National exposé is not a balanced view: MPC

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12 The Manitoba Co-operator | December 13, 2012 Growing Forward to focus on innovation and agri-food customers The federal government is making good on its promise to pump more investment into innovation and market development By Alex Binkley co-operator contributor | ottawa Growing Forward 2 will provide $3 billion during the next five years to support innovation, foster competitiveness and nurture market development, says Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. Grain Growers of Canada, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and BIOTECanada welcomed the changes announced by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz for the revamp of Growing Forward that kicks in next April. Farm groups have criticized the decision by Ottawa and the provinces to dilute AgriStability and other programs that support farm incomes in the face of low prices or market disruptions. However, these new investments are welcomed. Where serious bull buyers are looking. Is your ranch included? 2 0 1 3 E D I T I O N S WESTERN CANADA’S COMPREHENSIVE BULL SALE SOURCE Give your bull sale the exposure it needs and its best chance of reaching the 70,000 Beef Cattle Producers in Canada, using the Western Canadian Comprehensive Bull Buyers Guide. BBG#1 · JANUARY 2013 EDITIONS January 17 - Manitoba Co-operator January 21 - Alberta Farmer Express January 21 - Sask Wheel & Deal Space and material deadline: Jan. 4th © 2012/13 Farm Business Communications “It’s a competitive world out there and these programs are critical to farmers’ success, facilitating continued growth for agriculture in Canada. We need them to support us in getting our products to our customers. These new programs will help make that happen,” Grain Growers president Stephen Vandervalk said in a statement. Martin Unrau, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said the new focus dovetails with his organization’s priorities. “By focusing investments on research outcomes that address industry priorities, the government is enabling Canada to maintain its status as a leader in agriculture.” Andrew Casey, president and CEO of BIOTECanada said the new programs “will increase productivity, growth and jobs… The PUBLICATION SCHEDULE BBG#2 · MARCH 2013 EDITIONS March 7 - Manitoba Co-operator March 4 - Alberta Farmer Express March 4 - Sask Wheel & Deal Space and material deadline: Feb. 15th looK inside for ag eQuiPment deals! Crop insuranCe deadline is april 30 » paGe 18 WhiCh Crop to seed first? » paGe 16 V o l u m e 8 , n u m b e r 9 a p r i l 2 5 , 2 0 1 1 Dominoes KeepinG WatCh from above falling as beef industry ‘rightsizes’ END OF THE LINE? } XL Foods processing now consolidated at Brooks, after Moose Jaw and Calgary plants shut down Branding and fencing offers on now at UFA See page 13 for more details. kenna/UFA Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240 UFA 2011 GTG File earlug Name: AFE.indd UFA 2011 1 GTG_Earlug_AFE 11-04-13 12:47 PM Project: Going to Grass Campaign Image Area or Trim: 3.08” x 1.83” Publication: Alberta Farmer Express 1 shi By madeleine Baerg af CONtRIButOR | cAlgAry he recently announced shutdown of XL foods’ beef kill plant and fabrication facility in Cal- T gary is no surprise to those in the know. “No, it’s not a shock,” said Herb Lock, owner of farm$ense Marketing in Edmonton. “the packing industry in North america is rightsizing itself. as soon as you have excess capacity, everybody is losing money. It’s not just a Calgary thing, it’s not just an alberta thing, it’s not just a Canadian thing. this is happening on both sides of the border.” that view was echoed by Charlie Gracey, a cattle industry consultant and current board member with the alberta Livestock and Meat agency. at strangmuir farms south of strathmore, Kerri ross oss (left) and Becky ttees spend their days riding through pens checking “We’ve known for quite a long time that the herd on the health of the cattle. Kevin LinK was being sold down,” said Gracey. “It’s always regrettable to see a decline in what might be seen as competition. But there isn’t enough cattle herd to service the plant.” Lock estimates the packing industry is currently about 25 to 30 per cent overbuilt across the Pacific Northwest. Most of the processing facilities were built several decades ago, in a time when herd num- Testing for bSe worthwhile bers were significantly higher, he said. Given that processing is a margin business, the only way for processors to make money is to FaIrLy LOw } Cost would be about $40 per head, but actual operate at near full capacity. With today’s herd financial benefits are uncertain numbers at a 50-year low and the three- to fiveyear outlook not indicating much improvement, Lock sees the XL closure as a “nimble” preemp- “I think it does give the impetus for tive move. By ron friesen people to take a serious look at it and Competition for live cattle sales shouldn’t dimin- staff say, ‘hey, this is something we could “We think this has got ished, said Bryan Walton, CEO of the alberta Cattle take advantage of.’” feeders association. new industry study concludes the study funded by PrioNet Can- potential.” “I don’t think the closures are going to have a mate- a voluntary BsE testing proada, the alberta Prion Research Instirial effect,” said Walton, noting XL foods still oper- A gram for cattle could help tute and the alberta Livestock and ates the Lakeside plant in Brooks. boost Canada’s beef exports to asia. Meat agency weighed the costs and aL MussELL Essentially, the Calgary and Brooks plants were But it cautions that BsE-tested beef benefits of voluntarily testing cattle GeorGe Morris Centre competing for the same animals. selling the Calgary would only be a niche market and the for BsE. facilities, which are fairly old and sit on valuable real demand for it might be limited. It found the cost fairly low — just over estate, makes good business sense, he said. testing alone may not fully restore Can- $40 a head, or about five cents a pound ada’s beef markets lost to BsE in Japan carcass weight. that wouldn’t burden of testing outweigh the cost is hard to BSE boost and other asian countries, says the study processors with huge added expenses say. While BsE has been devastating to all parts of the by the George Morris Centre in Guelph, and “drag down the operation of a beef a 2005 analysis by Rancher’s Beef, an beef industry, Lock believes it may have had a posi- Ontario. plant,” Mussell said. alberta processor no longer in business, tive — albeit short-term — influence on XL’s Calgary But it’s still worth considering, said He said Japanese importers have peri- concluded BsE testing would increase facilities. al Mussell, the study’s lead author. odically asked for BsE-tested beef over the value of beef sold to Japan by $75.71 “the plants’ lives may have been extended by a “We think this has got potential. I think it the past five years, so the demand for it per head. needs to be explored further,” Mussell said should be there. shutdown } page 6 following the study’s release March 31. But whether the economic benefits see Bse testing } page 26 AFAC ConFerenCe Consumers must lead Changes in animal welfare } Page 33 JBs oPerations, gloBal aQuisitions and receive a 20% DISCOUNT OFF any ad booked in Book an ad in the 2013 Edition of the Bull Buyers Guide Canadian Cattlemen or Grainews - Cattlemen’s Corner Deborah Wilson National Advertising Sales deb.wilson@fbcpublishing.com Phone: (403) 325-1695 development of Canadian industrial and agricultural biotechnology represents a significant opportunity for the Canadian economy in the context of the emerging global bioeconomy.” He said the industry is developing new transformative technologies and processes, but access to capital will be needed to commercialize those new ideas. Ritz told a Banff audience that the innovation program will assist farmers and processors to develop new products, the marketing component will enable them to provide food safety and other assurances to consumers while the competitiveness program will provide support for changes that will bring better prices in domestic and foreign markets. “We are making sure farmers and the entire sector have the tools and resources they need to stay ahead of the everchanging demands of consumers.” He insisted the business risk management programs in GF2 “will continue to help farmers withstand severe market volatility and disasters.” Unrau said beef producers’ “ability to compete domestically and internationally is dependent on research to improve feed efficiency, improve feed, forage and grassland productivity, reduce animal health and welfare concerns, and ensure food safety. The Beef Science Cluster allows industry to partner with governments to seek advancements in all these areas.” Unrau also welcomed the government’s commitment to improve service delivery of the programs. Tiffiny Taylor Sales & Special Projects tiffiny.taylor@fbcpublishing.com Phone: (204) 228-0842 Oxfam debates future of agriculture — online The online discussion features daily essays from experts from around the world Oxfam Canada began a 10-daylong online discussion on the future of agriculture this week. Essays from experts around the world are being posted online addressing four questions relevant to the challenge of feeding an estimated global population of nine billion by 2050. The questions are: What if farmers’ knowledge was the driver of innovations and investments? What if women owned the land they till and the food they produce? What if all food was produced without fossil fuels? What if all farmers could rely on effective systems to manage risk? The debate will run from December 10 to December 21 concurrently in English, French and Spanish. The discussion papers can be found at: • English: http://blogs. oxfam.org/future-ofagriculture • French: http://blogs. oxfam.org/fr/aveniragriculture • Spanish: http://blogs. oxfam.org/es/futuro-deagricultura The panel includes Nigerian farmer Susan Godwin struggling with her daughter’s desire to run the family farm, how IFPRI’s Shenggen Fan would address climate risks, and how FAO’s José Graziano da Silva would reduce farming’s dependence on oil. See if you agree with author Anna Lappé that agriculture can break free of oil. Take on IFAD’s Kanayo Nwanze, who sees hope in smallholder innovation, or Harold Poelma from Cargill, who finds it in comparative advantage and free trade. Be challenged by Bangladeshi activist Rokeya Kabir, who argues women’s rights are fundamental to food security. To conclude the discussion, Indian sustainable development expert Sonali Bisht and U.S. author Roger Thurow will provide overall analyses and draw out key recommendations. Two new essays will be posted daily, and every day will feature readers’ response to the experts’ ideas. All essays and comments will inform an Oxfam discussion paper to be published in 2013.
The Manitoba Co-operator | December 13, 2012 13 Program that helped aspiring farmers get started is closing its doors Co-ordinator says initiatives to get more people into farming are badly needed By Lorraine Stevenson CO-OPERATOR STAFF AManitoba program for aspiring farmers has closed its doors and will carry on as an informal network unless new funding can be found. The Manitoba Farm Mentorship Program, launched in 2009 by the Organic Food Council of Manitoba, put on tours, workshops and courses, including one called Exploring Your Small Farm Dream. Young urbanites, inspired by the local f o o d a n d f o o d - s e c u r i t y movements, typically participated. NEWS Seed Depot offers free seed to CFGB projects It is celebrating 10 years in business By Allan Dawson CO-OPERATOR STAFF / BRANDON In celebration of its 10 years in business Seed Depot will provide free seed to Canadian Foodgrains Bank projects, John Smith, Seed Depot’s president and CEO, said in an interview here Dec. 6. Project groups or local seed dealers can download a form at www.seeddepot. ca and then fill out the type and quantity of seed they want along with the name of the preferred seed dealer and grower group contact person. The form is then faxed to Seed Depot, which will contact the dealer. The dealer will provide the seed to the project and Seed Depot will pay the dealer the wholesale price of the seed. “In 2013 we will make CONLON barley and Souris oats available and in 2014 we will be making Cardale wheat available for Manitoba Growing Projects,” Seed Depot says on its website. “We hope to eventually expand this offer to Saskatchewan and Alberta.” The Canadian Foodgrains Bank consists of 15 members representing 32 denominations with more than 17,000 congregations. It’s celebrating 30 years of operation in 2013 with a special “Grow 30 Acres for the CFGB” program. The food grains bank has provided more than 1.1 million tonnes of food to hungry people in more than 80 countries. allan@fbcpublishing.com But its funding, from a grant from Heifer International, a U.S.-based foundation, is now exhausted, said Sharon Taylor, who was the program’s co-ordinator. Taylor recently circulated an open letter on the group’s behalf asking the province to consider funding the program. Mentorship programs offer an entry point into smallscale farming for those who otherwise have none, said Taylor, adding that new Canadians were one of their target groups. “This was for those really entrepreneurial, enterprising people, who have this Join Jon’s teaM! Brettyoung.ca/JoinJonsteam “Our biggest achievement has been helping to grow that community of new entrants in farming. But it will continue through the grassroots.” SHARON TAYLOR dream but they don’t know where to go from there,” she said. Taylor said her biggest concern with the loss of the program is that it closes a door to people from a broader population interested in farming even as 5525 CL Crushes NeXerA 2012 CL 5525 CL Better yield, Better net and complete marketing flexiBility 5525 CL is a yield-leading variety in all canola production systems, delivering outstanding net returns while you retain complete marketing flexibility. Head-to-head in the 2011 Canola Performance Trials mid-season zone, 5525 CL out-yielded Nexera ® 2012 by an average of 8 bu/ac 1 . The result: $50.36 1 per acre more in farmers’ pockets even after specialty oil premiums. With the freedom to market 5525 CL anywhere, and high net returns, 5525 CL crushes the competition. In the end, it all comes down to performance and BrettYoung brings a new standard of excellence to the field. brettyoung.ca • 800-665-5015 Jon MontgoMery 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist – Skeleton 2008 World Championship Silver Medalist farmers exit the business. Her letter says with farmers’ numbers not increasing, the province should be looking for ways to help would-be farmers get started. About 850 people attended the program’s courses and tours, including 20 interns who were linked up with farmers for hands-on experience and mentorship. They’ve formed an informal network that will carry on, Taylor said. “I really regret closing MFM’s doors,” she said. “Our biggest achievement has been helping to grow that community of new entrants in farming. But it will continue through the grassroots.” Some past participants have also begun working more closely with the Clearwater-based Harvest Moon Society. lorraine@fbcpublishing.com CANOLA PERFORMANCE 2 TRIALS 2011 BrettYoung is a trademark of BrettYoung seeds Limited. Ares is a trademark and Clearfield and the unique Clearfield symbol are registered trademarks of BAsF Agrochemical Products B.V. All used with permission by BAsF Canada Inc. All others are trademarks of their respective companies. 12026 10.12 1Based on 2012 Nexera oil premiums and 2012 sr Ps on the seed. For complete details on the trials visit www.canolaperformancetrials.ca Average Yield 75 60 45 30 15 0 58 bu/acre 5525 CL 50 bu/acre 2012 CL 2 Data from 2011 Canola Performance Trials – medium season zone.
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