Does P.E.I. need carbon pricing? Islanders asked to weigh in
Residents also being asked if hard reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions should be set MORE
More information on the Climate Change Mitigation Strategy Public Consultation HERE
View the CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION STRATEGY Discussion Document HERE
Dairy support price gets second bump of year
Producers selling off more surplus as world prices slump. Facing depressed world prices for milk, Canada’s dairy farmers can expect a boost of about 2.76 per cent in their overall revenue from industrial milk sales starting Sept. 1. MORE
DFC reaction to CDC announcement
Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) decision to increase the support price by $2.00 per hectolitre, beginning on September 1st, 2016. MORE
Canadian Embassy to promote organic companies
The Canadian Embassy is exhibiting at Riga Food 2016, the annual Baltics Food Industry Fair, September 7-10. Interested in promoting your products? MORE
Livestock
New verified beef program makes a timely debut
Revamped VBP program means producers can document their animal care, biosecurity, and environmental practices MORE
Klassen: Feeder market remains in summer doldrums
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable over the past week. Cattle weighing over 700 lbs. were under pressure while calves appeared to trade steady with week-ago levels. The Calgary Stampede period is one week that cattle men and women don’t worry about markets and just enjoy the celebration of fine culture. MORE
Planning for Prince George as a Beef Processing and Export Centre
The BC Cattlemen’s Association (BCCA) will receive up to $144,000 of federal and provincial government funding to identify supply chain and investment partners, and develop business models for the ownership and operation of the plant. The BCCA will also contribute up to $16,000 for the development of the plan, which will incorporate a marketing and sales strategy, defined production and operation requirements, as well as financial, human resource and contingency plans. MORE
U.S. livestock: Fund selloff reverses CME live cattle rally
Feeder cattle end down sharply, lean hogs close lower MORE
CME: Cash Hog Price Decline Continues
Cash hog prices continue to decline and this has added to jitters in the pork complex about the outlook for hog values as we go into the fall and early winter months. The IA/MN base price last night closed at $74/30, down $1.36 from the previous close and now down $4.35 compared to just two weeks ago, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
Cattle Outlook: Retail Beef Prices Up in June
The average price of choice beef at retail was $6.20 per pound during June. That was 11.9 cents higher than in May, 20.6 than in June 2015, and the highest monthly average price since March, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Hog Outlook: Pork Retail Price Down From May
The average retail price of pork during June was $3.77 per pound. That was 1.1 cents lower than in May, but 6.7 cents higher than in June 2015. June grocery store pork prices were the lowest since March, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, July 15 HERE
Potatoes
Dickeya Blackleg: New Potato Disease Causing Major Impact
Dickeya blackleg, often just called Dickeya, is a new disease in the United States. It is caused by a bacterium, Dickeya dianthicola. MORE
BLOG: Water Problems for Potato’s Future?
It’s a funny thing, this world we live in. Dinosaurs have come and gone, the Dodo is extinct and the rhinoceros is in danger of being wiped off the face of the earth – all because of a misconception about its horn, writes Andre Erasmus.
So, I hear people ask, what does this have to do with the potato. Well, not too much but there are some similarities, so bear with me. MORE
Tesco Supermarket Chain Makes a Commitment to British Potato Growers
Tesco announced that is issuing long-term contracts over three years to potato growers and packers worth GBP12m to help support British agriculture. MORE
Potato supplier Park Farm named Southern Champion Grower by McCain Foods UK
McCain Foods GB has recognised Park Farm near Leominister for its exceptional achievements over the potato crop year. Bill and Nicky Smith, of Park Farm, have received the Southern Champion Grower Award from popular chip brand McCain. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
US grain and oilseed review: Canola closes lower ahead of the weekend
ICE Futures Canada canola ended weaker on Friday, pressured by losses in Chicago Board of Trade soybeans. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: soy dips, grains gain in ‘schizophrenic’ market HERE
Canada’s durum market share seen dropping
Global durum values are moving lower as producers in Europe and the U.S. start selling — and leaving Canada out of the market, one analyst says. MORE
Bumper winter wheat harvest ill-timed for U.S. farmers
Record-high yields are helping U.S. farmers to harvest a bumper crop of hard red winter (HRW) wheat, the most common variety here, but prices have tumbled as the world is awash in supplies. MORE
U.S. grains: Corn, soy sag on long liquidation
Traders head to sidelines, await weekend weather updates MORE
Fire blight strikes orchards in the Laurentians
Apple farmers in the Laurentians are fighting to save their orchards from fire blight. MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
China’s Worst Flood In Decades Has Decimated Its Farmland
The worst flooding since 1998 is wreaking havoc on Taiwan and, especially, southern mainland China. The death count is nearing 200, and the effects may go on for much longer, thanks to the destruction of cropland. MORE
Organic sales reach milestones
USA – As sales of organic products soared in 2015 to $43.3 billion, up $11 billion in one year, produce kept its leading role with more than 30% of those dollars, Organic Trade Association CEO Laura Batcha said at the Organic Produce Summit. MORE
Keeping a Level Head Financially
In the emotionally charged era of the economic downturn, interesting exchanges can occur between ag lender and borrower.
At a recent agricultural bankers’ conference, one lender asked, “What do you say to a farmer who tells you, ‘It’s my net worth and if I want to lose $200,000 in equity it is mine, not yours.’?” Well, in some cases, producers with high net worth may feel able to take the economic hit. However, there may be more to a comment like this that necessitates further examination. MORE
Regular Updates
PEIDAF Agriculture Marketing Report – July 15 HERE
FCC Express – July 15 HERE
StatsCan – Exports of grains by final destination, May 2016 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, July 14 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
Farmers Helping Farmers Annual Beef Barbecue
Saturday August 13th from 4:00-6:30pm at the Harrington Research Station, 1200 Brackley Point Road.
Tickets are $30 each for adults, $ for children under 12, and take-out is available. You can get your tickets by emailing farmershelpingfarmerspei@gmail.com or dropping by the PEIFA Office in the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue.
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
