farm forum is online inside: agri-business goes global p. 16 … · 2010. 12. 8. · books using...

INSIDE: AgrI-buSINESS goES globAl

PluS:>>Technology: Put high-tech tools in their place

>>business: Say goodbye to written records>>Production: Know your custom operator

>>Farm life: Meet Lauren and Ryan Maurer

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coNTENTS >> PRint

meet lauren and ryan maurer2010 outstanding young farmers’ Program winners in the Saskatchewan region

Agri-business goes globalCanadian businesses take advantage of today’s global marketplace

Know your custom operatorReaping the benefits of outsourcing depends on choosing the right custom operator

FarmFOrUm voLuMe 25 | iSSue 1 | wINTEr 2011

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TEcHNology buSINESS ProDucTIoN FArm lIFE

10 14 20 22

4 Editor’s note: plan for a profitable growing season

5 Say goodbye to written records: better bookkeeping means trading pencil and paper for computer

6 Put high-tech tools in their place: gPS technology earns farm fans the old-fashioned way: in the field

16 KVD gives way quietly to declarations: affidavit system is no big deal for CWRS producers

FarmFOrUmwww.FArmForum.cA

PublisherBayer CropScience

EditorSherry Butt

Associate Editordave Wreford

contributorsJoy gregory, Clare Stanfield, Jennifer Barber, Kim Langen, gerald Pilger, angela Lovell and genesis Studio.

graphic Designaaron Mumby design

farm forum is published seasonally by Bayer CropScience.

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Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with written permission of the publisher, Bayer CropScience.

the views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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on the coveryouthful enthusiasm and a passion for farming are keys to this first generation farmer’s success.

He lives the dreamdownplay the negatives and relish the positives, says this first-generation grain grower who figures farming’s a great gig

coVEr STory

coNTENTS >> WeB FarmFOrUm.Ca

Aerial photos enhance gIS datathe switch to digital gives farmers “real pictures”

www.farmforum.ca/aerialphotos

controlled traffic farming gains groundSystem used in europe, new Zealand and australia cropping up in Canada

www.farmforum.ca/Ctfarming

wheat identification goes high techWith Kvd gone, talk turns to dna testing

www.farmforum.ca/wheatid

4 | faRM foRuM | WinteR 2011

s h o r t ta k e s

EDITor’S NoTEAs A new yeAr begins, it’s a great time to reflect on last year’s achieve-ments and disappointments and forge a fresh set of goals for the season ahead. In this issue we take a look at some tools to help you run your farm-ing operation more efficiently, give you a global ag perspective through Canadian agri-businesses and intro-duce you to two great examples of today’s progressive farm families.

If you’re still using pencil and pa-per to keep the books, it’s time to in-vest in a computer and small business software. These tools are no longer toys. They work: not only to save you time, but provide more compre-hensive financials to help you analyze and operate your business better.

While GPS is not new to farmers either, technological improvements and new applications are always coming out of the developmental pipeline. In our story on page 6, we take a look at how prairie farmers are using GPS and some of the new gadgets on the market.

Steve Larocque loves farming. He is just one example of a new breed of farmer who takes a positive atti-tude to his industry, has a hunger for new ideas and ways of getting things done, and leaves nothing to chance. See for yourself in our cover story on page 10.

Lauren and Ryan Maurer, Sas-katchewan’s 2010 Outstanding Young Farmers also possess these same winning attributes. The two have managed to blend the benefits of a large farming operation with small-farm service.

The trend to larger farms, along with rising equipment costs and la-bour shortages has prompted many farmers to hire custom operators to handle a variety of jobs such as seed-ing, spraying or harvesting. But reap-ing the economic and time-saving benefits of outsourcing depends on choosing the right custom operator for the job and your ability to devel-op good working relationships.

Finally, we take a look at Canadian agri-businesses and what it takes to op-erate successfully in other countries. FF

morE AT FArmForum.cAOur website, FArmFOrum.cA, is an integral part of this publication. Through additional online stories and links to related material on every article published in Farm Forum, our goal is to provide you with relevant information to help you oper-ate your farm better. We recently reviewed our website stats and discovered some interesting tidbits:

• 55% of visitors come from search engines, mainly Google• 25% of visitors come directly from the magazine or our online news• 20% of visitors come from other sites• 1.5% of visitors are now on mobile phones: iPhone and BlackBerry are

the top two• 2.23 pages are viewed, on average, per visit• 1.38 minutes is the average time spent on the site• 123 countries and 3,089 cities around the world visited farmforum.ca• The top subject areas, in order of interest are: technology, production,

business and farmlife• Of foreign countries, Switzerland spends the most time and reads the most

pages on the site. Ireland is a close second

We get a number of emails and phone calls regarding Farm Forum throughout the year, all of which help us improve the publication. We really enjoy the feedback so don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]. Thanks for reading Farm Forum. FF

JOAn cOOl dOesn’t usually talk specif-ics about commodity prices, input costs and application rates. But ask her how many tonnes of wheat, barley or canola she and husband Mike sold last year, and Cool has a lot to say. She can also go into detail on how she tracks grain inventory and capital assets, or calculates GST re-turns and financial statements. And why not? The 13-year veteran of computer re-cord keeping knows exactly where that in-formation is and how to put it to work on their 2,000-acre farm near Carseland, AB.

More than a decade after Cool comput-erized her farm books using Farm Credit Canada (FCC) AgExpert Analyst software, that package remains the only ag-business accounting software de-veloped specifically for Canadian farmers.

Farmer, accountant and AgExpert advi-sor and trainer Janet Nielsen likes that it’s easy to use, facilitates GST reports and fil-ing, tracks the inven-tory data needed to file reports for programs like AgriStability, and produces capital asset reports for tax and busi-ness planning. It also helps calculate net worth reports based on fair market value — numbers banks want to see before they approve loans.

But it’s not the only program that can be applied to a farm business. Ted Ni-bourg, a business management specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural De-velopment, says small business software like QuickBooks or Simply Accounting have their place in farm businesses, es-pecially if users rely on accountants to help them complete GST or AgriStability forms. For those who want to do more of that work themselves, QuickBooks PRO even offers what Nibourg calls “a good

inventory component” that’s helpful with AgriStability documentation.

All that said, about 50 per cent of western Canadian farmers still keep their books using pencil and paper. But the real issue isn’t what software to use when computerizing your records, but why you should make the switch in the first place.

Accounting software, which should cost less than $500, will help you do a ti-dier and faster job of bookkeeping, but it won’t fix poor accounting practices, says Nibourg. “The computer lets you do some calculations quickly and make compari-sons faster than you could by hand. But the person using the software has to have a good understanding of (the listing of

general ledger accounts) and how to allocate ex-penses accordingly. Ac-counting fundamentals are critical.”

So is support. When John Lorenz’s clients ask which software they should buy to keep their farm books, the central-Alberta computer specialist advises them to talk to their accountant and neighbours. Transla-

tion: you need to have a program your accountant works with and you need someone you can rely on to answer ques-tions. And because neighbours might not be there when needed, and accountants can be expensive, software users should familiarize themselves with the Internet or phone support offered by the soft-ware company.

“AgExpert Analyst is really designed for people to use as much or as little as they want,” says Glen Kroeker, director, FCC management software. “The beauty of this program is that farmers can use it for straight bookkeeping, or to gener-ate detailed management reports and do

payroll. It’s their choice and we provide support regardless.”

And every question is important, adds Kroeker. AgExpert’s call centre delivers five-day-a-week phone or Internet sup-port for questions like where’s the start button? How do I get something to print? How do I complete GST forms or how do I complete my AgriStability reporting?

Across the prairies, the steady shift to computerized bookkeeping from 21 per cent in 1996 to 37 per cent in 2001 and 45.5 per cent in 2006, mirrors the adop-tion of field-management software like FCC’s AgExpert Field Manager, which helps farmers plan crops, track perfor-mance and assess performance over time.

Landview Systems’ FarmView Record Keeper plays a similar role with crop production record keeping, planning and management information that includes a mapping component, says representative Paul Barlott. “It combines really good crop production records with revenue, expense and profit/loss reporting by field, which is what producers need to make good management decisions.”

Back at her farm, Joan Cool can’t imagine keeping the books without a computer, and envisions an ever-increas-ing role for technology that aids man-agement choices. “I know farmers with much bigger farms who still do their books on paper. Not me. I just like push-ing the buttons and then looking at what the information tells me.” FF

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For morE INFormATIoN VISIT uS oNlINEoNlINE ArTIclESSoftware support eases switch from paperwww.farmforum.ca/softwaresupportdesktop PCs still rule farm officeswww.farmforum.ca/PCsruleADDITIoNAl rESourcESfarm Credit Canada management softwarewww.farmforum.ca/fCCsoftwarefarmview Record Keeper softwarewww.farmforum.ca/farmviewsoftware

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The steady shift to computerized

bookkeeping from 21 per cent in 1996 to 37 per cent in 2001 and 45.5

per cent in 2006, mirrors the adoption of field-

management software

for faster, more efficient bookkeeping and financial analysis, trade pencil and paper for a computer


gPS technology earns farm fans the old-fashioned way: in the fieldGPs technOlOGy is changing the way farmers approach the hands-on business of seeding, spraying and harvesting their crops. Widespread adoption of auto-steer and the steady move toward GPS-driven variable rate (VR) application practices underscore a fundamental truth about why this technology is gaining fans — it has proven its worth in the field.

Terry Aberhart of Langenburg, SK, started experimenting with GPS technol-ogy on his farm about 10 years ago. At the time he was employed by a major equipment dealer and wanted on-farm experience to add credibility to his sales pitch. He’s since used the technology in precision drainage and yield trials and to fine-tune VR applications of fertilizer, fungicide and insecticides on his own 10,000-acre farm.

Seeing a market void between farmer

interest and hands-on support, Aberhart now farms and works as a consultant to producers who want help applying the technology. While a lot of farmers still aren’t soil testing let alone using GPS mapping to track crop yields and input application rates, “those who do want to manage their farms at a higher level are working with a consultant because there’s a lot of new technology out there and they want to make sure they’re using the data they collect,” explains Aberhart.

The concept of precision farming was launched in the 1970s. It took a giant leap forward in 1995 when GPS, developed for the U.S. military, was made available to non-military users. Within 10 years, GPS-linked auto-steer was widely avail-able on farm machinery, with add-ons ranging from a few thousand dollars to $20,000, depending on how many GPS-linked functions you wanted.

Auto-steer, which reduces fatigue when operators spend long days and nights in tractor and combine cabs, made an im-mediate impact on the bottom line. “The

ability to follow straight lines also means less overlap and misses, so they’re using their equipment and products more effi-ciently. There’s a real cost savings to this technology and it builds confidence in management decisions,” says Aberhart.

technical glitchesAs with any high-tech equipment, there are bound to be problems, says Ty Faechner, executive director, Agricul-tural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA). At VR training workshops ARECA held across Alberta in 2010, 94 per cent of participants were already using guidance systems and 96 per cent had GPS receivers. They liked what the guidance systems could do, but were troubled by signals lost due to weather issues or field topography. Their frustrations contributed to lower levels of geo-referenced data being used to guide seeding, input applications and field scouting. Those committed to making the technology work are opting for the reliability of subscription ser-

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gPS add-ons tackle precision envy too early to upgrade? Add-ons deliver what you’re looking for

GPS-capable add-ons are the high-tech version of haywire and binder twine because they let you upgrade farm machines without forcing you to buy new equipment with factory-installed technology.

Producers who want to run multiple GPS functions on exist-ing machines should look at what’s offered by industry leaders like Trimble and Topcon Precision Ag. Their products can auto-steer your machines, record field data and use GPS mapping data to control application of crop inputs, says Curtis MacKin-non, a farmer and ag consultant at Pilot Mound, MB.

Simpler systems, which offer one or two functions (like auto-steer or variable rate control), are available from a variety of other suppliers. Whereas new multi-function add-ons can cost $15,000 or more, basic variable rate technology may be added to a sprayer for around $2,500. McKinnon figures basic yield mapping technology would likely run around $7,000.

The key to making add-ons work is communication, says Simon Knutson, a GPS/GIS specialist who helps farmers and agronomists make sense of the high-tech puzzle generated by raw GPS data.

As technology created by one company won’t necessarily be compatible with technology created by another, Knutson recommends farmers enlist their dealer’s help to trouble-shoot technical issues and make sure “their equipment all talks to each other.”

After that, it’s a matter of making sure you understand what the data is trying to tell you.

Here, data integration will like-ly involve a coach like Knutson, who can

fine-tune the information you get from basic GPS maps, then layer it with data from high-resolution aerial photographs and field-level knowledge.

That information can be channeled into field level zone-by-zone prescriptions for variable rate input applications and drainage. But the maps aren’t enough. “I rely on agronomists and farmers as much as they rely on me. Everybody has their own piece of the puzzle,” says Knutson.

Echoing Knutson’s approach, MacKinnon is wary of produc-ers who think they can reap immediate rewards from GPS-mapping and variable rate technology — especially if they don’t enlist help and aren’t prepared to measure results. “The tech-nology works. But why invest in technology if you’re not going to test it? This is agriculture. You should always want better results than you had before, but you can’t expect perfection. Continu-ous improvement is the key to successful agriculture.” FF

vices, including RTK, a cellular-based GPS signal.

Farming 3,000 acres near Lacombe in central Alberta, Craig Shaw says his farm employs a number of tools that fit in the realm of precision farming. “We have been using variable rate fertilizer technology for about four years and RTK auto-steer guidance for the past two. We use sectional control for both the sprayer and for NH3 applica-tion. And we use high-pressure NH3 applica-tion for more precise control.” He also uses some tele-matics for data transfer.

What RTK does for satellite signal re-liability, tele-matics does for real-time data transfer. Those on the leading edge of GPS technology foresee a time when yield and even quality data collected in a com-bine will be automatically transmitted to

the farm office — or to the buyers of con-tracted production, says Jay Bruggencate, a precision farming consultant also based in Lacombe.

Get the most from your dataTo avoid issues related to collecting more information than you can use, experi-enced precision farmer and consultant

Curtis MacKinnon of Pilot Mound, MB, encourages farmers to first use the tech-nology on 10 to 15 per cent of their land and then test its val-ue. “If you want bet-ter VR data than you had before, this is the way to go.”

With no one-size-fits-all way to use

GPS technology on-farm, early adopt-ers of new advances will probably need outside help to make sure the technology works and collects the right data, and

that the data can be analyzed to provide zone-by-zone agronomic prescriptions, adds Faechner.

Meantime, the lessons of VR technol-ogy are the lessons of sound agronomics. When it comes to growing better crops, you’ve got to know what’s in your fields before you can make changes, says MacK-innon. He doesn’t believe GPS technology is poised to replace solid hands-on field management any time soon, but insists the technology matters. “If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backwards.” FF

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A For morE INFormATIoN VISIT uS oNlINEoNlINE ArTIclESaerial photos enhance giS datawww.farmforum.ca/aerialphotosfield smarts trump satellite datawww.farmforum.ca/satellitedataADDITIoNAl rESourcESagricultural Research & extension Council of albertawww.farmforum.ca/aReCafarmers edge (variable rate technology)www.farmforum.ca/farmersedgevRt and precision ag consultingwww.farmforum.ca/precisionag

Auto-steer, which reduces fatigue when operators spend long

days and nights in tractor and combine cabs, made an immediate impact on

the bottom line

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Cover story || By Clare stanfield

Steve larocque indicates preferred stubble height for optimum visibility when inter-row seeding.

faRM foRuM.Ca | 11

He lives tHe dreamY ou’ve heard the expres-

sion, “like a kid in a candy shop.” Well, that’s Steve Larocque

in a wheat field, or canola field, or barley field … any field re-ally. “I love farming,” he says, the enthusiasm crystal-clear in his voice. “It’s what I was meant to do.”

How Larocque morphed from southern Ontario acreage kid into full-time prai-rie agronomist and grain farmer is a combination of pure fate, clear focus, hard work and an unfailing positive attitude.

Larocque is a rarity on a number of fronts: he’s a first-generation farmer, em-braces big ideas and huge change, and while not necessarily welcoming adversity, doesn’t shy away from it either. He prefers to see it as an op-portunity to learn, improve and grow.

This attitude has carried him far already, and will continue to be his strongest asset as he lives out his dream of being a successful farmer.

Go west, YounG man Larocque grew up on an acreage just south of Ottawa. “I moved out here in 1996 with a friend from Westlock (AB) — I’d worked with him in Ontario doing landscaping,” he says. “Then in the spring of 1997, I got a job at the Alberta Wheat Pool.”

Working at the Pool opened Larocque’s eyes and imagination to west-ern Canadian agriculture — something he’d known nothing about, but which grabbed him by the neck and hasn’t let go.

“I was reading everything I could find, talking to colleagues and farm-ers and learning everything I could,” he says. He was lucky enough to have a boss who recognized genuine passion and aptitude and who encouraged Larocque to take it further with a formal education.

He graduated from the Crop Advisory program at Olds College in 2001, then earned a B.Sc. in agriculture from the University of Lethbridge in 2003 and went on to become a certified crop advisor that same year. While attending Olds College, Larocque met his wife Vanessa, who is from a farm family near Morrin, AB.

He began consulting, eventually starting his own business, Beyond Agronomy. Then, four years ago, the opportunity to rent some land from his in-laws presented itself and, at last, Larocque began farming.

downplay the negatives and relish the positives,

says this first-generation grain grower who figures

farming’s a great gig

the biG experiment“I’ve given production advice for years and if I inspired my clients, they certainly inspired me,” says Larocque, recalling the decision to farm. “I love farming and I really wanted to do it myself: to test out some theories and sharpen my skills as a consultant.”

The farm Larocque operates with his brother- and father-in-law may be small by western standards at 640 acres, but what’s happening on those acres is pretty big in terms of testing old ideas and try-ing new ones.

Right now, he’s revved up about con-trolled traffic farming (CTF), a system whereby permanent traffic lanes, or tram-lines, are established for all farm machin-ery so that where the crop grows is forev-er separate from where wheels roll. RTK GPS is critical to establishing and sticking to the tramlines, while inter-row seeding and precision crop protection are key ele-ments of the practice.

“I saw this in New Zealand, Australia and the UK,” says Larocque. “So I know it works in all climates from very dry to very wet.”

He explains that the idea behind CTF is to reduce compaction and open the soil to aeration for better crop performance. “When you think about all the times you take equipment over a field, from pre-seed burn, to seeding, then in-crop spray-ing and harvest, about 40 to 60 per cent of the crop sees a wheel track. That de-lays maturity and reduces yield.”

He saw the true power of the practice in Australia where he visited a farmer who’d been using CTF for eight years. The tramlines were so well established and firm, says Larocque, that driving equipment on the fields, “was like rid-ing a bicycle on a paved road versus a gravel road.”

But the clincher was the crop. At the time of his visit, that part of Australia was in its third consecutive year of drought. “When all the other farmers had nothing, his sheds were full with 25-bushel canola, 65-bushel barley and 45-bushel wheat,” says Larocque. “The only difference be-tween him and his neighbours was the controlled traffic and zero till.”

On his own farm, he put the theory into practice during the 2010 season. It’s a new way of thinking about machin-ery use, he says, and all field equipment must have a similar wheel gauge. “It’s not that difficult a concept to put into place

Cover story || By Clare stanfield

Tramlines concentrate compaction, leaving soil structure undamaged across the rest of the field.


faRM foRuM.Ca | 13

if you buy new,” he adds, but modifying existing equipment is also practical. With only one year of CTF under his belt, he’s already seeing noticeable benefits to the crop, but also to his fuel bill, his overall efficiency, equipment wear and tear, and so on.

“The efficiency side — that’s what really makes me tick,” says Larocque. “We’ve eliminated overlap completely. There’s less draft load on the drills, no rolling resistance, which means fuel sav-ings. Even the weeds that grew in the tramlines were smaller, so they weren’t a problem at harvest.” There were oth-er benefits too. CTF helped Larocque’s crops mature better and earlier because they weren’t constantly recovering from being run over by equipment. As a result, even in a wet year like 2010, Larocque was able to leave his wheat and barley to straight cut, while many people in the area had to swath to help deal with late green tillers.

He can hardly wait for the 2011 sea-son. “It’s a full-on experimental farm with the controlled traffic system,” says Larocque. “As a consultant, I can recom-mend x, y or z, but it’s another thing to understand the logistics of something like this by doing it.”

a little attitude Goes a lonG waYLooking at plans for future expansion, Larocque is torn between his two loves — farming and consult-ing. “Deep down, I’d like to grow to 2,000 or 3,000 acres, but we haven’t sat down and planned a direc-tion for our business yet. We’re still build-ing our foundation, so to speak, and need to determine what each of us wants to

achieve by growing the business.”And he enjoys sharing his knowl-

edge, spending eight to 10 hours a week studying some aspect of agricul-tural production and writing his weekly newsletter, which Vanessa edits for him. “She keeps me rolling, fed, fueled and inspired,” he says.

They have two young children who may or may not follow in their par-ents’ farming footsteps, and that’s fine with him. “I want them to do what-ever they’re passionate about,” says Larocque. “I want them to (be excited by) what they do.

“I fell into agriculture and it shocked me how awesome it was,” he says. “I love the simplicity of putting a seed in the ground, nurturing it, doing everything you can to help it grow and all the deci-sions that go into that process.”

He’s a nut for measuring efficiencies down to the penny, and sees this as the key to profitable farming. “Understand-ing the numbers is so important,” says Larocque. “We need to put a value on ev-erything we do, every little activity.”

Farming, he says, isn’t about how

much rain you get, it’s about how much grain you can produce with the rain you get. In other words, how can you best use fuel, inputs, time, techniques and knowl-edge to get the most out of sun, rain, soil and seed? That’s a question he’ll never tire of answering.

Blind optimism? Not a bit. “I can em-

pathize with guys who are negative about agriculture,” he says. “But it’s a choice. You can choose to live there, or you can choose to be positive.

“The negatives are the negatives, they happen in a lot of businesses, but you can choose to use them as opportunities to learn and grow — become a better manager. You just have to get your head down, deal with it and move on.” FF

I love farming and I really wanted to do it myself: to test out some theories and sharpen my skills as a consultant

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when cAnAdiAn agri-businesses look to expand, they’re more likely than ever to cast their nets beyond Canada’s bor-ders. Doing business abroad is a rela-tively new concept for the input sector of Canadian agriculture, and also for many food processors, but it’s one that more and more companies are becoming in-creasingly comfortable with.

Fifteen years ago the industry was al-most entirely domestically focused. But to-day trade liberalization has played a large part in allowing Canadian products and businesses to move around the globe.

“Global expansion has been on Agrium’s radar for more than 10 years,” says Andy Kelemen, senior director of global strategy and business development with the Canadian-based fertilizer company. “We started our international growth by expanding our production capabilities and moved on to retail and dis-tribution. Today we’re not only present on a global scale, we’re present throughout the international value chain.”

This approach to global expansion is shared by other Canadian agri-businesses including Viterra, Saputo, Cargill Canada and Alliance Grain to name a few. These companies are playing a key role in pro-ducing and delivering products to a grow-ing global population with a steadily-im-proving diet.

“Canadian agri-businesses are obvious-

ly motivated by growth, especially in the case of large companies,” says Al Mussell, senior research associate with the George Morris Centre, an agri-business think tank based in Guelph. “And the larger you get, the more difficult it is to grow in a cost ef-fective way (at home).”

Mussell says agri-business in Canada has relatively few competitors and the only way for Canadian companies to ex-pand in a mature domestic market is to take market share away from competitors. That can be expensive and unproductive.

“In many cases, these companies know that if they go to under-serviced markets where there are not a lot of competitors and lots of unfilled demand, their cost of goods sold ends up being much lower,” Mussell explains. “Com-panies can also leverage their capacity by expand-ing outside of Canada. If you can go somewhere else and grow rapidly,

you can make better use of your infra-structure.”

Another advantage of global expansion is that companies operating in different areas of the world are less vulnerable to isolated catastophic events such as BSE closing a border or weather-related disas-ters. These businesses might get hurt, but not fatally if they can continue operating in areas unaffected by the crisis.

For Agrium and Viterra, expanding

operations from Canada to Australia was a good decision for several reasons. Both countries have strong export-orientated agricultural sectors and similar political and legal systems. Also, the six-month lag in growing seasons spreads the work around and Australia is well located to serve Pacific markets.

“Australia’s agri-businesses run in a similar fashion to those in North Ameri-ca,” says Kelemen. “We can bring growers there an expanded slate of products and services. In addition, Australia provides us with a base to position ourselves for Asia/Pacific growth.”

Products registered in Canada have been developed under strict environmental and safety regulations, which meet the de-

AgrI-buSINESS goES globAl by JENNIFEr bArbEr

we live in a global marketplace and it

only makes sense for canadian businesses

to operate within that marketplace

b u s i n e s scrop advisors

from Agroservicios Pampeanos (ASP) in

Argentina check a customer’s field.

Agrium nitrogen fertilizer has more than tripled yield in Kenya and Nigeria.

faRM foRuM.Ca | 15

Food produced by Canadian farmers is reaching more regions of the globe every year. It could be reaching still more foreign buyers. But how do farmers find out just what the world is looking for?

“The most successful, leading-edge farmers follow international markets,” says Richard Phillips, executive director of the Grain Growers of Canada. “At the very least they look at the commodities side of things. But more are increasingly looking at the global supply/demand situation.”

Still, he says, many farmers don’t make the direct connection to what’s going on around the world when deciding what to seed. He believes that’s a mistake. “Think globally when making your cropping plan,” he says. Some farmers do this already, he adds, be it through a commodity broker or marketing club.”

While much of Canada’s crop production is marketed through third party or-ganizations, it is in a grower’s best interest to know what the big picture looks like. Phillips says farmers involved in stakeholder groups or other commodity organizations often are the most aware of the worldwide supply and demand situation for their crops.

“As an organization, each year our board invites the big agri-business com-panies based in Canada to not only tell us what their latest products are, but also where they are going globally,” says Phillips. “As growers we need to be looking ahead to see what trends are coming down the line.”

He says that there is big international competition for research dollars and that Canada is known for being forward thinking when it comes to testing new technologies. He says there are always opportunities for Canadian farmers to get in on the ground floor of new seed varieties and crop protection products.

While Canadian growers want access to foreign markets, they are often influ-enced by the cost of transportation. Phillips suggests that while cost is naturally a factor, to truly compete globally farmers should be more concerned about ac-cess to transportation.

“A grower can watch the markets closely and, say, see a terrific spot price for lentils in Turkey,” says Phillips. “He could have the ideal product for that customer, but unless he can get it there on time and at a competitive cost, it’s a moot point. If we can get there first we will be more important on a global basis.”

Right now, Phillips says, one of the top trade issues for Canadian farmers is trade discussions with the European Union. A free trade agreement would open up a customer base of 500 million consumers, which is bigger than the U.S. market, currently our biggest export customer.

He adds that government can be crucial when it comes to helping producers gain access overseas. “We do not believe the government owes Canadian farm-ers a living,” says Phillips. “We think the government should put in place policies that allow us to make a living. But it’s up to farmers to make informed decisions on what they should grow based on markets not only at home, but abroad.” FF

mands of many countries looking for ways to improve land efficiency and crop yield.

“Part of our international growth strat-egy is focused on providing products and services that support reduced nutrient losses to the environment and improved economic returns for growers,” says Kele-men. “Demand for our controlled-release products is increasing in North America, Europe and China as a key part of grow-ers’ nutrient management plans.”

This increase in global expansion doesn’t mean these companies are about to forget their Canadian markets: it just means that domestic opportunities are be-coming fewer and farther apart. “Canada is where we developed our base businesses and we want to build on our success,” says Kelemen. “But opportunities are be-coming more difficult to find.”

Kelemen does not expect Canadian farmers will be affected by Agrium’s glob-al expansion, except on the retail end of the business where global experience can have a positive influence. “We can take the best retail models around the world and bring them to Canadian farmers,” he says.

He also suggests that, for example, as Canadian agri-businesses expand their production capabilities around the world, it will help maintain their compet-itiveness in an increasingly international industry. Canadians want the security of their domestic production, and Kelemen says that by becoming secure on a global scale, companies such as Agrium become more stable.

Mussell adds that Canada does not need to worry about suppliers suddenly shorting domestic farmers of the inputs and services they need in favour of foreign customers. He sees international expansion as a sign of Canada’s agricultural success. “We live in a global marketplace and it only makes sense for Canadian businesses to operate within that marketplace,” says Mussell. FF

For morE INFormATIoN VISIT uS oNlINEoNlINE ArTIclESPotash deal could hurt foreign investmentwww.farmforum.ca/foreigninvestmentviterra takes on the worldwww.farmforum.ca/viterraADDITIoNAl rESourcESagrium www.farmforum.ca/agriumgeorge Morris Centrewww.farmforum.ca/georgemorriscentregrain growers of Canadawww.farmforum.ca/graingrowerscanada

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it wasn’t such a revolutionary event after all. the move to an affidavit system turned out to be no big deal for CWRS wheat producersthinGs were simPler for western red spring wheat growers before August, 2008. That’s when Canada’s traditional method of visually identifying wheat varieties at the elevator changed, and the onus moved to growers to legally declare exactly what they were pouring into the grille.

Losing KVD (kernel visual distin-guishability) and going over to the dec-laration affidavits now required was an historical change, but all changes can lead to opportunities.

Grain industry observers expect the elimination of KVD to open new doors for plant breeders, and ultimately greater vari-ety choices for farmers. While some might lament the loss of the old tried-and-true system, what everyone does seem to agree on is that keeping Canada’s reputation for sterling quality remains a top priority. At this point, no one is seriously concerned that plant breeders will stop striving for CWRS quality.

Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) agrono-mist Mike Grenier reports a good selection of CWRS wheat varieties for growers to choose from, with new varieties continuing to come on stream. He encourages farmers to check out the Annual Variety Survey on the CWB website to look at characteristics and regional adaptability.

Changing over to the new declaration system in 2008 was not a big event for most wheat growers. For Barry Reimer, a Holm-field, MB, farmer with 4,000 acres in grain and oilseeds, the biggest challenge was just making sure he had multiple declarations in place at points of sale. Like many other growers, Reimer monitors market prices carefully, aiming for top dollar, which can mean dealing with more than one elevator.

“I deal with five or six different grain

buyers, and I have to sign up at every eleva-tor,” says Reimer, who seeds about 1,000 of his acres to CWRS wheat each year.

“I thought once I signed one, it would be good for all of them. It was a little bit of a hassle when I sent my hired man on the road. He had to bring the form back for me to sign before they would issue the cheque. It’s really simple to fill out, but you have to prepare for your deliveries. For farmers who deal with one elevator, it wouldn’t be much of a deal, but I price my grain with a number of elevators.”

Reimer’s variety of choice is Harvest, a registered red spring wheat that fits in well with his rotation of oats, flax and canola on the family farm in southwest Manitoba. The top CWRS choice elsewhere in Manito-ba is the relative newcomer Kane, followed by Glenn, Harvest, and AC Barrie, accord-ing to the 2010 CWB variety survey.

In Saskatchewan, the clear leader is Lil-lian, followed by McKenzie, Harvest, and Superb. Albertans choose Harvest first, fol-lowed by Lillian and CDC Go.

Growers must check out seed price, yield, disease resistance, hardiness and value when choosing the best varieties to seed. An unregistered feed wheat can sell for around $4 a bushel, and there are va-rieties out there that can reputedly produce 100 bushels an acre. But a good CWRS was bringing $7.40 per bushel in mid-Novem-ber. With KVD gone, is there a temptation to try passing off one variety for another at the elevator? It isn’t at all common, say officials, and there are systems in place to prevent it.

Signing on the dotted line doesn’t appear to be keeping producers awake at night. Re-imer never worries about liability with his declaration form because, like the majority

KVD gIVES wAy quIETly To DEclArATIoNS by KIm lANgEN

checking for red wheat quality: Pierre St. godard, Plant manager at Tri-lake Agri in Killarney, mb, examines and grades samples of wheat delivered to the elevator that day. Every load that comes in has a corresponding sample bag of grain kept at the elevator to ensure traceability to the farmer.

IPcPs fill demand for special wheatsmarketing non-registered varieties of hard red spring wheat is possible, and of-ten profitable, through arrangements such as Identity Preserved Contract Program (IPCP). It’s basically a way to fill a gap in the market that isn’t being met with regis-tered varieties, and it can be set up for you by your own local elevator.

It’s a way to use a wheat that is not registered in one of the wheat classes, says Mike Grenier, a Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) agronomist based in Winnipeg, MB. It allows the CWB to export a particular variety under special conditions, such as the deal for supplying wheat to a very demanding customer in England.

“A good example is a contract we have with Warburton in the UK,” says Grenier. “We’ve been shipping the variety 5400IP there for about three years. It’s a wheat they like, and works well in their milling process.”

It’s also a way that a breeder or developer can apply to bring a variety onto the market, says Grenier. And where there’s a customer in need, there’s also an oppor-tunity for a farmer to grow a crop, and hopefully make a good return. “If there’s a market pull, it’s an avenue that can be pursued,” he adds.

The hard white spring wheats, AC Snowbird and the new AC Snowstar, are two more examples of IP varieties. You need a contract to grow them.

The CWB says that the IPCP was set up with two components in mind. One is to develop new markets, both domestically and internationally, for western Canadian wheat, by test-marketing new varieties among customers. The second, commercial IPCPs, are designed to meet specific customer requirements, like Warburton’s, for varieties that already have established markets. Farmers receive incentives to grow specific varieties.

Grain grower Barry Reimer, of Holmfield, MB, agrees that there is potential in the specialty programs, provided premiums are high enough to give a farmer enough financial reward. IP crops are tested and scouted throughout the growing season by crop input specialists, and must be kept in separate bins.

“I hear Warburton pays up to 50 cents a bushel more, and to me that’s close to what I’d be willing to do it for,” said Reimer, who grows 1,000 acres of CWRS wheat each season in his 4,000-acre rotation of grains and oilseeds. “I’d like to see 75 cents a bushel. They are dealing with anywhere from a nickel to 25 cents a bushel as a premium, and to me that’s an insult to the all the work and effort a farmer puts in.” FF

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A For morE INFormATIoN VISIT uS oNlINEoNlINE ArTIclESverify wheat variety through lab testwww.farmforum.ca/wheatlabtestWheat identification goes high-techwww.farmforum.ca/wheatidADDITIoNAl rESourcESCWB 2010 variety surveywww.farmforum.ca/CWBvarietysurveyvarieties of wheat designated as the class CWRSwww.farmforum.ca/CWRSvarietiesidentity preserved contract programswww.farmforum.ca/iPCprograms

faRM foRuM.Ca | 17

of farmers, he’s honest.“I’m not nervous, because I know I don’t

have anything to be nervous about,” he said. “Most farmers are honest, but I guess a few might be tempted to lie — they might lie because of better yields with other vari-eties that don’t meet CWRS specs. I haven’t heard of anyone.”

The CWB agrees that the declaration system is working well so far. “Most of the

time it’s what it’s supposed to be,” says Law-rence Klusa, manager of quality control at the CWB in Winnipeg. “Mistakes or fraud are rare, and the Canadian Grain Commis-sion tracks for ineligible varieties. Grain companies are also responsible but it’s not a serious problem, and we stay on top of it. We have to keep our reputation. Wheat from western Canada is the most consistent and highest quality in the world.”

Klusa adds that the CWB has not been pressuring farmers into using more certi-fied seed since the affidavit system came in. “There’s not a push for it by the CWB. The general view out there is that you should change your seed every few years, and use new certified seed, and that has contin-ued,” he said.

Reimer hasn’t changed the amount of certified seed he uses, but suspects the dec-laration system may eventually lead to the control of what wheat varieties farmers use.

“This is the first baby step to getting farmers to grow only certified seed,” said Reimer. “They are going to keep track of it. I can see in the future we won’t be able to use bin-run seed.” FF

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18 | faRM foRuM | faLL 2010

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lArGer FArms, rising equipment costs and labour shortages are just a few of the reasons farmers are turning to custom op-erators. But reaping the time-saving and economic benefits of outsourcing depends on choosing the right custom operator for the job — and on your ability to develop a good working relationship.

Like many prairie farmers, Wade Koch of Edenwold, SK expanded his farm op-eration over the past decade to the point where he needed more equipment. But in-stead of buying a second tractor, air drill, combine, etc., Koch relies on a custom op-erator to cover about 1,000 of the 4,500 acres he farms.

His farm is an in-between size. He doesn’t crop enough land to justify a sec-ond seeding rig and combine, yet he has too much land to cover with just one of each given the prairie region’s narrow seeding and harvesting windows.

Furthermore, extra equipment requires additional labour, which Koch does not have. Even if good help could be found, keeping that employee would require find-ing work for him outside the busy spring and fall seasons — something Koch is not prepared to do. “So instead of expanding my equipment line, I hired a custom opera-tor,” he says. “Having some of my acres custom farmed took the pressure off. It re-ally worked out well for me.”

For anyone thinking of outsourcing farm work, Koch has some suggestions to help select the best custom operator for the job.

“Reliability is the most important. Hire an operator who will be there when he says he will. Second, make sure the fellow you hire has decent equipment that can do the work you need done,” adds Koch. “Third, make sure the custom operator knows what you need done and will be there to keep an eye on the manpower he has hired to actually operate his equipment. And fi-nally, know the quality of work he does.”

Joe Melnick farms at Fort Qu’Appelle, SK. He also owns MFI Ag Services Ltd. that’s provided a full suite of custom farm-ing services to growers in Saskatchewan for the past 13 years.

Melnick sees three reasons for in-creased interest in hiring custom op-erators. “Manpower is becoming a big problem,” he explains. Given today’s sophisti-cated equipment, grow-ers have a challenge finding people who can operate modern farm equipment.

Second, equipment is expensive. “Often it’s cheaper to hire a custom operator than to own the needed equipment.” And third, “more and more farm land is being bought by investors who want the benefits of own-ing agricultural land and farming but don’t want to get their hands dirty.”

Melnick adds that when it comes to cus-tom farming, communication is key. “The land owner and custom operator need to sit down and plan well ahead for the next

growing season. A custom farming agree-ment for 2011 should be made by now. By December 1 many custom operators are already fully booked for the next growing season.”

Details of the agreement are critical. Taking a closer look at custom harvesting, for example, you quickly see the impact your hiring decisions and ability to com-municate have on your bottom line.

Shawn Gallagher from Vermilion, AB, is a custom harvester and current president of the Association of Canadian Custom Har-vesters. He agrees that communication is vital. “The relationship between a custom harvester and farmer is like a marriage. How you communicate and handle prob-lems defines the relationship. It all comes

down to trust and open communication.

“Custom harvesting is much more that just another service a farmer hires. Harvesting is almost emotional. Most farmers consider harvesting to be the most important job on

the farm so there has to be trust between farmer and custom harvester that the har-vesting will get done and be done right!”

When hiring a custom harvester, says Gallagher, farmers need to consider much more than just price. “Does the harvester have a good reputation? Timing is a huge issue. Can he be there when you need him?”

According to Gallagher, a farmer’s management practices will also have a big

p r o d u c t i o n

The relationship between a custom

harvester and farmer is like a marriage.

KNow your cuSTom oPErATor by gErAlD PIlgEr

watch your equipment costs Farmers typically hire custom operators for one of two reasons. First, they do not have time to do the job themselves. Maybe they are farming more land than they have equipment to cover it in a timely manner. Or they may have other farm enterprises which take precedence. Or their off-farm interests prevent them from putting in the hours necessary to get the farm work done when it should be done.

Time availability differs for every farm, depending on farm size, equipment available, labour available, type of farm, off-farm interests, etc. Each farmer has to look at his own situation to determine if he has time to get the work done with-out sacrificing quality, quantity and prof-itability not only of the crop in question but of the entire farm operation. And let’s not forget quality of family life.

The second reason is economics. Given the high cost of equipment, hiring a custom operator is often cheaper than owning and operating a piece of equip-Hiring a custom operator can help

you save on equipment costs.

faRM foRuM.Ca | 21

impact on price of the services a custom harvester provides. “How does the farmer seed? Is all the crop ready at the same time or will there be down time between the rip-ening of various crops? Is the land spread out? Are fields large or small? Are there hills, valleys and/or sloughs that will slow down harvest? Are there rocks or other hazards? Is the bin setup such that it will accommodate large equipment and semis?” Gallagher figures 90 per cent of a custom harvester’s business is repeat and that the number of repeat customers is dependent on the relationship forged between farmer and custom operator.

Claussen Farms Custom Farming Inc. has provided custom farming services to farmers in the Brucefield area of Ontario for 15 years. Company president Sonke Claussen says most of his work is for dairy-men with European backgrounds. Claussen says these farmers are very comfortable turning field operations over to his com-pany because that is the way it was done in the old country. By hiring a custom opera-tor for their cropping needs, these produc-ers can concentrate on what they do best — dairy farming.

“The farmers we work for see the ben-efits of hiring custom work. They know we can do the work faster, which results in higher quality production,” says Claussen. “Economically, it is cheaper for them to hire (a custom operator) than to buy and own equipment. And by hiring an opera-tor with new equipment they can take ad-vantage of the latest technology like field mapping.”

Many of Claussen’s customers have now turned their entire crop management over to his company. “Customers tell me, ‘this is my land base, you make the crop-ping decisions.’ I am given all responsibility for the crop because they know I will do the best job possible.”

To develop such a working relationship, Claussen explains, “the quality of work is the most important factor. There is a lot of trust built over the years.

“The personal relationship is also im-portant. You have to be willing to work with lots of different types of people. You have to realize some are demanding and others worry. Personalities must match.”

Other suggestions Claussen has for farmers looking for a custom operator in-

clude making sure the operator you hire has quality equipment that is right for the job and that you fully understand the level of service you can expect. “Make sure you compare apples to apples when comparing custom operators and the costs of the ser-vice they offer.”

Hiring a custom operator can save time and help your bottom line. But depending on the relationship that develops, the ex-perience can be positive or worrisome and frustrating. Communication is key. Start talking well before cropping season begins, update each other throughout the year and be willing to discuss any problems and con-cerns as soon as they arise. FF

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ment that is used for only a short period each year.

Ted Nibourg, a farm management specialist with Alberta Agriculture, warns farmers that over-investment in equip-ment can lead to cash flow problems.

Producers who find they have too much money invested in equipment have two choices. First, they can spread the equipment’s fixed costs over more land. This may mean buying land, renting land or providing a custom farming ser-vice themselves which uses their excess equipment capacity. All three options can

generate more gross revenue without in-creasing fixed equipment costs.

The alternative is to reduce their equipment investment by selling what is under-used or no longer used at all, and spending the proceeds to hire a custom operator to do the work. While not chang-ing gross revenue, both actions reduce a farm’s equipment investment.

Before buying a piece of equipment, it’s a good idea to compare its owner-ship and operating cost with the cus-tom rates charged for that equipment in your area. For example, many farmers’

wish lists include a new high clearance sprayer. But what is the actual cost per acre of owning and operating such a sprayer, and how does it compare to the cost of hiring a custom operator to spray your crops?

To make this comparison, you can ac-cess a number of machinery cost calcu-lators on the web. These sites will let you generate ownership costs which can then be compared with local custom rates. You may find custom farming services are not nearly as expensive as owning and operating the equipment yourself. FF

The move to larger farms, rising equipment costs and labour shortages are some of the reasons farmers hire custom operators.


fa r m l i f e

mEET lAurEN AND ryAN mAurEr: SASKATcHEwAN’S 2010 ouTSTANDINg youNg FArmErS by ANgElA loVEll

empowering sustainable agriculture

ThOse wOrds, emblazoned on a highway sign near Grenfell, SK, di-rect you to Land and Sky Grains.

The same words provide the direc-tion and inspiration that has guided Sas-katchewan’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2010, Lauren and Ryan Mau-rer, through 18 seasons on this third-gen-eration farm.

The Maurers manage and operate their farm based on the concept of viable and sustainable growth, taking a “big pic-ture” view that means recognizing new opportunities, often in advance of them becoming mainstream. “We have always tried to anticipate what the world is go-ing to want in the future,” says Ryan.

The couple quickly realized that, when it comes to food production, worldwide demand would increasingly be driven by consumers, who, armed with advanced communications technology, are requir-ing ever more information about how and where their food is produced.

The maurer family l to r: Danyka, lauren, mariah, levi, ryan and cassandra

faRM foRuM.Ca | 23

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For morE INFormATIoN VISIT uS oNlINEADDITIoNAl rESourcESLand and Sky grains inc.www.farmforum.ca/landandskygrainsoutstanding young farmers’ Programwww.farmforum.ca/oyfcanada

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In 1996 they were among the first Ca-nadian producers to begin growing crops under an Identity Preserved (IP) program, starting out with hard red spring wheat for Warburton’s Family Bakery in the UK, a producer of high-end, specialty breads. “It was a new program at that time and we felt it had a future because of consumer trends,” says Ryan. “Plus it made sense for the farm because it gave us a premium.”

They are now Warburton’s number one Canadian producer and have also added IP malt barley, grown under con-tract with Sapporo Breweries in Japan and Canada Malt in Calgary.

They also grow green field peas, red lentils, flax, canola, yellow mustard and caraway, and have “dabbled” with dill.

Being ahead of the curve is a position the Maurers strive for as they expand their farm operations and employ tech-nology to help improve efficiency. “We are often first adopters of new technol-ogy but we are always informed adopt-ers,” says Lauren. “We always ask our-selves, ‘is this sustainable or just a fad?’ A lot of research goes into our expan-sions and investments.”

Those investments have included con-struction of aerated temperature-cable-equipped grain storage facilities, that en-able them to meet the on-farm food safety protocols that apply to the 75 per cent of their production now devoted to IP crops. They also went no-till in 1994 and use sin-gle-shoot independent hoe-openers with mid-row banders for precision seed and

fertilizer placement. And they’ve invested in GPS guidance systems, variable rate equipment and soil mapping technology.

Communications has also made a huge difference to their business style compared with that of the previous generation. “My Dad was all about production,” says Lau-ren. “He grew what he grew and then he mar-keted it, whereas we have the technology to research the market and then choose what to produce.”

Along with the overall picture, however, comes a huge amount of com-plexity, which means the details have to be attended to, especially when dealing with the stringent expec-tations of IP customers. They currently employ five full-time and several part-time employees throughout the year. “We probably have a higher rate of people for the acres we farm than average but it’s because of the attention to detail that we must provide,” says Ryan.

The Maurers believe their farm busi-ness is successful because they have man-aged to blend the concepts behind two very different methods of farming.

“There are a lot of successful large op-erations and there are also a lot of success-ful smaller, direct marketing operations,” Ryan explains. “With our vision we have married those two. We have taken large-

scale production with small-scale direct marketing to a specific customer group, and combined them to make it work.”

More innovation lies ahead for Land and Sky Grains, as the Maurers venture into fields such as bio-fortification of crops. A few years ago they participated

in an experiment to see whether top-dressing wheat with zinc increased seed viability. “I think in the future these types of things will become more important, whether it’s for seed vitality or adding micronutrients to meet the needs of a specific diet,” says Ryan. They also see crop produc-

tion for pharmaceutical use as another huge growth area for commodity-based, agricultural products. And on the direct marketing end, they are not ruling out processing their own branded products, grown and packaged to serve specialized niche markets.

One thing is certain; the Maurers will apply sound business principles to inno-

vation and creative thinking to keep Land and Sky Grains living up to its mission. FF

lauren and ryan maurer working on their farm, land and Sky grains, in grenfell, SK.

communications has also made a huge difference to their

business style com-pared with that of the previous generation


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innovation meets convenienceintroducing the new cereal herbicide pre-mixed formulations of tundra™ and Velocity m3

tundra is an all-in-one formulation that provides both grassy and broadleaf weed control without the fuss of having to add

an additional herbicide. So say goodbye to the headaches, worries and time associated with measuring and mixing errors and say hello to convenience and flexibility.

Safe on barley, spring and durum wheat, Tundra contains three active ingredients — Pyrasulfotole (Group 27), Bromoxynil (Group 6) and Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (Group 1) — which control Group 2 resistant broadleaf weeds such as kochia, cleavers, chickweed and spiny annual sow thistle.

With its wide window of application, Tundra can be applied from one to six leaves on the main stem all the way to emergence of the third tiller on the crop.

Alfalfa, barley, canary seed, canola, field corn (Manitoba only), flax, oats, field peas (see label for complete details), soybeans (Manitoba only) and wheat (spring and durum) can be planted 10 months follow-ing an application of Tundra. lentils can be planted back 22 months following an application of Tundra.

the easiest and most effective way to manage herbicide resistance is to ro-tate herbicides with different modes of

action. That’s why Velocity m3 is so effective. It combines three active ingredients, thiencarbazone-methyl (Group 2), pyrasulfotole (Group 27) and bromoxynil (Group 6).

Together, these three actives provide “one solution” for comprehen-sive, broad spectrum grassy and broadleaf weed control as well as ef-fective resistance management in spring and durum wheat. All it takes is one product. Nothing else is required — no tank mixing, no adjuvant — and you are controlling both Group 1 resistant wild oats and Group 2 resistant broadleaf weeds such as kochia and cleavers.

For added grower convenience, Velocity m3 is crop safe on all varieties of wheat (including durum), can be applied from the one to six leaf stage, up to three tillers (prior to the presence of the first node) and is registered for both aerial and ground application.

With the re-cropping flexibility of Velocity m3, growers can plant spring and durum wheat, barley, oats, canary seed, canola, flax, peas (see label for complete details), soybeans (Manitoba only), alfalfa and field corn (Manitoba only) the year following application. lentils require a replanting interval of 22 months.

weeds controlled/suppressed:GrAssy weeds• barnyard grass (1 to 6 leaf stage/up to emergence

of 3rd tiller)• Green foxtail (1 to 6 leaf stage/up to emergence of

3rd tiller)• wild oats (1 to 6 leaf stage/up to emergence of

3rd tiller)• yellow foxtail (1 to 6 leaf stage/up to emergence

of 3rd tiller)

brOAdleAF weeds1

• Annual sow thistle (1 to 6 leaf stage)• canada thistle (suppression, up to 30 cm

in height)• chickweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• cleavers2,3 (1 to 6 whorls)• common ragweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• dandelion (suppression4, up to 10 cm in height/

25 cm in diameter)• Flixweed (up to 10 cm in height)• hemp-nettle (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Kochia (up to 10 cm in height)• lamb’s-quarters (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Pale smartweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Perennial sow thistle (suppression, 1 to 6

leaf stage)• redroot pigweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• round-leaved mallow (suppression, 1 to 6

leaf stage)• russian thistle (up to 10 cm in height)• shepherd’s purse (1 to 6 leaf stage)• stinkweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Volunteer canola (including herbicide tolerant,

1 to 6 leaf stage)• wild buckwheat (1 to 6 leaf stage)• wild mustard (1 to 6 leaf stage)

1 includes Als (Group 2)-resistant biotypes.2 For enhanced control of cleavers at the 4 to 6 whorl growth stage, add am-

monium sulphate (Ams) at 500 g/ha (99%) or 1 l/ha at 49% solution (0.5 l/ac. or 20 acres per jug). Add one 10 l jug of Ams for every 2, 8.1 l jugs of tundra or 8 jugs of Ams for every 160 acre drum of tundra. Always add Ams to the spray tank first, prior to adding any other pesticides.

3 includes indoleacetic acid (Group 4)-resistant biotypes.4 includes seedlings and overwintered rosettes.

weeds controlled/suppressed:GrAssy weeds• barnyard grass (1 to 6 leaf/up to emergence of

3rd tiller)• canary seed (1 to 6 leaf/up to emergence of

2nd tiller)• Green foxtail (1 to 6 leaf/up to emergence of

3rd tiller)• Japanese brome (suppression, 1 to 6 leaf)• Persian darnel (suppression, 1 to 6 leaf/up to

emergence of 3rd tiller)• wild oats (1 to 6 leaf/up to emergence of 3rd tiller)• yellow foxtail (suppression, 1 to 6 leaf/up to

emergence of 3rd tiller)

brOAdleAF weeds• Annual sow thistle (1 to 6 leaf stage)• canada thistle (suppression, up to 30 cm

in height)• chickweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• cleavers (1 to 6 whorls)• dandelion (suppression, up to 10 cm in height/

25 cm in diameter)• Flixweed (up to 10 cm in height)• hemp-nettle (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Kochia (up to 10 cm in height)• lamb’s-quarters (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Pale smartweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Perennial sow thistle (suppression, 1 to 6

leaf stage)• redroot pigweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• round-leaved mallow (1 to 6 leaf stage)• russian thistle (up to 10 cm in height)• shepherd’s-purse (1 to 6 leaf stage)• stinkweed (1 to 6 leaf stage)• Volunteer canola (including herbicide tolerant,

1 to 6 leaf stage)• wild buckwheat (1 to 6 leaf stage)• wild mustard (1 to 6 leaf stage)

faRM foRuM.Ca | 25

A NEWSlETTER FROM BAYER CROPSCIENCE


CrOpTalknew registrations for 2011new fungicides deliver more control to more crops

d epending on weather conditions, leaf and head diseases in cereal crops can cause substantial damage to yield and qual-

ity. For many growers, applying a fungicide is just good insurance to protect their investment.

To ensure growers are getting the best protection possible, Bayer CropScience is introducing two new fungicides for 2011 – Folicur® ew and Prosaro®. Both products will be available at participating retailers across western Canada for the 2011 growing season.

FOlicur 432F, the original foliar fungicide, has been effectively pro-tecting spring, winter and durum wheat against fusarium head blight and other leaf and head diseases

for over eight years. With the addition of NEW Folicur EW in 2011, plus the registration of both products for your oat, barley and soybean crops, protection of your investment has reached a new level of confidence.

Convenient and flexible, Folicur EW doesn’t require a surfactant and is registered for ground and aerial application.

Bayer CropScience research results and on-farm feedback from pro-ducers over the past eight seasons show that Folicur often provides a

20% yield increase, better grades and im-proved marketability. At the end of the sea-son, that means more grain in the combine and more dollars on the bottom line. ct

PrOsArO is a new cereal fungicide that delivers the highest level of control and curative activity on leaf diseases and the highest level of protection against fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and barley.

With the combination of the best two active ingredients — prothioconazole and tebuconazole — for controlling

cereal diseases, Prosaro is the most effective broad spectrum fungicide available for suppressing FHB, reduc-ing levels of DON (deoxynivalenol) and other fungal mycotoxins in grain, and stopping all of the major yield-robbing diseases including leaf rust, stem rust, septoria leaf and glume blotch, tan spot, and net blotch

Application guidelinesTo reduce the number of scabby ker-nels, lower DON levels and achieve plumper kernels with higher test

weights, apply Prosaro when the most florets are in the open, exposed stage. For FHB control, coverage of the heads is essential. Forward and backward facing nozzles deliver the best results.

Prosaro trial results in wheat and barley• When applied at the early flowering

of the wheat head and just after head emergence in barley, Prosaro greatly increased yields of wheat and barley in comparison to the untreated check.

• Prosaro reduced DON significantly

21% higher yield

Source: 32 Bayer CropScience trials (2004-2005).

50.5

Yield (bu./ac.)

0 15 30 45 60

41.6

Folicur 432F Untreated check

PROSARO

Folicur ew controls the following diseases:

barley• Net blotch• Powdery mildew• Rusts (leaf, stripe and stem)• Scald• Septoria leaf blotch• Spot blotch

Oats• Crown rust• Stem rust

wheat (durum, spring, winter)• Fusarium head blight (suppression)• Powdery mildew• Rusts (leaf, stripe and stem)• Septoria glume blotch• Septoria leaf blotch• Tan spot

wheat midge control• For wheat midge control, tank-mix

Folicur with lorsban™.

Fusarium head blight in wheat• For optimum suppression of fusarium

head blight in wheat and control of septoria glume blotch, apply Folicur EW within the time period from when at least 75% of the wheat heads on the main stem are fully emerged to when 50% of the heads on the main stem are in flower.

faRM foRuM.Ca | 27

G rowers can save big next season with the 2011 bayerValue program, especially if they book their InVigor acres by January

31, 2011. Depending on the purchase levels, growers can save as much as 25% off select Bayer CropScience products.

Growers who have redeemed in the 2006-2010 BayerValue pro-grams are automatically re-enrolled in the 2011 BayerValue pro-gram. For those who haven’t participated, signing up is easy. Grow-ers can register online at bayercropscience.ca, by calling the Bayer CropScience Rebate Fulfillment Interaction Centre at 1-888-283-6847 or through their local retailer. ct

early book inVigor savings2011 bayerValue program offers growers added savings

Book by January 31, 2011 BAYER REWARDS* Save a maximum of $1.00/ac. on each acre of Raxil MD, Raxil T, Raxil WW and Trilex Al from the combination of Early Book InVigor and Bayer Rewards.Save a maximum of $1.25/ac. on each acre of Decis and Sevin XlR from the combination of Early Book InVigor and Bayer Rewards.Bayer Rewards includes Folicur 432F and Folicur EW.

All % savings and savings levels will be calculated using Suggested Retail Pricing as of July 31, 2011.

eArly bOOK inViGOrbook by January 31, 2011 bAyer rewArds

Proline™ BonusBuy a minimum of

200 acres of InVigor to qualify

InVigor Value Bonus†

Save on matching InVigor acres

Bayer Rewards Savings Segment

Qualify at one of the following levels with all Bayer CropScience products

Purchase $10,000 or more of

Bayer CropScience products





Buy up to 480 acres of

Proline – 15% savings on all your Proline

buy 480 or more acres of Proline – 25% savings on all your Proline

infinity® = 10%tundra™

Velocity m3 2% 3% 4%

Folicur®* or Prosaro® = 8%

infinity Folicur* Prosaro

4% 8% 12%

decis®* or sevin® Xlr*= 20%

decis* sevin Xlr*

10% 15% 20%

raxil®* or trilex® Al* = (up to) 25%

raxil* trilex Al*

15% 20% 25%

by 58% in wheat and 51% in bar-ley where the incidence of FHB was high. In trials with low to moderate levels of FHB, DON reduction was as high as 72%.

Protect your yields and profitsProsaro protects yields by delivering plump kernels with high test weight, more bushels and less risk of dockage. And that means you can protect their profit potential as well! ct

%

Septoria

Source: 11, 2007-2008 Bayer CropScience Internal Research Trials

RustSource: 22, 2007-2008 Bayer CropScience Internal Research Trials

FHBSource: 6, 2007-2008 Bayer CropScience Internal Research Trials

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

129 127 128 58

Grain Yield % of UTC

% DON reduction

The bars indicate fungicide performance evaluated under specifi c disease pressure versus an untreated check.

%

Leaf DiseaseSource: 9, 2007 Bayer CropScience Internal Research Trials

FHBSource: 4, 2004-2007 Bayer CropScience Internal Research Trials

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

109 108 51

Cereal Grain Yield Application of Prosaro Fugicideat 75% Head Emergence in Wheat

Cereal Grain Yield Application of Prosaro Fugicide at Full Head Emergence in Barley

A NEWSlETTER FROM BAYER CROPSCIENCE

imPOrtAnt dAtes• to qualify, growers must be registered for

bayerValue before may 1, 2011.

• All products must be purchased between October 1, 2010 and september 30, 2011.

• All purchases of products after september 30, 2011 may be used for the 2012 bayerValue program which is yet to be determined.

You know Raxil® seed treatment as the most effective opponent of smut in wheat, barley and oats. You trust it to have your back against seed and soil-borne fusarium. And there is no doubt that it is the undisputed champion when it comes to return on investment.

So what’s this about new Raxil WW? It’s all the above and more. It’s the sworn enemy of the dreaded wireworm. It takes it down and teaches it a lesson it will never get a chance to remember. Ring the bell for Raxil WW.

For more information visitBayerCropScience.ca/Raxil

Slams WireWorms

BayerCropScience.ca or 1 888-283-6847 or contact your Bayer CropScience representative.Always read and follow label directions. Raxil® is a registered trademark of Bayer. Bayer CropScience is a member of CropLife Canada.

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