Membership Survey
The recent 76th Annual General Meeting was a great success on a number of fronts, but as always we would like to improve for next year. Please take a moment to complete this SURVEY to give us feedback, even if you did not attend, we’d like to know why and what might bring you out to the AGM in the future. Thanks! SURVEY
Local, Regional, Canadian News
P.E.I. RCMP warn against snowmobiling across farm fields
RCMP in Prince County, P.E.I., are reminding snowmobilers be cautious of farmers’ crops and private lands this winter. MORE
‘It’s very, very difficult to stop’: Atlantic Canada’s rural-urban divide growing, says APEC
The rural-urban divide in Atlantic Canada, and in P.E.I. in particular, is growing, says the head of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, and there’s no sense trying to stop it. MORE
Agri-food sector gets nod from key federal panel
The agri-food sector has received a big-league endorsement from the federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth. MORE
Quebec extends organic conversion funding plan
A support program for Quebec farmers to convert crop, livestock or maple syrup operations to organic production will get an extension. MORE
Canada stresses NAFTA talks to involve all members
Any talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement would involve all three member nations, a top Canadian official said on Tuesday, dampening speculation the U.S. might seek to sit down with Canada first and then Mexico. MORE
Maple Leaf to buy U.S. veggie dog, burger maker
Canadian meat packer Maple Leaf Foods is buying space on the non-meat side of the deli section with a deal for U.S. processor Lightlife Foods. MORE
Making ethnic markets pay
Edamame, okra, bitter melon, quinoa, Chinese long eggplant — all these are edible crops that you’d have had a hard time finding on the country’s store shelves 50 years ago, let alone growing in Canadian fields and greenhouses. MORE
Report shows previous Alberta government knew farm worker insurance needed
A report commissioned by the previous Progressive Conservative government shows it was aware that Alberta farm workers needed workplace insurance protection. MORE
Federation of Agriculture ‘Path of Profit’ Learning & Development Series
The Federation of Agriculture is excited to announce an exclusive offer to our members.
The ‘Path of Profit’ Series is a Learning Program of various Professional Development courses available to employees of any of our members. The courses are designed to improve overall business competitiveness and profitability while also upgrading staff skills. The courses are classroom based for 1-3 days depending on the course and will be delivered at our boardroom
In March /April. Dates will be confirmed ASAP.
- Succession Planning
- Tax & Financial Planning
- Professional Leadership for Managers / Supervisors / Lead Hands
- Computer Skills Upgrade – Office / Word / Excel
- Stress Management / Time Management
Seats will be on a first come first serve basis.
For further information and to sign up, please contact the office at 902-368-7289 or email Jennifer Murphy at jmurphy@peifa.ca or Robert Godfrey at rgodfrey@peifa.ca.
The Vernor River Watershed Group and PEIFA to host upcoming Watershed farmers meeting
Date/Time: Monday March 6 at 7 pm
Location: St.Joachim,s parish hall, Vernon River
Speaker – John Phillips will discuss land stabilization , organic matter etc, with a round table discussion!
Speaker two to be announced all welcome!
Institute of Canada (AIC) is hosting a national conference titled “Agriculture Innovation in a changing environment”
Addressing the topic of climate change and agriculture.
April 24-26, 2017 in Winnipeg, MB MORE
Livestock
Cattle hit four-week high on beef gains
U.S. live cattle futures jumped one per cent to the highest prices in about four weeks on Tuesday, boosted by technical buying and gains in wholesale beef prices, traders said. MORE
Market Ready Cattle Prices Sustain Impressive Rally
Market ready cattle prices, basis the USDA-AMS 5 Market average, have sustained an impressive rally from Christmas week of 2016 to early February, according to the Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Scientists Weigh in on ‘Next Frontier’ for Beef Quality Research
When it comes to beef, certain traits, like tenderness, are easier to quantify than others. MORE
Cattle Prices Steady
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has said cattle prices are steady at a base of €3.80 for steers and €3.90 for heifers, with some top prices of €3.95/kg paid for heifers. MORE
Extended lactation could make better cheese
Extending dairy cow lactation periods by up to six months not only can lower the environmental impact of the industry — it just might make better cheese too. MORE
Canadian and American Pork Producers Recognize Value of Trade
The Chair of Manitoba Pork says pork producers on both sides of the Canada US border recognise the value of trade and value the essence of free trade, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Ceva Joint-Venture with EBVAC Reinforces Position in China’s Swine Market
In the presence of the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang and French Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) and EBVAC today signed a joint-venture agreement to create a new business, Ceva EBVAC, focused on the swine sector. MORE
UK Pig Meat Supplies Fall in January
While UK clean pig slaughterings in January were reported by Defra to be level with the calendar month in 2016, this was due to there being an extra working day in January 2017 compared with 2016. MORE
More ASF Reported in Russian Pigs
More cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been reported in the Saratovskaya region of Russia. MORE
Tyson accelerates shift away from antibiotics in chicken
Tyson Foods in June will switch its retail line of company-branded chicken products to birds raised without any antibiotics, a top executive said on Tuesday, accelerating the meat sector’s shift away from the drugs. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – February 16 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, February 21 HERE
Potatoes
2017 ONTARIO POTATO CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW
The 2017 Ontario Potato Conference & Trade Show will be held at the Delta Hotel in Guelph on Tuesday, Feb. 28. MORE
RED-SKINNED POTATO VARIETIES LEAD SELECTIONS BY BREEDERS
Red-skinned potato varieties made up half of the total selections Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) breeders released to industry during the annual potato selection release open house on Feb. 15. MORE
FAST-TRACKING EXTREME RESISTANCE
Researchers are developing new markers for much more efficient selection of PVY-immune potato lines. MORE
U.S. EXPORTS OF FROZEN AND FRESH POTATOES GROWS
U.S. exports of frozen and fresh potatoes continued to grow in December while dehydrated exports were still down but by a lesser degree. The strong dollar continues to be an issue, but tight exportable supplies are also having an impact on future sales. MORE
AAP in India urge government to help affected potato growers
The AAP in India have said that potato growers in Punjab are suffering after being neglected for years by the SAD-BJP government. Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi said the potato crop was damaged due to rains and the farmers lacked marketing channels. MORE
Brazil introduces anti-dumping tax on potato products
On Wednesday, the Brazilian government decided to introduce an anti-dumping tax on imported chips and potato products from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France. In the resolution, nothing has yet been written about the percentages charged per supplier, and during which period these will be enforced. The fact is that Brazil has adopted the advice from the DECOM research. MORE
Entry of Brazilian potatoes causes concern
The National Federation of Potato Producers (Fenapp), which has been affected by the climate and other factors that may have undermined the crop’s development throughout the country, expressed its dissatisfaction with the arrival of Brazilian potatoes at the Central Market. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilssed Review: Canola weakens as crush margins deteriorate
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were down on Tuesday, as losses in Chicago Board of Trade soyoil and Malaysian palm oil weighed on values. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Wheat breeding: Public or private?
Making wheat a more competitive crop requires public and private breeder co-operation — and getting a return on investment from farmers buying seed. MORE
Improving nature
Every harvest season, word spreads quickly about yield. And happily, that trend line is up, with growers taking off phenomenal yields whenever the weather is halfway co-operative. MORE
Phosphate products vary, but fate the same
All phosphate fertilizers might not be created equal — but in the end they all wind up that way. MORE
Soybeans hit three-week low
U.S. soybean futures closed lower on Tuesday for a third straight session, reversing from early strength to touch a three-week low on expectations for large South American soy harvests, analysts said. MORE
Westman soybean plant proponents not discouraged by North Dakota plant
A committee studying the case for building a soybean-crushing plant in western Manitoba is undeterred by plans announced last week for one in Spiritwood, North Dakota, 140 km west of Fargo. MORE
USDA to Ask Farmers What They’ll Plant
The USDA is preparing to survey farmers about what they are planning to grow this year. The agency will survey about 84,000 farmers nationwide about their plans. MORE
Floods that saturated Louisiana also damaged its seed rice
The floods that inundated Louisiana in August also damaged rice harvested as seed for this year’s planting. MORE
AM markets: export talk helps wheat rise out of troublespots HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Ag Podcast Network Launches
In today’s diverse agricultural environment, podcasts are a rapidly growing medium to bring connections and insights to farmers. Podcasts are uniquely suited for those working in agriculture; they are free, accessible, downloadable, mobile, targeted and on-demand. MORE
Maple syrup producers face challenges in warming world
New Hampshire’s maple syrup producers say they are feeling the impact of climate change, as winters become warmer and frigid nights so critical to their business become fewer. MORE
French MNAs take EU-Canada trade deal to court
More than 100 French left-wing lawmakers decided Tuesday to appeal to the country’s Constitutional Council to block a contentious free trade deal between the European Union and Canada. MORE
NASA aims to measure vital snow data from satellites
Instrument-laden aircraft are surveying the Colorado high country this month as scientists search for better ways to measure how much water is locked up in the world’s mountain snows — water that sustains a substantial share of the global population. MORE
U.K. farming minister seeks big changes to farm policy post-Brexit
Britain’s farm policy is set for a major shake-up when the country leaves the European Union because the current system is poor value for money, has too much red tape and provides few incentives to use the latest technologies, farming and environment minister Andrea Leadsom said Tuesday. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – February 15 HERE
PEI Weekly Agriculture Market Report – February 17 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, February 21 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Holistic Farm Life Planning
A two-day intensive for small business owners who are ready to create a vision of the future they want for their life and business.
Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown, PEI, on February 23rd and 24th 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
Cereals & Oilseeds 2017 / PEI Soil & Crop Conference
The PEI Department of Agriculture & Fisheries and PEI Soil & Crop will one again be hosting their annual conference on March 1st and 2nd at the Rodd Royalty, Charlottetown. MORE
The Vernor River Watershed Group and PEIFA to host upcoming Watershed farmers meeting
Date/Time: Monday March 6 at 7 pm
Location: St.Joachim,s parish hall, Vernon River
Speaker – John Phillips will discuss land stabilization , organic matter etc, with a round table discussion!
Speaker two to be announced all welcome!
See Canada’s top speakers
FCC Forum is your chance to re-energize, get inspired and network with business owners and operators like you. Bring family, friends, business partners – it’s free for anyone in agriculture. Over 7,000 people attended last year, so get your seat early and register today!
Saturday, March 11 – 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Moncton , New Brunswick (lunch included) MORE
The Prince Edward Island Institute of Agrologists offer two awards annually to individuals whose achievements and service to Agriculture in Prince Edward Island have been outstanding.
To nominate an individual for the Recognition Award or Outstanding Agrologist Award please click HERE
Nominations to be submitted to lmurphy@pei.sympatico.ca by March 20, 2017
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:
March 14, 2017 Rodd Royalty, TCH Charlottetown
Day B:
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 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.
