2017 ag scholarship winner – amanda mitchell...kale wilson, bsa, pag, cca regional crops...

Planning for winter cereals | PAGE 5

Moisture content in bale silage | PAGE 10

Grazing best management practices | PAGE 12

JULY/AUGUST 2017 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 4

2017 Ag Scholarship Winner – Amanda Mitchell PAGE 8

56433 GSK_Agriview_JulyAug_2017_a3.indd 1 6/13/17 4:16 PM

Welcome to the July edition of Agriview.

The important role agriculture plays in our province is hard to miss at this time of year, no matter where

in Saskatchewan you live. The business of agriculture and value-added processing is a year-round affair

but seeing the crops in bloom and cattle on pastures is a clear reminder of what agriculture in this

province brings to the table.

Yet even as our industry helps drive our economy and supplies communities here and around the globe

with safe, healthy and affordable food, work remains when it comes to public trust. For example, our

annual survey of people’s attitudes toward agriculture regularly shows many respondents lack trust in

foods that contain GMO ingredients, and are uncertain about whether all food in the grocery store is safe.

This reinforces that we need consumers to know more about what we do, and how and why we do it.

Industry groups and producers can play a role in building public trust and

maintaining our social licence by supporting organizations, such as Agriculture

in the Classroom, which educates students and teachers, and Farm and Food

Care Saskatchewan, whose audience is consumers. These groups do excellent

work in helping society better understand agriculture. Together we have

a stronger voice.

Our government also has an updated Agriculture Awareness Strategy. It includes a focus on supporting

industry and educational experts in reaching their target audiences. You can read more about the

strategy in this edition of Agriview. You can also read about the latest recipients of the Agriculture

Student Scholarship and be inspired by the work these young people have done — and plan to continue

doing — to tell the story of agriculture.

Thank you for your continued work to keep our industry strong. I wish you a safe and productive summer.

Minister’s Message

Lyle Stewart

We need consumers to know more about what we do, and how and why we do it.


Planning for winter cereals | PAGE 5

Moisture content in bale silage | PAGE 10

Grazing best management practices | PAGE 12

JULY/AUGUST 2017 | VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 4

2017 Ag Scholarship Winner – Amanda Mitchell PAGE 8

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 [email protected]. To view this publication online, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/agriview.

Cover: Amanda Mitchell, who lives and farms with her family in Bracken SK is this year’s Agriculture Scholarship Winner. More information about her winning entry and the Scholarship program starts on page eight.

Table of Contents

CROPSThe time is right to add sunflowers to your rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Remember the pre-harvest interval before you harvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Planning for winter cereals – keep the logistics logical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Time to scout for insect pests in canola, mustard and spring wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

RESEARCHDevelopment of new strategies for control of parasites and disease in alfalfa leafcutter bee populations . . . . 6

LIVESTOCKLead exposure – one beef producer’s experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Scrapie in Saskatchewan sheep and goats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

PROGRAMS & SERVICESScholarship winner inspired to feed the world’s growing population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Scholarship runners-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

LIVESTOCKMoisture content is critical to getting good bale silage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Assessing plant health on tame pastures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Pain relief: what it means for you and your cattle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Timing is important when it comes to mechanical brush control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Keeping riparian areas healthy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Grazing best management practices: a success story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

PROGRAMS & SERVICESAgConnect and CropConnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Taking a collaborative approach to wheat research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Saskatchewan’s agri-food exports exceed $14 billion in 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What’s going on in my field? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Agriculture Awareness Strategy gets a refresh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Saskatchewan’s veterinary infrastructure gets an international assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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

PROGRAMS & SERVICESAgri-ARM Field Days for 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Saskatchewan.ca


With harvest approaching, grain, pulse and oilseed producers should look in the Guide to Crop Protection to confirm safe pre-harvest interval timing. This becomes even more important if there was a second application of fungicides, a late-season application of insecticides or an application of desiccation products. Some products can require intervals of days and up to weeks before the crop is safe to harvest. Pre-harvest intervals are there to ensure that there is no residual risk to the consumer from the applied product.

The pre-harvest interval is the number of days that must pass after an application before the crop can be swathed or combined.

Desiccation is the process of drying down/ripening the crop with products such as Reglone, Good Harvest and Heat. Glyphosate is not a true desiccation product and is used for fall weed control. Applying glyphosate to immature plants may result in higher residues in the harvested grain. As with all true desiccation products and glyphosate, it is important that the product is being applied at the correct plant stage to ensure proper chemical activity and minimize risk of residues.

The time is right to add sunflowers to your rotation

Remember the pre-harvest interval before you harvest

The first sunflower varietal trial results in Saskatchewan were released in 1977, and showed that sunflowers could be grown over a much wider area of the province than first thought.

Forty years later, and after a lot of hard work by breeders and geneticists, Saskatchewan producers have access to a variety that will allow sunflowers to be grown over an even wider area. Breeding trials conducted by Bill May of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Indian Head Research Station, in cooperation with USDA sunflower breeder Brent Hulke at North Dakota State University, show the oilseed variety Honeycomb NS to be an earlier maturing, higher yielding sunflower with lower harvest moisture that is superior to other sunflower varieties for northern areas.

In 2014, Redvers, Indian Head, Swift Current, Melfort and Tribune provided the five test sites for varietal testing of Honeycomb NS. After the successes of the first year, additional trials continued throughout the province. As a result of this work, there is now solid field trial evidence of Honeycomb’s tolerance to Saskatchewan soils and weather conditions. Yield, kernel moisture and maturity date were all equal to or better than the check variety 63A21.

Honeycomb is a NuSun (NS) type of sunflower variety. Developed in the 1990s, NuSun varieties do not require hydrogenation, which is the process by which liquid vegetable oils are converted into solid or semi-solid fats for use in the frying process. NuSun varieties now make up the largest volume of sunflower oil in Canada and the United States.

Sunflower growers who are familiar with sunflower varietal lines may find it interesting that Honeycomb NS and AC60 both share the same female parent, public variety CM595A. Honeycomb NS’s parentage also includes

RHA476 and, as a result, it is also a public variety. For the 2017 season, Quarry Seeds of Manitoba entered into a long-term agreement with North Dakota State University as the supplier of Honeycomb NS seed. The variety has been so well received that the supply of seed for 2017 is sold out.

Anyone interested in learning more about Honeycomb NS should attend the 2017 Sunflower Field Day at Indian Head on August 10. Field tours will start at 1 p.m., and will include varietal trials, plant density studies and sunflower varietal responses to salinity.

Checking the Guide to Crop Protection will tell producers the registered stage of the crop for a chemical application. Also check the chemical product label for the pre harvest interval. Pre-harvest intervals may be different for products and individual crops they are registered on. To maintain the ability to use all our tools for crop production, we need to ensure that the tools are being used correctly.

Residue testing on harvested material is improving all the time; the technology can now identify residues for most products in parts per million. To put that in perspective, one part per million is the equivalent of 1,260 wheat seeds per Super B-load of grain or the seed from 49 plants per load. For wheat, the average number of plants per acre is over one million, and it only requires 49 plants to provide a detectable part per million level, so ensure that the correct staging and product are used.

Remember: even though that product is registered for use, the end user may not want it. Talking to your grain marketing representative beforehand is important because the maximum residue levels may be set by the grain companies and/or each end-user, such as local companies or importing countries.

CROPS

Contact Sherri Roberts, Regional Crops Specialist, at 306-848-2856 or [email protected].

FOR MORE INFO

Sherri Roberts, AAgRegional Crops Specialist, WeyburnRegional Services Branch

Kale Wilson, BSA, PAg, CCARegional Crops Specialist, Swift CurrentRegional Services Branch

Consult the Guide to Crop Protection; orContact a Regional Crops Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office.

FOR MORE INFO

The Honeycomb NS variety tolerates Saskatchewan’s climate and soils. It is a NuSun variety that does not require hydrogenation.

4 AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2017


Winter cereals have the potential to be a profitable crop—they are high yielding and often avoid pests like wheat midge and fusarium head blight—but trying to seed a crop and harvest other crops at the same time can be a daunting task. Many or all of these logistical challenges can be overcome by planning ahead.

Ideally, start winter wheat or fall rye planning at the same time as spring seeding plans. It helps to know where the winter cereal will go, so those fields get seeded earlier to facilitate timely seeding of the winter crop in the fall. Even in summer, there are preparations that can be made to get a winter cereal crop off to a successful start.

First, pick a suitable field. Optimal seeding dates range from late August in the north to early September in the south, so a field that will be harvested earlier is better. The deadline for insurance coverage is September 15.

Winter cereals should be planted into canola or mustard stubble. These stubbles are a good rotation option and trap snow, insulating the soil and protecting the crop. Other stubbles, including barley and oats, can suffice; however, green cereal volunteers should be controlled and neighbouring fields allowed to turn yellow to break the green bridge that can lead to wheat streak mosaic virus.

Next, inspect and service the seeder. Seed should be on the farm and ready to go into the ground. Plan ahead for weed control. Getting these all in

place in the summer will help concurrent seeding and harvest operations go smoothly.

Review winter wheat production manuals and factsheets so that adjustments can be made if something unexpected occurs. For example, a common concern is dry soil in fall. Winter cereals can survive dry soils—it is not recommended to wait for rain; get the seed in the ground.

Managing seeding and harvest operations at the same time is no small feat, but there are often mornings with a heavy dew or slight rain showers that will require harvest be delayed longer than seeding.

Once winter cereals become a part of the rotation, harvesting operations are spread out, and the high demands for spring seeding are reduced. The first season with any new crop will be challenging, but it gets easier. It all starts with planning.

The cabbage seedpod weevil continues to expand east and north across Saskatchewan. The most severe infestations are in the southwest, but economic levels exist north of the South Saskatchewan River and as far east as Regina.

Canola and brown and oriental mustard should be monitored for cabbage seedpod weevils (Yellow mustard is resistant to the weevil). Adult weevils are best monitored using a sweep net in the field. Keep in mind that several weevil species are found in field margins; most feed on weeds and are not a concern to producers.

Sampling should begin when the crop enters bud stage and continue through the flowering period. Take sweep net samples in 10 locations (i.e. 10 180-degree sweeps) within each field, ensuring that both the perimeter and interior of the field are sampled. Count the number of weevils in each sweep. The recommended economic threshold is an average of two adults per sweep when canola is at 10 to 20 per cent bloom.

The 2017 wheat midge forecast map indicates high risk areas across the province. Producers in eastern and north-central regions are familiar with wheat midge infestations, but the 2016 fall survey also found areas of high

Time to scout for insect pests in canola, mustard and spring wheat

Planning for winter cereals – keep the logistics logical

CROPS

risk in southern regions, including the southwest where wheat midge are not an issue in most years. Wet conditions later in the 2016 growing season favoured the wheat midge in many areas.

In areas on the forecast map indicating levels greater than 1,200 midge per square metre, the risk is high; however, under favourable environmental conditions, even areas with over 600 wheat midge per square metre could result in significant damage and yield loss to conventional spring wheat.

To determine midge populations and, most importantly, the timing of an insecticide application, growers are urged to monitor when wheat is susceptible to wheat midge—when the wheat head becomes visible (as the boot splits) until mid-flowering (anthesis). Regular field scouting on multiple nights in succession is important to understand wheat midge population changes in a particular field. High temperatures and high winds tend to reduce activity of egg-laying female midge.

One midge per eight to 10 wheat heads is the recommended threshold to protect grade and one midge per four or five wheat heads is the economic threshold to protect yield.

Refer to the cabbage seedpod weevil and wheat midge forecast maps at www.saskatchewan.ca/agriculture;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 www.saskatchewan.ca/agriculture and search for “winter wheat;”Refer to the University of Saskatchewan’s winter wheat production manual at www.usask.ca/agriculture; orRefer to the Alberta Wheat Commission’s winter wheat production manual at www.growwinterwheat.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

Scott Hartley, PAgProvincial Specialist, Insect and Vertebrate PestsCrops and Irrigation Branch

Mitchell Japp, MSc, PAgProvincial Specialist, Cereal CropsCrops and Irrigation Branch

Erin Campbell, MSc, PAgRegional Crops Specialist, North BattlefordRegional Services Branch

5AGRIVIEW | JULY/AUGUST 2017


Oil samples were transferred onto filter paper disks which were left to dry for an hour in a fume hood. Pupae were put into small open petri dishes and those dishes were sealed inside larger petri dishes that also contained one of the paper disks. The exposed bee cells were incubated normally

along with untreated control cells, and the percent emergence of adult bees was determined. The researchers found that four of the essential oil treatments (caraway, clove, rosemary and thyme) yielded adult bee emergence levels not significantly different from the untreated controls.

In a similar experiment, the researchers exposed parasitized bees cells to disks saturated with the four oils to determine their ability to control chalcid parasites. Caraway, clove and thyme oil vapour were shown to produce significantly lower levels of parasite emergence (66 to 90 per cent lower) compared to the untreated controls.

Further research was done to examine the ability of certain volatile organic compounds, to mimic compounds emitted by bee cells and thus attract chalcid parasites searching for hosts. All the compounds were effective and were shown to have potential use in the development of a system to trap female chalcid parasites during the spring incubation and field seasons.

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 agricultural sector.

In 2017, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada committed $11.1 million in new funding for 70 ADF research projects through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

Development of new strategies to control parasites and disease in alfalfa leafcutter bee populations

The alfalfa leafcutter bee is a little-known but economically important insect that is raised not to produce honey but to pollinate crops. In Saskatchewan, it is estimated that there are 25,000 leafcutter bees per acre pollinating 40,000 to 50,000 acres of alfalfa grown for seed.

Saskatchewan’s leafcutter bee population doubles each year, with the excess being sold to hybrid canola seed producers in Alberta, alfalfa seed producers in the northwestern United States and lowbush blueberry producers in Eastern Canada. Saskatchewan beekeepers export $10 to $12 million-worth of bees each year, and the value of the alfalfa seed they pollinate in the province is between $15 and $18 million per year.

While the leafcutter bee population is healthy and growing, the bees do face significant threats from a number of factors. Chalcid parasites (Pteromalus venustus), which parasitize bee larvae, are a major problem, particularly during the spring bee incubation period, and chalkbrood disease (Ascosphaera aggregata) is currently causing significant losses in many U.S. alfalfa leafcutter bee populations.

With an investment from the Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) and in-kind help from Saskatchewan alfalfa seed producers, the research team at the Saskatchewan Alfalfa Seed Producers Development Commission set out to develop new parasite- and disease-control strategies to keep Saskatchewan’s leafcutter bees healthy, productive and contributing to seed production.

Chalcid parasitesIn their first project, the researchers wanted to explore using essential oils to control the chalcid parasite. These parasites have traditionally been controlled with dichlorvos, an organophosphate chemical implicated in leafcutter bee mortality and under scrutiny by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. Eight essential oils were selected for evaluation based on their possession of specific volatile organic compounds with the potential to repel the parasites: anise (trans-anethole), clove (eugenol), caraway (limonene/carvone), peppermint (menthone/iso-menthol), coriander (linalool), rosemary (alpha-pinene/ 1,8-cineol), dill (limonene/carvone) and thyme (thymol/para-cymene).

RESEARCH

Visit Saskatchewan.ca and search for ADF; then enter the report number 20130059 into the search function.

FOR MORE INFO

Three colonies of the fungus Clonostachys rosea suppressing an Ascosphaera larvis colony 72 hours after the spores were placed on the culture media.

Caged trials within a growth chamber environment using flowering buckwheat plants treated with spores of one of the candidate antagonistic fungi.



He didn’t know how many of his cows had been exposed to the battery lead or how many more cows would die. The economic loss for him was significant, and there was the ongoing worry about lead residue in the exposed cows. Not only did he lose valuable cows, he now wanted to blood-test his remaining cows for lead exposure to ensure they would not pose a human food safety risk if they entered the food system. The cost of blood lead testing was $40 per animal, plus the logistics and costs of handling cattle and hiring a veterinarian to take the samples.

Even cows that show no signs of lead poisoning may have ingested substantial amounts of lead and could have tissue lead levels considered unsuitable for human consumption. It is not known how long lead-exposed cattle need to be held before they can be safely marketed or even if they can ever be marketed for human consumption. As well, if the exposed cow was pregnant and the calf survived, the calf may have tissue lead levels that affect its survival, fertility and marketability.

Unfortunately, this cattle producer’s story is not uncommon. Cattle like the salty taste of batteries and will readily lick and chew them. Pieces of the battery can get lodged in the cow’s stomach where they slowly dissolve.

Producers can prevent lead exposure by ensuring that:

• Batteries are not left out in the open;

• Cattle are not allowed to graze around old machinery and abandoned buildings; and

• New pastures are always closely inspected for batteries, shingles, lead-based paint and old tar paper.

This cattle producer hopes that, by sharing his experience, he can help prevent similar losses for other producers.

female to her offspring or to other animals exposed to the birth environment. Newborn lambs and kids are very susceptible to infection. Other animals become infected by eating or licking scrapie-contaminated materials. Apparently healthy animals carrying the disease can also spread it to other animals.

Although scrapie is relatively rare in Saskatchewan, it is detected occasionally. At the time of writing, there is one sheep farm under federal quarantine due to a confirmed case of scrapie. Sheep over 12 months of age that are slaughtered in provincial abattoirs are tested as part of a national scrapie surveillance program; however, this particular case was identified by a veterinarian in a ewe that was still on-farm. This is the first case of classical scrapie detected in Saskatchewan in several years.

What can you do to help eradicate scrapie from Canada? Producers can consider selective breeding for genetic resistance to scrapie. Keeping a closed flock, purchasing animals from flocks or herds enrolled in a scrapie flock certification program, and participating in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (www.scrapiecanada.ca/certification) are also recommended.

Scrapie in Saskatchewan sheep and goats

A beef cattle producer from southern Saskatchewan contacted the Ministry’s Animal Health Unit in February after discovering 13 of his beef cows lying dead in a pasture. He had no idea that this pasture, which he recently purchased for his 270 beef cows, was contaminated with batteries containing lead.

Scrapie is a fatal disease of the central nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is one of a group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). Other TSEs include bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk. Like these other TSEs, scrapie is a federally reportable disease.

There are two forms of scrapie—classical and atypical. Atypical scrapie is thought to be a spontaneous condition of older sheep and does not spread to other animals. Classical scrapie can be transmitted to other animals. According to Health Canada, there is no known link between scrapie and human health.

Scrapie develops slowly, and symptoms include changes in general behaviour, tremors, incoordination, wasting and weakness. Symptoms are only seen in adult animals, usually between two and five years of age. Once symptoms appear, death will follow within a few months.

Scrapie is spread through exposure to scrapie-infected animals and their contaminated environment. It is most commonly spread from an infected

Go to www.inspection.gc.ca and search for “scrapie.”FOR MORE INFO

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

FOR MORE INFO

Lead exposure – one beef producer’s experience

LIVESTOCK

Dr. LeeAnn Forsythe, DVM, MVetScDisease Surveillance VeterinarianLivestock Branch

Dr. Wendy Wilkins, DVM, PhDDisease Surveillance VeterinarianLivestock Branch

Keep cattle from grazing around old machinery and abandoned buildings where they might find discarded lead batteries.



“With so many misconceptions and myths surrounding agriculture, I wanted to show how food comes from real farms with real people,” she said. Amanda notes that, as fewer people are producing their own food today, fewer people are aware of where their food comes from and how it is produced. Amanda feels it is important to share her food story to let others know that “their food comes from hard-working and dedicated producers who do their best to provide safe, healthy and nutritious food, all while striving to take care of their land and animals for future generations.”

Agriculture has always been a significant part of her life and will continue to play an important role. From a young age, Amanda has been driven by her curiosity and desire to learn more and to understand ‘why.’ In 2014, she was selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa, in which more than 200 exceptional high school students from across the world participate. At the Global Youth Institute, students have the opportunity to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and discuss food security and agricultural issues. It was here that Amanda really discovered her passion to find solutions to feeding the growing population.

Through education, Amanda hopes to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of ways technology can continue to help the advancement of agriculture. She hopes to be part of the solution to feed the world’s nine billion people by the year 2050.

Amanda has always been actively involved in extra-curricular activities in addition to helping out on her family’s farm. For the past six years, Amanda has been a part of her school’s student representative council, where she most recently held the position of president. Amanda is a member of her local 4-H club where she also plays a leadership role. She has represented the club at the Prairieland Leadership Conference three times. Amanda has played on a variety of sports teams and has also been involved as a coach and referee. Amanda’s enthusiasm, willingness to help and leadership skills have benefited the communities of Frontier and Bracken. With a positive attitude and strong work ethic, Amanda has been an excellent role model for her classmates as well as the younger students at the school, noted her former principal at Frontier School.

Amanda will be attending the University of Saskatchewan this fall to study agronomy. She is looking forward to new challenges that will combine her passion for agriculture with her love of learning.

PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Grand-Prize Scholarship winner, Amanda Mitchell

Amanda’s food story begins in Bracken, where she lives and works with her family on their grain farm. Through her winning video submission, Amanda takes her viewers on a journey as she tells the story of a piece of bread, showcasing her farm’s role in wheat production from seeding to harvest and beyond. Amanda wanted to connect agriculture to food. She also wanted to highlight advancements in agriculture that allow her family’s farm to feed over 120 people. That’s 12 times more than the average farm could feed in 1900.

Scholarship winner inspired to feed the world’s growing population

Visit Saskatchewan.ca/thinkag. FOR MORE INFO

For the seventh consecutive year, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has offered the Agriculture Student Scholarship to students who thinkAG. A grand-prize scholarship of $4,000 and three runner-up scholarships of $2,000 are awarded to Grade 12 students or recent high school graduates (within the past two years) who are entering agriculture-related post-secondary studies.

This year’s scholarship encouraged young student leaders to share their passion for Saskatchewan agriculture by submitting a creative video or well-researched fact-based essay with the theme ‘Our Food Has a Story.’ Students were asked to share how their experiences on a farm or ranch, or in an agricultural food business, created a chapter in a food story and how they were already sharing their food story, or what they hoped to learn through post-secondary education that would shape it. Students were also required to provide proof of acceptance and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, agricultural industry leader or community leader.

The agriculture and agri-food industry is bursting with career opportunities—from production, research and processing to manufacturing, finance and everything in between. In fact, the industry accounts for over 50,000 jobs across the province and it continues to grow. The scholarship program allows the Ministry to identify young AGvocates and leverage their passion to tell the story of Saskatchewan agriculture.

Amanda wanted to connect agriculture to food.

Jalaine ThibaultMarketing InternCommunications Branch




Scholarship runners-up

Inspired by her strong love for animals and agriculture, Rachael’s food story video showcases her family’s dairy farm in Osler. Rachael’s food story began back in 1974, when her grandparents started the dairy farm where she currently works with her uncles, caring for 190 cattle. At Enns’ farm, they are dedicated to operating a safe and healthy environment for both their animals and their employees.

Rachael’s video highlights the many people who play an important role in her food story. From the grain farmers who produce the cattle’s diet, the veterinarians who provide health care,

the individuals who test, pasteurize and process the milk, and the drivers who deliver the milk to stores.

In September, Rachael will be studying animal science at the University of Saskatchewan. Rachael cares deeply for animals and, with her education, she wants to improve animal care and production practices by looking at housing, nutrition and breeding. Sustainability is also important to Rachael, so she will be seeking ways to produce more product with less of an impact on the environment.

“I have always wanted to study animal science. I am excited to learn more about how I can improve animal care through my studies,” Rachael said.

Rachael wants to make sure Canada is producing enough milk to meet the demands of a growing population, and believes that a productive dairy animal is the solution. Rachael enjoys working with newborn dairy calves, ensuring they are healthy and helping them to grow. At the end of the day, Rachael feels good knowing she has made a difference.

Rachael Enns

Brayden’s experiences both on and off the farm have shaped his personal food story. With a passion for food security, Brayden wants to learn how to maximize food production in an efficient, economic and environmentally friendly way.

Brayden works part-time on his family’s farm near Churchbridge. Having been out on the farm with his dad since before he could walk, agriculture has always been a part of Brayden’s life. Brayden says his perception of the world has been shaped by his experiences on the family farm. Food security is important to Brayden as he believes that, as a society, we have

a responsibility to help others who aren’t as fortunate. “If we can do our part to help out, we should,” he said.

In Brayden’s food story essay, he emphasizes that a food story isn’t always just about the food’s journey from the seed to the supermarket, but that it can also be about the people who are making a difference in the industry.

In 2016, Brayden was selected to attend the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute in Iowa, where he was one of four Canadians in a group of over 200 students. As a group, they discussed ways to overcome current food security issues around the world. The experience helped shape Brayden’s interest to pursue future studies in this area.

Brayden is attending the University of Saskatchewan in September to work toward his Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. He would recommend a career in agriculture to others, as it is always changing and the complexity of the industry offers so many different areas of opportunity.

Brayden Fraser

Dena grew up in a family that has always enjoyed experimenting with food; they even built a smokehouse and make their own sausage. Though she currently lives in Regina, she spent a lot of time growing up on her grandparent’s farm, and still continues to help out during the summer.

Dena’s goal is to help produce enough food to feed the growing population in a way that respects and cares for the environment. In Dena’s food story video, she explains the impact agriculture has on the world and how it has influenced her goal. Recently graduated from Riffel

High School in Regina, Dena will continue her studies at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall, where she will work toward degrees in crop science and food and bioproduct science.

Initially, Dena had considered a career as a professional chef, but attending a thinkAG career event opened her eyes to new possibilities. Dena was hooked instantly; inspired by the idea that she could contribute to making a difference.

“I want to help find ways to produce healthier, more affordable food for everyone,” she said.

This fall, Dena is looking forward to meeting new people, experiencing a change in location, and learning more about food and bioproduct science. Dena Lamb

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Amanda, Rachael, Dena and Brayden .



Charlotte Ward, PAgRegional Forage SpecialistYorkton

Lorne Klein, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, WeyburnRegional Services Branch

OPPORTUNITY indicates how much time plants have for growth prior to grazing or for regrowth after grazing. Full growth or recovery enables plants to meet their nutrient and growth requirements during the growing season and allows them to mitigate the impacts of relatively high grazing intensity or frequency.

The overall GRI rating of a pasture is the sum of the frequency, intensity and opportunity index values, which represents the expected response of the plants to the current grazing management system. A positive rating indicates that management is beneficial to plant health, structure and vigour. A negative rating indicates that management is detrimental to plant health if continued over the long term. A zero rating is neutral. Using the GRI rating, pasture managers can adjust their grazing management to achieve a more sustainable operation.

To see how your tame pastures score using the GRI, the factsheet, ‘Grazing Response Index (GRI): an adapted method for tame forages’, can be found on the Saskatchewan Forage Council website (www.saskforage.ca) under the Grazing Resources tab.

The Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies program is funded under Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.

the first winter. Silage probes will accurately determine moisture content, and commercial dryers are available, or producers can assemble their own dryer systems with a plastic 20-litre pail, metal cake pan, hair dryer and digital scale.

The initial phase of ensiling requires plant sugars called water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Some grass species and barley are naturally higher in WSC than alfalfa, and are therefore easier to ensile. Alfalfa also has a high calcium content, which causes it to resist fermentation. Alfalfa can be ensiled, but it requires greater attention to detail.

Good bale silage requires the following:

• Correct staging of barley crop;

• Rapid wilting of crop from cutting to baling;

• Minimal soil contamination from harvesting equipment or rain splash;

• Dense bales;

• Prompt wrapping; and

• An air-tight seal on the bag.

Two excellent silage resources are the “Baled Silage Production” factsheet available from Manitoba Agriculture (www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture) and the silage manual that can be purchased from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (www.agric.gov.ab.ca) for $15.

Moisture content is critical to getting good bale silage

The Grazing Response Index (GRI) is an easy-to-use tool designed to help pasture managers understand how plants respond to grazing. Unfortunately, the tool was developed for native rangeland and didn’t work particularly well on tame pastures. To address this shortcoming, the Saskatchewan Forage Council, Ducks Unlimited Canada and partners obtained Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) funding to adapt the tool to tame pastures by making slight adjustments to the scoring method.

The GRI uses three factors – grazing frequency, grazing intensity and opportunity for plant recovery – to evaluate the impact of grazing management on plant health.

FREQUENCY refers to the number of times forage plants are defoliated during a grazing period. Each time a plant is grazed, its energy bank is reduced. If reduced too much, the plant loses vigour, regrowth capacity and stress tolerance.

INTENSITY measures how much leaf material has been removed during the grazing period. The primary concern is the amount of green leaf area remaining after grazing, which affects the plant’s ability to recover.

Storing forage as bale silage rather than dry hay can significantly reduce weathering losses, speed up harvest and avoid poor drying conditions. A main consideration with bale silage is the increased manpower required to get bales wrapped quickly. Bales need to be hauled and wrapped within two hours when temperatures are higher than 20 C and within four to 12 hours when temperatures are 10 to 15 C. Even just waiting overnight to wrap bales can lead to significant quality losses. For proper ensiling, it is essential that oxygen be eliminated as quickly as possible.

A plant moisture content of 45 to 50 per cent is critical to proper ensiling and long-term storage. Bales with a moisture content of less than 40 per cent will be less dense, reducing fermentation and increasing the risk of mould. These bales may keep if oxygen is eliminated, but they must be fed during the first winter. Bales with a moisture content above 60 per cent will be excessively heavy. They may also sour due to excess butyric acid, have liquid effluent at the bottom of the bale and freeze in storage. They also must be fed during

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Contact Trevor Lennox, Regional Forage Specialist, at 306-778-8294 or [email protected].

FOR MORE INFO

Contact Charlotte Ward, Regional Forage Specialist at 306-786-1608 or [email protected], or Lorne Klein, Regional Forage Specialist at 306-848-2382 or [email protected]; orCall the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

FOR MORE INFO

Assessing plant health on tame pastures

Trevor Lennox, MAg, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, Swift CurrentRegional Services Branch

Silage bales must be wrapped quickly to avoid quality losses.



Options for Pain ManagementStep 1 to manage pain in either case is to perform the procedure as early as possible. In younger animals, testicles are not as developed and horn buds are not attached, so the experiences are less distressing. In some

cases, however, it is not practical to dehorn or castrate at a young age, so the next best option is to provide the animal with pain relief.

Producers should consult with their veterinarians before deciding on the pain relief product that will work best for their operations. There are a couple fast-acting options available, such as Metacam® 20 and Meloxicam Oral Suspension, that are similar to Aspirin and Tylenol. The more comfortable calves are after these procedures, the more likely they are to head to their mothers for milk or to the feed bunk, potentially leading to improved weight gains. Livestock producers who have used pain management on their operations have noticed a positive difference in the health and wellbeing of their animals as they resumed their normal activities sooner.

A great resource for background information on available pain management products is the Compendium of Veterinary Products which is found online at https://cca.naccvp.com.

three weeks into the growing season can delay flowering or fruit-fill by up to three weeks. This can be important if the landowner wants to postpone a herbicide application until labour or equipment are available.

Aspen and Balsam Poplar (Populus tremuloides and Populus balsamifera)

Poplars are fast-growing trees, so mowing must be done early—within two or three seasons of emergence. Once a poplar grows beyond 1.5 metres, many mowers will have difficulty cutting it down. Repeated mowing will be necessary unless followed up with a herbicide application.

Bark scraping involves dragging a series of bars over trees to remove strips of bark in order to cut off the flow of nutrients from the root to the rest of the tree. It is more effective in a stand of larger shrubs or smaller trees than in a dense bluff of smaller shrubs.

Wolf Willow (Eleagnus commutata)

Wolf willow (aka silverberry) is a nitrogen-fixing shrub that can form dense stands like the western snowberry. Control is generally not economically effective and may not significantly increase forage production, as it eliminates the nitrogen-fixing value of the shrub.

Pain relief: what it means for you and your cattle

Timing is important when it comes to mechanical brush control

Livestock producers recognize that management practices such as dehorning and castration, while they are necessary for animal welfare, are painful. When the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle was revised by producers and industry in 2013, the most up-to-date pain management techniques were incorporated.

DehorningDehorning is important for both animal and human safety as horns can cause injury to other animals and livestock handlers. Reduced aggression at the feed bunk is also associated with dehorning. When animals with the genetics to grown horns are born, they have what is called a horn “bud” which attaches to the skull and begins to grow at approximately two or three months of age. If the animal is being dehorned beyond this age (i.e. after the bud has attached), the producer is required to use pain control.

CastrationCastration is also an unpleasant experience for animals, although it is necessary to reduce aggression towards humans and other cattle, prevent unwanted reproduction and improve meat quality. Since 2016, pain control has been required when castrating bulls older than nine months and, in 2018, the age limit moves to six months.

Research over the last 50 years has shown that controlling brush mechanically can be effective but timing is very important. Forcing the shrub to expend energy on regrowth when it is most vulnerable will eventually kill the plant.

Western Snowberry or Buckbrush (Symphocarpus occidentalis)

Western snowberry is most susceptible to mowing:

• in the early spring until mid-April to early June, shortly after the leaves have unfurled;

• in mid-July to early August when the fruit is filling in; and

• in early September to late October as the shrub is growing roots and buds in preparation for winter.

Mowing at these times will deplete the plant’s energy reserves and weaken it. Plants should be mowed at least twice in the season, but three times will produce the best results.

Mowing can also be used to adjust the timing of herbicide application. Once the plant is mowed, it has to restart development so, for example, mowing

Contact the Agricultural Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.FOR MORE INFO

Contact a Regional Livestock Specialist at a nearby Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office; orVisit the Beef Cattle Research Centre’s website at www.beefresearch.ca.

FOR MORE INFO

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Andre Bonneau, PAg Regional Forage Specialist, Prince AlbertRegional Services Branch

Natasha Wilkie, PAgRegional Livestock Specialist, WeyburnRegional Services Branch

Practices like castration and dehorning are necessary but painful.



A first step in the development of a grazing management plan is the completion of range and riparian health assessments. These assessments evaluate the ability of pastures to produce forage, capture water, prevent soil erosion and cycle nutrients. It is like giving your pasture a health checkup. “It really does work,” comments Nikki.

The Farm Stewardship Program was funded under the federal-provincial-territorial Growing Forward 2 initiative.

defoliated. These deep-rooted grasses and shrubs are important in protecting the soil against erosion. Healthy above-ground vegetation catches sediment and reduces the velocity of flood water and surface run-off.

Where producers have found it difficult to manage the amount and timing of grazing in these riparian areas, they have built fences to keep cattle out completely. Fencing the riparian area to exclude cattle and building off-site watering systems ensures the riparian area is protected. Overgrazing a riparian area, or grazing at the wrong time of the year, can result in the native grasses and shrubs being reduced or eliminated. This exposes the soil to erosion and allows non-native plants like Canada thistle, foxtail barley and quackgrass to establish.

Some of the negative effects of grazing riparian areas may have initially occurred many years ago when the importance and function of riparian areas were not as well understood. Today, many livestock producers are helping to maintain or improve streambank and shoreline stability and vegetation by managing the timing and intensity of grazing in these valuable areas.

Grazing best management practices: a success story

Keeping riparian areas healthy

“It saved us so much feed cost,” is Nikki and Alan Banks’ comment about the positive effects the changes in their grazing management had on their now-retired commercial sheep operation. Like many livestock producers, the Banks operated on a limited land base and wanted to sustainably produce more livestock. The answers came through the implementation of the four basic grazing management principles:

1. Balance livestock demand with the available forage supply;

2. Distribute livestock evenly over the pasture and reduce selective grazing;

3. Alternate periods of grazing with periods of regrowth, with regrowth occurring during the active growing periods; and

4. Defer grazing during sensitive or vulnerable periods.

Although forage supply and demand was balanced, the Banks noticed that their 160-acre paddocks gave animals ample opportunity to be selective in their grazing, thus creating over- and under-used patches. If uneven grazing patterns are allowed to continue over time, plant composition in over-used patches can shift to less-desirable grazing species, while under-used patches may be dominated by old growth, which further discourages grazing in those areas. Tools such as fencing, water development and strategic salt and mineral placement can be used to modify grazing habits and to better distribute the grazing load across a paddock.

With the support of the Farm Stewardship Program, the Banks used cross-fencing as their main tool to distribute grazing pressure more evenly. Over a number of years, paddocks ranging from 20 to 60 acres were established. Animals were moved more frequently and stayed in one paddock only weeks instead of months. By increasing the number of paddocks, the Banks also increased the amount of rest the remaining paddocks received, which improved the health and productivity of the forage. With more available forage production, paddocks could be grazed twice while still leaving room for stockpiled forage for late-season grazing.

One part of the pasture that is getting more attention from producers these days is the riparian area. Riparian areas are the transition zones between land and water environments. They are the narrow strips of land along creeks and rivers and around sloughs and lakes.

Although these areas only take up a small portion of the entire landscape of a watershed, they perform many valuable functions. Riparian areas act to filter run-off, reduce excessive erosion, recharge ground water and provide valuable habitat for wildlife and forage for livestock.

All riparian areas have vegetation and soils that are strongly influenced by water. Riparian areas stay greener longer and produce more forage than uplands due to the higher soil moisture. Livestock producers, more than anybody, know the value of these areas.

To protect riparian areas, producers keep cattle out of these areas while the soil is soft and wet in the spring. They also manage the grazing intensity in these areas so that the grasses and shrubs growing there are not severely

LIVESTOCK

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

FOR MORE INFO

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

FOR MORE INFO

Allan Foster, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, TisdaleRegional Services Branch

Nadia Mori, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, WatrousRegional Services Branch

The coloured lines represent paddocks ranging from 20 to 60 acres designed to spread grazing more evenly across the field.




Producers have flexibility to complete program information online or to file electronic copies of completed AgriStability forms. The ’send a file’ feature allows participants to attach supporting documentation, such as sales receipts. Information submitted through AgConnect enters SCIC’s computer system immediately. This allows for work on the file to begin much sooner, resulting in quicker processing of a producer’s application.

AgConnect also gives contact persons, such as accountants and form preparers, the ability to view every AgriStability participant that has listed them as their contact. From that list the contact can select any of 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 have access to AgConnect, work can be done simultaneously and each person can review any changes that have been made.

Access AgConnect and CropConnectTo access AgConnect and/or CropConnect, please call your local Crop Insurance office at 1-888-935-0000. We have a great team who can help get your AgConnect and CropConnect accounts activated. We also have experts who can provide advice and instruction to help you effectively use these features.

Reporting stored grainProviding stored grain information results in more accurate claim payments. While the deadline to submit completed Stored Grain Declaration has passed (June 25), SCIC still wants you to report your stored grain. If there are changes to your stored grain inventory after June 25, contact your local Crop Insurance office to update the information. Updates must be made before harvest begins. Additional forms and information are available at your local Crop Insurance office or you can file online with CropConnect.

With the redesigned CropConnect, customers can enter stored grain information online from a home computer or mobile device. This added flexibility provides producers the opportunity to report stored grain information at their convenience, knowing once it is entered online, by the deadline, SCIC will have the right information to accurately assess any future claims.

AgConnect and CropConnect

Taking a collaborative approach to wheat research

As we enter one of the busiest times of year for the Saskatchewan agriculture industry finding a way to complete all the work can be extremely challenging. Understanding the time crunch facing today’s farmers and ranchers, SCIC has tried to make conducting business as simple as possible. With CropConnect and AgConnect producers can conduct their Crop Insurance and AgriStability business when it works for them. From the cab of a tractor, kitchen table or the farm office, SCIC’s online tools give Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers the functionality and accessibility they’ve been looking for.

CropConnectAll the traditional paper work, which has been a part of the Crop Insurance Program, can be reduced with CropConnect. From the start of the crop season producers can fill out endorsements, calculate premiums and coverage, input seeding and production information, file a claim, and view accounting statements. With CropConnect, completing a Seeded Acreage Report has never been simpler. This program saves producers time by having all of their historical data readily available, reducing the amount of forms that need to be filled out. When producers use CropConnect the information they enter goes directly into SCIC’s computer system. This reduces wait times and improves the efficiency for completing Crop Insurance business.

Another great aspect of CropConnect is it can be accessed at any time. That means whenever and from wherever it is most convenient for the producer. Just like with online banking, producers can access CropConnect from their tractor, in their truck or while working out in the field. CropConnect makes it easy for the producer to complete and submit Crop Insurance information at their own pace, from wherever they want, whenever they want. CropConnect also comes in a mobile application for customers using their smart phone.

AgConnectAgConnect lets the producer do all of their AgriStability business online. Let’s face it, these days working online is the easier way to go: no lines ups, no hassle of driving to town or trying to get to an office before business hours close. Producers can log into their secure AgConnect account and find all of their historical program information. This includes the annual Enrolment/Fee Notice, benefit history, record of form submissions and a detailed Calculation of Benefits. This is a great resource that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

The wheat industry brings tremendous value to Canada. There are, on average, 24 million seeded acres, producing more than 20 million tonnes of wheat, with an approximate value of $7 billion each year. In recent years, Saskatchewan farmers seeded, on average, 13.1 million acres and grew 14.5 million tonnes of wheat.

Wheat has always played a critical role in the life of Saskatchewan farms. It is easy to see why wheat research is a priority for farmers and why a large portion of check-off dollars are contributed to research.

Cereals Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are leading a Grains Round Table project that is designed to set national wheat research priorities and develop a National Wheat Research Strategy. The Canadian Wheat Research Task Group consists of public and private researchers, producers,

Visit the nearest Crop Insurance office;Call 1-888-935-0000; orGo to: www.saskcropinsurance.com.

FOR MORE INFO

Karen Churchill, PhDDirector of Research and Market Support Cereals Canada

public and private funders, exporters and processors. In June 2016, they proposed the first draft of a Canadian Wheat Research Strategy. The priorities identified for the research strategy include:

• Increase wheat yield potential (agronomy and genetics);

• Improve wheat yield reliability (focused on biotic and abiotic stress);

• Enhance cropping system sustainability and ensure the agronomic fit of wheat in a crop rotation;

• Continuously improve food safety; and

• Consistently deliver on customers’ quality needs and ensure access to markets.

This process brings together industry and the research community, strengthening networks and the lines of communication. These priorities will also be important to support the renewal of the wheat cluster and other wheat research initiatives within the agricultural policy framework.

Visit the Cereals Canada website at www.cerealscanada.ca. FOR MORE INFO



Kaeley Kindrachuk B.App.Sc., ATRegional Crops Specialist, OutlookRegional Services Branch

Stacey Spenst, PAgRegional Forage Specialist, KindersleyRegional Services Branch

Saskatchewan’s agri-food industry had another successful year in 2016, with export sales of $14.4 billion. This is the second-highest total in the province’s history, just 5.9 per cent lower than 2015’s record $15.3 billion. However, Saskatchewan remains one of Canada’s leaders in agri-food exports, roughly $380 million behind Ontario, the country’s top exporter in 2016. Agri-food exports continue to be the cornerstone of the province’s trade-based economy, accounting for over half of the province’s total export sales of $26.4 billion in 2016.

The province’s top three agricultural commodity sectors—oilseeds, pulses and cereals—all exceeded $3.5 billion in export sales. In 2016, oilseed exports grew almost 15 per cent compared to 2015, but the cereal and pulse sectors both saw their exports decline. In terms of export growth, canola and canola products were Saskatchewan’s top agricultural products in 2016. Saskatchewan shipped a combined total of $5.6 billion worth of canola seed, oil and meal to the world, an overall increase of over 60 per cent from 2015. Durum and non-durum wheat still continue to be among Saskatchewan’s top agricultural products, despite both experiencing declines of

Saskatchewan’s agri-food exports exceed $14 billion in 2016


approximately 30 per cent in 2016. The province exported $2.1 billion worth of lentils to the world, the second-highest total on record, despite a 16.1-per-cent drop in sales from 2015. With sales worth $1.3 billion in 2016, Saskatchewan’s pea exports increased almost 15 per cent, due primarily to increased sales to India and China.

The province’s challenging 2016 harvest had an effect on export sales. Seven of Saskatchewan’s top 15 agri-food export markets saw growth, but exports declined in more than half of our top export markets: the United States, India, Mexico, Bangladesh, Algeria, Italy, Peru and Indonesia. One of the largest decreases was in the Indian market, which declined in value by almost 30 per cent and in volume by more than 20 per cent, thanks in part to a nearly 50-per-cent decrease in lentil sales.

While Saskatchewan saw exports decline in 2016, the outlook for provincial exports remains optimistic as consumers and markets around the world continue to demand the high quality products for which Saskatchewan and Canada are renowned.

Visit Saskatchewan.ca and search for “ag international business.”FOR MORE INFO

The day is split into several stations:

1. Insect Identification and Scouting;

2. Disease Identification and Scouting;

3. Soil Fertility;

4. Nodulation;

5. Weed Management; and

6. Sprayer Technology.

All participants will have a chance to attend each station over the course of the day.

The one-day Crop Diagnostic School runs on July 25 and 26 at the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation. Registration is open online at www.prairiecca.ca.

What’s going on in my field?

Just like annual crops, perennial forage crops require adequate soil nutrient levels to produce maximum yields. When soil is deficient in nutrients, forage yields and plant vigour will start to decrease, leading to production losses and increased susceptibility to disease, pests, winterkill and invading species.

Nutrient deficiencies are often first noticed by visual indicators within a plant stand. Being able to detect and understand these indicators can be a handy tool in determining what nutrient may be lacking and how to remedy the issue. Soil and plant tissue tests are required to diagnose the exact issue and determine appropriate fertilizer recommendations, but recognizing the visual indications will give you a leg up on the initial diagnosis.

Unfortunately, a visual indication of a nutrient deficiency does not necessarily mean there is an actual deficiency. The issue may be caused by a variety of other reasons, including disease, insect, herbicide or environmental damage, or even a combination of these things. This is why it is important to consider all options when trying to diagnose a problem in a crop.

Crop diagnostics can sound overwhelming to some producers and new agronomists, as making a field or plant diagnosis usually takes multiple steps. Getting an accurate diagnosis can be as simple as knowing what questions to ask, and where to look for answers.

Often, symptoms seen in pictures taken in lab settings are very different from what they might look like in the field. The Crop Diagnostic School was created to help agronomists and producers learn and practice their diagnostic skills in a field setting. At the school, participants will have a chance to examine plants, pull weeds, sweep for insects and search for disease. Industry experts will be available to answer questions.

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

FOR MORE INFO

Ashli Andreas, BBAInternational Marketing InternTrade and Value-Added Branch

A Ministry agrologist leads producers through a disease scouting exercise at the 2016 Crop Diagnostic School.




Under Engagement, we will continue to help empower stakeholders with tools, resources and coordination to engage in strategic efforts to build awareness and take action on issues affecting public trust. Further, we will support the development of young agricultural leaders to amplify and sustain the effort to grow and promote the industry.

Enterprise efforts will work to create a culture of awareness across the three levels of government. By developing complementary policies, programs and messaging, governments can help build acceptance of and support for the sustained growth of the industry.

We all need to support Education to help both students and society better understand agriculture. Through Agriculture in the Classroom—who are experts in educating students and teachers—and Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan—whose audience is consumers, the Ministry will continue to fund and coordinate industry efforts to develop learning resources and experiences.

Our work will never be done, but as we all begin to see our roles, it will get easier. Many hands make light work when we all accept our responsibility to do the right thing and talk about it.

Agriculture Awareness Strategy gets a refresh

Saskatchewan Agriculture’s original Agriculture Awareness Strategy laid out a plan for all industry stakeholders to engage in awareness efforts under the pillars of Industry Organization and Engagement, Youth and Education, Enterprise Efforts and Advancing Nationally. Significant advances have been made in implementing the strategy: Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan has been established; industry members are sharing their stories with the encouragement and support of Agriculture More Than Ever; the reach of Agriculture in the Classroom’s programming and resources has been expanded; there is growing interest in agricultural careers, and post-secondary enrolments in agriculture-related studies are up; and building public trust has been made a priority under the Next Policy Framework.

We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a long row to hoe. When 58 per cent of Saskatchewan consumers aren’t sure all food in the grocery store is safe, there is clearly more work to do. Farmers and ranchers are considered trusted sources of information about food and farming; the Ministry’s job is to help you tell the story.

A ‘refresh’ of the strategy has more clearly defined the Ministry’s strategic role in building public trust in modern agriculture. With the new pillars of Engagement, Enterprise and Education, our focus now is on supporting the industry and educational experts in reaching their respective target audiences.

Contact Shelley Jones, Manager, Agriculture Awareness, at 306-787-4323 or [email protected].

FOR MORE INFO

The World Organisation for Animal Health, commonly referred to as the OIE, was in Canada from March 12 to 31 to perform an assessment of the country’s veterinary infrastructure. This assessment used the Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) toolkit, with the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code as the standard. The PVS evaluation supports the veterinary services, by identifying priorities for action; it is a tool for evaluation and continuous improvement.

This comprehensive review looked at four main areas of focus, divided into 47 critical competencies:

1. Human, physical and financial resources of the veterinary service, which included staffing levels, professional competencies, continuing education and emergency funding, among others.

2. Technical authority and capability, which included laboratory diagnosis and quality assurance, quarantine and border services, epidemiological surveillance and early disease detection, risk assessment, disease prevention and control, food safety, veterinary medicines and biologicals, residue testing, animal feed safety, identification and traceability and animal welfare.

Saskatchewan’s veterinary infrastructure gets an international assessment

3. Interaction with interested parties, which included communications, consultations, accreditation/delegation, veterinary statutory bodies, such as the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (SVMA) and participation by producers and others in joint programming.

4. Access to markets, which included legislation and regulations, international certification, equivalence agreements, transparency, zoning and compartmentalization.

In a federal system with shared responsibilities like Canada’s, this assessment included not only the federal veterinary service (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), but provincial veterinary infrastructure as well. Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Animal Health Unit provided detailed documentation and information ahead of the assessment. On March 22, one evaluator, John Weaver from New Zealand, spent the day in Saskatoon visiting the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative to assess wildlife disease surveillance, and Prairie Diagnostic Services to assess veterinary laboratory diagnostic quality.

The Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Sask Polytechnic were assessed as part of the evaluation of education of veterinarians and technologists. Lastly, the SVMA was evaluated as part of the assessment of veterinary competency and oversight.

This was an opportunity to have a third party evaluate the province’s veterinary infrastructure based on an international standard, and it will identify strengths and weakness, gaps and recommendations for improvement. The final report is expected this summer and will help the Ministry strategically focus future actions and resources.

Visit www.oie.int/support-to-oie-members/pvs-evaluations/oie-pvs-tool/.

FOR MORE INFO

Dr. Betty Althouse, DVMChief Veterinary OfficerLivestock Branch

Shelley JonesManager, Agriculture AwarenessRegional Services Branch



Events calendar

EVENTS | PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Date Event Location Phone Internet

July 5, 2017 Deadline to report seeded greenfeed acres Saskatchewan 1-888-935-0000 www.saskcropinsurance.com

July 13, 2017 2017 CSIDC Annual Irrigation Field Day and Tradeshow

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

July 18, 2017 Indian Head Crop Management Field Day Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF), Indian Head, SK

306-867-5506 www.iharf.ca

July 19-21, 2017 Ag in Motion (Western Canada Farm Expo) N.W. of Saskatoon, SK 1-800-563-5441 www.aginmotion.ca

July 21-23, 2017 2017 Grasslands Sheep Exhibition Humboldt Uniplex, Humboldt, SK

306-933-5200 www.sasksheepbreeders.com

July 25, 2017 Crop Diagnostic School Mervin, SK 1-866-457-2377 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca

July 26, 2017 Crop Diagnostic School Swift Current, SK 1-866-457-2377 www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca

August 25, 2017 Deadline to select winterkill coverage for fall rye and winter wheat

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

Agri-ARM sites are producer-directed applied research and demonstration plots located across Saskatchewan. They strive to research and demonstrate agricultural products and practices that are relevant to growers in their areas and across the province. They are supported by funds from Saskatchewan Agriculture and the federal-provincial Growing Forward 2 agreement.

The sites offer field days to give growers the opportunity to see the trials in action and also to interact with the professionals who are conducting the trials. This direct contact helps producers evaluate whether or not the product or practice is beneficial to their own farm operations. Plan on attending one or more Agri-ARM field days during July.

WESTERN APPLIED RESEARCH CORPORATION (WARC)

Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Scott Research Farm, Scott www.westernappliedresearch.com

WHEATLAND CONSERVATION AREA (WCA)

Thursday, July 13, 2017 WCA Research Farm, Swift Current www.wheatlandconservation.ca

IRRIGATION CROP DIVERSIFICATION CORPORATION (ICDC)

Thursday, July 13, 2017 CSIDC Research Farm, Outlook www.irrigationsaskatchewan.com/icdc/

EAST CENTRAL RESEARCH FARM (ECRF)

Thursday, July 13, 2017 East Central Research Farm, Yorkton www.ecrf.ca

INDIAN HEAD AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION (IHARF)

Tuesday, July 18, 2017 Indian Head Agriculture Research Farm, Indian Head www.harf.ca

SOUTH EAST RESEARCH FARM (SERF)

Wednesday, July 19, 2017 Redvers www.southeastresearchfarm.org

NORTHEAST AGRICULTURE RESEARCH FOUNDATION (NARF)

AND AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD CANADA

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 Melfort AAFC Research Station, Melfort www.neag.ca

Agri-ARM Field Days for 2017



2017 ag scholarship winner – amanda mitchell...kale wilson, bsa, pag, cca regional crops...

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