Allowing for greater rest periods during the growing season will increase its carrying capacity, and allow producers to put cattle out earlier in the spring and reduce drought risk, Lastiwka said in a video of his Cow-Calfenomics presentation on how linking pasture systems can optimize performance and profit.

The video can be found on the Cow-Calfenomics’ web page at agriculture.alberta.ca.

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Farmers thinking about signing a forward pricing contract should first consider if the price will provide an acceptable margin above cost of production, he said. Also look at expected production, if the contract has an ‘act of God clause,’ what happens if the grade is different, delivery terms, and how contract disputes are resolved.

“A rally in the market can happen any time, so it’s a good idea to have price targets in mind,” he added.

The post Thinking of forward wheat pricing? appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Favourable conditions for disease development have resulted in multiple outbreaks of late blight in commercial market gardens, as well as urban potato and tomato crops throughout parts of Alberta, said provincial commercial horticulture specialist Rob Spencer. The disease continues to be a risk for all Solanaceous crops (potato/tomato family) grown in Alberta this year.

“The risk of introduction comes from either infected transplant material (tomatoes or other host crops) or infected seed potato stock (either imported or carried over),” said Spencer. “During the season, if spore loads build up, there is a risk of introduction of the pathogen via windblown/storm-carried transfer.”

Late blight can also affect eggplants, peppers, petunias and some related Solanaceous weeds, such as nightshade and wild tomato. It is an aggressive disease that, if left unchecked, can cause significant and rapid crop losses in gardens, greenhouses, fields, and in controlled environment storage such as potato bins.

In the spring and early summer, growers of all potentially affected crops should monitor for symptoms in tomato transplants and in early-emerging potato plants, said Spencer.

“Watch for dark, water-soaked lesions, sometimes with yellow edges, that move in from leaf tips/margins, becoming brown and brittle within a couple of days. Late blight lesions are not contained by the leaf veins.”

It will require effort on the part of everyone to return Alberta to a late blight-free status, he added.

For more information about late blight call 310-FARM (3276) or visit Alberta Agriculture and Forestry for a Frequently Asked Questions document about late blight.

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“Ask where the stock came from, as many trees are not adapted to Alberta’s harsher climate,” said provincial agroforestry specialist Toso Bozic. “If you don’t get a tree that suits your needs, wait for next season and order in advance.”

Next, take care when transporting trees and shrubs to their new home.

“Don’t leave seedlings for a long time in your vehicle during hot and windy days as their roots dry rapidly,” said Bozic. “Do not expose them to direct sunlight. Cover them or put them in a box. If you must wait one or two hours, cover the seedlings with snow or ice or use a reflective tarp. Do not use canvas, as it holds heat and warms seedlings. Having a canopy on your pickup truck also helps.”

Plant trees and shrubs within a few days.

“Don’t wait too long as you may expose them to various diseases, moulding, drying, and many other problems. If you can’t plant them immediately, store them in a cool place for a few days (a cooler or cold storage, root cellar or colder corner of your shed). After a few days, check the roots — if they are dry, spray/mist water and cover them again.”

Only take out the amount of seedlings you can plant that day.

“You can also dip seedlings in water just prior to planting but do not keep them in water for long as you can drown them and cause damage due to oxygen starvation. Poplar and willow cuttings can be soaked in water a day prior to planting.”

• More on the Alberta Farmer: Funding for trees lost to beetles or floods

Planting tips

The best time to plant trees or shrubs is early morning, late afternoon or during a cloudy day.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the two common methods of planting — manual and mechanical.

For hand planting, dig a large enough hole so the roots are straight and plant to the same depth as in the nursery (look for changes in bark colour close to the roots to find the soil line).

“Once you have put the tree properly in the hole, put soil around it and step on the soil to make it firm,” said Bozic. “The easiest way to test is to try to gently pull the trees out — if they come out easily, you have not used enough soil and pressure. Keep seedlings as straight as possible.”

Prepare soil prior to mechanical planting, don’t go too fast, and have someone follow to ensure the trees are properly planted.

Once planting is complete, they need to be watered.

“Don’t water too quickly as water will run off and nothing will get to the roots, or it will create surface roots for trees that may die during a drought,” said Bozic. “The goal is to create trees and shrubs with deep roots that can withstand drought. Check soil moisture regularly by putting a sharp object, such as a knife, into the soil. Do not water if there is some soil on the knife. If the knife comes out dry, you may water.”

Finally, keep a lookout for weeds, diseases, animals and insects.

“Weed control is an ongoing process in the first few years following planting,” said Bozic. “It may require up to five years of controlling. It’s also crucial in the first few years to monitor your trees once a week for any potential damages from insects, diseases and animals.”

The post Tree planting dos and don’ts appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

“Horticultural chemicals and pesticides often have the dubious distinction of being more expensive than their field crop cousins. In order to reduce costs, growers may sometimes buy and use chemicals which have the same active ingredient, but are not registered for the crop they’re being used on,” said Dustin Morton of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) oversees the registration and regulation of pesticides in Canada, which are all rigorously tested to compile data on residue, efficacy, and long-term effects, he noted.

“When reviewed by Health Canada, all chemicals have specified rates, target pests, and the crops on which they can be applied,” said Morton. “‘Off-label’ spraying can include spraying above or below the appropriate concentration, spraying the chemical for a pest that it is not registered for, or on a crop not on the chemical’s label.”

Throughout the year, the PMRA randomly selects growers for pesticide-use inspections in order to ensure compliance. These inspections could be random ones; prompted by increased incorrect spraying because of a label change or the need to update information; or a neighbour’s complaint. Inspections are twofold and are intended to be both a deterrent to off-label spraying and an educational tool to encourage growers to follow labels.

In an inspection, samples of vegetative material or soil are collected and sent for testing. Should these come back showing incorrect use of chemicals, growers may be subject to increased monitoring, financial penalty, or even prosecution under the Pest Control Products Act. If somebody producing food is found to be non-compliant, it could even result in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) becoming involved and product being recalled or destroyed.

“As with all chemicals, proper storage, labelling, and disposal are all part and parcel in running a safe, effective operation,” said Morton. “By being aware of the process and how best to handle these chemicals, growers can ensure they grow a safe, healthy crop without running afoul of the law.”

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The provincial program offers wage support for farmers who employ youth during July and August. Employers must own or rent a farming operation in Alberta and have a gross production of $25,000 per year. Work must be directly related to the farming operation, and can’t include domestic work or childcare. Employers must recruit their own workers, provide daily supervision, and ensure safe working conditions for their employees. Monthly records of time worked must be completed by the employer. Employees are paid by the farmer and by the government for each respective part of their salary, which must meet provincial minimum hourly rates.

“Farm safety is an emphasis in this program and all summer farm employers and employees are required to review a safety DVD together,” said program co-ordinator Mary Anne Nelson. “Employees must complete and pass a safety quiz based on the DVD information in order to be accepted into the program.”

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and will be accepted at the Summer Farm Employment Program office in Stettler until all program funds are committed or May 31, whatever comes first. Applications received after May 31 will not be processed unless funding is available.

Applications can be found online at agriculture.alberta.ca or by calling 310-FARM (3276).

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“Too many farmers push themselves, especially during the really busy times,” said Kenda Lubeck, farm safety co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Too often, it is a case of wanting to finish a field even though fatigue threatens.”

Fatigue can creep up on you. Here are some warning signs:

• Headaches, dizziness, blurry vision;
• Slow reflexes and reactions, poor concentration;
• Feeling irritable, moody and short tempered;
• Aching, weak muscles.

“The most important safety tool a person can have is their attitude and subsequent decisions,” said Lubeck. “That could mean taking a 20-minute snooze when you are exhausted or having another person lined up to spell you off.”

• More on the Alberta Farmer: Tips on dealing with the long days (and nights) during seeding

In addition to getting a good night’s rest, eat nourishing food, and stay hydrated. Also incorporate some physical activity — if you’re in the cab of a tractor for hours, stop periodically and go for a walk to stretch out your muscles.

Lubeck recommends making a promise to yourself to take a break after a set amount of time and not making critical decisions while you are weary.

“Your safety is about the choices you make,” adds Lubeck. “It just takes a moment to make a decision that could literally be the difference between life and death.”

More information on farm safety best practices is available at agric.gov.ab.ca.

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The conference focused on two areas — strengthening the operation of the market and increasing vendor know-how in areas of production, product pricing, and growing a successful business.

“Like in Alberta, conference attendees were concerned with the proliferation of new markets in British Columbia and many expressed doubt that there are enough farmers to fill these markets,” said Melisa Zapisocky of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Yet many markets were thriving and did not appear to be hindered or upset by this growth.”

The conference showed some of the ways these markets are getting it right, she said.

“Markets are finding ways to stand out from the crowd by focusing on their personality, and what is unique or different,” said Zapisocky. “Examples include operating a 100 per cent certified organic market, working with food and concession vendors to increase use of local ingredients (and promoting this), and providing more services in the market like knife sharpening, bike repair, or a market-run coffee booth.”

For other markets, building viable business means focusing on customers.

“These markets are committed to strengthening their foundation by learning about their customers, as well as their economic impact. Methods include administering more frequent customer surveys (in the market, or online), taking weekly customer counts, and collecting vendor statistics, such as sales and category.”

Depending on the detail required by the market, data collection can range from simple to quite involved. The most basic example of data collection is by the manager who gives vendors a colour-co-ordinated sticky note (category specific) to write their total sales on at the end of the market; slightly more involved is the use of weekly online forms that some managers email to their vendors.

“More complicated yet, is the strategy used by Comox Farmers’ Market,” says Zapisocky. “Vendors are charged a percentage-based table fee (five per cent or a minimum of $20) on their daily sales. From this data, Comox Farmers’ Market confidently reported its 2014 sales as $1,390,000, and will be able to compare year-to-year growth against future programs (or changes) it implements. Other benefits include continuing to keep their current location by having reliable numbers that show the economic impact of the market, attracting sponsorship dollars, and the ability to make fact-based decisions that benefit the health of vendor categories.

“Whether the effort is internal or external, the outcome is clear. Many farmers’ markets are setting the stage to thrive as professional and sophisticated businesses by finding ways to keep one step ahead.”

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In the Managing Prosperity in the Beef Industry presentation now available from Cow-Calfenomics risk management series, farm financial specialist Rick Dehod suggests that improving working capital, and investing in productive assets, herd health and yourself can all bring excellent returns.

“Herd health is an important part of the ongoing operations,” said Dehod. “Sometimes, when funds were tight, a vaccination protocol may not have been followed as this expense was perhaps thought of as not critical. Not following a herd health protocol often leads to poor financial performance due to disease and lack of creature comfort. This just compounds cash flow problems and, ultimately, the viability of the operation.”

Dehod also advocates improving working capital and bringing accounts payable current or to within 15 to 30 days.

“Trade creditors have helped you through the tough times and you will need them again when margins tighten,” he said.

He also recommends paying down some small loans to improve accessible working capital into the future and bringing any operating loan down to within its margin limit. Keep in mind that an acceptable current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) should be greater than two, he added.

Producers should also put some money away for “lean” periods, he said.

“Do projections and compare those monthly projections to actual returns and costs. This will enable immediate identification of problems. Production returns and costs are time critical due to the seasonality of the business. By doing a cash flow projection, you can plot out your sales and your feed requirements. You can see the months when your margins are positive and will have funds to invest or reduce your financial commitments. By comparing your projections to actual, you can make those adjustments to continue to manage a positive margin.

Investing in productive assets is another strategy Dehod recommends.

• Carefully evaluate investment in depreciating assets like pickups and new equipment. Is this the best use of your capital?
• How old is your cow herd? Is it time to keep back some heifers, and cull some older, less productive cows from the herd?
• Lock in some positive margins: You don’t go broke taking a profit.
• Feed costs: Consider the alternatives to forward price feed to lock in your feed purchase prices.

Last, but not least, Dehod recommends investing in yourself.

“Strong business management skills will enhance your decision-making skills, and help give you the competitive edge. You are a professional and all professionals embrace lifelong learning to stay at the top of their game.”

To view the Managing Prosperity in the Beef Industry presentation, go to Cow-Calfenomics. Open the YouTube playlist and scroll to the presentation.

For more information, visit the Farm Manager Homepage or call the Ag-Info Centre toll free in Alberta at 310-FARM (3276).

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“Determining if pastures are functioning at the desired potential can be determined quite easily,” said Grant Lastiwka, a provincial forage and livestock business specialist. “Pasture assessments will help producers decide if a pasture needs to be rejuvenated and if so, how best to rejuvenate it.”

Pasture assessments look at key indicators to measure pasture productivity and vigour. Indicators such as plant population, density, vigour, ground cover, soil damage, and severity and uniformity of use are assessed. The scorecard uses farm level indicators and descriptions to describe pasture health and productivity, and is designed to be simple and straightforward to use.

“Assessments size up the condition of the pasture and identify strengths and weaknesses so management can be targeted to produce specific results,” said Lastiwka. “Regular pasture assessments along with pasture use records can be used to optimize forage production and evaluate the sustainability of pasture management systems.”

Pastures should be assessed at least once a year during the growing season — more frequently if they are more intensively managed. Once problems are identified, a rejuvenation method can be selected to fix the problems.

“In spring, one of the most effective rejuvenation techniques is to delay the onset of grazing until after the plant (is at) the 3-1/2-leaf stage or longer,” says Lastiwka. “This gives plants time during a very active growth period for recovering vigour that was lost from overwintering and also if overgrazing occurred in the previous year. With renewed vigour plants will produce more forage and their deeper root system will access more soil nutrients. These healthy plants are also more drought tolerant.”

The Tame Pasture Scorecard can be found at agriculture.alberta.ca.

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