PEIFA Today
Friday – August 11, 2017
Local, Regional, Canadian News
**SAVE THE DATE**
PEI Open Farm Day 2017 – Sunday, September 17th
Farmers Helping Farmers annual fundraising steak barbecue
Saturday Aug 12 from 4-6:30.
Tickets $30. Tickets available at Riverside Market, PEIFA office or from board members.
Call 902-393-0071
Recommended Management Practices for Agricultural Irrigation Ponds
Agriculture is the largest contributor of any resource sector to the economy of Prince Edward Island. Rainfall patterns have changed in recent years and in some cases, some farmers are interested in irrigating crops to ensure yield and quality. MORE
Blight-resistant, genetically-modified potato drawing interest from P.E.I. farmers
Some Island farmers are excited about a new genetically-modified potato that’s designed to resist late blight, which could mean spraying less fungicide. MORE
The future of food: National food policy consultation in Charlottetown
The federal government held the first of six sessions on a the country’s first national food policy in Charlottetown Wednesday. MORE
‘We need that tool in our toolkit’: Chef Michael Smith voices support for GMO foods
Celebrity chef Michael Smith came out in support of genetically-modified food at a consultation about Canada’s Food Policy. MORE
P.E.I. “bee pasture” is a scientific taste-testing experiment
Roger Henry is out in the fields of the Harrington Research Centre north of Charlottetown on a day in late July. The wind is a bit rough, but he’s got a good degree of protection standing among the Yellow blossom sweet clover he’s growing. It’s just about at seven feet tall now. MORE
Antique Farm Show set for Kinkora Aug. 12
The fourth annual Antique Farm Show at R&L Farms in Kinkora is set for Saturday, Aug. 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MORE
Minister MacAulay opens first regional session on A Food Policy for Canada in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
A Food Policy for Canada will set a long-term vision for the country’s health, environmental, social, and economic goals related to food, while also identifying actions that can be taken in the short-term to improve Canada’s food system. MORE
Efforts to Reduce Pollution from Agriculture Slowly Paying Off
Efforts by farmers to reduce the amount of fertilizer that reaches drinking water sources can take years to have a positive impact, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo. MORE
Growing North
KAP heads to northern Manitoba to hear from producers MORE
Alberta Bound – The Crozier Family
In 1896, David Crozier ventured to what is now Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton, where he purchased Cutbank Farm from William Cust. This land, which lies on the shores of Cutbank Lake, has remained in the Crozier family for 120 years. Today, David’s great grandson Lenard owns and operates Cheslen Dairies with his sons, Jason and Brett. MORE
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Job Opportunity
POTATO INDUSTRY COORDINATOR
FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED POSITION – Charlottetown, PE
Closing date – Thursday, August 17th at 4:00pm
The purpose of this position is to serve as a coordinator for all potato related programs and activities within the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Potato Industry Coordinator will also, in cooperation with industry, develop innovative ideas or projects in the potato sector and take action to ensure they are successfully completed. The incumbent will work closely with other departmental staff, producers, industry leaders, agri-processors and other departments or agencies to bring projects to fruition. MORE
Environmental Farm Plan Renewals
The Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program sent out renewal letters in early 2017 to notify producers that their environmental farms plans would be expiring at the end of the year. If you are a producer who has not yet contacted the office to have your plan updated please call Matt or JoAnn at 902-368-7289.
EFP’s are valid for 5 years and we encourage all farmers to participate in the program. Participation in the program also allows you to apply for funding through the Growing Forward 2 Agriculture Stewardship Program, Farmland Finance Program and the Future Farmer Program. For your convenience the EFP can be completed at your farm or at the PEI Federation of Agricultural office and takes approximately 1.5 hrs to complete. EFP’s are no cost to the producer.
If you feel your EFP may be expired and you have not yet been contacted please call the office and we will check the status of your last plan. Further information on the Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program can be found on the PEI Federation of Agriculture webpage www.peifa.ca/efp/
Client Satisfaction Survey: Business Risk Management Programs
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with provincial partners, has launched an online survey seeking producers’ input on the level of satisfaction with our Business Risk Management (BRM) programs (AgriStability, AgriInvest, AgriInsurance, and Advance Payments Program). The survey is intended to be completed by producers who have applied to these programs in recent years and focuses on their experience with them.
Results from this survey will help us understand client expectations and improve BRM program delivery services.
The anonymous survey will be available until July 31, 2017 and will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
To complete the BRM Client Satisfaction Survey, please click here.
Thanks in advance for helping us better serve Canadian producers.
Livestock
Canada’s meat inspection system safe, says cattlemen’s group in wake of critical U.S. audit
Claims by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it found “systemic” problems around food inspection in Canada should not alarm consumers, according to a spokesperson for Canadian beef producers. MORE
Supply jitters extend CME live cattle futures losses
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell for a fourth straight session on Thursday, dragged down by growing worries about hefty near-term supplies, traders said. MORE
Feedlot Placements in June Up 16% from Previous Year
Weekly data on feeder cattle trade volumes for July could be indicating an end to the surge in placements of cattle going into feedlots that has been so notable for the last five months, according to Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
PED Infected Premises 61 Confirmed in Manitoba
The Office of Manitoba’s Chief Veterinary Officer has confirmed the first new case of PED in Manitoba in almost four weeks MORE
Global Meat Prices Plateau in July
In July the FAO food price index rose for the third consecutive month to 179.1 points, 2 per cent higher on the month and 10 per cent up on the year, according to Millie Askew, Senior Analyst at AHDB. MORE
Hog Markets Cautiously Optimistic Heading Toward Start of NAFTA Renegotiation
The Director of Risk Management with h@ms Marketing Services says the pork industry remains cautiously optimistic as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement MORE
China promotes livestock farming to digest corn stocks
China wants to turn its grain basket in the northeast into a national meat and dairy production base, said the agriculture ministry on Thursday, as part of a broader plan to create stronger demand for the region’s main crops. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – August 10 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, August 10 HERE
Potatoes
LATE BLIGHT CONFIRMED IN MANITOBA
Late blight has been confirmed in Manitoba in the rural municipality of Norfolk Treherne, the south central potato growing region in the province. MORE
2017 ONTARIO POTATO FIELD DAY
The Ontario Potato Field Day will be held on Thursday, August 17 at the Alliston HJV Equipment location. MORE
What Makes Threatening Potato Diseases so Successful
All but a few of the plants and animals we’re familiar with have one thing in common: they require oxygen in the atmosphere (or the water) to exist. Potatoes, people, dogs, cats, fish, corn, wheat and nearly everything else, including most species of bacteria and fungi, need oxygen. MORE
Potato Corner CEO shares secrets to food cart success
Potato Corner CEO Joe Magsaysay built the french fries brand into a global franchise business with annual sales of P1 billion (almost 20 million USD). MORE
Eritrea gets disease resistant potato variety
Efforts to develop select potato seeds on the part of Halhale National Agricultural Research Institute (HNARI) are producing encouraging outcomes, according to Mr. Musie Fekadu, Head of Bio-Technology at the Institute. MORE
Potato research in Eritrea results in suitable disease resistant variety
Efforts to develop select potato seeds on the part of Halhale National Agricultural Research Institute (HNARI) are producing encouraging outcome, according to Mr. Musie Fekadu, Head of Bio-Technology at the Institute. MORE
Sharp hike in Mexican fresh potato prices
The Spanish-language potato news website Argenpapa reports that potato retailers are experiencing a sharp rise in the price of fresh potatoes in certain areas of Mexico, especially in Tamaulipas, a state in the northeast of Mexico, bordering the U.S. Some traders report a hike of as much as 100 percent. MORE
Mexican ban on American potatoes set to continue
Two of America’s most beloved produce items, the potato and the avocado, are complicating trade relations with Mexico. On August 4th, Mexican courts voted to continue to ban American potato imports into their country, aside from a small 16-mile zone directly at the border. The judge and others cited pest control concerns as a reason for the ruling. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola drops with bearish USDA report
The soybean market plunged 24 to 33 cents after the USDA raised its estimate for this year’s crop to 4.4 billion bushels. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Craft brewery boom keeps N.B. farmers on the hop
The formula for beer remains relatively unchanged: barley, water, yeast, perhaps malt, and hops. It is the latter, the flower of a vine-like plant, that lends bitterness and flavour to beer. MORE
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Smaller wild blueberry harvest predicted this year
At the 2017 Maritime Wild Blueberry Field Day, Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell promised the 325 growers from the three Maritime provinces attending the event at Doug Bragg Enterprises in Collingwood, N.S., that he will work with his New Brunswick and P.E.I. ministerial counterparts to improve the wild blueberry market. MORE
Malting barley crop makes history in Newfoundland
History was made on June 9 when 10 acres of Cerveza malting barley were planted on Larch Grove Farm in Cormack, N.L. MORE
Producers explore the ABCs of do-it-yourself soil health tests
The science behind soil health might be complex, but most of the tests showcased during the latest Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives workshop could be done with equipment bought from a dollar store. MORE
Aphid-borne virus found in Manitoba oat fields
Oat fields in central Manitoba are fighting off barley yellow dwarf virus. MORE
Hemp industry looks to overcome growing pains
Hemp is no longer a complete novelty — but it isn’t exactly mainstream either. MORE
Wheat Board has bad news for grain producers
With BSE still to appear in Canada in August 1998, it may not have been realized just how important our Aug. 13 front-page story would be. Former Canadian Cattlemen’s Association general manager told his annual meeting in Edmonton about the new project to develop a national cattle identification program. MORE
Pest Patrol: Why are we looking at the Harrington Seed Destructor?
The old saying “one year’s seeding makes seven years’ weeding” perfectly captures why most farmers despise uncontrolled weeds and the tens of thousands of seeds that are dispersed across their land. MORE
Turn up the heat on aeration fans when drying canola
Some growers grappling with a late harvest and high-moisture crops in 2016 added supplemental heaters to their aeration fans. This grower’s experience may inspire an upgrade to aeration setups for 2017 MORE
Corn, soybeans, wheat futures dive after USDA report
U.S. soybean and corn futures tumbled nearly 4 percent on Thursday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s yield and production forecasts for both crops came in above trade expectations. MORE
USDA sees bumper U.S. corn, soy harvests despite weather woes
The U.S. 2017 corn and soybean harvests will be bigger than expected despite a slow start to planting and concerns that hot and dry conditions stressed the corn crop during critical periods of development, the government said on Thursday. MORE
AM markets: ags revive from USDA shocker amid data doubts HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
No sitting down on the job for busy young N.S. farm-sitter
Farmers like to have fun too. Visit the grandkids out in Alberta, head down to Florida when the doldrums of winter are at their worst. Even a weekend in the city wouldn’t be bad. But a quick getaway isn’t so simple when you’ve got a barn full of livestock needing regular everything. MORE
Calgary kids get down and dirty at farm camp
It was child labour, but with a twist that makes it all OK. MORE
Five Indigenous Farming Practices Enhancing Food Security
On the 2017 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the United Nations is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). MORE
You are here: 4-H pitches youth GIS training
It’s time for 4-H members to find their footing with geographic information systems (GIS) technology. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – August 4 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – August 9 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, August 10 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Farmers Helping Farmers annual fundraising steak barbecue
Saturday Aug 12 from 4-6:30.
Tickets $30. Tickets available at Riverside Market, PEIFA office or from board members.
Call 902-393-0071
ACORN AGM & Speaker Series
Location: Tweedie Hall, Wallace McCain Centre
Mount Allison University
62 York Street/62 Rue York
Sackville, NB
August 21, 2017 from 1:00-4:00PM/13h00-16h00
BBQ/Potluck to follow at/à suivre 4:30PM/16h30 MORE
5th Palmer Conference (2017)
August 29 to 31, 2017 at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, PEI.
This year’s Conference focuses on Canadian-American Relations, and includes panels on Trade and Commerce, the Environment, and Defense and Security (including food security as well). MORE
3A Airbrakes Test Facilitation
***UPDATE–WE ARE NOW TAKING NAMES FOR OTHER DATES THAT MAYBE OFFERED FOR 3A TRAINING IF INTERESTED PLEASE GET YOUR NAME ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE NEXT TRAINING SESSIONS!! WE MAYBE OFFERING SESSIONS IN JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER***
From field to road…do you have employees that drive your trucks, but don’t have their licenses?
We are looking for experienced drivers that would like to obtain their Airbrakes and Class 3A license.
The PEI Agriculture Sector Council will be facilitating these two courses through JVI and Access.
This project will be processed through the Canada Job Grant and Skills PEI.
Draft Schedule:
Day 1- Airbrake theory
Day 2- Review of Airbrakes and Airbrake test (written on site), Preform a pre-use inspection
Day 3- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Day 4- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Requirements- must have valid truck driving experience, but not licensed & Medical completed and returned
Lunch will be provided
For more details on registration requirements, contact Laurie at 892-1091.
Registration is now open, limited seating available. To sign up, contact the PEI Agriculture Sector Council at 892-1091 or e-mail info@peiagsc.ca
SAVE THE DATE
PEI Open Farm Day 2017 – Sunday, September 17th
Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative has been approved for a 2 year period. Applications will be accepted starting April 26, 2017.
The program is designed to hire youth aged 15 to 30 for internships of up to 12 months. It will be of interest to producers and organizations working in the agriculture industry and interested in implementing agriculture projects that are environmentally beneficial.
Producers operating a farm or ranch can hire a young person to implement an environmentally beneficial project in their operation.
Agricultural organizations, such as watershed groups and companies providing environmentally beneficial services can access the program to support an environmentally beneficial project their organization is implementing. Research organizations can receive funding to support their agricultural research that benefits the environment.
For an application form and more details on the program, please visit: Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
Obsolete pesticide & animal health medication collections – November 6 – 17, 2017
Prince Edward Island from November 6 – 17, 2017.
Collection site locations and dates are available HERE.