This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Higher yield. Better standability. Disease resistance. Traditionally, pulse breeders have focused on breeding better plants to suit the needs of growers. Through classical breeding techniques that involve crossing plants and observing traits, pulse breeders have developed new varieties that have made pulses easier to grow.

Now, with a burgeoning world population to feed, more and more thought is being given to developing pulses that are also healthier to eat. Limited resources, however, mean that pulse breeders must focus primarily on breeding stronger plants, not healthier seeds.

But University of Calgary researcher Dr. Dae-Kyun Ro is not a pulse breeder. Rather, he is one of the growing numbers of scientists who are laying the foundation for breeding crops with health beneficial attributes in mind.

“The history of plant breeding goes back at least 5,000 years, but our understanding of healthier crops is only very recent,” said Dr. Ro, who has a Ph.D. in the field of plant biochemistry from the University of British Columbia. “For a long time, we just did not understand the healthy components present in pulses and other plants.”

This knowledge gap has had far-reaching impacts on the work done in traditional breeding programs, according to Dr. Ro. “Breeding goals have often not been based on healthy diet but based on some other characteristics that do not directly improve our health and wellness. Thanks to the new knowledge in nutrition and plant metabolism, now we know what compounds are good for health and how these compounds are synthesized in plants.”

To that end, researchers at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary set out to explore the health beneficial attributes of pulse crops – specifically tannins, which are known to have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. As part of this project, Dr. Ro and his team looked at a portion of the pea genome to better understand tannin biosynthesis in an effort to identify the molecular mechanism controlling the tannin synthesis in pea. By understanding the mechanism, researchers can devise methods to control the quality of tannins in pea and other pulse crops either through breeding or other molecular techniques, according to Dr. Ro.

“Studies of the genome provide a comprehensive snapshot of gene activation when tannins are being actively produced,” said Dr. Ro. “Classical experiments study one or two genes at a time, but using new genomics approaches, we can investigate thousands of genes simultaneously. We anticipated that hidden genetic components could be revealed by employing an unbiased genomics approach.”

To test this theory, Dr. Ro’s project team chose five pea cultivars, a mix of both tannin and low-tannin varieties. The team then used next-generation DNA sequencing technology and obtained more than a million sequencing reads from the different cultivars. Using a computer to analyze this data, the team compared the activation of genes in tannin-rich cultivars against low-tannin cultivars, which allowed them to link the tannin profiles with the activated parts of the pea genome.

The team found that the tannins synthesized in pea are both longer and have a higher degree of hydroxylation than the tannin identified in other crops – two traits that are related to higher levels of antioxidant activities. The team then set out to answer which genetic components in pea dictate the type, quantity, and length of tannins in different cultivars.

Using the genomics data, Dr. Ro’s team found that some low-tannin pea cultivars have mutations in the master molecular switch of tannin metabolism. His team also identified one novel genetic component that is potentially related to the tannin length. As a result of this discovery, Dr. Ro’s team is exploring the possibility of modulating tannin length.

Each of these findings can be applied to breeding pulses that have greater health attributes, according to Dr. Ro. “In all living organisms, the genome serves as a blueprint. The information for desirable traits is all coded in pulse genomes, and we can utilize genomic data to develop healthier pulse crops. For example, if we want to have a pea plant containing specific type of tannin, we can use the gene and genomic information to select specific pea lines. You can use the same principle for all useful traits.”

While classical breeding has allowed breeders to chase certain desirable traits through crossing and trait observation, breeding can be accelerated and done more predictably when accurate genome information is available because breeders will know exactly the absence or presence of certain genetic variations that are associated with physiological traits.

“Understanding the molecular mechanisms, or genes, involved in tannin synthesis in pea will give plant breeders new tools to help develop new pulse crops with nutritional value in mind in addition to the conventional target traits,” said Dr. Ro. Having the genomic information can also facilitate more rapid breeding programs, leading to the development of new crops in a shorter period of time, and possibly give Alberta farmers an advantage.

But in order to realize this advantage, organizations like Alberta Pulse Growers must continue to invest in projects that support basic scientific discovery as well as projects with immediate application in the field.

“My research is placed at the boundary of basic and applied science,” said Dr. Ro. “A lack of basic science today will not negatively influence the Alberta economy in the next five or perhaps 10 years; however, our next generation will not be competitive enough if we do not invest time and funds in basic research now.”

Dr. Ro explained that sequencing the whole pea genome is essentially a basic science project that will not influence the pea industry immediately – but the long-term benefits are already evident. “Sequence-based plant breeding is a leading-edge technology in all developed countries. It is obvious that the pea genome will play critical roles in pea breeding in the next decades.”

While agronomic traits – including increased yield, disease resistance, and lodging resistance – will continue to be a priority for Alberta pulse breeders, Dr. Ro feels that support must also be given to projects where the pay-off may not be immediate if Canada hopes to maintain a competitive agricultural industry.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

“I believe that the future of agriculture lays in Africa.”

As Managing Director of Acos, an agricultural commodity supply company based in Italy, Remo Pedon has an insight into the world of agriculture that can only be gained through working for over 25 years as an international pulse trader. And while his experience has proven to him the opportunities available around the globe, his confidence in Africa’s potential no doubt stems from his work in Ethiopia, where his successful seed supply system has changed the face of bean production in the heavily populated African country.

Like many other developing countries, agriculture is at the core of Ethiopia’s economy. Fertile land, adequate rainfall, and moderate climate create generally good growing conditions in the land-locked country, and as a result, agricultural commodities account for roughly 85 per cent of Ethiopia’s export market. Ethiopia’s large population is another factor in its reliance on agriculture: of its 83 million citizens, roughly 70 million live in rural areas, and 80 per cent of its labour force works in agriculture. Producers in Ethiopia are primarily smallholders, with over half farming plots of 1 hectare or smaller, and many of these producers rely on their production to feed their families.

But despite its rich resources and large labour base, only 25 per cent of arable land in Ethiopia is cultivated, and agricultural productivity remains low, partially due to a lack of infrastructure, transportation, and technology. To make matters worse, poverty in Ethiopia is rampant because of these deficiencies, and most of rural population of the country lives far below the international poverty line. As a result, Ethiopia is faced with the challenge of maximizing its agricultural productivity to ensure the livelihood of a large portion of its population.

Seeing the potential for agricultural development in the country, the Pedon family set out to help Ethiopia with this problem, through the development of Acos Ethiopia in 2005. Because beans have long been an important export commodity in Ethiopia, Pedon invested in a European standard bean cleaning and processing site facility near Addis Abeba, Ethiopia’s capital city located in the fertile Rift Valley region.

“The agricultural industry in Ethiopia is underdeveloped with an unexpressed potentiality if you consider lands and natural resources available like water,” said Pedon. “But there are several reasons that convinced us to develop a new business in Ethiopia. First of all, there are uncontaminated lands ready to be cultivated under perfect and favorable climatic conditions. The huge quantity of water available and the knowledge of beans helped us to develop rural activities in this country.”

The primary focus of these activities has been on improving the development and distribution of basic seed to smaller farmers. Working jointly with researchers from the Ethiopian Seed Enterprise, Acos Ethiopia supplied 700mt to 15,000 small farmers, most of whom received enough to plant one acre. But real headway on increasing production began in 2010, when Acos and Catholic Relief Services set out to develop a single-variety supply chain in an effort to improve the quality of the seed available to producers, resulting in a higher-yielding variety called Awash Melka.

“Strategically, the development of a single seed variety proved fundamental to the success of the Ethiopian Navy,” Pedon said. “There were multiple incentives that supported this strategy. Awash Melka had higher yields, so even if farmers achieved no price gain for growing this variety, they would increase their incomes through higher levels of production. Also, the shift to the larger seed type would increase demand for improved seed. Finally, there would be less waste, as Acos had previously bought 25 per cent more beans than needed in order to sift out the low-quality beans, which then had to find alternative markets.”

According to Pedon, factory tests showed Awash Melka to be the best of the new local varieties and to be well-suited to a single-variety supply chain because the beans looked different from other common varieties (Awash Melka beans were larger, flatter and a more creamy color than the smaller, rounder, white seeds of previous varieties.) By focusing on a single-variety model, Acos has provided growers with access to high-quality seed that, in turn, has produced higher quality results.

“Since we’ve worked in Ethiopia, economic conditions and free access to the market have become better,” said Pedon. “If we refer to economic and agricultural aspects, we have succeeded in promoting better quality and higher yields.”

And these improvements to quality and yield have increased market access for Ethiopia’s beans, according to Pedon. “In my opinion, the Ethiopian Navy pea beans are an excellent product that perfectly suits the needs of the main European and American canning industry. So we’ve connected African farmers with high-value markets. Today, farmers are able to sell their products fixing a price seven times more than the price of six years ago. This allows thousands of families to own lands and to start new activities, such as dairy farming or animal husbandry.”

This emphasis on overall sustainability for agricultural workers in Ethiopia underscores that Acos is not just helping local farmers produce better crops; the company is also helping the community as a whole, by providing employment in its Nazreth plant and free education to local children. Since it opened its doors in 2006, the Acos Ethiopia plant has grown to include 350 employees, which in turn creates income for 15,000 families. And because the plant mainly employs women – the primary family caretakers – Acos built a school next to the plant to ensure its workers had a safe, educational environment in which to leave their children while they worked. Free of charge, with free bussing and cafeteria service, the school accepts 250 children each year.

Pedon sees these efforts as an investment that will help Ethiopia realize its potential.

“So far, it has been an overwhelming experience,” Pedon said of Acos’ work in Ethiopia. “Ethiopia is a fascinating country of great potential and incredibly resourceful, able people. We can certainly say that Ethiopia has given us far more than we could possibly imagine, much more than sheer commodity. Starting a project in Ethiopia has been an enormously fulfilling experience for us all, an emotional journey that touched the lives of many, a truly rewarding experience.”

Beyond the personal rewards of creating this program in Ethiopia, there are far-reaching benefits to the world-wide agriculture industry as well, according to Pedon. “We believe that, in Ethiopia, we developed a successful network which could be a model for other countries. Moreover, I personally think that legumes are a key-commodity in the near future according to the increasing consumption, nutritional claims, affordable price, and eco-friendly aspects if we compare to other agricultural products such as grains and rice.”

And while Pedon believes that Acos’ work with white pea beans has helped reduce poverty and enhance economic development in the country, he feels that some barriers to trading with Africa remain. Production reliability and food safety are concerns for buyers across the world – but the greater challenge lies in combating the perception that, by trading with Africa, consumers are somehow taking food from hungry people. As such, the need to showcase the positive work of companies like Acos will become critical to the continued sustainability and success of small farmers in Ethiopia.

Acos, part of Pedon Group, is a privately held company specializing in the processing and sale of dried pulses and grains in bulk. With its headquarters in Italy, Acos runs its own facilities in China, Ethiopia, and Argentina, primarily important areas for agricultural commodity supplies. Thanks to a vertically integrated approach and the strictest traceability system, Acos features a complete supply chain control providing high-grade quality and GMO-free products to food industries, packers, and wholesalers all over the world.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Daryll E. Ray and Harwood D. Schaffer

Despite the World Food Summit goal of halving the number of hungry in the world between 1996 and 2015, the number has remained stubbornly constant, with an uptick in the number as a result of the 2007-2008 crop price hikes. Currently the official Food and Agricultural Organization 2010-2012 estimate of the number of undernourished people is 870 million, though some aid organizations offer higher estimates.

At the same time, the world’s population is projected to grow from the current 7 billion to around 9 billion by 2050. Unsurprisingly, the question arises as to how we are going to feed 2 billion additional people by 2050, when we already have nearly 1 billion facing chronic hunger.

Recently we were asked to take part in a symposium at the Entomological Society of America annual meeting in Knoxville titled: “Feeding future generations: Expanding a global science to answer a global challenge.” The focus of that challenge was to identify ways to feed 9 billion people in 2050. What follows in a synopsis of our presentation.

We preface what follows by noting that it appears to us that the multinational biotech seed and chemical companies have responded to this challenge by positioning their products as the primary solution to meeting this goal. Not incidentally, they are also using this challenge as a justification for pressing the case for the extension of their intellectual property rights through trade negotiations.

As a result of our readings and discussion with others, it appears to us that much of the discussion about feeding 9 billion people by 2050 has been captured by these firms by setting up a false dichotomy.

On the one side, we have what might be called the current mechanized agricultural model. In this model, the goal is to bring the latest technologies (read GMOs and agricultural chemicals) to bear on solving this problem. It is argued that through the use of patented products and technologies, US farmers can boost their production to help meet the increased demand for food.

Similarly farmers in developing nations can use these same patented technologies and products to boost their crop production. But in order to make these technologies and products available, the agribusiness firms need to make sure that their intellectual property is protected. So what the companies want to do is offer the free use of products like a GMO cassava to a country’s farmers in exchange for their setting up US-style intellectual property rights and regulatory agencies in their country. The vision is to remold subsistence farmers into entrepreneurial export-oriented producers.

On the other side, they offer organic production, essentially viewing it as a post-industrial philosophical reaction to the mechanization of agriculture. They then use this reaction to describe a pre-industrial production system.

The proponents of the mechanized agricultural model go on to characterize organic production as offering lower yields and increased labor requirements as a result of higher weed and insect pressure. The argument is often summarized in the declaration that if we wanted to match current US chicken production with free-range chickens, there wouldn’t be enough acres available to do that—we’ve never tried to make that calculation.

By positing organics as the only alternative to the full use of their products, they hope to quash any challenge to their vision. They also ignore a lot of other actions that could be helpful in meeting the challenge of feeding 2 billion additional people by 2050—an increase of 28 percent over a 38-year period. In taking on this challenge, we need to remember that we were able to move from feeding a world population of 4 billion in 1974 to feeding 7 billion in 2012— an increase of 75 percent over a 38-year period.

From our vantage point, one needed action is to reduce post-harvest loss, which can be as much as a quarter to a third of the crop. To do this, low-input storage technologies need to be identified that use resources that are available to farm households and can be maintained over the long-haul by the poorest of the poor.

Returning to a theme that we have touched on before in this column, we need long-term funding for conventional breeding programs that will produce public varieties of what the US National Research Council has called “lost crops:” teff, various sorghums, amaranth, fonio, African rice, millets, and various pulses. Many of these crops currently yield about 1 tonne per hectare—compared to 10 tonnes of corn per hectare in the US—while research plots have identified landraces of these crops that can yield triple or quadruple that. A conventional breeding program could breed these high-yielding characteristics back into the local varieties that would be acceptable to local households.

While intercropping would be a problem for farmers using four-wheel-drive, diesel tractors, it is more common among farmers who depend upon hand labor for their production. And intercropping has the potential to increase total food output from a given plot of land through techniques like succession planting—that is what we do when we plant radish and carrot seeds in the same row in the spring. In Colombia we saw indigenous farmers planting squash in among the hills of corn. With targeted research, intercropping systems that increase total nutritional output per unit of land could be identified using locally grown crops.

As a recent Iowa State study showed three- and four-year rotations that includes crops and livestock can reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and herbicides. In some cases the task will be to help subsistence farmers recover traditional rotations that used local crops and crop varieties.

While we are not soil scientists, we cannot underestimate the importance of the issue of soil and water management. We need to pay attention to soil biotics and soil structure. Doing so could decrease water runoff, increase water infiltration, and improve nutrient availability to the plants.

None of this is difficult. The science is relatively easy. What it takes in the political will to fund programs in these areas. In saying this we are not arguing that the role of mechanized agriculture in the global North does not play a role in meeting this goal; it does. But there is more to it than that.

Oh! and we almost forgot our most important point.

The real challenge in feeding all 9 billion people in 2050 is not production; it is distribution.

Remember 1998-2001? The price of corn was $1.85 a bushel and we had 800 million hungry people in the world. But because they lacked purchasing power, 800 million people went to bed hungry while US producers were told that the low prices were caused by their “overproduction”.

The first step in meeting this challenge is to enable the farmers who are among the poorest of the poor to produce their own food using sustainable technologies that are within their resource base.

Daryll E. Ray holds the Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy, Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee, and is the Director of UT’s Agricultural Policy Analysis Center (APAC). Harwood D. Schaffer is a Research Assistant Professor at APAC.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Pedigreed seed grower Patrick Fabian has gone from “playing around with soybeans on a six acre patch” to saying “soybeans will have a permanent fit on our operation” in eight short years. His successes with the emerging Alberta crop, which is classified as a pulse despite its high oil content, led to this shift from casual grower to life-long proponent.

“I was quite impressed with the potential I saw in those things for Southern Alberta,” said Patrick, who farms irrigated acres in Tilley. “I stopped growing other pulses when I found out how easy soybeans were.”

Growing soybeans

Under the right conditions, soybeans can be easier to grow than other pulses, according to Patrick. What, then, does Patrick consider the right conditions for soybeans to grow?

“Any of the irrigation districts are perfectly suited for soybean production because they’re in the south so they have the required heat units and they have the daylight sensitive variety requirements. We have no problems reaching maturity with the current varieties that we have,” said Patrick. The varieties that grow well in the Western Canadian climate are typically about 2,375 to 2,400 heat units, but because of their daylight sensitivity, they can grow in areas that are 2,200 heat units. Their daylight sensitivity shortens the time to maturity as it detects that the nights are getting longer, allowing them to grow further north and west.

And while soybeans “really shine” on irrigation because of their mid-summer water requirements, Patrick has seen them grown successfully on dryland in areas south of Taber, areas north of Strathmore, and areas east of Medicine Hat. In some cases, though, dryland producers use soybeans as a prep crop for higher value crops rather than as a cash crop that they will see a huge yield from, according to Patrick.

“They’ll plant them, and because they’re Roundup Ready, the soybeans can tolerate a much higher rate of the herbicide than other RR crops, such as canola,” said Patrick. “They can clean up any weed issues in their field, and because soybeans fix so much nitrogen, producers with this type of mindset are finding that they’re getting higher yields the following year on soybean stubble.”

One producer Patrick knows grew a quarter of soybeans and a quarter of canola. This past year, he put hard wheat on the whole half section, and he had a 14 bu/ac differential between the canola stubble and the soybean stubble. “To him, soybean yield isn’t his only focus. Obviously, he’s got to make money with these things. But he’s finding that, for his operation, they are beautifully preparing the soil for next year’s crop.”

Whether soybeans will be used as a cash crop or a prep crop, choosing the right variety is essential if a producer wants to include soybeans on his operation. Many soybean varieties have been bred for a lower pH soil, like that of eastern Canada. Because the soil profile is different between eastern and western Canada, producers should take care to select a variety that has been proven for western Canadian soil profiles.

Soil temperature is also a factor when seeding soybeans, according to Patrick. “Putting soybeans in too early can be a problem because soybeans like warm soil. We like to see it as between the 10th and the 25th of May. In a zero till situation, you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer than the guys that have worked their fields, because the soil tends to warm up five to seven days faster on black soil than it does with zero till. Usually, we tell people to make it the last thing they put in the ground.”

Once the soil temperature is right, soybeans can be seeded with various different types of seeding equipment.

“We’ve got guys that are successfully producing soybeans that are seeding them with air drills, air seeders, hoe drills, corn planters, so they’re very adaptable as to what they can be placed in the ground with,” said Patrick. “Like with any pulse, you’ve got to be careful that you’re not mashing them up when they’re going in the ground. If you have to auger them, you need to have the auger idling. It takes a little bit longer, but it’s the same thing with peas. You rev the auger up and start cracking up your soybeans, you’re going to end up having poor germination and vigor.”

And like other pulses, inoculant is “a must” with soybeans, which require approximately 300 lbs of nitrogen to produce a 50 bu crop, and as Patrick says, “No one in their right mind would fertilize that much.” With proper inoculation, soybeans will fix their own nitrogen and, in fact, fix the highest level of nitrogen of any pulse crop, after fababeans.

Soybeans share another similarity with fababeans that make them attractive to growers: standability.

“That’s where soybeans really stand out from peas, beans, and lentils – the fact that they don’t go down,” said Patrick. “They have a very, very strong stem, and they resist shattering and shelling very, very well.”

Because of their hardiness, soybeans are frost tolerant “to a point.” With an early frost, a soybean grower can expect to lose about 10 to 20 per cent of pods because the crop canopy will protect all but the top layers of leaves and pods, according to Patrick. “And generally, by about the 15th of September, 80 per cent of your yield is already set. We crack open the soybean pod and look at it, and if the membrane is detached, it doesn’t matter what kind of frost we get; its yield potential is beyond the danger point.”

Soybean harvest usually happens between the end of September to the middle of October, and like seeding, growers have some flexibility when it comes time to harvest soybeans.

“Soybeans will probably be the last thing you take off, unless you’re growing something like sunflowers or sugar beets,” said Patrick. “Go do your ticklish crops first, your high-value, high-risk crops. When you’re done all that, your soybeans will be waiting for you. They’re not going anywhere; they’re not going to shell out; they’re very hardy as far as being shatter resistant. They’re another tool for the farmer’s toolbox that gives you extreme flexibility on your harvest window.”

And the soybean market is very forgiving when it comes to things like cracking, making them easier to harvest than other pulse crops.

“With peas, you have to be so very careful that you don’t crack them. With soybeans, that’s not the case,” said Patrick, who combines his soybeans at around 4.5 miles an hour. “If you crack a soybean, that’s not dockage. You take that half a soybean that’s cracked and crack it again, it’s still not dockage. If you have lots of green seed, you might get a bit of a dockage there. The other thing that’s a dockage factor is if they’re incompletely threshed. If you have whole pods in the sample, that’s dockage. That’s why we tell the producers don’t be scared to crack them, because you’re not going to hurt the seed, but you’re going to wind up getting docked if you don’t thresh them out.”

Marketing soybeans

Without a market for soybeans, though, dockage isn’t a consideration – but Patrick feels that marketing Alberta soybeans gets easier every year.

“To get things going, it was a chicken and the egg scenario,” said Patrick. At the time, he approached industry representatives about setting up a soybean processing facility in Southern Alberta and was told that, in order to do that, there would need to be around 10,000 acres of soybeans to make it viable. So Patrick approached producers about growing soybeans and was told that, in order to do that, there would need to be a place to sell them first. Despite those challenges, both soybean acres and soybean markets have slowly increased every year.

In addition to Alberta processors investing in soybeans – like one new soybean extruding facility in Nobleford – there is a significant market for soybeans in Manitoba – but with a loss of around $1.30 a bushel to freight them there, Patrick is trying to find a more viable market closer to home.

“We’re working on trying to get railcar load up and trackside loading because the majority of the soybeans that go back to Manitoba are loaded on a railcar and then railed out right past us again to the west coast,” said Patrick. “If we’re able to facilitate that, instead of having a disadvantage for freight, it might work out to being an advantage for freight because we’re that much closer and can facilitate loading them from this end.”

Patrick is also looking at ways to meet Alberta demand for soybeans that is currently being filled by Manitoba. “Right now, 99 per cent of the soybean meal and soybean products that are brought in for feed are all imported from Manitoba or the States. As time goes on, we’re trying to get traction and get that off the ground, like the company who’s got the extruding facility in Nobleford. They separate the oil from the meal, and then sell the meal locally here at a much cheaper price than what the imported stuff comes in from Manitoba, all the while meeting every quality parameter required for soybean meal.”

While soybean acreage in Alberta are currently sitting at around 1,200 acres, Patrick believes that number could grow up to 50,000 acres in Southern Alberta as producers begin to see how easy and profitable soybeans are.

“Will the acres grow? I’m assured of that,” Patrick said. “This year, we had producers breaking in excess of 60 bu/ ac, so when you’re looking at a cash cost on irrigation of about $130 to $140 an acre for your whole year’s cost, including fertility, seed, everything, with 60 bu/ac, all of a sudden, you’re starting to get producers’ attention.”

This year, Patrick saw soybeans that were priced $17 in September that dropped down to $14 last month. “As far as the economics go, if you’ve got even 50 bu/ac at $13, subtract off about $140, and that’s what you’re looking at to pay bills. When you’re doing this for the first time and figuring on your cash flow, figure it on 40 bu/ac at $10 a bushel on irrigation. I don’t want to set somebody up for false expectations, so that’s more realistic for cash-flow purposes and for seeing if they have a place in the crop rotation.”

Fit is an important consideration for growers who are thinking about growing soybeans, according to Patrick.

“You have to answer the question, ‘Will this fit your operation?’ I think it will, but you have to answer that for yourself. Because it’s something new, start small. You’re not going to put all your eggs in one basket and put out a huge outlay in case something doesn’t work out right for you. You want to get your feet wet first. As your confidence level builds, you can expand your acreage.”

And as a pedigreed soybean seed grower, Patrick does whatever he can to make sure his clients have a good experience with soybeans. “We’re committed here at Fabian Seed Farms to ensure that the producer is going to have the best agronomic advice and the best expertise that we can give them based on our trials, our research, our past experiences, both good and bad. My intent isn’t to sell soybeans so I can say I sold X amount of units of soybeans. My goal is every time a client purchases soybeans from us, I want them to have a good experience so that they’re back next year.”

By providing his clients with the best possible seed and agronomic advice, Patrick continues to grow the Alberta soybean acres and markets every year, showing his fellow growers the potential he has long seen in soybeans.

For more information about soybeans and Fabian Seed Farms, please visit www.fabianseedfarms.com. Patrick Fabian will be hosting a soybean information seminar at the grandstand meeting room at Ag Expo in Lethbridge on Thursday, February 28 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Neil Blue, Market Specialist – Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

Peas

Canada is the world’s top producer and exporter of field peas. In 2012, Canadian producers seeded 3.2 million acres to peas, rebounding from last year because of better spring field conditions. However, yields were only average, and total Canadian pea production is estimated at 2.74 million tonnes. India and China are expected to again be the major buyers of Canadian peas. Indian demand into the spring will depend greatly on the result of their Rabi season crop.

The combination of low Canadian pea carryover, mediocre production, and strong demand bodes well for pea prices this year. Despite a 520,000 tonne US pea crop, double that of 2011, green pea demand has held very strong. Canadian supplies are tight, and green peas are trading from $11/ bushel to as high as $13/bushel for top quality. Meanwhile, yellow edible peas are trading from $7.75 to $9.00/bushel. Feed pea prices have also been strong, reflecting the high prices for feed grains and soybean meal. Recent edible pea price strength was in response to commercial stocks being drawn down by strong export movement and production problems in Argentina. Due to excessive rains, Argentina pea production has been cut by 25 per cent to only 35,000 tonnes, similar to last year’s crop. Argentina may become a pea importer this year.

Current expectations are for another tight Canadian pea carryover level. Considering the high prices for peas this season and the continued recognition of the value of growing peas for rotational reasons, Canadian pea acreage could be higher in 2013. However, this year is a reminder that higher acreage does not necessarily result in oversupply to the market.

Lentils

2012 Canadian lentil production is estimated at 1.38 million tonnes, down from last year’s 1.53 million tonne crop. Seeded acreage was down about 200,000 acres, and average yield is estimated below 1,300 lb/acre.

However, the lower Canadian production is buffered by last season’s record high carryover. Canadian lentil exports are expected to increase. Prices are down about 20 per cent from year ago, with #1 and #2 Lairds trading from 16 to 24 cents/lb., and Estons trading for 18 to 22 cents/ lb. Lentil prices have eased over the last month. Supply/demand fundamentals are better for red lentils, and that is reflected in their steadier prices. Although yearend lentil carryover is expected to be lower than in the previous two years, it will still be well above the five year average. Next year’s lentil acreage is likely to be suppressed somewhat by the lower prices over the winter.

Chickpeas

2012 Canadian chickpea acreage is estimated at 155,000 acres, a 26 per cent increase. However, a lower estimated average yield of 1,472 lb/acre produced about 104,000 tonnes, up only 13,000 from last year. US chickpea acreage jumped 45 per cent and led to a record crop there of around 125,000 tonnes. With the higher supplies and resulting lower prices, Canadian exports are expected to rise to over 50,000 tonnes. The Argentina crop has been downgraded by rains at harvest, with only about 60 per cent of the 115,000 tonne crop expected to be high quality product.

Kabuli chickpea prices are down about 15 per cent from last year, with large Kabulis selling in the 37 to 40 cent a pound range. Desi chickpeas are selling in a 27 to 32 cent a pound range, similar to a year ago. The price outlook will hinge on upcoming Indian and Australian crops. Australia’s crop appears to be large and of good quality. Current forward bids are steady to lower than cash bids. Canadian chickpea carryover is forecast at around 24,000 tonnes, double that of last season.

Beans

In response to last year’s strong prices, 2012 North American dry bean acreage increased by about 50 per cent. Mexican bean planting was delayed by drought, but timely rains led to a good crop, currently estimated at between 800,000 and one million tonnes. 2012 US bean production is estimated at 1.1 million tonnes, up 37 per cent from 2011. Canadian and Alberta acreage was up about 30 per cent from 2011, with Canadian dry bean acreage estimated at 310,000. Of the 50,000 acres of dry beans seeded in Alberta last spring, about half were Pintos, 30 per cent were Great Northerns, and the balance a combination of reds, blacks, and pinks. Alberta bean yields in 2012 were about average, near one tonne/acre.

Because of the rebound in their bean production, Mexican import needs are expected at about 200,000 tonnes compared to 650,000 tonnes last year. Bean prices were strong into harvest, but have since eased, reflecting the larger production. About 90 per cent of Alberta beans are contracted and priced through a pool. The current estimated Alberta price range for all bean varieties for this marketing season is from 30 to 40 cents a pound.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Contracts are often seen as a necessary evil in a farm business operation. Though they can reduce risk for both parties, contracts are often complex legal documents that can impact the way a grower markets his grain. And because contracts are legally binding for both parties, producers must do their due diligence to make sure they sign the best agreement possible for their operation.

As it is with almost everything in agriculture, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to crop contracts. The type of contract you use to sell your crop will depend on the wants and needs of both your buyer and your operation. In general, though, crop contracts can be categorized in four ways:

Before-Delivery Contracts are used before the crop has been delivered. These include production contracts, where producers agree to deliver a certain amount of production from a specified number of acres and the buyer agrees to accept that delivery; and deferred delivery contracts, where producers agree to deliver a certain amount of production by a specified date and the buyer agrees to accept the delivery and pay a specified price. Production contracts reduce the risk of reduced delivery opportunities but not price risk, while deferred delivery contracts guarantee a price and a delivery option but, in turn, eliminate price or delivery flexibility for the producer.

Supply Contracts are used to guarantee the producer will supply a certain amount of the crop during an agreed-upon delivery month and the buyer will accept that delivery. Supply contracts can help reduce the risk of limited delivery opportunities, but they do not reduce price risk, as the price is agreed upon either at the time of delivery at the street price or prior to delivery through a deferred delivery contract.

After-Delivery Contracts are used after the crop has been delivered. Deferred pricing contracts, which allow producers to deliver their crop for a small up-front payment, are an example of After-Delivery Contracts. In deferred pricing contracts, producers agree on a price and payment deadline date for the remainder of their unpriced crop. Though deferred pricing contracts can reduce the need for on-farm storage and the risk of fewer delivery opportunities later, they can also increase price risk and even risk of nonpayment, as payment must be received within 90 days after delivery for bonding protection through the Canadian Grain Commission.

Before- or After-Delivery Contracts can be used either before or after the crop has been delivered. One example of this type of contract is a target-pricing contract, in which a producer defines the price they would accept for a certain amount of their crop. If the price reaches that number, the buyer pays that price automatically. This allows the producer to set his preferred price in advance, but doesn’t allow the producer to capitalize on good marketing opportunities that don’t meet the target price or on higher prices, as the producer would only receive the target price.

Each of these types of contracts have benefits and drawbacks, as well as particular conditions that must be met either by the producer or the buyer. More detailed information about the different types of crop contracts can be found at Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website at www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sis10994.

Elements of a Crop Contract

No matter what type of contract you use, the following elements should be included in your crop contract:

1. Clear language. Legalese is great, for lawyers. For the rest of us, contracts should use clear language when possible. If the contract is not written plainly, there is greater risk of misunderstanding or misinterpreting the terms of the contract.
2. Rights and responsibilities of the producer and the buyer. Contracts should clearly define what both parties must do, as well as what both parties are entitled to. Contracts should also clearly state what will happen if one party fails to meet his or her obligations.
3. Straightforward terms. Crop contracts should have clearly defined terms for things like quantity, grade, delivery date, delivery location, and price, if those provisions apply.
4. Dispute resolution provisions and escape clauses. Ideally, dispute resolution provisions and contract escape clauses will never be used – but they’re good to have in the event that they are needed.
5. Contract duration. Contracts should have a start date and an end date to ensure they do not go on indefinitely.
6. Payment logistics. Contracts should describe when and how the buyer will pay the producer.

Reduce your risk in contracts

Contracts should help you reduce your risk on your operation – but contracts themselves can come with their own risks. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk in contracts:

1. Understand how the quoted price was developed, including whether it contains charges for things like freight or deductions for dockage or lower grades.
2. Understand how “worst-case scenarios” (for instance, grade deficiencies or low production) will be handled.
3. Ask questions about areas of the contract you don’t understand.
4. Make sure the buyer is licensed through the Canadian Grain Commission. For a list of licensed buyers, visit www.grainscanada.gc.ca/licensee-licence/licensedagreees-eng.htm.
5. Consult a lawyer about the legal implications of the contract and a financial advisor or accountant about the financial implications of the contract.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Holly Gelech, BioVision Seed Labs

Seed labs issue hundreds of reports each week that provide valuable information that drives seed selection and seed treatment decisions. Seed testing is a well-known agricultural service, but the processes and skill set required to perform testing is not understood. In this article, we will answer your questions on internal processes implemented from sample receipt to analysis.

Germination

Germination is by far the most requested and valued test in the seed industry. Today’s germination test methods have not changed in the last 20 years and continue to be managed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Through CFIA’s “Canadian Methods and Procedures for Testing Seed”, planting media, chamber temperatures, and even analysis rules are outlined in this document, to be followed by all accredited seed analysts.

Sample Preparation

• Roll Towel Planting Method: 200 seeds planted at 50 seeds / replicate
• Growth Chamber Conditions: 20°C for 7 days with alternating photoperiod

Germination Analysis

Complexity of analysis ranges from sample to sample based on disease, seed moisture during harvest, and storage conditions. From a pulse standpoint, the most impactful farm operation that affects germination is handling of the pulses. Seed coat cracks and embryo damage can occur quickly and are not often visible to the naked eye. Accredited analysts are trained, and then tested by CFIA, to ensure their skills are proficient.

The analysis procedure commences with division of seedlings into the various categories. This is conducted on each of the four replicates. Final signoff of the tests is wrapped up when all four replicates meet statistical tolerances and are averaged for reporting.

• Normal Seedlings: All structures required to produce a healthy plant are present.
• Abnormal Seedlings: Structures are missing. Roots or shoots are stunted or deformed. Cotyledons are detached from each other.
• Dead Seeds: Seed show no signs of sprouting. Cotyledons are split apart.

If the seedlings show signs of chemical damage, which can occur when glyphosate is applied pre-harvest, then retesting the germination in soil is an option. This may mitigate some tell-tale chemical damage symptoms, which is very short roots with little root hair and very minimal shoot elongation.

Disease

Culture media disease testing is the predominant testing method utilized in analyzing seed borne infection, as it detects viable pathogen presence and will communicate the infection level to the client. These test benefits gives clients the tools needed to choose a seed lot and to target seed protection products. The marketplace typically requests Ascochyta, Botrytis, and Anthracnose (lentil, bean, chickpea) for pulses. Seed borne Ascochyta infection is higher in the 2012 seed crop, which was also observed in the growing crop.

• Culture Media (potato dextrose agar) Plating Method: 200 seeds plated at 10 seeds/plate in Laminar flow cabinet
• Incubation Chamber Conditions: 27°C for 5 days with alternating photoperiod

Disease Analysis

Disease analysis requires a unique skill set which includes lab procedures proficiency and analytical competency. Identification of pathogens includes visual analysis of each fungal colony for morphological characteristics including color, mycelial growth pattern, and pycnidia presence. Follow-up compound microscopic spore analysis (at 400X magnification) is often required to distinguish species, as spores are not visible by the naked eye.

Fungal presence is recorded at the workbench for each seed. Test completion is finalized when all 200 seed are analyzed and infection is reported as a percent. The lowest level of detection is 0.5 per cent, which is one seed infected out of 200 seeds tested.

The Report of Analysis is the end product of lab service delivery. Knowing what tests impact your seed decisions are the first step, followed by how to interpret the results. Each testing season brings different challenges, so contact your seed lab to benchmark how your results stack up against typical results for that year.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Dean Dyck, AFSC

On November 7, the Board of the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission met with representatives of Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) to share information, build relationships, and discuss new opportunities. Of particular interest at this meeting was the review of insurance coverage for fababeans.

AFSC insures approximately 4,000 acres of fababeans in the province, on average. APG was concerned that the yield normal, and subsequently coverage for the crop, was too low compared to current yields.

The yield normal for fababeans is a constant, meaning that yields from previous years are not factored into calculating the yield normal. The constant has not been reviewed for a few years.

One of the challenges with fababeans is that producers do not consistently insure the crop and do not have individual coverage. It takes five years of yield data to calculate individual coverage, and producers are encouraged to insure the crop so their own yield data can be used.

An analysis of AFSC’s yield records from 2000 to 2011 showed that producers experienced at least 25 percent higher yields than the normals. It is evident that coverage is insufficient compared to current varieties and agronomic practices. AFSC will be increasing the yield normals to bring them in line with the yield experience of our clients. Both coverage and premium will increase with this change. It is anticipated that these changes will be available for the 2013 crop year.

By building a strong relationship with AFSC, Alberta Pulse Growers is sharing information that is relevant to its members to help build a strong risk management portfolio for Alberta producers. Visit www.afsc.ca for more information on current risk management options.

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Jenn Walker and Kevin Zaychuk

The 9th Canadian Pulse Research Workshop was held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, from November 6 to 9, 2012. This biennial conference was organized by Andrew Burt (AAFC), Chris Gillard (Univeristy of Guelph), Alireza Navabi (AAFC), and Tom Smith (University of Guelph). The conference was attended by researchers from across Canada, the UK, and the United States. A wide range of topics were presented both in oral presentations and posters. It is good to see the amount of pulse research in progress and exciting to see that the APG has a hand in funding some of the very progressive projects.

The conference opened with comments from Dr. Bert Vandenberg, a look back at where pulse consumption has come from and where it is now positioned globally and what the road ahead may look like. Murad Al-Katib followed with a very positive outlook for pulses to expand in the food and ingredient markets.

In the days that followed, presentations focused on five key areas:

1. Nutritional value and human health
2. Pulses and environment
3. Genetics and genomics
4. Pulse breeding
5. Pulses in cropping systems

Some of the highlights were the pathology studies, such as Fusarium species from dry bean and pea fields in Manitoba and insensitivity to pyraclostrobin fungicide in mycosphaerella pinodes on the northern great plains. Very few herbicide studies were presented; however, some exciting results have been generated from Eric Johnson, which examined the potential for group 15 herbicides in managing herbicide resistant weeds in pulses. Mario Tenuta presented his findings on stem and bulb nematode, which was responsible for added fumigation on yellow pea shipments to India. The work that was done to show that the nematode is associated with Canada Thistle and not directly with the peas demonstrated that what appears to be very simple and practical research can have a very big impact and can provide cost savings and the reduction of inputs.

There is a significant amount of Canadian research in the areas of nutrition and genomics; however, basic agronomy research was represented in a much lower number of papers and posters. If this is an indication of current direction, it is important that APG continues to recognize agronomic research and the need to be progressive and constantly involved in farming practices that will improve prod

This article appeared in the Winter 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Kristen Podolsky

My name is Kristen Podolsky. I’m a current graduate student at the University of Manitoba. My Master’s thesis work is with Dr. Martin Entz and a great group of young and ambitious students who are passionate about working on sustainable agriculture. Between field work, statistics, and coursework, I also had the opportunity to intern at Pulse Canada over the past year. I’d like to share my story on how I got there, what I learned, and why I feel industry collaboration can work for students, growers, and industry stakeholders.

Through a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Industrial Post Graduate scholarship, I received matching industry support from the Manitoba Pulse Grower’s Association (MPGA) for my work. As part of this scholarship, students are given the opportunity to spend time at the industry partner’s organization working on issues related to their thesis. Through collaborative efforts between MPGA, Pulse Canada, and the University, we decided the best opportunity for me would be to work with the Sustainability team at Pulse Canada.

My passion for sustainable agriculture began early in my university career, so I knew learning from this team would be a great experience. The main project I started to work on involved carbon footprinting of major agricultural crops in Canada, including canola, wheat, and pulse crops. My job was to report results back to the farmers from Saskatchewan who submitted crop production information for the project.

Carbon footprinting, as part of a broad sustainable agriculture movement, has become a major priority to major industry stakeholders. The world’s largest food companies are addressing environmental responsibility and, in doing so, are interested in sourcing food products with lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The second project I was involved with began as another collaboration between three industry stakeholders: a food company interested in measuring the carbon footprint of their product (H.J. Heinz); an industry consortium aimed at providing sustainable solutions along the supply chain (Sustainable Food Lab); and, of course, Pulse Canada. The goal of this project was to provide insight on the usability of carbon footprint calculators for measuring Canadian navy bean production’s carbon footprint.

Over 80 navy bean producers from Ontario and Manitoba were surveyed on their farm practices related to navy bean production. My role was to take this information and enter it into two separate carbon footprint calculators: the Cool Farm Tool and Holos®. I then summarized the data to better understand which farm practices were contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Both calculators showed that nitrogen fertilizer use was the largest contributing factor to greenhouse gas emissions, which accurately reflects scientific research findings.

The carbon footprint of navy bean production at the farm gate ranged from 150-944 kg C02 equivalent per tonne of navy beans. To put these values into perspective, a 400 kg straw bale contains 180 kg of carbon, which if kept in the soil contributes to soil organic matter and overall soil quality. Farms with the lowest carbon footprints practiced reduced tillage, used optimum nitrogen fertilizer practices, and utilized red clover cover crops to reduce synthetic N inputs. Reduced pesticide use, shelterbelts, and alternative energy sources can also reduce a farm’s carbon footprint.

Results from the survey also highlighted differences in production practices between Ontario and Manitoba. For example, rotations with double seeded red clover cover crops were common in Ontario and reduced nitrogen fertilizer input compared to rotations without red clover. I know from my research that red clover seeded after winter wheat harvest the year before navy bean production can contribute 150 lbs of nitrogen in Southern Ontario growing conditions.

While the nitrogen contribution will be less in the Prairie Provinces due to the shorter growing season, this is still a valuable management practice. On the other hand, tillage and pesticide use were substantially less in Manitoba compared to Ontario. On average, a legume crop (soybeans or dry beans) was included once every three years in rotation.

My experience at Pulse Canada has re-enforced two major themes: first, sustainable agriculture is the new paradigm; and second, collaboration among growers, researchers, and industry is extremely important. As a result of this work, it’s interesting to think that one day, our food products could be labelled with carbon footprint indices.

Pulse Canada has shown me that the Canadian pulse crop industry has an exciting story to tell and is positioning itself well for the future. I look forward to being part of a sustainable Canadian agricultural industry.