Local, Regional, Canadian News
Island residents come together to give bees a home
Stratford Area Watershed Improvement Group hosts event to build bee houses on Saturday MORE
Someone is drowning in grain – what do you do?
Seven people died in grain bin entrapments across Canada in 2015, including four children. But the death toll could easily have been higher. MORE
Soil health sensor project largest in North America
The University of Guelph project delivers 747 readings every few minutes measuring soil health MORE
Dairy Farmers of Canada reacts to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food’s announcement for the Canadian dairy industry
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) was pleased to see that the government has decided to invest $250 million into dairy farms, as well as $100 million in funding to help spur investment into updating Canada’s dairy processing infrastructure. MORE
Government of Canada Invests in Dairy Sector in Anticipation of CETA
As part of the Government’s strong commitment to supply management, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, announced an investment of $350 million for two new programs to support the competitiveness of the dairy sector, in anticipation of the entry into force of the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). MORE
Governments Invest in Equipment and Research to Better Evaluate Economic and Health Benefits from Food
Governments have invested $1,340,000 at the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) to purchase a specialized piece of equipment and conduct economic research about the connections between food and health. Funding was announced by Manitoba Agriculture Minister, Ralph Eichler, and MP Dan Vandal, on behalf of Federal Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, today. MORE
Livestock
CME live cattle futures climb as cash price outlook improves
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday gained for a third straight day, driven by short-covering following renewed optimism for cash prices by Friday, traders said. MORE
US Beef Exports Performing Well in Japan
September was another solid month for US red meat exports, with pork, beef and lamb totals well above year-ago levels, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). MORE
Dairy Boosts Global Food Prices in October
The global Food Price Index from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) averaged 172.6 points in October, up 0.7 per cent for the month and 9.1 per cent from a year earlier, with the staple grains’ index rising for the first time in three months. MORE
Record U.S. hog slaughter puts pressure on Canadian pork prices
A record week for U.S. slaughterhouses is weighing on hog prices in Canada. According to the USDA, hogs slaughtered under federal inspection for the week ended November 5 were pegged at 2.532 million head, which is an all-time record. MORE
Hog Outlook: Mexican Demand Drove September Pork Exports
The US exported 415.741 million pounds of pork (carcass weight equivalent) during September. That was down 0.1 per cent from August, but up 3 per cent from a year ago. Most of the increase was because Mexico bought more US pork than in September 2015, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
US Barrows and Gilt Cash Prices Decline Steeply
Cash prices for barrows and gilts (B/G) have declined sharply since last summer as large hog supplies bump up again available processing capacity. MORE
South East Asia Hog Market
Genesus exhibited at VIETSTOCK 2016 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last month. The VIETSTOCK 2016 Expo & Forum breaks another record with a registered 10,518 attendees coming from 39 different countries, writes Paul Anderson, General Manager South East Asia. MORE
Chinese Pork Demand Drives Growth in Hong Kong’s Imports
The Hong Kong import market has shown significant growth this year, with fresh/frozen pork volumes in January to September up 47 per cent on the first nine months of 2015, to reach 250,000 tonnes. MORE
MRSA Detected in Norwegian Pig Herd
MRSA bacteria have been detected in a fattening herd located in Haugalandet. MORE
US Pork Exports to Mexico Continue Strong Momentum
September was another solid month for US red meat exports, with pork, beef and lamb totals well above year-ago levels, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF). MORE
Artisanal chicken program succeeding
The leadership of the Ontario chicken marketing board is impressed by the success of its artisanal chicken program that enables people without quota to develop new markets. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – November 10 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, November 11 HERE
Potatoes
Potato Day at the Capitol Showcases Michigan’s Modern, Growing Potato Industry
Michigan’s potato growers are known around the world for a high-quality, nutritious product, and the state’s growing potato industry is creating more jobs than ever. MORE
New Idaho Potato Commercial Set to Air
Does the “Real Idaho Potato Farmer” finally find his missing truck? Television viewers will find out by watching the new commercial featuring Middleton, Idaho grower Mark Coombs and the Big Idaho Potato Truck. MORE
Columbia Basin potato farmers pleased with harvest
As fall potato harvest wraps up around the Columbia Basin, farmers are expecting above-average yield and quality thanks to an exceptional growing season. MORE
Dutch harvest estimated at 3.3 MT
Last week, Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) estimated the harvest at 3.3 MT (million tons), the same as in 2015. MORE
Potato prices high due to short supply
Despite a fresh crop arriving at the Vashi wholesale market, retail prices of potatoes have failed to decline. Traders say that there is shortfall of around 30% and this is due to scant supply from West Bengal, the second largest producer of the staple. MORE
Seed producer receives British Potato Industry award
Jim Cruickshank OBE, one of the most well respected seed producers in the UK, is this year’s winner of the British Potato Industry Award, organised by AHDB Potatoes. Presented to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the industry, Jim is the 20th winner of this prestigious honour. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola rises tracking US soy
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market finished higher on Thursday, tracking gains in the US soy complex. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
EPA approves Monsanto’s dicamba weed killer
U.S. seeds and agrochemicals maker Monsanto Co. has secured approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a new dicamba-based weed killer designed for its next generation biotech soy and cotton varieties, the company said on Wednesday. MORE
Biologicals + Digesters = More Nutrients
H2OExcel digests biomass quickly, releases valuable nutrients back into soil
Growers are asking more questions these days about processes that can be utilized to get more out of their soil and biomass after harvest is complete. MORE
Fertilizer Shipments Survey, first quarter 2016/2017 HERE
AM markets: ags fall, as China takes its turn to hurt prices HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
How formal agreements can save farm families
The human and financial costs can be extremely high if farm enterprises aren’t properly structured with written agreements or if important business decisions are neglected. MORE
RCMP address rural crime fears in Saskatchewan at municipalities convention
The new commanding officer for the Saskatchewan RCMP says police are doing the best they can to address the growing rate of property crime in the countryside. MORE
Cellulosic sugar co-op looking for farmer investors
A new plant planned for Sarnia will produce dextrose for use in chemicals and plastics MORE
Trimble Launches Ag Software Platform
Trimble is consolidating three of its agriculture software products—Connected Farm, Farm Works Software and Agri-Data Solutions—into one powerful farm data management platform named Trimble Ag Software. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – November 9 HERE
Grain Insight Special Alert – November 9 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Friday, November 11 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Sustainable Agriculture and the Island’s Food System
Featuring Dr. Mark Lapping and Island farmer, Mark Bernard; a Public Symposium focused on PEI’s food system at UPEI Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre, Room 135, on Monday, November 14th, beginning at 7:00 p.m. In particular, the discussion will focus on a move toward a more sustainable agriculture, with a stronger emphasis on local food and food security MORE
Economic Information Observation as applied to CETA: a workshop offered by the Atlantic Canada Economic Information Observatory
The Chamber is hosting Michel Têtu of the Atlantic Canada Economic Information Observatory for a free workshop on November 16th (9:30am-11:00am, GCACC Boardroom). The workshop is an opportunity for business owners and business professionals to learn about tips and techniques for observing current economic information and will be presented in the context of the Canada EU Comprehensive Economic and trade Agreement (CETA).
Date: November 16, 2016
Time: 9:30am-11:00am
Location: GCACC Boardroom, 134 Kent St., Suite 230
Cost: Free
Digging into Soil Health
If you care about the health of our soils, this is an event you don’t want to miss!
Healthy soils are the foundation of strong economies, sustainable food production, enhanced biodiversity, and cleaner air and water. Take a moment to think about the consequences of not caring for our soils and then make your plans to come to Atlantic Soils 2016.
November 17th, 2016 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Delta Beausejour Hotel, Moncton, New Brunswick MORE
The PEI Woodlot Association, in partnership with the Island Nature Trust and the Dep’t of Communities, Land and Environment, is sponsoring an information session and workshop on the identification and control of invasive species here on PEI.
It will be held at the Emyvale Community Center, Emyvale, on Saturday morning , Nov 26th beginning at 9:00 am. Calling all woodlot owners; members of the conservation and watershed groups on PEI; and other interested individuals. Everyone is welcome.
ACORN, Atlantic Canada’s Organic Regional Network
SEEDS OF CHANGE: Changing Climate, Changing Agriculture – the annual ACORN Conference and Trade Show! ACORN’s conference is a fun, three-day event that brings together organic and sustainable farmers, processors and businesses from across the region and beyond. MORE