Beef in the Pandemic

Would everyone please calm down?

If you need beef, go ahead and buy some beef at the grocery store.  It's going to a be a bit more expensive than usual, but if you can afford it, go ahead.  Buy what you need.  But for goodness sake, DON'T HOARD FOOD!

As a beef farmer, there are few things I'd like to let the general public know at this time.

1)  You do not need to stockpile beef any more than you need to stockpile toilet paper.  Stockpiling creates immediate shortages.  Shortages lead to panic.  Panic leads to stockpiling.  Stockpiling creates shortages...you get the picture.  Just DON'T PANIC.

2)  The increased price of beef (and other meat) is due to a short supply coming out of meat processing plants.  Several large Canadian plants have shut down or reduced production in order to protect their workers and customers and slow the spread of COVID-19, just like so many other businesses.  Once they are able to get back to work, the supply will increase and the price will go down.  Just give it time and DON'T PANIC.

3)  Beef producers are receiving lower prices for our cattle right now.  This is because we have the same number of cattle to sell for beef, but the processing plants aren't buying as many cattle to turn into beef right now (see point #2).  This hurts, but we know the bottleneck is temporary.  We have to do our part and REMAIN CALM.

4)  McDonald's, the biggest supporter of the Canadian beef industry, is now sourcing limited amounts of beef from the United States.  This is not a reason for outrage.  They are taking this temporary measure because they are not able to source enough Canadian beef from Canadian suppliers at this time (see point #2).  So for those of you getting all worked up about this, or sharing the hoax about McDonald's sourcing beef from South America, please COOL YOUR JETS.

5)  You can try to buy beef direct from a farmer to stock your freezer, but that isn't necessarily the answer.  I just stopped selling beef direct and boy, have I been getting requests for beef lately!  I have to keep telling people, "I won't have any ready until winter.  It takes time to grow a calf to finished size."  Not to mention the additional pressure the extra orders put on the few provincially inspected abattoirs.  (By the way, if it isn't butchered at an inspected plant, it can't be legally sold).  Whether you buy from a farmer or from the grocery store, we appreciate consumers who REMAIN CALM and only buy what they need.

6)  Keep supporting Canadian farmers from all agricultural sectors.  Potato farmers, pork farmers, dairy farmers, produce farmers, beef farmers - we're all having difficulty marketing our products, not because people are eating less, but because people are consuming differently and processors are temporarily bottlenecked (see point #2...again).  Let's make a deal: We producers will REMAIN CALM and wait out the market bottlenecks as best we can and we ask that the consumers NOT PANIC and keep the markets flowing as steadily as possible.

Bee Friendly Tips

Over the years, I've seen several social media posts about saving the bees and planting wildflowers for the bees. As a person who works in agriculture and who briefly studied horticulture, I've got a few quick tips for those interested.

1) Avoid wildflower seed mixes.

These often contain seeds of flower that are invasive and can take over the natural ecosystem. If you do use a wildflower mix, make sure the species are listed (using their Latin names) and then check to make sure they aren't on the provincial noxious or prohibited noxious weed list.

2) Plant flowers that bloom at different times of the year.

This way, bees have access to food throughout their active season. And don't forget about flowering trees and shrubs!

Thanks to a "Planting for Pollinators Workshop" put on last year by Barrhead County and Highway 2 Conservation, I've got some suggestions for native wild flowers for those of you who live in central Alberta.

• Blue Clematis (Clematis occidentalis)
• Snowy Fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)
• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
• Golden Aster (Heterotheca villosa)
• Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata)
• Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
• Prairie Crocus (Pulsatilla patens)
• Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium monatum)
• Cut-Leaved Anemone (Anemone multifida)
• Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum)
• Smooth Blue Beardtongue (Penstemon nitidus)
• Spike Goldenrod (Solidago simplex)
• Three-Flowered Avens (Geum triflorum)
• Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)

3) Keep weeds for the bees.

None of us are fond of any type of weed, but if you live on an acreage or farm, you might want to consider allowing the dandelions and clovers to stay - at least in a couple of areas. These provide a good source of food for the bees. Just make sure you aren't saving the noxious or prohibited noxious weeds (like the Orange Hawkweed shown in the picture)!

A patch of Orange Hawkweed (a prohibited noxious weed) I found in a pasture a few years ago.

4) Plant a vegetable garden.

Most plants in our vegetable garden have flower, many of which attract bees. Plus, you get veggies. It's a win-win!

5) Find more tips and some specific plant ideas at the following websites:

• "Do Your Part to Help the Bees" - article from the Edmonton Journal
• "Attracting Bees" - blog post from Salisbury Greenhouse
• "5 Pollinator-Friendly Flowers to Brighten Your Garden" - article from Avenue Magazine
• "Plant Selections for Bees" - blog post from ABC Bees
• "Lola Canola's Sage Advice - Planting for Bees" - blog post from Edmonton Horticultural Society
• "11 Plants to Make Your Garden Bee-Friendly" - article from CBC News
• "Wild about Flowers" - website specializing in native Alberta wildflowers

Do you have any bee-friendly tips to share? Let me know in the comments section below!

Movie Review: The Biggest Little Farm

A while back, I noticed a new documentary listed on Netflix.  I was both intrigued by and suspicious of the description: "Inspired by their pet dog, a Los Angeles couple raises the money to start an eight-year adventure of triumph and heartbreak in biodiverse farming."

Inspired by their pet dog?  Interesting.

Biodiverse farming?  Is that just a buzzword, something used to attack conventional agriculture?  Or do these people have a genuine understanding of this type of farming?

Los Angeles?  Please tell me this isn't another story of some city slickers managing, with minimum effort, cost, or personal sacrifice, to save the world from folks who have been farming for generations.

Eventually, the intrigue overrode the suspicion and I watched the movie.

It was...not what I expected.  At all.

"The Biggest Little Farm" takes the audience sequentially through the first seven years of John and Molly Chester's journey of turning 200 acres of dead, drought-stricken land into the thriving, healthy farm that is Apricot Lane Farms in California.  And when I say that land was dead, I mean it.  I would not want to start with soil like they had!  They achieved success through biodiverse farming, which is described by their mentor, Alan York: "Our goal is the highest level of biodiversity possible."

The level of biodiversity on this farm is one seen more often in storybooks than in real life.  Apricot Lane Farms has cows, chickens, guinea fowl, sheep, pigs, guardian dogs, ducks, several varieties of citrus and stone fruit, raspberries, blueberries, and a vegetable garden.  I've probably forgotten a few things.  The most important part is how the animals and plants all interact.  They aren't kept separate from each other.  Rather, the farm functions as an ecosystem and the Chesters talk about its "interconnected beauty."

Photo Credit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8969332/

As a conventional farmer, some of the things the Chesters did in their journey were a bit strange to me, but others made a lot of sense.  For example, I found it strange how much they celebrated the birth of various livestock animals.  To me, that just seems like an unnecessary level of bonding.  Then again, maybe it's important to take a step back to appreciate the abundance of life.  I really liked seeing the way they used their livestock to help keep the crops healthy.  That's something that is beginning to come into conventional farming as a realistic option, though the uptake is definitely higher among those embracing alternative farming methods.

This documentary didn't sugarcoat the realities of farm life.  There was death, frustration, and even a threatening wildfire (a threat for which many farmers are now learning to prepare).  The forces of nature didn't cooperate all the time either, even in sunny California.  At one point, John talks about how farmers, in trying to save their animals, bond with the livestock that will one day be food.  He also talks about the problems they created on the farm, and the difficulties in solving those problems.

It wasn't all bad though.  The movie showed little babies, plenty of successes on the farm, and several revelations as John and Molly worked out how to "balance the needs of the farm with the needs of the wildlife."  I was particularly enthralled with their solution for a devastating snail infestation in the citrus orchard.  In the end, the Chesters reached "a manageable level of coexistence" between the crops, livestock, wildlife, and humans.

As I watched this documentary for a second time to take notes for this review, I wound up with more quotes on my paper than anything else.  My favourite is one from the very beginning: "I never dreamed we could even get to this point - to have so much to lose."  What farmer doesn't understand that?

To my surprise and delight, this really is an exceptional documentary.  The camera work is of a high quality, the perspective is balanced and honest (maybe a little too honest for some of us?), and the story frequently had me leaning in to ask, "how will they solve this problem?"  All considered, I highly recommended watching "The Biggest Little Farm."

Note: I am not receiving any incentive, financial or otherwise, for promoting this movie.  

Being an Essential Worker in a Time of Crisis

Work has been strange for the past few weeks.  Almost every day I am seeing changes in the way I do my job, both in town and on the farm.  The restrictions regarding which businesses can and cannot remain open in the wake of COVID-19 are changing how I do my jobs and how I think about what needs to be done.

My town job as a delivery worker for the local dry cleaner will not end, as we are considered an essential service, providing clean uniforms to businesses in the food production industry, like the local oat mill and grocery store.  My delivery routes are getting shorter every day, though, as more and more businesses shut down to wait out the pandemic.

On the farm, my work, in many ways, is the same as always.  Cows are calving and need to be monitored carefully.  All of the animals need to be fed - this year that means feeding extra grain, because our hay is of poor quality due to a wet summer.  Some of the hay is still in hay yards several miles away, so it needs to be hauled home.  Of course, that would require a fully functioning wagon - ours is currently stranded in a neighbour's yard, awaiting repairs.  Winter is the time for repairs, and this year we have several pieces of equipment needing work (including my car, which was damaged in an accident last month).  In short, the work on the farm isn't about to shut down for any national or international crisis.

Even during an international crisis, sick calves need individual care.

In other ways, it is becoming more difficult to get the farm work done.  Farmers aren't lone rangers.  There are many people we depend on and interact with.

I had to pick up some supplements and minerals for my cattle and some dog and cat food a little while ago.  Normally I would walk into the mill store, place my order at the counter and then move my truck around to the back and help to load the bags onto the truck.  This time, I had to call my order in and someone had to bring the debit machine out to me.  I did help load up the truck, but a few days later, the company announced they they were asking customers to simply stay in their vehicles and leave the employees to load the orders.

I have also had to pick up calving supplies from the vet and from Co-op.  Social distancing protocols have forced me to think through my supply runs more thoroughly, as I must decide if I need to get more of something to last me longer, or risk having to interact with people more frequently.

Similar situations have become normal across the agriculture industry.  Dairy farmers in some parts of the country have been told to stay back from the milk truck drivers and to not even be in the same room as them, lest they refuse to pick up the milk.  Elevators have told truckers to remain in their trucks when delivering grain.  Agricultural lending companies and grain buyers have been sending out dozens of emails telling customers to do as much business via email or phone as possible, while offices shut down.  These are such simple requests, but a few months ago they would have been utterly unimaginable, for farmers tend to be sociable, helpful, and involved.

Nonetheless, the business of agriculture must and will carry on through every crisis, as will every other essential service.  Farmers have carried on producing food around the world through other epidemics, through wars, political upheavals, economic collapses, government betrayals, and natural disasters.  Some falter under the weight of the burden (and who wouldn't?), but as a whole, the business of agriculture does indeed carry on.

So, while my friends try to fill their jobless hours or figure out how to work from home, I carry on with an almost normal work schedule, half wishing for a bit of a break and half relieved to not be working in the medical field, for those who are do are far more tired and overworked than I.

An Open Letter from a Farmer to People Who are Passionate about the Planet

Dear People Who are Passionate about the Planet,

I am a young farmer from Alberta, Canada.  I recently listened to a round table discussion pertaining to care of our planet on a Christian podcast.  It was a fairly good discussion, but there were some comments about beef, organic food, and bees that were somewhat uninformed (which is not unusual among the general population).  Normally the comments I heard would frustrate me. However, a short time ago, I attended the amazing Western Canada Conference on Soil Health and Grazing and I would love to take a few moments to share the ridiculously exciting things that are going on in the North American agriculture industry in respect to caring for and healing our environment.

I’ll begin with beef.  Many consumers have heard the claims that beef is bad for the planet.  However, there were about 500 farmers and ranchers at the conference talking about the amazing things that cattle and other livestock can do, when managed properly, to bring healing to our planet. 

We talked and learned about how beef cattle are an integral part of protecting North America’s grasslands, one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet.  In fact, if we take the cattle away, the grasslands turn into deserts!  Instead of letting that happen, the leading farmers and ranchers are learning the best ways to manage their cattle to keep the soil healthy.  When the soil is healthy, the plants are healthy, which allows the cattle to produce nutrient-rich beef and milk!  Even more awesome, when the soil and plants are healthy, our broken water cycle gets closer to being repaired AND the carbon in the atmosphere gets sequestered in the soil through natural processes!  Farmers are using some simple principles to heal the land, the water cycle, and the air!!  How insanely cool is that?!  As for the issue of the amount of land required to produce beef, most livestock are raised on marginal land – that is, land that is unsuitable for crops in the first place.  Using that land to grow veggies instead of meat would actually do more harm than good.  I could go on about how important beef cattle and other livestock are to a healthy planet, but I’ll refrain for now.

Beef Cows on Pasture, August 2017
Photo credits: Neil Rysavy

The next topic I’ll cover is that of organic food.  Many consumers think that buying organic food is what’s best for the planet and for our health, mainly because of the lack of pesticides used in organic agriculture.  Actually, organic farmers can and do use pesticides, though their selection is more limited.  Not using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is an important step in repairing the soil and ecosystems, but that doesn’t automatically make organic production better or healthier than conventional practices.  Organic farmers can destroy their soils just as easily as others and they can have food that is just as poor in quality as others.  I won’t stop anyone from choosing organic, but the added value may or may not be there.  Several of the keynote speakers at the conference I attended could be organic producers if they just filled out the paperwork, but they refused to do so.  I think that says something about the types of conversations farmers want to be involved in.  We want to talk about good things, not create fear of our competitors.

Moving on, I find concerns about the bees to be interesting.  Yes, bees have been having some trouble lately, and yes, some of that is from chemicals being used to treat other problems in agriculture.  However, some of the problems simply have to do with diseases that are wiping out colonies.  Other issues have to do with modern-day cropping systems which don’t provide a variety of flowering plants for the bees to visit throughout the season.  Our fields all bloom at once and then the flowers are gone and the bees have to work harder in the times before and after the big blooms to find the flowers they need.  One of the awesome things we talked about at the conference was growing poly-cultures – having several species of plants together in the field.  The diversity benefits bees and has other incredible benefits (depending on what species are planted) including carbon sequestration, pest control, improved water and nutrient cycling, additional feed for livestock after harvest, and more!  The greatest part of this, in my opinion, is that the world doesn’t need to set aside millions of acres for bee farms! 

This is an increasingly normal situation: a crop farmer plants a diversity of crops in his field.  A honey producer brings his hives to the field and the bees do their thing, benefiting both producers who require the bees’ services (pollination and honey production).  Later, the bees are removed, the farmer harvests his cash crop and a beef producer brings his cattle over to graze the crops that were planted as a companion to the cash crop.  The cattle add fertilizer to the field and convert the plants to nutrient-dense beef.  Look at all the food produced in just one field!!!  These are things that leading farmers and ranchers are doing in North America just to produce food and it just happens to be healing the soil, the water cycle, the air, the surrounding ecosystem, etc.  How incredible is it that God has granted us wisdom to find the best ways to care for our earth while going about our daily tasks!  And we get to work WITH animals instead of shunning them for being inefficient.  I think that is absolutely incredible, not to mention a fantastic fulfillment of what God has commanded us to do in Genesis 1:28 and 2:15!

I hope I haven’t ranted too much or bored you, but I was so excited to share how God has been working in the agriculture community of North America to bring healing to our planet that I just had to tell you about it!  I believe that God calls all Christians to join Him as He restores the brokenness in our world - including in creation.  These are some of the ways that farmers get to join in the work.  What is God calling you to do?

Sincerely,

A Farmer

P.S. If you want to know more about what you can do to help agriculture be a healing force instead of a harmful force, check out my post, "What You Can Do to Help a Farmer."