Better Farming February 2017

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Better Farming

February 2017

BEYOND

THE

BARN

A new livestock feed product

When you think of algae, a link with agriculture may not be the first

thought that comes to mind. Algae-based feed products are, however,

changing the way livestock farmers can market their products.

The

CFIA

has registered the first algae nutritional product of its kind,

created by

Alltech

“This is the first (algae product) with the purpose of enriching the

content of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in foods of

animal origin,” the CFIA said in an email.

Livestock fed this product produce nutritionally-enhanced meat, milk

and eggs that can be marketed as premium products.

“This is the first heterotrophically-grown (meaning it

survives on organic matter from other organisms) algae

product in Canada,” says

Stuart McGregor

, general manag-

er for Alltech Canada. The product “provides a

sustainable alternative for DHA omega fatty acids.”

If a “producer (already) has an omega-3

branding-type program, this would be a

fantastic opportunity to rebrand or

ultimately increase

the value of their

program by (mar-

keting) a sustain-

able source of

DHA,” Alltech's

McGregor says.

Greenbelt

discourages farm

investment

Ontario’s Greenbelt, which prevents

rezoning of prime agricultural land

around the Golden Horseshoe, may

have failed in its objective to protect

farmlands. The region’s farmers are

less likely to sell their land but are also

investing less in their farms, accord-

ing to a recent study.

Dr. Richard Vyn

, a professor at the

University of Guelph Ridgetown

Campus

and an author of the study,

says that the lower farm exit rate is

misleading. Since land values have

fallen in the Greenbelt, some farmers

are “sitting on (their land) waiting for

the policy to change.”

The study drew findings from the

Ontario Farm Income Database. After

2005, Greenbelt farmers were 2.1 per

cent less likely to go out of business

than those elsewhere in southern

Ontario. On average, farmers in

protected countryside claimed $1,067

less capital cost allowance per year,

which the study used as a measure of

investment in the property.

Vyn explains that timing of such

policies is crucial: “Likely agriculture

was already starting to decline prior

to the implementation of the Green-

belt.” Agricultural land awaiting

development is typically not farmed

to its full potential. Meanwhile

industry supports, such as supply

companies, may have left as develop-

ment encroached.

The study was published in the

journal

Applied Economic Perspectives

and Policy

in July 2016.

Only 27 per cent of operations have

a formal succession plan and farms

without a plan have a significantly

greater chance of failure, according

to a recent national survey by

Farm

Management Canada

(FMC) and

the

Agri-food Management

Institute

Leading farm practices include:

continual learning, making deci-

sions from accurate data, seeking

advisory help, following a business

plan, engaging in risk assessments

and monitoring farm budgets,

Heather Watson

, executive director

FMC

, said at the

Canadian Food

and Drink Summit

In terms of ensuring a successful

farm business, some industry

representatives suggest the impor-

tance of intergenerational creativity.

“Over 90 per cent of businesses

don’t make it from generation two

to generation three, so I would say

talk to other family businesses.

There is no one-size-fits-all,”

Margaret Hudson

, CEO of

Burnbrae Farms

, said at the

Summit.

Successful intergenerational

farming can be thought of as a

family culture, says Watson.

“Ask what is the legacy this farm

has created and how do we want to

continue into the next generation,”

she says.

'What is the legacy' of your family farm?

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