N.S. blueberry growers optimistic about harvest
Nova Scotia’s Wild blueberry producers should be optimistic about this year’s harvest. That was the message delivered to some 300 growers and processors at the annual field day at Slack Farms Ltd., in Debert. Wild Blueberry Producers Association of N.S. (WBPANS) General Manager, Peter Rideout, said the crop looked good and appeared to be near recent average harvest figures. MORE
TPP study sees net ‘neutral’ effect on dairy sector
Losses seen for other ag export sectors if Canada opts out of deal MORE
Dairy competitors advise a trade challenge
Leaders from nine leading producer and processor dairy organizations in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico have sent a September 12th letter advising that their countries’ governments launch a WTO trade challenge against Canada’s new internal dairy agreement. MORE
Canada working toward EU trade agreement in October
Trade Minister Freeland said ratification expected in early 2017 MORE
Minister MacAulay Announces Trade Mission to China
Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, highlighted today he will be leading a trade mission to China in the fall. The mission would be part of the Government’s efforts to expand Canada’s bilateral relationship with China. MORE
PotashCorp, Agrium make engagement official
Fertilizer giants expect over $650 million in annual ‘synergies’ MORE
P.E.I Farm Technician Apprenticeship 2017 Training Block
Monday, January 9 – Friday, February 10, 2016 at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown P.E.I.
Developed in consultation with the PEI Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, this one-of-a-kind, free two-year registered apprenticeship program combines classroom learning with on-farm experience, earning students a Certificate of Qualification in Farm Technician by the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning.
Apprentices work throughout the year gaining skills on-farm with a farm mentor in addition to participating in five weeks of in-class training delivered by Extended Learning, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, on PEI. This unique program was developed to address the demand for a skilled, sustainable, agricultural workforce on P.E.I.
Those interested in starting the journey to become a Blue Seal Certified Farm Technician must first register with;
P.E.I. Agriculture Sector Council at 902- 892-1091, 1-866-892-1091 (toll free) or email: info@peiagsc.ca
Livestock
Klassen: Feeder market drops on fed cattle weakness
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $128-$130 this past week — the lowest levels since December 2013 and down nearly $18 from a month ago. Weekly beef production continues to defy expectations, bludgeoning feeding margins across the Prairies. MORE
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle gain again, hogs drift lower
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Monday rose for a second straight session, helped by more short-covering and technical buying after some contracts punched through technical resistance levels, traders said. October live cattle ended 1.3 cents/lb. higher at 105.7 cents (all figures US$). December closed 1.325 cents higher at 106.725 cents after surpassing its 10-day moving average of 105.44 cents. MORE
New Markets for Beef Variety Meat Aiding US Export Growth
US red meat exports posted solid results in July, with volumes for US beef trending higher than a year ago, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), contractor to the beef checkoff. Beef export value was, however, down from last July. MORE
Weekly Overview: New Multi-Million Pound Project to Examine Resilience of the UK Pig Industry
Scientists at the University of Lincoln are to lead the most comprehensive study of the UK pig industry ever conducted. MORE
CME: Changes to Livestock Mandatory Reporting
The CME announcement last week that it would change the settlement procedure for hogs brought to mind a couple of points that may be of interest to our readers, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
Optimizing pig feeding benefits producers and the environment
A technological innovation for swine farms will soon help producers reduce pollutant emissions to the environment and lower their feed costs at the same time. A team at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Research and Development Centre in Sherbrooke, Quebec, has figured out how to maximize use of the nutrients fed to swine while avoiding overfeeding. MORE
Lamb prices remain high
Lamb prices in Atlantic Canada have remained high well into the production year. As of Aug. 25, the price offered by Nova Scotia’s Northumberlamb (Northumberland Lamb Marketing Co-op Ltd.), was $10.50/kg ($4.77/lb). This compares to $9.25/kg ($4.20/lb) paid on Aug. 15 under the single desk selling program in Quebec. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards – Market Report – September 8 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, September 12 HERE
Potatoes
2016 ONTARIO ON-FARM POTATO VARIETY TRIAL EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Selecting suitable varieties is the first step in any successful potato operation. Not only must varieties suit the intended market, but they must also be well adapted to local growing conditions. MORE
Winkler-area research site to help expand markets for vegetable growers
Manitoba – Site will evaluate varieties and crop management techniques for fresh-market potatoes and carrots, and even sweet potatoes MORE
Idaho Crop Looking Good
Potato harvest has begun across most of Idaho, and some growers are making last-minute preparations to fields and equipment. Potato diggers are out in full force in the fields for this year’s potato harvest. MORE
NEW POTATO FACTORY IN INDIA WILL PROCESS 35,000 TONS ANNUALLY
Indian manufacturer of french fries and potato specialities, HyFun Foods, has formally inaugurated its new production plant in Mehsana, Gujarat, the second facility of frozen RTC potato variants in the region after McCain Foods India Ltd. MORE
Ireland: Potato planting increased by almost 3%
Following a record low year of potato plantings in 2015, the area of potatoes planted in Ireland is up 2.8% year-on-year, from 8,500ha to 8,800ha, the latest figures (for June 2016) from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show. MORE
Hungary: New mandatory labelling for potatoes
According to information from the FM press office, a new mandatory labelling regulation applies, from September, to all potatoes sold in Hungary, whether packaged or sold in bulk. The labels will have to include information, not only about the variety and the country of origin, but also about how it needs to be cooked. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola Weakens After USDA Report
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market suffered losses on Monday, as a bearish report from the United States Department of Agriculture weighed down the US soy complex. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: ‘big crops get bigger’ idea weighs on grains HERE
Forty per cent straight cut canola by 2020?
New shatter-resistant varieties may hold the key to continued expansion of this harvest practice MORE
U.S. soybean production gains outpace rising demand
Record demand for soybeans has paled in comparison to the expected sharp gains in supply, which will leave U.S. farmers and commercial operators with a growing stockpile of the oilseed even as exports and crushings continue to rise. The U.S. Agriculture Department on Monday raised expected demand for U.S. soybeans during the 2016-17 crop year by 35 million bushels, of which 25 million for exports and 10 million for crushings. MORE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – August 29 HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Reflecting on 20 Years of Biotech Crops
In 1996, farmers planted the first commercial biotech crop. The global uptake of plant biotechnology by farmers since has made it the fastest-adopted technology in the history of agriculture. Growers who have the choice to use the technology have chosen it on an unprecedented level because of its benefits. MORE
Be somebody who does something. Be an agvocate.
Being an agvocate is all about being an informed, engaged and passionate voice for agriculutre in the food conversation. It’s about being transparent and letting consumers know you share the same values they do when it comes to the food we eat. It’s an important job and it’s everyone in ag’s responsibility. That’s why we decided to showcase agvocates in our new campaign, launching today! The new “Be Somebody – Be an agvocate” campaign features print ads, agvocate interviews, a new tradeshow experience and much more. The whole thing kicks off with a video starring agvocates from across the country and the industry, adding their voices to the cause. Watch the video now (and share it with everyone), and visit AgMoreThanEver.ca for the full experience!
California first state to promise overtime to farmworkers
California will become the first U.S. state to require farmers to pay overtime to field workers and fruit pickers under a bill signed Monday by Democratic Governor Jerry Brown. MORE
Highlights from the U.S. Farm Progress Show HERE
Lemken gets strategic
German company puts its focus on building a wider range of machinery for Canadian farms MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen – Grain Insight Special Alert- September 12 HERE
PEIDAF Agriculture Marketing Report – September 9 HERE
FCC Express – September 9 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, September 12 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
2 Day Standard First Aid and CPR Courses
(Membership discounted rate of $70)
September 24th-25th– Stratford September 27th-28th– 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.
Open Farm Day
Sunday, September 18th!
The PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee is pleased to present Open Farm Day on Sunday, September 18th. Islanders are encouraged to get out and visit some of the 30 participating farms that will be opening their barn doors. Information on each farm along with maps can be found HERE
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
PEI COPC 13th Annual Organic Harvest Meal & Celebration
September 25, 2016 6:00 PM at Confederation Centre of the Arts. MORE
Namaste Lamb Event
September 25 – Featuring Celebrity Chef Vikram Vij
A newly branded signature event this year on the Fall Flavours calendar and it will be held on September 24th at 6:00 pm. The event will be held at Rodd Crowbush Resort. Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased online or by phone at 1-866-960-9912 MORE
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association Annual Conference and AGM
Rodd Charlottetown Hotel – 75 Kent St. – October 4th-6th
This year’s theme is “Empowering the AgSafe Family – keeping kids safe”. The conference will bring together farmers, safety professionals, equipment manufacturers and researchers to probe the reality and discuss new approaches to improve the safety and health of children, youth, their families and young workers in Canada’s ag community. Conference details and registration information can be found HERE
World Food Day – October 16 MORE
