
Cattlemen’s Association move forward with
the implementation of the National Beef
Strategy
»»
»»CARRIED
Resolution 3:
»»Whereas the Western Livestock Price
Insurance Program (WLPIP) requires
payments of premiums up front, while other
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation
(SCIC) insurance programs allow for
payment to be made later, be it resolved that
the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association
seek support from the Ministry of Agriculture
to consider alternative payment methods
within a reasonable time frame
»»CARRIED
Resolution 4:
»»That SCA request CCA to request to CFIA
that APHIS remove the requirement of the
CAN Brand on export feeder cattle, thus
eliminating the need to unload feedlot
destined cattle at the border
»»CARRIED
SCOTT SAKATCH PHOTOS
FEBRUARY / March 2016 |
33
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C EO REPORT
If you don’t ask, you don’t get
April 4 is election day in Sas-
katchewan. This means the next
month is full-on campaign season. This is a once-in-a-while opportunity for you to engage your
future MLA and their competitors on issues of importance.
Incumbents want to defend
their seats and new candidates
want to take over. The only way to
do that is to get the most supporters out on voting day. You get supporters out by direct interaction
and ensuring they are committed
to voting.
This need for direct confirmation creates a unique opportunity
for everyone this coming month.
An opportunity to ensure your
future MLA and their opponents
know what is important to you.
Even if you think you know who
will win your riding this election,
it is important to talk to candidates from all parties. Those who
38
| connection
do not win elections often take
positions with the party between
elections. These positions can be
very influential, so the time spent
with these people is useful.
And over time, parties in power
change. The importance of ensuring all parties understand our
issues and their importance
shone through in the last few
months. When I was working for
the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (and since I left), all parties
heard from cattle producers on
what our needs are, how they can
help us and how that will help
them. When the party in power
changed, the Country of Origin
Labelling battle continued on the
same track. It appears support for
the Trans-Pacific Partnership is
also moving along, although
more tentatively. If we had ignored all but the governing party,
these issues would have been
much more difficult to keep on
track.
There are two tasks to check off
in these conversations. The first is
making sure they know where
your concerns stem from. Tell
them you are a cattle producer
and depend on the cattle business
for your family’s livelihood. Tell
them also that beef cattle production is a major driver in the Saskatchewan economy. Livestock
receipts last year were over $2.7
billion dollars in Saskatchewan.
At 1.3 million head, Saskatche-
wan’s beef cattle herd is second in
size only to Alberta. Cattle need
to be cared for every day and the
industry is a year-round employer, not only for owner-operators
but employees across the province.
Then you tell them what they
need to know or do to help move
your operation and the industry
forward. Depending on where
you live, this may mean different
things. You may have some developments in your RM that are affecting your operation directly.
Or you may have some experiences with the provincial government that make one issue or another a priority. And there is a
long list of things that affect the
profitability and operating environment for cattle producers.
But bear in mind you only get a
few minutes with these people,
and a long list is not helpful. A
good thing to do is focus on one
or two things that are timely or
that relate to the person to whom
you’re speaking.
The economy will play a big part
in this election. That is OK by me,
as long as candidates and parties
remember how much agriculture
contributes to Saskatchewan’s
economy. If they do, you can drive
home that, whatever the subject
that comes up in the Legislature,
they can help you by remembering a few things.
First is cattle producers in Sas-
katchewan rely on exports. We
sell calves, feeders and cull cows
to feeders and processors in other
provinces or in the United States.
In order to do this, we need to be
competitive and have competitive access. The best way to remain competitive is through improvements brought about by research. We also need a
competitive regulatory environment. This means sensible government rules around production, land use, and access to inputs, including workers and
government programs. Access to
markets needs to be pursued,
maintained and defended. Our
provincial government plays an
important role in influencing the
federal and other provincial governments on the market access
front.
If you can get a commitment
from your candidate to champion investments in forage and
livestock research, regulatory
competitiveness and to champion market access for cattle and
beef, then you have done a good
job lobbying. If you can get that
kind of a commitment from all
candidates, you have set a good
foundation for the industry in
your riding.
Keep an eye on www.saskbeef.
com for election related information.
Ryder Lee | SCA CEO
Davidson Gelbvieh &
Lonesome Dove Ranch
Overby Stock Farm
Vernon & Eileen Davidson
306-625-3755
davidsongelbvieh@sasktel.net
www.davidsongelbvieh.com
Ross & Tara Davidson & Family
306-625-3513
lonesomedoveranch@sasktel.net
www.davidsonlonesomedoveranch.com
Neil Overby
204-447-5552
St. Rose Du Lac, MB
neil.overby@gov.mb.ca
Fir River Livestock
Dave Hrebeniuk - 306-865-6603
Darcy, Renee, Colt &
Kenzie Hrebeniuk - 306-865-7859
Hudson Bay, SK
firriver@xplornet.com
www.gelbviehworld.com
CANADIAN
GELBVIEH
ASSOCIATION
Keriness Cattle Company Ltd.
Kert Ness - 403-860-4634
kertness@shaw.ca
Joe Ness - 403-852-7332
Airdrie, AB
jonus@telus.blackberry.net
Carlson Gelbvieh Farms
Lon Carlson & Lorraine Beaudin
403-894-3413
Magrath, AB
rstar91@yahoo.ca
www.carlsoncattlecompany.com
5160 Skyline Way NE
Calgary, Alberta T2E 6V1
Ph: 403.250.8640 • Fax: 403.291.5624
Email: gelbvieh@gelbvieh.ca
Twin Bridge Farms Ltd.
Ron, Carol, Ross, Gail, Owen
& Aaron Birch
Ron & Carol 403-792-2123
Aaron 403-485-5518
Lomond, AB
aaron@tbfarms.ca
www.tbfarms.ca
Royal Western Gelbvieh
Rodney & Tanya Hollman
403-754-5499
Rodney 403-588-8620
Red Deer County, AB
rodscattle@platinum.ca
www.gelbvieh.ca
Canada’s On-Farm Food Safety Program for Cattle Producers
Verified Beef Production in
SASKATCHEWAN
DRIVING CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE
A PRACTICAL APPROACH
TO FOOD SAFETY
PROOF OF RESPONSIBLE
MANAGEMENT
Canadian Beef is Sustainable, Safe and Wholesome.
Lets become VERIFIED and show consumers why!
Beef Producers in Saskatchewan may qualify for funding provided through
Growing Forward 2, a federal/provincial/territorial initiative,
NEW
HE
OT
T
AM
PROGR
Photo credit: Sam Wirzba samwirzba.com
Food Safety
Funding
Biosecurity
Funding
Food Safety
VBP Registered Funding
50% UP TO $750/PRODUCER
50% UP TO $1,000/PRODUCER
50% UP TO $2,000/PRODUCER
Eligible equipment includes:
Eligible items include services provided
Eligible equipment remains the same
by a Vet to conduct and develop:
as food safety funding*. To be eligible,
Biosecurity Assessment
producers must have their cattle
Disease prevention protocols
operation VBP Registered (on-farm audit).
•
Extra restraint on squeezes*
•
Individual livestock scales (load bars)
•
•
Recordkeeping software
•
*Note: neck extender, head holder, shoulder holder
*Note: $750 cap per extra restraint mechanism
ENHANCING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN THE WHOLESOMENESS OF BEEF
To learn more about Visit saskvbp.ca or contact Coy Schellenberg, Provincial
VBP in Saskatchewan: Coordinator, at 306.859.9110 or office@saskvbp.ca