Agriculture Scholarship Winners | PAGE 7

BSE surveillance important | PAGE 8

FCC young farmers program expanded | PAGE 15

JULY/AUGUST 2016 | VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 3

Stewardship and sustainabilityPAGE 2

Welcome to the July issue of Agriview.

With the growing season in full swing we are reminded of how much we rely on Mother Nature. The rain, the wind and the sun can all have positive and negative impacts on crop yields. The weather is beyond our control, however our province’s farmers and ranchers take their responsibilities and what they can control seriously. I want to recognize them for being good stewards of our land, air and water resources.

Our government is focused on highlighting the important work of farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses. This issue of Agriview presents the opportunity to share significant messages and stories around sustainable practices in the agriculture industry.

Farmers and ranchers in this province are committed to good environmental stewardship and animal husbandry. We take pride in using state-of-the-art methods and technology to improve productivity, safeguard the environment and produce high-quality food.

Improved practices have helped Saskatchewan make significant contributions to the mitigation of climate change. In the last 30 years we have reduced our greenhouse gas footprints by 15 per cent through advancements in technology and management.

As stewards of the land, we have worked very hard to get where we are today. In the last decade 12,000 producers completed an Environmental Farm plan. Collectively we have found ways to continue producing our quality agricultural products in a way that is both environmentally responsible and sustainable in the long term.

Last year Saskatchewan producers reached an incredible feat, with $15.3 billion in exports. We know there is great potential to expand our exports by increasing primary production and building our value-added sector. It is encouraging to know this can be done with stewardship and sustainability in mind.

Planning has already started for this year’s Agriculture Month. In October our efforts will be focused around the theme of “Our Food has a Story”. I encourage you to think about how your stewardship journey and sustainable practices can contribute to the dialogue.

I want to thank our farmers and ranchers for their continued adoption of modern farming technologies and practices. Your efforts ensure this dynamic industry is sustainable and profitable for generations to come and that is truly something to celebrate.

Minister’s Message

Lyle Stewart

Our government is focused on highlighting the important work of farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses.

Agriculture Scholarship Winners | PAGE 7

BSE surveillance important | PAGE 8

FCC young farmers program expanded | PAGE 15

JULY/AUGUST 2016 | VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 3

Stewardship and sustainabilityPAGE 2

AGRIVIEW is published by the Communications Branch of Saskatchewan Agriculture for Saskatchewan farmers, ranchers and farm and food organizations. For more information, call 306-787-5160 or email agriview@gov.sk.ca. To view this publication online, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/agriview.

Cover: Moving cattle at Anderson Ranch south of Wood Mountain.

Table of Contents

CROPSInternational Year of Pulses comes to the classroom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Watch for chocolate spot in faba bean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Scout those soybeans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Recognizing micronutrient deficiencies in crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Getting more crop per drop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

New Irrigation Management BMP added to the Farm Stewardship Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

PROGRAMS & SERVICESScholarship winners see endless opportunities in agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

LIVESTOCKPlanning for a livestock mortality event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

BSE surveillance still important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Pasture Tour 2016 highlights ranchers’ adaptability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Watching for ergot in forage and greenfeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

A scale can be a useful tool on a livestock operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Get the lead out…of the farm yard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Antibiotic use in livestock production set to change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Are your cattle protected against tetanus? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Premises Identification: safeguarding the health of livestock and the livestock industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

What is sustainable beef? The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is working toward the answer . . . . . . . . . . . 12

RESEARCHCull lentils show great potential as hog rations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

PROGRAMS & SERVICESCropConnect and AgConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Young Farmer Loan program expanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Preparing for the next agriculture policy framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

EVENTS CALENDARCalendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

PROGRAMS & SERVICESTrade missions open a world of possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

164 8

Saskatchewan.ca

Prolonged wet seasons in Saskatchewan have left producers with few options to incorporate a pulse crop in their rotations. Faba beans have been shown to tolerate wet conditions better than peas or lentils and may be able to fill this gap in the rotation.

However, faba beans are not without their issues, including susceptibility to disease. One such disease is chocolate spot. This disease is caused by the pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Botrytis fabae. While chocolate spot is not the only disease found in Saskatchewan faba beans, it is very common and can have devastating consequences.

Early symptoms of chocolate spot include small reddish brown/chocolate-brown spots (lesions) on older leaves that give a speckled appearance. If favourable environmental conditions persist, these lesions can join together giving the leaves, stems and pods a blackened appearance. In extreme conditions, this can lead to defoliation and premature ripening.

Detecting chocolate spot or any disease requires early and frequent field scouting. It is possible to confuse chocolate spot with other diseases or

International Year of Pulses comes to the classroom

Watch for chocolate spot in faba bean

International Year of Pulses (IYP) is an exciting opportunity to increase Canadian consumer demand for, and awareness of, pulses. Along with a promotional campaign targeting decision-makers and influencers with the message that pulses are healthy, nutritious and sustainably produced, the Canadian pulse industry is targeting the consumers of the future.

IYP partner, Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Canada, launched a country-wide educational program for primary and secondary schools in January. The program consists of six lesson plans linking pulses to science, health and nutrition, social studies and home economics. So far, AITC’s program has been delivered in more than 300 schools across Canada, reaching approximately 18,000 students and 1,200 educators.

Pulses were also in the national spotlight during Canadian Agriculture Literacy Week (CALW), February 28 to March 5. During CALW, schools in several provinces received visits from local pulse growers and IYP was highlighted on AITC-Canada’s social media channels.

In addition to using the lesson plans created by the national AITC organization, provincial AITC organizations have found ways to engage schools in their provinces in celebration of IYP. Pulses were planted in school gardens through AITC-Saskatchewan’s Little Green Sprouts program. Two hundred Grade 4 students also had the opportunity to learn about pulses at the Regina Ag Adventure, held in March at the Saskatchewan Science Centre in Regina.

A partnership of AITC-Canada, the Health Promoting Schools program and the Saskatoon Health Region has led to the launch of a program that will reach more than 5,000 students in 20 schools during 2016. Students in the program will have the opportunity to sample pulse dishes while learning about the health, nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses. They will be able to take home samples of lentils, as well as recipes to try out with their families. The program has gained the attention of the local news media, including CTV Saskatoon. This program is one example of the many initiatives happening in Saskatchewan and other provinces that are helping to build awareness of pulses in Canada from the ground up.

IYP 2016 is well underway, and the momentum behind many IYP initiatives, such as AITC Canada’s pulse program, continues to grow.

CROPS

insect damage. So, if there is any doubt, producers should consult with an agrologist or send plant samples to the Crop Protection Laboratory in Regina for diagnosis.

The prevalence of chocolate spot greatly increases during periods of high humidity, increased rainfall and temperatures between 15 to 20 C. As well, the pathogens that cause chocolate spot can be residue-borne or seed-borne, so management and prevention measures should include:

• Using disease-free seed;

• Maintaining a one-in-four year rotation for faba beans;

• Planting disease-resistant cultivars if there has been a history of disease;

• Using a registered seed treatment if the disease inoculum is known to be present;

• Not exceeding recommended seeding rates; and

• Using a fungicide registered to control chocolate spot.

Contact a Regional Crops Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office; orCall the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

FOR MORE INFO

Visit the Canadian International Year of Pulses website at www.iypcanada.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

Madeleine GoodwinIYP Coordinator, Pulse Canada

Adrianne Begg’s Grade 3 & 4 class from Westmount Community School in Saskatoon.

Chocolate spot in faba beans.

Kim Stonehouse, MSc, PAgRegional Crops Specialist, TisdaleRegional Services Branch

The International Year of Pulses 2016 is bringing international attention to the contribution that pulse crops can make to solving global issues like nutrition, food security and the sustainability of food production systems.

4 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

July and August is the time for soybean producers to be in the field scouting for disease. While soybeans are not as prone to disease as some other field crops, when the right environment occurs, they can be susceptible to bacterial blight, brown spot, white mould or even powdery mildew.

Bacterial blight on younger, top leaves is oftentimes mistaken for hail damage. The yellow halo is the telltale sign of the infection. The source bacteria can overwinter on crop residue and on seed. Initial infections can occur at the time of seedling emergence and the disease thrives under cool, wet weather. Outbreaks that occur later in the summer usually follow windy rain storms. The disease generally occurs at a low enough level that yield is not affected, but caution should be used if seed is kept over for next year.

Brown spot is another leaf spot fungal disease that is oftentimes mistaken for bacterial blight or even herbicide drift. Symptoms first appear on the primary unifoliate leaves shortly after the first trifoliate leaves develop. Disease symptoms begin as small, dark brown, irregular spots, 1-2 mm in diameter—with or without a yellow halo—that develop on upper and

Scout those soybeans

lower leaf surfaces. Initial infections on primary leaves and cotyledons produce secondary inoculum that infects secondary leaves as they develop. Pycnidia (tiny, raised, black specks) can be seen with a hand lens inside the dark brown lesions.

White mould, also known as sclerotinia stem rot, is the same fungal disease that affects canola. Carefully scouting your fields and watching your rotations are the best ways to keep this disease in check, as the causal agent, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, can survive in the soil at least five years. Symptoms are the same as in canola: water-soaked lesions that progress along and around the stem; bleached and stringy stems; and wilting, lodging and plant death.

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease but, unlike the others, it thrives under cool temperatures and low relative humidity. Signs to look for are: white, powdery patches of fungal bodies on cotyledons, stems, pods, particularly on the upper

surface of leaves; and light-coloured spots on plant tissue along with dead areas adjacent to leaf veins.

CROPS

Contact a Regional Crops Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office;Call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377; orVisit Saskatchewan.ca/agriculture.

FOR MORE INFO

Joanne Kowalski, MSc, PAgRegional Crops Specialist, Prince AlbertRegional Services Branch

Sherri Roberts, AAgRegional Crops Specialist, WeyburnRegional Services Branch

Micronutrients are essential to the production of a healthy, high-yielding crop. Soil tests are the best source of information on micronutrient levels, but a watchful producer can spot physical symptoms of a micronutrient deficiency and confirm the diagnosis with a soil test. In general, micronutrients do not move within the plant, so symptoms will appear first on younger growth like leaves and stems. Symptoms may be confused with damage that occurs from frost, insects, disease and herbicide drift.

Below is a list of the most important crop micronutrients and their deficiency symptoms.

Copper deficiency symptoms• Curled upper leaves resembling a pig’s tail and kinked leaf tips.

• Excessive tillering, limpness and wilting.

• Delayed maturity.

• Prolonged flowering period and poor grain-fill.

• Increased incidence of root rot and ergot.

• Purpling of the stem and heads resulting in irregular, drought-like patches in a field.

Iron Deficiency• Yellowing of the tips and margins of new

leaves, which turn brown and brittle and eventually die.

• Poor growth, leaf loss and leaves that appear bleached.

Iron deficiency occurs mainly in wet, clay soils with a high pH and phosphorous content.

Boron Deficiency• Stunted and small young plants that

display a “witch’s broom” effect when the growing point dies off.

• Thick, brittle, misshapen leaves with a clear boundary between the yellow and/or brown affected and green unaffected tissues.

• Dying terminal buds and poor seed-set.

• In extreme cases, deformed flowers that produce no seed.

Zinc Deficiency• Yellowing of older leaves in a mosaic pattern; die-back could occur.

• Younger leaves may be green but small.

• Grayish brown spots appear on the younger leaves of some species (e.g. flax).

• In cereals, yellow leaves may turn bronze later in the season.

• Shortened internodes resulting in stunted appearance.

Manganese Deficiency• Interveinal yellowing; leaves become pale and sunken and eventually

die (similar to iron deficiency).

• Gray specks on the leaves of oat plants. If severe, oat yield is significantly affected.

• Droopy, limp and puckered leaves.

Recognizing micronutrient deficiencies in crops

Contact a Regional Crops Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office; orCall the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

FOR MORE INFO

Boron deficiency in canola.

The yellow spots on the leaves along with the dark green veins are a sign of iron chlorosis in soybeans.

Brown spot in soybeans.

5AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

On-farm irrigation practices have advanced from gravity/flood systems, to side-wheel sprinkler systems, to high-pressure centre pivots, and now to low-pressure centre pivots. With these advancements, irrigation farmers have increased their water use efficiency from less than 60 per cent with gravity-type irrigation systems to between 85 and 90 per cent with low-pressure centre pivot systems. Low-pressure centre pivots, if managed properly, will have minimal evaporative, run-off and/or percolation losses. These systems also enable irrigators to effectively schedule irrigation to ensure that water is applied at the right times and in the right amounts to meet the needs of the crop.

Saskatchewan has approximately 250,000 acres currently under intensive irrigation. This irrigation is spread throughout the province, but is mainly concentrated in the southwest and in the Lake Diefenbaker area. Approximately 110,000 acres of irrigation land have Lake Diefenbaker as a water source. Current usage accounts for about two per cent of the annual inflow into the lake—there is still great potential for the province to get even more acres under irrigation. As the sector develops, it will continue to use leading-edge technologies and best management practices to ensure good water stewardship.

A new Beneficial Management Practice (BMP) has recently been added to the suite of Irrigation Management BMPs in the Farm Stewardship Program (FSP). The new Irrigation Efficiency BMP is intended to help producers convert gravity or side-wheel irrigation systems to low-pressure centre pivot systems. This BMP will help irrigators use water more efficiently and make the sector more sustainable and profitable over the long term.

This BMP will reimburse expenses related to the purchase and installation of a low-pressure centre pivot and mainline to replace a gravity or side-wheel system. The BMP will cover 40 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000. An application must be submitted for pre-approval prior to the start of a project.

To be eligible for this BMP, producers must complete an Environmental Farm Plan, fit the basic criteria for the FSP, irrigate a minimum of 10 acres and have a water rights file number with the Water Security Agency or a water service agreement with an irrigation district.

Other BMPs available to irrigators include Irrigation Management, Irrigation Equipment Modification and Variable Rate Irrigation Technology.

Getting more crop per drop

New Irrigation Management BMP added to the Farm Stewardship Program

Irrigation plays an important role in growing food for the world’s population. Irrigated agriculture accounts for 40 percent of the global food production, but only 18 per cent of the total agricultural land base. However, irrigated agriculture is also the single-largest user of global fresh water supplies. Consequently, the irrigation sector has invested significantly in innovation and technology to conserve water. In Western Canada, irrigation farmers have been quick to adopt these technologies and practices on their farms.

Saskatchewan’s irrigation districts have made significant improvements in water conservation in “off-farm” water storage and conveyance systems, as well as in “on-farm” water application systems. Water that is delivered to farms through irrigation canals is subject to seepage and/or evaporative losses so, to minimize these losses, irrigation districts have lined many canals with non-permeable membranes and have also put a greater emphasis on using pipelines instead of canals. Irrigation districts are also making greater use of automated control structures to more accurately match water flow with water demand.

CROPS

The Irrigation Management Planning BMP is a rebate to help cover the expense of irrigation certification or any other consulting services aimed at improving water use efficiency. It covers 50 per cent of eligible expenses to a maximum of $2,000.

The Irrigation Equipment Modification BMP is intended to help improve water application and pumping efficiency. It will help offset expenses related to converting from a high-pressure to a low-pressure system or from a gasoline to an electric pump, as well as installing fertigation equipment and remote communication technology. This BMP covers 30 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $50,000. All projects must be pre-approved.

The Variable Rate Irrigation Technology BMP is intended to help cover expenses related to variable rate irrigation systems. It covers 30 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000. Applicants must receive pre-approval for these projects.

The Farm Stewardship Program is funded under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Call the Irrigation Section, Crops and Irrigation Branch at 1-306-867-5500.

FOR MORE INFO

Contact the Farm Stewardship Program at 1-877-874-5365; orCall the Crops and Irrigation Branch at 306-867-5500.

FOR MORE INFO

Kelly Farden, PAg Manager, Agronomy Services, OutlookCrops and Irrigation Branch

Kelly Farden, PAg Manager, Agronomy Services, OutlookCrops and Irrigation Branch

6 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Scholarship Runners-Up

Autumn LawsonAutumn Lawson’s essay inspiration came from the conversations she’s been hearing at 4-H, on the farm and in her rural community of Rose Valley. Her essay explained that the environment is vital to agriculture and that it is everyone’s responsibility to care for the land and resources to ensure they are available for future generations.

Autumn is pursuing agriculture as a career because she believes the field has a lot of growth opportunities and the potential to make a difference in the world. She turns 18 in September and sees herself working on the corporate side of agriculture in the future. She also would like to have her own sheep operation.

Kaitlyn KitzanAt only 17, Kaitlyn Kitzan has already been taking advantage of opportunities in agriculture. She was one of two Saskatchewan students sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to attend the 2015 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Iowa last October. This summer, she will be representing Saskatchewan agriculture on a Junior Team Canada Trade Mission to China.

Her video submission described her farm’s environmental success story, with numerous examples highlighting her family’s sustainable farming methods. Growing up on a cattle and grain farm has deeply influenced her passion for food security and agriculture. In the future, she hopes to be working toward creating global food security, promoting agriculture awareness and international trade.

Hailey HarmsHailey Harms has always been passionate about, and had a desire to work with, large animals. The 18-year-old is from a horse and cattle farm outside of Prince Albert.

Her video submission explains that for the agriculture industry to be sustainable, young people need to consider the vast opportunities available to them—as she has already done. She wants to become a veterinarian and open a large animal clinic in her home community to make it easier for people in that area to access veterinary care for their animals.

Congratulations to Sheldon, Autumn, Kaitlyn and Hailey.

To view the videos, go to Saskatchewan.ca/thinkag.

Rikkeal BohmannCommunications InternCommunications Branch

Scholarship winners see endless opportunities in agriculture

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Grand-Prize Scholarship winner – Sheldon DanielSheldon knew his entire life he wanted to work in agriculture. “It kind of becomes part of you, there was never a question about it,” he said. The Avonlea School graduate is the recipient of the grand-prize scholarship of $4,000, which will go toward his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources this fall.

His video entitled, “The Effect of Technology on the Agricultural Industry”, explained how creative and innovative technological advancements can help the agricultural industry and a growing population.

This past October, he represented Saskatchewan at the 2015 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. While there, he learned more about the technological aspects of agriculture. Sheldon also worked at a local farm equipment dealership specializing in precision agriculture. These experiences provided the inspiration for his video submission.

The 18-year-old didn’t need to go far to film it. He just stepped out the kitchen door and onto his family’s mixed farm in Avonlea where his video shows him flying a drone, wearing a beekeeping suit and stating the rationale behind the use of more technology in agriculture.

In the future, Sheldon sees himself still farming with his dad, but also growing his eight-hive beekeeping operation into a business with his three friends and partners.

Visit Saskatchewan.ca/thinkag. FOR MORE INFO

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture awards a grand-prize scholarship of $4,000 and three runner-up scholarships of $2,000 for students who thinkAG. The 2016 winning scholarship was available to students in Grade 12 and recent graduates entering agriculture-related post-secondary studies this year. Applicants had to produce a three-minute creative video or write a well-researched, fact-based 1,000-word essay that highlights agriculture’s stewardship story. This is the sixth year the scholarships have been awarded.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart, Hailey Harms, Kaitlyn Kitzan, Sheldon Daniel, Autumn Lawson and Agriculture Deputy Minister Alanna Koch.

Sheldon at his family farm.

7AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Bryan Gourlie, BASc, PEngProvincial Livestock EngineerLivestock Branch

Wendy Wilkins, DVM, PhDDisease Surveillance VeterinarianLivestock Branch

Growing Forward 2 is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Surveillance is one of many actions Canada has implemented to manage bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Besides helping to protect human and animal health, Canada’s BSE program is essential for maintaining and expanding access to international markets for beef and cattle.

Over the years, producer participation in BSE surveillance has steadily declined in Saskatchewan. The number of tests required annually in this province is 7,500; however, in 2015 only 1,585 samples were submitted for testing. To better understand why participation is declining and to help develop strategies for improving BSE surveillance, the Ministry of Agriculture surveyed cattle producers about their views in regards to BSE.

There were 154 responses to this survey. When producers were asked what they thought were the primary reasons for the drop in BSE testing, the top two responses were: insufficient compensation for producer participation; and concern over the consequences of a positive test. When asked what they thought would increase the submission of samples for testing, improved producer compensation and increased education and awareness were the top two answers.

Planning for a livestock mortality event

BSE surveillance still important

All livestock producers should adopt appropriate plans for safely disposing of carcasses when death losses occur. While it is expected that a small percentage of livestock will be lost to normal causes of death, what happens when a disaster strikes and there are a large number of carcasses that need to be disposed of quickly and safely?

Whether it is a disease outbreak, barn fire or ventilation failure, or lightning strike on a wire fence, mass livestock mortality events happen, and producers need to have plans in place to deal with them. When livestock are housed in confined areas such as corrals and barns, the risk of a large death loss increases.

Disposing of large numbers of carcasses can be challenging. When the carcasses are located in a barn that has been damaged or destroyed, it may be difficult to access or separate the carcasses from the debris. Burnt carcasses may not be suitable for rendering. Weather conditions and the potential for disease transmission may impact the urgency and methods of disposal. Frozen carcasses are more difficult to bury and excavating in frozen soil is difficult. Expect the burial site to settle over time and require additional cover soil, especially if the burial occurs during the winter.

Having a carcass disposal plan in place ensures the producer can respond quickly to a disaster. This helps minimize the risk of disease transmission, environmental contamination and nuisance complaints, and contributes to a rapid industry recovery.

Saskatchewan Agriculture, through the Growing Forward 2 suite of programs, will reimburse 75 per cent of eligible expenses to a limit of $30,000 for the development of carcass disposal plans. The Carcass Disposal Planning Beneficial Management Practice is primarily intended to offset the cost of a site investigation study to verify that the geologic conditions are suitable for burial. Projects must be pre-approved to be eligible for funding.

LIVESTOCK

Producers have indicated for years that the $75 received from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for each eligible sample submitted is insufficient. While the official response to a positive case has changed since the inception of the national BSE control program, many producers cannot forget the early days of the program and the impact on international trade.

Education and awareness are priorities. Producers need to be aware that the $75 they receive is not “compensation” for their time and trouble; rather, it is to assist with the costs of controlling that carcass until the test results come back. Also, a positive test no longer means whole-herd depopulation. Typically, the only cattle culled will be those born within 12 months of the BSE-infected animal, and those given the same feed as the BSE-infected animal during its first year of life. In the coming months, Saskatchewan Agriculture will be working in collaboration with industry to address these and other concerns.

Visit Saskatchewan.ca/agriculture and search for “Farm Stewardship Program”; orCall the Saskatchewan Agriculture Financial Programs Branch at 1-877-874-5365.

FOR MORE INFO

Visit Saskatchewan.ca/agriculture and search for BSE; orVisit www.inspection.gc.ca and search for BSE.

FOR MORE INFO

Mass livestock mortality event disposal.

8 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Pasture Tour 2016 highlights ranchers’ adaptability

A bagged lunch, snacks and drinks will be supplied. The tour will return to Harris Hall where supper will be served. The cost of the tour, including transportation and meals, is $80. Space on the tour is limited, so producers are encouraged to register early with the Saskatchewan Forage Council to ensure a seat on the bus.

Harris, Saskatchewan, is the place to be on Thursday, August 4!

Join us in Harris for the Saskatchewan Pasture Tour, a producer-focused field day. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from forage producers, researchers and Ministry staff. This year’s tour will highlight Saskatchewan producers’ ability to adapt. When it comes to farming and ranching, producers are constantly adjusting to new conditions. This may include changes brought on by the environment or new technologies and information. One of the producers featured on the tour described it well by saying “you try a new method, and then you have to be willing to change on the fly”.

Participants will observe forage rejuvenation through bale grazing, rotational grazing and greenfeed diverse-cover cropping. Then, the tour will stop to look at pasture pipelines and examine rejuvenation through sod-seeding legumes and diverse-cover cropping for late-season grazing. In addition, participants will take part in a native pasture management discussion, plant identification exercise and an invasive plant stop.

The tour will begin at 9 a.m. Participants will board a chartered bus at the Harris New Horizon Hall. Participants may also board the bus at 7:30 a.m. in Saskatoon at Confederation Mall next to the McDonalds. The bus will return to Saskatoon in the early evening.

LIVESTOCK

Contact Leanna Rousell, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Forage Council, at 306-329-3116 or office@saskforage.ca; orContact Rachel Turnquist, Regional Forage Specialist, at 306-694-3721 or rachel.turnquist@gov.sk.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

Watching for ergot in forage and greenfeed

exterior skin that is dark purple or black in colour, and a white or grey interior. They often protrude from maturing heads and may be 10 times larger than the seeds they have replaced. Ergot bodies in some cereals can grow up to 2 cm long; however, they typically remain smaller in forage grasses.

Infection is frequently found at the edges of the field, as ergot often moves into the field from the surrounding ditches. If ditches are the source of infection, the highest density of ergot is found around the perimeter. If infected plants are distributed throughout the field, the most likely source is contaminated seed or a previously infected crop. Early in the growing season, an amber liquid, or honeydew, will be seen on the individual flower heads before the bodies are produced. Later in the season, ergot is easily recognized by the ergot bodies that replace the grains in infected heads.

Ergot in grain usually does not significantly affect yield, but economic losses will result due to grain downgrading or rejection at the elevator. Ergot bodies contain alkaloids that are toxic to humans and animals. When ergot-infected feed is consumed by livestock, animals will display symptoms that include lameness, gangrene resulting in loss of extremities, abortion, seizures and eventually death. Feed containing sub-lethal doses of the alkaloids may result in poor growth and performance, decreased milk production and/or feed refusal. In cases where milder symptoms occur, animals will recover when contaminated feed is removed.

The effects of ergot on livestock can be severe, even when consumed in minute amounts; therefore, it is important to watch for signs of ergot infection in forages and crops meant for greenfeed.

Open-pollinating crops such as rye and some grasses are more susceptible to ergot infection, while self-pollinating crops such as wheat and barley are less susceptible to infection; oats are seldom infected.

Ergot infection is most common when conditions are continuously moist. Germination of ergot bodies in spring and early summer requires moisture, and wet, cool weather extends the period of flowering in crops and increases the window for infection. Ergot bodies are

composed of a hard protective

Halsey Shaheen, BSc, AAgIntern Agrologist, Moose JawAgriculture Knowledge Centre, Regional Services Branch

Rachel Turnquist, BSA, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, Moose JawRegional Services Branch

Contact a Regional Livestock Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office; Call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377; orVisit saskatchewan.ca/agriculture.

FOR MORE INFO

Feed that is infected with ergot can have serious health and production effects on livestock even in trace amounts.

Tour space is limited, register with the Saskatchewan Forage Council early.

9AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Colby Elford, BSc, PAgRegional Livestock Specialist, Moose JawRegional Services Branch

A scale can be a useful tool on a livestock operation

Get the lead out…of the farm yard

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There are many scale options and styles available to producers, ranging from simple load bars and scale head, to more complex systems that work seamlessly with livestock traceability equipment. Producers considering the purchase of a scale need to decide what that scale is going to be used for and what features are important to them.

In a cow-calf herd on pasture, often the first sign of a problem is a dead calf. Lead affects the nervous system and can kill an animal within 12 to 24 hours. Animals can be sick longer, depending on the dose. In a live animal, signs of poisoning may include excitability, ear twitching, head bobbing, teeth grinding, blindness, incoordination, appetite loss, diarrhea

and seizures. The changes can be confused with other diseases, including rabies, so it is important to consult with a veterinarian to obtain a diagnosis.

If a case of lead poisoning has been diagnosed, even normal-looking animals in the herd may have ingested enough lead to be a food safety risk until the lead has adequately cleared their systems. The time taken for clearance varies, so to prevent these animals from going to slaughter while they pose a food safety risk, their blood should be tested for lead levels. The herd’s veterinarian can consult with the Disease

Investigation Unit at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine for testing assistance.

Producers have heard it said thousands of times: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure”. Two commonly estimated values on cattle operations are animal weight and bale weight. If these values are known rather than estimated, producers can manage their resources much better and hopefully improve their net returns. Now is the time to consider investing in a scale.

Animal WeightWe know that mature cows will eat approximately 2.5 per cent of their body weight. Underestimating the animal’s weight means it may not be getting enough feed. The opposite is also true. If animals are much lighter than estimated, producers may be generating more feed waste than necessary, leading to increased costs.

A scale is also very useful in setting and achieving growth targets for animals. Producers are well aware of the size their heifers need to be at breeding and at calving. Measuring the weight of these animals throughout the feeding period will help producers know if they are reaching their targets adequately. For a backgrounding operation, weighing calves regularly allows producers to adjust the diet to ensure that growth is maximized.

Bale WeightBale weight should also be a known quantity. When bale weight is underestimated, producers may find they are underfeeding their animals, or—worse yet—not having enough feed for the winter. When feed is purchased, it can be weighed on the truck at or before delivery. If the feed is produced at home, a sample of bales from each field can be weighed to get an average weight for that type of feed. Knowing how much feed is in each bale, as well as the quality of that feed, makes planning for the winter feeding season much easier.

On the farm, “get the lead out” is more than just a verbal prod to get a move on—it also means keeping lead out of your pastures, crops and feed processing areas so it cannot poison livestock.

Every year from 1998 to 2013, Prairie Diagnostic Services in Saskatoon saw approximately 30 cases of lead poisoning in cattle. Lead poisoning can kill animals, and those that survive can pose a food safety risk to humans.

The most common source of lead on the Prairies is lead acid batteries. A car battery can contain nine kilograms of lead arranged in many thin gridded plates. The plates have a salty taste that cattle like, and it does not take much lead to poison cattle. Calves are about two to three times more susceptible to lead than adults: 40 grams can kill a 100-kg calf. The increased susceptibility of calves is mostly due to their milk diet, which enhances lead absorption. On the Prairies, poisonings are highest in May, June and July when cattle get moved onto pasture.

Dr. Shelagh Copeland, DVM, MVetScManager of Regulatory Compliance, Animal Health UnitLivestock Branch

Contact a Regional Livestock Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office.

FOR MORE INFO

Visit the Western College of Veterinary Medicine website at words.usask.ca/wcvm.

FOR MORE INFO

Digital scales like the one pictured above allow producers to get very accurate readings on their animals.

10 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Tetanus-causing bacteria reside in the soil and can enter wounds or skin openings. In oxygen-deprived tissues such as injection sites, infected wounds or dead tissue, the bacteria, Clostridium tetani, multiply and produce a toxin, which attacks nerves, leading to signs like difficulty opening the mouth (lockjaw) and rigid limbs (sawhorse stance), and to animals lying flat on their sides, unable to rise.

Early signs, which mostly affect the head, can be subtle. Increased jaw tone and neck stiffness can easily be missed. The head and neck can become rigidly extended, followed by the limbs and finally an elevated tail. Animals lying on their sides may get up when urged, but then show an awkward, bunny-hopping gait. Eventually, respiratory muscle paralysis leads to death. The disease can progress so quickly that the first thing a producer might notice is a dead animal.

Usually, tetanus only affects individual animals, but groups can also be affected. There have been reports recently of tetanus occurring in calves three to four weeks after castration. The dead tissue left after banding the calves can provide the perfect environment in which the tetanus bacteria can grow. Fortunately, there is an effective vaccine to prevent tetanus, although some of the combined Clostridial vaccines being used do not contain tetanus protection.

Producers may assume that if they have used a Clostridial vaccine, their animals are protected. The eight-way Clostridial vaccines will usually include tetanus protection, but many combination vaccines do not. Producers should check vaccine labels to ensure the Clostridium tetani toxoid is included, especially if bull calves are being vaccinated. The vaccine should be administered before, or at least at the time of, castration.

There is a tetanus antitoxin available to assist in treatment of early cases, and the tetanus bacteria itself, is generally quite sensitive to antibiotic treatment. However, once advanced clinical signs of tetanus occur, treatment can be difficult or impossible. Nerves are damaged by the toxin and nerves are very slow to grow and recover.

As with most diseases, prevention is best, and awareness and early detection can increase treatment success and reduce losses.

Producers should review their current herd vaccination schedules with their veterinarians. Funding is available to producers who have taken the Beef Biosecurity training to offset the veterinary costs of developing herd health plans.

Wendy Wilkins, DVM, PhDDisease Surveillance VeterinarianLivestock Branch

Betty Althouse, DVMChief Veterinary OfficerLivestock Branch

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• Feed mills producing medicated feed will require a prescription for all MIAs included in the feed.

• The approval process for Veterinary Health Products will be streamlined. Veterinary Health Products include homeopathic preparations, botanical supplements, and vitamins and minerals, which may increase immune function and reduce the need for antimicrobial drugs.

• Anyone who manufactures, imports or compounds antimicrobial medications will be required to report sales data annually.

What does this mean for livestock producers in Saskatchewan?For most producers, the most notable impact will be that they will no longer be able to buy antibiotics such as penicillin off the shelf; instead, they will require a veterinary prescription and will only be able to fill the prescription at a pharmacy or the prescribing veterinary clinic. Feed mills, and producers purchasing medicated feed from these facilities, will also be significantly affected.

Health Canada is holding consultations on these regulatory changes to give stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback. Producers interested in contributing should go to the Health Canada website and search for “consultations”.

Antibiotic use in livestock production set to change

Are your cattle protected against tetanus?

In April 2015, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that Health Canada’s Veterinary Drugs Directorate will introduce new federal regulations that will require increased veterinary oversight of the use of antimicrobial drugs administered to food animals, along with other regulatory and non-regulatory policy changes. These initiatives are part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and Use in Canada, which builds on the federal Framework for Action announced in October 2014.

Not all antimicrobial drugs are affected by these changes. The only drugs being targeted are those that are considered medically important antimicrobials (MIAs), which are those of significant importance to human health. As part of the changes:

• Growth promotion claims will be eliminated.

• Veterinary oversight will be increased—current non-prescription MIAs will become available by prescription only.

• MIAs can no longer be imported by individual producers for their own use, and veterinarians and pharmacists will be required to have approved Establishment Licenses and Good Management Practices in order to import the raw forms of the commercially available MIA products they use.

Visit Health Canada at www.hc-sc.gov.ca.FOR MORE INFO

Contact a local veterinarian.FOR MORE INFO

11AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

is critical for a quick and effective response,” said Saskatchewan’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Betty Althouse. “In these situations, timing is crucial. Developing effective tools to plan for and respond to disease problems is essential and something producers need to embrace.”

British Columbia experienced an outbreak of avian influenza in 2004 and again in 2014. The province did not have a premises identification system in 2004, but had developed one by 2014. “The difference between 2004 and just 10 years later was night and day,” said Dr. Jane Pritchard, Chief Veterinary Officer in British Columbia.

“Animal health emergencies are unpredictable and can be devastating to producers and the industry,” Dr. Betty Althouse said. “We encourage all livestock producers to do their part and register their livestock premises in the PID database.”

Register your premises at premisesid.saskatchewan.ca.

Joe Novak, PAgSenior Program and Legislative AnalystLivestock Branch

Premises Identification: safeguarding the health of livestock and the livestock industry

What is sustainable beef? The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is working toward the answer

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responsible. Members hope to create the framework in which the industry can become a global leader in the continuous improvement and sustainability of the beef value chain through science, multi-stakeholder engagement, communication and collaboration.

What is sustainable beef? The CRSB has defined this as a socially responsible, environmentally sound and economically viable product that prioritizes planet, people, animals and progress. It is one thing to say that; it is another to measure and verify it.

The CRSB is developing a framework in which stakeholders can produce and source verified sustainable beef. This involves establishing indicators and verification strategies. Indicators determine what production practices or methods should be measured on individual operations, and the verification requires a set outline on how to ensure sustainability is met. The organization is currently in the process of developing these key indicators and developing assurance protocols for on-farm indicators.

A key component to a sustainable livestock industry is healthy animals. Efforts to mitigate disease outbreaks and quick responses to animal disease emergencies are some of the ways in which the Ministry of Agriculture is helping keep Saskatchewan’s animals heathy.

The Saskatchewan Premises Identification (PID) database allows Saskatchewan’s Chief Veterinary Officer to quickly respond to a disease outbreak by knowing where animals are located and how many there are. A tool that allows for effective disease planning, quick response and effective control measures is necessary to protect Saskatchewan’s and Canada’s livestock industry.

Premises Identification gives the precise geographic location where livestock are raised or handled, as well as providing an indication of the animal population density in any area. A PID number is a unique number that is assigned to land parcels such as farms, feedlots, auction marts and abattoirs.

Enrolling in the Premises Identification database is quick and easy, usually taking about 10 minutes to complete. Producers can ensure the system remains effective by keeping their information up to date.

Saskatchewan Agriculture took responsibility for the provincial premises identification system a year ago and has more than 3,500 premises registered. If the system is to function effectively, all Saskatchewan livestock producers need to be enrolled.

“Having the information on where animals are located, their species, number and, most importantly, who to contact if there is an emergency

Retail marketing campaigns are having a huge effect on the beef industry. This will be a fact of business for livestock producers raising meat for consumers. The public often hears the terms “natural” or “organic” and recently the new buzz word “sustainable” has surfaced. A lot of people ask, what does this mean? Producers often respond by saying, “If we weren’t sustainable, we wouldn’t be here!”

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has responded to this marketing challenge by forming the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), which works closely with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Sustainability is a critical part of the National Beef Strategy as it is a priority to enhance the competiveness of Canadian beef. Members of the CRSB include producer organizations, food and retail service companies, non-governmental organizations and food and agri-business groups. The goal of the roundtable is to become the leading forum on sustainable beef by advancing existing and new sustainability efforts.

The roundtable’s vision is for the Canadian beef industry to be recognized globally as economically viable, environmentally sound and socially

Kim McLean, PhD, PAgProvincial Cattle SpecialistLivestock Branch

Contact Joe Novak, Senior Program and Legislative Analyst, at 306-787-7702 or joe.novak@gov.sk.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

Visit the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef website at www.crsb.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

12 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

RESEARCH

zero, 10, 20 or 30 per cent lentils. Both sets of pigs showed no adverse side effects in terms of animal performance, even when the rations contained 30 per cent lentils.

Based on these finding, the researchers concluded that when diets are formulated using the nutritional information obtained in the first experiment, and are balanced to meet the age-related requirements of the pig, rations comprising up to 30 per cent lentils can safely be fed to pigs with no adverse effects on their performance.

Results from these studies provide the swine industry with the information necessary to feed cull lentils within balanced diets. Rations for grower and finisher pigs can be formulated with up to 30 per cent lentils with no adverse effects on gain, feed intake or feed conversion. These results also provide lentil producers with a new market for their lower quality grade cull lentils.

The Agriculture Development Fund provides funding to institutions, companies and industry organizations to help them carry out research, development and value-added activities in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The results produce new knowledge, information and choices in technologies, techniques and varieties for farmers, ranchers, processors and input suppliers, to improve the competitiveness of Saskatchewan’s agriculture sector.

In 2016, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada committed $14.8 million in new funding for 66 ADF research projects through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Cull lentils show great potential as hog rations

Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer and exporter of lentils. Lentil production in Saskatchewan has increased more than 100 per cent since 2008, which has created many new jobs in both marketing and processing, especially in the rural areas.

While lentils are normally grown for human consumption, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan—with the financial support of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF)—wanted to determine the feasibility of using lentils as a feed for swine. Incorporating lentils into swine rations would reduce hog producers’ dependence on relatively expensive protein sources such as soybean and canola meals. It would also be an excellent way of using lentils that failed to reach the quality grade for human consumption.

The researcher’s overall objective was to determine the nutritional value of cull lentils for growing swine. A secondary objective was to offer swine and lentil producers the necessary tools for evaluating the value of cull lentils as hog feed. To accomplish both, the study was separated into two experiments.

The first experiment aimed to determine the amino acid digestibility of feed-grade lentils. The second experiment sought to evaluate the growth performance of grower and finisher pigs that were fed feed-grade lentils. Essentially, the second experiment sought to validate the findings of the first experiment by testing the nutritional value of feed-grade lentils on hogs on a larger scale. The second experiment also aimed to establish the ideal proportion of lentils in swine rations.

In the first experiment, 10 grower pigs were fed five experimental diets. Digestive and fecal samples were collected and analyzed for their nutritional properties. The researchers found that once lentils accounted for 30 per cent of the ration, there began to be a reduction in amino acid digestibility.

In the second experiment, 200 grower pigs (studied from 35 to 60 kg) and 200 finisher pigs (studied from 90 to 120 kg) were fed diets that contained

Visit Saskatchewan.ca and search for ADF; then enter the report number 20110108 into the search function.

FOR MORE INFO

21-DAY CALVING CHALLENGE CONTEST WINNERSThe Saskatchewan 21-Day Calving Challenge is an initiative of Saskatchewan Agriculture to bring attention and awareness to the importance of record-keeping to cow herd reproductive success. As prizes, four $1,000 vouchers for mineral and salt products were provided by contest partners, New-Life Mills, Saltec-Ceres Industries, Cargill and Co-op Feeds.

Congratulations to the 2015-2016 draw winners!

GARY D.D. SIDLESKI, Weyburn, SK TOM TREEN, Preeceville, SK

AUSTIN SENTES, Semans, SK MELISSA and WILL SCHREMPP, Melville, SK

Details on the next new beef initiative are coming soon. Stay tuned!

13AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Today, virtually anything can be done online. Online banking, for example, is arguably one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread, allowing the customer to check account balances, make transfers, accept transfers and pay bills. People shop for clothes and concert tickets, order pizzas and even attend classes from the comfort of their homes. Why should doing business with SCIC be any different? Producers are busy and their time is precious. To help, SCIC has developed ways to bring the ease of online business to risk management programming.

CropConnectSCIC understands the needs of today’s modern farmers and has developed CropConnect to meet those needs. This advanced online application helps them conduct their Crop Insurance business. CropConnect is designed to make managing insurance coverage easier for producers. Nearly all the contractual obligations customers currently fulfill by filling out paper forms can now be done online. This includes completing endorsements, calculating premiums and coverage, inputting seeding and production information, filing a claim and viewing accounting statements.

From the start of the crop season right through to the end of harvest, producers can stay on top of it all with CropConnect. With this online application, information is sent directly to Crop Insurance electronically. This reduces paperwork and allows for quicker customer processing, which results in faster turnarounds and claim payments.

When SCIC set out to develop CropConnect, it had one goal in mind: make it user-friendly for our customers. This goal guided every step of the process. CropConnect is an innovative way for customers to conduct their Crop Insurance business online and offers the convenience of working from anywhere. That means producers can be in the field using their smartphones or at home on their desktop computers. It is just a matter of what is more convenient for them.

CropConnect and AgConnect

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Get started with CropConnect by simply calling an SCIC representative at 1-888-935-0000. SCIC’s friendly and knowledgeable customer service staff will provide callers with an authorization number, help them login and show them how easy it is to use this program.

AgConnectSaskatchewan farmers and ranchers enrolled in AgriStability have access to AgConnect, the web-based platform for conducting AgriStability business. For anybody who likes working online, AgConnect is a great option. Once producers log into their secure AgConnect accounts, they have access to all of their historical program information. This would include the annual enrolment/fee notice, their benefit history, their record of form submissions and their detailed calculation of benefits. This is a great resource that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

With AgConnect, it easy to submit the necessary AgriStability program forms. Producers can choose

to complete program information online or file electronic copies of completed AgriStability forms. The “send a file” feature also allows participants to attach supporting documentation, such as sales receipts. An additional benefit of using AgConnect is that information gets submitted into SCIC’s computer system immediately. This allows work on the file to begin much sooner, resulting in quicker processing of a producer’s application.

AgConnect gives contact persons, such as accountants and form preparers, the ability to view the information of AgriStability participants who have listed them as a contact. From that list, the contact can select any of the participants and either view their AgriStability information or begin completing and submitting program forms on their behalf. By allowing both the participant and the contact person to access AgConnect, work can be done simultaneously and each person can review any changes that have been made.

To access AgConnect and get started with this great web application, call the AgriStability call centre at 1-866-270-8450.

14 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

identified sector priorities for the next framework. They brought ideas forward and worked together to provide suggestions to address issues facing the industry. Future consultations are planned to solicit feedback on the next suite of programs.

With this industry feedback in mind, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart will be attending a Federal/Provincial/Territorial Agriculture Ministers meeting in Calgary on July 20-22 to consider key issues for the next agreement. One expected outcome of this meeting is the release of a Ministerial Policy Statement. The Statement will publicly announce the ongoing commitment to work together on developing the next agreement, and focus efforts around six national priority areas: markets and trade, science and innovation, risk management, environmental sustainability and climate change, value-added agriculture and food processing, and public trust.

Throughout the next two years, Saskatchewan will have the flexibility to work with the sector to develop and address these priorities. Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to provide input into these important decisions.

• Loan is for the purchase or improvement of an agricultural related asset.

• Maximum of $500,000 per applicant, and a life-time limit of $500,000 in Young Farmer Loan approvals per applicant.

• Closed variable rates at prime +0.50% (open variable at prime +0.70%)

• Fixed rates loans at transfer price +2.50%

• No loan processing fees.

In 2014-15, FCC approved more than $2.4 billion in financing to farmers under age 40, representing more than one-quarter of the $8.6 billion in disbursements last year to help customers expand or start their operations.

Young Farmer Loan program expanding

Preparing for the next agriculture policy framework

With only two years remaining in Growing Forward 2 (GF2), plans are underway to develop the next policy framework. GF2 is a federal-provincial policy framework for the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector. The funding agreement in Saskatchewan consists of $388 million over five years to support industry priorities like research, marketing, food safety and environmental sustainability, along with a commitment to support business risk management programming.

With GF2 concluding on March 31, 2018, the federal and provincial governments have begun holding industry consultations to inform the decisions that will be made over the next two years. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada has developed a national engagement strategy with two phases. Phase one will check if the current framework is headed in the right direction. After key themes have been identified, phase two will work toward designing programs to fit these themes.

Similarly, Saskatchewan launched its first set of provincial consultations in Regina, bringing together producer and processor groups in the crops and livestock sectors. Participants shared their experiences with GF2 and

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is adding $500 million to its ongoing commitment to a loan program aimed at helping young farmers become established in the industry.

Launched in March 2012, FCC’s commitment to the Young Farmer Loan has grown to $2 billion over four years, with almost 6,000 loans worth more than $1.3 billion approved, as of December 31, 2015.

The Young Farmer Loan provides qualified producers under age 40 with loans of up to $500,000 to purchase or improve farmland and buildings. The loan includes variable lending rates at prime plus 0.5 per cent, a special fixed rate if producers choose that avenue of repayment and no loan processing fees.

This loan product was specifically designed with features and options to support the long-term success of young farmers. It provides them with an opportunity to build up a credit history with FCC, which will assist with future lending.

Features include:• The primary applicant must be 39 years of age or under (at the time of

application) and a young farmer must be the primary beneficiary of the purpose of the loan.

Email growingforward2@gov.sk.ca; orVisit saskatchewan.ca and search for Growing Forward 2.

FOR MORE INFO

Visit the program webpage at www.fcc.ca/youngfarmerloan; orCall a local FCC office at 1-800-387-3232.

FOR MORE INFO

Nancy Carlson, MPAPolicy AnalystPolicy Branch

15AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016

Saskatchewan is a leading global supplier of agricultural products. The sector’s role in the provincial economy is bolstered through trade in the global marketplace. The development of these opportunities is closely tied to relationships between domestic and foreign firms and governments. Expanding these relationships through trade missions is an important aspect of Saskatchewan’s market development programming.

Trade missions enable provincial stakeholders to establish and foster relationships with foreign partners, while showcasing what Saskatchewan has to offer—from crops, livestock and value-added investments to research opportunities. By enhancing relationships, trade missions help the industry sustain and increase exports, attract new investments and realize other benefits from exporting.

Exporting unlocks a wide range of benefits across Saskatchewan’s agricultural industry, from businesses to local communities to families. Exporting sectors and companies generate additional revenues, leading to stronger employment and higher wages. Trade also promotes innovation and productivity as Saskatchewan competes with the best countries and companies in the world.

Saskatchewan continues to lead the nation as Canada’s top agri-food exporting province. Our agri-food exports hit a record-breaking $15.3 billion in 2015.

The Government of Saskatchewan remains focused on market development and trade advocacy to ensure our products move freely to new and existing markets. The signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement this year is another positive development. Ratification of the agreement is essential to ensure expanded access to the 800 million consumers the market represents.

Events calendar

Trade missions open a world of possibilities

Face-to-face meetings during trade missions are especially important to help develop a better understanding of an individual country’s needs and to address any barriers or concerns with international clients. During previous international missions to India, Japan, Singapore and the United States, the Government of Saskatchewan raised awareness with clients on how our agricultural industry operates and addressed concerns about transportation and Canada’s evolving grain marketing environment. These missions also advocated against trade irritants, and built upon Canada’s reputation for quality products by emphasizing our food safety system. Trade missions also help the government identify new areas for collaboration and investment in growing sectors in the province, such as value-added pulse processing, grain handling and canola crushing.

EVENTS | PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Date Event Location Phone Internet

July 3, 2016 Livestock Roundup Summer 2016 Event Weyburn, SK 306-848-2857 www.facebook.com/livestockRoundup/

July 5, 2016 Deadline to report seeded greenfeed acres Saskatchewan 1-888-935-0000 www.saskcropinsurance.com

July 14, 2016 Canada-Saskatchewn Irrigigation Diversification Centre (CSIDC) Annual Irrigation Field Day and Tradeshow

CSIDC, Outlook, SK 306-867-5405 www.irrigationsaskatchewan.com/icdc

July 16-22, 2016 International Rangeland Congress TCU Place, Saskatoon, SK

306-975-7777 www.2016canada.rangelandcongress.org

July 19-21, 2016 Ag in Motion (Western Canada Farm Expo) N.W. of Saskatoon, SK 1-800-563-5441 www.aginmotion.ca

July 23-24, 2016 2016 Grasslands Sheep Exhibition Humboldt Uniplex, Humboldt, SK

306-933-5200 www.sasksheepbreeders.com

July 26, 2016 Forage Crop Summer Field Tour Kernen Farm, SK 306-668-2650 www.saskforage.ca

July 26-28, 2016 Crop Diagnostic School Credit Union iPlex, Swift Current, SK

1-866-457-2377 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca

July 27, 2016 Livestock Marketing and Financial Planning Workshop Welwyn, SK 306-848-2857

July 30, 2016 Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Western Development Museum, Saskatoon, SK

306-536-7892 www.sahf.ca

August 3, 2016 Saskatchewan Sunflower Field Day Indian Head Research Farm, SK

306-695-4200 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca

August 4, 2016 Pasture Tour Harris, SK 306-329-3116 office@saskforage.ca

August 25, 2016 Deadline to select winterkill coverage for fall rye and winter wheat

Saskatchewan 1-888-935-0000 www.saskcropinsurance.com

Stephen NorgateInternational Business Development SpecialistPolicy Branch

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart (centre) visits a pulse market in Delhi.

16 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2016