Reclaimed Land Less Productive
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AG EQUIPMENT! GREENHOUSES IN ALBERTA » PAGE 40 Prices in effect from March 26 to April 30, 2012 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240 18311_08 UFA LubeFilter_Earlug_3.083x1.833.indd 1 3/14/12 2:29 PM VOLUME 9, NUMBER 7 MARCH 26, 2012 NEW RESEARCH: Reclaimed land less productive NOT RECOVERED } ARECA finds land reclaimed from oil and gas lease sites, borrow pits, and gas pipelines can suffer a 10-bushel-an-acre yield drop they haven’t been able to measure yield BY MADELEINE BAERG losses. AF CONTRIBUTOR | CALGARY “When you go through those areas, you’ll see your combine yield monitor any producers suspect change, but by how much?” he said. reclaimed industrial sites So Alberta Environment engaged are less productive than ARECA, a non-profit agency that pro- surrounding land, despite vides unbiased applied research for Mclaims to the contrary from oil and gas Alberta’s agricultural producers, to get companies. hard facts on reclaimed land’s produc- Recent research by the Agricultural tivity. Research and Extension Council of Using combine-mounted yield moni- Alberta (ARECA) proves that producers tors, researchers measured yield data are indeed correct, and provides a cred- from inside reclaimed sites and from ible starting place for discussion about the land immediately surrounding it. compensation. By dividing the plots into 20x20-metre “Because these sites were signed off grid cells, the researchers could analyze by the province, the expectation is that exactly how the yield changed over that the yield should be similar to the sur- area. The results were surprising. rounding area. But, it wasn’t,” said Ty “What we found is that when we did a Faechner, ARECA’s executive director, statistical comparison of yield data from who presented the study’s findings at a offsite areas compared to the well site recent conference in Calgary. area, the yield was very different,” said The current evaluation process lead- Faechner. “We’re talking (as much as) a ing to reclamation sign-off is subjective, 10-bushel yield difference where inside he said. a specific site was 74 bushels an acre and “Assessment is completely visual and outside was 83 bushels an acre. relies on very few measurements,” said “In 31 per cent of fields, there were Faechner. significant crop yield differences. Of And while producers know there are Currently, there are about 200,000 reclaimed industrial sites in Alberta, including productivity differences, until recently SEE RECLAIMED LAND } page 6 oil and gas lease sites, borrow pits, and gas pipelines. ©THINKSTOCK NOTHING HITS HARDER. OR LASTS LONGER. AND SAVE BEFORE FEBRUARY 20th. Talk to your retailer. Only PrePassTM with SoilActiveTM Technology offers superior pre-seed burndown control for up to 21 days, a 30-minute Rainfast Guarantee and full-service so you can accomplish PrePassTM and SoilActiveTM are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. 02/12-17722-01A BUP more. Call 1.800.667.3652. 17722-01A PrePass BUP 10.25X3_FBC.indd 1 2/2/12 12:28 PM 2 NEWS » INSIDE THIS WEEK MARCH 26, 2012 • ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA INSIDE » LIVESTOCK CROPS COLUMNISTS OYF WINNERS BIOSECURITY A ON-FARM BRENDA SCHOEPP Robert and TEAM EFFORT RESEARCH CALVING SEASON NEEDS A Angela Semeniuk will BUSINESS PLAN 22 represent Alberta 16 DANIEL BEZTE COMPARING THE FORECASTS POISONING FOR SPRING 46 GOPHERS CAUTION Using poison also BERNIE PEET puts natural predators A foot bath alone might Farmers now have THE PROS AND CONS OF at risk 14 not be good enough 20 the technology 29 LARGE-GROUP FINISHING 21 Fly larvae new feed WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER? alternative BY WENDELL ROELF Now is the time to find out STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA REUTERS TWO TESTS There are two free tests available — Families tucking into a Sun- one to test for bacteria and the other for minerals day dinner of roast chicken or pork may not relish the idea of animals fattened on mag- BY SHERI MONK gots. AF STAFF/PINCHER CREEK Most minerals will But one British entrepre- neur in South Africa believes esting well water can be merely cause an issue that maggots, the wriggling a chore that folks tend with the taste, odour larvae of the common house T to put off, but it’s easy, fly (Musca Domestica), is a fast and best of all, it’s free to or colour, but there viable protein-rich alterna- do. Alberta Health Services tive to make animal feed. A offers the testing, and all land- are a few that can large part of the feed used owners have to do is drop by have negative health today is fishmeal and depends a community health centre or on diminishing global fish health unit to pick up a test consequences. stocks. kit. David Drew, managing There are two kinds of tests director of AgriProtein Tech- available — a bacteriologi- nologies, plans to set up in cal analysis and a chemical and results are returned by South Africa the world’s first analysis. The first tests for bac- mail within seven to 10 busi- large-scale fully commercial teria that may indicate fecal ness days for bacteriological factory producing “Magmeal”, contamination from sewage tests, and eight to 10 weeks an organic and sustainable or manure. The second mea- for chemical tests. If there is a replacement for fishmeal. sures the concentration of troubling result from a bacte- “By 2050, at the current rates naturally occurring minerals riological test, a public health that we are using fishmeal, in the water. Most minerals inspector will be in contact we will need two more plan- will merely cause an issue with by telephone, usually within ets’ oceans to feed ourselves. the taste, odour or colour, but Water testing takes only a few minutes, and the sample bottles three days of testing. The world’s population is there are a few that can have and instructions are provided free of charge by Alberta Health Samples are only eligible also expanding exponentially, negative health consequences. Services. PHOTO: SHERRI MONK for the testing program if the with India and China helping Bacteriological tests should water is intended for human drive poultry, beef and pork be performed twice a year wells are drilled and there before filling the container consumption. Tests for finan- consumption,” Drew told on wells deeper than 50 feet, are increased disturbances in provided as part of the test kit. cial transactions such as mort- Reuters. and four times annually on the aquifer, there is greater Follow the instructions explic- gages, or for the detection of His existing test fly farm wells less than 50 feet deep. risk of contamination. Water itly. Samples must be turned dissolved gasses or for agri- operates simply — flocks of Chemical tests only need to be can also become tainted by back in within 24 hours, to cultural purposes will not be flies contained in special con- done every two to five years. well caps and casings incor- any community health centre performed. Water may need tainers lay eggs which turn Though it’s a busy time of year rectly installed, or because of or health unit. The collection to be tested more frequently into larvae after three days. with calving and seeding, then contaminated surface water bottles should be stored in the than normal if there has been Millions of teeming maggots weaning and harvesting, the entering the well. fridge until they are dropped flooding or drought, or if a are immersed in abattoir best times to test are during To collect the water, use off. They should not be frozen, well hasn’t been used for blood and feed on it to fatten the spring and the fall. an untreated source before and ice cubes should not be some time. If the colour, smell up. They are later washed and It’s important to continually it gets to a water softener or used. or taste of well water changes harvested when fully grown at test, even if the results have any other treatment. If col- The tests are conducted suddenly, the water should be around 12 mm, before being always come back without lecting from a faucet, let the at the Drumheller Environ- tested again to ensure remains dried, milled and pelleted for any issue in the past. As more water run for five minutes first mental Public Health office, safe to drink. animal feed. It’s time. Prices in effect from March 26 to April 30, 2012 18311_07 UFA LubeFilter_Banner_10.25x3.indd 1 3/14/12 2:29 PM ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • MARCH 26, 2012 3 Battle of the beta-agonists PREFERENCE While it won’t say so directly, Cargill prefers one brand of beta-agonist over the other BY SHERI MONK AF STAFF | LETHBRIDGE “Maximizing ne of North America’s larg- performance and est beef buyers is telling efficiencies pre-harvest O feeders that it wants a little more fat and a little less lean, and at the expense of beef is delivering a not-so-subtle hint on their choice of growth promot- taste and tenderness ants to achieve it. concerns us.” “Maximizing performance and efficiencies pre-harvest at the expense of beef taste and tender- STEVE MOLITOR ness concerns us — it’s not in CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS the best interest in the long run,” Cargill’s senior beef buyer Steve Molitor told a recent feedlot con- ference here. The reference was to the use mum efficiencies, especially when of beta-agonists, feed additives there is no assurance of premiums used to boost growth by diverting for more marbling. growth that would otherwise go Molitor suggested the decrease into fat into lean meat. That’s an in Choice supplies had been due to advantage for feedlot operators growth promotants, but also said selling animals by the pound, but Tight fed-cattle supplies mean tight supplies of well-marbled beef for the premium restaurant trade.