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A study funded by the Growing Forward program – a federally-funded program that falls under Canada’s Economic Action Plan – was conducted recently in order to get an informative snapshot of the pulse industry in Canada.

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The study aimed to uncover the attitudes and perceptions around pulses in Canada – most importantly, what influences Canadians to consume pulses.

Overall, Canadian consumption of pulses was found to be relatively low, which is surprising, given that Canada is one of the global leader in pulse exports.  The majority of Canadians reported that they consumed pulses less than one time per month, while about 20 per cent of study participants qualified as “non-consumers”.  They stated that in the last six months they had not consumed any pulses, either at home or while eating out.

As for which pulse is the most popular, beans came in first with approximately 2 out of 3 Canadians consuming them at least once every six months.  The runners-up are chickpeas and peas, at about 53 per cent saying they ate them in the last six months, followed by lentils – with about 41 per cent having eaten them in the last six months.  Chickpeas and peas have the most versatility when it comes to food types, as they are available canned, in salads, processed (i.e. hummus), in flour form, etc.

The study found that the word pulse had a low familiarity rating with consumers and that promotional materials and advertisements should explain what food group it refers to (beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils).  Researchers concluded that it would also be helpful to raise awareness of the kinds of recipes and dishes that can be made with pulses, as well as the types of pulses that are available and the different ways to cook with them.

Furthermore, the study concluded that emphasizing the taste value of pulses would be beneficial as many consumers seem to be under the impression that they don’t taste good.  Another strong point that can be made in favour of pulses is their health benefits.  Pulses are an excellent source of protein, as well as being high in fibre.

Chemical company BASF has announced that it has acquired its federal registration for a new fungicide to fight against fusarium head blight.  Called a “systemic fungicide”, the product will work to fight fusarium blight, while ensuring high-level control against leaf disease.

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The product is called Caramba, and is a triazole-based fungicide that is now registered for use with oat, rye, barley and wheat crops.  The German company’s Canadian branch announced that it received approval from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada.

Caramba uses the active ingredient metconazole.  Metconazole is a “group 3” fungicide, and the company credits it with not only protective but also “curative” properties that make it a natural choice against foliar crop diseases.

“Fusarium is a dirty word for growers and they know the damage it can cause,” sais BASF Canada representative, Brand Manager Mike Bakker in a release.  “Growers finally have a product specifically developed to help them manage this disease in cereals.”

BASF Canada also touts the additional benefits of using a product to manage fusarium head blight, citing the possibility for improved yields and lowered contamination levels of deoxynivalenol (DON).  In the release, BASF credited these additional benefits with protecting “quality” as well as “value.”

According to the label, Caramba should be applied when flowering is at about 20 per cent on crops like oats, rye and wheat.  When used on barley, Caramba should be applied after full head emergence and before about three days of full main stem head emergence.

Although it may seem late to be spraying fungicide at flowering, the product works at this level and BASF Canada warns that there is a small window for the optimum time for application.

Because of the small window for application, farmers using Caramba should allow for some extra planning time, to ensure that their application system is in place and ready to go.  With the expected warm, wet conditions ahead, BASF representatives claim that the product should make cereal producers “very happy this year”.  The product is available in most supply shops.  Visit the BASF website for more information.

Wet and rainy conditions have kept Canada grains on the up and up as the season gets underway.  Forecasts for continuing rain are very promising for many grain producers, although in areas that have been hit particularly hard the weather is threatening the loss of spring sowings.

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The Canadian Wheat Board predicted that as many as twelve and a half acres of sowings could be lost due to the persistent rain.  The market has reflected these predictions, with oat prices jumping up to more than $2 a barrel for delivery in July.

Spring wheat, another one of Canada’s big crops, gained 4.3 per cent, going up to over $5 a bushel.

The wet conditions in Canada haven’t been the only thing motivating investors to start buying.  External markets have been strong, as fears that Europe’s economy might collapse have been eased, making many assets more competitive on the global export market.  Oil, for example, jumped by 1.7 per cent.

China recently made a purchase of 120,000 tonnes of American corn.  Not a huge purchase, but enough to keep interest in the grain.  But the wet weather is a rising concern in both America and Canada, as crop ratings for corn and soybeans can be expected to drop by as much as 1 to 2 per cent points if the wet weather doesn’t let up.  Soybeans will suffer the most if the wet weather continues, with winter wheat harvest also seeing some slow-down.

Meantime, corn and soybeans have increased by 1.2 per cent a bushel and at the current trend are looking good for July – good news since both were slightly below forecast in May.

A rally in European prices can be attributed to the faltering British pound, while European specialists are calling for improved crop conditions to keep prices healthy and manageable through harvest, particularly as the harvest in Southern Spain approaches.

The prices in London, England, for wheat, grew by just under two pounds, followed closely by Paris.

Canola seed in Europe is also gaining ground, up by nearly four Euros for delivery in November.

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Researchers at the University of Manitoba are looking into the ways they can expand dairy products’ utility, by investigating their use as “functional foods” and as nutraceuticals.

The project, which falls under the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, will include two studies being performed by graduate students at the University.

The first of the studies is being conducted in partnership with the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals and will focus on the bioactive peptides that can be found in whey (dairy) proteins.  The study will look at the way in which these peptides can treat metabolic disorders.

“Bioactive peptides have been popular from a number of different sources over the years,” says food science professor with the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Dr. Sue Arntfield.  “Whey proteins are not extensively used at the moment although there is more use than there used to be and we really just wanted to see if there is some options of using it to treat something called metabolic syndrome. “

The second study will examine the survival of probiotics in cheese, as well as the role that the probiotics play in determining the cheese’s flavour and texture.

“The probiotics is again something we’ve seen a lot in dairy products and we’re just trying to extend it to a product that lasts a longer time than the yogurts and something that’s often consumed by a lot more people I think than yogurt,” says Dr. Arntfield.

”If there are health implications by eating products, be they whey protein hydrolysates or cheeses that now have a probiotic capability, I think there’s value to the consumer. I don’t know that it’s going to have a major impact in terms of the actual price of these products. It may increase the use of whey but cheese is pretty expensive anyway so I’m not sure that this is going to make a big difference. It may entice more people to eat cheese in that they can see the health benefits. “

According to Dr. Arntfield, the rising demand for functional food can be attributed to growing interest in natural health solutions and preventative medicine.

If you’ve been thinking of doing some replanting, the clock is ticking.  While it can be useful to transfer plants from one area to another, when it comes to crops like your corn fields, you really have to keep some important considerations in mind when deciding to replant.

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Keep these three important factors in mind:

• The date:
  It’s already getting very late to start thinking about replants.  Historically, it’s been shown that the yield potential for replanted corn crops drops off quite dramatically as the season continues.  To even be thinking about doing a replant at this point in the year, your corn stand should be very, very low.
• Current condition of your corn stand:
  Take the overall condition of your corn stand into consideration when deciding to do a replant, and make a careful assessment of the benefits of replanting versus the risks – such as the possibility that yields will be considerably lowered.  Also take into consideration whether or not you plan to move the whole crop or only a part of it.
• Chemical use on the soil:
  If you’ve already put down herbicides or pesticides, you may be limited in what can now be grown in that field.  This is as true for where you are replanting as for where the corn is being removed from.

If, after doing a careful assessment, you decide that replanting your corn is still in your best interests, it’s time to start considering the heritage of the corn itself.  Hybrid seeds with a strong resistance disease will be your best bet, since corn that’s been planted late has an increased potential for disease, and is more vulnerable to infestation.

And this climate is perfect for the spread of disease, which fares well in hot, muggy climes.  Replanting or not, it’s definitely time to start walking the fields and scouting for signs of disease.

At this point, unfortunately, if you do find disease, there’s not all that much action that can be taken.  But knowing what the situation is, at the very least, can help inform your marketing decisions down the line, come harvest.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the best way for livestock farmers to maintain their herd’s health, and protect them from disease from outside sources is to ensure that proper precautions are being taken right at the farm gate.

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Foot and Mouth Disease, for example, is a very contagious virus that can wreak havoc on hog and cattle operations if operations are not suitably outfitted for defense against the disease.  Recently, this disease has gained media attention as new outbreaks have been reported in Japan and South Korea.

The key, says Dr. Jim Clark, an official in charge of animal disease and emergency management at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, is for Canadians to be aware that Foot and Mouth Disease exists in many countries and that Canadian producers be kept safe from the risk of outbreak by managing trade in countries that have had recent instances of the virus.

“In the case of Japan,” says Clark, “we have established a trading relationship but because of the FMD outbreak there we now have prohibited the entry of any animals or animal products or byproducts that might pose a risk… unless they are heat treated in a way that would satisfy us that the virus may have been destroyed.

”We know that there’s always an opportunity that the virus may enter the country no matter how strict our import requirements are. “

Right at the farm gate is the place for farmers to focus their efforts to ensure that are on the defensive against this potentially destructive disease.  Individual farmers, feels Clark, should ensure that they are taking the proper measures to protect their livestock from contact with potentially-afflicted sources.

“If they do have people that might want to travel to the farm they should exclude them for at least 14 days before they’re allowed to visit and take the normal precautions from a biosecurity perspective that any farmer would want to institute,” he says.  “Make sure that clean clothing is worn, boots are cleaned and disinfected before contact with the animals and to the degree possible there’s no direct contact between the individuals and the animals themselves.”

With the economy beginning to recover from the recession, bank interest rates are set to rise again – as much as five per cent over the next five years, according to some economists.  While this is good news for your savings account, farmers and other business-owners should plan ahead for the impact of these rising rates on costs and loans.

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Farmers holding unproductive assets might want to lighten their load, and should start working on strategies to help them offset the impact of the rising interest rates.  Because of the nature of the industry, many farmers are carrying a very large level of debt, as opposed to other industries.

According to economists with the Bank of Montreal, interest rates could climb as high as 3.25 per cent by the end of next year.

Longer-term rates are not expected to increase as much as the short-term rates.  In order to take advantage of current low interest rates, many businesses will want to start thinking about their financing options now.

For many farmers, that will mean reviewing their long-term strategies to reduce risks and ensuring that they are maximizing the opportunities for savings wherever possible.

Programs like the federal government’s AgriInvest can be a wise start for many farmers.  AgriInvest matches participants’ contributions to their savings to help agribusiness professionals build a bit of security in the case of financial hardship down the road.

If your capital was built up by a lot of expensive debt, now is the time to make sure you get your business shaped up to take advantage of the coming economic growth cycle.  The healthy market will present a lot of opportunities for business-owners who are in good shape financially.  Reviewing the structure of your capital and making sure you have a carefully thought-out, long-term plan for your business will help you get to where you need to be.  Take a look at your current debt and make sure you have a plan in place to be able to keep paying it down, even if the interest were five per cent higher.

Other steps you can take to ensure that you’re in a position to stay in control of your debt: consider renting your land or equipment, sell assets that aren’t earning you any money, and avoid high debt where possible.  This is also an excellent time to look over your retirement plans, as well as your estate plans, to ensure that farm’s future and your future generations will not be overrun by your debt, either.

Good news for canola producers who have been struggling since China closed its doors to imports of Canadian canola last year: government officials have managed to secure an extension of the transitional measures that will allow Canada’s canola growers to export crops to China.  In an announcement, federal Agriculture Minister, Gerry Ritz, stated that Canadian canola exporters will now be able to sign contracts with China for their 2010 crop.

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“This is good news for Canadian canola producers who depend on the Chinese market,” said the minister, “but we realize there’s still a lot of work left to do before canola trade with China is fully normalized.  Today’s agreement is securing the conditions to export the 2010 crop year, and we will continue to find a long-term solution to this issue.”

The trouble for Canadian producers began back in the fall of 2009, when China put sudden import restrictions on Canadian canola seed due to the presence of blackleg.  While the market in Canada began to tank, an agreement was reached that put transitional measures in place to allow for some disbursement of the 2009 crop.  The extension of the transitional measures means that a temporary import agreement remains in place for 2010.

In a statement, Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, said: “I raised the canola issue with my Chinese counterparts during the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meetings in Japan.  While we are pleased with the progress on this issue, it will be raised again at every opportunity to ensure our canola producers gain long term access to the Chinese market.”

The Government of Canada has stated that is fully committed to restoring the country’s exports of canola to China, and that it is raising the issue as often as possible.  The extension of the transitional agreement will mean that the Canadian canola industry can pursue contracts with Chinese importers into the coming year, beginning this August.  The extension stands to make a big impact on Canada’s canola industry; China is one of Canada’s largest importers of canola seed and its import restrictions caused a lot of grievance for canola growers last year.  In 2009, for example, China imported 1.6 million tonnes of canola – a value of $684 million.

For youth who grow up on a farm, what they lack in urbane culture that they may desire is often made up for by some of the adventurous privileges they have courtesy of country life.  For younger teens, being able to ride an ATV – while city kids are still waiting for their car licenses – is often one of those benefits.

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Size is an important consideration when it comes to ATVs.  First-time buyers often don’t appreciate just how powerful an ATV can be.  That means that, just as you wouldn’t let your son or daughter hop onto a powerful motorcycle that they couldn’t control, you need to make sure that the size of the ATV suits your child’s capabilities.  Check the internet for more information on proper sizing for ATV safety.  Many provinces have safety associations, like the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association, that can provide important safety tips on buying an ATV for your child.

According to statistics, males between the ages of 15 and 24 years have the highest rates of any youth for being admitted into the hospital, followed next by boys in the age range of 10 to 14 years.  Making safety a priority for your child can help to ensure that they don’t end up being a statistic.

The surest way to guarantee your child’s safety, of course, is to not let them ride an ATV at all.  But if that sounds like denying your kids life’s pleasures and experiences, than ensuring that they’re riding the right-sized ATV is the next best step.  Recent studies show that almost 90 per cent of youth accidents resulting from ATV crashes occurred when the driver was riding an over-sized, adult ATV.  Research the correct size of ATV for your child, and then look into the manufacturers’ recommendations when it comes time to buy the machine.

It is also recommended that children riding ATVs be closely monitored by their parents.  Youth have less coordination and strength than adults – not to mention less cautious judgment – and parents should ensure that they are traveling at a reasonable speed and choosing safe routes.

The Chief Medical Officer of Health for Alberta is warning Albertans to take necessary precautions against Lyme disease this year.  Ticks in three different parts of the province have tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, called Borrelia. The ticks were identified in the Ardrossan, High River and Calgary areas.  Tick bites from disease-carrying ticks can cause Lyme disease in both people and animals.

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In a statement, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andre Corriveau, said: “Lyme disease can be a serious condition if it’s not detected early and left untreated.  We advise anyone who is spending time outdoors to take precautions against tick bites. Your best defence against Lyme disease is prevention. To avoid being bitten by ticks, use insect repellents and cover up when walking in tall grass, woods or brush.”

Between 1989 and 2009, at least 20 cases of Lyme disease in humans has been reported in the province of Alberta.  In most cases, the disease could be traced back to travel in Europe or the United States, and Alberta’s public health officials could not confirm whether or not the disease had been acquired in Alberta.  However, since 2007, ticks carrying the disease have been identified in the province.  It is unsure how they arrived, but they are believed to have been carried by migratory birds.

According to Alberta’s Chief Provincial Veterinarian, the province has been running a surveillance project to determine whether or not disease-carrying ticks have become established in Alberta, and to “get a better understanding of their presence.”

Lyme disease infection is most likely to occur in the summer between May and August.  Early symptoms include a red rash at the site of the tick bite, that normally manifests in the first 30 days since being bitten.  Other symptoms may include fever, chills, headache and fatigue.  Occasionally Lyme disease can result in serious neurological and/or muscular problems months after the infection has taken place, and it can lead to meningitis, arthritis and heart problems.

Health officials recommend seeking a veterinarian’s help should you find a tick on your pet.  The veterinarian can treat the infection and also submit the tick for testing.