MORE MAJOR PONOKA FLOODS IN FUNDRAISER ALBERTA’S MAKING A FUTURE » PAGE 2 DIFFERENCE » PAGE 28 Publications Mail Agreement # 40069240 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 9 APRIL 28, 2014 Ranchers have no beef with new antibiotic restrictions Health Canada pushing to end of routine use of antibiotics important in human medicine because of resistance threat BY ALEXIS KIENLEN AF STAFF ealth Canada’s move to end the use of “medically H important” antibiotics as growth promotants won’t hurt livestock production, say an Alber- ta producer and industry experts. “There won’t be as much restriction as we first thought,” said Camrose rancher and Cana- dian Cattle Association president Dave Solverson. “(But) there will be a little more consultation with veterinarians on the use of antibiotics.” The North American livestock industry has been a heavy user of a class of antibiotics called antimi- crobials, notably ionophores and tetracycline. The former is not used in human medicine and is exempt from the new rules, but tet- racycline is a key drug used to treat pneumonia, other respiratory tract infections, and other conditions. It is feared — although the sci- ence is not definitive — that using human medicinal drugs for raising livestock is hastening the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Solverson has used tetracycline to treat sick cattle, but not as a growth promotant. “We don’t use it mixed in with feed or anything,” he said. “Very few producers do.” SEE ANTIMICROBIAL page 6 New limits on antimicrobials won’t be too restrictive, says Alberta rancher and CCA president Dave Solverson. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAVE SOLVERSON, KATHY BROEN Avadex® is a registered trademark used under license by Gowan Company, L.L.C. Company, Gowan Avadex® by used under license trademark is a registered PMRA Reg. No. is 25112. Always read and follow label directions. 12002 09.12 label directions. and follow read is 25112. Always No. Reg. PMRA Un-sow your Wild For more information call: Cory Bourdeaud’hui 1.204.390.2340 Javan Davis 1.306.590.8600 Jim Vancha 1.306.951.7008 Gowan 1.800.883.1844 Oats www.gowanco.com 2 news » inside this week AprIl 28, 2014 • ALBERTAfARMEXPRESs.CA inside » livestock crops columnists nuffield sCholar Cattle produCers’ Grain produCers’ brenda schoepp returns home questions answered questions answered Women In Agriculture bAnk on ChAnge 4 Alberta agronomist visits farms in nine countries daniel bezte 28 extreme WeAther pAtterns FAO returns hAppenIng more often 15 tO its rOOts International family farm Cool fallout, overconditioned Carry-out and prices, fusarium roy lewis conference in cattle and hormones resistance and feeding the Hands-on synChronIzAtIon Quebec City 22 in beef 10 world 17 progrAms hAve benefIts 13 Models cause for Get ready for a lot more less hail, major floods, says but less Alberta meteorologist U of A professor says the weather event that caused last year’s rain, too devastating floods will occur every five years in future lberta has the dubious distinction of having — low-pressure systems that the most — and biggest By Alexis Kienlen strengthen in height in accor- A af staff / edmonton — hail in the world. “We’re very dance with the thermal wind famous for that,” said Univer- relationship. sity of alberta meteorologist lbertans can expect “the significance of this is Gerhard Reuter. major floods as often as that the flow goes in a circle and you can blame it on the A every five years thanks and stays stationary over a Rocky mountains, which affect to climate change, according point,” said Reuter. airflows to create ‘hail alley’ — a to Gerhard Reuter, a meteo- to get them moving you corridor stretching from Rocky rologist and professor at the need wind, and that’s where mountain House to Red deer. University of alberta. climate change comes in, he In winter, air heats up as the last three big alberta said. In the last few years, the westerly winds sweep up the floods were in 2013, 2005, wind shear — the way wind face of the Rockies, and that and 1996, and followed in the speed varies with height — creates chinooks as air falls and wake of “giant rainstorms,” has been reduced, with winds flows over the southwest por- which Reuter classifies as at higher altitudes becoming tion of the province. However, rain events of more than 200 weaker. in summer, the air also sucks millimetres. In the last 50 that means intense storms up moisture as it warms. But years, these giant rainstorms that linger over one area and it does not mix with colder air, happened every seven years pummel it with heavy rain creating a warm layer called a on average, typically in June will be more common, said ‘cap’ or ‘lid.’ because of “cold-core lows” Reuter. as winds push through this the silver lining in these layer, hail is formed. dark storm clouds is that flood Reuter estimates, on aver- prediction models are now age, hail falls in some part of “I was tearing out my able to track weather patterns the province for 45 days every about a week before a major summer. hair in frustration. weather event occurs. But that number may drop Unfortunately, Reuter said, because climate change seems They were about to these warning signs weren’t to be resulting in weaker winds, have a major flooding, heeded last year. he said. “I expressed my frustra- However, dry spells could be and the radio stations tion about the case last year Gerhard Reuter more frequent in some areas. were discussing the in High River and Calgary “ t h i n g s m i g h t b e c o m e because I knew it would able to the public, including “I sent emails to my friends patchy,” said Reuter. “one highs and whether it rain,” he said. maps or charts that explain in Calgary telling them to pack patch could get too much rain, would be plus 24 or “I was tearing out my hair the amount of precipitation their stuff and move stuff out of and another spot could get too in frustration. they were in a given week, he said. their basements,” said Reuter. little.” plus 23.” about to have major flooding, “then let the people or the “some people got two hours’ But climate models suggest and the radio stations were farmers decide what they can notice and they had to leave. there’s likely to be more of the GerhArd discussing the highs and make out of it,” he said. It was a disaster that was com- latter. reuter whether it would be plus 24 that would have made a pletely human made because meteorologist and “People don’t predict more professor at the or plus 23.” major difference for many of they were not prepared.” precipitation, but if the sur- University of alberta the time has come to make last year’s flood victims, he face gets warmer, there may be this sort of weather data avail- added. [email protected] more evaporation, so the soil may become drier,” he said. Classroom Agriculture Program needs volunteers “this year in Calgary we had industry in any way please get agriculture — deliver hour-long tent is encouraged,” says dar- ClAssroom AgriCulture a record number of schools reg- involved, your help is necessary.” classroom presentations to more old niwa, a UFA manager and ProgrAm releAse ister for the CaP program,” says CaP is one of the only in-school than 20,000 alberta students CaP volunteer. “the presenta- Karen spelay, the program’s gen- programs that help children learn annually. Presentations include tions went terrific and we both he Classroom agriculture eral manager. “over 260 classes about the food they eat, where it storytelling, hands-on props, and (the students and myself) got Program (CaP) is looking are registered to receive the pro- comes from, and the importance fun activities. CaP provides train- a lot out of the sessions.” T for volunteers from april to gram in Calgary alone. Without of agriculture in this province. ing, ideas, resources, and guid- for more information or to June to deliver in-class presenta- volunteers we cannot deliver Volunteers — farmers, ranch- ance to all volunteers. register as a volunteer, go to tions to Calgary and area Grade the program to students. If you ers, industry officials, and indi- “the prep work was not exces- www.classroomagriculture. 4 students. are employed in the agriculture viduals who have a passion for sive and lots of latitude in con- com. ALBERTAFARMEXPRESS.CA • APRIL 28, 2014 3 COOL not going away any time soon Supporters will move quickly to replace if it is struck down PhoToS: ShAnnon VAnRaes have joined forces to create a Exactly what retaliation will By Shannon VanRaeS COOL defence fund. Many rural entail is up for debate, with staff / Washington, D.C. and faith-based organizations some speculating that prod- also actively support country- ucts such as imported maple ven if Canada wins its battle of-origin labelling. syrup will be front and cen- against country-of-origin tre. others claim that some E labelling at the World trade Compromise businesses have already been organization (WTO) this summer, Peterson said there are also informed that products they Canadian livestock producers those who would like to see export will be impacted, but could still lose the war. a legislative resolution to the no official confirmation has Congressman Collin Peter- issues surrounding COOL, been received. son, the ranking member of the rather than one dictated by “We’re all being used as U.s. house committee on agri- the courts or through the WTO pawns in this, and it’s just a culture, told reporters here last — although he is unsure what game for a lot of these folks week there are groups in the shape that might take.