Prairie Garden Seeds Preserves And Markets Heritage Crops

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

In an agricultural world where yield and performance is valued more than anything, Jim Ternier could be perceived as somewhat of an iconoclast.

The Cochin area seed grower is president of Seeds of Diversity Canada, a group dedicated to the preservation of heritage seeds. He describes himself as a regional seedsman, specializing in growing and marketing seeds that are adapted for the dryland and short-season environment. He sells his own crops, admittedly, because nobody else will do it for him.

"I am an unusual farmer because I sell more than 500 crops," he says. "I produce my own catalogue, featuring 80 per cent seeds that we grow here and 20 per cent seed supplied by other small growers in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta through swaps. I try to be as local as possible. My activities don’t fit any commercial patterns, but I earn a living from them."

Ternier started out growing mostly vegetable seeds. He quickly discovered that he enjoyed selling the seeds more than the vegetables. He produced his first catalogue 23 years ago. It was a sheet with 15 products. Now his catalogue has 40 pages with hundreds of seeds, including 65 varieties of tomatoes.

Ternier says 97 per cent of his clients are people who grow gardens to feed their families.

"Half of them are in Saskatchewan and Alberta, which helps me fulfill my local mandate," he says. "We sell the Homesteader pea variety, which is over 100 years old; we sell the Detroit Dark Red beet. The Golden Bantam corn, which is still commonly grown, has been around for over 100 years."

Almost all of Prairie Garden Seeds’ business is mail order.

"Canada Post represents my largest expense," he says, "but that is okay. We have consciously chosen to live in an isolated setting. When we want to see masses of people, we attend Seedy Saturday events in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. It is an opportunity to exchange and meet with others who share our passion for heritage seeds."

When asked what drives him, here is what Jim Ternier has to say:

"I have gardened all my life. I truly enjoy it. I am also a collector, but beyond that there is a matter of stewardship—of people taking control of their lives. Gardening is an accessible way for many to take some responsibility for their food supply. It enables people to become connected with the impacts of fossil fuels and climate change in their lives, which leads to a greater awareness and understanding of the real value of food."

"When we took over the family farm in the late 1970s, we built ourselves a house that we see as modern, but it doesn’t have the latest amenities by today’s standards. We raised three kids in it and they are doing pretty well."

Jim Ternier sometimes uses a hand cultivator built by his uncle.

"You can’t buy anything like that anymore," he says. "Today’s versions are lightly built out of plastic. They don’t last. The one I use is older than me. It is built out of wood and metal. When a part breaks or wears out, we just fashion a new one. We chose a certain lifestyle, and we are happy about our approach and engagement in life."

For more information, contact:

Jim Ternier
Prairie Garden Seeds
E-mail: prairie.seeds@sasktel.net
Phone: (306) 386-2737
http://www.prseeds.ca

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Collector’s Edition Of Saskatchewan Brand Book Published For Centennial

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Those in the know will understand the importance of brands as a means to identify stray and missing cattle. Brands have been around us since the early days of ranching back in the late 19th century.

The Saskatchewan Government wanted to celebrate the Province's Centennial in a way that recognized the role brands have played in the development of the cattle industry by publishing a special, limited edition of The Saskatchewan Registered Cattle and Horse Brands book.

Rusty Hawryluk is the Brand Registrar and Licensing Officer at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, and has overseen the project.

"We have printed 500 numbered copies in hardcover format," he says. "The cover is embossed with a replica of a special branding iron bearing the provincial logo of the wheat sheaf and the number ‘100’ below, with the years 1905-2005, acknowledging this is our Centennial year."

When people open the book, there is a cover page with a gold foil replica of the cover brand. As you keep turning the pages, there is a history of brands in Saskatchewan, as well as brand photographs from the Saskatchewan Archives Board. The rest of the book is a directory of current registered brands in Saskatchewan with the names and addresses of the brand holders, along with small pictures of their brands. The publication has 512 pages.

The brand registry is made up of more than 19,000 active livestock brands that Rusty Hawryluk looks after. The registry is of great significance to more than a few ranchers.

"Many of these brands almost have a personality of their own," he says. "They tell a story, much like an Egyptian hieroglyph might—like symbols. They can be associated with a family or ranch name, or a geographical location or landmark."

"Brands are not only part of the identity of the operations to which they belong, they are also the equivalent of an animal's 'return address.' Sometimes, an animal will make its way into another herd for a number of reasons. A brand ensures the animal is returned to its owner."

While electronic means of animal identification have been on the rise during the last few years, it seems brands still have a role to play. The designs are listed alphabetically and then numerically for easier identification of the owners.

Hawryluk believes this commemorative edition will be popular with livestock producers, brand holders, and the municipalities that often face the task of finding owners of lost cattle. He expects the entire special Centennial edition will sell out in no time.

The book is available for $65.00. To get your copy, call (306) 787-4682.

For more information, contact:

Rusty Hawryluk
Brand Registrar and Licensing Officer
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4682

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Speckle Park Cattle: An Evolving Breed “Made In Saskatchewan”

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Speckle Park cattle breed was the new kid on the block when the first National Show and Sale of its kind took place at this year’s edition of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina.

Canada’s Animal Pedigree Act refers to the Speckle Park as an evolving breed.

North Battleford cattle producer Ed Smith has been a Speckle Park breeder for the last 28 years.

"I was lucky enough to get my first stock from originators Bill and Eileen Lamont of Maidstone, who started the breed around 1958-59," he says. "At the moment, the application for status as a distinct breed is in the final stages of preparation, and we feel that in 2006 we should have a purebred breed."

"The original seed stock came from England with the Barr Colonists around 1903-04. These people were settlers in the Lloydminster area. The story goes that they brought purebred shorthorn cattle that were carrying White Park calves. They found the offspring of this mating had an interesting colour pattern. They were red and white at the time, rather than black and white as you see them today."

In the 1950s, the Lamont family became interested in these historically significant animals. At the time, they were raising purebred Angus cattle and purebred Appaloosa horses, explains Smith.

"They thought these were pretty interesting cattle because their patterns were similar to the patterns on their horses, so they got a few of them and liked them so much that Bill had the idea that someday we could make a breed of this. He started crossing them with his Angus cattle and he changed the red and white pattern to a black and white pattern. The rest is history."

"He kept breeding them until he had a couple of dozen, and he let some of his family members have some of them," says Smith. "I believe that my wife Kathy and I were the first people allowed to buy these animals outside of his family."

Smith and 10 other Speckle Park enthusiasts got together in 1983 to form an association of Speckle Park breeders.

"In 1993, we got our papers as an evolving breed and we have been breeding them ever since, trying to make them like peas in a pod. These cattle are a black pigment to begin with. The cattle industry likes that because producers don’t have to worry about sunburns on udders and pinkeye.

“They have black sides, a white top line and a white belly. Then they go white down over the hips with black speckles on them. The feet are black; eyes are black; the ears are black, and the nose is black. There are some variations of that colour, as well. They will go from a white colour—still with the black pigmentation—to a white colour with black speckles up the legs; the nose, hocks and ears will be black," Smith says.

Over the years, Speckle Park have gained a reputation as a carcass breed of the highest quality with moderate size, according to Smith. Cows typically weigh between 1,200 and 1,400 pounds; bulls weigh between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds.

"In terms of marbling, our cattle probably are exceeding what the British cattle have done over the years—and we have bred them specifically to do this. So we have marbled beef without a lot of fat cover on the animal, and we have a very tender piece of meat."

"Butchers love this carcass because it is very easy to cut," says Smith. "They are small-boned animals and there is a higher meat-to-bone ratio than there is on many of the other breeds… and the taste seems to be superior."

Smith obviously exhibits the pride in his breed that one would expect.

"They have very good maternal instincts," he says. "The calves are vigorous at birth, in that 75-pound range. Easy calving. In 28 years, I have had one caesarean. I think it was because we had an accident: the neighbour's bull got into my pasture. Needless to say, he was not a Speckle Park bull."

For more information, contact:

Ed Smith
Canadian Speckle Park Cattle Association
(306) 937-3686
www.specklepark.ca

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Ultrasounds Lend A Helping Hand To Live Carcass Evaluations

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

In a barn just outside the Stadium at Canadian Western Agribition, a few bulls and cows line up to be taken through Rod Wendorff’s chute.

He proceeds to spread a blob of congealed lubricant between the twelfth and thirteenth rib of an animal before snapping a picture with his ultrasound device.

Who would have thought we would someday be able to evaluate beef marbling off a living cow? Yet that is precisely what this UGC-certified (Ultrasound Guidelines Council) technician is doing for breed associations at Regina’s Agribition.

"This is a marketing tool for them," he says. "First, we have to get a clean surface. Ultrasound won’t read through air. We have to put a couplant on it. I use canola oil. The ultrasound gives me a picture, and then I have software that will analyse the picture in the computer. I learned how to do this at Kansas State University, and every two years I have to go back to get re-certified."

On Wendorff’s worktable lies about $40,000-worth of equipment.

"We have been measuring backfat, ribeye muscle size, marbling and lean meat yield here at Agribition," he explains.

According to the Canadian Blonde d'Aquitaine Association, ultrasound has been used to measure fat depth in beef cattle since the 1950s, and research at the University of Saskatchewan suggests that ultrasound backfat and ribeye area measurements can accurately predict the lean meat yield of yearling bulls.

This technology can be a valuable tool for seedstock producers interested in improving the carcass merit of their cattle, according to Wendorff.

"Every year, we get more people using this technology," he says. "There are now EPDs (Estimated Progeny Differences) for it, so you can identify the cattle that will help you increase the trait that you want. With those, within a breed, you can tell what they will pass on—how good they are on a certain trait."

Carcass traits are moderately to highly inherited; therefore, carcass characteristics in a bull are likely to be passed on to his progeny.

Wendorff and his company—Windy Ridge Ultrasound—may be based out of Raymond, Alberta, but he seems to spend a lot of time in Saskatchewan.

"I have been doing it for five or six years now," he says, "and at the time I was the only one certified in Canada. I love this work. I like being around cattle and the cattle people. I used to manage an $80-million payroll for the City of Lethbridge. Cattle are easier to get along with than people sometimes. With cattle, if you get kicked, at least you usually deserve it."

For more information, contact:

Rod Wendorf
UGC Certified Technician
Windy Ridge Ultrasound
(403) 752-4066

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Upcoming Winter Grazing Tour To Feature "Whole Buncher"

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The grazing tours that are coming up on December 14 and 15, 2005, in Alameda and Grenfell, respectively, are likely to be well-attended once again, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Livestock Development Specialist Lorne Klein.

"These tours are a chance for cattle producers to take a first-hand look at winter grazing as an option," he says. "At the Alameda location, for instance, we will look at bale grazing and bale processing on pasture, while at the Grenfell site, corn grazing and chaff grazing will be observed."

Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food stages the tours in partnership with the Western Beef Development Centre, the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association, Brett-Young Seeds and AJ Manufacturing.

"AJ Manufacturing will be showing its Whole Buncher as part of the activities. This is a clever variation of a giant pitchfork attached to the back of a combine that collects both chaff and straw and dumps it throughout the field. The piles are then used for feed. It is a relatively new concept and provides a crop residue option that wasn't there before," explains Klein, "and it supports winter grazing as a practice."

Whether it is swath-grazing annuals or feeding cows on pasture in general that is being considered by producers, these tours aim to provide ideas for alternative winter feeding systems on annual cropland.

On both days, the program begins at 11:00 a.m. with presentations on 16 options for winter grazing using crop residues, annuals, seeded perennials and native rangeland.

The field tour will depart at noon, after the presentations. Participants are asked to bring their own lunches as a noon meal will not be provided. Coffee will be available before and during the presentations, and Klein asks people to be prepared to use their own vehicles for the tour.

For more information, contact:

Lorne Klein
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 848-2382

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Aims' Consultant Workshop Program Makes Speakers Affordable

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

If there is a program that has consistently proven popular among farm and rural economic development organizations since its beginning in 1992, it’s the Agriculture Institute of Management in Saskatchewan’s (AIMS) Consultant Workshop Program.

"What started out as an initiative to foster the development of producer clubs around the province—where agricultural producers would have a forum in which they would be able to share their experiences without having to go to larger centres—really took off," says Bev Magill, Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS)/AIMS Project Officer assigned to the program.

For $150.00, these emerging groups could get access to an expert on themes like agri-tourism, farm planning, value chain development, project management, futures markets and a variety of topics vital to agricultural sustainability.

Initially, only marketing clubs were allowed to use the program, but now rural municipalities, Agricultural Development and Diversification (ADD) boards, regional economic development authorities and community futures corporations can all take advantage of it.

"Any group of 10 or more persons with an interest in agriculture can participate in the AIMS Consultant Workshop Program, which enables you to host guest speakers at a very low cost, while we sponsor the rest of the consultant’s fee and expenses," says Magill.

The topics selected for eligibility are submitted by speakers but must address current issues. The sponsored participant groups often suggest topics, as well.

"We conduct evaluations at every workshop and we take suggestions into account," she says. "We always get praise for the calibre of speakers selected. What really makes a difference, as well, is the opportunity that this provides to bring participants together around a meeting, a potluck supper or an activity, on location in rural Saskatchewan. The speaker goes to your community, and the program is flexible enough to allow you to schedule the event when it best suits your needs. You’ll learn about the latest farming trends, new management techniques and emerging issues. You’ll learn tips on how to run your operations more efficiently."

The number of sessions an organization is able to host through the AIMS Consultant Workshop Program each year may be restricted, but any group with an agricultural focus qualifies for the AIMS Consultant Workshop Program.

To request a speaker, an eligible group completes a Consultant Workshop application form and submits a registration fee to the Saskatchewan Council for Community Development (SCCD)-AIMS for each session requested.

To find our more about the AIMS Consultant Workshop Program, visit: www.sccd.sk.ca/aims.

For more information, contact:
Bev Magill
ACAAFS/AIMS Project Officer
Saskatchewan Council for Community Development
(306) 975- 8928
www.sccd.sk.ca/aims

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Great Divide Bison Ranch Takes Pride In The Quality Of Its Breeding Stock

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Does grazing your bison herd in pastures high up on the continental divide lead to a loftier meat flavour? Perhaps not, but it doesn’t hurt to mention it along with the breeding stock’s pedigree, according to Jackie Legault, a Ponteix bison rancher.

The Legault family looked at the top animals in North America. Their foundation sires were purchased from four ranches in the Dakotas: Drift Prairie Bison and the Rich Cameron Ranch in North Dakota, and Slim Butte's and the Custer Ranch in South Dakota.

"These bulls fit the ranch's breeding program perfectly," says Legault. "They are thick, deep, fertile with correct confirmation. Their sons will have superior growth and high yielding carcasses, and their daughters will have the depth and capacity that will make them produce more easily for the coming years."

The Great Divide Bison Ranch, located along the Red Coat Trail in south-western Saskatchewan, has been owned and operated by the Legault family for almost a century.

Quality has been a tradition there ever since Wilfred Legault, the great-grandfather of Jackie's husband Kim, broke land in 1912. In 1910, Legault, along with his eldest son and daughter, left the Ottawa River valley to venture west to Saskatchewan. They opened a butcher shop in Notre Dame. Two years later, Wilfred's wife Hermine and the rest of the family joined them.

In 1912, the family homesteaded land where the majestic bison roamed freely less than 50 years earlier. Their first house was made of sod and it housed a family of 16 children in the summer months. In the winter, they moved 50 kilometres north to Ponteix, where the children attended school. Wilfred's sons also homesteaded next to their father. They broke some land to grow grain and feed, and they raised cattle and horses.

They broke wild horses, and every year they shipped a couple of railway cars filled with horses to Ontario and Quebec. Thirty kilometres west of the family homestead, Wilfred opened a butcher shop in Val Marie. He delivered fresh meat, going from farm to farm a couple of times a week, in an era when refrigeration was unheard of.

This land has been in the Legault family for four generations. Growing grain, specialty crops and raising horses and cattle were the main activities. The farm has always been operated by father and son partnerships.

Bison production was added to complement the family farm income in 1998, explains Jackie.

"In 2006, we plan to almost eliminate our seeded acres," she says. In the past, we have grown approximately 5,000 acres of grain and specialty crops, but we see that bison production on this land is far more viable in today's unstable agricultural environment."

The Great Divide Bison Ranch even takes blood samples from all its animals to DNA test them for clients who request a particular bloodline.

"They are such remarkable animals—hardy to the point where they will thrive under just about any conditions," she says. "We run a herd of about 300 right now, including a breeding stock of 120. Since the U.S. border opened for animals 30 months and under, we have sold the last two years' bull crops to another producer who finishes them."

"As soon as the border opened, we received a call from a U.S. colleague who needed bison for the rapidly growing American market. Our shipment was the first of unfinished animals to cross the 49th Parallel since the onset of the BSE crisis. In the past, we have also sold unfinished animals to the North American Bison Co-operative. We have also marketed finished animals to Canadian Prairie Bison in Saskatchewan."

The bison now roam on the same prairie grass in the same hills where their ancestors grazed for eons. The Legault family takes great pride in bringing these majestic animals back to their natural habitat. With it comes a definite feeling of fulfillment.

For more information, contact:

Jackie Legault
Great Divide Bison Ranch
(306) 625-3675
www.greatdividebisonranch.com

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Missouri Coteau Farm Doubles As Chipperfield Inn

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Missouri Coteau Escarpment is undoubtedly one of the most evocative landscapes in the province. It literally comes out of North Dakota, extends across Saskatchewan from the southeast to the northwest, and exits out to Alberta.

The Coteau Hills roll and spread—often as far as the eye can see—and agricultural producers are increasingly tapping into the rich heritage with which they are endowed as a means of diversifying their operations.

That is what Doug and Penny MacDonald had in mind when they launched the bed-and-breakfast they call the Chipperfield Inn a few years ago at their place.

“We farm about 18 miles west of Elrose. Between my brother and I, we farm about 4,500 acres. We could round it up to 5,000 acres with the pasture. We run a cow/calf operation with 60 Black Angus cows,” explains Doug MacDonald.

“Penny and I like entertaining. Our kids are grown and our house is plenty large. We have had some guests for upland bird or whitetail deer hunting, and others from as far away as England. Sometimes people come around and they need a place to stay. We are just happy to provide.”

One of the things that makes this place unique is Doug’s passion for blacksmithing.

“One of our good friends moved here from British Columbia. He happened to be a world-class blacksmith. I guess he inspired me. I have always enjoyed welding and working with steel. I took a course at the Western Development Museum (WDM) and built a fully equipped coal-fired forge at the farm,” he says.

“I just finished two sets of large flower pot hangers. I make candleholders, and made a candelabra type light fixture for the house. I have all the primitive tools, and I have been at it for 10 years now. This is something our guests are usually interested in.”

Above all, this is part of the heritage of the Great Plains region. MacDonald is grateful to the WDM for putting on these workshops.

"They bring in experts from the United States and Canada. It helps us ensure we don’t lose the traditions that helped our ancestors make it through the hardships they encountered in this part of the world when they first came."

And it helps provide sustenance today for the MacDonald family.

"We enjoy living on the farm. This is still the best place to raise a family. The bed-and-breakfast, our other activities and the farm income will help ensure that we can watch our kids and grandchildren grow and thrive, from this vantage point. It is a good life."

For more information, contact:

Doug MacDonald
Chipperfield Inn
(306) 378-2767
www.bbcanada.com/chipperfieldinn

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Hi-Tech Identification The Way Of The Future For Cattle Producers

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) was in Saskatchewan recently, at Regina’s Canadian Western Agribition, to encourage livestock producers to take advantage of the new radio frequency identification technology (RFID).

As of September 1, 2006, all cattle leaving their herd of origin will need the new CCIA-approved RFID tag.

"This technology represents a significant improvement on the old bar-coded tags used until now," says Megan Gauley, CCIA Communications Co-ordinator. "It was adopted after an international review committee took a look at the system in place, shortly after the first BSE case in 2003. It established that the industry needed to make a move towards an improved electronic means of getting information about our cattle."

The radio frequency tag has a chip in it designed to last the life of the animal. It is only activated when a reader is put near it. The chip emits the information, which is then captured by the reader as a unique identification signal.

"With the bar-coded tag, if there is a scratch or a little manure on it, manual entry is required," explains Gauley. "When that happens, there is a greater chance of mistakes occurring. This way, you get an accurate read every time. Unlike a bar-coded tag, you never need to actually see a number to recognize the animal."

Gauley invites Saskatchewan cattle producers to come on board with the new technology and to take advantage of the resulting value-added advantages, like age verification.

"Age verification is attaching the animal's birth date information to the tag," says Gauley. "Previously, we used dentition. Age verification is now trumping dentition with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). So it provides Canadians with a more accurate birth date. As a producer, you can actually go online to the CCIA website with your PIN number and submit your animals’ birth dates so that, when the tag is read electronically, the information can be used to help you market your cattle."

In fact, she explains, if Japan’s borders open to Canadian beef, accurate age verification will be required. “We know that there have been cattle going into the United States using the age verification data instead of dentition, so having that means you don’t need a vet coming in and doing the dentition part of it prior to shipping to the U.S.A.”

Gauley says some buyers have already indicated that they will pay a premium for age-verified cattle in Canada. And if the Japanese market does open, as it seems will occur, it is likely that country will require a specified age of no more than so many months. If the requirement is for beef from animals under 20 months, they will require that the beef come from animals that have been age-verified on the CCIA database.

Fortunately, Gauley concludes, Canada, as a country, is definitely ahead of the game. “We are moving towards a system that will give us more effective trace-back information. As of now, the U.S.does not have a similar electronic age verification system.”

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program is an industry-initiated and –established trace-back system designed for the containment and eradication of animal disease.

For more information, contact:

Megan Gauley
Communications Co-ordinator
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
(403) 275-2083
www.canadaid.ca

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Crop Production Week Is An Opportunity For A Fresh Start

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The next edition of Crop Production Week, January 9 to 14 in Saskatoon, will provide many excellent opportunities for growers and industry players to learn what’s new in crops for 2006.

“It is a great chance to get a head start on next year,” says Ray McVicar, Special Crops Provincial Specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF). “Crop Production Week and the Western Canadian Crop Production Show are big events for grain producers because, for many, they will set the wheels in motion for the new crop year. What they experience during that time will influence their seeding plans for the coming production cycle.”

Central to this are all the annual general meetings of production associations like the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission; the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers’ Association, whose Pulse Days drew over 1,000 participants last year; the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association; the Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission; Canola Days; and the Canaryseed Association of Canada.

The event also attracts the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Saskatchewan Ag Grads Association, and the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, a newcomer this year. All these organizations hold meetings in Saskatoon during Crop Production Week.

What is remarkable about Crop Production Week, according to SAF’s Crop Development Specialist Brian Sim, is the fact that the Production Week and Show—taking place simultaneously at the Saskatoon Inn, Heritage Inn and Prairieland Park—are solely dedicated to grain production.

“Crop Production Week and Show are geared toward producers who can access in one spot all the latest news and developments in crops and technology that is available and useable on the farm now. The quality and depth of knowledge there is absolutely fantastic,” says Sim.

The highlight of this year’s Crop Production Week will be the Wednesday night Special Session titled “What’s the Future of the Prairie Grain Industry?” with Terry Hildebrandt, Ken Rosaasen, Trenton Baisley, and Dennis Wiebe.

Lyle Simonson is President of Crop Production Saskatchewan Inc. “We invite everyone in the industry to join us for what will likely be a turning point discussion, after one of the worst years in a long time for many producers, with representatives from a range of fields in the business. Together, we will explore what the future holds for all of us.”

To find out more, visit: www.cropweek.com, or contact Kevin Hursh at kevin@hursh.ca.

For more information, contact:

Ray McVicar
Provincial Specialist, Special Crops
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4665

Brian Sim
Crop Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-5344

Lyle Simonson
President
Crop Production Saskatchewan Inc.
(306) 553-2307

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“Fence Lines To Corporate Board Rooms” Conference Coming Up In Saskatoon

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (FACS) will be holding its 14th Annual General Meeting and Conference on December 13 and 14, in Saskatoon, under the theme: “Fence Lines to Corporate Board Rooms,” at the Saskatoon Inn.

This year’s event will put particular emphasis on the approaches to take in the face of the increased media scrutiny of agriculture as an industry, explains FACS Executive Director Adele Buettner.

“Animal welfare continues to be one of the top issues for the livestock industry. How we get our message across effectively will be our focus," says Buettner. "Traditionally, this conference attracts registrants from across Canada and the United States. We are inviting participants to attend Canada’s longest running industry-led farm animal welfare conference, to network and learn about the latest trends in the field.”

The lineup of speakers includes a variety of experts, such as Dr. Terry Whiting of Manitoba Agriculture and Food. His talk is entitled: “Should They Stay or Should They Go?” He will address some common conditions found in livestock operations and the difficulties in making farm-gate decisions.

Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association, will provide a Virtual Salmon Farm Tour and address some common misconceptions about the salmon farming industry.

One of the most awaited presentations will be that of Special Agent John Lewis of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, who will deliver an address entitled: “Animal Rights Extremism: Violence, Trends and Challenges, and How to Work Together.”

“John Lewis has been with the FBI for 28 years,” explains Buettner. “He is currently assigned as Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, overseeing the Domestic Terrorism Program. Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Lewis was posted in the field at numerous American locations and at FBI Headquarters. His presentation will address the current state of the eco-terrorism crime challenge in the United States, and efforts to address this issue.”

Other presenters will include Norm Luba, Executive Director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council, from Louisville, Kentucky; Leslie Ballentine, of Ballentine Communications in Toronto; Dave Biesenthal, a beef producer from Walkerton, Ontario; and Lisa Bishop from Chicken Farmers of Canada, in Ottawa.

The annual general meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 13, at 7:00 p.m., and the conference will take place on Wednesday, December 14: Registration begins at 7:45 a.m.

Early bird conference registration is $125.00 (including GST) for those who register by December 7, and $65.00 (including GST) for students. Registration includes both breakfast and lunch.

Access to the annual general meeting is complimentary to those who pre-register.

For more information, or to register, contact the FACS office by phone at (306) 249-3227; by fax at (306) 244-4497; or by e-mail at facs@sasktel.net.

The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc. is a membership-based, non-profit organization that represents the livestock industry in advancing responsible animal welfare, care and handling practices in agriculture.

For more information, contact:

Adele Buettner
Executive Director
Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan
(306) 249-3227 or 222-7601
http://www.facs.sk.ca/

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Initiative Raises Awareness About Value of Eating Local Foods

Having the presence of mind to choose a food item that is grown locally over one that originates from elsewhere in the world may not come naturally at first, but a few folks in the Northeast are doing their best to change that.

A group of agriculture, food and health industry professionals in the region has been working on a Northeast Saskatchewan Food Charter initiative, spearheaded by the Food for All Coalition. The group unveiled the document on November 15 in Tisdale at a “Food Forum and Feast”.

“A food charter is a document intended to raise the profile of food security in the region,” says Leroy Bader, an Agribusiness Development Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF) and one of the people involved in the project. “Because we are all vulnerable to food security, we need a clear vision of the kind of food security we need now and in the future. The charter can guide community action in addressing issues of food security, including food production, storage and distribution.

“One of reasons I became involved in this project is that, in Saskatchewan, we are approximately 10 per cent self-sufficient in growing our own vegetables, whereas Manitoba and Alberta are around 40 percent self-sufficient. There is obviously a lot of room to grow our foods locally, and room for value-added processing locally as well,” he says.

Specifically, the Food Forum and Feast participants had an opportunity to learn about local food production, storage and distribution, and how to adopt food buying practices that support the local rural economy. They discovered the link between food security and social justice, culture, health and learning; they learned to identify priorities for action; and they began the process of developing a local food directory, a crucial element in the process.

“This initiative involved local health and education specialists, as well as organizations like the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan,” says Sandy Lowndes, a Livestock Development Specialist with SAF who has taken the food charter principle to heart. “The Food Forum and Feast also involved a market gardener and an organic producer. This is about changing attitudes and about what we as a population can do as a group to ensure food security.”

“It could be said that 15 per cent of Canadians are ‘food insecure’,” she says. “Food security can be defined as—among other things—access to affordable, nutritious, safe food, and all the time. Half of those people in Canada who are food insecure are children. This translates into almost two million children. It is significant.”

Lowndes and her colleagues hope this initiative will help raise awareness about the benefits of eating foods grown locally—eating foods that are fresh and loaded with vitamins and minerals, leading to more vigorous fruit (and) vegetable, processed grain and meat industries in the province.

For more information, contact:

Leroy Bader
Agribusiness Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 873-1538

Sandy Lowndes
Livestock Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 878-8816


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Farm Business Advisory Service Part of Renewal Toolkit

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The provincial and federal governments are making available a range of tools to Saskatchewan agricultural producers through the Renewal Chapter of the Agricultural Policy Framework (ADF). Perhaps one of the most useful of these is the Canadian Farm Business Advisory Service (CFBAS).

“The CFBAS is available to eligible farmers and consists of an independent third party assessment of the current production, marketing and financial areas of your farm," says Gerry Holland, a Business Planning Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF). "A consultant you will select from a list of qualified people we provide will come out to your farm and help you draw a clear picture of your situation."

The Renewal programs aim to help farmers improve the profitability of their operation. Producers are encouraged to contact any of the consultants to determine their availability and expertise in a specific area of interest.

The consultants will work with their clients to review the options available to them. They may help producers identify options that were previously unexplored, which is likely one of the reasons why a fair number of Saskatchewan producers have been taking advantage of this service, according to Holland.

“We were very busy last winter and spring. Things slowed down during the summer, but we are starting to get busy again, now that the harvest is done and people are planning ahead for next season," he says.

“One of the big advantages of this program is that the work is confidential. Of the programs we offer through Renewal, this is the one that people participate in first before they move on to a more specialized business planning process.”

The consultants work with the farm families for a total of five days, for a total cost of $100.00.

Participants can decide to take three days for the assessment of their situation. They can stop there if they wish or they can carry out the three-day assessment, and then take two days to conduct a forward planning exercise.

All consultants have gone through the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada approval process to ensure they have the right qualifications. Some of them are accountants, some are financial advisors and some are agricultural producers themselves. All are private consultants.

The SAF business planning specialist in the area will typically discuss with each farm family what their needs are to help them select the best consultant for their situation. There are 84 people registered in the program as of this fall.

The CFBAS also includes a follow-up component in which the consultant will come out for one day, six to 12 months after the assessment, to update the financial information and to assess how the farm family did with its management plan.

To find out more about the Renewal programs, visit: www.agr.gc.ca/renewal.

For more information, contact:

Gerry Holland
Business Planning Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4051
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Crop Production Week is An Opportunity for a Fresh Start

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

The next edition of Crop Production Week, January 9 to 14 in Saskatoon, will provide many excellent opportunities for growers and industry players to learn what’s new in crops for 2006.

“It is a great chance to get a head start on next year,” says Ray McVicar, Special Crops Provincial Specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food (SAF). “Crop Production Week and the Western Canadian Crop Production Show are big events for grain producers because, for many, they will set the wheels in motion for the new crop year. What they experience during that time will influence their seeding plans for the coming production cycle.”

Central to this are all the annual general meetings of production associations like the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission; the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers’ Association, whose Pulse Days drew over 1,000 participants last year; the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association; the Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission; Canola Days; and the Canaryseed Association of Canada.

The event also attracts the Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association, the Canadian Wheat Board, the Saskatchewan Ag Grads Association, and the Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association, a newcomer this year. All these organizations hold meetings in Saskatoon during Crop Production Week.

What is remarkable about Crop Production Week, according to SAF’s Crop Development Specialist Brian Sim, is the fact that the Production Week and Show—taking place simultaneously at the Saskatoon Inn, Heritage Inn and Prairieland Park—are solely dedicated to grain production.

“Crop Production Week and Show are geared toward producers who can access in one spot all the latest news and developments in crops and technology that is available and useable on the farm now. The quality and depth of knowledge there is absolutely fantastic,” says Sim.

The highlight of this year’s Crop Production Week will be the Wednesday night Special Session titled “What’s the Future of the Prairie Grain Industry?” with Terry Hildebrandt, Ken Rosaasen, Trenton Baisley, and Dennis Wiebe.

Lyle Simonson is President of Crop Production Saskatchewan Inc. “We invite everyone in the industry to join us for what will likely be a turning point discussion, after one of the worst years in a long time for many producers, with representatives from a range of fields in the business. Together, we will explore what the future holds for all of us.”

To find out more, visit: www.cropweek.com, or contact Kevin Hursh at kevin@hursh.ca.

For more information, contact:

Ray McVicar
Provincial Specialist, Special Crops
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 787-4665

Brian Sim
Crop Development Specialist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 933-5344

Lyle Simonson
President
Crop Production Saskatchewan Inc.
(306) 553-2307

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CanMar's Roasted Flax Product Combines Flavour and Nutrition

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Walking into the facilities of CanMar Grain Products Limited, located in the heart of the Regina Airport Authority’s business district, visitors get a sense that something special goes on here. The place is simply immaculate.

President and CEO Cecil Werner explains why:

“We built a food grade plant facility, so it will meet the requirements of the European and Japanese markets in terms of specifications in the building.”

CanMar roasts and packages flax seeds that it has been marketing across Canada and to Pacific Rim countries for the last couple of years. This place is Werner’s pride and joy.

“I grew up on a farm west of Regina,” he says. “I studied agricultural economics at the University of Saskatchewan. I’m still involved in the farm operations, but my career until now had been mostly focused on exporting agricultural products to Pacific Rim area countries. I had been doing that for 27 years. About four years ago, I got out of the alfalfa dehy industry and looked at the possibility of producing roasted flax seed for the Asian market.”

One of CanMar’s Asian customers suggested Werner look at roasted flax seed because roasted sesame seed is very popular in Japan, South Korea, China and in other Asian countries. With this in mind, he focused on flax seed because it is high in Omega-3, dietary fibre and lignin content. Sesame seed is also a quality product with great Omega-6 content, and it yields a high quality oil, but flax seed is much higher in Omega-3, which people are short of in their diet. It is a superior product, but in a way also a complementary product to sesame seed.

CanMar had sample product made on a market-testing basis to get consumers’ reactions. The company looked at many different types of roasting processes; it designed its own machines, and eventually built the plant, which has been in operation since March.

“We are now shipping our product to quite a few destinations,” says Werner. “Roasted flax can be added to almost anything because when it is roasted, it is crunchy; chewy—it has a pleasant flavour. It can be added to Western dishes such as ice cream and salads; mixed in tofu type products; and mixed with rice or frozen bakery products.

“We are currently making a 15-gram package—a convenience package—for people who want to take it to work and put it in their salads or soups. We also produce the traditional 425-gram package. Then, we have larger packages such as the 5-kilogram vacuum-packed package.”

At the moment, CanMar is exporting more than 50 per cent of its production to various countries. Westfair Foods is distributing the product across Canada. CanMar expects an increase in Canadian sales as a result.

“In addition to our standard roasted flax product, the company is also producing versions flavoured with blueberry, as well as with apple and cinnamon. We are constantly thinking about new products. The sky is the limit.

“Our process ensures that every flax seed is roasted to perfection and that all impurities are taken out beforehand. Being located at the airport is convenient for pick up and delivery of containers. And when clients come, they see that we are located in a professional district of the city. They don’t have to look at a junkyard sitting beside our facilities. Everybody has to look after their facilities in the Airport Authority area.”

Never underestimate how esthetics can play a role in luring new buyers. Werner is the first to admit: “First impressions are very important.”

For more information, contact:

Cecil Werner
President and CEO
CanMar Grain Products
1-866-855-5553
http://www.roastedflax.com

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Upcoming Natural Health Product Regulations Workshop

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Ag-West Bio Inc. will host the third in a series of three workshops on compliance with the new federal regulations for natural health products (NHPs) on November 30 in Saskatoon.

“These workshops are designed to help companies reach compliance with the new regulations during the six-year transition period. These regulations affect manufacturers, packagers, labelers, distributors and importers of natural health products,” says Ag-West Bio’s Dr. Carol Ann Patterson.

The regulations cover product licensing, site licensing, mandatory good manufacturing processes, clinical trials, and amendments to licensing and enforcement, among other things, explains Patterson.

“We are now in year two. By December 31, all companies selling natural health products in Canada must have a site license. Because there is so much information, we have contracted an experienced company from Winnipeg, PharmEng Technology Inc., to deliver these workshops.”

The November 30 workshop will include a general overview of the regulations regarding quality, safety and efficacy. The type of products covered will include single ingredient, combination and monograph, as well as traditional and non-traditional products. The types and categories of product claims will be looked at, as well.

“Aspects like quality requirements will be addressed in terms of standards for specifications and testing. The assessment and presentation of the evidence for natural health products will be featured, along with some case studies,” Patterson says.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to understand the quality technical requirements and how to set up specifications and testing. They will have become familiar with natural health products’ safety and efficacy evidence requirements. They will also be able to perform literature searches, and understand how clinical and observation trials are conducted. Participants will be able to carry out risk assessments and to present evidence to Health Canada for review.

“We are quite pleased with the level of participation for the workshops,” Patterson notes. “Both large and small companies are attending these training opportunities. Understanding and complying with the regulations ensures growth of the natural health products industry in the province.”

The workshops are funded by the Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Saskatchewan (ACAAFS) Program, which is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The workshop takes place in the Span and Candle Rooms at 111 Research Drive, Innovation Place, in Saskatoon, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To register, contact Krista Dennis, Special Projects Manager for Ag-West Bio, at (306) 668-2656 or krista.dennis@agwest.sk.ca.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Carol Ann Patterson
Ag-West Bio Inc.
(306) 668-2692
www.agwest.sk.ca
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