P.E.I. RCMP investigating theft of calves from farm in Freetown
Tire tracks, footpints visible leading to barn at farm on Route 8 MORE
‘Hit and miss’ rainfall not enough for potato crop, watershed
‘You just hope and pray that Mother Nature looks after us’ MORE
2nd barn fire hits Wellington area
A fire Saturday destroyed a barn in Abram-Village MORE
P.E.I’s rural history will be on display
The sight of antique engines, the smell of home cooking and the roar of modified lawn mowers will fill the air in Crapaud beginning Friday. The 63rd annual Crapaud Exhibition is happening until Sunday, shining the light on a variety of rural living. MORE
Farm leaders bring recommendations to Canada’s agriculture ministers
Farm leaders met to discuss their policy and program recommendations with federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers during the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s (CFA) annual industry-government roundtable in Calgary last Wednesday. MORE
ONTARIO BERRY GROWERS SEEK NEW ORGANIZATION
Ontario’s two berry grower organizations are proposing to join forces and create one new organization: Berry Growers of Ontario. The Ontario Berry Growers’ Association (OBGA) and the Ontario Highbush Blueberry Growers’ Association have received agreement from the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission to conduct an expression of opinion vote among all eligible growers of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in Ontario. MORE
Livestock
National sheep group hit by Alta., Ont. pullout
The remaining members of the Canadian Sheep Federation will be discussing its fate after Alberta Lamb Producers and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency gave notice they are pulling out of the national organization. Ontario will no longer be a member as of Sept. 1 and Alberta leaves Oct. 20, said Alberta Lamb Producers chair Erin Yaremko. MORE
Animal welfare improving by ‘light years’
Better communication between man and beast would help when it comes to assessing an animal’s welfare. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we just asked the animal,” said Ed Pajor, animal welfare chair at the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine. Animal welfare has improved, and scientists such as Pajor and Temple Grandin point out a long list of variables that can be assessed. MORE
Fewer U.S. cattle than expected placed in feedlots in June
The number of cattle placed into U.S. feedlots in June rose three per cent from a year earlier, the government said July 22, below the expectations of most analysts. MORE
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures surge by 3-cent/lb price limit
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled up by their 3-cents-per-lb daily price limit on Monday, driven by fund buying and Friday’s mildly bullish government monthly cattle report, said traders. August and October live cattle closed at 112.950 cents and 111.075 cents per lb, respectively. Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded to 4.5 cents on Tuesday. MORE
CME: US Cattle on Feed Placements Lower Than Expected
USDA‐NASS released their Cattle on Feed report on Friday, and the surprising number was placements, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
EU Pig Prices: The Markets Are Balanced
At the beginning of this new week of slaughter, the pig slaughter markets are well balanced throughout the EU. MORE
Little Sign of Slowdown in EU Exports
EU pork exports in May 2016 were marginally lower than in April but were still nearly double their level in the same month last year, at 226,000 tonnes. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, July 25 HERE
Potatoes
Potato fertilization with (Fe) nanoparticles may benefit cultivation and increase nutritional value
Work to make potatoes more nutritious by including nanoparticles in the fertilizer formulation is proving promising, according to the AHDB-funded researcher Karen Davies. MORE
Record high potato prices in Russia
Russia has experienced its lowest level of inflation for a quarter of a century, but the prices of the borscht set of vegetable have increased substantially. Potatoes have hit record high prices due to supplies being imported and a lack of vegetable storage. MORE
National Potato Council joins US Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC)
The National Potato Council has joined more than 100 prominent national grower organizations, state grower associations, and agribusiness members as part of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, whose goal is to reestablish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and ag exports. MORE
StatsCan – Canadian potato production, 2016 (planted area)
Potato farmers planted 342,602 acres (138 647 hectares) of potatoes in 2016, down 1.8% from 2015, continuing the overall downward trend of the past 12 years. Seeded area decreased in all provinces, except Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Prince Edward Island accounted for 26% of total potato planted area in 2016, while Manitoba accounted for 19%. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
US grain and oilseed review – Canola ends lower
ICE Futures Canada canola ended weaker on Monday, pressured by losses in US oilseed markets, and favourable growing conditions in Western Canada. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: wheat eases, but has a price floor been set? HERE
U.S. grains: Soybeans extend losses on fund selling, favorable weather
U.S. soybean futures fell sharply on Monday, extending the steep declines seen last week on pressure from investment fund selling and favourable extended weather outlooks for the developing crop, traders and analysts said. MORE
Grower to Glass Initiative
Through the national GoBarley brand, the Barley Council of Canada is celebrating Canada’s annual barley growing season by highlighting the unique relationship between barley and beer. As a key natural ingredient in beer, barley is what gives beer its distinctive foam, subtle sweetness, golden to dark brown colour, and compelling aroma. In many ways, beer is a highly crafted form of liquid barley. MORE
Three ways producers can better manage stored grain
Invest in monitoring, learn the three basic principles of drying, and clean out those bins before harvest MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Cleaning up sweat equity
It used to show you were committed to farming. Now it’s a dangerous source of controversy on more Canadian farms MORE
Report discusses disseminating agricultural research
The Agricultural Institute of Canada (AIC) says the next suite of Growing Forward programs should include funds dedicated to communicating about research to the general public. Its 2016 Conference Report (the Report), which summarizes the need for the agricultural sector to better disseminate research results to producers, farmers, industry, academia, consumers and among the research community. MORE
Enhancing Biodiversity Aids Agriculture
National Pollinator Week was celebrated June 20-26 in the U.S., but the connectedness of pollinators and biodiversity is a focus that many in the agriculture community take seriously every week of the year—and for good reason. More than a third of all crops need pollinators for propagation, meaning our busy buzzing friends generate about $221 billion each year in value worldwide. In addition, American farmers are making positive use out of marginal, less productive land by creating habitats for pollinators and other wildlife. It is believed that for every three acres of marginal land planted to benefit pollinators, 100 acres will experience a significant positive impact. MORE
Food waste is about to get ugly — or maybe not
That’s right. I’m not convinced average Jane consumer plans to put her money where her “Facebook mouthpiece” is and actually seek out so-called “ugly” produce at retail. I’ve talked to plenty of retailers that trialed programs with no success. MORE
Healthy soil can boost your bottom line
Soil carbon is a bit like a credit card for your plants, says New Zealand soil expert MORE
Regular Updates
StatsCan – Dairy statistics, May 2016 HERE and HERE
FCC Express – July 22 HERE
StatsCan – Crop Condition Assessment Program, April 11 to July 10, 2016 HERE and HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, July 25 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Community Meeting on Amalgamation – options for municipal reform
Thursday, July 28 – 7:00pm – Bites Café – Hampton – 19566 Trans Canada Highway
With MLA Peter Bevan-Baker – All Welcome – Light refreshments will be served
For more info call 902-620-3977
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 MORE
Forklift Course
Tuesday, Aug 2nd – JVI in Summerside – $150+hst
Call (902) 436-8774 to register.
Silage Management Workshop
Aug 04 – 10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Crasdale Farms, South Rustico
Topics will include Bunk Management, New Alfalfa technology, Inoculant – is it worth the money, New Seed treatment: Lumivia. Lunch provided. RSVP by July 28th to Cameron MacDonald at 902-892-1275 MORE
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, $10 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
