Golf Tournament
Thursday, August 11th – Countryview Golf Course. 9:00 shotgun start. 9 Holes, cart and bbq steak dinner – $50.00 per person. Contact Cliff at 902-368-7289 or clifft@peifa.ca to register. MUST PRE-REGISTER by August 5th.
Open House – Gerrit Visser & Sons
July 13 & 14, 6pm – 8pm
Come out and see our new EZ Down 200, a unique tote box/tote bag filler machine, operating in a real life application at Gerrit Visser and Sons potato pack shed – 6346 Trans Canada Highway, Orwell Cove.
Refreshments and mussels will be served. MORE
Local, Regional, Canadian News
P.E.I. blueberries show some blight but crop still on track
‘It’s really dependent on weather conditions’ MORE
Quebec plans huge maple syrup increase
The Quebec marketing board for maple syrup is aiming to increase taps by five million next spring, an increase that will require an investment of about $100 million. MORE
Low world milk prices pressure Canadian milk revenues
World dairy prices are feeling pressure from a number of forces, including declining consumption in major markets such as China and Russia. Increasing global production of milk supplies has also pushed prices down significantly from their highs in early 2014. Although butter and cheese world prices fell the most so far in 2016, milk powders have seen the largest decline since 2014. MORE
Livestock
Weekly Overview: Meat Demand Rise to Fuel Feed Grain Price Hikes in Next Decade
Overall world meat production is predicted to stagnate at about 321 million tonnes in 2016, while pigmeat output could decline, according to the June 2016 FAO Food Outlook. MORE
US Beef Exports Gain Momentum in Japan, South Korea, Mexico
US red meat exports gained momentum in May with shipments of beef increasing significantly year-over-year and reaching 2016 highs, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), contractor to the beef checkoff. MORE
CME: Beef Markets Solid Despite Large Slaughter Volumes
As markets start the new week, there are a few things worth noting, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
Hog Outlook: More Pork Coming to US from Europe, Less from Canada
US pork imports totalled 90.2 million pounds during May. That is up 10.5 per cent compared to May 2015, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Watch Out for Lead Poisoning in Cattle
The Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory diagnoses many kinds of illnesses throughout a given year, but the one witnessed frequently this past spring in cattle was lead poisoning. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, July 11 HERE
Potatoes
High Yields Anticipated in Northwest
Ideal spring and summer growing conditions for Washington and Oregon potatoes set the table for early production, pushing up the likely start of the fresh deal to mid- or late July in many regions and creating potential for big volumes as the season goes on. MORE
Blackleg, Tuber Soft Rot Reported in Michigan
Over the past few weeks, blackleg has been found in several Michigan potato fields. Similar to last year’s growing season, potato aerial stem rot, blackleg and tuber soft rot disease continue to be a problem in the region. MORE
International Potato Center (CIP) publishes Annual Report
The International Potato Center (CIP) has published its annual report for 2015. Here are some highlights from the annual report by the Board Chair, Rodney Cooke and the Director General Barbara Wells. You can find their full Statement and Foreword respectively as well as access to the full Annual report below. MORE
Spain: “German potato discounts disproportionate”
Andalusia’s potato campaign, which had a big decrease in production because of the rains, is nearly over. The rigorous protocol to treat the Epitrix in Spanish potatoes and the abusive discounts of the German market complicated matters more in a campaign where producers won’t achieve the positive results they expected. MORE
Sweet potato experts win World Food Prize
The foursome has worked to improve nutrition in sweet potatoes MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
US grain and oilseed review: Canola ends mixed
ICE Futures Canada canola ended mixed, but mostly stronger on Monday. Losses in the Canadian dollar supported front contracts by making the commodity more appealing to international buyers. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices mixed, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: ag market bears draw first blood on big data day HERE
U.S. grains: Corn, wheat, soy sag ahead of USDA reports
U.S. corn futures fell on Monday, as investors braced themselves on the eve of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture report that analysts expected to project rising domestic corn stockpiles. MORE
Flax growers scout soggy fields as prices edge upward
Producers are assessing the effects of weekend rains that soaked flax crops in Western Canada, while prices have ticked up slightly as data reflects shrinking acres. MORE
Prairie wheat bids soften with U.S. futures
Spring wheat cash bids across Western Canada softened during the week ended Friday, as a downturn in U.S. futures put pressure on prices. MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Don’t forget agriculture when considering careers
Dear Graduate,
It’s finally here – high school graduation. A long-anticipated, exciting time, perhaps filled with a bit of trepidation of what the future holds. Do you have a clear vision and goal of what you want to do and where you want to go? If not, why not consider a career in agriculture? MORE
FAO Food Price Index up in June. Prices see largest increase in four years
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 163.4 points in June 2016, 6.6 points (4.2 percent) higher than in May and one percent below the corresponding month last year. Not only did the June increase mark the fifth consecutive monthly rise in the value of the FFPI, but it also represented the largest monthly increase witnessed over the past four years. Except for vegetable oils, the values of all the commodity sub-indices moved up in June, led by a surge in the price of sugar and more moderate increases for cereals, dairy and meat. MORE
Regular Updates
PEIDAF Agriculture Market Report – July 8 HERE
StatsCan – Study: Irrigation methods and conservation practices on Canadian farms, 2014 MORE
FCC Express – July 8 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, July 11 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Combine Clinic – East
Jul 13 – Montague
The PEI Department of Agriculture & Fisheries will be hosting two Combine Clinics featuring combine specialist John Aubin. MORE
Combine Clinic – West
Jul 14 – Summerside MORE
THE DYNAMICS OF SOIL BIOLOGY
Tuesday, July 19 – 7:00 pm
PEI Potato Board Meeting Room – 90 Hillstrom Avenue in the West Royalty Business Park
Join us for an informative lecture with Pius Floris and Johan Middelkamp from the Netherlands on the dynamics of soil biology. Pius will speak about soil health and offer practical approaches to improving soil quality (and consequently the quality of the harvested products). They will also talk about soil preparation and weed control. MORE
PEI Potato Blossom Festival – July 18th – 24th
Farmers Banquet – July 22nd – Community Sports Centre – O’Leary
Catered by The Sizzler – tickets $25.00 – Option of chicken or pork.
Purchase ticket at festival office in the Future Tech Building or phone 902-726-3300 MORE
PEI Blueberry Field Day
Thursday July 21st – 10:00am-2:00pm
Terence and Marion MacDonald’s Warehouse – 3141 Savage Harbour Road, Mount Stewart
Sizzler BBQ lunch provided. Call JoAnn Pineau at 902-368-7289 for more information
Weed Wiping – Pesticide Training Session for Blueberry and Cranberry Growers
July 28 – Registration at 6:30 p.m, Course from 7 to 9 p.m.
Rodd Royalty Hotel – Trans Canada Hwy – Charlottetown
You are asked to pre-register by noon, July 27, 2016 by calling 902-368-4880 or 902-368-4145
East Coast Style 2016 – Dairy Sale & Show
Aug 11 – 13 – Eastside Holsteins, Frenchfort MORE
National Organic Week – Sept 17 – 25, 2016
Canada’s National Organic Week is the largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country. MORE
