Local, Regional, Canadian News
P.E.I. farmer assists in near-eradication of methane from cow farts
Scientist discovers special seaweed reduces methane to nearly zero in cow burps, farts MORE
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
Organic Council calls for provincial regs
What you see is not always what you get when it comes to organic food for sale in Ontario.
That’s because national standards are not enforced if an organic product doesn’t cross provincial borders, so the Organic Council of Ontario wants action from the Ontario government. MORE
Researchers at Calgary university explore antibiotic resistance link
University of Calgary researchers say there’s enough evidence to suggest a direct link between the use of antibiotics in animals and antibiotic resistance. MORE
8 facts you should know about milk and antibiotics
Are you confident that Canadian milk on your store shelves is free of antibiotics? MORE
Attention: Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate Holders
To renew your pesticide applicator certificate there are three options available for you:
First Option: Renewal of your certificate by receiving Continuing Education Credits.
Second Option: Take a one day training course & write the two hour exam.
Third Option: Make an appointment to come in and write the two hour exam.
First Option: The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be offering two different training days Day A and Day B. You are required to attend one Day A and one Day B over the five year re-certification period. Only one day per calendar year can be credited.
Day A – Topics covered: General Information, Regulations, Environmental Safety, and Application Technology.
Day B – Topics covered: Emergency Response, Labeling, Professionalism, Traceability, Integrated Pest Management, and Human Health and Safety.
Your current Pesticide Applicator Certificate will remain valid until the expiry date printed on your certificate. New Class A certificates will now all have an expiry date of March 31. The fee payable for a new 5-year certificate is $75.
When you have met the requirements to renew your license, you will be mailed an application form for renewal of your Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Should you fail to attend both of these training sessions prior to the expiry date on your current Certificate, you will need to successfully complete the written examination to obtain a new certificate.
The 2017 training schedule is as follows:
Day A:
December 6,2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
January 10,2017 Access Center, O’Leary
January 24,2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
January 31,2017 Loyalist Inn, Summerside
February 21, 2017 Lane’s Riverhouse Inn, Montague
March 14, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH Charlottetown
Day B:
December 8,2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
January 12,2017 Access Centre, O’Leary
January 26,2017 Rodd Royalty, THC, Charlottetown
February 2,2017 Loyalist Inn, Summerside
February 22,2017 Lanes Riverhouse Inn, Montague
March 16, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. All information sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be completed by 4:00 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and there is a $ 25. fee to offset this cost. To register for one of these training days please call (902) 368-4154.
Livestock
CME live cattle reach another two-month high
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a two-month high for a second straight day on Thursday, buoyed by this week’s stronger-than-anticipated cash prices, traders said. MORE
Animal Waste Converted into Protein Feed Source in Finland
The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has developed a solution for converting even small sources of methane-rich biogas into raw materials for animal feed or bioplastic on farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. MORE
Swine Health Must Be Priority in Next Ag Policy Framework, says Pork Council
The Canadian Pork Council is calling on government to ensure swine health and disease prevention remain a priority under Canada’s next Agricultural Policy Framework, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Success for Canadian Pork in China
The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) recently returned from a trade mission to China where it supported and promoted Canadian pork producer interests in the very important Chinese marketplace. MORE
Study Finds Some Hog Workers Developing Drug-Resistant Skin Infections
New Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research suggests that some workers at industrial hog production facilities are not only carrying livestock-associated, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their noses, but may also be developing skin infections from these bacteria. MORE
Pork Industry to Benefit from EU Trade Deals, Study Shows
The European Commission has presented a study to EU agriculture ministers this week on the impacts of 12 future trade agreements on the agri-food sector, highlighting sensitive products such as beef. MORE
Spain and EU Pork Markets
European markets have been steady over the last three weeks. Meanwhile, in the Spanish market, supply continues to push hard, writes Mercedes Vega, General Director for Spain, Italy & Portugal. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – November 17 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, November 17 HERE
Potatoes
UAVS COMING TO A POTATO FIELD NEAR YOU
Though unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are just beginning to buzz over Canadian crop fields, experts agree these new ‘eyes in the sky’ are about to fundamentally change how potato farmers see, interact with and manage their crops. MORE
THE AGRICULTURAL GROWTH ACT: ONE YEAR LATER
One of its goals was to provide better protection for domestic and foreign potato breeders in Canada and hopefully lead to more new, improved varieties. MORE
MORE TOOLS FOR WIREWORM CONTROL
Two wireworm experts have developed innovative traps that target the adult stage of wireworms, called click beetles. MORE
NEW VARIETIES WITH SPARK
Improving mashed potatoes is no easy feat, but breeders around the world are doing just that. MORE
A TUBER-DAMAGING STRAIN OF ALFALFA MOSAIC VIRUS
When alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) happens to occur in potatoes, it usually causes leaf mottling and blotching. MORE
Thanksgiving – Higher Hopes
As the cool autumn weather rolls in and crops are moved into storages, many families across Michigan prepare for the holidays. While it may seem hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner, it is time once again to break out the good silverware, mash some potatoes, and cheer for the Lions. MORE
New “Humigator” Help Growers with Potato Control
An invention called a “humigator” is helping potato growers across the country have yearlong control over their potatoes. MORE
Potato Growers Get Help to Fight with Late Blight Pathogen
The Plant Management Network (PMN) has released in November a new presentation entitled “Late Blight Management Under Semi-Arid Conditions” to help potato growers recognize pathogen hosts, favorable disease conditions, and utilize effective control practices. MORE
WASHINGTON-OREGON POTATO CONFERENCE
The 2017 Washington-Potato Conference is being held January 24-26, 2017, at Three Rivers Convention Centre in Kennewick, Washington. MORE
New Patata Lombarda brand
F.lli Torti S.r.l, specialising in the processing and commercialisation of potatoes and onions, is happy to announce that the new “Patata Lombarda” brand will be available as of 14th November 2016. MORE
Kenya to import Scottish seed potatoes
A new bilateral trade agreement should mean Scottish seed potatoes will soon be found growing on Kenyan farms. MORE
Peruvian potato to be the star of APEC Peru 2016 Gala Dinner
The Peruvian native potato will be the star of the Gala Dinner to be prepared for Leaders and senior officials from the 21 APEC member economies in Lima, Peru. MORE
Sainsbury’s new packaging stops spuds going green
A new range of opaque and breathable packaging, designed to help potatoes last longer is being launched by UK supermarket chain Sainsbury’s. MORE
Export of French potatoes to Spain and Belgium increased
Export of French fresh potatoes reached 57.365 tons in September, with an increased flow towards Spain and Belgium, whilst export to Italy has reduced. Long-distance exports include Indonesia. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola Up With Spec/Exporter Buying
ICE Futures Canada canola futures were higher on Thursday, as speculators and exporters both remained on the buy side. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices mostly lower, barley unchanged HERE
Wheat climbs on acreage view, short-covering
U.S. wheat futures rose about 1.5 per cent on Thursday as expectations for a drop in U.S. wheat plantings for 2017 and strong weekly export sales prompted short-covering, traders said. MORE
Warm weather helps farmers push through harvest after snow, rain delay
Unseasonably warm weather has given some Prairie farmers a second chance to finish a harvest that was delayed because of snow. MORE
Cash advances to be offered on unharvested grain
Farmers who weren’t able to wrap up their harvest this fall on account of lousy weather may still be eligible for cash advances under the federal Advance Payments Program. MORE
U.S. grain exports slide after Trump win batters peso
Mexican demand for U.S. grain imports has slumped along with the country’s sinking peso as buyers withdrew from the market amid soaring costs in the week since Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, traders and industry analysts said. MORE
USING SMARTPHONES TO BATTLE PESTS
A new app has been designed to help growers of field crops identify and manage insects, pathogens and weeds. And there is potential for other crops to be included once work on the current setup is complete. MORE
AM markets: grains start firm. But can the gains stick? HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Flood resilience increasing as jurisdictions co-operate: ARBI
By pulling the pieces of the puzzle together, a better and more co-ordinated approach is possible MORE
Mentorships get real
Today’s mentorships are more relevant than ever, with a focus that includes business management, risk analysis, employee motivation and much more MORE
McDonald’s investor renews push to cut antibiotics in all meat
A McDonald’s Corp. shareholder is redoubling efforts to convince the fast-food chain to stop all of its global restaurants from serving the meat of animals raised with antibiotics that are vital for fighting human infections. MORE
Key U.S. senator remains wary of China’s Syngenta play
A powerful U.S. senator said he is concerned that state-owned ChemChina, which is buying Swiss crop protection and seed group Syngenta for $43 billion, could use U.S. sovereign immunity laws to shield itself from claims in U.S. courts. MORE
Trump’s triumph turns to ag trade trepidation
The U.S. president-elect has threatened to tear up the $1-trillion-a-year North American Free Trade Agreement and says he won’t ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action – November 15 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – November 16 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Comments – November 11 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, November 17 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Beef producers are invited to attend the PEI Cattle Producers Fall District Meetings
Wednesday, November 23, Farm Centre
Thursday, November 24, Linkletter Community Centre
We will review the new Levy System and changes to CIB
Meetings begin and 7:30 pm.
For more information, please contact Rinnie Bradley at the PEICP office at (902)368-2229
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
FCC Ag Knowledge Exchange
Date: December 6, 2016
Location: Charlottetown, PEI
Hosted by: FCC Charlottetown Office
Topic: Tax and the Corporate Farm, presented by Lance Stockbrugger
Register: HERE
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
