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Highlights
from the Hereford Digest, November 2007
Alberta Influence ANL Polled Herefords and Guests Sale Auctioneers, Consultants And Services Autumn Alliance Sale B.C. Hereford Bull-Etin Balog Auction British Breeds Bonanza Blume Ranches Ltd. Sale C&T Cattle Co. Sale Canada-Wide Quick Reference CHA Section Elmlodge Polled Herefords and Friends Sale Evergreen Sale Expo Boeuf MOE Show Expo Quebec MOE Show Fall Roundup Sale From Field To Desk Harvie Ranching and Guests Sale Hereford Highway Hinterland Polled Herefords Sale Keith Gilmore Foundation Golf Tournament Keith Gilmore Foundation Scholarship Winners Lindsay MOE Show On The Edge Of Common Sense Remitall Fall Production Sale River Valley Genetic Designs III Sale Southern Alberta Bull Spectacular Square D Production Sale Unique Hereford Promotion WLB Polled Herefords Sale
Bred heifers on display at a past Amigos Sale in Medicine Hat.
Photo by Kurt Gilmore
Background photo by Leonard Poholka, Breton, AB• • •
It is certainly good to see that Canadian farmers are finally receiving a fair price for their crops and all indications are that the value for cereal grains and canola should remain strong over the foreseeable future. Many are updating their equipment, building new shops and improving the overall infrastructure of their farms. It was long time coming for most of them.
What has been their bounty has created some very tough times for cattlemen. High grain values mean higher cost per pound per gain in the feedlot whose operators seek to maintain their margins (or cut their losses) by purchasing replacement feeders at substantially less cost than what has been the norm for some time. It is no secret that fat cattle this fall are losing $100 per head and more. In spite of the fact that most of Canada’s largest feeders and packers were the beneficiaries of the lion’s share of provincial and federal support payments during BSE, the losses they are taking today are serious. For the cow-calf operator, the situation is worse – some 30 per cent less in revenue for the same number and quality of calves as last year.
At the same time, the strength of the Canadian dollar is making life difficult for all national exporters – including Canadian cattlemen. So – is there light at the end of tunnel? I believe so!
As the value of U.S. cattle continues to strengthen, American buyers are turning their sights to Canada for feedlot replacements. Many will wait for Rule 2 to come into effect in order to avoid some of the expenses currently involved in importing feeder cattle from Canada.
Increasing feed costs will make establishing or increasing a yearling program more popular to many producers. This practice will take some of the calves off the fall market, allow for cheaper gains and attract buyers later on who can bring them to market weight in less time. At the same time, a large number of those currently running cow-calf operations are looking to run yearlings exclusively. More yearling operations will create a better demand for calves and those still willing to calve cows will reap the benefits.
Over the past 25 years, every phase of agriculture has become more specialized but we now have a situation custom-made for the mixed farming operation. It wasn't’t so long ago that income from cattle was propping up grain income. Now, at least over the short term, the reverse will be true.
Purebred breeders need to be aware that their most affluent years coincided with high grain farm incomes. Once the tractors and combines are paid for, cattle are still the most attractive investment and tax deduction. Many of our country’s most successful registered breeding operations were born in the late 60’s and 70’s from this same situation.
I am only one of many who believe in the Canadian cattle industry and its future. Just this past month, 1,500 head of registered bred heifers from three different breeds including Herefords, were exported to Russia. Many other countries are looking to expand the influence of Canadian Hereford genetics into their breeding programs.
There is indeed a bright future for the Canadian cattleman and the role of the Hereford breed. So congratulate your grain farming friends and invite them over for a tour of your herd – you might just plant a seed of your own!
• • •
back to top2007 KEITH GILMORE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS – http://www.keithgilmorefoundation.com
KEITH GILMORE FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT – http://www.keithgilmorefoundation.com
• • •
back to topAs we get closer to the day of the border opening, we are all wondering what RCALF will try next. I guess, if people like Garth Brooks and Keith Urban keep giving them money, the fight will continue, but the sad part is that the only ones who will benefit are the lawyers. Plus the fact, it costs the Canadian cattlemen money to fight the attempted injunctions. I guess we had better stop supporting anything to do with either of those two so called “stars”.
On a brighter topic, we have two new Directors on our BC Board. Darlene Borrow from Sharden Polled Herefords at Williams Lake and Dena Finlay from Finlay Farm at Armstrong have both agreed to give their input into what Herefords must do to regain their place in the industry. Both women have agreed to sit on the Board and we need some new ideas. Dena is president of the Thompson Valley Hereford Breeders and Darlene is on the Williams Lake Bull Sale Committee, and both have successful operations at home.
Murray Gore decided to step down as president of the BC Hereford Association after getting a job promotion that came with an added work load. Glen Wicklund has moved to Saskatchewan to reside, so we have lost two good hard working men. Thank you to Glen Wicklund for his many years of promoting Herefords in BC and BC’s loss is Saskatchewan’s gain. Also, a huge thank you to Murray Gore. Although he will be past president for the next while, he will not be as active in guiding our association. He was responsible for the idea of getting a BC Hereford newsletter to our commercial customers and that communication will continue.
I am concerned about the number of members we are losing due to the increase in the membership fee. Granted, some drop is due to families going to one membership for the family instead of several having a membership for a few cows. But we in BC have many smaller breeders who only have three to ten cows that do not want to pay $150 to belong. The bigger breeders call them “hobby farmers” and granted they are, however they are also the ones who buy at the sales. When we lose them, we lose people and this is a people business. I would like to see a study done to find out how many would come back with a graduated membership scale. Let’s start at a membership fee of, for example, $50 for ten cows or less and go up from there to a maximum of $150. The provinces could forego their portion of that fee if $25 went to CHA and $25 to our National Marketing Manager’s program. Possibly the provinces could make it up with a different scale in the payment schedule from the registrations and transfers. Just an idea that I think we, as an Association, should consider. Let’s talk about how we get our members back into the fold.
Now that I have stirred the pot, may I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the year of 2008. Hopefully we will get some of our customers back from south of the 49th and may God Bless all of us.
As we get closer to the day of the border opening, we are all wondering what RCALF will try next. I guess, if people like Garth Brooks and Keith Urban keep giving them money, the fight will continue, but the sad part is that the only ones who will benefit are the lawyers. Plus the fact, it costs the Canadian cattlemen money to fight the attempted injunctions. I guess we had better stop supporting anything to do with either of those two so called “stars”.
On a brighter topic, we have two new Directors on our BC Board. Darlene Borrow from Sharden Polled Herefords at Williams Lake and Dena Finlay from Finlay Farm at Armstrong have both agreed to give their input into what Herefords must do to regain their place in the industry. Both women have agreed to sit on the Board and we need some new ideas. Dena is president of the Thompson Valley Hereford Breeders and Darlene is on the Williams Lake Bull Sale Committee, and both have successful operations at home.
Murray Gore decided to step down as president of the BC Hereford Association after getting a job promotion that came with an added work load. Glen Wicklund has moved to Saskatchewan to reside, so we have lost two good hard working men. Thank you to Glen Wicklund for his many years of promoting Herefords in BC and BC’s loss is Saskatchewan’s gain. Also, a huge thank you to Murray Gore. Although he will be past president for the next while, he will not be as active in guiding our association. He was responsible for the idea of getting a BC Hereford newsletter to our commercial customers and that communication will continue.
I am concerned about the number of members we are losing due to the increase in the membership fee. Granted, some drop is due to families going to one membership for the family instead of several having a membership for a few cows. But we in BC have many smaller breeders who only have three to ten cows that do not want to pay $150 to belong. The bigger breeders call them “hobby farmers” and granted they are, however they are also the ones who buy at the sales. When we lose them, we lose people and this is a people business. I would like to see a study done to find out how many would come back with a graduated membership scale. Let’s start at a membership fee of, for example, $50 for ten cows or less and go up from there to a maximum of $150. The provinces could forego their portion of that fee if $25 went to CHA and $25 to our National Marketing Manager’s program. Possibly the provinces could make it up with a different scale in the payment schedule from the registrations and transfers. Just an idea that I think we, as an Association, should consider. Let’s talk about how we get our members back into the fold.
Now that I have stirred the pot, may I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the year of 2008. Hopefully we will get some of our customers back from south of the 49th and may God Bless all of us.
As we get closer to the day of the border opening, we are all wondering what RCALF will try next. I guess, if people like Garth Brooks and Keith Urban keep giving them money, the fight will continue, but the sad part is that the only ones who will benefit are the lawyers. Plus the fact, it costs the Canadian cattlemen money to fight the attempted injunctions. I guess we had better stop supporting anything to do with either of those two so called “stars”.
On a brighter topic, we have two new Directors on our BC Board. Darlene Borrow from Sharden Polled Herefords at Williams Lake and Dena Finlay from Finlay Farm at Armstrong have both agreed to give their input into what Herefords must do to regain their place in the industry. Both women have agreed to sit on the Board and we need some new ideas. Dena is president of the Thompson Valley Hereford Breeders and Darlene is on the Williams Lake Bull Sale Committee, and both have successful operations at home.
Murray Gore decided to step down as president of the BC Hereford Association after getting a job promotion that came with an added work load. Glen Wicklund has moved to Saskatchewan to reside, so we have lost two good hard working men. Thank you to Glen Wicklund for his many years of promoting Herefords in BC and BC’s loss is Saskatchewan’s gain. Also, a huge thank you to Murray Gore. Although he will be past president for the next while, he will not be as active in guiding our association. He was responsible for the idea of getting a BC Hereford newsletter to our commercial customers and that communication will continue.
I am concerned about the number of members we are losing due to the increase in the membership fee. Granted, some drop is due to families going to one membership for the family instead of several having a membership for a few cows. But we in BC have many smaller breeders who only have three to ten cows that do not want to pay $150 to belong. The bigger breeders call them “hobby farmers” and granted they are, however they are also the ones who buy at the sales. When we lose them, we lose people and this is a people business. I would like to see a study done to find out how many would come back with a graduated membership scale. Let’s start at a membership fee of, for example, $50 for ten cows or less and go up from there to a maximum of $150. The provinces could forego their portion of that fee if $25 went to CHA and $25 to our National Marketing Manager’s program. Possibly the provinces could make it up with a different scale in the payment schedule from the registrations and transfers. Just an idea that I think we, as an Association, should consider. Let’s talk about how we get our members back into the fold.
Now that I have stirred the pot, may I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the year of 2008. Hopefully we will get some of our customers back from south of the 49th and may God Bless all of us.
• • •
back to topThe Alberta Influence
2007-2008 Alberta Hereford Association Board of DirectorsPRESIDENT: Andy Schuepbach
Box 2044, Claresholm, AB. T0L 0T0
Phone (403) 625-4693 Fax (403) 625-1500VICE PRESIDENT: Brad Dallas
Box 89, Bowden, AB T0M 0K0
Phone (403) 224-2162 Fax (403) 224-2738PAST PRESIDENT: Blaine Brost
Box 96, Irvine, AB T0J 1V0
Phone (403) 834-2262 Fax (403) 834-2146EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Tom Basnett
Box 41, Eureka River, AB T0H 1K0
Phone/Fax (780) 685-2102DIRECTORS:
Errol Verbeek, Box 649, Evansburg, AB. T0E 0T0
Phone/Fax (780) 727-2775Nels Nixdorff, RR #2, Airdrie, AB. T4B 2A4
Phone (403) 948-5604 Fax (403) 948-3300Kevin Wirsta, Box 334, Elk Point, AB. T0A 1A0
Phone/Fax (780) 724-2789Pat Clark, Box 7, Hughenden, AB T0B 2E0
Phone (780) 856-2264 Fax (780) 856-2267Ted Bennett, R. R. # 1, Clive, AB. T0C 0Y0
Phone (403) 784-2229 Fax (403) 784-2259Jill Harvie, RR#2, Olds, AB. T4H 1P3
Phone (403) 335-4206 Fax (403) 335-4208Allan Wilson, RR#1, Bentley, AB T0C 0J0
Phone/Fax (403) 748-2374Kelly Butler, Box 189, New Norway, AB T0B 3L0
Phone (780) 855-2340 Fax (780) 855-2454CHA DIRECTORS:
Byron Templeton, Box 761, Lethbridge,AB. T1J 3Z6
Phone (403) 345-3889 Fax (403) 345-2889Randy Radau, RR # 1, Bowden, AB T0M 0K0
Phone (403) 227-2259 Fax (403) 227-5278
Andy SchuepbachThe Alberta Hereford Association has a pen of steers at Olds College STEER A YEAR Program. Watch for our results! Listen for our 4th Annual Fall Radio Advertising Campaign. Tune in to CFCW, Q91 and KEY83 to hear our ads, which will also feature upcoming Hereford sales and events!
2007 BULL LOTTERY
THERE IS STILL TIME TO QUALIFY TO WIN ONE OF TWO $2,500 CREDIT VOUCHERS TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF AN ALBERTA BULL. BUY A BULL THIS FALL, ASK FOR YOUR TRANSFER, AND YOU WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED TO WIN. DRAW TO BE MADE IN JANUARY 2008.
Sept 14, 2007 Newburgh, ON 40 female lots
17 embryos
ELMLODGE POLLED HEREFORDS & FRIENDS
Sept. 15, 2007 Indian River, ON 6.75 bulls 48 female lots 54.75 lots 1 flush 21 embryos Sept. 16, 2007 Orillia, ON 61 female lots Sept. 29, 2007 Abbotsford, BC 26 head Oct. 13, 2007 Olds, AB 11.5 bulls 50 females 61.5 lots 20 doses of semen Oct 13, 2007 Olds, AB 1.25 bulls 22 female lots 23.25 lots 1 flush 20 embryos Oct. 14, 2007 Killam, AB 0.75 bull 38 females 38.75 head Oct. 15, 2007 Viking, AB 1 bull 53 females 54 lots Oct. 19, 2007 Kisbey, SK 40 females Oct. 20, 2007 Steelman, SK 46 female lots 1 flush Oct. 22, 2007 Langbank, SK 4.5 bulls 43 females 47.5 lots 24 embryos Oct. 28, 2007 Douglas, MB 11.75 bulls 38 female lots 49.75 lots Nov. 2, 2007 Castor, AB 187 females • • •
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