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
Local, Regional, Canadian News
Antique Farm Show nets over $13,000for charity
EDITOR: The organizers of the third annual Antique Farm Show at R&L Farms in Kinkora would like to send heartfelt appreciation to its many supporters. MORE
Heritage Day on the Farm puts focus on agriculture, Sept. 17
Hamilton Heritage Day is on Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at 2444 Hamilton Rd. (Route 104), Hamilton, P.E.I., in the field just south of the pond at the Carruthers farm. MORE
Harvest or super-harvest moon? Astronomers debate Friday’s lunar event
Debate raging in astronomy circles about ‘super’ versus ‘plain old’ harvest moon MORE
Head for the Farm on Sunday September 18!
Islanders are invited to meet their local farmers and find out what’s happening in agriculture in the province during Open Farm Day in Atlantic Canada on Sunday, September 18. Over 30 Prince Edward Island (PEI) farms are participating in this year’s annual event, including crop and livestock operations, vineyards and orchards. MORE
Bayer clinches Monsanto with raised US$66 billion bid
Regulatory sell-off expected for some canola, soybean assets MORE
Bayer buying Monsanto, will create global chemical
American seed and weed-killer company Monsanto and German medicine and farm chemical maker Bayer are combining in a deal that could help farmers produce higher yields to address challenges from global warming to rising food demand from a fast-growing global population. MORE
University gears up to identify the details of sustainable food production
The University of Guelph’s seven-year project will explore at a range of practices to improve food production while reducing environmental footprints MORE
Farm apprenticeships for 2017
Just a reminder that farms interested in hosting volunteer apprentices from an agricultural college in France in the summer of 2017 have until the beginning of October to let us know. They would like to send 3 or 4 of their students for 2 months or more and they do have a working knowledge of English. Please check the news release for more details or contact Noella at 902-854-3439 ext. 222. 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
U.S. livestock: Hefty supplies push CME lean hogs to 10-month low
Live cattle finish higher, feeder market closes weaker MORE
Hog profits disappear as U.S. futures crash
A sharp drop in the U.S. hog futures over the past week is cutting into the profitability of the Canadian sector as well, with a turn higher unlikely in the near term. U.S. lean hog futures set new contract lows over the past week, as large North American supplies and expectations for declining demand weighed on values. MORE
CME: Confluence of Factors Pressuring Prices Lower
The down move in the hog complex in the last few days has been quite ferocious and it is hard to point to one single factor that would explain why market participants have wiped off $7.5 (‐13 per cent) since September 1. Rather, there seems to be a confluence of factors that, at least for the moment, continues to pressure prices lower, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
Exotic meat demand on the rise as chefs cater to foodies’ culinary desires
Once a week Peter Sanagan brings a whole wild boar carcass to his Toronto butcher shop. He divvies it up into chops and other cuts, selling it to adventurous eaters who wander into the Kensington Market store. While more familiar meats like beef and pork account for up to 90 per cent of sales at Sanagan’s Meat Locker, the remainder comes from people seeking so-called exotic meats like wild boar. Game birds are popular, too. MORE
Why attend the Canadian Poultry Sustainability Symposium?
The Canadian Poultry Sustainability Symposium offers the opportunity to understand the current issues in sustainability and how they may affect your farm and the Canadian poultry industry. It’s a chance to hear directly from national organizations, experts and fellow farmers on where how the Canadian poultry industry can position itself and utilize and build upon existing programs to remain sustainable in the long-term. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, September 14 HERE
Potatoes
Michigan Potato Report – September 14 HERE
Bruise-resistant potato could cut food waste
Innate potatoes, which are less susceptible to bruising and browning than regular potato varieties, received Canadian government approval in March. They were developed by J. R. Simplot in Idaho by combining genes from wild and cultivated potato varieties with commercial potatoes. In addition to being bruise-resistant, they also will not brown for several days after being cut, unlike conventional varieties. MORE
POOR POTATO HARVEST COULD DRIVE DUTCH FARMERS OUT OF BUSINESS
Dutch potato farmers face going out of business if the worst fears about this year’s poor crop are realized, industry observers have warned. The combination of a wet spring and hot, dry weather during the harvest season has put paid to hopes of a bumper harvest, said the Dutch crop farmers’ association VTA. MORE
Schools Bolster Genebank’s Impact
Land-grant universities are collaborating to support the U.S. Potato Genebank in its endeavors to conduct potato research, support creation of new potato varieties, and conserve specimens to overcome future growing challenges like droughts, natural disasters and emerging pests and diseases. MORE
Strict Potato labeling in Hungary mandates inclusion of variety and cooking-type
According to information from the press office of the Agricultural Ministry, a new mandatory labelling regulation applies, starting September, to all potatoes sold in Hungary, whether packaged or sold in bulk. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola corrects higher
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market underwent a slight correction Wednesday, after two straight days of losses. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: South America sowings offer support to corn, soy HERE
ICE weekly outlook: Export uncertainty dogs canola
Canola futures don’t appear ready to climb drastically higher anytime soon as uncertainty over Chinese buying weighs on the market, according to a Winnipeg trader and analyst. MORE
CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soy markets lean on yield data
A data set from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given traders a better idea of yield potential, which will dictate short-term market movement. MORE
U.S. grains: Wheat, corn futures edge higher
CBOT soybeans close weak MORE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – September 15 HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Close to the line
Governments and the private sector often work side-by-side on projects. But did a recent effort to raise awareness about a common cereal disease cross an ethical line? MORE
New Holland Unveils Autonomous Tractor
At first glance, the T8 Blue Power tractor on display may have looked like a normal tractor to the numerous visitors who packed New Holland’s stand at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, Aug. 30. But once the first images of the video dedicated to the tractor and its incredible operational capacities appeared on the screen, everyone understood that they were witnessing a glimpse into the future of farming, one that could feature fully autonomous machinery: something which could redefine the agriculture of tomorrow. MORE
MIT Researchers Discover a Way to Make Pesticides “Stick” More
It might seem silly, but one of the biggest problems causing excess pesticide use is simply that, well, water bounces. MORE
Climate’s field software en route to Eastern Canada
Monsanto arm to bring field data analysis package north MORE
How much nitrogen could a wood chip chuck?
Researchers investigating wood chip bioreactors under Manitoba conditions say half the nitrogen in tile drainage run-off could be captured MORE
Diesel from Dairy
Liquid manure from Scott Brothers’ Dairy Farms in California is the star ingredient in the farm’s own diesel fuel MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – September 4 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, September 13 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
