Farmers have a love-hate relationship with ATVs. They are useful around the farm to check fields or fences, move augers, or run for tools. In someone else’s hands, they can tear up fields, destroy crops, and give people an all-access pass to our private property.

The machines themselves are not the problem. The problem is the lack of respect for landowners and our rights. When snowmobiles started gaining popularity we faced many of the same challenges. By working with snowmobiler organizations, we are educating the users about respecting landowners while encouraging safe riding. We can do the same with ATVs.

It’s time to focus on these machines because they are being marketed aggressively as “toys” to a sector of the population that is not always aware of the damage they can do. We all need to be more aware of safety around ATVs as they are large and powerful machines that can unfortunately sometimes cause severe injuries or fatalities. Please ride safe this fall.

Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural

Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post ATVs On The Land appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

It is hard for us to understand why “pristine” forest is viewed as more important than productive farmland, especially against predictions of the critical challenges we’ll face concerning feeding the world in 2050.

The Manitoba Government is due to announce its preferred route for Bipole III, and farmers are very clear – none of the western routes are preferred by them.

It is hard for us to understand why “pristine” forest is viewed as more important than productive farmland, especially against predictions of the critical challenges we’ll face concerning feeding the world in 2050.

The province tells us Hydro sales are important for Manitoba’s future, and that customers will not buy Hydro from Manitoba if we disturb pristine areas on the east side of Lake Winnipeg. Frankly, I think the whole world will have to rethink what is “suitable” energy after the disaster in the Gulf.

Perhaps Premier Greg Selinger and his cabinet could consider an option used in B. C. to obtain access for a gas line through the “Spirit Bear” Preserve. Access was granted in return for an annual payment to the First Nation tribe for maintaining environmental services – like ALUS – and they also have the right of ecotourism in that area.

Given the interest in access on the east side of Lake Winnipeg and the need to create employment, it is worth approaching Hydro customers again to see if alternatives such as these can lead to a win for all Manitobans. Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural

Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Province Should Reconsider Bipole Route appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

As farmers, we are really just managing the landscape to use the sun, water and nutrient inputs to collect carbon in one form or another. These carbon chains can be used to create energy in many forms such as ethanol, biodiesel, biomass or biogas. Working examples of this abound across the world and also include wind and direct solar collection.

Policies to create incentives to use more biomass or biogas at home or on the farm would be a good start.

Using biomass as a source of heat for our long, cold winters in community or public service situations would create viable business opportunities. Producing biogas from livestock wastes would be a big positive from the public perspective. Even some farm inputs such as nitrogen-based fertilizers could be replaced by local energy sources.

To begin to move in this direction, we must rethink buying our energy inputs from traditional sources.

We must also get access to outside energy-hungry markets either by selling electricity into the export grid, biomass for heat, or biofuels. Even hydrogen could become a key product for sale.

It’s going to take time to develop some of these market opportunities, but some are available right now. We must start looking at our role, work on getting new policy in place and make things happen.

– Ian Wishart farms at Portage la Prairie and is president of

Keystone Agricultural Producers.

The post Markets Within Reach For Farms’ Pent-Up Energy appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Last summer the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food began an examination of competition in agricultural inputs, with particular focus on the fertilizer industry. This needs to cont inue and reach some hard-edged recommendations.

Farmers are particularly incensed to hear that Canadian fertilizer products such as potash are delivered to countries like India and China for substantially lower prices than we are offered here. We are told these are important markets and big customers. The only answer is that we are insignificant customers.

Our regulatory network in Canada also makes sure that we are slow to get access to new pesticide products. And we’re the last to get access to much cheaper generics when the patents come off.

If farmers are to remain competitive in international markets we need better access to products far sooner and at more competitive pricing than we have been getting. This all needs to happen in a timely manner. Government can help make that happen. Health and safety concerns regarding these pesticides are nothing but smoke and mirrors as consumer products made with these cheaper inputs flow daily into Canada as imports, and sit beside Canadian products on the store shelves. Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural

Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Canadian Farmers Lose On Inputs appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

The model used in the processing potato industry through the United Potato Growers of North America is one that bears some consideration. It is about making sure producers have adequate information about production and consumption and working with processors to make sure they too have adequate supplies. The model focuses on “managing the supply” to make sure that we do not get wild swings in production that can devastate the market for us all.

There has also been a lot of interest in price insurance for cattle and hogs. This too is a good concept that can protect against price variations either from normal markets or from trade “tinkering” which we see becoming increasingly common. The reality is that price insurance cannot guarantee profit. If we are lucky it is more likely to protect our variable costs, anything over that generally comes with a steep premium cost.

In addition to this we need to find premium markets for Canadian export products. We are no longer low-cost producers for many commodities, partly because our inputs are more expensive than almost anywhere else in the world. There is also a hidden cost in social and environmental standards that our Canadian farmers have to bear, and that is not true in all competing countries. On the positive side, the new Market Secretariat has been showing very positive results in many marketplaces.

The bottom line is that we need to find new ways to get better returns from consumers, not from government. But government has a role to play in achieving that.

Let us look at market tools like “managing the supply,” and act on correcting market risk through price insurance. We also must act on rewarding producers for good environmental management through environmental goods and services and aggressively pursue new valuable export opportunities.

The world wants Canadian agricultural exports, but we need to make sure that our farmers can make a fair living in the process. Achieve this and rural communities will thrive again.

Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Producers, Markets And Better Returns appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

There was one very positive event in June. That was when the Boundary Trail Railway Company (BTRC) began operating, with the shipment of 73 producer cars of wheat for area producers. BTRC is the first producer-owned short line railway in Manitoba and its successful launch has prompted farmers around the Interlake and near Rathwell and Nesbitt to assess the possibility of purchasing their own community owned and operated railway lines.

As farmers are well aware, our system for shipping grain has changed dramatically within one generation. The same quest for efficiency that has driven producers to farm more acres with larger equipment drives grain companies and the railways to focus their service at large-throughput elevators and the main rail lines. This has forced farmers to truck grain farther, which takes a toll on the rural roads as well as our bottom lines. If the high fuel prices we saw last year are any indication, we can expect to see this cost continue to rise in the near future. Another consideration related to losing rail service is the increased environmental impact of burning fuel to truck our grain to buyers further away.

For those farming on the Prairies, our success is tied to our ability to efficiently market and transport our grain to overseas customers. It is time that we as a farm community step up and take responsibility for preserving the infrastructure that will allow us to ship our grain as fuel prices eventually increase. At a recent meeting to discuss the viability of farmers purchasing the CP line from Rathwell to Nesbitt, BTRC president Kevin Friesen, made it clear that positive community support is the most critical requirement if a producer-owned short line is to succeed.

The railways and grain companies also have a responsibility. These companies have been a big part of our communities for a long time and their growth and long-term viability is connected to the general economic stability of our farms. We understand that due to the structure of their operations they may not be able to profitably operate using branch line infrastructure. Simply put, let us do it then.

All levels of government also have a significant economic interest in preserving rail line infrastructure because they must pick up the tab to cover road construction and maintenance costs due to increased grain truck traffic. Also, a large chunk of taxpayers’ dollars were invested in these resources, and protecting them for the public’s good is a moral responsibility of government.

Looking to the future, as farmers reinvest in their local infrastructure they need a strong commitment from the railways to provide a level of service that is workable. Also we would like to see federal and provincial governments support farmers in these initiatives through policy as well as access, which we saw with BTRC. Farmers looking to create short line operations should be looking for that support as well.

Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural

Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Saving Manitoba’s Rural Infrastructure appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) recently updated a policy paper regarding agricultural energy, which outlines our vision for the development of renewable energy industries in Manitoba. KAP highlights biodiesel, biomass, ethanol, and wind and solar energy as sectors farmers and rural communities should be encouraged to participate in. In order to ensure we benefit from our investments into agricultural energy, there must be farmer ownership and policies in place to facilitate that ownership. This is necessary if we want to see benefits go back to our local communities. The provincial government can support our new energy initiatives by creating effective policies, programs and incentives. When farmers invest in new ventures, we help improve the province’s competitiveness with other regions and marketplaces.

If Manitobans would like to see more development of wind and solar energy in rural communities, farmers and rural residents need access to accurate information from the government to help us make decisions related to land use contracts for energy production. Manitoba Hydro has a role to play – it should work on the development of a standardized purchase price system for renewable energy production. Also, an emphasis on small-scale megawatt projects would offer more opportunities for farmers and communities to be active participants in energy production.

Taking a look at biofuel initiatives, farmers are encouraged by the technological advancements in ethanol and biodiesel production such as cellulosic ethanol that expands the range of crops producers can grow as feedstock. The government can further the expansion of this market by implementing standards to ensure products meet quality standards demanded by a range of customers.

Biomass offers some exciting opportunities for farmers, but the market demand needs to increase in order for farmers to invest in it. If Manitoba Hydro generating plants in Selkirk and Brandon were converted to biomass-burning plants, this could increase the level of demand for biomass. This initiative would offer additional environmental benefits and should be investigated by the province.

As farmers, we know there is potential for the expansion of agricultural energy production in this province. The government and relevant stakeholders must take the initiative to look at these opportunities and prioritize funding for ventures which could boost producers’ profitability and Manitoba’s green economy.

KAP’s Agricultural Energy policy paper is available online at www.kap.mb.ca.Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural Producers.

The post Agricultural Energy Expansion Must-Haves appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Traceability has become one of the most discussed developments in our modern agri-food system. Traceability systems can provide many benefits for producers and other stakeholders including increasing productivity and profitability related to farm operations, processors, and distributors. Though traceability does not guarantee food safety, it does provide a tool to help prevent food safety hazards from reaching more people when a problem occurs. Traceability is important to producers because it can offer market access, with buyers in many countries demanding it.

Some consumers want to know where their food comes from for different reasons, such as fears over food recalls and disease outbreaks. Another possibility is that they may be looking for value added, or want to buy local, organic, or non-GMO. They may be willing to pay for a material or non-material value endowed in food, such as food associated with a particular growing or production region. The question of how the costs and the values are shared with producers is yet to be answered, but it is clear that we need co-operation from all of the members in the value chain. So far, this has been difficult to achieve.

We know “identity preservation” is important. But the fact is, Canada lacks the ability to trace all foods from farm to fork. Around the globe, developed and developing countries are further ahead in establishing traceability programs.

What producers and farm organizations must do is work with the government to develop a system that is rapid, complete, internationally recognized, and nationally integrated. There is little sense in individual provinces developing independent systems if they are not compatible with systems in other provinces. A nationally integrated system is necessary in order for us to open up new markets and maintain existing ones. We also must help direct research and development in the field, and be willing to fully participate in traceability.

Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Traceability Important But Elusive appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Two years ago, we at Keystone Agricultural Producers have been very concerned about differential and aggressive pricing of fertilizer inputs in Western Canada. At that time, we had a study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers that showed 60 per cent price differentials on fertilizer prices across the U. S. and Canada border.

Then prices started to rise as grain prices went up – this even though fertilizer company inputs did not rise, or did so only moderately. As grain prices peaked and dropped to more moderate levels, fertilizer manufacturers now accustomed to large profits tried to drive prices even further based on fear of tight supplies. During this time they kept telling any farmer or farm organization that offshore demand would drive prices even further.

Try as we might, we could not find these huge demand numbers or even higher prices than we were paying anywhere in the world. What we were seeing was an attempt to use fear to set market prices.

Then the economy softened, farmers had already backed off on purchases at inflated prices, and dozens of dealers were caught with overpriced inventory and were at financial risk. Fertilizer manufacturers tried to cut supplies using layoffs and plant closures to restrict production. Prices still didn’t rise as farmers put off purchases as long as possible.

Now this spring we have more moderate fertilizer pricing (nitrogen and phosphates are more moderate, potash is not) realistic to grain pricing but we have a lot of unhappy people: farmers who paid too much in 2008, dealers stuck with high-priced inventory, unions who had laid-off workers, and shareholders of fertilizer companies whose shares have taken a dramatic hit on prices.

We now see farm income numbers for 2008 that are disappointing to say the least. According to Statistics Canada, Manitoba’s realized net farm income last year was $232 million, which is down from $335 million in 2007. This was largely driven by the overpriced inputs from the same year.

When you make everyone irritated, use fear as a market tool, and dip into farmers’ pockets in a big way, is it any wonder input purchasers have been very cautious? It makes you wonder how big the bonuses have to be to get your customers this angry.

Ian Wishart is president of Keystone Agricultural

Producers. He farms near Portage la Prairie.

The post Fertilizer Companies Serve Up A Dose Of Frustration appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.

Changes to the Onsite Wastewater Management Systems Regulation (OWMS) under the Environment Act will have an effect on how we deal with waste water disposal in several ways. The required lot size for disposal field use will increase to two acres, forcing residents to hook up to their municipal waste water infrastructure where available.

The changes will mean expanding the list of “sensitive areas” in the province where only holding tanks can be used, encouraging municipal waste water infrastructure planning. Another change will prohibit the installation of new sewage ejectors and force the replacement of all existing sewage ejectors at the time of property transfer.

REJECTING EJECTING

We were concerned to learn that those living in rural areas across the province will be forced to replace sewage ejectors. We understand the concerns regarding spreading sewage on top of land, but we are not convinced that the province has done its due diligence in researching the effectiveness of sewage ejectors.

In certain soil conditions, the ground has the capacity to properly treat sewage without the spread of nutrients into watersheds or pathogens into groundwater supplies. We have not received any scientific research indicating that sewage ejectors are responsible for any nutrient loading in the province. We understand the need for a controlled environment to deal with pathogen risks.

In addition, the cost to property owners who are faced with decommissioning and replacing sewage ejectors with a disposal field or a holding tank can be as much as $20,000. If a producer can prove that their sewage ejector system is equally effective to a disposal field, we see no reason why they should be forced to pay this significant expense.

MORE RESEARCH

We’re asking the province to conduct research on the effectiveness of sewage ejectors in various soil conditions around Manitoba before they force hundreds of producers to pay tens of thousands of dollars for replacement systems.

If it is discovered that some soil types cannot handle ejectors, the government could allow for variances if a study can prove their system properly treats effluent and doesn’t leach nutrients or pathogens.

Under the OWMS changes, the government attempts to address the problem of inadequate sewage treatment systems in cottage areas and some developments. We see this as a positive move, as for too long farmers have been bearing the brunt of the blame for nutrient loading in the province’s lakes and watersheds. We now ask that the province investigate the science behind the effectiveness of sewage ejector systems before they force us to pay for unnecessary changes.

The post Province Must Research Waste Water System appeared first on Manitoba Co-operator.