November, 2010 - Quebec Farmers` Association

Transcription

Vol. 30, No. 10
November 2010
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144134
What’s Inside…
QFA grants
bursaries to five ag
students…
p. 3
PHOTO: ARCHIVES/TCN
Mac Fraser,
community hero…
p. 12
Being a female
farmer…
p. 13
Devotion to Dairy…
p. 16
www.quebecfarmers.org
New organic
farmers’ resource…
p. 21
Publication
Mail
No.:
Publication
Mail No.:
40033773
Minister of Agriculture Laurent Lessard addresses angry protesters sporting “No food without agriculture” placards in Mont-Joli on October 25. Producers are demanding that the
Quebec government reverse its decision to exclude the 25 per cent least efficient farms from ASRA’s cost of production formula.
Andrew McClelland
Advocate Staff Reporter
Quebec’s agriculture ministry
has made announcements that
were intended to reassure the 25
per cent of “smaller” provincial
farms that are being left out of
the cost of production calculations on the province’s income
stabilization insurance program.
But not all Quebec farmers see
the new funding as a good thing.
Minister
of
Agriculture
Laurent Lessard unveiled the
“Stratégie de soutien à l’adaptation
des entreprises agricoles” (Support
Strategy for the Adaptation of
Agricultural Businesses) at the
school farm of the Centre de formation professionelle in Mont-Joli
on October 25. The newly reappointed minister said that 2,500
Quebec farms should receive
assistance from a new five-year,
$100 million fund for producers
to adapt to changes in the
Quebec’s assurance stabilisation
des revenus agricoles (ASRA) program.
In his announcement, Lessard
indicated that the chief beneficiaries of the new support plan
will be small livestock producers, who will “have to restructure their operations in order to
remain sustainable and competitive.”
“Today, we’re sending a clear
message,” said Lessard. “We
believe in agriculture. But it’s
inevitable that agriculture begin
to renew itself and start drawing
more of its revenue from the
market.”
Money for loans
and counselling
The details of the “Support
Strategy for the Adaptation of
Agricultural Businesses” show
the Quebec government’s aim of
getting farm producers to structure their businesses like other
sectors of the economy. Of the
$100 million in support money,
$65 million of it is set aside for
“business counselling services,”
“modernization support,” and
“competitiveness support.”
“We’ve raised ASRA’s budget
from $350 million to $630 million to come to the aid of 16,000
agricultural businesses and their
clients,” Lessard maintains.
“Our government is taking the
initiative to help Quebec farm
businesses in the new business
world.”
MAPAQ’s new support program has four basic parts. The
first provides support for business counselling services, “to
help farmers improve their
operations, business plans and
finances, covering 90 per cent of
eligible costs and available until
the end of March 2014,” according to the ministry of agriculture.
The second component is a
$35 million fund to help producers pay the interest on loans
while they are restructuring.
The interest-relief measures will
run until March 2015.
The Support Strategy’s “modernization support” section will
help Quebec farms pay for
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financial analyses, set up action
plans and “get provincial support worth up to 40 per cent of
their eligible project costs up to a
maximum $20,000 per farm.”
The fourth sub-category, a
competitiveness support program will also allow farms to
pay for expert financial advice
and set up action plans for their
businesses.
Will it help?
Displeased agricultural producers from the Bas-SaintLaurent came out to protest the
agriculture minister’s announcement. Many voiced their anger
at the ASRA reform which
removes the 25 per cent “least
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
About the time we think we
can make ends meet, somebody
moves the ends.
— Herbert Hoover
Page 2 - Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / November 2010
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
T he B e s t of
efficient” farms from the cost of
production formula. MAPAQ
has stated that the new formula
is expected to translate to a three
per cent cut overall in farmers’
ASRA-insured income. The ministry also hinted that ASRA payments will be geared towards
“improving farm efficiency.”
The Union des producteurs agricoles was critical of the new
Support Strategy.
“The measures announced are
certainly necessary,” said UPA
President Christian Lacasse.
“But you can hardly reassure
producers who risk losing their
businesses with promises of consulting or the reimbursement of
interest on loans.”
The UPA also stated that the
agriculture ministry’s unveiling
of the $100 million in funding
were already part of a previous
announcement
made
in
November of 2009, when the
cuts made to ASRA were first
announced. A further round of
cuts announced in March has
made the situation worse, says
the union.
“The cuts made last March
weren’t needed to keep the agricultural budget in-line,” said
Lacasse. “The government has
all the necessary room to
manoeuvre to withdraw the
additional cuts.”
Minister Lessard also stated
that the goals of the new strategy
are to help producers improve in
their technical and business
management skills, with the
hope of improving their efficiency and diversifying production.
But for the 2,500 Quebec farms
who are staring at a financial crisis, explains the UPA president,
the situation is too dire to
address such issues.
“We can scarcely imagine the
number [of failing farms] if the
government goes ahead with
more planned cuts,” Lacasse
says. “Thousands of businesses
will go under.”
Mission
To defend the rights, provide information and advocate for
the English-Speaking agricultural community in Quebec.
The Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA)
represents and promotes the interests of the
English-speaking agricultural community through assuring
the provision of information, programs, and services. In doing so, the QFA provides
a forum to develop a sense of belonging, confidence,
and pride among its constituency.
Specific objectives in support of this mission include:
• Creating a supportive environment for agricultural and rural development •
Seeking respect and recognition for the English-speaking agricultural
community’s contribution to rural development • Facilitating communication
between the QFA’s constituency and the full range of stakeholders from suppliers
and government through to the consumer.
Quebec Farmers’ Association
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555 boul. Roland Therrien, office 255, Longueuil, Quebec J4H 4E7
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Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / November 2010 - Page 3
Students receive Warren Grapes
educational bursaries from the QFA
PHOTO: CAROLINE DÉSILETS
The
Quebec
Farmers’
Association’s very own agricultural education awards program, the Warren Grapes Fund,
has announced the names of this
year’s recipients. The awards
were presented at the QFA’s
annual meeting at Macdonald
Campus in Sainte-Anne-deBellevue on November 12.
Twenty-five
applications
were received for this year’s
award, making it difficult for
the trustees to decide on who
ought to receive the funds. In
the end, five applicants were
chosen:
1. Judith Sevigny
2. Mark-Antoine Poirier
3. Melissa Duncan
4. Mohammad Gofran
5. Krystle Hauver
The
Warren
Grapes
Agricultural Education Fund
helps to promote agricultural
and silvicultural education and
learning among the Englishspeaking farm community of
Quebec. Bursaries are distributed to post-secondary students of agriculture each fall as
a direct grant of monies, and
can be used for any and all reasonable expenses assisting their
education. Applicants must be
Quebec residents enrolled in
agriculture or silviculture programs at the college or university level, or residents of other
Canadian provinces or territories who are enrolled at Quebec
colleges or universities.
The awards are made possible by generous charitable contributions from QFA members
and others in the farming community. The fund was created
in September 1998 in honour of
the late Warren Grapes who
served many years as QFA.
Congratulations and good
luck to the 2010 Warren Grapes
bursary winners!
QFA Board Member Bill Fairbairn presents Colin Murphy with his Warren Grapes bursary at the QFA’s 2009 annual general meeting.
in partnership with
Sharpen your pencils
and your management skills
Looking Back…
This year marks the 30th
anniversary of the Quebec
Farmers’ Advocate. This article,
which ran on the front page of the
second issue of the paper (then
called “The Quebec Farmers’
Association Newsletter”) features
then-QFA
director,
Warren
Grapes, inspiration behind the
scholarship fund that now bears
his name.
Interested in improving your farm management skills?
Sign up for an FCC Workshop. With many different workshops to choose from, you’ll find one
to help you build the skills you need to take your operation to the next level.
FCC Workshops
Vision and Goal Setting
Bécancour – Dec. 1
Granby – Dec. 8
Transferring the Farm
Victoriaville – Dec. 15
Farm Financial Management –
Profitability and Budgeting
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu – Dec. 8
Estate Planning
Joliette – Nov. 24
Saint-Hyacinthe – Dec. 9
Hiring and Keeping Employees
Rivière-du-Loup – Nov. 24
*Presented in French
Sign up for a free workshop today at www.fcc.ca/workshops or call 1-800-387-3232 or
1-888-332-3301 for extended hours.
Seating is limited and fills up quickly. Take advantage of this great opportunity
in your area now.
QFA EDITORIAL
The future of Argenteuil’s UPA
John McCart
QFA Vice-president
In the mid-1990s, at a meeting
of the Argenteuil UPA, members
were asked to vote on an increase
of the annual dues. One of our
most
outspoken
members
(Roland Maxwell) raised a challenging question: why did we
need a larger UPA bureaucracy to
deal with a larger bureaucracy at
large?
The answer was simple. The
producers of Quebec were fewer
and needed to fight harder to
keep the benefits we already had.
There was too much pressure
from outside the country to have
access to our markets. The vote
was still defeated.
As we fast-forward 15 years,
the needs of the producer are still
there and there are even fewer of
us than before. After a consultation in 2009, the UPA confederation realizes that dues cannot
keep going up and that maybe the
bureaucracy does not have to be
so large.
One of the easiest ways to do
this is with a realignment of the
regional federations and the local
syndicates. This new “UPA of the
Future” has a direct impact on
Argenteuil.
Within
the
county
of
Argenteuil there are presently
two local syndicates—one that
represents French-speaking producers and one representing the
English-speaking. However, the
English syndicate does have some
members who farm outside of the
MRC.
Over the past several years, the
number of producers in both syndicates has continued to fall and
now stands at approximately 160
Francophone farmers and 85
Anglophones. Both syndicates
have trouble filling a board of
directors with these numbers.
Currently both syndicates operate
in basically the same fashion and
both are able to respond to issues
related to the CPTAQ.
In hopes of getting a better
attendance at the fall mini-congress, both syndicates decided to
host a joint bilingual meeting in
2008. The meeting went so well
that the practice was continued in
2009 and 2010. With a meeting of
this type, producers quickly realized that issues that concerned
one syndicate also were important to the other—regardless of
the language spoken.
The next step is to merge.
Presently, there are 17 board
members between the two syndi-
cates and a new single syndicate
will have space for up to 12 board
members. Membership on the
new board will be in relation to
the number of members in general. Therefore, there will be room
for four English-speaking producers on the new board.
The benefits of a new board like
this will be immediate. We’ll be
getting rid of the redundant double representation of the board at
the federation level. There will no
longer be a need for two groups
to discuss CPTAQ dossiers in the
same MRC. For other matters
concerning the MRC, only one
rep from the agricultural community will be needed. As the work
done on farms becomes more
challenging and time crucial, having fewer people to do the same
representation could have a positive impact on some farms.
Some
Anglophone
and
Francophone producers might
not like the idea of bilingual meetings. However, a meeting of this
type does not take any longer,
and having more people in the
same room actually makes for a
better discussion. The biggest
problem might be in finding bilingual board members who can
truly represent the new syndicate.
The UPA of the Future guarantees that the needs of the Englishspeaking producer will be met, on
the confederation level, the
regional level, and the local syndicate level. We as farmers all
share the same need to be compensated fairly for our work and
to enjoy the environment in
which we live.
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Quebec Farmers’ Advocate
Editor-in-Chief
Ivan Hale
[email protected]
Managing Editor
Andrew McClelland
[email protected]
Production Manager
La Terre de chez nous
Published to benefit the English
agricultural and rural community in Quebec
Vol. 30, No. 10: November 2010
All contents copyright and may not be reprinted or translated without
permission. Published in Quebec by The Quebec Farmers’
Association. Legal deposit: National Library of Canada. Dépôt légal:
Bibliothèque nationale du Québec.
ISSN#0714-9518
Publication Mail No: 40033773
THE QUEBEC FARMERS’ ASSOCIATION GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF CANADIAN HERITAGE IN THE PUBLICATION OF
THIS PAPER.
Sales Director
André Savard
[email protected]
450-679-8483 ext. 7221
Sales Representatives
Daniel Lamoureux (National Sales
Representative), Christian Guinard,
Sylvain Joubert, Marie-Claude Primeau.
Contributors
Karine Abdel, Angie Beaudet,
Pierre-Yvon Bégin, Michel Dessureault,
Jean-Charles Gagné, Francois Labelle,
Thierry Larivière, Daniel Lefebvre,
Eve Martin, John McCart,
Vincent McConnell, Paul Meldrum,
Myles Mellor, Julie Mercier,
Terry Mosher, Sarah Nelson,
Robert Savage, April Stewart, Julie Roy,
Carl Thériault, Claudia Villemaire.
Subscription rates to the Advocate
for non-QFA members are $56.44 per
year (taxes included).
Subscriptions do not include free
classified ads and are renewable after
11 issues.
QFA memberships (includes a free
subscription to the Advocate) are
$56.44 (taxes included) and are
renewed every year.
Send cheques to:
The Quebec Farmers’ Association
555 Roland-Therrien, office 255
Longueuil, QC J4H 4E7
Phone: (450) 679-0540, ext. 8536
Fax: (450) 463-5291
E-mail: [email protected]
Retention: A producer weighs in
Karine Abdel
Communications Officer
Agri-Traçabilité Québec
Last
September,
AgriTraçabilité Québec (ATQ) met
with Claude Lefebvre and
Lucie Rainville, of the Gerville
farm (photo A) in Baie-duFebvre. Lefebvre and Rainville,
who own a 225-head free-stall
herd, were among 16 dairy
farms participating in a study
on cattle tag retention. They
shared their experience with
us.
The four-year study tested
the quality of tags and determined the factors that lead to
tag loss. Results so far suggest
that there are three main factors that help tag retention.
A
C
Oldest son Simon, Lucie Rainville, and Claude Lefebvre.
B
Diagonal feed barriers for dry cows, heifers less than 12 months of age, and pregnant
heifers.
D
Human intervention
The placement of the tag on
the ear has an impact on the life
span of the tag. Mr. Lefebvre,
who is himself a calm man,
believes that a producer’s temperament can affect the behaviour of the herd. The more an
animal is anxious, the likely it
will be to yank its head back
out of the feeder, the resulting
friction accelerating tags’ deterioration.
Self-locking head gates for heifers aged between 12 and 18 months, to prevent movement
during covering or other treatments.
Adult feeders with horizontal bars.
External factors: physical
environment and climate
Some free-stall farms have
shown better results, and feeder and barrier types affect tag
loss. On the Gerville farm,
feeders are adapted to the ages
of animals (photos B, C, D).
“Generally speaking,” Mr.
Lefebvre explains, “the fewer
mechanical or moving parts
there are on a barrier, and the
fewer sharp metal edges are
near animals’ heads, the less
the tags get caught.” As well,
animals that are sheltered from
significant temperature changes tend to keep their tags
longer, since cold and heat dry
out the plastic tags, causing
breakage.
Identification tags
Tag loss worsens after the
fourth year, due to friction,
changes in temperature, and
normal wear.
Encouraging results
The Gerville farm review
was promising, after a 60month period, tag loss was 16
per cent. For Mr. Lefebvre, the
results are satisfactory. After
all, he says, “We can’t expect
everything to be a hundred
percent. I’m optimistic, and
I think we need to leave
ourselves room to change.
In any case, identifying
animals is much easier now
that we have the ATQ tags.”
The tag retention project will
be concluded at the end of the
year, and results will be published in spring 2011.
The ATQ is aware of the challenges producers face, and we
are working continuously to
find solutions to those challenges.
Two Easy-to-Avoid Pitfalls
• Baler twine
• Sharp-edged bars (add a rubber tip, or a metal cap
with rounded edges)
Organic milk in Great Britain
Over 500 dairy farms and four per cent
of national production
Dynamic organic producers, innovative management, diversified processing and forward-thinking researchers: here is an interesting overview
of organic milk production in Great Britain, following a visit there last spring with a group from Quebec (see box).
François Labelle, agronome
Organic Dairy Production
Expert
Research & Development
Valacta
There are currently 12,000
dairy farms in Great Britain.
Since the quota system was abolished in 1994, milk is paid
according to volume alone. Over
500 organic dairy farms produce
a volume of milk that constitutes
four per cent of the national production. The premiums paid to
producers for organic milk are
between 18.5 and 20 per cent
more than those for conventional
milk. For consumers, however,
the price of organic milk is only
15 per cent higher than that of
conventional milk. The situation
is different in Quebec, where the
retail price of organic milk is
almost double. The main buyer
in the UK is the Organic Milk
Suppliers Cooperative (OMSCo),
which groups together nearly 500
farms and holds a little over 70
per cent of the market. In Wales,
a smaller cooperative, called
Calon Wen, is owned by 24
farms. We met with the directors
of these two dairies and visited
some of the farms that are members. An interesting fact: OMSCo
has devoted a few million euros
to a television advertising campaign aimed at promoting organic milk.
crossbreeding is essential for
many of the farms visited.
Whether it’s Ayrshire or British
Friesian, or crosses with hardy
breeds, it’s clear that using these
breeds leads to healthy animals
with greater longevity. At Low
Sizergh Farm, for example, a
three-way cross of British
Friesian, Swedish Red and
Montbéliarde seems to yield
good results. The producer there
wanted to use large-size and
good production breeds, with a
focus on high volume, which is
the standard for milk payment.
On other farms, the following
breeds were also used: Fleckvieh,
Norwegian Red, Shorthorn, New
Zealand Friesian and MeuseRhine-Yssel (MRY). Another reason for using these breeds is to
obtain sturdier male calves,
which are fattened and sold for
meat. In fact, Holstein or Friesian
male dairy calves find no takers
in Great Britain.
The longevity of these herds,
from five to seven lactations per
cow, depending on the herd, is
remarkable. With very low
replacement rates, calving intervals below 400 days, and few
health problems overall – and the
longevity to prove it – it seems
that these dairy operations have
hit on a management style that
can serve as an example to many
farms.
Research and expertise
Farms
The British countryside is
extraordinarily picturesque, with
fields separated by hawthorn
hedges and scattered with flocks
of sheep that were already out
grazing when we visited. The
cows were just beginning to
graze, since the season was a bit
delayed this year.
Generally speaking, the farms
we visited are models of excellent
management, and it shows in
their results (see Table 1). All of
the herds are kept in open housing, either in free stalls or on
deeply layered bedding. All the
farms make intensive use of pasturelands for their milk production. Although the climate in the
UK is obviously not as harsh as
ours, many producers have
implemented a pasture management system that extends the
grazing season. While the humid
climate favours grass production,
it is a disadvantage for dry hay
production. As a result, silages
are practically the only conserved
forages used on these farms.
The use of hardy breeds and
We were able to visit two
research centres: Kingshay, an
independent centre for applied
research, and the Organic Centre
Wales.
Based
in
Glastonbury,
Kingshay is a centre of expertise
in dairy farming, equipped with
a farm for applied research. The
centre offers consultant services
to more than 4,000 organic and
conventional dairy farms. The
2,000 farms that are registered
members of the organization (for
an annual fee 450£ or $675)
receive a twice-monthly technical
bulletin and have access to
research and on-farm trial results
as well as telephone consultations. The advisory service covers a wide range of topics including herd management (feeding,
health, comfort, etc.), crops, soil
management and production
costs. Farm trials focus on cubicle
design and bedding surfaces,
silage corn varieties (yield/production costs), palatable and
resistant grass mixtures, cow
tracks, and farm equipment comparisons. A team of 18 consult-
Highgrove Farm, in Tetbury, belongs to Prince Charles and is one of the five founding farms of the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative
(OMSCo), which initiated the sale of organic milk in Great Britain.
ants also offers workshops and
training sessions on the same
areas covered by the advisory
service. Another six people make
up the applied research team.
The Organic Centre Wales is
part of Aberystwyth University,
in Wales. This centre has a wide
range of activities that include,
among others, setting up
research projects in organic farming, offering advisory services for
agricultural firms, and providing
information
to
consumers.
Among many interesting topics:
the Aniplan project was initiated
to help farmers comply with one
of the requirements of organic
certification in Great Britain, i.e. a
health plan. This five-year plan
requires that herd health and
welfare be assessed and recommendations drawn up. The
Aniplan project sets up discussion groups of four or five farmers who then visit the farms of
the group members to find solutions to two problems selected by
the host farmer. A mediator
accompanies the group as a facilitator to ensure that the process
runs smoothly. These meetings
were a great success with farmers
and continued even after the
project ended.
Milk processors
The two cooperatives, OMSCo
and Calon Wen, both offer a wide
variety of products, of course, but
in addition to that, many of the
farms we visited also process
part, if not all, of their milk production. At Laverstoke Park
Farm, buffalo milk is used to
make traditional mozzarella. At
Riverford Farm, milk, butter,
cream and yogurt are marketed
to 30,000 families, who receive
weekly baskets of organic products. At Highgrove Farm, milk
from Prince Charles’ Ayrshire
herd is marketed under its own
label: Duchy Originals. Low
Sizergh Farm sells part of its production in its own store and
restaurant located on the farm,
where customers can watch the
milking while they enjoy their
meal. Finally, half of the milk
produced by the Ayrshire herd at
Bwlchwernen Fawr, in Wales, is
marketed in the form of one-year
aged cheddar. Back in London,
the Natural and Organic
Products Europe trade show
gave us a glimpse of the wide
variety of products available to
consumers.
The benefits of this fact-finding
tour have already been and will
continue to be felt by the partici-
pants and Quebec’s organic dairy
production sector as a whole. A
detailed account of the trip as
well as information about the
operations we visited is available
(in French) on the Agri-réseau
website, under the heading
Agriculture biologique.
A most
rewarding
fact-finding tour
Last spring, a group of 15 organic dairy producers and Quebec
dairy sector partners took part in a
tour focusing on organic milk production in Great Britain. Their 18day itinerary took them through a
good part of the country (see map
opposite). The trip was organized
by the Victoriaville CEGEP and
coordinated by Mr. Denis La
France, who acted as a guide and
interpreter. Three Valacta advisors
were among the participants: Sonia
Gosselin and Gratien Tremblay,
organic dairy production advisors,
and François Labelle, organic dairy
production expert, R&D. This undertaking received financial assistance
through the MAPAQ programme
aimed at supporting the development of organic farming.
The Quebec Beef Producers Federation
Fédération des producteurs de bovins du Québec
A word from the president
Your resolutions go a long way
Michel Dessureault
FPBQ President
When we gather each spring at
our annual general meeting,
Quebec’s cattle farmers adopt a
series of resolutions which guide
the actions of the Fédération des
producteurs de bovins du Québec all
year long. Six months later, we
decided the time had come for an
interim report, and I can already
tell you that, although not every
issue is moving just as we’d like,
the overall situation is positive:
we are gaining ground.
For over three years, we have
been urging the federal government to develop a financial com-
pensation program to support
the competitiveness of Canadian
slaughterhouses vis-à-vis their
American counterparts. Our persistent call to action has finally
been heeded. For LevinoffColbex, the support provided
will total over $4 million in 2010.
Unfortunately, the Abattoir
Competitiveness Program is only
scheduled to run for one year. If
nothing more is done, the situation at year’s end will be the
same as it was last year. And so
the work continues—we must
convince the federal government
of the need to prolong this program, until Canadian and
American SRM regulations are
harmonized.
The ASRA program is another
file requiring painstaking attention. Once again, although there
remains much to do, we are making progress—the ASRA programs are maintained, the
Financière envelope has been
nearly doubled, a universal pro-
gram has been implemented for
all sectors of production, and the
accumulated deficit of over $1 billion has been taken over by the
state. We have also obtained the
establishment of an ASRA coordination committee within the
Union des producteurs agricoles,
which will provide efficient and
unified representation for the
UPA. One important ASRA
detail, however, remains unresolved: the federation is still
opposed to the 25 per cent measure. Combined with other remedial measures, we are convinced
that this will tip most of our operations into the red. We therefore
continue to support producers
mobilizing in the regions.
Our environmental progress
should not go unmentioned: after
more than 15 years of work, the
Règlement sur les exploitations agricoles du Québec now allows the
practice of field-stored manure
for all farms, regardless of their
region or size.
In regards to the Advance
Payment Program (APP), an
additional reprieve is being
implemented for “emergency”
APP reimbursements. For the 400
Quebec cattle farmers who benefit from the program, this will
mean interest savings of $1.5 million.
Finally, you asked that we
maintain our communication
efforts with producers in the
Levinoff-Colbex file. Communication has always been our
main concern, and is aligned with
the Régie’s recent decision, which
asserted that “cull cattle producers benefit from sustained and
continuous information on the
financial situation of the LevinoffColbex S.E.C. facility.” We will
continue making sure you are
informed.
There remains work to be done
on several significant issues
raised this year. Quebec beef promotion is one such demanding
file. A committee representing
feeder calves and fed cattle has
been established, with an assessment and recommendation mandate. The extensive experience in
the milk-fed and grain-fed calf
sectors means that we already
know that we need specific objectives, and specific ways to achieve
them, in order to successfully
develop and implement Quebec
beef promotion strategies. Year
in, year out, regardless of the
market and financial situation,
these producers invest roughly $1
million per year in promotion.
Today, they are seeing those
investments pay off, with quality
products recognized and wellregarded by consumers.
We can be proud of our work
so far this year. We’ve made
headway on many of last spring’s
resolutions. But it’s not over—
many other issues remain at the
drawing board stages. We are
rolling up our sleeves, determined to get the best for Quebec
cattle farmers.
The feeder calf market
… and your feeder calf on the market
Eve Martin, agronomist
Development and Feeder-Calf
Marketing
Feeder calf prices are determined by two things: the state
of the market, and the quality of
the animals. Both factors affect
the value of an animal, but the
only one producers can influence is the quality of the calf
brought to market.
The feeder calf market
The Canadian feeder calf market, and therefore the Quebec
market as well, is determined
by elements that have an impact
across North America—elements about which most consumers are uninformed, including:
• The protein market in general
• Fed cattle prices
• Grain prices
• Exchange rates
• Feeder calf offer
It is crucial for producers to
be able to obtain the mean market price for their animals,
regardless of the state of the
market.
Your feeder calf
on the market
The price obtained for each
calf is determined mainly by
quality, and producers can con-
trol at least this variable. A quality calf means an animal that
meets the market requirements.
The characteristics generally
sought by today’s buyers are:
• Calves that can be brought to
slaughter before the age of 21
months
• Crosses that allow marbling
development
• Preconditioned calves (weaned
at least 45 days, vaccinated,
dehorned and castrated)
• Weight gain capacity (good
nutritional efficiency)
• Good conformation and good
muscle score
Barring unforeseen circumstances, a quality animal will
garner the mean market price,
or a little above. Conversely, a
calf that does not meet market
requirements will sell lower
than mean market prices. The
sale price of each calf sold must
be considered in relation to the
market situation. If calves are
systematically selling under
market prices, producers must
objectively analyze the quality
of their animals; it is very likely
that these animals are not meeting the needs of buyers.
For more information on market, prices, and sales results, feel
free to contact agency personnel
at 450-679-0530.
Breaking News
The new on-site and off-site supervised weighing service has received final approval from the
Financière agricole (FADQ). This service, offered only by Quebec auctions, was implemented in
order to meet the new FADQ requirements, while allowing producers to be compensated for the
total poundage of the animal marketed (from 500 to 750 lbs).
For the supervised on-site weighing service, producers must contact the auction of their choice.
Off-site weighings will be used in those regions without auction sites. For the AbitibiTémiscamingue and the Outaouais, Réseau Encans Québec will offer supervised weighing;
producers wishing to avail themselves of the service should contact the Saint-Hyacinthe auction at
1-877-796-2612.
The MAPAQ team of the Outaouais region is pleased to bring you the following information and we hope that it will be useful to you.
Producing quality beef : each link
in the chain has responsibilities!
Are you producing high-quality beef or veal for the consumer’s plate?
Personally, I love beef. I also
love chatting with beef producers and ranchers on how it was
produced. Although profitability
can be a struggle, a lot of producers in North America are willing
to subsidize their businesses
with outside income for the privilege of calling themselves ranchers.
I think that to succeed, we
must deliver a high quality product that consumers want, and at
a reasonable price. In my mind,
the three main factors that motivate people to purchase beef are
taste, tenderness and price.
No matter what type of beef
you produce (commodity, certified organic, natural or grassfed), each of you has a responsibility in making the consumer’s
eating experience a good one.
The Beef Information Center
reports that 25 per cent of beef
eating experiences are bad.
Therefore, we have a lot of work
to do!
The cow-calf producer,
rancher, feedlot operator
and grass farmer all have
responsibilities, including:
• Choosing the right breed, cross
or blood line to obtain the
desired results. Generally
speaking, exotic breeds need
higher energy rations than the
British breeds (grain cattle vs.
grass cattle). There is no right
or wrong breed - just using the
right animal for the right beef
product. I believe we that
must take this more seriously.
• Being sure there is sufficient
energy in the animal’s muscles
prior to slaughter. This is very
important but can be difficult,
especially if the animal is finished on grass. Meat &
Livestock Australia (website:
www.mla.com.au/Home)
have done a lot of work in this
field. They have developed a
grading system, where the ultimate goal is the consumer’s
appreciation of the meat’s “eating quality”. Simply put, the
energy, or glycogen, in the animal’s muscle at slaughter is
converted into lactic acid,
which causes the pH to
decrease. Just as you would
measure the acidity of soil for
optimum growth and productivity, MSA meat graders
measure the acid level of the
meat. Ideally, the pH will drop
after 24 hours from 7.0(neutral)
to between 5.3 and 5.7. Above
5.7, eating quality is reduced or
becomes more variable.
• Ensuring that the cattle are on
a rising plane of nutrition as
they approach market weight,
and that they are properly finished.
• Handling the animals calmly
at the farm, during transport
and at the slaughtering plant,
in order to ensure sufficient
energy in the animals’ muscles
to achieve the required pH
drop.
Grain finish steer
PHOTOS: PHOTOTHEQUE MAPAQ
Vincent McConnell, agronome
MAPAQ – Outaouais sector
Grass finish steer
The art of producing good beef !
Knowing your market
There is a “niche” of consumers who know what they want or are willing to learn more - and have the dollars to pay. There is another much larger segment of the population who want to buy their beef “the cheaper the better”.
Remember that, on average, Canadians spend less than nine per cent of their income on food. Twenty-five years ago, 18 per cent of
their income was needed for food.
Which method of marketing is best suited to you, in order to obtain a fair price for your beef?
• Commodity market: receive an average price while producing at an average cost. Do you know your production costs? If your costs
are above the industry average, chances are you won’t make any profit, so you must figure it out and make the necessary decisions.
• Value chains: where a group of producers, processors and retailers get together to share profits fairly.
• Selling directly to the consumer: direct marketing generates larger profit margins, but requires a lot of work and expense to seek out
the faithful niche consumers. Here, high quality is a must.
• Among other things, avoiding
dehydration, eliminating the
use of electric prodders, being
patient with cattle to allow
them time and space to move
through yards, using welldesigned loading ramps, keeping animals in their social
groups, minimizing the use of
dogs and avoiding marketing
during weather extremes.
The slaughterhouse also
has responsibilitie:
It is important to understand
their challenges and cooperate
with facility’s personnel – it is in
everyone’s best interest. Stop
whining about the cost and figure
out what can be done to improve
everyone’s situation. Good processing yield and quality can easily offset higher cost. The following steps will help:
• Modern cutting techniques
should be used to optimize
meat yield. In addition, smaller portions for smaller families
are now a reality. The aging
process is also important.
Traditional dry aging may not
be all it is claimed to be.
Research has shown that wet
aging is just as efficient, with
much better meat yields since
far less trimming is required.
Primal cuts can also be frozen
and then reworked into the
desired-size portions and high
quality cuts.
• The processor is also challenged with keeping meat at
the optimum 4oC in refrigeration and to rapidly cool and
maintain it at –18oC for freezing.
• During the transportation of
frozen meat, a Danish study
Grass finish steer (very lean)
Grass finish heifer
TO SUCCEED, WE MUST DELIVER A HIGH
QUALITY PRODUCT THAT CONSUMERS WANT,
AND AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
• Deliver your animal on time,
clean, empty for 12 hours, with
ATQ information. Use a calm
manner at the farm, during
transport and while waiting.
• The facility must handle the cattle calmly and take precautions
not to cross-contaminate the
carcass with feces, hair and
other contaminates and to follow proper slaughter protocol.
• Research has shown that proper carcass cooling is very
important within the first 24
hours to maintain a balance
between food safety and a
proper tenderization process.
Research has also shown that
loin temperatures no cooler
than 7oC (but no warmer, for
food safety) will optimize pH
drop to between 5.3 and 5.7 and
also prevent cold shortening.
has shown that, in order to
maintain the quality, there is a
3oC temperature increase tolerance during transit - this
means not warmer than – 15oC
for freezing and 7oC for refrigeration.
The consumer also
has a responsibility:
• Remember the 3oC tolerance
(keep frozen or keep refrigerated). After all the effort of
raising, caring for, feeding,
transporting and processing,
we must encourage our consumers not to make mistakes.
Suggest defrosting in cold
water or in the fridge - never
in microwave or on the counter (between 4oC and 60oC,
bacteria multiply rapidly).
• Choose the right cut and cook
it properly. There is a new generation of consumers who have
forgotten how to cook!
Grilling, pan frying, roasting,
pot roasting, stewing, and simmering are all cooking options.
You can order recipes and various carcass-cut information
from the Beef Information
Centre or obtain the Canadian
Beef Merchandising Guide
online for yourself and your
customers (website: www.
canadianbeef.info).
I hope that one of your primary objectives is to produce
high quality beef – but not at any
cost. In this regard, I would
invite you to read an up-coming
article dealing with annual
budget planning for your beef
production operation. I will
show you, among other things, a
simple one-page spreadsheet
that will enable you to plan,
monitor results and make any
necessary adjustments during
the course of the year. Wait for it
in the December 2010 edition.
We must prepare for some significant
changes—are
you
ready?
The art of producing good beef!
What type of beef should you offer consumers?
There is a growing number of consumers who wish to know more about the type of meat they are eating.
So, let’s not confuse them - make sure they know what they are getting.
• Commodity Beef: this represents 99.5 per cent of the beef produced in Canada. Calves are purchased and placed in feedlots for a
period of 200-300 days. They are finished on high-energy grain diets and they receive hormonal implants and are treated with
antibiotics, as required.
• Certified Organic Beef: This beef is produced organically (some grass fed, some feedlot finished), under strict protocol, using
organic feed.
• Natural beef: This beef is also produced following a strict protocol. Wormers and vaccines are used, but no hormonal implants. The
animals are fed as long as possible on the range or pasture, ideally up to 1,000 pounds, and finished for a shorter time (100 days)
in a feedlot on a medium energy diet. If cattle require antibiotics, they are removed from the natural program.
Grass Fed Beef: These animals are raised and finished entirely on forages and pasture, with no cereals.
No matter what type of beef produced, producers have a responsibility to ensure that the consumer’s experience is a good one.
The relationship between omega-3 content
and maize silage in feed rations
has allowed for the creation of
a core of multidisciplinary
research, as well as a database
of milk samples and dairy diets
for future analyses. Future
research will better reveal the
impact of different feeding
strategies on the composition
of milk produced on the farm.
This research was supported
by the Fonds québécois de la
recherche sur la nature et les technologies, Novalait, Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada and the
Ministère de l'Agriculture, des
Pecheries et de l'Alimentation du
Quebec.
Kevin Wade
Animal Science
Interesting results can be
expected when researchers
with different expertise work
together. Researchers from
McGill and Laval, Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, and
Valacta pooled their knowledge to study the variability of
the milk composition.
The Valacta database:
an asset to exploit!
Data analyses of more than
2.4-million observations collected on 400,000 cows, including management, production
and supply, showed that the
concentration of urea in milk
varies according to breed and
increases
with
parity.
Visualization techniques indicated that mid- to late-lactation
cows were being overfed in
terms of protein supplementation, leading to higher concentrations of urea in milk.
These results suggest feed
costs higher than necessary and
higher nitrogen discharges into
the environment due to use of
dietary protein that is not optimized.
The minor fractions of
milk components
We have always wanted to
know more about the effect of
bovine nutrition on milk com-
ponents. The refinement of laboratory techniques now allow us
to go beyond the analysis of
major components such as fat,
protein or lactose, and to look at
minor fractions.
Between January 2006 and
August 2008, 923 samples of milk
from cows and from bulk tanks
of 33 farms were collected. These
samples were analyzed for their
major components (lactose, fat,
protein and total solids), nitrogen
profiles (total nitrogen, casein
and non-casein and casein fractions and serum protein), and
fatty acids (C4 to C22 chains).
These analyses were added to the
extensive feed database already
available from Valacta. This is
what makes this project unique:
being able to correlate the laboratory analyses with the Valacta
data on the cows at the time of
sampling.
We were, therefore, able to create a database for cross-analysis,
including details on milk components, feed rations and composition (fibre, fat, protein, minerals,
forage and primary concentrates)
and management (production,
weight, body condition score,
etc.).
Preliminary analysis of the
data suggests several relationships that require further investigation before definitive conclu-
sions can be drawn, but provide
very promising avenues of
research.
Back on the Farm
Our results indicate that there
is potential to achieve both financial and environmental gains on
the farm by optimizing the use of
protein provided to cows. The
results also suggest that the diet
of a cow can have a major effect
on unsaturated fatty acids in
milk.
It seems possible to increase
the CLA content and omega-3
fatty acids, two types of fat
potentially beneficial to human
health by changing the type and
quantity of rations provided to
cows. Changes in diets could also
reduce the proportion of trans
fatty acids, which may have a
negative impact on human
health.
This knowledge can be used as
a basis for future research to
improve the nutritional properties of dairy products to meet the
needs and demands of consumers and also contribute to
better health for humans.
Confirmation of these results can
be used to help guide producers
and their advisers who want to
change the component profile of
the milk they produce on the
farm.
Future research
This project was initiated to
develop
a
network
of
researchers to look at the composition of milk and factors
that may influence the farm. It
Professor Kevin Wade is the
current chair of the Animal
Science Department. His research
interests lie in information systems in dairy cattle breeding and
milk recording and artificial intelligence in the development of onfarm
management
systems.
Professor Wade is also Director of
the Dairy Information Systems
Group, a group of researchers
working towards the advancement
of information technology in dairy
management systems. Studies
range from the theoretical examination of knowledge systems to
the analysis of mega data sets and
the development of software prototypes for on-farm decision support.
Kevin Wade can be contacted at:
[email protected].
Cows fed total mixed rations
produced more milk, fat,
protein and lactose and less urea
than those traditional diets of forage
and concentrates separately.
PHOTO: COURTESY K. WADE
For example, analysis of
more than nine million observations (about 600,000 cows in
6,000 herds), using powerful
statistical methods and data
mining, showed that cows fed
total mixed rations produced
more milk, fat, protein and lactose and less urea than those
traditional diets of forage and
concentrates separately. A tendency to higher protein production and a lower concentration of urea was also observed
in cows fed corn grain and high
moisture corn compared to
those fed barley or commercial
mixes.
PHOTO: MACDONALD CAMPUS PHOTO BANK
Part of our research was
based on the analysis of
Valacta’s database. This database is quite unique since, in
addition to traditional data on
milk production, it contains
information on feed rations on
a large number of herds in
Quebec. This database presents
a huge potential for research,
and has led us to some interesting conclusions.
Angie Beaudet
Special to the Advocate
Fourteen-year-old Richmond
4-H member Sarah Nelson grew
up on a dairy farm in Melbourne,
QC—but her true passion is horses. From the time she could
speak, all she ever talked about
was these gentle four-hoofed
creatures that have enlightened
her world.
Some memories go back to a
very young age when her father
used to sit her up high onto the
broad backs of the Belgians during sugaring season. One winter,
from the frosted windows of the
farmhouse Sarah could be seen
rolling in unison side-by-side
with the farm’s 11-hand-high
pony, Puce! She spent countless
hours in the presence of this tiny
equine with a heart of gold and
her grandfather, William Nelson,
who also loved horses.
He
inspired much of her passion and
nourished her talent and potential
by teaching her how to hitch and
drive her pony.
As Sarah grew a little older, at
about seven years of age, she
wanted a saddle so bad that she
tried to make one herself with a
grain bag and some baler twine.
Already at this age she was full of
optimism and eager to learn
everything about her equine
counterparts. Her passion continued to grow with Gaston Pelletier
and Susane Fillion who took her
under their wings and helped her
learn how to ride. Since then she
has passed several Western and
Engish rider levels with the
Quebec Equestrian Federation,
becoming the talented rider she is
today.
When asked what her best
horse-related memory was, Sarah
explained that every day, every
moment was special, things as
simple as “…a look or an expression” and “…seeing the sunset
over the pasture” when her horses are grazing.
Sarah now owns two horses,
Esperanza, a half Andalusian, and
Vol de Nuit, a registered
Thoroughbred. She takes care of
them along with Puce, who is
now 26 years old, and a boarded
mare named Juliette. Sarah also
has her own stable on the farm
and doesn’t mind getting up to do
chores. The company of her horses is well worth it. As she puts it:
“Knowing that I have my horses
to take care of and that they are
always happy to see me” is what
makes her day. On top of taking
part in farrier visits, the feeding
program, and pasture management—to name only a few—she
also trains her horses several
times a week.
In the 2010 season, Sarah
trained her mare, Esperanza to
participate in the 4-H showmanship
competitions
at
the
Richmond 4-H Achievement Day
and the Quebec 4-H Provincial
Rally. Her hard work and dedication paid off as she won Grand
Champion in Horse Showmanship for both events!
She also trained Vol de Nuit for
the artistic equestrian show,
Caval’Art, performed at the
Equinocks Stables in St.-Germainde-Grantham in August 2010.
The show featured acts including,
vaulting, liberty, carrousels, and
bridleless riding. Sarah was part
of a carrousel, which consists of
several horses performing a synchronised pattern (the RCMP
musical ride is perhaps Canada’s
most famous carrousel). She
rehearsed once a week with the
other riders of the carrousel and
spent the last week before the
show living right on the premises
and practicing twice a day. The
show’s three presentations, which
seated 750 people, were sold out.
At the end of a long, exhausting
show day, Sarah could still be
seen with a grin from ear to ear.
Clearly, this was her element.
When asked if she would like to
take part in Caval’Art again next
year she answered, “To prepare
for Caval’Art took me a whole
summer, but the experience was
awesome. Yes, I want to repeat
the experience—I can’t wait to
learn more! Most of all I enjoy the
feeling of being part of a great
team.” Anyone who meets Sarah
can testify that there is a special
connection between Sarah and
any horse she encounters. She has
all the qualities to become a professional horse trainer; she is
calm, assertive, confident optimistic, hard-working, mature and
even-tempered. With her eye on
the future, Sarah plans on studying horses after high school. As
she says, “There’s so much to
learn, and I’ve known for a long
time that I wanted to live my life
with horses.”
PHOTO: ANGIE BEAUDET
4-H member dedicated
to horsing around
4-H member Sarah Nelson with her prized half-Andalusian horse, Esperanza.
Get up and running
Start smart with the Transition Loan
Young farmers are important to the future of agriculture – so is having the right
financing. The Transition Loan lets you start with as low as zero down. Interest is charged
only on the disbursed amount so you can build equity quickly or manage your cash flow –
the choice is yours.
To find out more about the Transition Loan, call your nearest FCC office at 1-800-387-3232.
www.fcc.ca
144816
Page 12 - Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / Novembre 2010
Long-time QFA board member is always
there for the community
COOKSHIRE - There’s no
question about it: although
Malcolm Fraser is neither tall
nor husky, anyone trying to fill
his shoes or follow his footsteps
would find them far too large to
fit.
“I guess my Dad figured a big
family could be a great help on
our farm,” Fraser says, that
twinkle in his sharp blue eyes
belying his words. But the family farm is perched on some of
the steepest terrain on the edge
of town. Local legends tell of the
stubborn determination of those
first settlers to clear the hardwood slopes, turn over that sod,
and get started on some honestto-goodness farming.
“I was the fourth of twelve
children,” Mac begins, reluctantly agreeing to an interview that
hopefully would explain this
local legend. “We always loved
the fair. I remember the stories
about the first exhibitions when
often they were at the beginning
of the week. Some years the fairgrounds were at the other end of
town, other years closer to
Birchton, but my family has
been coming here to this spot for
at least three generations,“ he
says, adding he couldn’t remember his first visits to his beloved
county fair.
“We were never great
exhibitors,”
Mac
admits.
“Although I did join the calf club
and 4-H, and did exhibit a few
times. But we simply loved the
fair and it didn’t take long
before I was coming out, offering to help out. And, of course,
the directors soon caught on to
that and persuaded me to join
their ranks and ‘step up to the
plate’,” he says laughing.
True blue QFAer
Mac’s involvement with the
QFA has also reached extraordinary levels of longevity and
commitment. «I remember my
folks getting ready to listen to
the Quebec Farm Radio Forum,”
recalls the QFA board member.
“Meetings were rotated among
the members. Sometimes at a
dairy producer’s, another week
perhaps at a beef producer’s—or
a neighbour in raising broilers or
eking out a living with two or
three thousand laying hens.”
Mac remembers everyone listening to CBC, with Galen Driver
hosting the weekly meeting,
commenting on the questionnaires he had received since the
last meeting and explaining the
new questionnaire each member
family had received prior to the
meeting.
“Then, when I became a regu-
much more; it’s important to
keep organizations like the QFA
going.” Fraser has been a director, president and, of course,
treasurer and secretary through
the years, so there’s no questioning his loyalty and support for
his Bulwer QFA.
Community
Renaissance Man
Fraser, already retired from
his Post Master position at the
local post office, knew the meaning of hard work early in his life.
Farming in the 40s, especially
producing beef cattle, didn’t
usually provide a very stable
income. Most farmers worked
off the farm to make ends meet
FRASER IS A RELUCTANT HERO. FOLKS ALL
ROUND THIS AREA, HOWEVER, ARE QUICK
TO PRAISE THIS COMMUNITY-MINDED RESIDENT.
lar member, the Farm Forum
had changed to the Quebec
Farmers’ Association. Meetings
were always held in the Bulwer
school, guest speakers were
often featured, courses on agriculture subjects were offered—
we were quite a strong group!”
Always quick to give credit to
other QFAers, Mac praises the
hard work and support of local
folk like Don MacMillan, area
agronomist in the 60s and 70s.
“His encouragement is legendary,” Fraser comments. “Not
only for the Farm Forum and the
QFA, but local calf clubs and
Young Farmers. 4-H members
remember MacMillan transporting youngsters to meetings and
club activities, and coaching the
judging teams who—thanks to
his help—went on to regional,
provincial and national events.”
Fraser knows that farm
groups are the backbone of a
strong farming community. “We
still need these organizations,”
he maintains. “I still believe
there’s more power in numbers.
Many voices can accomplish so
and teenaged children were
encouraged to do the same.
“I started at the post office
when I was 16,» he recalls. «And
that’s where I stayed until I
retired.”
These days, and for more than
ten years now, Fraser has charge
of the Fair’s ledgers and
finances. Training at the post
office emphasized keeping track
of the smallest details. That habit
has served Fraser well through
good years and bad, poring over
financial reports, analyzing costs
and receipts, making him somewhat of ‘the Wiseman’ when
financial decisions are in the offing. This is a treasurer and community supporter who celebrates a birthday by organizing
a party where guests are encouraged to make their gift a donation to his favourite charity, the
St Paul’s Rest Home in Bury.
Why? we ask. “Well, why
not,” he replies in his usual brief
manner. “Some family and
friends lived their last days there
and we need a place like that in
the community where the old
In 2011, the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec
will provide a maximum of 12 quota loans of 12 kg/day
under its Farm Startup Assistance Program. Three syndicates: Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
and Gaspésie-Les-Îles have been identified as priority
areas and will be favoured in the allocation of quota.
Applications under this program may be submitted starting
on February 1, 2011, but no later than April 30, 2011. All
applications received during this period will be treated on
an equal basis.
144817
PHOTO: CLAUDIA VILLEMAIRE
Claudia Villemaire
Advocate Eastern Townships
Correspondent
“I still believe there’s more power in numbers,” says Townshipper and QFAer extraordinaire, Mac Fraser. “Many voices can accomplish so much more; it’s important to keep
organizations like the QFA going.” Fraser was awarded an honourary QFA membership
at this year`s annual meeting in recognition of his years of active service as president,
board member, treasurer and head of the Warren Grapes Fund.
folks can be close to family and
friends,” Mac insists.
To this enigma, often turning
up at functions in rubber boots,
his traditional green baseball
cap politely carried, no challenge is refused. His prowess at
calculations and ledger-keeping
extends to whatever project or
activity where help is needed.
We’ve found him shovel in
hand, digging small trenches to
direct water away from the cattle barns. Other times, he’s been
spotted with a hammer or
wrecking bar, helping to tear
down and reconstruct such
things as the grandstand, a collapsed roof on a cattle barn, or
building a new extension to one
of the stables. Years ago, when
water volume couldn’t meet
demand, Mac organized water
trucks and holding tanks for the
fair. All of which was just a prelude to preparing figures for new
water sources, piping and washroom facilities—and helping in
the long process of re-building a
county fair that was on the brink
of closing in the early 80s.
But Mac’s quick to defer any
praise. “I was just one of many
who have always worked hard
and continue to work hard each
year to keep this fair going. No,
no, we’re a team,” he insists.
Fraser is a reluctant hero.
Folks all round this area, however, are quick to praise this
community-minded resident.
Just recently retired from
active farming, our hero, born
in 1941, has finally relented
and no longer keeps the beef
cattle that were the Fraser
source of livelihood for more
than four generations. But he
and his wife Doreen still keep
the home fires burning in the
solid brick ancestral home,
perched on one of the steep
hills of his beloved home
ground. He chose the fairgrounds for the interview, and
that’s where we found him, his
aged pickup parked in its usual
place and Fraser in his usual
chair, glasses on the end of his
nose, cap on the table. But this
day, no rubber boots.
Born in Sherbrooke, Claudia
Villemaire has been a dedicated
Townshipper all her life. After running a dairy and pork operation
with her family, her career as a journalist began in 1978 when The
Sherbrooke Record hired her as an
agricultural reporter. A proud
mother of four—and a grandmother
to
nine—Claudia
lives
in
Richmond, Quebec.
“Never marry a farmer and whatever
you do, never learn to milk!”
When I was younger, I always
said I would never marry a
farmer. In fact, I don’t think I
dated one until I met my present
boyfriend. I always felt that if I
did, it would always be ‘his’ farm.
Not ‘my’ farm, not ‘our’ farm, but
his farm simply because he was a
dude and I was a girl.
Growing up in the traditional
agricultural and rural setting of
the Chateauguay Valley, most
farmers who surrounded me
were men. Happily, this is changing, albeit slowly: Statistics
Canada’s 2001 Census of
Agriculture reported 346,200
farm operators in Canada, of
which 26 per cent were women.
Out of that, five per cent were
sole operators. But I was interested to learn if the attitudes and
stereotypes were keeping pace.
As a farm girl myself, I have no
end of sources so I went right to
them: three local women, one a
full-time partner with her husband, another who is sole proprietor, and the other who works
with her family.
I broached a number of relevant topics with all three women.
Despite the varying degree of
business involvement, age or production type, all of them (as well
as several others who were not
formally interviewed) had similar
insights.
Advocate: According to the
paper ‘Canadian Rural Women
Reconstructing
Agriculture’,
gender stereotypes persist in agricultural settings and have a tendency to lead to a devaluation of
farm women’s work. Do you
agree with this statement?
Joy Grant, 50% owner at
Grantholm Farms Inc.: I personally do not look at a farmer as a
‘woman’ or a ‘man’ farmer, just a
farmer; it’s not a gender, it’s an
occupation. I do believe, however, that gender bias happens in a
lot of cases. When I first moved
here salespeople were always
asking for ‘the boss’ and it really
used to bug me, but I’m over it
now. In fact, my husband always
says, “Do you want to talk to the
boss”—pointing to himself—“or
the one who knows?”, pointing to
me. It is rarely referred to as ‘his’
farm; it’s never ‘her’ farm, but it is
usually ‘their’ farm now.
Kim Tannahill, employee of
family farm Cloverlea Holsteins:
That used to irritate my mom
when they would ask for ‘the
boss’! Most salespeople who
come to the farm do ask for my
dad or brother, however I am an
employee and not a partner in the
business. But then I think, well,
they don’t know that! I think I do
sometimes unconsciously step
back; maybe it was how we were
raised, you know, the way our
mothers were as much a part of
the farm, but they always stepped
back to let their husbands be the
‘boss’.
Laurie*, sole operator: Sexism
is alive and well in the country!
It’s always ‘Mr. Smith’s farm’
even if there is a farm wife/partner.
Joy: I’m very hesitant to use the
term ‘farmer’s wife’. I wish there
was a better word for it! It’s very
stereotypical with old-school connotations—like when people
associate ‘farmer’ with someone
who’s wearing overalls, rubber
boots and has a piece of straw
stuck in his mouth.
Advocate: Women farmers, like
non-farm women, also spend
time maintaining the home, providing primary care for the children, and managing various
other tasks like bookkeeping. Do
you think your role as a ‘woman
farmer’ is different than that of a
man and has your role changed
over the years?
Joy: I think we are definitely
multi-taskers. That’s not to say
that the husband isn’t mixing the
feed and doing something else
while he waits, but I’ll be milking,
figuring out what to make for
supper, come in to prepare supper while I throw in a load of
laundry, make a list of calves to
be tagged, call to arrange for a
cow sale…
Kim: I think there is a difference between men and women
on the farm. I am constantly trying to balance my home life, husband, children and off-farm
household with my job on the
farm. My role has evolved on the
farm: early mornings and late
nights are difficult for a mother
living off of the farm. Luckily
there is more help on the farm
now with my brother working
full time. Being a family farm,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
PHOTO: APRIL STEWART
April M. Stewart
Special to the Advocate
“I’m very hesitant to use the term ‘farmer’s wife,’” says Joy Grant of Grantholm Farms
in the Chateauguay Valley. “I wish there was a better word for it! It’s very stereotypical
with old-school connotations.”
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144135
“Never marry a farmer..”
Female farmers in Chateauguay, continued from page 13
everybody has been very understanding of this and my children
have really grown up on the
farm.
Joy: I think we are also more in
tune to our animals’ health. We’re
more detail oriented. We’ll pick
up little things, try to keep things
‘pretty’, wash equipment, those
sorts of things. The man seems to
pay attention to things like the
mechanics and when the crops
are ready. I think it’s an excellent
complement to each other’s skill
set.
Laurie: Yes, I think there are
differences: we’re better at raising
animals; we’re more maternal,
nurturing, patient. We tend to be
more observant both sociologically and physiologically.
Joy: When I was new on the
farm (coming from a farm
myself), my husband was an
employee and I just helped him
out. We had children and I
became a full partner when we
took over the farm. My role has
definitely evolved over the years.
Advocate: In terms of a national agriculture policy, sustainability of the agriculture sector and
the rural-urban divide, what are
your thoughts?
society, food sources and health
benefits, etc.
Laurie: There is definitely a system failure; farms are falling
apart and disappearing. There
doesn’t seem to really be a way
for urbanites to effect change
THE TREND OF FARMS BEING EXCLUSIVELY RUN
BY WOMEN IS GROWING AND THEY ARE
CONSIDERED NON-GENDER ASSETS
TO FARM OPERATIONS EVERYWHERE.
Joy: A national agriculture policy would need to create more
awareness in terms of urban
encroachment on prime farmland. That land is like water: once
it’s gone, it’s gone.
Kim: There definitely needs to
be a national food policy. There
are so many kids who have never
been on a farm or know where
their food comes from. People
used to want to see what it was all
about. A food policy would help
integrate all sectors, all levels of
even though there are many that
want to help. They’d like to buy
more local food, but in many
cases they’re not allowed, milk
for example. It seems we all want
the same thing—rural and urban
dwellers alike—but no one really
knows how. Perhaps a national
food policy would solve some of
these problems.
Advocate: When you were
younger did you ever see yourself marrying a farmer or wanting
to farm?
Joy: 100%! I always planned on
farming.
Laurie: I know a lot of women
who have chosen to work off the
farm to get away from barn work.
I definitely had no intentions of
farming, but only because I felt
like I had to prove that I was better than the ‘dumb’ farmer stereotype, prove that farmers could do
everything that everyone else
could. Those thoughts drove me
to the city, to study something
unrelated to farming and in fact
pretty much sums up my existence as a woman; I didn’t want
to be dependant on a man. The
more we allow people (brothers,
fathers) to do things for us—for
example mechanics, physical
work—the less capable we are.
Kim: My mom told me “Never
marry a farmer and whatever you
do, never learn to milk!” I know a
lot of older women who were told
something similar, but that was
when they weren’t as recognized
as ‘real’ contributors to the farm.
Women have long been tied to
the land and been the backbone
of society. From when Zog the
caveman was out hunting and the
women were gathering, to the
industrial revolution when
women (and children) made up
75 per cent of the early workforce,
to WWI and II where they efficiently took the place of men who
were off to war. Today they capably and eagerly bring home the
bacon (no pun intended!) when
expanding farms need all skilled
hands on deck.
Although female farmers are
largely
under-represented
throughout the world, the trend
of farms being exclusively run by
women is growing and they are
considered non-gender assets to
farm operations everywhere.
* Name has been changed as per the
interviewee’s request.
Have your say.
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happy to print letters
to the editor. Feel free
to write us an e-mail,
mail us a letter—or
even leave a lengthy
message on our
answering machine that
we’ll transcribe for
you!
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144213
When the %@#*
Hits the Farm
Robert Savage, agronome,
MBA
CEO
Solutions affaires
experts-conseils
It could have carried on for
quite a while, or maybe even forever, but Andrew McKinnen had
already been waiting three years
for a sign from his father and
brothers, and, for him, “enough
was enough”. Finally, he picked
up the phone and called a
lawyer. Now the tsunami was on
its way and was about to shake
every fibre of every member of
the family.
Conflicts are part of the
dynamics of any family. Some
conflicts can be avoided, some
can be resolved, but others have
to be confronted, and this is often
easier said than done. When
involved parties can’t maintain a
conversation without jumping at
each other’s throat, or worst,
remain mute and unable to establish any kind of discussion, it is
best to appeal to the objectivity of
a mediator.
When it became obvious that
Andrew, who wanted to leave
the family farm and go on his
way, would not wait any longer
to receive his portion of the value
of the farm, the family finally
decided to abandon their ‘code of
silence’. Silence was no longer
effective and they had to find
some other way to let their perceived traitor know that they
deeply disapproved of his career
choice. So all parties, including
Andrew, agreed to hire a mediator.
The mediation process is
always possible, even when communication between the various
parties is difficult. However,
trusting the person who will act
as an intermediary between you
and the other parties is an
absolute must. For this to happen, the mediator has to be someone who can become involved
with the conflict without any preconceptions regarding who is
right or wrong and, most of all,
who is committed to work in
everyone’s best interest. That’s
quite a tall order!
If the mediator is able to ease
the communication between parties, thus giving all involved the
chance to express themselves,
then he also acts as an emotional
sponge by allowing harsh feel-
ings to be toned down, thus
avoiding
unnecessary
and
irreparable rifts. However, as
was the case with the
McKinnens, he can also be perceived by some members as a
mere puppet, and someone that
you can get on your side and
manipulate
at
command.
Remaining neutral is certainly
not an easy task, but that is an
essential requirement, even
when screams, tears, confessions
and even fights occur during the
course of the process.
When conflicts arise, the one
thing to avoid at all costs, and
costs there will otherwise be, is to
opt for legal procedures.
Remember that the worst agreement is always better than the
best judgement. Most lawyers
have a rather aggressive
approach by building on the
weaknesses and negative aspects
of the opposite party. Their goal,
and that of their clients, is to win
at all costs. That’s their job, and
they do it.
However, unlike other types of
businesses, a farm business is not
only a way to earn a living, it’s
also a way of life. That is why, in
the case of a divorce for example,
personal interests are often put
aside when the future of a next
generation is an issue. Yes, family values can take precedence
over money. Once again, mediation can not only keep the lines of
communication open, but also
make sure that the family heritage can support the departure
of one of the spouses, while
ensuring him or her an acceptable and decent treatment.
Andrew finally got what he
wanted and moved on with his
life. After all had been said and
done during the mediation
process, so also did one of his
brothers. Both of them and those
who remained to take over the
farm business had to make compromises. The one person, who
won, also lost big. Through
blackmailing and by jeopardizing the family farm, he did get a
great financial deal for his house,
but he also lost the one thing he
has been striving for all his life,
the control of the family farm, the
family members and their future.
Conflicts are part of the
dynamics of any family. Some
can be avoided, some can be
resolved, but others ought to be
confronted.
Symbols for Safety
Do not touch hot surface
Having worked for over 16 years
for various organizations—including the Caisse populaire Desjardins,
the Office du crédit agricole du
Québec and Farm Credit Canada—
Robert Savage, founder of Solutions
affaires experts-conseils, has established an innovated approach to farm
consulting services. With the help of
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can get your farm on its way to
greater profitability by working with
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Never reach into pinch/pivot area
There are dozens of hazard
and safety symbols that
you may encounter in
working around your farm.
Below are some pictograms that can appear
on heavy machinery or in
your work area. Each one
is industry-recognized
internationally, and
remembering what they
mean may help you
prevent an accident or
injury.
To learn more,
visit the Association of
Equipment Manufacturer’s
website at www.aem.org
and click on PICTORIALS
No riders/No hangers on
144140
DEVOTION TO DAIRY
Dairy in Canada—where we’re headed
Paul Meldrum
Manager
Macdonald Campus Farm
It’s pretty much a given that the
dairy industry in Quebec, and
indeed all of Canada, is headed in
a direction where there will be
fewer producers and farms will
be larger and milking more cows.
But how will we get there, and
what will our dairy farming communities look like?
Without getting into that endless and emotional debate about
supply management, let’s assume
that quota will still be here, along
with the cost of production formula. The demand for dairy
products in Canada is relatively
stagnant. Given current demographics, and the plethora of
competitively priced beverages,
the likelihood is that there will
not be huge increases in quota
because there will not be huge
increases in demand. So there
will not a lot of extra quota floating around.
This was already evident
when, due to supply and
demand, the price of quota was
History has shown that every
time there is a solution to a problem, that solution creates a new
set of problems. And so it is with
the value of quota. There have
been suggestions that the price
CURRENTLY IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR
ANYONE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH AN EXPANSION
TO BUY THE QUOTA THEY NEED TO FILL THE BARN
WITH COWS.
rising faster than the best performing stocks on the stock market. There was concern that
young farmers and smaller producers would be shut out of the
quota market, so the price cap
was introduced.
cap has discouraged producers
from selling, preferring to wait to
see if it will be removed.
Currently it is virtually impossible for anyone who has gone
through an expansion to buy the
quota they need to fill the barn
FCC Drive
Away Hunger
Thanks a million Canada
(1.7 million, actually)
Thanks to the generosity of our partners and community volunteers, there are fewer empty
plates this fall. You helped raise 1.7 million pounds of food for food banks across the country.
Groupe CNP, Le Maître Saladier, Les productions horticoles Demers
Community
matters
141136
with cows. Those who have
invested a lot of money in new
facilities cannot afford to wait too
long to get the necessary quota,
and they will begin to make
noise. If the price cap is turfed,
more quota would come on the
market and those close to retirement would choose to exit the
industry. Looking for a retirement fund, they would drive the
price of quota up, and we’d be
back to the scenario where it
would be virtually impossible for
small farms to continue on to the
next generation. Those able to
afford the quota would be the
larger farmers with more leverage and larger cash flow. It is a
difficult dilemma with no easy
solution. Our quota system has
slowed down the progression to
larger operations, but it will not
be able to stem the tide indefinitely.
Like it or not, if you look at the
scenario in the U.S., you will have
a good picture of where we are
headed. Farms will either be
large or small; there will be no in
between. The mid-sized farm
will be economically unviable
because it will be too small to
afford adequate hired help or efficient equipment and too large to
be a husband and wife operation.
There will be some smaller operations with mostly family labour
for a variety of reasons: some will
be pasture based with reduced
inputs, some will be organic and
some will survive by living symbiotically with the large operations, hiring them to do custom
field work, purchasing silage and
perhaps selling hay for dry cows.
Others will do well selling genetics, and there will be those farms
that will be subsidized by offfarm income, with one spouse,
usually the wife, working to pay
the living expenses.
As always, there will be a socioeconomic effect. The rural population will be smaller, forcing the
closure of schools and businesses
in small towns and there will be
attrition in the industries that
service agriculture such as milking equipment and farm machinery dealers. There is no question
that changes are inevitable, even
with supply management. The
dairy industry in the United
Kingdom has gone through massive changes, and next month, I
will look at how milk producers
in Northern Ireland have coped
with the elimination of a guaranteed price, and the devaluation of
their quota.
Paul Meldrum is the manager of
McGill University’s Macdonald
Campus Farm. In the past, he has
run successful dairy operations in
both Ontario and New York State,
hosted and produced CJOH TV’s
“Valley Farmer,” and has been heard
on agriculture reports for CBC Radio
Noon in Ottawa
Following a long and passionate debate, with solid arguments
on both sides, the delegates at
the annual meeting of the
Fédération de l’UPA de Saint-JeanValleyfield approved by a strong
majority vote, the merger of their
federation with that of SaintHyacinthe, to form the future
Fédération de Montérégie. The delegates at the Saint-JeanValleyfield meeting had been
previously informed of results in
their neighbouring region,
where delegates voted against
the proposal the night before.
In order to limit discussion on
this issue, the former regional
president, Normand Gagnon,
asked for a vote specifically on
the
merger
with
SaintHyacinthe. He fears that his
present federation will be
drowned out in the new
Montérégie federation, since
only 40 per cent of the producers
come from the Saint-JeanValleyfield area. He also showed
reluctance in financing other
regions. “It is not logical that this
be decided by Quebec,” he
exclaimed.
Another former regional president, Eddy Proulx, expressed his
fear of a possible contradiction if
the two future Montérégie representatives voted against each
other at the board of directors
level.
On the other hand, producer
Ghislain Gendron declared that
“we have a good opportunity
here –we are trying to manage
the future, not the past.” The
same
positive
tone
was
expressed by Patrick Van
Velzen, who indicated that the
new, expanded region of
Montérégie would have more
weight, which would make it
difficult to ignore and thus
stronger than in the present
structure.
With regard to the position of
the Fédération de l’UPA de SaintHyacinthe to divide the territory
to match the Conseils régionaux
des élus (CRÉ), director Jean
Hogue expressed the opinion
that “fundamentally, they are
trying to steal from our side in
order to gain more political clout
for themselves.” According to
his analysis, the proposed future
Fédération de Saint-Hyacinthe
would include nine MRCs in two
CRÉs, compared to only five
MRCs in one CRÉ for Saint-JeanValleyfield, which would thus
lose many producers in this new
territorial division.
“This is too big and too fast,”
declared Jean-Charles Landry. “I
would be in favour of a moratorium on the merge of the
regions.”
“There will be a transition
committee that will work on this
over three years,” countered the
regional president, Bernard
Vincent, who spoke in favour of
the merger.
In the end, the Saint-JeanValleyfield delegates accepted
the creation of a new Fédération
de l’UPA de Montérégie, but with
four conditions: the creation of
an Anglophone syndicate (500
producers in the region), the continuation of all present services,
the right to two representatives
at the confederation level and the
PHOTO: THIERRY LARIVIÈRE
Saint-Jean-Valleyfield says yes to a new
Fédération de Montérégie
Saint-Jean-Valeyfield Regional President Bernard Vincent (at right) was re-elected, defeating former MNA and producer, Albert De
Martin, who was also running for president.
necessary funding to complete
all of these modifications. All of
the other adjustments proposed
in the UPA of the Future project
were approved; in particular, the
addition of territorial representatives for local syndicates according to the number of members.
However, a new regional
amendment was added, stipulating that these syndicates could
decide to reduce the number of
territorial representatives, while
conserving the same funding.
Also at the local level, the
addition of representatives for
specialty productions received
strong
majority
support.
Regarding the question of
regional specialized syndicates,
Saint-Jean-Valleyfield proposed
the possibility of creating two
specialized syndicates in any
region where the number of producers in a given production sector was judged to be too high (for
example, dairy production in
Montérégie). However, the two
syndicates would have only one
seat at the regional federation.
Closing of trails
and shale gas
The
Saint-Jean-Valleyfield
regional UPA had previously
voted in favour of closing ATV
and snowmobile trails in protest
against the excessive restrictions
on the income stabilization
insurance (ASRA) program
administered by La Financière
agricole du Québec. “We have to
set things in motion to resolve
this issue,” declared producer
Ghislain Gendron, UPA’s 2nd
vice-president, Denis Bilodeau.
Furthermore,
Bilodeau
explained that Minister Laurent
Lessard had commented during
a recent meeting that he believed
there was a “certain lack of con-
sultation” on the part of the UPA
regarding the new Agricultural
Policy. In addition, Bilodeau
expects that the Green Paper
containing the first version of the
Agricultural Policy will probably
be delayed until the spring.
The delegates also called for a
moratorium on all shale gas
operations until the BAPE is able
to come up with some precise
rules. Also, regarding the development of alternative energy
sources, the assembly called for a
review of the framework policy
for wind energy, in order to
include royalties for the installation of power lines and to minimize the impact and the number
of these lines. In particular, they
called for the suspension of the
projected transmission line for
the Saint-Valentin wind project.
Thierry Larivière
LTCN 2010-10-14
Saint-Hyacinthe refuses the merger proposal
The delegates at the annual
meeting of the Fédération de
l’UPA de Saint-Hyacinthe voted,
by a large majority, to refuse the
merger of their federation with
that of Saint-Jean-Valleyfield to
form a new Fédération de l’UPA
de Montérégie.
At the annual meeting of the Fédération
de l’UPA de Saint-Hyacinthe, delegates
adopted a resolution to call for pressure
tactics against the 25-per cent ASRA
restriction regarding the cost of production.
This vote shows the reluctance of the region to accept the
UPA’s major restructuring project, known by the name of
l’UPA du futur. It was this issue
that generated most of the
debate at this year’s annual
meeting.
“We are the ones who are
paying the price for this UPA of
the Future project, which they
are trying to force down our
throats,” exclaimed producer
Manon Coté, during a passionate critique that echoed the sentiments of many other producers who firmly oppose the
merger with the neighbouring
federation. “We are better off to
vote against it,” declared producer Robert Fournier, adding
that this would give their
regional president, Réjean
Bessette,
more
bargaining
power.
The assembly voted for a new
territorial division for the SaintHyacinthe federation, in line
with the two Conseils régionaux
des élus (CRÉ) of Montérégie-Est
and Haut-Saint-Laurent. This
scheme would still respect the
principle of matching local syndicates to the MRC territories.
In a nutshell, many of the
opinions were of the same
nature, saying that the SaintHyacinthe
region,
which
includes some 6,000 producers,
would not be adequately represented in the new proposed
structure. Others feared a certain distancing from the grassroots, with bigger local syndicates corresponding to the
MRCs. Although some delegates supported the realignment
of local syndicates with the
MRCs, not many defended the
new proposed Montérégie federation, except UPA President
Christian Lacasse, who was
present to address the assembly.
In spite of several other objections and long debates, the
majority of delegates finally
accepted the rest of the UPA of
the Future proposal. An amendment to divide the local syndicate aligned with the territory of
the MRC des Maskoutains (1,200
farms) into two parts was
defeated. On the other hand,
delegates did accept the addition of territorial representatives
to the boards of directors of
local syndicates and the addition of two representatives in
the case of the biggest local syndicates. There was also a clear
demand for a seat for female
farmers on local syndicate
boards, as well as the possibility
of a seat to represent
Anglophone farmers.
In addition, the proposed
changes concerning the regional
federation and confederation
levels were largely accepted (the
addition of specialty representatives on the boards, as well as
double majority votes at the
provincial level).
ASRA and shale gas
In spite of the lengthy debates
regarding UPA of the Future, delegates also voted on some fifteen other resolutions in the plenary session. Among these was
a call for pressure tactics against
the 25-per cent ASRA restriction
regarding the cost of production.
With regard to shale gas, delegates called for a moratorium
and a new framework agreement that would include royalties. A series of additional proposals were also sent to committee, to evaluate the possibility of
requiring comprehensive financial guarantees and a contingency plan if the groundwater
becomes contaminated. Also, a
resolution was passed regarding the development of a new
concerted agro-environmental
action plan. Finally, discussion
turned to the cost of maintaining riparian buffer strips, but
the resolution will be studied
further at the federation level,
since some delegates feared that
not to continue to maintain the
buffer strips might lead to a loss
of control for landowners.
Thierry Larivière
LTCN 2010-10-14
For a secretariat in support
of the uniqueness of agriculture
Christian Lacasse
UPA President
Following the example of the
cultural sector, agriculture and
the production methods associated with it require exceptional
treatment regarding world
trade. Agriculture and the production of food are, in fact, conditioned by multiple factors
which surpass mere commercial considerations: geographic
particularities, climatic restrictions, identity-based considerations, cultural and social
aspects, food safety, etc.
We cannot ignore the fundamental rights linked to agricul-
ture, such as the right to food,
which strengthen the exceptional character of agrifood
commodities. The strict interpretation of agrifood trade trivializes its “vital” character and
camouflages the responsibilities of states to take action to
feed their populations.
The one billion (or more) people in the world who are suffering from hunger and starvation
demonstrate to what extent the
unbridled liberalization of food
trade does not permit any consideration of vital issues for the
common good, nor the dangers
when such responsibilities are
left in the hands of private
interests. History has also
taught us that in agriculture, it
takes only a slight imbalance in
supply and demand for the
price of basic foodstuffs, and
also the resources necessary to
produce them (i.e. farmland) to
vary significantly, to the point
of putting at risk the basic
structures of farmers worldwide.
Added to this is the market
speculation on staple foods and
on tillable land, as well as the
extreme weather events that
regularly
affect
farming
regions, all factors that restrict
the small margin to manoeuvre.
We only have to think back to
the food crisis of 2008 and the
terrible consequences that it
caused in order to understand.
Furthermore, it is necessary
to take into account a trade
environment that is more and
more open and which requires
increased vigilance. Products
can appear on our markets that
are produced using cultural
practices that are incompatible
with our production regulations, our standards of food
quality and safety and even our
social expectations—or perhaps
as a result of dumping practices. How can we protect ourselves?
In such an environment, the
UPA believes that it has become
necessary to create a secretariat
in support of the uniqueness of
agriculture, with a mandate to
carry out analyses, research,
communications and promotion, to support a commercial
trade exemption for agriculture
and food and to implement collective measures that are consistent with the sustainable
development of Quebec’s food
industry (e.g. food sovereignty,
local and regional initiatives,
etc.)
Without the recognition of
the uniqueness of agriculture,
the ability of a people to decide
their own agricultural and food
policy becomes compromised,
sooner or later. Also, in the
longer term, it is their right to
food that is at risk. Many people, including former president
Bill Clinton (in 2009 at the UN),
have reminded us to what
extent that vigilance is essential
in this regard—agricultural
products “are products not like
the others”.
As Quebec’s first agricultural
policy is about to be tabled, the
need for such a secretariat is
even more important, considering the new expectations of the
population and the present
challenges facing agriculture. It
is also the correct direction to
take, since it is becoming more
and more evident that the multilateral negotiations regarding
agriculture will have no other
choice but to go in this direction
as well, in order to break the
deadlock. Quebec might as well
be the forerunner.
LTCN 2010-10-21
Working towards regulations adapted
to realities of beef production
ects for the FPBQ. In 2002, in the
midst of this work, the Règlement
sur les exploitations agricoles
(REA) was adopted, announcing
the end of manure stacks for
October 2008. “Perhaps there are
certain productions where it is
simpler to handle all manure as
liquid and in concrete, but for
beef production, this is not the
case, neither environmentally
nor economically.
“It requires an enormous
investment of money in concrete. It makes no sense,”
declared Michel Daigle, owner
of a beef feedlot, who markets
over 4,500 steers per year. For
his operation, manure handling
in a concrete storage tank, containing the 22,000 tons of
manure produced annually,
required an investment of more
than half a million dollars! “It
was really blackmail. We were
threatened with losing our
income stabilization insurance
and our tax rebate program. It
was very serious,” added
Daigle, who has been fighting
for field manure stacks to be
approved from the beginning.
“It’s not a smart idea to keep
manure in the barnyard, in a
manure tank at the end of the
buildings with all the flies!” he
added. According to him, it was
not logical either to force farmers to frequently handle large
volumes of manure during the
peak periods of work in the
fields. “It becomes a much bigger problem when a manure
tank overflows!” he noted.
However, the threat of eliminating this technique did not
slow down the research efforts.
Indeed, between 2006 and 2008,
MAPAQ launched a monitoring
project, involving nearly 500
poultry, beef and sheep operations, for a total of 661 manure
piles. The beef producers also
took the bull by the horns, with
their federation launching a
complementary project involving the monitoring of 119
manure stacks. “All of this data
led to the acceptance of the technique. The work was successful,
but it was a long, hard road,”
recollected Nathalie Côté. The
Institut de recherche et de
développement en agroenvironnement (IRDA) also played an
important role in getting
manure stacks approved. Work
by researcher Denis Côté led to
the publication in 2005 of the
Guide de conception des amas de
fumier, a best-practices manual
describing how to properly
manage manure piles in the
field. Then in March 2009,
agronomes Marc-Olivier Gasser
and Daniel Poulin revised the
document, using the results
obtained from the monitoring
projects conducted by MAPAQ
and the UPA’s specialized federations. Finally, last July, the
technique was officially recognized and approved through a
regulatory change. “It has been a
long, hard road—it isn’t perfect,
but on the whole, it meets most
of the producers’ needs,” Daigle
affirmed.
Save the wintering pens
The fight still continues to
have another much-used practice of cow-calf operators
approved; that is, wintering
pens. These exercise yards
allows producers to keep their
animals outside during the winter season. However, the present
regulations make their use diffi-
cult. For Charles Huneault, a
producer from Notre-Dame-deBon-Secours, this simple and
economic method to raise his
animals constitutes an essential
condition for keeping his business alive. “Personally, I will not
raise beef animals inside buildings in the Outaouais region,” he
declared. According to him, the
pens also present an advantage
in terms of tractor utilization,
good ventilation, and consequently in animal health. “Beef
producers tell us that the animals are more content and in
better health in the outdoor
environment,”
confirmed
FPBQ’s Nathalie Côté. In fact,
she is currently conducting
another project to monitor the
wintering pens, in order to perfect the system and to decrease
the environmental risks. “We
are working to improve this
technique,” Michel Daigle concluded. “We will show that
when it is done intelligently, it
does the job!”
Julie Mercier
LTCN 2010-10-14
Manure stacks in the field were officially approved
by the government last July, following many years of work
to show that the practice does not harm the environment.
PHOTO: BEATRIZ SALAS/TCN
Beef producers have fought an
impressive battle to have solid
manure stacks in the field
approved. After 15 years of ups
and downs, the technique of infield manure storage was finally
accepted this past summer.
During the mid-1990s, rumors
were flying that manure stacks
in the field would soon be forbidden. Beef production, where
watertight concrete storage
structures are not the general
practice, was shaken by this
threat. Together, the Ministère de
l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de
l’Alimentation (MAPAQ), the
Fédération des producteurs de
bovins du Québec (FPBQ) and the
Ministère de l’Environnement proceeded to develop a “Guide to
environmentally-sound
beef
manure management practices”.
Following this, from the late
1990s until 2006, a vast research
project was conducted in order
to perfect the technique. “Over
this period of several years, we
worked hard to better understand the impacts and the best
practices to use,” explained
Nathalie Côté, the agronome in
charge of environmental proj-
“We are going to improve
our organization,” says UPA president
Union des producteurs agricoles
(UPA)
President
Christian
Lacasse expressed his confidence
in the “UPA of the Future” project during an interview with the
newspaper La Terre de chez nous,
late in the day on October 8. The
statement was made the day after
a vote by delegates of the
Fédération de l’UPA de SaintHyacinthe, who rejected the merger with their neighbouring SaintJean-Valleyfield region, which
was aimed at creating a new
Fédération de l’UPA de Montérégie.
“We will continue our discussions,” declared the president,
adding that a letter had been sent
to the six most affected UPA
regions regarding the realignment of their territories to correspond with Quebec’s administrative regions. In the letter, the latest proposals were more fully
explained.
Lacasse added that numerous
changes had been made to the
UPA’s original restructuring proposal, which was initially developed by specialists from the firm
MCE Conseils, following an extensive survey. In fact, some of these
modifications were only a few
days old and the Saint-Hyacinthe
delegates heard about them for
the first time during their October
7th annual meeting; for example,
the creation of regional councils
within the new, more extended
federation, in order to “respect
the Union’s history”, and to create a “lighter structure” that will
allow orientation meetings prior
to the decision-making regional
meetings. Each regional council,
composed of the presidents and
vice-presidents of the respective
territory, would then have a seat
at the UPA’s general council
(specifically, two seats for
Montérégie), thus ensuring a better regional representation. For
the Montérégie region, the
regional council would be based
on the present federations and
would divide the new Fédération
de Montérégie on an east-west axis.
For the new ChaudièreAppalaches region, the UPA is
still “in the discussion phase,” but
there is a potential proposal that
would also divide this territory
into two regional councils. The
first would group together the
information at the same time and
will have the same regional influence at the executive committee,”
affirmed Regional Director
Gilbert Mathieu.
If producers avoid the meetings, it will also be possible to
meet them individually, as was
the case during the round of visits to obtain the signatures of
22,000 producers on a petition
against the recent budget-saving
measures by La Financière agricole.
The next steps
UPA President Christian Lacasse declared that he is “confident and motivated” that the “UPA of the Future” project will be adopted
with the highest possible consensus at the December congress.
sectors located along the SaintLawrence River (Côte-du-Sud,
Bellechasse, Lévis, Lotbinière),
while the second council would
include the more southern area
(Beauce-Appalaches). As discussions now stand, there would also
be two representatives at the
UPA’s general council for this
new federation. “However, we
do not want to change the provincial
guidelines,”
explained
Lacasse, with regard to the
realignment of the local syndicates to correspond to the MRC
territories (82 instead of the present 177 local syndicates) and the
regional federations to match the
administrative regions (a total of
12).
For Raymond Leblanc, president of the Syndicat de l’Islet-Sud,
where the regional federation of
Côte-du-Sud would be divided
between the new ChaudièresAppalaches
and
Bas-SaintLaurent federations, this guideline is not essential for the implementation of the many other ori-
entations.
Better local representation
The changes to the UPA of the
Future project do not affect only
the regional level. “We decided to
lift the ceilings on local syndicate
support,” indicated Lacasse,
adding that the original proposal
capped additional resource-persons after 750 members per syndicate. Indeed, four local syndicates with their territories aligned
with the MRCs would have over
900 members, including the one
covering
the
MRC
des
Maskoutins territory, with 1,200.
At the Saint-Hyacinthe regional
federation’s annual meeting, an
amendment to split the local syndicate into two parts was defeated.
Again, with regard to local syndicates, the new proposals would
add seats for territorial directors
in proportion to the total number
of producers. “We want to ensure
better representation,” declared
Lacasse, adding that these new
directors would lead to improved
“sharing of the work” generated
by the larger territory and a better
representation for all sectors. The
local syndicate would even have
the right to stipulate in its by-laws
that the territorial directors must
come from the different municipalities of the MRC. “If we have
to, we will even hold kitchen
meetings,” added the president,
who insists that the new local
syndicate structure must also
rekindle the union spirit.
At the meeting of the L’IsletSud syndicate, delegates did not
believe that the union spirit can
be rekindled that easily. “If we
are split in two, we will be at the
far end of each region. It will be
difficult to keep in touch with the
grassroots when they are that far
away,”
declared
Raymond
Leblanc, the syndicate’s president.
The Lanaudière region believes
that information will circulate
more efficiently. “All of the local
presidents will receive the same
In the original version of UPA
of the Future, it was estimated
that $1.6 million would be saved
annually in the organization’s
operating costs. The new modifications bring this figure down to
$1.056 million. “As long as we can
save $1 million—that will be
fine,” affirmed Lacasse.
“We are going to try to obtain a
much larger consensus at the general congress,” concluded the
UPA president, who hopes to be
able to adopt a “project for the
future”, which will last for the
next several decades.
More meetings are scheduled
in the coming weeks to make further adjustments to the proposal,
which will then be presented to
the general council in November.
It is here that the final version of
l’UPA du futur will be decided, in
preparation for its presentation at
the
general
congress
in
December.
“I am confident, and I am really motivated,” declared Lacasse,
adding that “we did not start all
of this two years ago just to put
the report on a shelf.” A final
sprint is now underway for the
next month and a half, during
which time all the regional federations will debate their ideas for
the UPA of the future.
In the Lanaudière region, if all
goes well, the local and regional
changes will be put into effect
immediately in 2011, without
waiting for the final decision of
the general congress.
Thierry Larivière
(in collaboration with Julie Mercier
and Julie Roy)
LTCN 2010-10-14
Beef mergers threaten Quebec
On the world stage of beef
slaughterhouses, the biggest
players are swallowing up the
smaller ones. And Canada and
Quebec have not escaped this
trend. Everywhere in the world,
the number of beef processors is
dwindling. JBS, the heavyweight among packing plants,
with a capacity of 90,000
head/day, first bought out its
competitor Swift in 2007, then
swallowed up the Smithfield
Beef Group in 2008 and tried to
get its hands on National Beef
Packing in 2009.
“In Canada, the big also eat
the small,” noted DanielMercier
Gouin,
a
Laval
University professor, while
making a presentation at the
recent Congres du Boeuf. In
fact, Cargill bought out Better
Beef in Ontario and XL Foods
took over Lakeside Packers
(Tyson) in Alberta. These two
giants now slaughter 95 per cent
of Canadian beef volumes.
Levinoff-Colbex, the largest
slaughterhouse in Quebec, with
800 head/day, cannot match XL
Foods (4,700 head/day) or
Cargill (1,400 head/day).
“For cull cattle, we presently
have an important player at
home. Can we allow it to disappear?” asked Gouin, who is
presently the head of the Chaire
d’analyse de la politique agricole et
“We have cows from Quebec
that are sold at auction in the
Ottawa area and then are
shipped back to Colbex. That is
500 kilometres! Some may say
that it is profitable to do this. In
reality, the buyers that have a
license to print money!”
exclaimed
the
professor.
According to him, the solution
“THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY
DID NOT HELP ITS BEEF SLAUGHTER INDUSTRY
BY ADOPTING THE MOST STRICT RULES
AND REGULATIONS,” CONCLUDED GOUIN.
de la mise en marché collective
[Agricultural policy and collective marketing analysis research
chair]. Gouin finds it quite a paradox that, in spite of the establishment of a single channel for
marketing cull cattle, “La Belle
Province” still has some 20,000
cull cows that are sold outside
this system—a very contentious
issue according to him.
lies in “respecting collective
rules rather than individual
interests.” With regard to
slaughter steers, Quebec is even
more vulnerable to outside buyers, particularly to Cargill
(Ontario)
and
JBS
(Pennsylvania). Together, they
process about 70 per cent of
Quebec’s animals since the closing of Quebec’s only major
packing plant, the Billette
slaughterhouse, in 2007.
On the world stage
Brazil, the cradle of the number one slaughtering firm, JBS,
is also among the world leaders
in beef production. With its
rapid growth of 37 per cent
between 2000 and 2009, it took
over second place from the
European Union in the mid2000s and is now hot on the
heels of the world’s top player,
the United States. Over a period
of 10 years, this South American
country as multiplied its exports
by 227 per cent, in spite of the
mad cow crisis in 2007, which
caused the doors of numerous
countries to close. According to
the most recent USDA estimates, Brazil’s international
sales will probably grow by
eight per cent in 2011. “It is a
player that cannot be ignored,”
remarked Gouin.
“Brazil is primarily present on
secondary markets, since with
regard to food health and safety,
it does not rank with Canada
and Australia.” For its part,
Australia is very dependant on
foreign markets, since 65 per
cent of its beef is sold outside
the country. It does, however,
beat out its competitors on
access to the European market
without trade barriers, because
its meat is exempt of growth
hormones. Almost neck to neck
with Australia in 2003, the U.S.
saw its exports plummet due to
the BSE crisis. As for Canada, its
exports showed a 15 per cent
decline over the past decade. Its
competitiveness was hindered
by its relatively high labour
costs and its rules concerning
Specified Risk Materials (SRM).
“The Canadian government certainly did not help its beef
slaughter industry by adopting
the most strict rules and regulations,” concluded Gouin.
Julie Mercier
LTCN 2010-10-21
Townships producers refuse snowmobile
access—with some regret
program. Himself a producer
from Valcourt, the birthplace of
the snowmobile invented by
Joseph-Armand
Bombardier,
Bourassa admitted that farmers
had adopted the position out of
desperation.
“We regret having to do this,”
he said at the press conference, in
response to a question of
whether farmers are trying to
hold the tourist industry
hostage. Bourassa added that
farmers are, in fact, model citizens.
“Snowmobilers know that
active farmers are the most likely
to permit trails to cross their
property. When city dwellers
buy a farm, the first thing they
do is push everybody out!”
UPA President Christian
Lacasse affirmed that the number one priority for farmers is the
future of their farms. He also
noted that the UPA is not asking
for more money from Quebec,
since he is convinced that the
government’s $630 million budget envelope will be sufficient.
Members of l’UPA- Estrie reaffirmed their property rights by
withdrawing the privilege of access to their farmland, in order
to pressure Quebec to rescind ASRA’s 25-per cent efficiency
measure.
“It is a privilege that farmers
extend,” Lacasse added, just
before leaving the meeting early
in order to meet with Quebec
Minister of Agriculture Laurent
Lessard.
Disagreement
The question of snowmobile
trails took up a good part of the
region’s annual meeting. Some
producers expressed their disagreement, particularly Bruno
Letendre, president of the
Syndicat des producteurs de lait de
l’Estrie, speaking on his own
behalf. Letendre believes that
this is not a winning strategy and
he would prefer to give the agriculture minister another chance.
Marcel Bisson, president of the
Syndicat de Richmond, agrees with
Letendre and would like to see
farmers seek out other pressure
tactics.
Regional President François
Bourassa responded that the
government is responsible for
the billion-dollar deficit of La
Financière agricole, accusing
Quebec of “always dipping into
the ASRA fund.” He acknowledged that the closing of the
trails is not unanimous, but
admitted that there are no other
options at his disposal. As a sign
of
good
faith,
Bourassa
explained that l’UPA-Estrie has
permitted the snowmobile clubs
to start immediately to install
trail signs before freeze-up.
UPA of the Future
The producers did not discuss
the “UPA of the Future” restructuring project at their annual
meeting. The Estrie federation
will submit a report following
the general consultation process.
Bourassa admitted that the project did not “stir up much emotion” in the region. Producers are
in agreement that the UPA
would be more efficient by
matching its territories with the
MRCs. He did note, however,
that certain sectors, namely
Wolfe, would be leaving Estrie
with regret.
Among the other resolutions
adopted by the Estrie producers
was one to put more emphasis
on the consumption of local and
Quebec food products, considering the current 33 per cent coming from Quebec farms to be
completely insufficient. In fact,
the director-general, Diane
Lacroix, required that the host
hotel serving the meal at the
annual meeting use only regional products.
Other resolutions concerned
environmental protection. Estrie
producers emphasized that the
new version of the Règlement sur
les exploitations agricoles (REA)
has brought with it some unrealistic
technical
changes.
Although it does satisfy farmers
with regard to in-field manure
stacks and low-boom liquid
manure spreaders, it also introduced
some
questionable
requirements,
particularly
regarding the characterization of
manure.
Pierre-Yvon Bégin
LTCN 2010-10-21
PHOTO: PIERRE-YVON BÉGIN
Farmers in the Estrie [i.e. the
Eastern Townships] region have
joined the parade and withdrawn the privilege of granting
access to their land for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.
While attending the annual general meeting of the Fédération de
l’UPA de l’Estrie, agricultural
producers gave a majority vote
in favour of the pressure tactic—
but
not without some grief.
They decided to maintain their
position until the government
removes its 25-per cent efficiency
measure introduced to ASRA’s
cost of production calculations.
“It is with heavy hearts that we
do this,” declared the regional
federation’s president, François
Bourassa. In an interview with
La Terre de chez nous following
the annual meeting, Bourassa
stated that he had met with
numerous farmers over the past
several weeks—who have either
lost their farms or fear they
may—all because of changes
made to the agricultural income
stabilization insurance (ASRA)
QFA CROSSWORD - by Myles Mellor
ACROSS
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This Board, relating to Canadian farming, was incorporated by an Act of 1935
Serious weather condition for farmers
Your and my
Fruity dessert
Areas where there is a lot of squealing!
Reduce, expenses
Canadian meat product
Had a good meal
__-product
Time period a long time ago
Frostiness
Crop cultivated by the Iroquois and the
Huron in the 17th century
Maple liquid
Morning drops
Okanagan Valley wine
Hollow-horned ruminant
Major source of light
“Cage-Free Eco-Omega 3” items
Experimentation is underway to find
more uses for this healthy protein
Raised, as stock
Sounded, like a cow
Tree
Dry Prairie dirt
Canadian farmers are growing more of
this crop with the increase of Asian population in Canada
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In a direction
Soil ___
Group that works to forward agricultural
interests in Ontario, abbr.
Hard sandstone
Delicious
Skywards
Mature, like good wine
Address book abbr.
Cask
Grape producers
Guelph Millenium _____
Air controller, for short
With thick and spreading branches
Animal continuously increasing on
Canadian farms
Purebred ancestry
Canadian politician, for short
Magazine manager
Purchaser
Scatter seeds
Act passed to help farmers with financial
problems, abbr.
Conclude
Turf
The in Spanish
British Lady
Solution on page 22
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newspaper
articles,
research abstracts, animal welfare information and more. We
aim to collect organic resources
from across Canada and around
the globe, and make them accessible to you on the website.
Interested in the effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity?
Want to learn more about growing apples organically? Need
some help interpreting the new
organic standards as they pertain to animal welfare? You’ll
find it all!
Searchable and
indexed by resource type, category or province, information is
easy to access. The website is
also the go-to place to find out
more about the recently
announced Organic Science
Cluster.
The OACC Organic Friends’
E-zine highlights the new materials posted on the OACC website each month, making it easy
for you to stay even more intune with recent happenings,
new research results and extension materials. If you haven’t
already signed up, we invite you
to visit our website or e-mail
[email protected] to join the over
14,000 people already on our
mailing list.
Established to provide an online meeting place for organic
farmers in Canada to discuss
topics of interest, share details
on on-farm trials and experimentation, communicate and
collaborate with fellow farmers,
and share success stories or
frustrations, the OACC Discussion Forum is our newest online tool and resource.
This
venue will also provide organic
researchers in Canada with
insight into the research needs
and desires of organic farmers.
Visit today, explore the discussions, and sign up for an
account to share your thoughts
and perspectives with the
organic community of Canada
at :
http://www.oacc.info/phpbb3/
We hope to see you soon!
Invest in the future of agriculture
Hire a new grad
Are you interested in helping to develop Canada’s newest and brightest graduates
for a career in the agriculture industry? The Career Focus Program provides
employers with up to $20,000 in matching funds to create internship opportunities
for recent graduates from agriculture-related programs.
For employers, the program offers an economical way to attract new talent and
helps provide new graduates with a valuable first job that will help pave the way to a
career in the ever-changing agriculture and agri-food industry.
Eligible employers:
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work experiences in Canada and skills acquisition through mentoring and coaching.
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PSHBOJ[BUJPOTQSPWJODJBMBOENVOJDJQBMHPWFSONFOUTBTTPDJBUJPOTCPBSETDPVODJMT
colleges and universities.
Eligible interns:
t .VTUCFB$BOBEJBODJUJ[FOPSMBOEFEJNNJHSBOU
t .VTUCFZFBSTPMEPSZPVOHFS
t .VTUIBWFHSBEVBUFEGSPNBVOJWFSTJUZDPMMFHF$&(&1PSQSPWJODJBMJOTUJUVUJPO
XJUIJOUIFMBTUUISFFZFBSTTQFDJBMJ[JOHJOCJPMPHZBHSJDVMUVSFWFUFSJOBSZTDJFODFT
or applied technology.
st
To find out more about the Career Focus Program
and to obtain a project proposal form:
Visit: www.agr.gc.ca/careerfocus
Call: 1-866-452-5558 E-mail: [email protected]
144815
•
450 679-0540 Ext. 8536
CLASSIFIEDS
BUY • SELL • WANTED • THANKS • TRADE... IN RURAL QUEBEC AND BEYOND!
FOR SALE – LIVESTOCK
RMR RED ANGUS – FOR
SALE: Registered & commercial, heifer & bull calves & a
blue paper bull born, Spring
2008. Phone 819-986-1972 or
819-281-2252. Email - [email protected]
FOR SALE – LANDINI. 105
VISION. 4X4. CAB. LOADER.
105 Hp. 30 SPEED SHUTTLE.
LOADER. $52000 obo. Tel: 613639-1869
FOR SALE - 80 EWES. BRED
TEXEL. ALL UNDER 4 YEARS
OLD – SOUND QUALITY
SHEEP. $200 EACH. Tel: 613639-1869.
FOR SALE – EQUIPMENT
HOULE CABLE-TYPE ALLEY
Announcements!
SCRAPER. Complete with
transmission and 4 scrapers.
Birth notices? Marriage announcements? Obituaries?
QFA MEMBER BENEFITS
Tel: 450-264-6895
DO YOU NEED SOMETHING TRANSLATED? The
QFA’s Translation Services are
back! English to French or
French to English. No job is too
big or too small! QFA members
automatically get a 10% discount with additional rebates
available to return customers.
Call us at 450-679-0540, Ext.
8536 or e-mail us: [email protected].
QFA ACCOUNTING BOOKS,
bilingual, easy to use, $25 for
QFA members. Call the QFA
office to order your copy. 450679-0540, extension 8536.
Use our classified section!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 450-679-0540 ext. 8536
Fax: 450-463-5291
WANT AN AD?
Don’t forget that QFA members get 3 FREE
classified ads per year! Send in your ads now!
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 450-679-0540 ext. 8536
Fax: 450-463-5291
Visit the new, redesigned
www.QuebecFarmers.org to see archived
back issues of the Advocate!
✄
Remember!
QFA members
get 3 FREE
classifieds per year!
20 words
$5.64 (taxes included)
QFA
CROSSWORD
SOLUTION
Buying an ad?
Fill out our classified form,clip it out and mail to:
Quebec Farmers’ Association (QFA)
555 Boul. Roland-Therrien, Office 255, Longueuil, QC J4H 4E7
or fax it to 450-463-5291
Please make cheques payable to Quebec Farmers’ Association
Don't you think it's time to reduce your work load? LET US HELP!
V-Mix
Daf
Belt feeder
AUTORATION
Get the ultimate in Automated feeding systems !
*See your local Valmetal dealer for more details.
Tel: 819.395.4282
[email protected]
www.valmetal.com
144142
Quirky QFA Crack-Ups
Deathbed lawyer
A lawyer was on his deathbed in his bedroom, and he called to his wife. She rushed in and
said, “What is it, honey?”
He told her to run and get the bible as soon as possible. Being a
religious woman, she thought this was a good idea. She ran and got
it, prepared to read him his favorite verse or something of the sort.
The other hunters are very curious. “How you gonna get a bear without a gun?” they ask.
“Do you have a knife?”
“No,” says the guy.
“Do you have a club?”
“No,” says the guy.
“Don’t you worry. I’m gonna get myself a bear. Just wait right here and see.”
The guy leaves the cabin and disappears into the hills for several hours.
He snatched it from her and began quickly scanning pages, his
Eventually he happens upon a bear asleep in his den and he kicks the bear and gets it
eyes darting right and left. The wife was curious. “What are really angry. As the bear wakes up, he starts to chase after the guy, so the guy starts
you doing, honey?” she asked.
running back towards the cabin.
Finally the hunters hear him running down the hill and yelling,“Open the cabin door! Open
“I’m looking for loopholes!” he shouted.
the door!”
They open the door and the guy runs into the cabin and holds the door open behind him.
Hunter without a gun
There’s this guy who shows up at a cabin where these To the terror of the other hunters, an angry bear follows close behind, running into the
hunters have gathered to hunt bear. Only he shows up cabin, too. Then the guy slams the door shut, and says, “You skin that one. I’ll go get
another.”
without a gun.
New magnum
NEW
VRS system, RTK correction
MORE POWER - LESS FUEL
by cellular with
1 cm of precision
MID-RANGE MAGNUM
MAGNUM
Models
180
190
210
225
235
260
290
315
340
HP - PTO *
185
200
211
227
220
240
265
290
315
Motor
6,75L 6,75L 6,75L 6,75L
8,7L
8,7L
8,7L
8,7L
8,7L
* with power boost
MID-RANGE MAGNUM
MID-RANGE MAGNUM
MORE CLEAN ENERGY
All four NEW Case IH Magnum™ Series tractors,
the Magnum 180, Magnum 190, Magnum 210
and Magnum 225, are a perfect match for the
typical mid-sized row-crop implements, offering
the largest cab in the inductry, a fuel-efficient
power train, and the latest in precision farming
capabilities. Magnum Series tractors continue to
be built in Racine, Wis.
with CVT transmission
To improve horsepower, engine responsiveness, fuel
economy and durability, while lowering emissions to
meet governmental Tier 4A standards, Case IH has
adopted Selective Catalyctic Reduction (SCR) technology
to enhance its proven high-horsepower tractor engine
lineup.
Especially in the area of fuel efficiency where we’re
seeing a minimum of 10 percent average inprovement.
SCR is a cool-running, quiet system that’s seperate from
the main engine function and does not compromise
horsepower or torque. It does not interfere with engine
performance and, in fact, it actually improves it. The
SCR after-treatment will require the addition of DEF
(Diesel Engine Fluid).
Four Case IH mid-range Magnum are now
available with continuously variable
transmissions (CVT) and also feature a new
standard ’’MultiControl Armrest’’ that puts
all speed, hydraulics, hitch and end-of-row
controls at the operators’fingertips.
YOUR CASE IH DEALER - FOR THOSE WHO DEMAND MORE!
COATICOOK
J.M. CHAGNON INC.
GRANBY
LES ÉQUIPMENTS
ADRIEN-PHANEUF INC..
HUNTINGDON
LES ÉQUIPEMENTS
LAZURE ET
RIENDEAU INC.
LACHUTE
LES ÉQUIPEMENTS
R. MARSAN
(LACHUTE) INC.
NAPIERVILLE
CLAUDE JOYAL INC.
STANBRIDGE STATION
CLAUDE JOYAL INC.
2006 CNH
CNH America
America LLC.
LLC. All
Tous
droits
réservés.
Case
déposée
de CNH
America
LLC. LLC.
CNH CNH
Capital
est une
de CNH
America
LLC.
www.caseih.com
© 2009
rights
reserved.
Case
IH IH
is amarque
registered
trademark
of CNH
America
Capital
is amarque
trademark
of CNH
America
LLC.
www.caseih.com
UPTON
LES ÉQUIPMENTS
ADRIEN-PHANEUF INC.
WOTTON
GARAGE
E. COMTOIS INC.
Page 24 - Quebec Farmers’ Advocate / September 2010
Something BIG’S GOING ON!
AND YOU’RE INVITED!
ACT NOW! Offer ends November 30, 2010
0%
FINANCING FOR UP TO
72 MONTHS
OR CHOOSE CASH BACK
Something BIG comes around every year VALUE BONANZA! And this year, the
savings are BIGGER than ever. Start with
0% financing for up 72 months that’s SIX YEARS without finance charges.
Or, choose CASH BACK on select
New Holland tractors and eligible
hay & forage equipment.
Financing is on approved credit only.
Dynamic and experienced: visit your local New Holland dealer today!
COOKSHIRE-EATON
Machinerie C.H. INC.
IBERVILLE
Équipement Inotrac Inc.
SAINTE-MARTINE
Coop Uniforce
DALHOUSIE STATION
Fernand Campeau & fils Inc.
MIRABEL
J. René Lafond Inc.
WOTTON
Équipement Proulx & Raîche Inc.
HUNTINGDON
Équipements T.M.
NAPIERVILLE
Coop Uniforce
Your success – our speciality
144132

November, 2010 - Quebec Farmers` Association

Transcription

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