Soybean prices rally as P.E.I. farmers prepare to plant
Soybean prices up 20 per cent since the end of 2015 MORE
P.E.I. farmers face future without McCain Foods
Robert Green surveyed his rust-coloured field Thursday afternoon and pointed to a tractor just coming into view over a hilltop. MORE
EXPERT OPINION: It is a myth that P.E.I. is short of water
Moratorium on high capacity wells never necessary. Science is clear; this was political expediency MORE
Editorial: Stuck in time
Is it time for a fundamental rethink of Canada’s agriculture trade policy? That simple question is, these days, tantamount to heresy in the agriculture sector, long preoccupied with trade issues. However, a new policy note from the independent research group Agri-Food Economic Systems in Guelph, Ontario, suggests it might be worth asking. MORE
Connecting with the land
BIBLE HILL, N.S. – If you ask Tim and Sandra Fisher what’s in their blood, their answer is simple: farming. MORE
Livestock
Comment: Traceability, again
In his column in our May issue of Canadian Cattlemen, Dan Darling of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association raises a red flag over the traceability regulation Ottawa plans to Gazette by the end of this year. MORE
Could Cattle Be Fed on Waste Paper?
A new project at the University of Colombia is looking at feeding waste paper to ruminants, as part of an effort to ensure availability of animal feed in times of poor weather. MORE
CME: Strong Gains in Lean Hog Futures
Lean hog futures posted strong gains yesterday on expectations that strong export demand and current hog supplies will help support cash hog values into the summer months. The export story continues to percolate in the markets and, those that hold a bullish view, often point to it as one of the key drivers for the market this summer. MORE
USA Pork Market
The first part of May is always a good time to look at forward pricing some hogs. I actually used the date May 10th to look at hedging 4th quarter needs. Cash hogs during the summer months seem to take care of themselves. MORE
US Pork Exports to China/Hong Kong Surge
March pork exports were the largest in 11 months at 195,898 mt, up 3 percent year-over-year. First-quarter exports reached 534,321 mt, up 2 percent. March export value ($480.4 million) was down 3 percent from a year ago but the highest since May 2015. First-quarter export value totaled $1.3 billion, 9 percent below last year’s pace. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Weekly Market Report – May 12 HERE
*Scroll down the page to find the report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, May 11 HERE
Potatoes
Weekly Michigan Potato Report – May 11 HERE
POTATO CROP YIELDS MONITORED BY SATELLITE
The Belgian potato processing industry is embracing the iPOT project, which collects data from the ground, from air-borne drones and from space-based satellites. The intensive research is building on impressive growth to 80,000 acres of potatoes in 2014. Now that Belgium is the world’s largest exporter of frozen potato products – eclipsing the Netherlands, Canada and the U.S. – the industry must find ways to be sustainable. MORE
TUBER ATTACKS TRIGGERED BY ABOVE-GROUND ATTACKS
Potato plants boost the chemical defences in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers, report researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI). While the potato’s response may seem counterintuitive, it protects against leaf-eating pests, ensuring that the plant can maintain sugar production, to continue growing tubers during the moth larvae infestation. MORE
NEW INITIATIVE FOR IMPROVING POTATO VARIETIES FOR SOUTH ASIA
The International Potato Center (CIP), global seed potato company HZPC and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) have announced a new partnership. Their joint aim is to develop better potatoes for tropical and subtropical conditions. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
Canada’s wheat stocks at 80-year low
The world may be awash in wheat but, in Canada at least, the cupboard is all but bare. The latest Statistics Canada stocks report says wheat stocks in Canada have dropped to levels not seen since the 1930s. Canola, lentil and soybean stocks were also lower, while inventories of corn, barley and oats were larger. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
US grain and oilseed review: Canola down with CBOT soy oil
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were weaker on Thursday, pressured by spillover losses in Chicago Board of Trade soy oil and soybeans. MORE
U.S. grains: Soy falls on weak export data, planting expectations
Wheat up on bargain buying, better-than-expected exports MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Have you got a plan to stay safe during Plant 2016?
Do you know the symptoms of fatigue? MORE
Pest Patrol: Are there any new insect pests that we should be alert for?
Cereal leaf beetles feed on wheat, oat, corn, forages and grassy weeds. Spring plantings are most attractive, particularly late plantings, though some winter wheat can be infested in the spring. MORE
Organic Trade Association opposes ‘natural’ on food labels
USA – Because consumers may confuse the term with organic, the Organic Trade Association believes “natural” should not be used on food labels. The Organic Trade Association submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration opposing the word on labels of food products, according to a news release. The FDA is currently taking comments on whether companies can promote foods or ingredients as “natural” on labels. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – May 11 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, May 12 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Forklift Course
Wednesday, May 18th – JVI Summerside
Cost: $150+hst
Please call 902-436-8774 to register.
2 Day Standard First Aid and CPR Courses
(Membership discounted rate of $70)
May Dates: May 16th-17th– Summerside May 24th-25th– Stratford
*First aid and CPR course are also available at your farm for a minimum of 8 participants. Please contact Charlotte at 902-368-7289 for more details.
