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
‘Your own personal cheering section’: Tractor has P.E.I. farm dog running in circles of joy
Whenever a tractor starts up on Ayr Bay Farm in St. Peter’s, P.E.I., Molly the border collie starts spinning. MORE
SORGHUM-SUDANGRASS AS ROTATION CROP
Already grown by some potato farmers in P.E.I., the use of this multi-benefit crop may increase in years to come. MORE
Agriculture minister hopes to expand trade with India, Vietnam
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay is heading out on a two-week trade mission to Vietnam and India on Friday. MORE
Province puts money into promoting local food
New Brunswick farmers welcomed the provincial government’s announcement Tuesday that it will spend $415,000 to promote the sale of local food and beverages. 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
Important Fed Cattle Market Innovation Under Discussion
In this Daily Livestock Report (DLR), we provide some discussion of an important fed cattle market innovation which began in 2016 — the Fed Cattle Exchange, according to the Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
US Beef Gets ‘Hollywood’ Treatment in Viet Nam
Working to build and strengthen relationships with red meat buyers in Viet Nam, USMEF collaborated with a major beef importer to conduct a US beef promotion during a Lunar New Year celebration. MORE
Zimbabwe to Benefit from Livestock Production
Rural farmers in Zimbabwe and the whole of Southern Africa are set to receive a major boost in their livestock production through the expected launch of the beef value chain finance initiative this year. MORE
Project Launched Towards Sustainable Livestock in Africa
A project towards sustainable and productive livestock in Africa is launched on Thursday, by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and six African countries. MORE
IFA Welcomes Positive Move by Minister Creed on Calf Exports
IFA President Joe Healy has strongly welcomed the positive decision from Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to reduce inspection charges on calf exports by 75 per cent from €4.80 to €1.20 per head. He said this is a very positive boost to the live export trade for calves and comes at a vital time when calf sales are reaching their peak. MORE
Manitoba Slaughter Hog Numbers Show Early Signs of Rebounding
The General Manager of Manitoba Pork reports the province’s pork industry is seeing the first signs of a rebound in the number of hogs available for processing, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Essential Oils Emerging as One Alternative to Antibiotics
The Head of Purdue University’s Animal Science Department says the use of essential oils is emerging as one of the strategies that can help in reducing the livestock industry’s reliance on the use of in feed antibiotics, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Hogs extend losses on cash expectations
U.S. lean hog futures fell more than one per cent on Thursday, extending losses to their third straight session, on pressure from expectations for declines in Midwest cash hog markets, traders and analysts said. MORE
2016 US Pork Exports Show Impressive Progress
At year-end 2016, US pork exports showed impressive progress following a challenging 2015. In 2016, 5.1 billion pounds of pork and pork variety meats valued at $5.94 billion dollars were exported, up 8 percent and 7 per cent respectively from 2015, according to the USDA. MORE
Pig Prices: Deals Being Made in Excess of Base Quotes
The Chairman of the IFA Pigs Committee Tom Hogan has said that the while base quotes remained similar to last week at 1.62-€1.64/kg, there are a greater number of pigs killed at deals far in excess of these base prices. MORE
Gene-Edited Pigs Show Signs of Resistance to Major Viral Disease
Scientists have produced pigs that may be protected from an infection that costs the swine industry billions each year. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – February 23 Regular and Feeder Sale – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, February 23 HERE
Potatoes
CONVINCING THE UNCONVINCED ON PRECISION AGRICULTURE
An Alberta agronomic consultant hopes his “data driven agriculture” proves an easier-to-adopt twist on precision agriculture. MORE
REMARKABLE TURNAROUND FOR MANITOBA GROWER
Wiebe had gone through some really tough years on his farm just outside MacGregor, and it prompted him to take stock: he could continue dryland potato farming on the fields where his family had been growing spuds for three generations, or he could look somewhere else. MORE
MANAGING SOIL-BORNE PESTS, DISEASES
For potato farmers, soil-borne pests and diseases are like that pesky younger sibling that’s always trying to get you in trouble: ignore them at your peril. Hazards such as Verticillium, nematodes, pink rot and Rhizoctonia can have a big impact on the bottom line if not kept in check. MORE
MORE THAN JUST A PURPLE POTATO
Growing and selling specialty potatoes may offer opportunities to share information about health benefits. MORE
IMPROVING SOIL, IMPROVING POTATOES
Planting cover crops offers many benefits.
Innovative growers and an agronomist recently teamed up to look at ways to improve the potato crop and the soil. MORE
IPM TRAINING MODULE LAUNCHED
A new online resource makes it easier for potato growers and potato scouts to spot problems early. MORE
CONSERVATION MEASURES OUTPERFORM CONVENTIONAL YIELDS
Yields and other benefits are there under conservation potato production practices; the challenge is to reduce the cost of compost. MORE
FROM TRAITS TO DNA TO TRAITS
Finding the DNA segments associated with key traits for more efficient potato breeding. MORE
Potatoes Wild with Calcium
Have you ever cut into a potato to find a dark spot or hollow part? Early research shows that these defects are likely the result of calcium deficiencies in the potato—and that tuber calcium is genetically linked to tuber quality. MORE
Potato Industry on the Offensive
Potatoes—which boosters describe as “America’s favorite vegetable”—are going on the offensive after years of fighting defensively. MORE
Consumer Perception Regarding Potatoes Is Improving
A big factor influencing potato demand in the past two decades or two has been low-carb diets that eschewed potatoes, but those negative views are changing, according to Blair Richardson, president of Potatoes USA. MORE
‘Making the European Potato Trade great again! (it’s gonna be huge, it’s gonna be great, it’s true!)’
Belgapom, the Belgian Potato Traders and Processors, and Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, are pleased to confirm the dates for the annual Europatat Congress, that this year will take place in Antwerp (Belgium) from 15 to 17 June 2017, at the beautiful Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, located in the city centre of Antwerp. MORE
Philippine city looks to become a potato producer
The city government of Zamboanga, through the City Agriculture Office, has embarked on potato seedling production, in line with a goal to make Zamboanga City a major producer of potatoes. MORE
A good moment for potatoes
Good sales rhythm at the Bologna wholesale market. Roberto Piazza (in the photo), director of the Bologna market wholesalers association, reports that “sales are good also because quality is excellent. Prices are 55-60 eurocents/kg for 5-10 kg sacks. Smaller sacks are sold at 75-80 cents/kg.” MORE
Europatat Congress set for June 15-17 in Belgium
Belgapom, the Belgian Potato Traders and Processors, and Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association have confirmed the dates for the annual Europatat Congress, that this year will take place in Antwerp (Belgium) from 15 to 17 June 2017, at the beautiful Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, located in the city centre of Antwerp. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola falls to three-week lows
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were down sharply on Thursday, as the market reacted to a selloff in Chicago Board of Trade soybeans and chart-based selling built on itself. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
If you want to dispute a grain grade
It’s their legal right under the Canada Grain Act — if farmers don’t like the grade their elevator manager offers, they can appeal to the Canadian Grain Commission for an official ruling. MORE
A biomass corn-stalk co-op
Farmers aren’t negative or pessimistic by nature, but they are realists. When it comes to business proposals, they’ve heard terms such as “sure-fire” and “can’t-miss” before, not always with good cause. MORE
Yield Manitoba 2017 valuable tool for Manitoba farmers
Manitoba farmers, on average, reaped a bumper crop in 2016, despite a record number of hail claims and excessive rain in some areas. MORE
How to take a proper representative sample from trucks and bins. MORE
Pulse crop sales to India dry up over pest-control plan
Canadian exporters are slowing sales of peas and lentils to India, threatening $1.1 billion in annual trade of the food staples, over risk that New Delhi may reject shipments under its tougher approach to pest control. MORE
India rejects extension on pulse imports in blow to Canada’s largest market
India has rejected a long-standing exemption on pest treatment for peas and lentils in a blow to Canada’s top export market for the crops. MORE
Soybeans at six-week low on U.S. acreage view
U.S. soybean futures fell to a six-week low on Thursday on expectations for a big South American harvest and an expansion in U.S. plantings this spring, analysts said. MORE
AM markets: will US data knock grains off key price perches? HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Commodity collaboration, mergers discussed at CropConnect
Manitoba farmers are being asked if they want their checkoff-funded commodity groups to collaborate more — or even merge. MORE
Diversity of opinions OK
Whether you’re in the house, the combine or the barn, it’s something that rarely leaves your side — your phone. MORE
Researchers Suggest New Vision for Future of Agriculture
Food production must double by 2050 to feed the world’s growing population.” This truism has been repeated so often in recent years that it has become widely accepted among academics, policymakers and farmers, but now researchers are challenging this assertion and suggesting a new vision for the future of agriculture. MORE
Glencore ready for deals and dividends after profit boost
Commodities trader and miner Glencore reported an 18 per cent rise in full-year profit on Thursday, buoyed by a rebound in raw materials prices, and said it was well-placed financially for small acquisitions or a special dividend payout. MORE
Bayer Pesticide Profits Stagnating
German drugs and pesticides maker Bayer forecast a year without earnings growth for its agricultural products business on Wednesday, as it seeks to complete its $66 billion deal to take over U.S. seed giant Monsanto. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – February 22 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, February 23 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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:
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
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.
