Local, Regional, Canadian News
Happy cows producing more milk in new barn, farmer says
A dairy farm in P.E.I. is discovering a comfy cow can be a cash cow. MORE
A growing advantage: P.E.I. fruit and vegetable growers install weather stations
A growing number of Prince Edward Island farmers are using technology to their advantage, installing their own weather stations. MORE
Tree fee for watershed groups ‘short-sighted’
P.E.I.’s official Opposition is asking the province to remove a fee watershed groups have to pay for saplings from the government nursery. MORE
Trudeau’s climate deal points the way to 2030 — with more arguing to come
Western premiers’ objections ensure carbon pricing joins health care as a perennial test of federalism MORE
Neonic makers respond to Health Canada actions
Several years ago when neonicotinoids were linked to bee and other pollinator deaths sparking calls to ban the insecticides, farmers and neonicotinoid makers strongly defended them. MORE
Train-the-Trainer Workshops on the Best Practices for Developing Standard Operating Procedures
This project will train students in the best practices to develop Standard Operating Procedures for tractor and machinery operation. It will include classroom training on CASA’s Safety Standard Operating Procedures Training Module as well as hands on exercises with students developing their own SOPs for their tractor and machinery. The initial session will be facilitated by a trained instructor. Future sessions will rely on trained volunteers to facilitate the group exercises on developing additional SOPs for tractor and machinery. Students will be encouraged to share their SOPs with other students to increase the number of SOPs available to all participants.
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289
Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA) and sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
CRA has been conducting a Consumer Confidence Index in the region for the last twenty-five years and felt the time was right to have a business perspective on the economy in Atlantic Canada. CRA will produce a Business Confidence Index for each of the four Atlantic provinces and the region overall for comparison purposes.
We would encourage all our members to simply clink on the link below and help us build our own Business Confidence Index. Please be assured that all individual company responses will be treated in complete confidence and only aggregated data will be reported. The survey will only be opened until Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Why not take a few moments and complete the survey now. This survey is only open to those in the private sector.
To complete the survey click on the following link: https://surveys.cra.ca/s/112297/?assn&l=en
Should you have any questions on the survey, or require assistance accessing or completing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Corporate Research Associates at surveys@cra.ca.
To view the summary report of the inaugural Atlantic Business Confidence Index, click here.
Livestock
Cattle Outlook: Modest Changes to 2017 Beef Projections
USDA made modest changes to 2017 beef projections in the monthly WASDE release, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Retailers Can Educate and Inspire Consumers
Retailers and processors could be missing a trick when it comes to educating and inspiring consumers about red meat says research from AHDB Beef & Lamb. MORE
CETA Offers Opportunity for Canadian Pork to Distinguish Itself in Europe
The President of Canada Pork International says the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Europe will give Canadian pork the opportunity to distinguish itself in that market, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Environmental Enrichment Improves Behavioral and Physiological Responses in Pigs
A scientist with the University of Saskatchewan says the provision of environmental enrichment has the potential to improve both the health and productivity of the pig, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
2017 Mid-Point Hog Price Projected Down
USDA made few changes to 2017 pork projections in the monthly WASDE release. MORE
CME hogs notch three-month high
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures hit a three-month high on Friday, with help from buy stops and technical buying, traders said. MORE
Ventilation Guide Now Available for Pig Farmers
Previously only available electronically, the AHDB Pork Ventilating Pig Buildings guide is now available in hard copy format, and can be ordered from the AHDB Pork website. MORE
Nestle pledges cage-free eggs for Canadian wares
The Canadian arm of Swiss food processing giant Nestle has promised to shift its egg supply to “cage-free” sources by 2025. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – December 8 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report –Friday, December 9 HERE
Potatoes
NATIONAL POTATO COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING
The NPC 2017 Annual Meeting is your opportunity to connect with other grower leaders from across the country and to shape national public policy impacting potato production and distribution. MORE
POTATO EXPO 2017
Potato Expo 2017 goes January 4-6, 2017 in San Francisco, featuring energizing networking events with key decision makers and international industry leaders, plus the latest practical business solutions and innovations. MORE
Potato farmers throwing away produce amid demonetisation fiasco
Ever since the Indian Prime Minister ordered the demonetisation move on November 8th, farmers have been in trouble. Agra produces over 8 percent of the country’s total potato production and the crop this year has created enormous stocks of potatoes on the farms. MORE
Potato cultivation declining since German Reunification
The potato has been in retreat in Saxony-Anhalt since the German reunification. In 1990, potatoes were farmed on almost 73,000 hectares of land. MORE
Swedish potato production recovering
Swedish potato production is showing signs of recovery, with an estimated 553,000 tonnes expected this year. MORE
AUSVEG appoints James Whiteside as its new CEO
Leading Australian vegetable industry body AUSVEG has announced the appointment of James Whiteside as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Friday 9 December 2016. MORE
Indonesia fighting against illegal potato imports
Indonesia continues its fight against illegal potato imports which have been affecting farmers in the country. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola down, but soybeans up
ICE Futures Canada canola were down on Friday, seeing some follow-through selling after Thursday’s declines as the nearby technical bias has shifted lower. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Blackleg and canola can get along… until
After hearing many presentations on blackleg in canola, I was confused. I heard that disease pathogens usually harm their host plant, but blackleg doesn’t necessarily. In fact, blackleg and brassica species such as canola usually get along. MORE
StatsCan confirms drought impact on Ontario yield
Statistics Canada has confirmed what most farmers in Ontario knew this past summer: Hot and droughty conditions drove production of corn and soybeans almost 10 per cent lower than 2015 levels. MORE
New product pits fungus against fungus
A new weapon to battle fusarium head blight (FHB) fights fire with fire. MORE
Soy, corn jump on Argentine dryness
U.S. soybean and corn futures rose one per cent on Friday, buoyed by technical buying and concerns over dry growing conditions in Argentina in the wake of U.S. Department of Agriculture crop data at midday that was deemed neutral, traders said. MORE
AM markets: ag futures, bar soyoil, ignore oil price surge HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
FCC doubles down on Young Farmer Loans
Eligible farmers under age 40 will be able to get larger loans for less of a down payment through an expansion of Farm Credit Canada’s Young Farmer Loan plan. MORE
B.C. foods to require certification for organic claims
Agrifood producers in British Columbia who promote their wares using the word “organic” will soon have to show certification to back up the claim. MORE
Australia approves sale of giant Kidman pastoral holdings
Australia on Friday approved the A$386.5 million (C$379.3 million) sale of the country’s largest private landholder S. Kidman and Co. to a consortium led by the country’s richest woman Gina Rinehart, after blocking two previous bids. MORE
FARMS AT THE TABLE CONFERENCE
The Farms at the Table Conference provides a forum to discuss opportunities for connecting with consumers. It also provides a venue for the agriculture industry to share strategies and information, and connect the dots between what each one of us contributes to help feed the world. MORE
Regular Updates
FCC Express – December 9 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – December 7 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – December 9 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Friday, December 9 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
PEI Organic Forum: 2020 – An Organic Vision for PEI
Join ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) and the PEI COPC (Certified Organic Producers’ Co-op) for an opportunity to network with Island organic stakeholders and provide your input on the direction of organics on the Island, creating a vision and action plan to move organics forward. This event is FREE and includes dinner (donation to cover food appreciated).
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 420 University Avenue (Farm Centre). MORE
Information Session
A. Grain & Pulse Solutions would like to invite interested agricultural producers to an information session to discuss future Pulse acres, mainly on Prince Edward Island and expanding into Atlantic Canada.
Tuesday, December 13th 1pm-3pm
PEI Farm Centre, 420 University Ave (rooms 105-106)
Green and Yellow Field Pea 2017 expansion of acreage throughout PEI and the Atlantic Provinces will be the main focus. Faba bean production acreage will also be discussed in addition to winter pulse crop possibilities.
Discussions will consist of:
Introduction of W. A. Grain & Pulse Solutions, who we are and what we do.
Rotational benefits of Pulse crops.
Review of 2016 crop year results, best practice and lessons learned.
Introduction of new pulse varieties, both production and trial.
Marketing, export and value add potential for PEI and Atlantic Canada.
Results of Northern Ontario/Quebec and Western programs.
PEI Young Farmers AGM
Saturday, January 7th at the Delta Prince Edward
Guest speakers include Greg Peterson of Peterson Farm Bros and Lane Stockbrugger of LDS farms.
(Check out Peterson Farm Bros Youtube channel HERE)
$40 early bird registration, fter December 20, 2016 the price will be $50 per person.
Email peiyoungfarmers@outlook.com to register for event.
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 40 registration also covers your Young Farmers of PEI Yearly membership fee ($25).
This is a Young Farmer event but people of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.
Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA) and sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
CRA has been conducting a Consumer Confidence Index in the region for the last twenty-five years and felt the time was right to have a business perspective on the economy in Atlantic Canada. CRA will produce a Business Confidence Index for each of the four Atlantic provinces and the region overall for comparison purposes.
We would encourage all our members to simply clink on the link below and help us build our own Business Confidence Index. Please be assured that all individual company responses will be treated in complete confidence and only aggregated data will be reported. The survey will only be opened until Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Why not take a few moments and complete the survey now. This survey is only open to those in the private sector.
To complete the survey click on the following link: https://surveys.cra.ca/s/112297/?assn&l=en
Should you have any questions on the survey, or require assistance accessing or completing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Corporate Research Associates at surveys@cra.ca.
To view the summary report of the inaugural Atlantic Business Confidence Index, click here.
SSDE Industry Engagement Day – January 20, 2017
Our first semester is behind us and it was a tremendous success. During last semester we hosted our first Industry Engagement day and had the great privilege of welcoming well over 100 people to our School of Sustainable Design Engineering. Building on that success, we wish to start the New Year off with good momentum and hold our next Industry Engagement day on the 20th of January 2017. This day will have a specific focus on Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture.
Goal – Is to gather Industry, Government, and Academia and look for collaboration to advance Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture. We will also to take the opportunity to introduce the Class of 2017.
Date and time – 20 January 2017 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Location – UPEI Campus. 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE.
Agenda
10:00 – Welcome to the Province of Prince Edward Island and to the University
10:10 – Keynote Address from the Province
10:30 – Introduction of the first keynote speaker Dr.John K. Schueller from the University of Florida by Dr.Aitazaz Farooque
10:35 – Key Note address: Precision Agriculture Technologies for Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture
11:05 – Introduction of the second keynote speaker Dr.Animesh Dutta from the University of Guelph by Dr.Bishnu Acharya
11:30 – Meet the Graduating Class of 2017 – Introduction by Dr.Wayne Peters, the Director of Student Experience
11:35 – Guided tour by the Industry Partnerships Group
12:00 – Lunch (provided – no turkey)/Networking – 60 mins
1:00 – Panel discussion led by the School of Sustainable Design Engineering with keynote speakers and Government/Industry representatives
2:00 – wrap up and thank you by Dr.Nick Krouglicof, Associate Dean of Engineering and Allan Dale, Industry Partnerships Group
Please RSVP to Lisa Sanderson at lmsanderson@upei.ca
