Farmers in the soggier parts of the Prairies may not be thinking about grain theft yet, but they probably should. On more than one occasion high grain prices and hard times have produced grain poachers who prey on unsuspecting storage bins in the dark of night (or even the light of day).

Canola has been a hot commodity for thieves, with prices currently at a record high. Thefts have been reported in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the last two years. One farmer in Saskatchewan was robbed of a whopping $200,000 worth of canola in 2009.

EASY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

Stealing grain isn’t a spur-of- the-moment crime; it takes forethought and planning, and thieves need to bring in equipment to help with the stealthy getaway. Deterring theft requires forethought and planning too.

Don’t make it easy for thieves to target you. A bit of planning and preparation on the storage site can do a lot to ensure that stealing your stock just isn’t worth the effort. Treat your storage site like you would your shop, fuel tanks or yard. Make sure the site is well lit so it’s harder for thieves to skulk about unnoticed, and check your stored grain regularly for signs of tampering.

Remove unloading systems from the storage site, or disable them, if possible when you know you won’t be using them, and make the site as inaccessible to the intruder’s equipment as you can. Bins and gates (if you have one) should always be locked, and padlocks should be checked. Successful thieves often cut padlocks with bolt cutters and replace them with locks of their own, hoping that farmers won’t notice when they’ve had unwanted visitors.

INSURING AGAINST LOSS

Farmers can’t count on crop insurance to cover the loss of stolen grain. “We cover the in-field and production-related losses,” says David Koroscil, manager of insurance projects and sales at the Manitoba Agriculture Services Corporation (MASC) in Portage la Prairie.

“Because of farm life being the way that it is, with more farmers choosing to live in towns, there are a lot more unoccupied farms now,” says Rob Suderman, manager of farm insurance for the Mutual Insurance Group (MIG). Suderman says that grain theft is one of the less frequent claims made against a farm insurance policy, but that it does happen. “Most farm insurance policies have the option to add coverage against theft. It’s a relatively inexpensive add-on and a lot of farmers like it because it also covers your grain while it’s in transit.”

“Even if you can get compensated, what does that do to your deductible? Will you ever be fully compensated?” asks Ron Kroeker, owner of CROPGUARD Security Inc., Manitoba’s only crop confetti producer. “Does any farmer actually want to have to go through the hassle of having grain stolen, making a claim, and waiting for compensation?”

Both Suderman and Kroeker make fair points. It’s in farmers’ best interests to buy the insurance, just in case, especially if the cost is reasonable and within budget. But insurance is meant to compensate you for losses after they happen; it doesn’t deter thieves, and it doesn’t slow them down.

Just as you would take extra steps to protect your assets – like buying a steering wheel lock for your car, or an alarm system for your home – it makes sense to try and protect your livelihood as well.

TRACKING YOUR GRAIN

Particularly tricky thieves who manage to bypass a labyrinth of locks, spotlights and laser beams to get away with your hard-earned profit can be hard to catch (and not just because they’re ninjas). Unless they are caught in the act or spotted by a neighbour, there is often no sign that anything is amiss until the farmer finds their grain is gone.

Stolen, unmarked grain is easy to spot sell at an elevator, and so the best way to ensure that thieves can’t sell your grain is to make sure that it can be identified. Lacing your stores with grain confetti lets you mark your grain so that it can be tracked and identified – no branding irons required!

Crop confetti is made up of tiny squares of newsprint with identification numbers on it; the equivalent of applying a serial number to your grain. The confetti is mixed into the grain when it’s stored, allows it to be marked and tracked, and doesn’t affect the grain. It’s a relatively inexpensive form of protection, costing about $100 to mark 50,000 bushels, and means that if the grain shows up at an elevator, they can identify the proper owner.

Thieves don’t generally steal marked grain though. “We have never heard of a situation where confetti-marked grain has been stolen,” says Kroeker.

Like Suderman, Kroeker notes that grain theft concerns seem to be highest amongst farmers who don’t live near their grain stores. “The majority of our customers are farmers who keep their grain stored away from where they live,” he says. “Sometimes farmers think that if they live close by, they’re less likely to get robbed. For those who don’t live on site, a lot of farmers feel like it’s a very economical form of insurance.”

The post Take Steps To Protect Your Grain From Thieves appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

DECIDE TODAY’S NEED FOR SPACE, THEN DOUBLE IT

Storage sites often increase over time, and so every storage plan should address both the current and the future requirements of your farm.

“When it comes to the storage site, bigger is always better,” says Devon Spencer, sales manager at Grain Bin Direct ( www.grainbindirect.com). Spencer’s Saskatoon office sells and sets up grain hopper bins to customers across the Prairies, and over the years he’s seen his share of good (and bad) storage setups. “A bigger site means there’s just more room to manoeuvre semi trailers and other equipment. You can’t really have too much space.”

ADD ON, OR START OVER?

Many farms will already have on-site storage of some kind, and a good setup will ideally incorporate those existing structures. For farmers with large storage sites who have room to spare, adding additional bins or structures is just a matter of installing them. But for those who are already running short on space, adding another bin can be problematic.

“It really depends on what you’ve already got in place. If you have a lot of space to add new bins and still be able to get trucks in there then you’re probably OK,” says Spencer. “If you don’t have the space, it’s almost better to start a new site. I’ve seen some producers who decide to start a second site a couple of miles down the road, because it’s easier for the trucks to access, or because the soil is better for a base.”

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Other considerations for your storage site should include proximity to access roads and power sources for aeration systems and other bin accessories (like sensors).

Large-diameter bins work better than tall, narrow bins when air drying grain. If your site doesn’t have access to a power source, choosing large-diameter bins for the site is probably a good idea.

“The biggest thing is to always plan for the future, for both the space and the size of your bins,” Spencer says. “I’ve seen a lot of guys who buy a new 5,000-bushel bin and then regret it a couple of years later when they need one to hold 10,000 bushels because they’ve acquired a few more acres.”

GRAIN BAGS

“Grain bags have become a new storage option in recent years,” says Shawn Cabak, farm production adviser at MAFRI’s Portage la Prairie GO Office. “Probably 95 per cent of producers still use bins for storage, but we are starting to see more and more grain bags in use now.”

The polyethylene bags can hold 15,000 bushels (or 400 tonnes) of grain and are portable, which means that farmers without space in their yards can fill the bags in the field and leave them there.

“They’re very useful if you have land several miles away from your yard, because you don’t have to transport the grain to a bin,” says Cabak.

The bags aren’t reusable, but at a storage cost of just seven to 10 cents per bushel, they are a low-cost solution for short-term grain storage. Producers looking to start using grain bags will have to deal with some upfront costs though.

“The bags are inexpensive, but you need a loader to fill them, and an unloader when you’re ready to empty them out,” Cabak says. “Each machine will cost between $30,000 and $35,000.”

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“Grainbagshavebecomeanewstorageoptioninrecentyears. Probably95percentofproducersstillusebinsforstorage, butwearestartingtoseemoreandmoregrainbagsinusenow.”

– SHAWN CABAK, FARM PRODUCTION ADVISER AT MAFRI’S PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE GO OFFICE

The post What You Need To Know About Your Bin Storage Setup appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

“Last year our International Business Centre welcomed over 600 delegates from 50 countries,” says Shirley Xie, public relations and promotions co-ordinator for the show. “Based on the number of confirmed delegates that we have already, we are expecting even more international visitors for this year’s show.”

The show has been popular for a while now. “In the last five years we’ve generally seen between 40,000 and 45,000 attendants at the show, so there’s a pretty nice growth curve,” says show manager Rob O’Connor. Almost 46,000 attended the event in 2010. “Last year was the highest at tendance in over a decade.”

Each year, the 1.8-million- square-foot exhibition, held at Evraz Place in central Regina, attracts leading manufacturers, producers, buyers and interested visitors from around the globe. The show’s ongoing promotion of innovation and excellence in agriculture has led to it being dubbed “Canada’s National Farm Show” by several government leaders, and has made it one of the largest events on Western Canada’s agricultural calendar.

EXPANDED INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE

The show’s International Business Centre (IBC) is a co-operative effort of the Government of Canada, the Province of Saskatchewan and the Province of Manitoba that brings international buyers and exporters together in one marketplace.

To accommodate the anticipated influx of delegates, the IBC has been moved to the upper level of the Co-operators Centre, which will allow for more display space, and will provide delegates with a bird’s eye view of the show’s exhibits.

INNOVATIONS SHOWCASED

Visitors in 2011 can expect to be dazzled by a wide array of new agricultural innovations, showcased by the RBC Innovations Program.

“There’s a renewed focus on innovation at the show this year,” says O’Connor. “We’re really highlighting companies that are putting something new on to the market.”

The revamped RBC Innovations Program promises to incorporate a broader range of products and more actively encourages new creation and developments in agribusiness than previous years.

“In the past we’ve only included new innovations in the show,” explains Xie. “This year we’re also going to be showcasing improvements and enhancements made on existing products.”

JOY RIDES

Gear heads will want to make sure they don’t miss out on the Chevrolet Test Drive Area, to be held in the Agribition Building. Car enthusiasts will get the chance to see, touch and, yes, drive the all-new Chevy lineup at the show.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Hotels in the area are booking up fast, with the show-r ecommended Ramada Hotel completely booked, and the basic-level rooms at the nearby Delta Regina reserved as well. The Farm Progress Show organizers suggest out-of-town visitors contact the Regina Hotel Association (www.stayinre gina.com) for hotel reservations, and to arrange shuttle service from their hotel to the show. International visitors should contact the IBC directly for assistance with hotel bookings.

The Western Canada Farm Progress Show runs June 15 to 17, and doors are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information visit www.myfarmshow.com.

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“LastyearourInternationalBusinessCentrewelcomedover600delegates from50countries.Basedonthenumberofconfirmeddelegatesthat wehavealready,weareexpectingevenmoreinternationalvisitors forthisyear’sshow.”– SHIRLEY XIE, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROMOTIONS CO-ORDINATOR

The post Farm Progress Show Attracts International Attention appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

On the Prairies, horticulturalists work in greenhouses and nurseries, help to improve fruit and vegetable production, and tackle landscaping and beautification projects, just to name a few.

Currently, 76 per cent of Canadian horticultural operations are in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, which means that it’s a field with substantial opportunities for growth in the Prairie provinces. It’s also a field with a lot of learning opportunities.

If you’re thinking about business prospects in the industry, want to learn the science of growing plants, or are just looking for somewhere to channel your love of gardening, there is probably a program to help you get started.

HORTICULTURE CERTIFICATION

To meet the needs of the horticulture industry, four postsecondary schools have jointly developed a Prairie-focused program for growers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Prairie Horticulture Certificate (PHC) is a homestudy program offered co-operatively through Assiniboine Community College, the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan and Olds College. It’s designed to give students a solid foundation in the science and business of horticulture in the region.

“The Prairie Horticulture Certificate program is a series of courses with a Prairie perspective,” says Marilyn Klatt, the continuing education program manager at Olds College. “It’s done through distance learning so it can really fit into the lifestyle of our students, and they don’t have to relocate to do it.”

Participants complete the program at home, and choose from four streams of study: fruit and vegetable production, greenhouse crop production, landscaping and arboriculture, and nursery crop production.

The PHC program takes three to four years of part-time study to complete. Program costs include registration fees ($50), course fees ($450-$640 per course, with nine courses required), plus textbooks.

PHC students come from all walks of life, including gardening hobbyists and those who just love to learn. Klatt says that the program is most popular with people who are working in related fields, and who are looking to expand their skill set and develop new career opportunities in the horticulture industry.

“Some of our students even take the program because they want to set up a greenhouse or another horticulture business on their land to help supplement their farm income,” Klatt says.

For the many hobby gardeners who aren’t looking to start a new career, or just aren’t able to spend several years studying the science of growing, there are other options available. For those who love to garden, and who want to share their hobby with others, a master gardener certification may be the solution.

BECOMING A MASTER GARDENER

“We get a variety of applicants in every class,” says Mary Peterson, the program co-ordinator for Assiniboine Community College’s master gardener program. “Some are people who have been gardening for a number of years, and some of our students are new to gardening and just want to learn more and become involved.”

Master gardeners volunteer their time to assist with gardening and horticulture in their communities. The first master gardener program was started at Washington State University in 1972, and has since expanded across the United States and into Canada.

The 2010-11 academic year is the first time that the program has been offered in Manitoba. Master gardener programs are also offered in Edmonton, by the University of Alberta, and in Saskatoon and Regina, by the University of Saskatchewan.

Students purchase a homestudy book, participate in seven required workshops, complete 40 hours of community volunteer service and write a final examination to receive their certification. Once certified, master gardeners are required to complete 20 volunteer hours per year and participate in an update workshop every three years.

“There are a lot of options for completing the volunteer work,” Peterson says. “People can earn their volunteer hours by helping neighbours to identify bug infestations and advise on remedies for that. They can help to teach kids at local schools about plants, and even help local seniors with their gardens.”

Some workshops from the University of Saskatchewan are currently offered via distance education, though at this time no institution offers the program exclusively by home study. In Manitoba distance education options are under consideration, but aren’t likely to be an option for students in the next few years.

“We’re hoping to have satellite sites throughout the province at some point,” Peterson says. “The program is still new though, and our first goal is developing a strong program in our first two sites – Winnipeg and Brandon.”

Program fees for the master gardener certification are $975 at the University of Alberta, $920 at Assiniboine Community Col lege, and $600 at the University of Saskatchewan, not including textbooks.

Most students can finish the workshop portion of the program in less than a year, and University of Saskatchewan students have the opportunity to complete all of the in-class workshops during the school’s annual Hort Week event. The popular event had more than 900 registrants in 2010. Hort Week 2011 takes place from July 9 to 11 in Saskatoon.

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“Someofourstudentseventaketheprogrambecausetheywanttosetupagreenhouseoranotherhorticulturebusinessontheirlandtohelpsupplementtheirfarmincome.”

– MARI LYN KLATT, OLDS COLLEGE

The post Pencils And Green Thumbs: Learning Horticulture On The Prairies appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

RTMs are increasing in popularity, and once they’re installed, can be impossible to distinguish from traditional, site-built homes.

“They’re houses,” stresses Suzanne Marquette of New Generation Homes. “If people haven’t done their research they don’t always realize that. But they have to be built to the same code that any other house is. And they have to be transported, so sometimes they’re actually built better.” Marquette and her husband Randy started New Generation Homes in Headingley, Manitoba in 2002, and have built RTM homes for people across the Prairies.

Just like homes that are built directly on a lot, RTM homes are completely customizable. Instead of being built on the customer’s property, the homes are built in workshops or warehouses. RTM companies have builders and contractors work in their on-site shops, so they can better control the costs. They also don’t need to worry about the weather – which is a viable concern when building anything in the Prairies.

“People sometimes think that they can find contractors in their area that could do the job for less money,” Marquette says. “But they don’t take into account delays from weather or transportation costs to and from the site, both of which can add to the overall cost. Building them here means that we don’t experience those delays, we can keep an eye on things and everything is always up to code.”

SAVES TIME

Building an RTM home is fast too. “One of the big advantages of an RTM home is the time-saving factor,” says Wayne Bergen of Pioneer Homes in Altona, Manitoba. “Because we build the homes here we can start right away and local contractors can be building the foundation on the lot at the same time. The home can be completed in three or four months.” Pioneer Homes has built customized homes for customers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and even North Dakota.

Because of the size of the homes, and the space needed to transport them, RTM homes can be too difficult to install in dense urban areas, where the streets are narrower and the lots are smaller.

“It’s an ideal option for rural Manitoba,” Marquette says. “And we’ve had homes fit easily into some of the suburbs around Winnipeg.”

COST CONSIDERATIONS

There are several variables that will affect the overall cost per square foot though, including the materials used and the interior furnishings. Homebuyers can customize their flooring, cabinetry and woodwork, utilities and even carpets – all of which will affect the final cost of the home. Some RTM companies will quote a price range per square foot.

Alber ta-based Cameron Manors, that can ship houses anywhere in the Prairies, says that RTMs cost about $105 to $135 per square foot, but generally RTM companies can’t give an accurate cost without first talking to the homebuyer.

“It’s very hard to give a price per square foot,” Bergen says. “Cost is determined by the size and the features. Generally we meet with customers and discuss what they would like, and then we can provide a quote estimate.”

Once a final quote is settled, homebuyers can generally be confident that that price won’t change. “We can guarantee a price quote for everything that is done on site,” Marquette says. “We sit down with our customers, go through all of the options, and come up with the final amount. As long as new features or extra add-ons aren’t requested the cost won’t change.”

The cost of the home is the largest in the overall purchase, but homebuyers may be unaware of the other expenses that come with purchasing an RTM home, namely with the expenses associated with the property lot. These expenses include the cost to build the home’s foundation, building permits for their municipality, having utilities connected to the lot, landscaping and sometimes the cost to transport the home to the lot.

RTM companies will advise customers on which on-site preparations will be needed before the home can be moved, but homebuyers should still be prepared to do some research into local contractors and zoning codes/permit requirements in their region.

FOUNDATIONS AND MOVING

The largest expense, outside the cost of the actual home, is the foundation. The cost of the foundation is determined by several factors, including the type of foundation, the size and depth, the location of the lot, building requirements for your area, soil characteristics, and the contractor that you use. If you plan on laying your own foundation you will need to pay for equipment rental and supplies.

Moving an RTM home requires special permits to use national highways, provincial highways, and municipal roads. Homes being transported may also require a permit to cross railways, as well as a permit and escort from utility companies.

Some RTM companies will arrange the transportation of completed homes to the lots, including securing the necessary permits. In Manitoba, the Department of Infrastructure and Transportation recommends that homebuyers who are responsible for arranging their new home’s transportation go through a certified moving company. Buyers who wish to move their homes personally are encouraged to contact the Department of Infrastructure and Transportation to determine which of the above permits they will require, and if they will need special licence plates for the moving vehicle.

Moving your RTM home can also be affected by seasonal road restrictions. During this time the ground is too wet to support the weight of the homes, and RTM homes cannot be moved on roads that don’t have paved shoulders. Spring road restrictions are lifted on May 31.

The post Creating Beautiful Houses That Are Ready To Move appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.