Local, Regional, Canadian News
Farmers on P.E.I. worried about Trump
Farmers are very concerned about what Donald Trump’s U.S. presidency means for the industry in Canada, says the president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. MORE
‘Opening the barn doors’: 360-degree tour of P.E.I. dairy farm
People can take a virtual reality tour of a Hunter River, P.E.I., dairy farm in a new online initiative designed to let Canadians know more about where their food comes from. MORE
Canada Adds Extra Funds for Key FAO Work on Food Safety
Canada has announced that it will contribute an additional $1 million to international bodies that develop the standards for food safety and plant protection. MORE
Agriculture Minister Eichler optimistic Trump will see value in ag trade
Trump’s nominee for ag secretary, Sonny Perdue, has a record of supporting trade MORE
Alberta’s Green Certificate
This high school program lets students graduate by gaining agricultural and on-farm experience MORE
Manitoba forecasters say major flooding possible in province this year
Manitobans are being warned that major flooding is possible in much of the province this spring. MORE
2017 Prince Edward Island Potato Day
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Credit Union Place – Summerside, PEI
Please pre-register by February 10, 2017 by contacting 1-866-734-3276
Registration Fee: $20
Buffet Lunch will be held at Credit Union Place – Summerside, PEI MORE
PEI ALUS Program Reviewing Payment Rates
The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program is undertaking a review of payment rates paid to Island farmers/landowners. Surveys have been mailed to all ALUS program clients for feedback. In addition, a digital version of the survey has been created. If you are a client of the ALUS program and haven’t completed your survey yet, you can do so by following the link below. The survey will be available online until February 23.
The link can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ALUSclientsurvey3
Livestock
Cattle fall most in three weeks on U.S. placements
U.S. live cattle futures notched their biggest losses in about three weeks on Monday in a sell-off triggered by government data showing larger numbers of cattle placed on feed in December, traders said. MORE
Beef Trade Firm with Finishers Negotiating Better Deals
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said the cattle trade is firm with finishers digging in hard and negotiating deals above the base price of €3.80/3.85 for steers and €3.90/3.95 for heifers. MORE
Australian Cattle Council Heads West
Cattle Council of Australia is in Western Australia this week, meeting with cattle producers, industry representatives and stakeholders to discuss issues relevant to the WA market as well as broader national and international issues. MORE
Australia to Resume Japanese Beef Imports
Australia looks set to lift a 16-year ban on imports of Japanese beef by the end of this year, now that the country’s government has confirmed the meat is safe for human consumption. MORE
NZ Meat, Dairy Exports Down in 2016
New Zealand’s top two export commodities, meat and dairy, both fell by value in 2016, Statistics New Zealand said yesterday. MORE
Why pasteurize and homogenize?
Before milk ends up on store shelves, at the processing plant it is pasteurized and homogenized. MORE
Saputo moves to buy remaining 12% of Australia’s Warrnambool dairy business
Saputo Inc. is moving to buy out the minority shareholders of an Australian cheese and dairy producer that it acquired in 2014 after a hard-fought takeover battle. MORE
National Pork Board Searching for the 2017 America’s Pig Farmer
The National Pork Board is searching for the next America’s Pig Farmer of The Year, with applications now open for the annual industry award through March 13 at americaspigfarmer.com. MORE
More ASF Outbreaks Reported in Ukraine
More outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been reported on backyard farms across Ukraine. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – January 26 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, January 30 HERE
Potatoes
MANAGING FERTILIZER-DERIVED SALTS IN POTATO FIELDS
Crop producers who struggle with damagingly high soil salinity due to naturally occurring salt deposits, high water tables and/or salt accumulations from manure applications know managing salinity can require intensive effort. MORE
FIELD TO STORAGE TRACEABILITY
Many agricultural producers are worried about consumers’, packer/processors’ and governments’ demands for increasingly strict, detailed traceability of agricultural products and production practices. MORE
Local Economy Recovers from Plant Closure
When J.R Simplot Co. announced in May 2002 it would close its potato processing plant in Heyburn, Idaho, and put nearly 650 people out of work, many feared southern Idaho’s Mini-Cassia area (Minidoka and Cassia counties) would dry up like Idaho’s mining ghost towns. MORE
New Blight Strains Could Threaten U.S.
Scientific research of Phytophthora infestans, the late blight pathogen, has been an issue of concern ever since the plant disease triggered the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. Plant pathologists say it was the first plant disease for which a microorganism was proven to be the causal agent, leading to the birth of plant pathology as a science. MORE
Monte Vista Potato Growers on Track
With a new facility and line running well, and with storage quality looking good, general manager Jason Tillman at Monte Vista Potato Growers (MVPG), a grower cooperative in Monte Vista, Colo., said his operation will run through the end of July and perhaps get a bit of an earlier start next September. MORE
Schmieding Produce Launches New 100 Calorie – Skinny Potato
According to research from PaleoLeap, the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and Christmas is 3.5 pounds, but overweight people gain an average of 5 to 10 pounds during this time frame. January is a key month for Americans to lose weight. MORE
Morrisons and Farmcare Announce the Acquisition of Carnoustie Plant
Morrisons and Farmcare announce a supply agreement and the acquisition of the Farmcare potato packing business at Carnoustie, by Morrisons. MORE
M&S potato supplier sees growth in 2017
Newly filed results for Manor Fresh, a potato supplier, revealed turnover topped £60.3m for the year to 30 April 2016, compared to £57.1m a year earlier. Pre-tax profit also increased to £1.6m from £1.4m. MORE
UNPT discusses future of potato sector
The UNPT (National potato producers union) presented the results of a study carried out alongside FranceAgriMer on the prospectives of global exchange by 2025 on the 24th January during their 14th convention. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola drops with soybeans
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were down sharply on Monday, as losses in Chicago Board of Trade soybeans and soyoil weighed on values. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices lower, barley lower
Anonymous midge appears in Prairie canola
Canola crops in northeastern Saskatchewan and east-central Alberta have run up against a potential pest problem so new it doesn’t yet have a name. MORE
More commissioners named for Grain Commission
The Canadian Grain Commission’s deck of commissioners has been refilled with two farmers with long resumes in Prairie farm policy. MORE
Is strip tillage the new black for Manitoba farmers?
The answer is ‘maybe’ — and probably ‘yes’ for sandy soils, but no research has yet been done in clay soils, according to University of Manitoba graduate student, Patrick Walther whose master’s thesis focused on soybean response to different tillage treatments. MORE
Average Manitoba 2017 crop insurance coverage up, premiums down
AgriInsurance coverage in Manitoba is expected to exceed $2.6 billion this year — the second-highest level on record — on 9.6 million acres of land, Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler said Jan. 17 while speaking here at Ag Days. MORE
Soy hits two-week low on long liquidation
U.S. soybean futures fell more than two per cent on Monday, with the front contract hitting a two-week low on long liquidation and improved crop weather for South America, analysts said. MORE
AM markets: Trump policy fallout fuels risk-off feel HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Six habits of highly resilient farmers
Four farms, six things in common MORE
Bounce back, don’t break
What makes some farms so resilient in tough economic times? Finally, this New Zealand research finds some answers MORE
Mike Koch on Harnessing the Power of Consumer Demand
Mike Koch, Executive Director of FRESHFARM, is speaking at the third annual D.C. Food Tank Summit, Let’s Build a Better Food Policy, which will be hosted in partnership with George Washington University and the World Resources Institute on February 2, 2017. MORE
Brazil to open farmland, airlines to foreign buyers
President Michel Temer will propose legislation to lift restrictions on foreign ownership of airlines and agricultural land in Brazil as he strives to pull the economy out of a two-year recession, government sources said on Monday. MORE
Friendships for your life
In the farming community, being independent is a point of pride. However, too much independence is actually bad for your health if it leads to social isolation. MORE
Regular Updates
FCC Express – January 27 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, January 30 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
In-Person Consumer Consultations on Food Labelling Modernization
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada want to hear from everyday consumers like you.
We are holding in-person discussions to get your perspective on proposals to modernize food labelling in Canada and would like to talk about:
- Labelling information that is important to you
- Proposed improvements to food label information and legibility, and;
- Enhancements to the ways consumers get information on label claims or statements
There is no cost to register. Participants are expected to cover their own travel costs to attend. Prior knowledge of food labelling is not required.
In-person consumer sessions will be held in the following cities:
Atlantic Provinces
- Moncton, NB January 31, 2017 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (French)
- Moncton, NB January 31, 2017 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (English)
- Charlottetown, PEI February 1, 2017 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (English)
- St-John’s, NL February 3, 2017 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (English)
2ND ANNUAL ATLANTIC YOUNG FARMER TRAINING EVENT
Those who register for both events will receive a 15% discount.
Bridging the Gap: Succession & Transition Planning Workshop for Farm Families!
February 9th and 10th
Glengarry Hotel – Truro, Nova Scotia
Register HERE
Innovate for Value Chain Management
February 10th and 11th
Dalhousie Agricultural Campus – Bible Hill, Nova Scotia
Register HERE
Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Training
Fertilizer Canada’s Nutrient Stewardship training courses help you understand the economic, social, and environmental advantages of 4R practices and how these can be implemented on Canadian farms.
-Free Training
-Participants will receive certification after course completion
-Lunch Provided
**Note: Only the first 30 participants to RSVP will be accepted
-Please send your RSVP to: nfrost@fertilizercanada.ca or call (613)-786-3032
February 22, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Westmorland Room, Crowne Plaza 1005 Main St, Moncton, NB
Atlantic Farm Women Conference
April 28 & 29 at the Delta Halifax, N.S.
Register before March 31 registration fee is $90 plus you will be entered to win your conference registration free. After March 31, registration will be $115.
To register: http://atlanticfarmwomen.weebly.com/-registration.html
Agenda on line: http://atlanticfarmwomen.weebly.com/agenda.html
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:
February 21, 2017 Lane’s Riverhouse Inn, Montague
March 14, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH Charlottetown
Day B:
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.
Should you have questions or require additional detail, please do not hesitate to contact Shelley Ployer at (902) 368-4154 or via e-mail at seployer@gov.pe.ca
Second Option:
You can also renew your license by attending a one day training course and writing the exam at the end of the day (there is no cost to attend this course). This training course is designed to refresh your memory and prepare you for writing the exam. It DOES NOT provide you with any certification days. There is no cost to write the exam. The cost for a 5 year Pesticide Applicator Certificate is $75.
The 2017 training schedule for the one day course followed by writing the exam is as follows:
February 1, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
February 22, 2017 Loyalist Inn, Summerside March 15, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Training sessions begin at 8:45 a.m. and are completed by 3:30 p.m. The exam will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
To register for one of these training days please call (902) 368-4154.
Third Option:
You can make an appointment to write the two hour exam by calling Debbie MacRae at
(902) 368-5024 or Thane Clarke at (902) 368-5599 at the Department of Communities, Land and Environment in Charlottetown. The cost is the same, $75.
