Love of Farming Spurs Him on Despite Repeated Flooding Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Savings Program New for KAP Members!

SUMMER 2016 EDITION The Official Publication of Keystone Agricultural Producers

MEMBER PROFILE ANDY BARCLAY Love of farming spurs him on despite repeated flooding Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat Savings Program New for KAP Members!

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Published four times a year by: Keystone Agricultural Producers 203-1700 Ellice Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0B1 phone: 204-697-1140 fax: 204-697-1109 Contents e-mail: [email protected] website: www.kap.mb.ca

Cover Story KAP 2016 BOARD OF / member profile DIRECTORS

President Dan Mazier...... 204-720-4646 Vice President Glenn Young...... 204-721-0792 Andy Barclay Vice President Love of farming spurs him on Justin Jenner...... 204-724-2477 District 1 despite repeated flooding Bill Campbell...... 204-724-6218 District 2 Dallas Timmerman...... 204-526-7491 District 3 4 Dustin Krahn...... 204-312-0804 District 4 Kevin Stott...... 204-371-4762 District 5 Features Edgar Scheurer...... 204-781-0465 District 6 Rae Trimble-Olson...... 204-871-1063 District 7 Simon Ellis...... 204-720-9155 District 8 George Graham...... 204-773-6389 District 9 Justin Jenner...... 204-724-2477 District 10 Kyle Foster...... 204-364-2417 District 11 Don Dewar ...... 204-638-8433 10 14 District 12 Weed Resistance KAP at work Calvin Gust ...... 204-734-0361 The problem and the solutions See what KAP is doing for all Manitoba Red meat commodity groups farmers Cal Penner...... 204-383-5468 MB Pork Council Supply-managed commodity groups Murray Klassen...... 204-346-2508 MB Chicken Producers Special interest groups Chuck Fossay ...... 204-781-9843 MB Canola Growers Special crops/veg. commodity groups Theresa Bergsma...... 204-745-6661 MB Corn Growers General Manager 19 22 James Battershill...... 204-697-1140 Featured member benefit Young farmers Access to top international physicians Award-winning farm couple EDITOR: Val Ominski — STAFF — James Battershill General Manager President’s message ...... 8 Kathy Ulasy Financial Co-ordinator Val Ominski Communications Co-ordinator Time to communicate with the new government Ali Millar Policy Analyst April Kuz Administrative Assistant Chandra Rempel Executive Assistant Tile drainage ...... 27 Jacquie Nicholson Membership Co-ordinator The answer to perennially wet fields? Next advertising deadline: July 29, 2016 GM’s message ...... 30 Help reduce the red tape of farming Manitoba Farmer‘s Voice is produced by Farm Business Communications — a division of Glacier FarmMedia

Frmersa ’ Voice / summer 2016 3 MEMBER PROFILE Andy Barclay Love of farming spurs him on despite repeated flooding

By Ron Friesen

f you think a person would quit farming after being flooded nearly every other year, you haven’t met Andy Barclay. Andy farms five miles north of Souris in one of western Manitoba’s most flood-prone areas.I His experiences with flooding began in 1999 when the entire region was deluged with heavy spring rains and some producers barely turned a wheel that year. Since then, flooding has been a regular occurrence on Andy’s farm and those of his neighbours. Since 1999, he says several years have been complete write-offs because of excessive moisture. Some other times he managed to salvage only 70 per cent of his crop acres because of wet conditions. In 2007, a five-inch rainfall saturated his land and destroyed 30 to 40 per cent of the crop. In 2011, record spring floods covered the region for weeks and many producers planted little or nothing. The after-effects of the 2011 flood are still ongoing. In 2012, only 70 per cent of Andy’s land was dry enough to be seeded. This year, a few acres were still too wet to plant. “It’s pretty frustrating,” he admits. But if you think by now he would have considered pulling up stakes, think again. “I’m still making a living and enjoy the lifestyle,” he said. “I think I’ll just stick with it.” »

4 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 Andy Barclay loves the flexibility of being his own boss, something that allows him to be hands-on with his children, Drew and Maria, while wife Allison works off the farm.

Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 5 MEMBER PROFILE

Andy’s main problem is location. His farm The Barclays have two children: Drew (11) sits is in the middle of what some, only half and Maria (five). Andy says the flexibility of jokingly, call “bathtub country.” A pocket of being his own boss helps when it comes to marshland about 20,000 acres in size is pock- childcare. Because his wife Allison works full- marked with sloughs. In addition, part of time in Brandon as a pharmacist, he’s often Andy’s farm is perched on the Oak Lake aqui- the one who drops off a child at daycare or fer, where the water table, fed by creeks, is picks up a sick kid at school. near the surface after a series of wet years. Although he grew up in town, Andy loved The remainder of his farmland is on heavy being on the farm as a teenager, greasing clay soil with many low spots and little or no combines, dumping truckloads and generally drainage. helping out. His father Glen and uncle Ron Any significant precipitation produces at ran the farm until Glen began moving up least some overland flooding and things appear through the ranks at Feed Rite, which he to be getting worse. There was a time when a joined in 1967. major rainfall would measure two inches. He eventually ended up as manager in the Lately, it’s been more like five inches and the company’s Brandon office and rented out his land can’t handle that much rain all at once. land, paving the way for his son to ease into the operation. But education came first. After graduating from high school in 1994, Andy attended Bran- don University where he achieved a degree with a major in business in 1998. His dad offered to let him work half a section of land to help him through school. Three years of farming in between studies covered his university expenses, allowed him to bank some money, and even enabled him to buy a car. After university, Andy went to work for accounting firms, doing income tax and farm program applications for clients. He also began taking over his dad’s land, increasing his holdings to a section and a quarter. Unfor- tunately, it was the worst time to do it because the 1999 flood made it impossible to seed a crop that year. So he continued accounting work, doing income tax in the winter while gradually expanding his land base. Today, Andy farms 2,700 acres, of which he Andy has a deep connection But two things keep Andy where he is: his- owns 800. He rents the remainder from his to the farm and enjoys the lifestyle it provides. tory and lifestyle. dad, who is now 68 and retired, plus two other The farm has been in the family since 1905 landowners. One of them works as a hired when his great-grandfather founded it. As a hand and is so diligent Andy admits he would result, he has a deep personal connection to have to cut back his acres without him. the land and leaving it is not an option. The farm is a grain and oilseed operation, “Knowing it’s been around so long, I don’t but Andy made his first foray into soybeans think I’d ever sell the home portion, anyway.” last year. The crop looked great until a late As for lifestyle, Andy, who turned 40 in hailstorm knocked yields back to 30 bushels March, doesn’t think he could find a better job. an acre. That’s still not bad for a first effort — “It’s a great life for the family and you’re the five-year provincial average yield for soy- your own boss. If you want to take a week off, beans is 34.4 bushels an acre. you do it. You don’t have to answer to any- Although he owns less than half the land he body. If you want to sit around and drink cof- farms, Andy isn’t in a hurry to buy more. fee until 11 o’clock on a Saturday, you do it and Farmland in the area rents for a reasonable you don’t have anybody yelling at you.” amount and he figures he’s better off keeping

6 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 his debt load down by renting instead of incur- not just, get out of school and go cultivating ring huge land payments. any more. Parents are giving them an oppor- “I guess if the stuff I’m currently renting tunity to get more education and it’s pretty Andy finds came up for sale, I’d have to look at it. But I’m important.” his business not aggressively out looking to buy any Besides farming and raising a young family, more.” Andy also represents District 7 on the KAP training Andy uses mostly older farm machinery, advisory council. He says it’s “absolutely extremely which reduces payments and helps keep over- amazing, the scope of stuff they [KAP] cover valuable. head costs down. now.” He believes a big challenge for farm He finds his business training extremely organizations in the next two years will be to “You should valuable in running a farming operation. secure improvements for Growing Forward 3, Bookkeeping, financial statements, tax scheduled to take effect April 1, 2018 after the be up to returns and farm programs all require a sharp current program expires. date on your pencil and a keen sense of management. Even Farming is always a risky business and completing a voluntary environmental farm periodic flooding around Souris makes it even financial plan requires certain know-how. more risky. But Andy is convinced he can ride numbers all “You should be up to date on your financial it out, with Allison’s income helping to cover numbers all the time and see exactly where daily expenses. His roots in the family farm the time and you’re at.” run deep and he has a strong background in see exactly Many of the young farmers in the region business management. That’s why he contin- where also have post-secondary education, includ- ues to farm, flooding or no flooding. ing agriculture diplomas and degrees. Andy “I love what I do and, if you average it over you’re at,” says it’s a sign that higher education is the years, I’m still doing all right. I’m not he says becoming almost essential in farming. making huge money but I’m building some “There’s lots of educated farmers now. It’s equity.” MFV

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9847-TP-MBH-FarmersVoiceAd-BiggerCanBeDangerous[7x5]-Apr2016-1.indd 2 Farmers’ Voice / summer2016-04-14 2016 2:55 PM 7 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Election over, now it’s time to communicate with the new government

By DAN MAZIER, KAP President

Now that the election is over, KAP will be advancing the issues we highlighted during the campaign. We focussed on agriculture’s need for support and investment in innovation and research, on support for young farmers, on rural infrastructure repairs and transparency, and on more support for environmental programs. And now, we’ll be following through. We recognize that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but we will continue to make farmers’ voices heard, so that when the government has established itself and is ready to make changes, it will know what our needs are. On the innovation and research file, KAP will be asking the government to reverse the trend of declining investment in agriculture, which has fallen from $24.6 million to $10.1 million over the past eight years. That’s only 0.18 per We recognize that Rome wasn’t built in a cent of Manitoba farm cash receipts, and day, but we will continue to make farmers’ we would like to see an investment equivalent to a full one per cent of farm voices heard, so that when the government cash receipts. has established itself and is ready to make We’ll also be asking for programming changes, it will know what our needs are to support farmers doing field trials and those experimenting with new crops and production methods. This will share the farmers. Now, KAP will be asking for stock production. We want the govern- production risk associated with driving specifics. ment to provide incentives, as well as the industry forward. We want a kick-start deposit into new support to navigate the regulatory hur- We’re also going to push to get vacant AgriInvest accounts, spread over the dles. specialist positions filled — in order to first five years. And we want the Finally, we’ll be asking for increased provide technology transfer from exist- AgriStability fee waived for the first five funding for post-secondary agriculture ing research, and identify new research years of enrolment in the program, in students, to help offset the costs asso- opportunities. Members have passed a order to encourage beginning farmers’ ciated with moving to urban areas to resolution to this effect, and AK P is going participation. With regards to AgriIn- attend school. to stress that we need more — not less surance, we want premium credits for Infrastructure improvement and — resources in rural Manitoba. beginning farmers during the first five repair is another area KAP is going to During the campaign, we highlighted years — to assist with the cost of partic- lobby hard for. We want a new system young farmers with an editorial in the ipation. that would allow members of the public Manitoba Co-operator and several rural KAP will also be asking the province to report damaged and dangerous roads papers. It was titled Who will feed us in the to assist young farmers that want to and bridges. A list of these reports future?, and called for support to young diversify their crop operations into live- should be compiled annually and pub-

8 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 licly reported — so there is transparency they can carry out important projects but we’ll also be making specific asks to around how decisions are being made that provide ecological benefit to all our provincial government. We want and road repair priorities set. Manitobans. changes to BRM programs that make We also want money allocated for Another major issue that has been them worth investing in. high-speed infrastructure, so that all with KAP for as long as I can remember is These are just a few of the projects Manitoba households can access a mini- the outdated method Manitoba uses to we’ll be working on in the coming mum of 25 mega-bits per second broad- collect education taxes. I note the new months. As always, we ask districts to band internet service by 2020. And we government committed to “identify the bring their members concerns forward want municipalities and the federal gov- true state of Manitoba’s economic situa- as resolutions. Once these are passed, ernment to establish a fund to build tion and find savings while protecting KAP will get to work on moving them additional cellular towers. front-line services.” forward, too. MFV In the area of environment, KAP is I can only hope this means overhaul- At press time, I note there is positive news going to push for increased funding for ing taxation and eliminating the heavy to report. The new government has commit- the Environmental Farm Plan program, tax burden that has traditionally been ted to a Red Tape Reduction Task Force, and as well as an expansion of beneficial placed on farmers. We will ask for this to KAP will be compiling a submission on the management practices available for be done as soon as possible because excessive regulations and permits we require funding. This would include carbon farmers have been paying dispropor- everyday as we go about doing our jobs. In sequestration practices. tionate share of taxes long enough. order to do this, we’re conducting a survey — During the campaign, we called for the We realize this can’t happen over which you can fill in on page 18. We need reinstatement of ALUS — and it looks night, and meanwhile we’ll continue to your participation on this. like we were heard because the new gov- call for the elimination of the $5,000 cap Another positive for agriculture is the ernment committed to this on a prov- on the school tax rebate. recent announcement of Manitoba Agricul- ince-wide basis prior to the election. Preparations for Growing Forward 3 true, a stand-alone ministry for our industry. Now, we’ll stress the need for increased are in full swing. We’ll be lobbying, Many ministries have been combined and funding for conservation districts, so along with CFA, at the national level — streamlined, so this is indeed great news.

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Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 9 WEEDS

Weed resistance The problem and the solutions

By John Dietz | From an article that appeared in Ag Advance, a publication of Agri-Trend Inc.

ugh Beckie, Agriculture and action was introduced approximately Agri-Food Canada’s weed resis- every two to three years,” says Duke. There are H tance expert, has made a career Beckie’s resistance surveys have now of tracking what followed the universal identified 21 weed species with herbicide adoption of glyphosate, especially as resistance [in Manitoba]. Resistance to 21 resistance to other modes of action the Group 1 (A) or Group 2 (B) mode of HER BIcide began to build. Farmers stopped looking action is by far the most common and RESISTANT for other ways or products to control economically damaging. Some weeds weeds. Research dried up. now have stacked resistance two or three WEEDS IN Between 1980 and 2009, according to modes of action. MANITOBA Stephen Duke, senior plant pathologist Beckie estimates that in 2014, 38 mil- with the USDA Agricultural Research lion acres of farmland in Western Can- Service, the world saw 137 new herbicide ada had herbicide resistant weeds. The A CROSS active ingredients introduced. However, cost to farmers was $1.1 to $1.5 billion in 64 CANADA not one used a new mode of action. increased herbicide use and decreased The world now had 19 accepted sites or yields. A CROSS modes for action by herbicides. The last “Without meticulous management, 155 THE U.S.A. new mode of action was introduced in resistant weeds will continue to spread 1982, when triketone HPPD inhibitors and the effect on grower profits will only became available. Roundup was just get worse,” says Beckie. A CROSS eight years old. His weed surveys show annual 81 AUSTRALIA “New modes of action are definitely increases of resistant weed acres in the needed. Before this, a new mode of range of 2.2 to 2.5 million acres. In the-

10 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 Currently, in Western Canada, glyphosate-resistant kochia has the most attention but it is far from the only herbicide- resistant weed to watch. In his 2013 weed survey report, Beckie wrote that kochia resistant to glyphosate plus Group 2 herbicides is increasing rapidly across southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, primarily selected in fields dedicated to cereals and chem-fallow rotations. “It was common to see putative GR [glyphosate-resistant] kochia populations in fields adjacent to the survey-targeted field, suggesting seed spread via tumbleweed movement or by farm equipment. The ease of mobility from field to field demands a collective regional response, proactively or reac- tively, to manage this multiple-resistant weed biotype,” Above: Wild oats in wheat. Currently, in Western Canada, glypho- Beckie wrote. sate-resistant kochia has the most attention but it is far from the only herbicide-resistant weed to watch. Top left: Glyphosate-resis- There never was or will be a silver bullet. But the good news is tant kochia in a soybean field in Manitoba. that with a multi-pronged strategy growers can get a handle on their weed challenges. Here’s what you need in to do: ory, by 2025, virtually all 65,000,000 acres of Prairie crop land may have resistant weeds. 1. Assume you have herbicide resistant weed Now, wild oats is identified as ‘at risk’ of developing glypho- populations on farm. sate resistance. Several suspected cases have occurred in North If you have not been diligent in step 3, chances are in some Dakota and Minnesota. If proven, this would be the first exam- weed population you have or are developing a resistance to one ple of a grassy weed showing resistance to glyphosate on the or more of the herbicide chemistries you have been using. Bet- northern Great Plains or Prairies — and would further compli- ter to assume you have and act accordingly than to deny and cate weed control. end up in a wreck. »

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Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 11 WEEDS

2. Get educated Recently, Monsanto Canada and pub- emergence residual herbicide with broad Jim Harbour, Bill Hamman and Markus lic weed scientists got on the same page spectrum activity on narrow-leaf and Braaten, who work with Agri-Trend, a when it comes to basic weed manage- broadleaf weeds. Then when you come successful ag consulting company with a ment advice related to glyphosate. From back in crop with, for example, Roundup wide-ranging network of consultants, similar menus, they say: Use it, but don’t to clean up a few escapes that have come say the new approaches for coping with depend on glyphosate alone to do the job through that pre-emergence residual, weed resistance will take more knowl- you need. the numbers are on your side. There are edge, more time and more money. “Monsanto now often recommends fewer weeds, they are smaller and there Hamman was one of Monsanto’s using other chemical manufacturers is less selection pressure to find that rare research and development lead scien- products so that we don’t have exclusive individual weed with potential to be tists for 28 years before setting off with reliance on Roundup,” says Joe Vink, resistant to glyphosate.” his own company, Hamman AG Monsanto Canada weed management Research Inc., in 2003 at Lethbridge, technical lead, Winnipeg. “We have our 4. Check herbicide efficacy post Alberta. Today, he specializes in small own weed management platform application plot research contracts with fertility, [Roundup-Ready Weed Management Agri-Trend coach Jim Harbour worked herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. Solutions]. The backbone of that plat- with DuPont crop protection develop- It is knowledge, not herbicides, says form is to have relevant economical, ment for 15 years. Today, he is a post- Hamman, that is really the key to man- efficacious, practical recommendations doc at the University of Nebraska-Lin- aging weed problems. Integrated Pest for growers to use other herbicides coln in extension plant pathology. Management (IPM) is the popular term within Roundup-Ready crops.” His golden rule on the subject of weed for it. The message of Agriculture Canada on resistance? “Know Thy Enemy.” “It is becoming necessary for farmers the subject of weed resistance — and of “If a weed seems to pop up more and to be very knowledgeable about the biol- the world’s most powerful crop protec- more, get your agricultural service or ogy of the weeds they are dealing with as tion company — is really about diversity, agri-coach to look at it,” Harman says. well as all the control options,” Hamman according to Vink. If you have to, send it in and see if it says. “For example, for a farmer with “We have gotten into trouble where actually is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate-resistant kochia, learning there’s a lack of crop rotation. We have you’re using.” that kochia seed is viable in the soil for increased selection pressure for glypho- Scout a couple of weeks post applica- only a couple of years can be very useful sate-resistant weeds where we just rely tion, check herbicide efficacy, track any in long term management strategies.” on Roundup for weed control,” says misses, follow-up once suspect weed “The direct experience of a consultant Vink. We’re strongly encouraging add- seed is viable and send sample to the or agri-coach with a new herbicide like ing diversity in the cropping system, lab. While you’re out in the combine, Authority or Aim, or the new herbicides within a good sound crop rotation. With make note of any weed patches, espe- in Groups 14, 15, 19 and 27, can help a a diverse set of crops you can utilize dif- cially those with known resistance in farmer to keep a step ahead of the ferent herbicides groups that are applied your area. weeds,” he says. at different timing and keep the weeds Managing herbicide-resistant weeds off-balance every single year. 5. Re-introduce cultural isn’t new; it’s the variations that are “It’s nice to have that non-Roundup- techniques new. In short, if you understand the Ready crop within the rotation, like Cultural (or non-chemical) weed control biology involved and if you know the wheat or corn, so you don’t have exclu- methods do not exert a chemical selec- options, you can keep a step ahead. sive reliance on Roundup. For true her- tion pressure and assist greatly in reduc- bicide diversity or stewardship, we are in ing the soil seed bank. Tillage, mowing, 3. Rotate crop species and full support of Hugh [Beckie] when he grazing, silageing, even burning used herbicide chemistries talks about making sure you are tank judiciously can help in the management Beckie continues to advocate a simple mixing effective, overlapping modes of of resistant weed populations. management principle: Rotate crops action on target weeds.” Agri-Trend’s Markus Braaten, who is and rotate active ingredients. In addi- Monsanto’s mantra now is: Start based in Kalispell, Montana, has been a tion, use tank mixes containing multiple clean, stay clean. Start the crop by using consulting agronomist for 10 years and modes of action or sequential treat- a burndown tank mix, not just glypho- has trained agri-coaches for four years. ments of herbicides having a different sate or Roundup. The ideal mix would He says the most important thing for site of action but which are active on the include herbicide with residual that will coping with herbicide resistance is to same target weeds. This tool is critical in continue to provide weed control while understand that growers are dealing preventing the development of herbi- the crop germinates and emerges. with a dynamic system. cide resistant weeds and managing “Resistance is a numbers game,” Vink “We need to take a systems approach should a resistant weed population. says. “If you start clean, have a pre- to weed management and consider the

12 Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 Left: AAFC scientist Hugh Beckie, AAFC’s weed-resistance expert, in a flax field with resistant wild oats. Above: Glyphosate-resistant giant ragweed in Ontario. Treated plants at left were set back, but continue to grow.GR-resistant ragweed has been suspected but never confirmed in Manitoba.

crops we’re growing, the crop protection He warns that just ‘hurting’ the weed, the appropriate mode of action based products we use — specifically the i.e. setting it back for a while, should not on that weed spectrum. modes of action — and be as judicious in be an option. “Then, do the application and keep the selection of modes of action as we “Anytime you subject a weed to a watching. Do we have escapes? Where are in the selection of the crops we sub-lethal dose of herbicide, you do we have escapes? What weeds are grow,” says Braaten. potentially inoculate that particular escaping? Confirm whether the escapes Just understanding the challenges can plant; you create some selection pres- are a function of resistance. If they are, be challenging in itself, as plans are sure toward developing resistance. We take steps to knock it down.” made to place crop seed into a field want our rates to be on the upper edge It may sound like a daunting task, but loaded with weed seed. of that label, with the water quality and Braaten remains optimistic. The big issue could be cheatgrass, or amounts and surfactants we need to “I think we understand the risk asso- Canada thistle, or resistant kochia. drive the efficacy of that product. ciated with resistance,” he says. “It’s Then, to go after the most challenging Understand the factors that affect just a matter of developing a course of weed in that field, the goal is to under- effectiveness — environment, cover- action to take care of it. I don’t think stand the tools available before reaching age rates, surfactants — and do every- our resistance issues are insurmount- for any jugs to knock out the challenge. thing to make sure we utilize those as able. We’re gaining ground through “For a lot of years, glyphosate was the effectively as possible.” diversifying the cropping system and ‘easy button’,” Braaten says. “It took And while you’re working through chemistries. We do have some resis- care of a lot of things. But I don’t see that those plans, think about the longer tance issues associated with kochia and now. Glyphosate is going to continue to term, beyond the coming year. wild oats, but we are not stumped or be an important part of our weed man- “The crop rotation we use needs to ready to give up.” MFV agement program, for sure, but we are account for the weed pressure we’ve incorporating other chemistries. Good got. Move away from over-reliance on a Thanks to Jeanette Gaultier and Ingrid stewardship and judicious use of the single commodity and a single mode of Kristjanson of Manitoba Agriculture, and Joe herbicides are paramount if we’re going action. Scout fields. Understand the Vink of Monsanto, for their assistance with to conserve their efficacy long term.” nature of the weed spectrum. Choose photographs.

Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 13 WORKING FOR YOU

K AP at work See what KAP is doing for all Manitoba farmers

By m Val O inski

Putting forward producer concerns to Ottawa  KAP president Dan Mazier and general manager James Battershill, along with representatives from Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C., met with Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on a variety of issues. The meeting, which took place in Ottawa following the CFA annual meeting, is described as positive, and touched on a number of important priorities: CTA review — The CTA review report, which had just been released, was discussed extensively, and KAP stressed the importance of maintaining the Maximum Revenue Entitle- ment — contrary to a recommendation in the report. KAP also emphasized additional consultation is needed, and Transport Minister Marc Garneau also stressed this during a Question Period in the House of Commons. BRM programming — KAP underlined the importance of Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (second from left) meets returning the matching contribution of AgriInvest to 1.5 per with KAP president Dan Mazier and other western ag leaders. cent of allowable net sales, and also stressed the importance of returning AgriStability to the previous parameters under ment projects, Vinning told KAP the money will come from the Growing Forward 1, to make it more responsive to farmers’ Building Canada Fund. needs. Canadian Grain Commission — KAP emphasized the need K mAP com ittee activities for farmers to have a say in the oversight of the Canadian Grain  Prior to spring seeding, KAP committees met to follow up on Commission. recent resolutions and undertake new business. • The environment and land use committee finalized KAP’s Meeting with federal officials involvement in the Manitoba Ag Climate Initiative, part of Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk — KAP president Dan the provincial climate change strategy announced in Mazier, VP Glenn Young and general manager James Battershill December. KAP has received a funding commitment of met with the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, federal minister $150,000 to hire a research co-ordinator to look at potential of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, to impacts climate change will have on the Manitoba ag sector, discuss work-related issues on Manitoba farms. KAP stressed assess ways to mitigate those impacts, and build industry the need for modifying the 4-in-4-out rule of the Temporary resiliency. Foreign Worker program — and the necessity of doing it soon. • T he grains, oilseeds and pulses committee discussed its Agriculture critic Ruth Ellen Brosseau — While in Ottawa, support for a new funding model for wheat and barley KAP also met with MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, NDP agriculture research when the federal Western Canada Deduction ends in and agri-food critic, to stress grain transportation issues, the 2017. For more information, contact the Manitoba Wheat and tremendous need for Internet and telecommunications Barley Growers Association. infrastructure in rural Canada, and the importance of improve- • T he transportation committee outlined a letter to federal ments to BRM programming. Transportation Minister Marc Garneau regarding the Canada Policy adviser Gurpreet Vinning — KAP also met with Transportation Act Review. The letter, which has since been Gurpreet Vinning, policy adviser and special assistant for sent, stressed the need to implement open running rights, western and northern Canada to Infrastructure Minister and the necessity of maintaining the maximum revenue Amarjeet Sohi, who provided an update on plans for infrastruc- entitlement to encourage competition. A further letter to the ture spending. Rural municipal infrastructure improvements minister, and to Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, will come from the Small Communities Fund, and KAP will thanked them for extending the interswitching provision and investigate whether this can be used to improve telecommuni- level of service obligations in the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers cations infrastructure. For environmental and risk manage- Act. KAP stressed that changes to this legislation, enacted in

14 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 Homegrown conservation since 1986.

response to the 2014 grain transportation crisis, should only be made in the larger context of the CTA Review. • The taxation committee plans to invite representatives from the Manitoba School Boards Association to the next board of directors meeting in order to discuss education taxes with them in detail. • The livestock committee discussed social license, including what producers can do to gain consumer approval.

Letter to the editor Geography should not affect emergency response time WETLAND All political parties [during the election] have promised lower fees for ambulance services in one form or another RESTORATION — but no one has addressed the response time for ambu- lances in rural Manitoba. It’s no secret that wait times are Opportunities for Landowners very often over 30 minutes, sometimes up to 45 minutes, and Program Highlights: occasionally up to an hour. This would absolutely not be Financial incentives for landowners tolerated in urban areas. Our farmer members are concerned No minimum size requirements about this situation ,and have approached us to raise this Term or permanent agreement options issue. The chance to survive a medical emergency should not be reduced simply because of where we live in this province. Dan Mazier Contact MHHC to discuss your wetland restoration options: President, Keystone Agricultural Producers Boissevain 204.305.0276 Reston 204.821.4943 Brandon 204.724.5115 Rosser 204.471.9663 Minnedosa 204.867.0337 Shoal Lake 204.729.7592 Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau on BSE lawsuit www.mhhc.mb.ca  Further to a resolution at KAP’s annual meeting regarding the stalled class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada for BSE compensation to cattle producers, KAP has written a letter to the prime minister of Canada. It states: “On behalf of our members, we are seeking an update with respect to your government’s intention in seeing this matter through to completion. We would encourage the government to consider either entering into settlement negations in good faith, or, to allowing the 2005 lawsuit to proceed through the court system as soon as possible.”

Bringing forward resolutions to Hydro  At a meeting with Manitoba Hydro CEO Kelvin Shepherd, KAP brought forward recent resolutions pertaining to the corporation. These include access to power for all customers, future power needs of agriculture, the necessity of both staff and contractors to follow biosecurity protocols, and ways in which landowners and communities can be more fairly engaged on transmission-line projects.

S tandardization of protein testers  In response to a resolution calling for the CGC to implement a system of standardization and calibration for protein testers, KAP has approached the Western Grain Elevators’ Association asking for its position on the issue and has proposed working together with the WGEA in advocating a standardization process. »

Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 15 MacDon: Used Combine Market Publication Source: Manitoba Farmers Voice , 1/2 page, 3.33” x 5”, CMYK KAP AT WORK

Resolutions from Spring Advisory Council Meeting KAP’s Advisory Council meeting (formerly General Council) was held April 21 in Portage la Prairie.

Timing of agriculture census May is one of the busiest times of the year on Canadian farms and the agricultural census must be competed during this time. Therefore, KAP will work with the CFA to lobby the Government of Canada to change the time of the census of Agriculture from May to a time between November and February. Lake Manitoba outlet expedited KAP will urge the Government of Manitoba to expedite the construction of the north end outlet on Lake Manitoba to Lake Winnipeg, as it is critical and essential for flood fighting and saving farmland along Lake Manitoba. New education funding model KAP will lobby the Government of Manitoba to fund the cost of education from general revenues and not from property tax Better labeling of honey Meet a Farmer segment of Ag in the City with Curtis McRae. KAP will call for better federal labelling of honey, to differentiate between an all-Canadian product and Discover Ag in the City one that is a blend of honey from different sources. Currently, honey blended in Canada can be called  KAP was part of the organizing committee for the annual ag Canada No. 1 White, even though it may contain awareness event, Discover Agriculture in the City, which took minimal amounts of Canadian-produced honey. place at The Forks in March. In addition, KAP hosted the Meet a Farmer segment of the event with District 5 member Curtis Cash Advance Program increase Farm financial cash-flow needs have dramatically McRae. Eighteen thousand people visited The Forks that increased, and therefore KAP will lobby for the weekend. interest-free portion of cash advances to increase to $200,000. M aking KAP’s voice heard during the election Canadian industry statistics  KAP conducted a dynamic election campaign through social Because the importance of agriculture in the Canadian economy is often unseen and not and traditional media, highlighting the need for the new understood by Canada’s increasingly urban government to: population, KAP will work • support young farmers; • boost ag innovation and research; with the CFA to lobby the Government of Canada • prioritize and repair rural infrastructure; to move food manufacturing (subheading • develop new high-speed and cell infrastructure; 311) from manufacturing (subheading 300) to agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing (heading 11) in • boost ag environmental programming; the Canadian Industry Statistics releases — in order • r e-vamp taxation so a disproportionate amount of school to stress agriculture’s economic contributions. As taxes does not fall on farmers. well, KAP will work with the CFA to lobby for the separation of food production and processing Meeting with CN from forestry and logging in the Canadian Industry  KAP took action on recent rail resolutions by meeting with Statistics releases. CN to promote increased rail safety and rail-crossing mainte- nance, and to talk about ways in which CN can better work with producer-car shippers and shortlines. MFV

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Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 17 Help KAP fix the regulatory challenges you face on your farm

KAP is collecting information from our members regarding the significant burdens they encounter concerning bureaucracy and red tape. Please help us out by answering the questions below, so that we can prepare a submission for the new provincial Red Tape Task Force. You can mail them, scan and email, fax or go to the KAP website to answer online. See contact info below.

Name: 4) Regarding the previous question, how much of your time or money is spent dealing with these regulations? Phone:

Email:

1) Which regulation(s) impede your business, or cause you grief?

2) Do you know which department/organization oversees or is responsible for this regulation? (Check all that apply.) 5) Do you have a recommendation for how the system can  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada be improved?  Department of Fisheries and Oceans  Officef o the Fire Commissioner of Manitoba (OFC)  Labour & Immigration  Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD)  Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC)  Manitoba Conservation & Water Stewardship  Manitoba Hydro  Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT)  Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) Please mail, email or fax completed form to:  Municipal Government

 Other:

3) What does this cost you? (Check all that apply)

 Time  Money  Sanity 203-1700 Ellice Avenue, Other: Winnipeg, MB R3H 0B1 P. 204-697-1140 F. 204-697-1109 email: [email protected] www.kap.mb.ca

18 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 MEMBER BENEFITS

K AP members can have access to top physicians around the globe

By Jacquie Nicholson

Davi d Thiessen bought his first piece of land in the early ’80s and has been farming for over three decades — longer if you factor in the years he spent growing up on a mixed farm near Austin. The 65-year-old Carberry-area producer also enjoyed a lengthy career with MTS, and successfully juggled both roles until 2005, when he retired to focus exclusively on farming. To say he’s worked hard over his life would be an understatement. “For all those years I thought I was invincible,” Thiessen says. “I thought I could work 20 hours a day and it would never catch up to me.” Last fall, however, Thiessen suffered a heart attack. With no prior health issues or risk factors, it took him completely by surprise, and even his doctors had diffi- culty pinpointing a cause or offering recommendations going forward. He left the hospital in October 2015 wishing he knew more about why it had happened and what he could do to make sure it never happened again. As a KAP member, Thiessen knew that the KAP group health insurance pro- David Thiessen, who had a heart attack last year, used the Best Doctors program and got the reassurance on his health he needed to put in a crop this spring. gram he purchased included access to a professional medical advice service. Called Best Doctors, it brings together “She was incredibly thorough — much top-ranked physicians from around the more detailed than anything I’d experi- world to offer opinions on diagnosis and enced before. She took my medical his- A few weeks after treatment options to those wanting tory and gathered information about coming home from more information or a second medical what had happened with my heart opinion. attack. They also proceeded to get access the hospital, David Its database is made up of over 53,000 to all of the testing I had done while I was Thiessen decided to physicians from over 450 specialties and in the hospital.” sub-specialties. Once Best Doctors had pulled together call Best Doctors to A few weeks after coming home from all of Thiessen’s medical information see if it could offer the hospital, Thiessen decided to call and tests, a team of specialists got to any insight into his Best Doctors to see if it could offer any work on his file, studying his case and insight. reviewing and re-testing his pathology. heart attack “I was interviewed over the phone by In February he received a medical a very professional nurse,” he recalls. report that included information »

Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 19 MEMBER BENEFITS

and recommendations that he could share with his primary health care provider if he chose. “The report was very detailed and was very helpful both to me and to the nurse-practitioner who is my primary health care provider,” Thiessen says. “That’s their focus — not to replace your regular medical care that you get here in Manitoba, but to complement it. “It’s not to contradict or to try to outdo your doctors here, it’s just more resources and another point of view. It’s basically like having a team of specialists in your back pocket.” This extra expertise and resources is especially critical in rural areas, Thiessen says, where access to medical specialists is limited and physicians are strapped for time. “With there being only one cardiolo- gist in all of the Western region, I saw him only briefly while in hospital and have had no contact with him again,” he says. “With the report I received from Best Doctors, I did have some questions, so I called the nurse who was my main point of contact and she put me in touch with one of the doctors who had worked on Ellen Brooks was introduced to Best Doctors as a client, and was so impressed she went to the report, which was an invaluable work for the program. experience for me. He answered all of my questions thoroughly, and because modify diagnosis 27 per cent of the time, was getting ready to sell all his tools and there were no obvious signs for the cause and change or modify treatment plans cars. We walked away thinking we knew of my heart attack, he also put forward 60 per cent of the time,” she says. “This so little about the prognosis, but also some suggestions for further testing. is not to say that we don’t have good that we didn’t feel very connected to the “The fact that I could have a telephone doctors in Canada, but we know that our oncologist.” conversation with a specialist in Boston health care system is strained. Some- Like Thiessen, Brooks’s husband had to help with a health issue I was having times when you go see a specialist you his case reviewed by a remote team of here, is pretty amazing. I’ve never expe- have maybe eight minutes with them.” physicians. But Best Doctors also rienced anything like that, the level of Brooks found her career in a some- worked to connect him with a new professionalism and patience of this what unconventional way, being first oncologist — a top specialist in the field. doctor dealing with all of my questions introduced to Best Doctors as a client. The organization, she explains, helps and concerns was far beyond any expec- Her workplace benefits plan included with a wide range of conditions and tations that I could ever imagine.” the service, and she found herself using medical situations. Ellen Brooks, the Best Doctors busi- it when her husband was diagnosed with “Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with ness development manager in Canada, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. something and you have questions,” she is used to hearing this type of positive “My husband and I were at a local says. “It doesn’t have to be something feedback. She says one of the program’s hospital here in Ontario,” she recounts, serious; it can really be anything. Maybe key strengths is its case management “and I often talk about how the oncolo- you’re on a treatment plan and it’s not approach: the use of a registered nurse gist said to us, ‘Don’t worry, he’s been improving. Maybe you have choices but to take a truly comprehensive medical diagnosed with the ‘good’ cancer. It’s you need help making them. history and to act as the client’s advocate the one Mario Lemieux had.’ “Maybe you want that second opin- throughout the process. “My husband, who builds and races ion. Maybe you’re looking for a specialist “Of the cases we review, we change or cars, thought of it as a life sentence. He and you’re on a wait list, but you’re will-

20 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 ing to travel. Maybe you’re just trying to navigate the healthcare system. No matter the situation, it doesn’t hurt to call.” Whats i Brooks and her husband were so impressed with the service they received Best Doctors? that she decided to go to work for Best Doctors. • Best Doctors is a medical service available to KAP members who As for Thiessen, he’s well into another purchase health insurance using their KAP membership. It has growing season on the small grain and been available in Canada since 1998. oilseeds farm he runs with his wife, • The service offers help with medical advice, second opinions, and Audrey, and their daughter, Rhonda. connecting clients with specialists. “Ultimately, the advice I got gave me • Best Doctors is a remote service that communicates with plan some confidence going forward,” he members primarily by phone, as a complement to the local health says. “I do have to be aware of my age care services the member receives. and my situation, and I have to be • Its specialists are in the top five per cent of practising physicians respectful of my limitations. But it worldwide. They are chosen using peer-to-peer surveys of the meant a lot to get some reassurance that medical industry, where each physician is asked, “If you or a loved I should be able to continue working.” one needed a doctor in your specialty, whom would you choose?” The Best Doctors program is available • Best Doctors consultations result in a change in diagnosis 27 per to all KAP members enrolled in the Core, cent of the time, and a change in treatment 60 per cent of the Core Plus, and Core Plus/Dental Co- time. operators insurance plans. For more • Today, over five million Canadians have access to Best Doctors information, contact Karen Vandal services as part of their group benefits or insurance coverage. at 1-866-527-0123 extension 1, or email [email protected]. MFV

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Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 21 YOUNG FARMERS

22 Farmers’ Voice / SUMMER 2016 Award-winning farming couple balance business success with family values

By Jill Winzoski

s a young boy, Jason Kehler watched his grandfather as he worked out on the field. And he learned a valuable Alesson: if you take care of the land, it will take care of you. “I remember if my grandfather saw a killdeer while he was working out on the field, he’d stop what he was doing and move it,” said Jason. “He wouldn’t just run over it.” Today, Jason does the same. “To me, that’s what makes you a farmer, and that’s what makes me proud to be a farmer,” he said. “You don’t have to sacrifice your ethics and family values to be successful.” This past February, Jason and his wife Laura were crowned Manitoba’s Out- standing Young Farmers for 2016 — an “You don't have to sacrifice your ethics and family values to be successful,” says Jason. award based on criteria such as environmental stewardship, effective man- workers, increasing that number to 25 I just never forget the life lessons they agement practices, and community and during potato harvest season. taught me.” provincial contribution. While the Kehlers want to continue Like her husband, Laura also has deep “It’s a big honour,” said Jason, who growing their farm in a progressive way, roots in farming, growing up on a mixed is grateful to their accountant who Jason said their decisions aren’t based sheep and grain farm in Ohio. After nominated them for the award. “If our solely on numbers. obtaining her masters degree in meat accountant thinks that much of us then “Obviously farming is more of a busi- sciences, she worked doing research and it’s a pretty good thing.” ness in this day in age, now more than development for Nestle and Tyson Foods Situated on 5,600 acres of owned and ever,” he said. “But to me, it’s more than for over a decade. rented land, Kehler Farms Ltd. grows that — it’s a way of life.” Laura then met Jason through the processing potatoes, soybeans, canola, The Kehlers have farmed in Carman online dating site Farmer’s Only, and oats, wheat, corn, and beans. Since for 27 years. Jason took over the soon after, Laura knew her life was about 2013, the Kehlers have increased their operation from his father, Harv, five to change. total crop production acres nearly 50 years ago. His ancestors immigrated “The first time we met, I just knew I per cent. to Canada from the Ukraine around would be moving to Manitoba,” said In that time, they’ve also expanded 1920, first settling in southern Mani- Laura. “I just had a feeling. Jason was just their potato acres by 103 per cent, pur- toba. so happy to be a farmer. And he was a chased an additional three-quarters of “I’m pretty proud to be a fourth gen- smart farmer.” land, and installed four-quarters of tile eration Canadian farmer,” said Kehler. In 2008, Laura uprooted her life in the drainage. They employ six full-time “My grandparents were great people and U.S. for one here, securing a job as senior »

Farmers’ Voice / SUMMER 2016 23 MEMBER PROFILE

Laura with daughter Paisley, who is now five, and son Wyatt who is now two. The Kehlers hope their kids learn the values and strengths they both received growing up on the farm — even if the kids don't chºoose to farm themselves.

scientist for the Food Development Centre even if the kids don’t choose to farm in Portage la Prairie. themselves. When their son Wyatt was born, she “It’s obviously my dream that my Laura believes took a break from that job to focus exclu- kids will farm, but if it ends up that children growing sively on raising their two children and they decide to take a different career to take care of the management and path, I want to at least raise them with up on the farm bookkeeping aspects of the business. those values, so they will be well- learn coping skills Their daughter Paisley is nearly five and served,” said Jason. “You still have to Wyatt is two years old. be a hard worker and responsible, and that their urban “Laura’s made a lot of sacrifices to be be kind to people.” counterparts with me and I’ve never taken that for Laura believes children growing up on granted,” said Jason. “She left her family the farm learn coping skills that their may not have the and all these things to make a life here urban counterparts may not have the opportunity to with me. She’s just a great person. She’s opportunity to receive. receive extremely smart and extremely well- Farming is full of delayed gratifica- rounded.” tion,” she said. “They learn they can’t get The couple hope their kids learn the what they want right now, and it’s not life values and strengths they both and death — that they are stronger than received growing up on the farm — they think emotionally and physically.

24 Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 That’s why I think that you are so much gather up potatoes to take home and put to go back into the farm,” he said. “Now more able to cope in life as a farm kid.” in their basement for the winter, too.” there is lots of money available — the Laura doesn’t see shielding children Following in Harv’s tradition, the banks will give you more than enough from the harsher realities as helpful in Kehlers also make sure they don’t over- money to hang yourself. Now it’s about the long term. crop, rotating potatoes one season out of managing your money smartly.” “They see life, they see death. They every four. But Jason finds it helpful to remem- see crops that get ruined, they see so “If you plant potatoes more than that, ber what his grandparents said: don’t much and you can’t protect them from in 20 years, your land isn’t going to be let business become so important that it it.” able to support a potato crop anymore,” consumes you and you forget the A few years ago when the family dog Jason explained. important things in life — don’t let the passed away, young Paisley asked to plug They’re also careful not to overuse world get ahead of you. For him, passing it in and charge it back up — just like pesticide, and cultivate as much as they on a half section of land that comes up what was done with the iPad. can. Fertigation — fertilizing at the for sale would not be a regrettable deci- “I was so troubled,” said Laura. “I same time as irrigating — is another sion if it means staying on good terms thought ‘holy geez, we have a lot to learn environmentally sound practice. with his neighbour. here. That was my a-ha moment, I “We use the water as a mode of trans- “At the end of the day, I want to stop on thought ‘outside we go.’” portation for some of the other things the side of the road and talk to my neigh- The Kehlers pay their blessings for- that go on the field, saving in fuel, emis- bours,” he explained. “The relationships I ward where they can. They contribute sions, and from driving on and compact- make along the way are important to me. five acres for research crops, so partner ing the land,” Laura explained. Farmers support each other. companies can measure potato yields Jason is grateful for the technology “Farmers are kind to people. If we see and composition. This results in about his forefathers didn’t have, but he somebody stopped on the side of the 20,000 pounds of potatoes per year, admits weighing the investment in road, we stop to help. We wave at our which the Kehlers bag and deliver to technology versus staying competitive neighbours. We go visit. If somebody is food banks like Winnipeg Harvest, can be a tricky balance. sick, we bring them supper. They’re just Union Gospel Mission, or the Salvation “I farm in a totally different era,” he real life lessons of being good people. Army. explained. “My grandparents had to “Farming is an amazing vehicle to “They’re not sellable but are perfectly scrimp and save. Basically you had to continually demonstrate life lessons and good to eat,” Laura explained. “All of our survive on nothing, there was no access keep the family grounded with rural neighbours come with their kids and to credit, and every last dime of cash had roots.” MFV

Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 25 KAP CONGRATULATES Mnoa it ba’s newest agriculture diploma graduates!

Assiniboine Community College

Jesse Bernard Donovan Hickson Charlee McLaughlin- Andrea Poirier Jordan Clark Sydney Hore Ventnor Chad Sahulka Ryan Clark Brett Houston Sydney Mickelson Taylor Schettler Connor Crandall Aaron King Desirae Mosiondz Brandon Smith Garret Davis Dustin Klassen Robert Parr Laura Sytnyk Michael Friesen Brayden Kreshewski Carley Paulenko Kahli Wedderburn Maggie Funk Crystal Lovett Tyson Peters Joshua Wood Shayla Gillis Haley McKee

University of Manitoba

Jody Adamson Jenilee Dyck James Kieper Derek Penner Adam Adriaansen Cord Ferguson Ralf Kirchner Josh Pfrimmer Cale Anseeuw Evan Findlay Julianna Klippenstein Devin Pouteau Russel Audet Kenleigh Friesen Brandon Kostal Jordan Robertson David Bashford Nolan Frieze Calder Laudin Jayden Sabourin Magdalene Bergen Tobijah Gerber Rylan Laudin Kristina Schweizer Daniel Blerot Benjamin Gilmore Jodi Lepp Harley Siemens Chelsea Boonstra Campbell Gregory Cory Martin Lyndon Soper Gregg Bruneau Janessa Hamblin Daniel Martin Maxwell Stewart Jenna Bruneau Andrea Hamilton Dylan Mazinke Adam Strang Jayden Buchanan Tyler Henderson Matthew Mazinke Kyle Tataryn Cody Bueckert Matthew Hildebrand Keean McLaren Landon Thomson Morgan Chandler Ryley Holod Sheena Meggison Erin Turski April Davy Joseph Holtmann Melanie Mueller Pierre Vuignier Rhett Dodds Monique Janssen Luanne Murphy Cooper Wiebe Joel Doerksen Jared Joyal Patrick Onyschak Bradley Wright Geertje Doornbos Elizabeth Karpinchick Jamie Parker Christian Wytinck Robert Drewry Elliott Kiel

Keystone Agricultural Producers of Manitoba

26 Farmers’ Voice / SUMMER 2016 WATER MANAGEMENT

Placement of lateral pipes in the field. Water from these pipes will drain into larger pipes (mains) and eventually into an outlet. This particular pipe has a filter to keep sand/silt from blocking it.

Tile drainage boosts productivity of perennially wet fields

Two Manitoba producers talk about their experiences | By Richard Kamchen

Tile drainage has proven a boon Yields immediately shot up. On all his southwest of Morden drain tiled three for two southern Manitoba farmers crops, he estimates an average 15 per years ago. That field, too, was heavy with who’ve seen previously unproductive cent yield boost, depending on the year. clay, and had a 20-acre piece in the cen- land now grow high yielding crops. “It’s very cost effective for high-value tre that had never been farmed because Wayne Derksen farms four miles crops. Sometimes in the lower-value it was so wet. south of Winkler and had tile drainage crops you might not see the benefit as Since installation, he says he’s found installed in his first field about 15 years quickly because the payback might not tremendous success. The year prior to ago. be as quick,” says Derksen. “We grow the installation, it yielded eight bushels “It was a field that was lower lying and potatoes and that was the big push, but per acre of soybeans. Last year, it pro- prone to flooding, and we wanted to see we’ve certainly seen a benefit in the duced 60 bushels per acre of canola. if there was actually a way of helping us, other crops — more than expected.” “That land was definitely sub-par, that when we got rains, it wouldn’t flood Charlie Westfall’s interest in tile and it’s turned it into land that’s just as right away,” Derksen says. “It was drainage was piqued years ago while vis- productive as our best land — some- always one of our worst fields and then it iting in the U.S., when a southern Min- times even better,” Westfall said. came right up to being at least an aver- nesota farmer told him if his forefathers Another field had an almost apocry- age field. Then after that we started hadn’t tile drained his heavy clay land, phal history, with Westfall’s father aggressively drain tiling about six, seven he wouldn’t be farming it today. telling him no one had been in it since years ago.” Westfall had the first field on his farm the previous owner got his corn »

Farmers’ Voice / summer 2016 27 Water management

binders stuck in the ground way back when. “And we tile drained it and we drive T hinking about tile drainage? right through it every year. It’s amazing,” Westfall says. here’s how it works Getting it done Another innovation — water control Lateral pipes are laid across the A good contractor should be able field at intervals, depending on to complete the job, from start structures — are becoming more com- 1 soil type and topography. The more to finish, says Jason Fraser of monplace within tile drainage systems, clay content, the closer the pipes Precision Land Solutions, a water notes Derksen. will be because water doesn’t flow management provider and member These structures are basically like as well in clay. If the land is flat, of the Manitoba Agricultural dams that can be adjusted to hold the pipes will be laid over the entire field Water Management Association, right amount of water back. in a grid, spaced 25 to 60 feet apart. an organization that promotes “In spring you control the water table If the land has hills and depressions, sustainable water management. at a certain height so that you capture as only the low spots can be targeted. The entire job includes a much water as possible, but you can still These pipes are perforated, and topographical survey, soil samples, do your field operations. And you hold absorb the water from the wet soil. a design that takes advantage of the back water in the soil, and it helps the The water is drained into larger field’s topography, provincial and crops,” he says. 2 pipes (called mains), which are municipal permits, and installation. The general rule of thumb requires a collector pipes that eventually take “The contractor should be able to control structure for every foot drop of the water to an outlet. The design provide an estimate, almost to the elevation, Derksen says. and size of the mains depends on dollar, of what the project will cost,” the slope of the land — with more said Fraser. “So if you have a field within a mile slope, the water flows faster, and the that drops 15, 20 feet, you’ll need 15 to 20 holding capacity of the mains does How to find a contractor of these types of structures. In that way not need to be as great as when the in can be expensive, but in our area the • Check with the Manitoba land is flat and the water flows more Agricultural Water Management land is fairly flat, so it’s not really a sub- slowly. Association for a list of contractors stantial cost, maybe $50 an acre [extra].” The mains eventually take the — [email protected] water to an outlet. At the outlet, Answer to high land prices 3 • Check with other producers if the ditch or drain that receives in the area. A number of Manitoba farmers are at the the water is deep enough, the water very least taking a look at tile drainage will flow into it via gravity. If not, a • Google. given a shortage of good, available land lift station is created to pump the • Be sure to ask for a list of for sale. water into the outlet. There could references from whomever be a number of lift stations to pump “In Manitoba, to find good land for you choose. the water along the field if the land $800 to $1,200 an acre is almost impos- is very flat. sible, so that’s really why there’s been this big drastic growth in tile drainage,” says Jason Fraser of Precision Land Solu- tions, a water management provider. The cost of tile drainage can range ment on your land and you’re adding “They want to improve what they somewhere between $800 and $1,000 value to your land. So it’s actually gen- have and get the full potential out of an acre, depending on topography and erally fairly easy to get financing for tile their field,” Fraser says. “We have what soil type. But with the yield gains, tile drainage,” says Westfall. “You can we have and we have to use it the best drainage quickly pays for itself. mortgage it for the term of your mort- possible way and keep it going for gen- “It doesn’t take very long and it’s paid gage on your land, so really it doesn’t erations.” for and you’ve taken that piece of land add hardly any cost to your yearly pay- Westfall’s thinking is no different. you were throwing inputs at every year ments. “Our ideology was that we would and were losing money on, and now “It adds some but it’s not such a great improve the land we had to make it pro- you’re making money on it,” says West- big cash outlay. So if you make pay- ductive rather than try to find more land fall. ments on it over 20 years, think of the because it’s so expensive right now. It’s “Generally we think it pays for itself benefits you get over 20 years on that been a win-win. We’ve been adding tile in about seven to 10 years. That makes it particular piece of land. To me, it’s an drainage every year since — we just did a good investment,” Derksen says. absolute no-brainer.” some again this spring and some last The payment on installation can even “It almost becomes another input fall. We’re convinced that it definitely is be spread out over a period of years. cost, that’s how some guys calculate it,” worth the price of admission.” “The banks look at it as an improve- explains Fraser. “Instead of paying cash

28 Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 and let’s say it’s $850 an acre for that project, they’ll do it over 30 year payments and now it only costs them $35 an acre a year.” The one caution about tile drainage that Derksen points out relates to nutrient management. In his experience, less phosphorous came off his fields, but nitrate losses increased. “So we have changed our practices, split the majority of our nitrogen that goes on our field so that we put up some in spring, but the rest, especially on potatoes, they’re spoon-fed throughout the season. Corn, we split the applications throughout the season, and even for wheat we do that quite a bit,” says Derksen. There may be an increased cost if the changed management means running over a field more often, but the benefit is that the crop get exactly what it needs when it needs it: “Not too much and at Design of tile drainage for a field, courtesy of Precision Land Solutions . Lateral pipes are in the right time so we don’t have leeching blue, with mains in other colours. The outlet is the white dot at the bottom. and such.” MFV

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Farmers’ Voice / Summer 2016 29 GM’S MESSAGE

New government promises red tape reduction: help KAP gather info

BY JAMES BATTERSHILL, KAP GENERAL MANAGER

On March 30 at a Manitoba conversations about drainage regula- While we realize this approach to Chambers of Commerce event, Brian tions. regulatory reform is a positive step, we Pallister, then candidate for Fort This is why KAP is launching a regu- should also expect some challenges Whyte, now Premier, gave a short latory challenges and red tape review. advancing several other high-priority speech in which he outlined a few of the There’s a form on page 18 of this issue files with the new government. PC’s election priorities. As he is known of the Farmers’ Voice that any farmer It’s been pretty clear from the cam- to do, Pallister told stories to illustrate can fill out, and tell us exactly which paign that asking for financial support and explain why the issues were impor- regulations impede your business the in the first few years of the C P ’s first tant to him and the party. most. You can also fill out the form dig- term is going to be difficult. They’re After his speech I caught him before itally from the home page of the KAP made a commitment to the public to he departed and had a chance to ask website. resolve debt challenges as their num- him a question. ber one priority, and committing to “What’s the first problem we can new funds won’t occur if it comes at solve together?” I’ve spent countless the expense of reducing spending His answer was telling, and should hours on the phone overall. shape our approach to lobbying this The trouble for us is that this is at new government: “Let’s fix the red tape with members who odds with what farmers in Manitoba for farmers.” have complained are telling KAP to lobby for. We’re ask- The PC’s campaigned broadly on ing the new government to budget $7 making Manitoba a better place to do about challenges million more to remove the farmland business, and striking a Red Tape with getting permits school tax rebate cap, $1 million to fill Reduction Task Force was a key compo- vacant and much needed extension nent of the PC’s economic platform. or inspections specialist positions, and $25 million in This is good for farmers. Nearly half of completed… research and innovation program- the policy resolutions that KAP mem- ming, just to name a few of the policy bers have passed in the last three years priorities that our members have set have to do with a regulatory problem for us. that they have on their farms. We want you to be specific about your Quietly I’ve had several PC MLA’s tell I’ve spent countless hours on the experiences. It’s not as easy for regula- me the same thing when I’ve raised phone with members who have com- tors to ignore a problem when there is a these files with them. “We’ll get to plained about challenges with getting story about a person’s real life experi- them, but you might have to be permits or inspections completed, ence behind it. patient.” about installation codes that were We’ll compile this information, along In response to that, I would say that designed for equipment in schools and with the hundreds of resolutions mem- we won’t stop asking — so that when hospitals being applied equally to grain bers have passed over the years, and the time comes, we’ll be sure we’ve driers situated kilometres from the prepare a comprehensive submission been heard. And we’ll continue to nearest human, about program or per- for the task force. Then we anticipate remind the government how vocal it mit forms that made little to no sense, working with the new government to was, when in opposition, regarding and about government offices that had find a way to resolve this issue. Our ulti- school taxes on farmland. no one in them that knew that a form’s mate goal is to make sure that this time But meanwhile, let’s get to work on existence — let alone how it should be next year, running your farm costs you the regulatory challenges this new filled out. less money, time, and headaches caused government has pledged to address. And drainage regulations. So many by regulations and paperwork. Please, fill in the survey. MFV

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