CONNECTIVITY ISSUES? OVERWINTERING EQUIPMENT DRYING OFF COWS CARBON OFFSET PROGRAMS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 $9.50 CONSUMER CONNECTIONS Sixteen Grains 36 FORTIFYING YOUR STAND Forage FAQs 26 IMPACTS OF INTEREST Rising Rates 22 12
A.E. CHICOINE FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Storthoaks, SK 306.449.2255 FUTURE AG INC. Coronation, AB 403.578.3747 Olds, AB 403.556.6711 Red Deer County, AB 403.343.6101 Stettler, AB 403.742.3740 Stony Plain, AB 780.963.7411 HERGOTT FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Humboldt, SK 306.682.2592 HI LINE FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Wetaskiwin, AB 780.352.9244 LEO’S SALES & SERVICE LTD. Winnipeg, MB 204.694.4978 REDHEAD EQUIPMENT Estevan, SK 306.634.4788 Lloydminster, SK 306.825.3434 Melfort, SK 306.752.2273 North Battleford, SK 306.445.8128 Prince Albert, SK 306.763.6454 Saskatoon, SK 306.934.3555 Swift Current, SK 306.773.2951 ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT, CANADA Balzac, AB 403.513.7000 Boissevain, MB 204.534.2463 Brandon, MB 204.725.2273 Camrose, AB 780.672.9136 Dauphin, MB 204.638.5558 Drumheller, AB 403.823.2626 Elie, MB 204.353.2392 Falher, AB 780.837.4691 Grand Prairie, AB 780.882.7637 Grimshaw, AB 780.332.4691 High River, AB 403.652.7944 Killarney, MB 204.523.4644 To learn more, visit caseih.com/farmall75a KEY FEATURES • Tier 4 B/Final with 3-cylinder, FPT turbocharged & aftercooled engine • Standard 8 × 8 mechanical transmission, optional 12 × 12 clutchless power shuttle or 12 × 12 with creeper option • 2WD or MFD front axle • Two standard rear remotes for easy hookup of hydraulic tools, plus an optional third rear remote • Standard high visibility roof panel and radio ready on cab configurations 1 PTO HP at 2100 RPM FARMALL® UTILITY 75A TRACTORS 60 PTO HP1 ON NEW FARMALL® UTILITY A TRACTORS FOR36MONTHS * 0% * For commercial use only. Customer participation subject to credit qualification and approval by CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. See your participating Case IH dealer for details and eligibility requirements. Down payment may be required. Offer good through December 31, 2023. Not all customers or applicants may qualify for this rate or term. CNH Industrial Capital America LLC or CNH Industrial Capital Canada Ltd. standard terms and conditions will apply. This transaction will be unconditionally interest free. Canada Example: The interest rate will be 0.00% per annum for a total contract term of 36 months. Based on retail contract date of October 1, 2023, with a suggested retail price on a new Farmall 75A (Cab, MFD) of C$63,309.73, customer provides down payment of C$12,661.95 and finances the balance of C$50,647.78 at 0.00% per annum for 36 months. There will be 36 equal monthly payments of C$1,406.88; provided that the amount of the last payment may be slightly different due to rounding. The total amount payable will be C$63,309.73, which includes finance charges of C$0.00. Taxes, freight, setup, delivery, additional options or attachments not included in suggested retail price. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. All rights reserved. Case IH is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates. www.caseih.com
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4 Our Advertisers Appreciate Your Business Better Farming | November/December 2023 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR LAND VALUES CLIMB; MERGER CONCERNS Limited availability of farmland for sale is pushing land values still higher, according to a mid-year report from Farm Credit Canada. In the first six months of 2023 the national average growth rate of farmland was 7.7 per cent. The highest farmland value increase over the last six months was reported in Saskatchewan (11.4 per cent). Ontario and Manitoba saw nearly identical increases, with farmland values in Ontario increasing by 6.9 per cent, and Manitoba by 6.4 per cent. Alberta had a more modest increase of three per cent. Farm cash receipts are anticipated to increase 6.6 per cent in 2023. But as farm operations exercise caution in spending, farmland value appreciation is anticipated to slow until the uncertainty over the current economic environment vanishes. “Purchasing farmland is a very strategic decision for producers,” says FCC’s chief economist J.P. Gervais. “They need to assess whether they can earn enough from the larger land base they’ve acquired and if not, whether other areas of the operation generate enough income to pay for the land. Monitoring farmland price trends can assist in making the best decisions for individual operations.” At press time, leaders from four farm groups representing the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), SaskCanola, Sask Wheat and SaskBarley submitted a letter to Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister, urging the provincial government to conduct a risk assessment of the proposed merger of Bunge and Viterra, currently under review by Transport Canada and Competition Bureau Canada. The letter commends the government’s past efforts, specifically referencing the assessments conducted in 2010 for the proposed merger of BHP Billiton and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and the 2012 examination of the Glencore-Viterra merger. The four organizations strongly advocate for a similarly rigorous approach for the present proposal, as some Prairie producers have recently expressed concerns over the proposed merger. Paul Nolan What are your retirement plans? Ron Settler looks at collecting vintage tractors, woodworking, drag racing, and more on Page 48. Leslie Stewart photo 1-888-248-4893 PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR PAUL NOLAN ext 202 Paul.Nolan@Farms.com ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR LESLIE STEWART ext 265 Leslie.Stewart@Farms.com AGRICULTURAL JOURNALIST EMILY CROFT PRAIRIE CONTRIBUTORS SHANNON CHANT RICHARD KAMCHEN Swift Current, Sask. Winnipeg, Man. RON SETTLER AMBER WALL Lucky Lake, Sask. Swift Current, Sask. NATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS MOE AGOSTINO ABHINESH GOPAL PATRICK LYNCH LAUREN QUINN ADVERTISING TEAM GLENN RUEGG JEFF McKEE JENNY LONGSTREET SCOTT FARHOOD SAMANTHA RENAUD JOAN SPIEGELBERG ANDREW BAWDEN DESIGN & PRODUCTION TEAM TANYA MYERS GREG MARLOW SHAUN CLARK ANDREA WILLIAMS www.BetterFarming.com Follow us on Twitter @PrairieFarming Better Farming Magazine, Prairie Edition is mailed to producers in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Next issue: January 2024. 1-888-248-4893 ext 281 Subscriptions@BetterFarming.com ISSN 2563-9803 (Printed) Copyright ©2023 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any content without written permission of the publisher is forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, its products or services, nor do Better Farming, AgMedia or Farms.com endorse any advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the omission of any scheduled advertising. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 90 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 Mail agreement #0042518524 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada. Cover: Matt Smith photo, Jodie Alred photo
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8 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | November/December 2023 Beyond the Barn Multiple ministers from Prairie provinces are travelling abroad to promote Western Canadian agriculture. Saskatchewan’s Jeremy Harrison, the minister of Trade and Export Development, is part of a delegation heading to the United Kingdom and Poland. “The mission’s focus is on expanding opportunities in agriculture, critical minerals, innovative technology, immigration and talent attraction,” according to a recent release. The delegation will attend the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit and a recruitment fair, to attract workers to fill positions in the province, including in the ag sector. Finding skilled workers in Saskatchewan isn’t always easy, so looking outside of its borders is necessary, said Brent Bazin, a service executive with Young’s Equipment. “With food security becoming increasingly important, we need to keep Saskatchewan farmers in the field,” he said in a statement. “Young’s Equipment is very involved with Saskatchewan’s apprenticeship programs but recognizes the ability to fill all the available jobs from within our training system falls short of current needs.” Saskatchewan’s ag minister also led a recent trade mission. David Marit travelled to Mexico where he and members of the delegation attended the Food Tech Summit and Expo in Mexico City. This event brings together more than 20,000 buyers, investors and experts from the agri-foods sector. “It is important for us to get out and tell our sustainability story across the globe, especially in key jurisdictions like Mexico, who is our fourth largest trading partner,” Marit said in a statement. Mexico bought more than $1 billion of Saskatchewan exports in 2022, with agri-food goods accounting for more than 97 per cent of total exports. An Alberta delegation recently wrapped up a trade mission to promote agriculture. Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson recently spent time in South Korea and Japan to highlight the quality and value of Alberta agriculture. “I emphasized that Alberta is committed to providing the best agri-food products possible for Japanese families,” he said. BF - Diego Flammini PROMOTING PRAIRIE AG WORLDWIDE Government of Alberta photo APAS PENS CARBON TAX RELIEF LETTER TO SASK. SENATORS A Prairie ag organization wrote to its representatives in the Senate urging support for a carbon tax relief bill. “As the Canadian Senate considers the merits of Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, I want to encourage each of you to support this Bill given its implications for Saskatchewan’s agricultural community, and farm families across Canada,” Ian Boxall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) recently wrote. Bill C-234, which would provide farmers carbon tax relief on propane and natural gas used for grain drying and barn heating, had its second reading in the Senate in June and got time in Ag and Forestry committee meetings on Sept. 21 and 26. Canadian ag contributes about 10 per cent of total national emissions. In 2021, this number was around 69 megatonnes of carbon emitted, making ag the fifth-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions that year. Removing the tax would save Canadian farmers almost $1 billion through 2030, a Parliamentary Budget Officer report has estimated. “We cannot be bound by policies that diminish our capacity to invest in the very solutions you wish us to pursue,” Boxall said. “Shifting to cleaner energy sources is a costly and gradual process and penalizing us for our reliance on fossil fuels at this stage is neither practical or appropriate.” Senators were meeting again on Sept. 28 to discuss Bill C-234. Better Farming has contacted Saskatchewan senators for updates about Bill C-234 and their positions on the legislation. The bill must go through the report stage and third reading before receiving royal assent and becoming law. BF Minister Sigurdson (right) traveled to the Canada Meat Seminar in Japan recently with executives from Canada Pork, Canada Beef, and the Canadian Cattle Association.
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10 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2023 Beyond the Barn Researchers from the University of Manitoba have created a new food packaging plastic alternative, made with canola meal. “Canola is one of Canada’s leading crops and the world’s second-largest produced oilseed crop. The main purpose of growing canola is oil extraction, and a high amount of canola meal is produced as the byproduct,” says Thilini Dissanayake, one of the student researchers on the project. “In the present context, canola meal is only used in animal feed industries without any other use, and therefore, it is highly available at a low cost. Therefore, we thought giving value to this by-product could increase the income of canola growers and also provide a solution for plastic pollution.” The principal investigator on the project is Dr. Nandika Bandara, assistant professor and Canada research chair in food protein and by-products, who is interested in finding new alternatives to meet consumer demands with more environmentally friendly methods. “Today, environmental pollution and health concerns created by plastic food packaging and microplastics have become serious threats,” says Bandara. “Throughout the planet, everyone is struggling to find solutions for those, and introducing environmentally friendly, biodegradable food packaging using a by-product at a low cost can generate lots of interest from food industries all over the world. “If this food packaging is available in the market, this will be a great contribution to both environmental and economic sustainability,” he says. Initial stages of research have produced strong and flexible materials which would be suitable for packaging, and further development is being explored to increase the water barrier properties, enhance tensile strength, and develop active packaging material. The group is also working on downstream processing of whole canola meal, hoping to use not only protein but other lignocellulosic materials in the meal, for valueadded products such as nanocellulose, adhesives, and platform chemicals. BF - Colleen Halpenny Thilini Dissanayake photo SASK. COW DIES FROM ANTHRAX EXPOSURE A cattle herd in the rural municipality of Cote No. 271 in Saskatchewan has been affected by anthrax. “Anthrax was confirmed by laboratory results on Sept. 25, 2023, as the cause of death in one cow and is suspected in two additional deaths in the same herd,” says a release from the Government of Saskatchewan. Anthrax is a federally reportable disease. A veterinarian must be notified if anthrax is suspected and all positive tests for anthrax must be immediately reported to the provincial chief veterinary officer. The bacteria Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax. These bacteria can survive in soil as spores for decades. The spores are brought to the surface when the ground is disturbed by erosion, heavy rain or other factors. “Beef cattle and bison are most likely to contract the disease because they graze lower to the ground than many other herbivores, particularly in drought conditions or overgrazed pastures,” the Beef Cattle Research Council explains. One challenge with anthrax is how fast it can spread through an animal’s system. The spread can happen so quickly an animal can die within hours of ingesting spores without showing any symptoms. “Affected animals are usually found dead without any signs of illness,” according to the Saskatchewan release. Some symptoms, however, can include trembling, high temperature, difficulty breathing and convulsions. Vaccination is the best way to protect livestock from anthrax infections. “The Sterne vaccine is the only licensed vaccine in Canada, and is only labelled for use in cattle, sheep, horses, goats and pigs,” a Saskatchewan fact sheet says. Saskatchewan livestock have died from anthrax in 2021, 2019, 2016 and 2006. BF NEW CANOLA-BASED PACKAGING Thilini Dissanayake, student researcher, at work in the lab.
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12 Our Advertisers Appreciate Your Business Better Farming | November/December 2023 With an increase in virtual meetings and services as well as the rise in technology requiring internet connection, access to connectivity services is more valuable than ever to advancing knowledge and innovation on Western Canadian farms. Cell phone reception and the ability to communicate also play a role in safety when working with equipment and livestock. Equipment damage or fires, injuries and other emergencies require timely action, which can be limited by poor reception. Cell phone and internet access has typically been sub-par in rural communities across the Prairies. Has connectivity on Prairie farms improved? And how are those without sufficient service adapting to improve communication on their operation? Jennifer, Sask.: Our calls drop constantly. Colin, Man.: Our previous internet provider’s reliability was marginal at best. We tried fix after fix, but they were mostly band-aid fixes. As soon as Starlink was available we jumped onto that bandwagon and we’ve been fairly happy. We run Starlink to the shop and have an AyrMesh Hub that gives us about 1.5km of Wi-Fi range and we’re looking to extend that area. It’s enough to send messages. Our cell service covers about 70 per cent of our farm well enough to pull up service manuals, watch YouTube and scroll Twitter or whatever Elon is calling it these days. On days with high humidity the service quality drops, and typically mornings are better than afternoons. Some spots still have no service so you need to climb onto bins or equipment to make calls. Some of the time we don’t receive texts, or calls go straight to voicemail. For communication on the farm, we’ve started using two-way radios, which has been a nice upgrade. Currently we’re combining north of Manitoba’s #2 highway, and I’ve got one bar of service. I know if I hop on the highway and head five miles closer to Winnipeg, I’ll have no service for a 10-mile stretch. I’ve informally approached my cell provider about putting up a cell tower somewhere on the farm, but they indicated that there weren’t enough customers to justify it. Last year we had an incident where the rear ladder on the combine came down on someone’s head. We suspected a neck injury so we called 911. Unfortunately, there was no service at the location so we had to leave the injured person to make the call. Less than ideal. Alana, Sask.: We purchased Starlink for better internet service and it works great almost all the time. It’s been a game changer for us! Our phone connectivity is variable from our farmyard – oddly much poorer during spring and fall, the busiest times on the farm. This can create major challenges when we’re trying to make critical calls for the business, especially input supplies or equipment repairs. We’ve reported the issue numerous times but have had no success in convincing the phone company to do anything about their poor service. Jason, Alta.: We have intermittent signal loss on wireless internet connection. Brennan, Sask.: Poor connectivity and data speed have resulted in poor usage of available tech. We are unable to utilize our tech to its fullest ability because of poor service. Real time data and telematics have a lag time, thus some of the tech cannot be utilized fully. Brett, Sask.: Variable is the best word I can use. Sometimes it’s good and sometimes it barely works, and I can see the nearest tower. I’m convinced that SaskTel plays games with its service because if it was too good then customers would demand even more. I also think consumers are part of the problem (expecting to watch a movie on their phone whenever and wherever they want). BF Jodie Aldred photo Digging Deeper IS CONNECTIVITY STILL AN ISSUE? ‘Some spots still have no service, so you need to climb onto bins or equipment.’ By Emily Croft
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14 Follow us on Twitter: @PrairieFarming Better Farming | November/December 2023 MICROPLASTICS & SUPERBUGS ‘Bacteria have been evolving genetic mechanisms to cope with stress for millions of years.’ By Lauren Quinn Like every industry, modern farming relies heavily on plastics. Think plastic mulch lining vegetable beds, PVC pipes draining water from fields, polyethylene covering high tunnels, and plastic seed, fertilizer and herbicide packaging, to name a few. In a new review article, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers say these plastics are now widely dispersed in agricultural soils in the form of microplastics and nanoplastics. That’s not necessarily new; microplastics have been found in nearly every ecosystem and organism on Earth. The twist, according to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) researchers, is that micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soil could contribute to antibiotic resistant bacteria with a ready route into our food supply. “Plastic itself may not be very toxic, but it can act as a vector for transmitting pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria into the food chain,” says Jayashree Nath, author and postdoctoral researcher in the department of food science and human nutrition (FSHN). “This phenomenon is not very well known to people, so we wanted to raise awareness.” If the link between microplastics and antibiotic resistance is less than obvious, here’s how it works. First, plastics are an excellent adsorbent. That means chemical substances and microscopic organisms love to stick to plastic. Chemicals that would ordinarily move through soil quickly – things like pesticides and heavy metals – instead stick around and are concentrated when they encounter plastics. Similarly, bacteria and other microorganisms that occur naturally in soil preferentially congregate on the stable surfaces of microplastics, forming what are known as biofilms. When bacteria encounter unusual Researchers are pushing to understand how microplastics impact our food via the soil. Tracy Miller photo Research The environmental footprint of printed magazines is far lower than of electronic devices. Paper is a renewable resource, is recycled more than any other material, and trees are regrown in managed forests. (Source: www.twosidesna.org) MAGAZINE SUSTAINABILITY
15 Follow us on Twitter: @PrairieFarming Better Farming | November/December 2023 chemical substances in their new home base, they activate stress response genes that incidentally help them resist other chemicals too, including, sometimes, antibiotics. And when groups of bacteria attach to the same surface, they have a habit of sharing these genes through a process called horizontal gene transfer. Nanoplastics, which can enter bacterial cells, present a different kind of stress, but that stress can have the same outcome. “Bacteria have been evolving genetic mechanisms to cope with stress for millions of years. Plastic is a new material that bacteria have never seen in nature, so they are now evoking these genetic tool sets to deal with that stress,” says Pratik Banerjee, co-author and associate professor in FSHN and Illinois extension specialist. “We have also shown bacteria may become more virulent in the presence of plastics in addition to becoming more resistant to antimicrobials.” Gene transfer between bacteria on microplastics has been documented in other environments, like water. So far, the phenomenon is only hypothetical in agricultural soil, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Nath and Banerjee are currently running laboratory studies to document gene transfer. “Soil is an under-researched area in this field,” Banerjee says. “We have an obligation to understand what’s going on in soil, because what we suspect and what we fear is that the situation in soil could be even worse than in water. “One of the technical problems is that soil is a very difficult medium to handle when it comes to fishing out microplastics. Water is so easy because you can simply filter the microplastic out,” Banerjee adds. “But we have made some good headway thanks to Jayashree and our collaboration with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.” The authors point out many foodborne pathogens make it onto produce from their native home in the soil, but nanoplastics and antibiotic resistant bacteria could be small enough to enter roots and plant tissues — where they are impossible to wash away. While nanoplastics have been documented in and on crops, the field of study is still new, and it’s not well known how often this occurs. Banerjee’s research group plans to tackle that question as well. Ultimately, microplastics are here to stay. After all, they're predicted to persist in the environment for centuries or longer. The authors say it’s time to understand their impacts in the soil and our food system, raise awareness and push toward biodegradable plastic alternatives. BF Lauren Quinn is a media communications specialist with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of ACES. Research Local research provides you with consistent yield performance year after year Discover the benefits at prograinmysoyexpert.ca The Soy Expert. Prograin®
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18 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2023 Machinery Alley PREPARE BEFORE YOU PARK Overwintering tips to keep your machinery safe. By Leslie Stewart With harvest wrapping up soon, some producers will be putting their machinery away for the winter. Here are some tips to help you finish the 2023 season strong and start 2024 off smoothly in the spring by properly overwintering your equipment. Routine maintenance Take some time to replace any parts you may need to before you put your machine away for the winter. Check for leaks and fix anything that broke during harvest season. “The best time to change your fuel filters is in the fall when you store your machinery,” says Daryle Bezemer, service manager of Mazergroup in Brandon, Man. “There will be water and sediment in the bottom of the fuel tanks, so you will want to remove it before it freezes.” Bezemer cautions against leaving your machine with a full tank of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). “DEF freezes and expands,” he explains. “Manufacturers recommend cleaning your DEF tanks if you don’t use your tractors in the winter. There’s a storage procedure in your operators’ manual for flushing the tanks out with warm water.” “If you will need to move your machinery over the winter, leave only one third of a tank or less in the system so that it can thaw quickly during the warm up procedure.” Keep rodents away Rodent infestations can cause huge problems to the functionality of your machine. “We’ve had several customers come in with radiators that were damaged because they had raccoons in their engine. They broke off the fan and there was quite a mess in there. “We’ve seen torn off belts, damaged radiators – damages big enough to go through insurance claims.” Fortunately, there are ways to make your equipment less attractive to pests. “Your shed is the biggest prevention you can have,” Bezemer explains. “Make sure there are no entrance points. Don’t leave bags of grain or any attractants in the area – that will be one of the easiest things to control.” Clean the machinery itself after a busy harvest season. “Any equipment needs to be clean – blow off the chaff and debris to prevent rodents from building nests and chewing on wires.” There are some other tactics to further deter rodents, including electronic noise emitters and using smells they don’t like. “There are some things rodents are repelled by – the smell of mint, and Irish Spring soap. There are after market rodent repelling scent bags – we place these in cabs of the tractors quite often to prevent them from crawling in and making a nest.” Lean on antifreeze Antifreeze can be a key support in keeping your machines safe as the temperatures plummet, but you have to make sure you’re following the directions and have the right formula for your machines. “Antifreeze prevents the block from freezing and it has lubricants for the water pump where anti-corrosion inhibitors can prevent implosions on the cylinder wall liners.” “Check your antifreeze and make sure it’s at the right freeze point. Antifreeze can deteriorate over time. Change your coolant at the recommended intervals – this is often ignored!” Bezemer also cautions that you should not be mixing different types of antifreeze, so make sure to read the labels or talk with a professional at your dealership. Protect your batteries Freezing batteries can be a big problem and can seriously delay your start time in the spring. “The biggest damage from the cold is batteries freezing because they’re not fully charged,” he explains. “Fully charge your batteries, remove them from the equipment, and put them in a dry and warm place.” Check your tires Before you park machinery for the winter, check your tire pressure. “For a lot of equipment, if the tire pressure is low, it can cause damage to the side walls of the tire. It will sag over winter and then when the rubber gets hard, it can do damage.” BF Take some time to properly overwinter your equipment. Jodie Aldred photo
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22 Follow us on Twitter: @PrairieFarming Better Farming | November/December 2023 Inflation & interest rates Farmers could use relief from high interest rates, but aren’t likely to get any soon, leaving them to mitigate the challenges themselves. In a capital-intensive sector like farming, higher interest rates increase borrowing and production costs, and can influence buying decisions for machinery and equipment, inputs, and land. In its fight against inflation, the Bank of Canada (BoC) has raised its overnight policy rate several times recently, from a mere 0.25 per cent in January 2022 to five per cent in July 2023, a level not seen since April 2001. Farm Credit Canada’s chief economist J.P. Gervais predicts the BoC’s rate has likely peaked at five per cent. “FCC Economics expects the overnight rate to remain unchanged through the rest of 2023 and into early 2024,” he says. Given inflation remains above the BoC’s two per cent target, Gervais says “it’s way too early to even contemplate rate cuts. “The likelihood of cuts will, however, increase as we get deeper into 2024, not only because inflation is expected to be closer to target by then, but also due to enhanced risks of a major economic slowdown as the lagged impacts of earlier rate hikes are fully felt,” he says. As much as farmers would like to see an interest rate cut sooner than later, Eric Olson, an MNP farm management consultant in Winnipeg, stresses they need to assume no such relief is imminent. Farmers should plan for where rates are today, and make whatever changes that are necessary for their businesses. New territory With interest rates having been relatively low the last 15 years or so, there are producers out there who’ve spent their entire farm careers having had no experience with rising interest FARMERS UNDER PRESSURE TO MITIGATE INTEREST RATE IMPACTS NO RATE CUTS IMMINENT BY RICHARD KAMCHEN Tracy Miller photo
23 Follow us on Twitter: @PrairieFarming Better Farming | November/December 2023 rates, says Olson. And they certainly never came across anything like the farm financial crisis of the 1980s when the BoC’s overnight rate at one point exceeded 20 per cent. “While interest rates are rising now, they are still low compared to that time period, and did not take the sudden and dramatic jump up like they did then,” says Alfons Weersink, an agricultural economist at the University of Guelph. Weersink adds the farming sector today is in a better overall financial position due to favourable prices over the last two decades and rising asset values compared to the ’80s. But that’s not to say farmers are out of the woods. “A drop in commodity prices now could be the major driver to change the situation and narrow margins considerably,” Weersink warns. Higher debt servicing costs The reverberations of today’s relatively high interest rates have been felt throughout the farming sector. Weersink says the effects will ultimately depend on how much debt an individual farmer has and how it’s structured. “Rising rates will increase expenses for everyone, but those who are highly leveraged, and those with high operating lines and/or long-term debt that will be refinanced soon will be most impacted,” Weersink says. Gervais adds that rising rates will often translate to higher debt servicing costs, with the impact being felt more for those with capital expenditure requirements, which are often financed via loans. “Those farms that are the most leveraged and capital-intensive – borrowing to add or replace equipment – would tend to be most exposed to rising rates,” Gervais explains. “In contrast, those that have healthy cash flows and have less of a need to borrow are least exposed to rising rates.” However, rising rates add risks not only to farmers who borrow, but also to those who don’t. “That’s because higher rates tend to act as a drag for the whole Canadian economy, reducing economic growth and impeding demand for commodities as a result,” Gervais says. One sector that could be most affected by high interest rates is dairy, according to Olson. Dairy farmers are typically able to borrow more than cyclical production sectors because of the guaranteed income flow that comes from supply management. With higher debt levels than other farm sectors, dairy farmers may feel greater pressure to make decision-making changes, he says. Less borrowing Of course, they’re not the only ones re-evaluating their decisions, and Olson says farmers in general are thinking twice about borrowing money while looking harder at their purchasing options. Gervais also sees softer demand for credit emerge as the sector adjusts. But strength in farm cash receipts over the last several years has allowed farmers to increase the use of cash in investment decisions, including the purchase of farm inputs and assets, he says. Farm cash receipts remained strong the first two quarters of 2023 – up $4.3 billion versus the same time a year ago to $48.3 billion, according to Statistics Canada. However, FCC reports yearend 2023 and first-half 2024 crop receipts will come under pressure from an estimated 13 per cent drought-related cut to grain, oilseed and pulse output. Additionally, farm net income recorded a major boost in 2022 due to the increased value of inventories from 2021’s drought thanks to a production rebound in ’22. “These stocks can and have been converted to cash, although this was done in 2023 at lower prices on average than the prices recorded in 2022,” Gervais notes. He adds that sectors hit by adverse growing conditions and/or low comInflation & interest rates Some producers are experiencing rising rates for the first time. Tracy Miller photo
24 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | November/December 2023 modity prices this year will find pressures on profit margins to be more significant and amplified by higher interest rates. Farmland The price of farmland may also be impacted by higher interest rates, but there are two schools of thought there. Higher interest rates should theoretically lower farmland prices because interest rates raise the costs of borrowing and production, making land less affordable. However, inflationary pressure can also encourage people to move their money into hard assets that store their value and keep up with inflation, like land. Olson works not only in Manitoba, but also southwestern Ontario and southern Saskatchewan, and he hasn’t observed downward pressure on farmland prices. In fact, quite the opposite. “We see clients that are still in a fairly good financial position aggressively buying land, so we see land prices still moving up,” says Olson. “If you’re a high equity, low debt farm that’s had a few good years, you’re still going to be aggressively looking at purchasing land and replacing machinery.” Gervais concurs, saying robust farm revenues supported continued increases in asset values, including farmland, where land values in 2022 rose at an average annual growth of 14.6 per cent. “Investments on Canadian farms have been strong as the increase in farmland values and continued growth in farm cash receipts have supported capital expenditures,” Gervais says. Holding inventory Higher interest rates can also discourage farmers from holding onto inventory. Holding inventory comes at a cost – either the interest paid if the business has debt, or the interest that would have been collected on savings if the inventory had been sold. Olson hasn’t come across producers who’ve changed their marketing decisions over the cost of holding grain – yet. “Our grain clients over the last few years have had some really good years, so most of them aren’t carrying high debt loads on their inventory,” Olson says. “The majority of clients I’m dealing with are doing their normal marketing as they would have, whether they usually held inventory or sold inventory.” That’s not to say this can’t change. Farmers carrying higher debt loads may need to sell their grain sooner if they’ve borrowed significantly against their inventory. “Then hoping for a small increase in the price of a commodity is offset by the carrying cost of the interest,” Olson says. Mitigation actions Gervais says farmers are adapting to a higher interest rate environment by strategically reviewing its impact to their bottom lines. “Some farms may opt to accelerate repayment of loans, while others may want to stand pat and use cash flow to maintain operations.” He recommends farmers review their own current loan terms, timing, and structure, as well as go back to some farm management basics. “Knowing their cost of production, when loans are up for renewal, can allow them to take proactive measures, including around scenario planning and interest rate sensitivity,” Gervais says, adding that producers should also speak to their lenders about fixed versus variable rates. Olson warns the full effects of high interest rates may yet to have been felt. He points out many farmers had locked in their rates prior to the BoC’s hikes, and that some of those loans haven’t come due yet. BF Inflation & interest rates RICHARD KAMCHEN Richard Kamchen is a veteran agricultural freelance writer based in Winnipeg, Man.
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26 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2023 Answering Forage questions I work with farmers and seed companies that sell forage seed across the country. The following questions come from farmers in the Prairies as well as Eastern Canada. Some questions are the same in every province. Others are very specific to certain areas. Here is one of the best and most often asked questions. Question: I sold seed to a farmer and he thinks there were weed seeds in it. What can I do? Answer: This one is easy to answer. First, I ask the farmer how he seeded the alfalfa. Most common answer is a drill. I ask if the alfalfa is coming up in rows. The answer is yes. Then I ask if the weed is in the rows or between the rows. Typically, the answer is “I don’t know.” When they get back to me, they say that the weeds are in the row and between the rows. That means the weeds were in the soil and not in the forage seed. If the alfalfa is planted broadcast, I ask if the weeds are uniform across the whole field or just in areas. The answer has always been “just in areas.” This points to the fact the weeds were in the soil, not in the forage seed. Sometimes the farmer will tell me they have never seen this weed before on this farm. That is possible, if the farmer has a rotation where the various herbicides used are controlling the weed all the time. If it is a winter annual, and the field is worked before planting, that tillage will control the weed. Question: Last year I saw a great response from putting sulphur on my alfalfa. This year I did not see as great a response. Why? Answer: Forages need sulphur. There is sulphur in the soil, but it will not be released until the soil warms. In a cool spring, applied sulphur has a greater visual effect than in a spring when the soil warms up and releases soil sulphur. But even though you do not see the colour response when you apply sulphur, there still can be a yield reFORAGE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS THESE TOP TIPS CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR STAND. BY PATRICK LYNCH ImagineGolf/iStock/Getty Images Plus photo
27 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2023 sponse. Bottom line, all forages should get sulphur. Supplementary Question: Can I add this sulphur in the fall? Answer: I do not know. I cannot find any research that addresses this question for forages. Another good research project that could be looked at: Timing, rate, and source of sulphur on forages. There are some agronomists who believe adding sulphur in the fall is not only good, but the best way to do it. In the spring when sulphur is not available to plants, because of cold soils, it is often too wet to spring-apply sulphur. If you have fall-applied sulphur, it will be available in the spring. Question: What if the stand does not catch? Answer: There are a lot of questions to seed dealers about replacing forage seed because the stand did not catch due to dry soil conditions. Farmers would like to be reimbursed if the stand does not catch. Since this question comes up so often, growers should ask their seed supplier about their company’s policy on replacing seed because the stand did not catch due to dry weather. Many seed companies have some type of policy for a certain percentage replacement. Years ago, replacing seed because of dry weather was not an issue – it was just a fact of farming. Some years dry weather prevented establishment. I remember what one dealer said to his customer. Farmer: “My seed didn’t catch; I want my money back.” Dealer: “No problem – just bring the seed back and I will give you your money back.” Not sure if that dealer is still in business. Question: Any advice on fertilizer? Answer: I get many questions on what is the best fertilizer for a forage field. My first question, in return, is: Do you have a soil test? Invariably I get one of two responsAnswering Forage questions Forages need sulphur. Fall-applied sulphur will be available in the spring. Patrick Lynch photo
28 Our Advertisers Appreciate Your Business Better Farming | November/December 2023 es. First response is “no.” Second response is “I do but it’s a bit old and I don’t know where the results are.” This begs another question. Why are you not soil testing? To be farming without soil tests is like having a bank account with no records of what you deposited or withdrew. Soil tests measure soil nutrients and soil pH. You may not be able to change the pH, but you can pick forage species that do better on soils with a certain pH. In modern agriculture, having a current soil test is as basic as checking the fuel in a tractor. Get it done. When addressing the fertilizing of forages I ask, “did you apply manure?” Sometimes the answer is “yes.” Then I ask about the rate and analysis of the manure. This is too often answered with silence. Then I have to do a quick calculation on rate based on loads per acre and a guess as to the weight of each load. Then I use average numbers for manure value. Pretty crude for today’s agriculture. It is like spreading fertilizer when you have no idea of the rate or the analysis. You wouldn’t apply fertilizer without knowing the analysis, so why do you apply manure without knowing its value? Question: I sprayed my barley and underseeded alfalfa with Pardner and a fungicide. The barley is all burnt and looks terrible. Answer: Often you can decrease leaf burn by using more water. “You told me you used 20 gallons of water. However, this year we are seeing significant leaf burn with certain combinations of fungicides and herbicides. I am sure it will be OK.” Two weeks later I checked back with the grower. He was quite pleased. After he sprayed, they received a good amount of rain and the barley was looking great. Question: How come alfalfa weevil showed up in my second-cut alfalfa this year. You said that by taking first cut I would get rid of the weevils? Answer: Alfalfa weevil is a significant pest in alfalfa in Eastern Canada. And it is moving to Western Canada. Blame it on global warming or the government or whatever. The reality is that it is coming. In Eastern Canada we used to be able to control it with cutting. Taking first cut early removed weevils. There are several factors in play which led to the question above. The “cut and they are gone” recommendation was valid during the last bad cycle of alfalfa weevil in Eastern Canada during the ’70s. During that period, we were taking first cut a few days later than we are now. But the main reason is because we are cutting higher now. We used to cut at 1-1/2 to two inches. Currently a three-inch cutting height is standard. This higher cutting height means there is more feed left for the surviving weevil and we are not physically removing as many weevil. It is also possible that the weevil is evolving. Weevils that hatch later and are smaller when first cut is taken may be more prevalent. We kill the firsthatched ones and later hatches survive and continue to build. Question: I planted alfalfa after a cereal crop and I thought I killed the volunteer cereal with tillage. Now I have volunteer cereal coming up in strips from behind the combine. Will this matter? Answer: Volunteer cereal at a low level through the field will not hurt alfalfa. But if it is heavy – as in two to three times a normal seeding rate – this will crowd out the alfalfa. Even if the alfalfa survives through fall, the cereal will lodge with snow and kill the alfalfa. You must spray a herbicide like Assure or its generic to control volunteer cereal. If you can just spray the area behind Answering Forage questions Regular soil testing allows you to properly apply fertilizer. AlDa.videophoto - Adobe Stock We love connecting with prairie producers. Please advise if we can ask a few questions about your operation. Paul.Nolan@Farms.com PRODUCERS: CAN WE TALK?
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