My great-grandfather came to this area in the early 1900s. My grandfather didn’t tell me a lot about the elk, because there was no elk here then. And even my dad says that when they were growing up, there was no elk here.

I think they said there was some elk down the valley, and they would come out of the mountains in late fall, and they would winter down near the Pickering Hills and Frenchman Slough area, and down towards the river there. But never here, there were no elk up this way when my father and grandfather were young.

By the beginning of August, we will see herds of upwards of 200 head in the evening. They just come pouring out of the trees onto the field.

It can easily be 200 and I’ve seen nights when there’s probably 400. How do we feed that? How do we feed that many and our cows — this is what we’re faced with. In the spring, as soon as it starts to try and green up, the elk will be on it.

And I always say, whatever it’s able to grow during the day, the elk come and take it at night until it gets warm enough that the plants can finally get ahead. But how much damage has been done to the plant by the time that happens? We see this so we try and get the cages out. A cage is a four-foot by four-foot cage that they can’t get at. This shows what that field is producing without the wildlife hampering the growth. So, we have to get those cages out, and then we use that as one of the indicators of how much crop has gone missing. When you see what’s in the cage, and you see what’s not there outside of the cage, I always think, man, if this whole field had what’s in that cage, we would have not a worry in the world.

And I guess you have to understand that the feed to us — the grass — whether it’s for a hay crop or an irrigated pasture, that’s like money in the bank. It’s the same if you had some savings in the bank, and it was going missing every day — you just get this empty feeling in your stomach. We just think — what are we going to do? How do we deal with this?

We mostly do one cut. We would like to do some second cut, but it’s been probably seven, eight years since we’ve done any second cut, just because we can’t feed the elk and do second cut and also have enough feed to get through the fall for the cattle.

So last year, right at the beginning of August the elk had been coming and we would see them any time after supper time. We can see this field from the house quite well, but we can’t see the south end of the property. We knew the elk were coming and it’s been getting worse and worse every year.

The one night I had to go down to do something with the pivot down there. It was just getting kind of dusky, getting towards dark. And everywhere I looked, there were elk. And the farther I went south — I figured, all the elk are on the north end — but no, the farther south I went, the more elk I found. And I’m just estimating, but I would estimate there were over 500 head here that night.

And the field on the south pivot, I hadn’t actually looked at for probably three days. And when I got up there to do whatever I was doing, and I looked, I could just see the regrowth was gone. It was gone. It was like I had gone and cut it, only there was no swath. It was gone. I couldn’t believe it.

So, I just thought, well, I have to do something because we’ll never make it. And so obviously that many elk had been coming for a few nights unbeknownst. I went back to the house and I started a pot of coffee and my wife and my daughter said, “What are you doing?”

And I said, “I’m making a thermos of coffee. I’m going to be out there all night.”

I said, “I have to do something. We will not have anything to get the cows through the fall if I don’t try and do something.”

And so, I went with the side-by-side and just kept moving them off all night. And I did that the whole month of August into September.

But we had already lost a lot. So last year we actually had to sell the calves at least three weeks ahead of what we normally do.

These are not our animals. We’re not responsible for them. And yet we can’t do anything.

Everything we do, throughout the whole year now, we’re always thinking about how the elk are going to affect us. If we do this, if we do that when we’re feeding cows in the winter, where do we feed?

We learned that we can’t feed at night. We have to feed in the morning, because if you feed at night, they’ll just come and take it all. They will come in the daytime too, but not as much and you can control that a little more.

A lot of guys, when they were feeding heifers or bulls or something, they would put a big bale in a big feeder, and then the cattle would self-feed out of that feeder. You can’t do that anymore because it’ll be all elk at the feeder.

The other thing that just tears me up a lot is we have more land that we can improve and seed and irrigate to make pasture but we haven’t done it because what’s the point? c

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The southwest led the way at 39 per cent harvest, followed by the southeast at 33 per cent. Further back are the east-central at 16 per cent, the northeast at 13 per cent, the northwest at 12 per cent and the west-central at 10 per cent.

Cereals, oilseeds, pulses

Among the cereals, winter wheat was 85 per cent harvest and fall rye was at 79 per cent. Triticale was next at 34 per cent combined, then barley at 31 per cent, durum at 29 per cent, spring with at 14 per cent, oats at 12 per cent with canaryseed at five per cent.

Soybeans led the oilseeds at 11 per cent combined, followed by mustard at 10 per cent and canola at four per cent.

The pulses saw field peas at 73 per cent done, lentils at 59 per cent and chickpeas at 13 per cent.

Topsoil moisture levels

The Piapot area in southwest Saskatchewan topped the province with the most rain at 25 millimetres.

The ag department said cropland topsoil moisture was at two per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Hayland topsoil moisture registered at two per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

As for pasture topsoil moisture, levels were three per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

The main causes of crop damage during the week were strong winds and dry conditions, with a high risk of fire. Minor damages were caused by grasshoppers and bertha armyworms.

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The report said farmers in the southwest continued to lead combining at 23 per cent done while those in the northeast lag at two per cent.

Winter wheat at 70 per cent harvest and fall rye at 66 per cent remained well ahead of the spring crops. Those were led by field peas at 45 per cent combined, followed by 42 per cent of triticale and 35 per cent of the lentils. Next were barley at 17 per cent off the field and then durum at 13 per cent.

The remainder of Saskatchewan’s crops were in single digits with oats and chickpeas at eight per cent combined. Spring wheat came in at three per cent complete with canola and canaryseed at one per cent.

Following the rains, cropland topsoil moisture levels rated three per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 18 per short and two per cent very short.

For hayland, the topsoil moisture was three per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and four per cent very short.

The topsoil on pastures were three per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and six per cent very short.

Saskatchewan Ag said Bertha armyworms caused minor damage to canola, with more as a result of grasshoppers and other wildlife. Strong winds and hail led to damages in the areas they struck, then hot temperatures and a lack of rain in other areas led to crop stress in dry areas.

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Richmound in the southwestern corner of Saskatchewan received the most rain at 62 millimetres, while several other locations throughout the province had between 35 and 50 mm.

The ag department rated the province’s winter wheat at 55 per cent good to excellent and the fall rye at 66 per cent. For the spring cereals, the oats and spring wheat were pegged at 68 per cent good to excellent, with the barley at 65 per cent and the durum at 55 per cent.

Among Saskatchewan’s oilseeds, the soybeans rated 92 per cent good to excellent, followed by the flax at 75 per cent, the canola at 68 per cent and the mustard at 54 per cent.

For the pulses, field peas and lentils were placed at 75 per cent good to excellent and the chickpeas at 67 per cent.

In terms of soil moisture levels, the topsoil provincewide rated 65 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and seven per cent very short. For hayland it was 55 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and nine per cent very short. As for pastures, they were 55 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.

The report said the first cut of hay was winding up with 68 per cent either baled or for silage, rating at 64 per cent good to excellent. A second cut was deemed to be unlikely unless there was sufficient rainfall.

Heat, dryness, gophers, grasshoppers, flea beetles and aphids were among the sources of crop damage.

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The spring wheat changed the most in the Interlake region, with the crop at 70 per cent good to excellent, down 20 points, while the fair to poor added that amount at 30 per cent.

Eastern Manitoba saw its spring wheat give up 10 points at 80 per cent good to excellent, while the fair to poor rating rose by 10 at 20 per cent.

Spring wheat in the central region climbed 10 points to 80 per cent good to excellent, switching from fair to poor now at 20 per cent.

Ratings for spring wheat in the southwest and northwest were unchanged at 85 per cent good to excellent and 15 per cent fair to poor.

The crop report said the earliest seeded spring wheat in Manitoba was in the late dough stage, with the winter wheat and fall rye in seed colour change. The barley and oats were in the grain fill stage and the corn ranged from V8 to tasseling.

As for the province’s canola, the extended planting period has led to the earliest seeded being fully podded to that going in late at mid-flowering. The flax ranged from late-stage flowering to bolls.

The sunflowers were R2 to R5, the soybeans were R1 to R3 and the field peas were largely filling pods.

Rain across most of the province was welcomed, with greatest amounts in the central and east regions. However, the Deloraine area in the southwest recorded the heaviest rainfall at about 61 millimetres.

Since May 1, the southwest has received 40 to 106 per cent of its normal precipitation, with the central at 37 to 92 per cent, the northwest at 31 to 83 per cent, and the east at 43 to 72 per cent. The Interlake remained the driest at 26 to 56 per cent.

The crop report said pastures were improving in the areas that got rain, but conditions still varied from location to location. Water levels in numerous dugouts were sufficient but on the low side.

The rain led to some haying being delayed. Dairy producers have largely wrapped up their second cut of hay, but beef producers aren’t expected to get a second cut.

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While some areas received little to no rainfall, other places saw more than 60 millimetres, including Windygates in the central region (72.4 mm), Ninette in the southwest (62 mm) and Zhoda in the east (54 mm).

Northwestern and eastern Manitoba, as well as the Interlake, have large areas where accumulated precipitation since May 1 is below 50 per cent of normal. Most of central Manitoba and the southwest are at 70 per cent or less, while some places received more than 80 per cent of the 30-year average.

Spring wheat quality was rated at 90 per cent good to excellent across the province with the Interlake showing the best rating at 60 per cent excellent. The earliest seeded spring wheat is in anthesis. Meanwhile, winter wheat and fall rye are in the grain fill stage, while most corn fields are in the V8 to V10 stages. Barley and oats range from stem elongation to head emergence. Fungicide applications to prevent Fusarium head blight are still ongoing.

A long seeding window meant the earliest seeded canola is in full flower while late-seeded canola is in the four-leaf stage to rosette. Also, the earliest seeded flax fields are flowering while late-seeded fields are up to 15 centimetres tall and are budding.

Field peas have flowered in most areas, with the earliest seeded fields having progressed to the R2 and R3 stages and beginning to pod. Soybeans planted early are in the R1 and R2 stages, while those planted later are in the V3 to V5 stages.

Pasture conditions vary across the province, with dry and grasshopper-damaged areas found in the east, southwest, the Interlake and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey in the northwest. Beef hay quality has been good in areas with sufficient moisture, but some fields in the east, Interlake and the RM of Kelsey are seeing yields as low as 25 per cent of normal. While some dairy producers in eastern Manitoba are anticipating a second cut of hay, others in the Interlake don’t expect one unless there is substantial rainfall. Corn for silage is faring well, even in drier areas.

Cattle on pasture are in good condition, but fly pressure and foot rot were observed. Water levels in dugouts and natural waterways are lower than normal, with some at 50 per cent capacity.

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The provincial agriculture department said crop ratings rose two points at 61 per cent good to excellent. Among the major crops the good to excellent totals were:

• Spring wheat up two points at 62 per cent

• Barley up two points at 63 per cent

• Oats up two points at 60 per cent

• Dry peas hold at 60 per cent

• Canola holds at 58 per cent

There’s a wide variation among Alberta’s regions, with northwest leading at 77 per cent good to excellent but the Peace is the worst off at a mere 23 per cent.

For crop development, the report said spring cereals are ahead in their growth with most in the booting stage. The cereals in the south were beginning to form heads.

Of the broadleaf crops, those flowering were:

• Lentils 58 per cent

• Dry peas 53 per cent

• Canola 42 per cent

• Mustard 42 per cent

• Chickpeas 35 per cent

Also, 48 per cent of Alberta canola was in the rosette stage and 43 per cent of the dry peas were in the seven-to-12 node stage.

Meanwhile the province’s soil rating lost eight points on the week at 57 per cent good to excellent. Tops in Alberta was the central region at 82 per cent and the Peace came in at 31 per cent.

The report said June rains helped soil moisture levels in the south, central and northwest regions, but below normal levels persist in the northeast and Peace as well as in some parts of the south.

Tame hay quality improved five points to 42 per cent good to excellent and the first cut is underway. Dryland hay quality rated 54 per cent good to excellent and that on irrigated land was 82 per cent. Alberta’s pastures are at 49 per cent good to excellent.

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“The east and Interlake regions have large areas of accumulations below 50 per cent of normal. The majority of the central, northwest and southwest regions have accumulated less than 70 per cent of the 30-year average of precipitation,” the crop report said.

For the week ending July 1, numerous locations throughout Manitoba received very little to no rain. Those that received the most precipitation include Fisher Branch at about 12 millimetres, Gladstone with around 19, Elma at nearly 30, Inglis just short of 44 and Neepawa close to 58.

Among the province’s cereals, the winter wheat and fall rye are in the grain fill stage, while the barley and oats are in stem elongation to head emergence.

The corn ranges from V5 to V8, with that for silage said to be advancing rapidly.

Of the spring wheat, Manitoba Agriculture said only 10 per cent of the crop is in fair condition with none rated as poor or very poor. All of the regions reported their wheat at 90 per cent good to excellent. While eastern Manitoba has no spring wheat rated as excellent, 60 per cent of the crop in the Interlake is.

As for the oilseeds, the canola ranges from the four leaf stage to rosette, with the earliest planted fields in full bloom. The flax was reported to be to up 15 centimetres tall with buds forming. Of the soybeans, the earliest seeded are in the R1 to R2 stages and those sown the latest were in the V3 to V5 stages.

For the pulses, field peas have begun to flower with furthest along in the R1 to R2 stages.

The recent rains will help grass growth on Manitoba’s pastures. Beef producers have started haying, but there are reports of below average yields.

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In 2023 the decline was caused by numerous challenges in global trade. Shipping disruptions lingering from the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, commodity inflation, droughts in the U.S., Canada and Europe in 2022, and the U.S. dollar strengthening all contributed. This year, it’s due to the high dollar demand in Japan and South Korea being down. 

“Milk prices are low in those countries and they are just buying less imported hay,” said Josh Callen, a market research analyst and owner of The Hoyt Report. “Buyers are more price sensitive than quality sensitive and they are looking for deals.” 

He added that the U.S. dollar versus the yen has started to come down but the yen is still weak and the Chinese have pulled back sharply on their buying. 

“They don’t buy much from Canada, but they are the biggest buyer in the U.S. and so far, the volumes they are taking are down by about a third,” he said. “They overbuilt their dairy industry and now, with low milk prices and a poor economy, they are culling cows and feeding less imported hay. This means hay prices in the U.S., especially in Washington, are down sharply, like to 2018 levels.” 

• RELATED: Comparing tame forages under grazing

Issues 

Callen said there are several issues Canadian exporters should be aware of right now including that prices for first-cut timothy in Washington were very strong. 

“It was like competition among export buyers for the product drove prices more than the demand from the end-users,” he said. “This higher-priced hay has been slow to move.” 

While some U.S. exporters may get more desperate for orders and drop their prices, some exporters may also pivot that hay to the domestic horse market and hurt those prices. 

“Also, word in Washington is getting around that timothy seed sales for next year were very strong; some seed dealers even sold out,” said Callen. “I would be very cautious in the timothy market. Look to established relationship customers to try to move hay.” 

• RELATED: Picking a perennial forage blend

During years like this, it is a good idea for exporters to have multiple outlet channels for their hay. For example, in the U.S., the market for big bales is down sharply while the market for small square bales for horses has held up better. Demand in New York and Florida, which take a lot of timothy from Alberta, is still pretty good. 

Callen added that, from the U.S. perspective, the export market may be shrinking. All the challenges seem to have spurred more buyers to source forage from more local sources, he said. 

“That was the big question this year: ‘Would the export market bounce back?’ And so far, it has not. Time will tell, but it appears the export market will be slower for the time being.” 

Exports at CFGA conference 

Callen is a regular speaker at the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association’s (CFGA) annual conference and he will return to this year’s conference, which is taking place December 3 to 6 in Guelph, Ont. “Roots to Success: The Foundation of Resilient Agriculture” is the theme for the conference, which celebrates the important environmental and economic role forages and grasslands play in Ontario, across the country and around the globe. 

During his session, Callen will provide an analysis of the current status of the global forage market, including pricing, volumes and market trends. It is just one of the activities focused on exports at the conference. 

Brand new for this year is the Hay Exporter and Marketer Social on December 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. This event is especially for those interested in hay marketing and exports, and will provide an opportunity to connect with key people with industry knowledge, learn about hay marketing and exports, and discuss the opportunities and challenges in the hay marketing sphere. The event is free to those registered for the conference and costs $30 for those not registered. Food and drink are included with the ticket purchase. 

Another learning opportunity for hay marketers and exporters is the popular pre-conference tour. This year, the tour is being held in conjunction with the Ontario Forage Council’s popular Forage Focus on Dec. 6 when those in attendance will tour businesses involved in hay marketing and exports, hay equipment and more. 

For more information about the CFGA conference visit the CFGA conference website. 

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“There’s really nothing that a vertical feed mixer will say ‘no’ to,” says Glenn Buurma, president of Penta. Buurma notes that while traditionally vertical feed mixers saw most of their attention among dairy producers, he’s seeing beef producers increasingly add them into their operations as well. “There’s nothing that’s going to have a quicker payback for a beef farmer than a feed mixer.” Hear more from Buurma about the benefits that he feels TMR mixers can deliver on for cattle producers.

In this second video (below), Buurma talks about some of the features of the Penta 6730 Hurricane it had on demonstration at Ag in Motion this summer and the basic maintenance needed to keep them operating at peak efficiency.

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