The Surging Demand For
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May 2016 $6.70 Anja and Henry Van Der Vlies The surging demand for Publications Mail AgreementGOAT’S No. 40037298 MILK Publications Mail Agreement No. 40037298 PRODUCTS NITROGEN RATES CORN SMUT MARKET PLANTING STRESS Vol. 18 No. 4 Better Farming May 2016 Cover 10 THE SURGING DEMAND FOR GOAT’S MILK PRODUCTS At a time when bovine milk processing is ‘contracting or remaining steady,’ says one industry insider, ‘the goat milk industry is one of those shining lights that is continuing to grow.’ Features 20 THE BURGEONING MARKET FOR SPECIALTY CROPS Whether it is more established crops like hops, okra and quinoa or still experimental ones such as huitlacoche, a nutritious corn smut fungus, there is a growing demand for these niche products from an increasingly diverse consumer base. 10 22 BIOPESTICIDES BECOMING MORE THAN JUST A NICHE PRODUCT The fastest growing segment of the crop protection market, they offer growers a way to reduce their dependence on chemical pesticides and help them meet increasingly restrictive import and supermarket standards. 30 LIVING WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS 20 OF THE CANADIAN DOLLAR Photo courtesy: University of Guelph Muck Crops Research Station This award-winning Alliston potato producer is cashing in on the efficiencies made when the dollar was higher. 34 CHINESE LONG EGGPLANT OFFERS GOOD RETURNS BUT CARRIES SOME RISK FOR GROWERS With the help of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, a handful of Ontario growers are making progress with non-traditional crops like eggplant and okra, but they warn that it’s still too risky to base an entire farm business on them. 22 Departments 4 Behind the Lines 36 Power At Work 6 Short Takes 39 The Hill 22 Crops 47 Letter From Europe 34 Horticulture 62 Rural Roots 30 Better Farming May 2016 Farm News First > BetterFarming.com 3 BEHINDTHELINES The goat milk industry has had a checkered history EDITORIAL AND LAYOUT TEAM in Ontario. Demand and production are generally MANAGING EDITOR - Robert C. Irwin 21400 Service Road, Vankleek Hill, Ontario rising, but there are enough “downs” that the path K0B 1R0 We have one goal. of growth is littered with the wreckage of farmers’ tel: (613) 678-2232; fax: (613) 678-5993 [email protected] dreams. Here are some statistics from our files. SENIOR STAFF EDITOR - Don Stoneman To protect Canada’s soybean crops. In 1997, there were fewer than 100 producers in 87 Queen St. E., Cambridge, Ontario N3C 2A9 tel: (519) 654-9106; fax: (519) 654-9357 the province. By 2004, Ontario produced half of [email protected] Canada’s total of 21 million litres of goat milk. By FIELD EDITOR - Mary Baxter 2010, licensed producer numbers had risen to 262. 60 Josephine St., London, Ontario N5Z 3P2 tel: (519) 858-0774 And, last year 240 licensed goat milk producers, on [email protected] average considerably larger than before, shipped 42 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR - Charles Magill million litres. CONTRIBUTORS This nascent industry has a long way to go to Jim Algie, Mike Beaudin, Campbell Cork, WILLY WATERTON WILLY Dale Cowan, Norman Dunn, Pat Lynch, Susan Mann, step out of the shadow of the 2.66 billion-litre, Barry Wilson, Ralph Winfield Photo: 4,200-producer dairy cow industry and that won’t DESIGN & PRODUCTION Barbara Sushycki tel: (519) 220-1708 happen any time soon, if ever. What’s different in this round of expansion is that fax: (519) 654-9357 [email protected] processors normally associated with that bovine milk industry have made large infrastructure investments aimed at goat milk. Producers and industry watchers can’t SALES AND MARKETING TEAM DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT help but hope that the boom and bust times are largely in the past. Freelance writer Jim Phil Chadwick tel: (416) 258-2383 Algie’s story on a rapidly growing industry in Ontario that faces many challenges and [email protected] that will undoubtedly suffer from price ups and downs in the future starts on page 10. ADVERTISING SALES Glenn Ruegg tel: (519) 415-3276 Goat milk isn’t the only emerging industry highlighted in this issue of the magazine. Senior Sales Representative Starting on page 20, writer Mike Beaudin looks at the efforts of the Ontario Ministry [email protected] of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Specialty Cropportunity (there’s a new word Jeff McKee tel: (519) 848-1112 Classifieds, Real Estate, Special Sections for our spell checker!) department to examine the potential for non-traditional crops [email protected] in the province. Specialists warn that, in lockstep with determining if a new crop can be ADVERTISING SALES CO-ORDINATOR grown on their farms, they must do a business plan and determine if there is a market Jennifer Stewart tel: (519) 763-6294 [email protected] for their new crops. _________________ Likewise with Susan Mann’s story on Vineland Research and Innovation Centre’s ADMINISTRATION studies on so-called world crops. Quinoa is the most familiar one but there are others, Silvia Schaerer tel: (613) 678-2232 such as Chinese eggplant, for which there is also a growing demand. There is potential, fax: (613) 678-5993 [email protected] but don’t bet the farm on it. That’s on page 34. CIRCULATION tel: (613) 678-2232 ______________________________________________ [email protected] Not many farm industries in Canada can lay claim to a grower who received an international award – from the world’s most populous country, no less – for contribut- Subscription Rates ing to its food production. Potato grower Peter VanderZaag of Simcoe County lays Mailed within Canada claim to that award, although very quietly. Our story is about how he took advantage of $41 for one year (11 issues) $74 for two years (22 issues) efficiencies gleaned when the Canadian dollar was high to make more profit when the The above rates include taxes dollar is low in his export market, the United States. His success story can be found on Back issues (when available) page 31. C$8.00 (HST included) plus shipping. Mailed to USA Finally, we are reminded once again that quality journalism is the reason that we Can$72 for one year (11 issues) No taxes apply enjoy working at Better Farming. Field editor Mary Baxter has placed third in North Mailed international America for her special project, “An Ontario phosphorus reduction strategy” that was Can$121 for one year (11 issues) No taxes apply published as our March 2015 cover story. Judge David Skoloda summarized things this GST Registration #868959347RT0001 way: “Baxter’s ambitious project traces the routes by which phosphorus enters water- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AgMedia Inc. ways from farm fields and contributes to algae blooms such as those in Lake Erie that 21400 Service Road, Vankleek Hill, Ontario K0B 1R0 Tricor® 75DF herbicide is an enhanced formulation of metribuzin - the advanced broadleaf spurred research. She writes for the Ontario farmers who want science-based regula- Publications Mail Registration No. 1156 weed control that North American growers have trusted for years. A key addition to your tion, but the research she cites will have broader implications for agriculture.” BF Publications Mail Agreement No. 40037298 Copyright © 2016 by AgMedia Inc. All rights reserved. pre-emergent weed control program in soybeans, Tricor DF is also effective in lentils and Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written peas. Tricor DF is proven effective on a wide range of weeds, including ragweed, pigweed, ROBERT IRWIN & DON STONEMAN permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. The publisher can assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. chickweed, nightshade, and other broadleaf weeds. And when used as a tank mix partner, Better Farming is published 11 times a year by AgMedia Inc. it enhances your weed control spectrum even further. So, when you need to prevent weeds In Quotes (on the first of every month, with a blended issue in June/July). from scoring on your crop, trust Tricor DF. Contact your local distributor, UPI sales representative Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the or visit www.upi-usa.com to learn more. “We have people“ call us about goats and they” ask if you milk advertiser, its products or services, nor does AgMedia make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of advertisers’ seven days a week.” claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the unintentional Goat farmer Anja Van Der Vlies on the questions she gets from wannabe farmers. omission of any scheduled advertising. Always read and follow label directions and precautions. Tricor® and UPI logo are trademarks of United Phosphorus, Inc. Printed in Canada. www.betterfarming.com ©March, 2016. UPI, 630 Freedom Business Center, King of Prussia, PA 19406. www.upi-usa.com. 4 Farm News First > BetterFarming.com Better Farming May 2016 SHORTTAKES HSUS to train police on dealing with animal cruelty In early March, the Humane Society of The HSUS said it has been doing this the United States (HSUS) announced it kind of thing for years. Federal Focus was training more than 700 law enforce- This is taking place at the same time ment personnel, at its own cost, on how to as HSUS and Oklahoma’s attorney-gen- investigate and handle animal cruelty eral Scott Pruitt are at loggerheads. cases, including the abuse of farm animals. According to HSUS critic Humanewatch. The partners in this include the org, in 2014 the attorney general began National Sheriff’s Association, the FBI, investigating HSUS fundraising and Humane Society of Tulsa, the state published a consumer alert. Pruitt association of chiefs of police, the state warned that donors’ dollars were leaving sheriffs and peace officers association and the state and animal shelters were not OFA’S MAIN TOPICS the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association.