Product Description
CDC Baler oats is an oat variety grown primarily for silage or fodder purposes. A certified seed released by FP Genetics, CDC Baler is engineered to have exceptional forage yield and standability. The mature plant can reach heights of 99cm, which is taller than other varieties released by FP Genetics. This height, combined with the exceptionally wide flag leaf and thick stem, translates into a high biomass yield. (FP Genetics, n.d.)
CDC Baler has a late maturity, although the maturity can be reduced through the addition of fertilizers. Conversely, poor weather conditions can increase the time to maturity (Leuke, 2014a). Oats are a C3 plant, so are adapted to function best in a more temperate climate (Bareja, 2013). In this respect, cooler weather patterns do not have a highly negative impact on growth. CDC Baler has very good resistance to smut but poor drought tolerance (FP Genetics, n.d.). Their growth will be largely impacted by the amount of moisture available during growth. Nutrients and green leaf colour are maintained far into the growing season, lending to a higher quality forage when harvested (Trawin Seeds, 2014). This variety has high energy protein, essential for feed quality (Ibid, 2014). While the concentrate yield of CDC Baler is noticeably lower than milling oat varieties, CDC Baler offsets this through its high forage yield (Leuke, 2014a).
CDC Baler has a late maturity, although the maturity can be reduced through the addition of fertilizers. Conversely, poor weather conditions can increase the time to maturity (Leuke, 2014a). Oats are a C3 plant, so are adapted to function best in a more temperate climate (Bareja, 2013). In this respect, cooler weather patterns do not have a highly negative impact on growth. CDC Baler has very good resistance to smut but poor drought tolerance (FP Genetics, n.d.). Their growth will be largely impacted by the amount of moisture available during growth. Nutrients and green leaf colour are maintained far into the growing season, lending to a higher quality forage when harvested (Trawin Seeds, 2014). This variety has high energy protein, essential for feed quality (Ibid, 2014). While the concentrate yield of CDC Baler is noticeably lower than milling oat varieties, CDC Baler offsets this through its high forage yield (Leuke, 2014a).
Machinery and labour requirements
CDC Baler would require little machinery for cultivation and growth in Nepal. It would be adapted into the regular cropping system and would utilize the same machinery as other cereal crops, so farmers would not have the added expense of machinery specialized for oat cultivation. Machinery needed for proper growth include a plough to prepare the soil and a sickle or scythe for harvest (Pariyar, 2004). The oats, as they are being grown for fodder, would not be threshed but would be harvested on a cut-and-carry system (Leegwater & Schiere, 1999). This system operates with little machinery and considerable labour. When ready, the forage is cut with a scythe or sickle and laid out to dry, then carried back to the farm for storage or feeding.
Labour required for fodder oat cultivation is similar to that of other cereal crops. The soil needs to be cultivated, the seed sown, and the crop harvested. Labour inputs would increase depending on the number of fodder cuts taken from the crop. However, the growth of a fodder crop on-farm has the potential for less labour requirements gathering feed from other sources such as native growing vegetation. The fodder crop would be grown in fields close to home, resulting in a shorter distance to bring the forage back to the farm as opposed to bringing in forages obtained from randomly located native vegetation.
Labour required for fodder oat cultivation is similar to that of other cereal crops. The soil needs to be cultivated, the seed sown, and the crop harvested. Labour inputs would increase depending on the number of fodder cuts taken from the crop. However, the growth of a fodder crop on-farm has the potential for less labour requirements gathering feed from other sources such as native growing vegetation. The fodder crop would be grown in fields close to home, resulting in a shorter distance to bring the forage back to the farm as opposed to bringing in forages obtained from randomly located native vegetation.
description of growth and harvest
The land would first be ploughed to integrate any crop residues from the previous crop and to expunge unwanted weeds (Pariyar, 2004). Manure would be applied to the soil to act as fertilizer, and a second cultivation would incorporate the manure into the soil and prepare the seedbed (Ibid, 2004). The oat seed would be broadcast onto the prepared soil at a rate of 100-120 kg/Ha (Pariyar, Shrestha & Paudyal, 2013). Traditional sowing techniques would be used; there is no machinery required for the actual sowing of the seed. Planting would occur in the fall season immediately after the harvest of the previous crop, and harvest would begin approximately 60 days after planting (Pariyar, 2004). The number of cuttings is dependent on the rate of growth of the crop and the fodder needs of the farmer.
The farmer would cut the crop with a sickle or scythe. Some fodder could be fed immediately to the animals, and the remaining crop would be dried and carried back to the farm to be stored and fed as needed to the animals. Additional harvests would occur as the oat crop matures (Ibid, 2004). The final harvest would occur in the spring to give way to the growth of the next crop in the cropping system (Pariyar, Shrestha & Paudyal, 2013). As Pariyar, Shrestha and Paudyal (2013) show in Annex VIII of their paper, a time line for the planting and cultivation of oats begins in Poush and ends in Baisak, essentially covering the winter growing period from November to April.
The farmer would cut the crop with a sickle or scythe. Some fodder could be fed immediately to the animals, and the remaining crop would be dried and carried back to the farm to be stored and fed as needed to the animals. Additional harvests would occur as the oat crop matures (Ibid, 2004). The final harvest would occur in the spring to give way to the growth of the next crop in the cropping system (Pariyar, Shrestha & Paudyal, 2013). As Pariyar, Shrestha and Paudyal (2013) show in Annex VIII of their paper, a time line for the planting and cultivation of oats begins in Poush and ends in Baisak, essentially covering the winter growing period from November to April.
inputs required
The growth of fodder oats is a relatively low-input system. Because oats fit into the farmer's regular cropping system, little changes need to be made to accommodate the growth of this new crop. If oats already exist as part of the regular cropping system, CDC Baler seeds can easily replace the existing obsolete variety. Material inputs include a plough and manure, both of which are readily available products on the farm (Pariyar, 2004). Consequently, there are no additional inputs involved with CDC Baler oat cultivation in respect to the cultivation of other cereal crops with the exception of the seed. If a farmer chooses he can add other forms of fertilizer to the crop to increase its yield and growth rate, but this input is not necessary for the successful production of the oat crop. Inputs of water are also an option if the farmer wishes to irrigate or has access to irrigation systems, but the successful growth of the crop is not dependent on irrigation. Rainwater is sufficient for crop growth.
issues concerning crop production in the hills
Several issues arise concerning the growth of CDC Baler in the hill regions because of the climate and elevation difficulties of these regions. Hill agriculture is accomplished through terraced farming, so field sizes are extremely small. The sloping topography makes the soil prone to surface wash, and the winter months which cover the oat growing season are typically cool and dry (Shrestha, Wake, Mayewski & Dibb, 1999). However, CDC Baler would still grow successfully in these conditions. As previously mentioned, oats are a C3 crop so growth is optimized in temperate conditions such as those in the hill regions (Bareja, 2013). Oats have a fibrous root system and would be effective at holding the soil particles together, reducing the rate of soil surface wash (Hannaway & Larson, 2004). Small field sizes offer no drawbacks to oat production because labour requirements remain stable regardless of field size.
The average land holding size of resource-poor Nepalese farmers, such as those found in the hills, is 0.4ha (Pariyar, 2006). This land supplies food for the farmer's family and his livestock. An increase in land used for livestock feed production will result in a decrease in the amount of land available for the cultivation of human food. Nepalese farmers are unable to grow large amounts of livestock feed, hence the appeal of a sedentary system of animal production. If CDC Baler oat seeds were exported to Nepal, there could be some difficulty in persuading farmers to grow the crop. However, because it can be integrated into an existing crop production system and has an extremely high forage yield, the farmer is able to benefit by either adding CDC Baler to his forage production system or using CDC Baler seeds as opposed to his obsolete existing seed variety.
Because of the variable topography, roads are non-existent in the hills, making it quite difficult for a farmer to reach the nearest market (UNWFP & FAO, 2007). This poses a particular problem in marketing and transporting the new CDC oat seed to the farms in the hill regions. Likewise, the price of this new seed will impact the financial viability of the farming operation, in that more money is being expended on seed inputs than if a farmer retained seed from the previous year's crop to plant the following year. The increased outputs in the form of volume of fodder produced effectively counter the cost of production. The farmer has increased inputs, but outputs more than compensate for cost of production.
The average land holding size of resource-poor Nepalese farmers, such as those found in the hills, is 0.4ha (Pariyar, 2006). This land supplies food for the farmer's family and his livestock. An increase in land used for livestock feed production will result in a decrease in the amount of land available for the cultivation of human food. Nepalese farmers are unable to grow large amounts of livestock feed, hence the appeal of a sedentary system of animal production. If CDC Baler oat seeds were exported to Nepal, there could be some difficulty in persuading farmers to grow the crop. However, because it can be integrated into an existing crop production system and has an extremely high forage yield, the farmer is able to benefit by either adding CDC Baler to his forage production system or using CDC Baler seeds as opposed to his obsolete existing seed variety.
Because of the variable topography, roads are non-existent in the hills, making it quite difficult for a farmer to reach the nearest market (UNWFP & FAO, 2007). This poses a particular problem in marketing and transporting the new CDC oat seed to the farms in the hill regions. Likewise, the price of this new seed will impact the financial viability of the farming operation, in that more money is being expended on seed inputs than if a farmer retained seed from the previous year's crop to plant the following year. The increased outputs in the form of volume of fodder produced effectively counter the cost of production. The farmer has increased inputs, but outputs more than compensate for cost of production.
cost
The cost of CDC Baler seed is relatively inexpensive. A 40lb bag of seed costs $9.40 CAD (Leuke, 2014b). The 2013 GNI per capita for Nepalese was $730, so the price of the seed is within an affordable range (World Bank Group, 2014). It has already been established that the average land holding size of farmers in the hill regions is 0.4ha, and average area planted to oats will be assumed 0.05ha (Pariyar, 2004). Seeding rates for oats are 100-120kg/ha (Pariyar, Shrestha & Paudyal, 2013). From this data the average cost of seed for the farmer for one year is calculated to be $3.10, seeded at a rate of 120kg/ha. However, this cost does not factor in the cost of transportation, so cost for the farmer will be higher to account for the shipping of the seed from Canada to Nepal.
Patent constraints
FP Genetics is the only licensed distributor of CDC Baler oat seeds (Sk MOA, 2011). Farmers growing this variety are allowed to keep the seed for their own use and cannot sell it to other farmers for seed (Leuke, 2014b). The purpose of introducing CDC Baler seed is for growth as a fodder crop in Nepal, so the seed produced by the crop will be fed with the forage, not sold.
market opportunity
The market opportunity of CDC Baler oats is high in the hill regions of Nepal. There is a definite need to increase crop production for farmers in these areas because of the impact to livestock production and its resulting impact on the general level of income for farmers in these areas.
A census conducted in 1991-92 concluded that 60% of people in the hills were living below the poverty line (Nepali et al., 2010). Shrestha (1992) indicates that farmers in the hills primarily raise cattle and goats but the development of this livestock industry is hindered by the unavailability of forages for animal consumption (Pariyar, 2004). The demand for green fodder necessary for a productive livestock enterprise exceeds the supply and this deficit is most apparent in the hill regions (Upreti & Shrestha, 2006). As Pariyar (2004) established, oats are an acceptable form of forage to all livestock. This being, CDC Baler can be grown by all farmers in the hill regions who are involved in raising livestock, whether for personal or commercial production, and can supply farmers with the fodder necessary to fill demand.
It must be noted that many Nepalese farmers save seed from the previous year's crop to plant the following year (Private seed enterprise development, 2005). This has the potential to hinder the market opportunity of CDC Baler in respect to cost of production. It is less costly for the farmer to save seed from his previous crop, but the genetic advancement of CDC Baler needs to be considered. CDC Baler seeds, compared to seeds saved from a previous oat crop, carry more hybrid vigour, have less potential for disease and will produce a higher yield. If farmers in the hill regions were given the opportunity to grow CDC Baler their farming operation would become more sustainable.
A census conducted in 1991-92 concluded that 60% of people in the hills were living below the poverty line (Nepali et al., 2010). Shrestha (1992) indicates that farmers in the hills primarily raise cattle and goats but the development of this livestock industry is hindered by the unavailability of forages for animal consumption (Pariyar, 2004). The demand for green fodder necessary for a productive livestock enterprise exceeds the supply and this deficit is most apparent in the hill regions (Upreti & Shrestha, 2006). As Pariyar (2004) established, oats are an acceptable form of forage to all livestock. This being, CDC Baler can be grown by all farmers in the hill regions who are involved in raising livestock, whether for personal or commercial production, and can supply farmers with the fodder necessary to fill demand.
It must be noted that many Nepalese farmers save seed from the previous year's crop to plant the following year (Private seed enterprise development, 2005). This has the potential to hinder the market opportunity of CDC Baler in respect to cost of production. It is less costly for the farmer to save seed from his previous crop, but the genetic advancement of CDC Baler needs to be considered. CDC Baler seeds, compared to seeds saved from a previous oat crop, carry more hybrid vigour, have less potential for disease and will produce a higher yield. If farmers in the hill regions were given the opportunity to grow CDC Baler their farming operation would become more sustainable.
benefits to canada
The most obvious benefit to Canada regarding the export of CDC Baler oat seeds to Nepal is the impact it would have on the Canadian economy. There would be an economic boost for FP Genetics, the company supplying the seeds, and for Dennis Leuke, the seed grower/producer, because of the expanding consumer market. Because the seed produced for export to Nepal would be grown as part of an existing seed production operation, there would be no large start-up costs associated to increased production for Canadian growers. Depending on the market for CDC Baler in Nepal, Canadian production areas would expand and contribute to income stability for the growers. The market expansion increases the assurance that the product will remain in demand, consequently strengthening the retail potential of the seed. FP Genetics would become a more international company and would have expansive marketing possibilities as shipment of the seed would increase awareness of the company as different countries and people were exposed to the seed through its shipping route.
environmental sustainability
Canada, being a primary producer of oats on a global level, has experienced an increase in the production of oats throughout the last two decades (Sk MOA, 2011). Extrapolating from this and taking into account the importance of cereal crops in the future sustainability of the planet, oat production should continue to rise in the coming years. CDC Baler alone accounted for 2945 acres of production in Canada in 2014 (Canadian Grain Commission, 2014).
The environmental sustainability of oat cropping practices is largely dependent on the cropping practices of the grower. A paper prepared by Thiessen Martens, Entz and Wonneck (2013) highlights some precedents of environmental sustainability in relation to crop production. By critically evaluating the questions related to sustainability issues, farmers are able to assess their current practices and possibly implement new practices or adjust existing systems to improve sustainability. Regardless, oat production will continue in Canada, so availability of CDC Baler is ensured.
Recent statistics by the Canadian Grain Commission (2014) show that CDC Baler is also produced in Alberta and Manitoba, though to a lesser extent. If the Saskatchewan grower has insufficient production or leaves the agricultural business, Canadian-grown CDC Baler oat seeds would still be available to export from Canada to Nepal.
The environmental sustainability of oat cropping practices is largely dependent on the cropping practices of the grower. A paper prepared by Thiessen Martens, Entz and Wonneck (2013) highlights some precedents of environmental sustainability in relation to crop production. By critically evaluating the questions related to sustainability issues, farmers are able to assess their current practices and possibly implement new practices or adjust existing systems to improve sustainability. Regardless, oat production will continue in Canada, so availability of CDC Baler is ensured.
Recent statistics by the Canadian Grain Commission (2014) show that CDC Baler is also produced in Alberta and Manitoba, though to a lesser extent. If the Saskatchewan grower has insufficient production or leaves the agricultural business, Canadian-grown CDC Baler oat seeds would still be available to export from Canada to Nepal.