PEI Cattle Producers
New funding delivery process
Maintaining Deadstock Removal Service

by Rinnie Bradley
As the summer days grow shorter we look ahead to a busy fall and harvest. Grain harvest has begun in Prince Edward Island and the potato harvest will soon follow. To the untrained eye, the growth of hay, silage, grain, and potato crops looks fine. However, there are parts of the Island that have received very little rainfall this summer which has resulted in smaller than normal hay crops and an expected lighter potato crop. But again, it depends on whom you talk to and where their farm is located. Let’s hope the recent rainfall will result in an abundant harvest.

I would like to acknowledge the departure of two exceptional young women who have served this industry well for the past couple of years. Jena Nicholson worked for the PEI Cattle Producers and served as the coordinator for the Certified Island Beef program as well as the Verified Beef Production program for P.E.I. and Newfoundland and Labrador. Having recently accepted a position with LP Consulting Limited, she now resides in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. Ellen Crane, the industry development officer for the Maritime Beef Council, has accepted a position with the Beef Cattle Research Council and will be working from her home in Truro, N.S. These women have demonstrated their confidence, ability, and dedication to the beef industry in the Maritimes and we are very grateful for their hard work during the past few years. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours!

As I mentioned in my last article, the funding delivery process that had been available through the PEI Cattlemen’s office for the past number of years has been completely overhauled. The Beef Genetics Program, funded from the Technology and Science Adoption Program under the PEI Department of Agriculture (PEI DoA) and administered through the PEICP, will provide funding for Purebred and F-1 Bulls, Purebred Heifers, and Seedstock Evaluation as well as a new component for Elite Embryos. Applications for any of these programs must be dropped off at the PEICP office. Funding for Scales is available under the Sensors and Monitors portion of the Technology & Science Adoption Sub-Program and is being delivered by the PEI DoA. Applications for Scales go to the DoA.

There will be funding through the On-Farm Assurances Program that is funded by the department, however, at the time of writing, the contract was not signed, and we are reluctant to provide details. All we can say is that we have applied for funding for RFID Readers and Handling Facilities as well as the delivery of the CIB Brand, the VBP+ program and a few other miscellaneous items. We will release details on this program as soon as it has been announced. The development of the programs and the approval process has taken significantly longer than in previous years due to the changeover from Growing Forward 2 to Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP). With a new program comes the development of new goals, objectives, and processes, so we would like to extend our gratitude to our members for your patience and understanding. We hope to have everything rolling by the time you receive this issue of Atlantic Beef and Sheep.

The Deadstock Removal Service invoices went out to producers at the end of March. As you know the fees are based on a producer’s inventory, marketing, and prior deadstock pickups. While we have seen a consistent uptake of the program during the last two years, we have noticed a significant decline from the first year of the program. What does this mean for you? We will have to review our fee structure for 2019 to ensure we meet our commitment to the program that is currently cost-shared with the province and Dairy Farmers of P.E.I. What can you do to ensure the program is there when you need it? Approach it as an insurance policy and pay up front when you receive your invoice. A growing number of producers are only paying their invoice if and when they need a pick-up. This practice will certainly lead to unsustainable revenues and the ultimate failure of the program. Our priority is to maintain the service and ensure that we have adequate funding to pay our share. If you value the service, please ensure you pay your deadstock removal fees and help to ensure the continued delivery of the program.

The PEICP recently enlisted the services of an auditor to review some P.E.I. beef operations for the accurate and timely remittance of levies. From early reports this process went fairly smoothly. We thank those of you who were selected for audit for your cooperation throughout this process. Your remittance of levies ensures the lifeblood of your organization and enables us to offer the programs and services that we do. If you have any questions or concerns, we urge you to call the office at 902-368-2229 or contact one of your directors. Our hope is that the audit process is educational and seamless for all involved.

Atlantic Beef Products Inc. recently announced a program that will pay an additional two cents per pound for animals that grade AAA and weigh 750 pounds or more at slaughter and that come from VBP+ Registered operations. Many of you have participated in VBP workshops in the past so you may be familiar with the program, however, if you want to register you will need to commit to the program and have a third-party audit. We can help you prepare for this. Please call the PEICP office and ask to speak with Amanda Miller. We encourage anyone who has not taken the VBP+ workshop to plan to attend the Fall District meetings in P.E.I. They are scheduled for November 13, 14, and 15 and will be held in Charlottetown, Kensington, and Montague respectively. The second half of the meetings will include a VBP+ workshop. We will also be holding a Humane Handling workshop this fall. The date and locations have yet to be announced. We strongly encourage producers to attend these educational workshops as they are required for funding for RFID Readers and other programs. Please watch for more details as we get closer to hosting these events.

In closing, we would like to congratulate our recent winners of the Prince Edward Island Certified Beef (CIB) Awards presented during the CIB annual in July. The Producer of the Year award is in recognition of a producer who contributes to the overall quality, improvement, and growth of the brand. This year’s award is presented to Fulton Sanderson and Sons Inc., a feedlot from Cornwall, P.E.I. The Rookie of the Year award is in recognition of a new CIB feedlot or cow-calf producer who contributes to the overall quality, improvement, and growth of the brand. This year’s Rookie of the Year award is presented to Donald Johnstone, a cow-calf producer from Kensington, P.E.I. We want to thank them for their commitment and dedication to the CIB brand!

(Rinnie Bradley is the executive director of the P.E.I. Cattle Producers. She can be reached at 902-368-2229 or by email at cattlemen@eastlink.ca.)

NS Cattle Producers
National conferences, meetings, farm tours, and workshops

by Larry Weatherby
We weathered an unusually hot, dry summer, so we can only hope for a cooler fall ahead! The Nova Scotia Cattle Producers had a busy summer and we continue to plan for future industry events.

NSCP organized a farm tour for the evening of July 24 at Argyll Farm in Merigomish. This consisted of owner John Muir guiding fellow producers on a pasture walk while discussing his rotational grazing procedures and providing details on his day-to-day farm operations, including feeding and housing methods. Although it was a very warm evening, we had a great turnout with lots of questions and interest expressed by attendees.

We are pleased to report there were nine participants representing the province at the 2018 Canadian Beef Industry Conference (CBIC) held in London, Ont., Aug. 13-17. They attended such events as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) 2018 semi-annual meeting, the Canadian Beef Check-Off Agency annual meeting, as well as various farm tours. We would also like to extend congratulations to Nova Scotia’s Pat and Larry Ward of Willow Pond Farm, who were finalists for the CCA 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award.

The fourth annual Nova Scotia Elite Beef Expo once again took place at the N.S. Provincial Exhibition. The Expo delivered showmanship classes on Aug.24, and breed shows on both Aug. 25 and 26. Additionally, both the Male and Female Supreme Champions were named on Aug. 26. For additional information on the N.S. Elite Beef Expo, please visit www.nscattle.ca/expo.

Perennia and NSCP have partnered to deliver important nutritional information workshops for cows. Perennia ruminant specialist Jonathan Wort will be discussing the nutrition required by cows, including forage quality and the importance of understanding forage reports. These workshops will be held on the evenings of Sept.17 at the Berwick Fire Hall, and Sept. 18 at the River John Fire Hall. Please register prior to Sept. 13 by phoning 902-897-6742 or emailing office@nscattle.ca.

We would like to remind all producers of regulation changes that control access to and the use of antibiotics in livestock, being implemented by Health Canada beginning Dec.1, 2018. These changes mean producers will require a prescription from a licenced veterinarian before being able to buy medically important antibiotics for treating livestock. It will be vital that you have an established Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) prior to the Dec. 1 start date to ensure that you are able to obtain prescriptions when needed.

As mentioned in the summer issue of ABS, NSCP partnered with Pork Nova Scotia, the Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Animal Health Coalition to construct a strategy in case of a major, province-wide emergency related to animal health, weather, or market interruptions. We jointly developed a producer handbook to assist in the unfortunate event of a major emergency. It can be found online at nscattle.ca/emergency/ for your reference.

NSCP has developed a new initiative supporting the Maritime Beef Industry Development and Expansion Strategy, titled the Female Breeding Stock Funding Draw. This program supports the purchase of heifers and/or cows to eligible producers who comply with the program guidelines. Producers will receive one entry ballot per attendance at eligible industry events for a lottery draw, occurring at the NSCP annual general meeting in March. For more information, including a full list of program guidelines, please visit nscattle.ca/heiferdraw/.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact the office. As a reminder, the NSCP is on Facebook and Twitter, where we frequently post industry news and updates, as well as related upcoming workshops and events.

(Larry Weatherby is the chair of NSCP. For any questions, comments or concerns, please phone the NSCP office at 902-893-7455 or email office@nscattle.ca).

NB Cattle Producers
Funding programs, traceability, workshops, and meetings

by Allison Finnamore
It’s been a busy summer for the New Brunswick Cattle Producers. Here is a roundup of the latest news.

Funding programs

Details of the 2018 funding programs for the NBCP have been announced.

The Beef Cattle Handling and Weighing Systems Initiative is a financial incentive for producers to upgrade their cattle handling and/or weighing systems. To qualify for financial assistance of up to 50 percent of the cost of new handling equipment to a maximum of $3,000, producers must complete one of the following:

1. Participate in NB Enhanced Beef Herd Health and Quality Initiative and have completed a Handling System Review and Upgrade Strategy Form.

2. Attended a VBP+ Workshop or are a registered Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) operation and have completed a Handling System Review and Upgrade Strategy Form.

3. Have a signed veterinarian affidavit confirming an on-site veterinarian visit to develop a Herd Health Protocol and have completed a Handling System Review and Upgrade Strategy Form.

Funding is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The application deadline is Oct. 31, 2018 and the claim form must be returned to the NBCP office by Dec. 7, 2018. Producers must have completed their Annual Producer Registration Form and submitted copies of all sales receipts from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017 showing they are in good standing with NBCP to participate.

The 2018 Beef Enhanced Herd Health and Quality Initiative is designed to support producers in implementing comprehensive herd health programs and increase the confidence in the health status of New Brunswick feeder calves. In order to participate in the program, producers are required to have an on-farm consultation with their veterinarian and provide a receipt for the visit. Financial assistance is available to NBCP members who complete all the program requirements based on two options:

1. Up to a maximum of $32 per beef cow-calf pair with the veterinarian administering the vaccinations and providing a signed Certified Veterinarian Vaccinated Certificate, or;

2. Up to a maximum of $20 per beef cow-calf pair with producers administering the vaccines themselves and completing a vaccination records worksheet.

Application deadline is Oct. 31, 2018 and the claim form must be returned to the NBCP office by Jan. 11, 2019. Producers must have completed their Annual Producer Registration Form and submitted copies of all sales receipts from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2017 showing they are in good standing with NBCP to participate.

The application forms and program guidelines for these two programs are available at www.bovinsnbcattle.ca.

Traceability

The NBCP is once again offering support to its members to prepare for participating in the Canadian livestock traceability program that is expected to be enforced in 2019 through federal regulation.

The NBCP traceability field agent Paul Breau will host workshops throughout the year and is available for one-on-one support and training for producers to register their Premise Identification Number (PID) on the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS) and upload information on calf birth dates and animal movements.

Each producer is required to have a PID number in order to record cattle movement. Assistance is available for producers who complete the PID application and have a PID number assigned by the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture. For more information, contact project manager Paul Breau at 506-470-8134.

Check-offs due

NBCP members are reminded that the $6 per head check-off is due at the NBCP office from dealers on a monthly basis. The check-off is now deducted for all beef cattle purchased, transported outside of N.B. for sale, and custom slaughtered.

The industry is working together to make payment of the check-off money easy for all producers – abattoirs, dealers, and auction marts are all collecting check-off money and will remit the funds to the NBCP office on behalf of producers. Dealers purchasing in the field are also required to do the same. Producers can remit levy for the past Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2017 year when they complete their annual producer registration for producer-to-producer sales and purebred sales.

All transactions with dealers should be remitted by the dealer.

Dairy and beef working group

NBCP chairman Nathan Phinney and the other board members continue to meet with industry officials to represent the New Brunswick cattle industry. Work also continues on the newly-formed dairy and beef working group. Nick Duivenvoorden, Ed Crandlemire, and Paul Gaunce represent the dairy industry, and Phinney and Brad McCallum represent the beef industry.

The group has already met to discuss how to work on issues like check-off and value-added markets for bob calves. For instance, they identified the lack of local infrastructure to enable producers to raise calves to a sufficient weight where they can enter a feedlot setting and possibly be marketed differently than as a traditional veal product.

“There is a lot of work to be done and we will have lots to report from this group as it becomes more active,” Phinney says.

Fall workshops and regional meetings

Producers have the chance to find out more about the working group and other activities of the NBCP board during the 2018 fall meetings and workshops. The workshops are also an opportunity for beef operations to complete training in humane animal handling, VBP+, on-farm traceability requirements, and the requirements of the Certified Island Beef (CIB) brand for cow-calf producers.

The fall workshops will be held immediately before the NBCP fall regional meetings, on the same day, in the same locations.

Oct. 10: District 4 (Gloucester, Northumberland), Howard Johnsons, Miramichi.

Oct. 11: District 5 and 6 (Kent, Westmorland, Albert), Quality Inn, Dieppe.

Oct. 12: District 8 (Kings, Saint John), All Seasons Inn, Sussex.

Oct. 13: District 1, 2 & 7 (Victoria, Carleton, York, Sunbury, Queens, Charlotte), Knights Inn, Woodstock.

Oct. 20: District 3 (Madawaska, Restigouche), Four Points Sheraton, Edmundston.

Workshop details

Keynote speakers are Jane Morrigan of Integrity Livestock and agrologist Robert Berthiaume.

An expert in humane livestock handling, and trained by Dr. Temple Grandin, Morrigan is an instructor in animal welfare at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture and is also a red meat plant animal auditor.

Agrologist Robert Berthiaume, PhD, is a forages dairy production expert with Valacta in Quebec, and will lead the session on forage management. He has both a doctorate and master’s degree in animal science, from the University of Guelph.

Sessions on Certified Island Beef, on-farm traceability, and VBP+ will also be held during the day.

More info

For more information about the NBCP, check out its website at bovinsnbcattle.ca.

Sheep Producers Association of Nova Scotia
Farm tours, workshops, and industry news

by Fred Hamilton

After the hot, dry summer Nova Scotia experienced, we can only hope for a cooler upcoming fall. The Sheep Producers Association of N.S. had a very busy summer with plenty of workshops and farm tours, and we continue to plan for future events.

SPANS held a farm tour June 14 at two separate farms within the Annapolis Valley. At the Petrie farm, while on a pasture walk, Jim and Niki demonstrated their fencing setup, which includes a combination of electric and page wire systems. At the Bakers’ farm, Kevin and Sonia gave a guided tour of their two tarp barns, one for ewes and one for lambs, as well as their TMR feeders. Although it was a cold, rainy evening, we had a great turnout from interested fellow producers.

Dr. Gwyneth Jones, from Saint Mary’s University, partnered with SPANS to deliver a series of Faecal Egg Count workshops to sheep producers. These were divided into two parts given on separate evenings in Bible Hill and Aylesford. The first part discussed common sheep parasites in the province, such as Haemonchus, signs to watch for, and the technique of how to calculate the parasite load in sheep based on faecal egg counts. Attendees were able to analyze samples from their flock for egg counts. The second part presented information on wormers, selecting for improved resistance, and correlating worm burdens with the weather. Similarly, attendees analyzed their samples for egg counts for the second time. There were nearly 50 people in attendance at the workshops.

SPANS, along with the Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Ltd., sponsored a Wool Handling and Evaluation course that took place July 4-6 at the N.S. Provincial Exhibition Complex. Lisa Surber, a certified advanced wool classer and Level 4 instructor, came from South Dakota to teach this two-and-a-half-day course to 16 interested artisans and shepherds. She covered such material as improving the flock’s wool clip quality, improving fleece handling and preparation techniques, and assessing wool for different end-uses. This coincided with the 2018 All Canada Sheep Classic held July 5-7 at the complex. Sheep breeders from across the nation gathered for a show, sale, fleece competition, and overall hospitality.

Perennia and SPANS are teaming up to deliver nutritional information workshops for ewes. Perennia ruminant specialist Jonathan Wort will be discussing the nutrition required by ewes, as well as the importance of forage quality and understanding forage reports. These workshops will take place on the evenings of Sept. 10 at the Berwick Fire Hall, and Sept. 11 at the River John Fire Hall. Please register before Sept. 6 by phoning 902-897-6742 or emailing novascotiasheep@gmail.com.

We would like to remind producers of regulation changes that control access to and the use of antibiotics in livestock, which is being implemented by Health Canada beginning Dec. 1. This means producers will require a prescription from a licenced veterinarian prior to being able to buy medically important antibiotics for treating livestock. It will be crucial that you have an established Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) prior to Dec. 1 to ensure that you are able to obtain prescriptions when needed.

As mentioned in the Summer issue of ABS, SPANS partnered with the Nova Scotia Cattle Producers, Pork Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Animal Health Coalition to determine a strategy in the case of a major, province-wide emergency related to animal health, weather, or market interruptions. We developed a producer handbook to be used in the unfortunate event of a major emergency. It can be found online at nssheep.ca/emergency/.

Please check our website, Facebook page, and Twitter feed frequently for industry news and upcoming workshops and events, so you won’t miss out. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for workshops, do not hesitate to contact the office.

(Fred Hamilton is the president of SPANS. For any questions, comments or concerns, please contact the SPANS office at 902-893-7455 or novascotiasheep@gmail.com).