Local, Regional, Canadian News
Watershed group worries about ‘loophole’ in P.E.I.’s new Water Act
The new draft Water Act wouldn’t stop Charlottetown from drawing so much water that branches of the Winter River watershed go dry, P.E.I.’s Department of Communities, Land and Environment has confirmed. MORE
Amputee in P.E.I. stresses how quickly farm accidents can happen
A little shiver goes through Silbert Rayner when he passes a farm and sees a tractor parked with its bucket raised. MORE
Woman hopes to end pig-chasing event
The annual “pig scramble” at a rural fair in Prince Edward Island amounts to animal cruelty, says a New Brunswick woman who is behind a campaign to stop the event. MORE
SARM hears from agriculture ministers on farm trade, carbon tax
Delegates at the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention heard from both the federal and provincial agriculture ministers on Thursday. MORE
Lake Erie plan’s farming recommendations released
A federal/provincial action plan to reduce phosphorus loading in Lake Erie has been released for public comment — and many of its recommendations will have implications for farmers in the Lake Erie basin. MORE
Neonic replacement not popular with farmers or beekeepers
A proposed replacement for a key neonicotinoid pesticide is proving unpopular with everyone — including farmers and beekeepers. MORE
CFIA frets PRCWRT overstepping mandate
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) isn’t comfortable with having germplasm sharing as a prerequisite for participation in certain registration trials. MORE
Food banks plant roots for the long term
Facing declining donations, an increasing number of Canadian food banks are growing their own food. Canadians may feel guilty for not giving enough but they shouldn’t. This is really about food banks adapting for the betterment of society. MORE
PEI Apple Growers
The P.E.I. Apple Growers Association will be hosting Andrew Lovell, Chairman of Apple Growers of New Brunswick.
He will be sharing The Strategic plan for New Brunswick 2016-2026.
Please join us to understand the exciting opportunities we share and the financial rewards that can be achieved.
If you operate a farm at the present time and are interested in generating more profit per acre, I strongly encourage you to attend this event.
Its FREE for all interested simply call Geoff Boyle at 902-628-7434 to confirm your attendance.
It will be held Mar 31st at Rodd Royalty Charlottetown, Crowbush room.
Meet and greet from 6 -6:30pm, presentation to follow.
Environmental Farm Plan Renewals
The Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program sent out renewal letters in early 2017 to notify producers that their environmental farms plans would be expiring at the end of the year. If you are a producer who has not yet contacted the office to have your plan updated please call Matt or JoAnn at 902-368-7289.
EFP’s are valid for 5 years and we encourage all farmers to participate in the program. Participation in the program also allows you to apply for funding through the Growing Forward 2 Agriculture Stewardship Program, Farmland Finance Program and the Future Farmer Program. For your convenience the EFP can be completed at your farm or at the PEI Federation of Agricultural office and takes approximately 1.5 hrs to complete. EFP’s are no cost to the producer.
If you feel your EFP may be expired and you have not yet been contacted please call the office and we will check the status of your last plan. Further information on the Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan Program can be found on the PEI Federation of Agriculture webpage www.peifa.ca/efp/
PEI COPC Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
7:00 PM at the Farm Centre MORE
Trade Team PEI Business Mission to South Korea
When: May 15, 2017 – May 19, 2017
Where: Seoul, South Korea
Innovation PEI, in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) are seeking interest from PEI-based enterprises and organizations to participate in a multi-sector Business Mission to South Korea during the week of May 15-19, 2017. MORE
This mission will serve to enhance existing export relationships, provide opportunities for market expansion while at the same time providing an exceptional opportunity to introduce companies to this strong market. Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world and is one of the largest importing countries on the planet. P.E.I.’s exports to Korea in 2016 were almost $15 million and Canadian products/suppliers are much sought after for our high quality and reputation to deliver. This mission will be of particular interest to companies in the professional services, ICT, clean tech, education, manufacturing and food sectors. The customization of each delegate’s business development program to advance their mission-week and market objectives will be a core feature of this initiative.
During this week the Seoul Food and Hotel Show will be taking place offering mission participants a chance to see first-hand the breadth of product offering and to gather key market intelligence. While there is a Canada pavilion at this event, P.E.I. will not have a booth at the show for this year. Participants will be able to walk the show. However we will also be exploring this opportunity for future years. For details on the Seoul Hotel and Food Show visit http://www.seoulfoodnhotel.co.kr/
For more information on this mission and to express your interest in participating, please contact either of these mission leads by email or by phone:
Scott Ferris – Innovation PEI scferris@gov.pe.ca or (902) 368-5952 or Jeff Burry – ACOA Jeff.Burry@canada.ca or (902) 314-2197
Livestock
Think about shrink, say livestock experts
Practicing low-stress handling techniques has its benefits — it may actually help reduce shrink during transportation. MORE
Quality Beef Grade, Dressing Percentage & Grids
The average cattle feeder wants to be rewarded for above-average beef quality, and many have turned to some type of value-based “grid” marketing to earn premiums. After selling a few pens on a packer grid, some feeders lament it’s less about quality and more about dressing per cent, the whole-carcass yield of beef, including bones in those cuts. MORE
Free On-demand Webinar Shares How to Diagnose Paratuberculosis
Watch Thermo Fisher Scientific’s free on-demand webinar and discover how to accurately diagnose paratuberculosis with the right combination of diagnostic tests. MORE
Live cattle hit two-month high on cash optimism
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose to two-month highs on Tuesday as wholesale beef prices extended gains, stoking optimism for higher prices this week in Plains cash cattle markets, traders and analysts said. MORE
Brazil ag ministry, police say meat problems not widespread
Brazil’s federal police and agriculture ministry said late Tuesday that sanitary and corruption problems found in the nation’s meatpacking industry were isolated incidents, an attempt to tamp down a scandal that has led the Latin American nation’s biggest export markets to ban its meats. MORE
New Strategic Farm Programme Targets Stock in Spec
AHDB Beef & Lamb is looking to recruit producers who want to improve the performance of their livestock enterprise to take part in its new Strategic Beef & Lamb Farm Programme. MORE
Agriculture Victoria Urged to Take Animal Welfare Role from RSPCA
Victoria’s peak farm lobby has warned the State Government needs to act swiftly to stop animal activist groups from seizing the power to police farm practice, in its submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the Victorian branch of the RSPCA. MORE
Vion Introduces New Demand-driven Approach to Pig Farming
Vion Pork, part of the Vion Food Group, introduces Good Farming Balance. With this new demand-driven approach, the company is responding to the opportunities in the international pork markets. Vion sees new perspective in this for Dutch pig farmers. MORE
IFA Urges Immediate Ban on Brazilian Meat
IFA President Joe Healy has called for an immediate ban on Brazilian meat imports into the EU. He said the latest shocking revelations on the failure of Brazil to meet EU standards and controls in the meat sector raises very serious concerns around EU meat imports. MORE
Chicken farmers pass welfare audit
Canada’s 2,800 quota-holding chicken farmers have passed a third-party audit for the poultry welfare program implemented by the national agency and provincial marketing boards. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – March 16 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, March 21 HERE
Potatoes
The Big Idaho® Potato Truck is back on the road for its 6th national tour
The Big Idaho® Potato Truck is back on America’s highways promoting Idaho’s most famous agricultural product, the Idaho® potato. MORE
US government approved 3 more Simplot GMO potato types for cultivation and sale
The US federal government has given the final OK to three more types of potatoes genetically engineered by Boise’s J.R. Simplot Co. to resist Phytophthora – the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine. They are safe for the environment and safe to eat, officials announced. MORE
Wisconsin Conservationists, Growers Clash
The Wisconsin Senate’s top Republican tried to persuade his colleagues last week to pass a measure that would relax high-capacity well regulations, saying the move would give growers regulatory certainty even as lake home owners and conservationists lined up to oppose the proposal. MORE
Drone Tech Intrigues Northeast Growers
Potato growers are usually a well-grounded bunch, but they took flight March 2 during the annual Eastern Pennsylvania Potato Day at the Schnecksville Grange Hall. MORE
New “Focus on Potato” Webinar Rhizoctonia Canker and Black Scurf
The Plant Management Network (PMN) has released a new presentation entitled “Fungicide Management of Rhizoctonia Canker and Black Scurf” to help professionals protect againstinfected seed, soil-borne infections, and reductions in tuber quality. MORE
Belgapom: Belgian Potato Processing Sector sets multiple records in 2016
According to the data of Belgapom, the Potato Processing Industry in Belgium last year (2016) not only set a record for the amount of potatoes processed, but also a record for investments in the sector, with over 300 million euro (325 million USD) invested. MORE
St Elizabeth farmers (Jamaica) quadruple cultivation of Irish potatoes
Farmers in St Elizabeth, Jamaica, have increased cultivation of Irish potatoes more than four times over as the Government strives to meet the local demand of 15 million kilogrammes per year. MORE
Asturias bans potato cultivation in four councils
The Principality of Asturias has published a decree with measures to develop the national program to fight potato pests. It has also confirmed the subsidies that will be given to those affected (0.40 Euro per square metre of crops uprooted; up to 0.70 Euro for seed potatoes; the refund of any expenses to those running warehouses, and 0.30 Euro per kilo in the case of self-storage warehouses). MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola ends mixed after choppy day
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market finished mixed on Tuesday, as gains in the US soy complex were offset by technical selling. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices mostly higher, barley higher HERE
Technology could open up hay export markets for Ontario
An Ontario hay co-operative hopes to have a double-compaction facility running by 2018, giving it access to global markets for hay. MORE
Tight chickpea supplies to limit Canadian acres
Tight chickpea supplies will keep Canada from taking advantage of fresh demand out of Turkey, while any acreage increases will also be hampered by poor seed supply. MORE
Comfort builds for straight combining canola
New research and grower experiences are answering important questions about straight combining canola in Western Canada. Comfort with the practice rises as more growers explore where and when it might work and how to improve results MORE
Higher prices could give flax acres a chance
Strong demand for Canadian flax, combined with small production, has driven prices up, which could tempt producers making seeding choices this spring. MORE
Scientists develop ‘Trojan Horse’ molecule to fight crop fungus linked to cancer
Scientists said Mar. 10 they had developed a new method to neutralize a dangerous fungal toxin affecting crops that can lead to cancer, childhood stunting and other health threats. MORE
Wheat, corn fall to multi-week lows
U.S. wheat futures dropped to their lowest level in more than six weeks on Tuesday, their second straight day of declines, as weather forecasts bolstered expectations for strong yields adding to already-abundant supplies in the coming weeks, traders said. MORE
AM markets: buoyant Chinese wheat futures buck global trend HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Diesel prices soften, but watching U.S. infrastructure plan
Sinking prices for crude oil and a softer Canadian dollar have kept diesel prices relatively low for Canadian farmers in 2017, and they could be heading lower, as long as U.S. President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan doesn’t get in the way. MORE
U.S. push for NAFTA renegotiation coming but could be a slow starter
Reports emanating from Washington suggest the White House will announce a proposal for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement in mid-March. MORE
Biomin Announces Participation in €16m Project for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFOQSI)
A total of 40 organizations, including 6 scientific and 34 company partners from 5 countries, are taking a farm-to-fork approach to addressing food safety and food security issues, in the form of the new K1 Center for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation (FFoQSI) in Austria. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Report – March 17 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, March 21 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Humane Handling Workshop
Open to all registered PEICP producers
Registration is required, but there is no cost
Requirement for all PEI CIB Producers unless you have attended previous Humane Handling Workshops
6:30 PM March 22, 2017
Farm Centre, Charlottetown
For more info call 368-2229
2017 Wireworm Research & Extension Seminar
Tuesday, March 28th, 2017
Red Shores Racetrack, Charlottetown
Will feature presentations by researchers conducting wireworm/click beetle research both locally and nationally.
Registration: $20, includes buffet lunch at Top of the Park Restaurant
To register: Contact Ryan Barrett at (902) 892-6551 or ryan@peipotato.org by March 22nd. MORE
PEI COPC Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
7:00 PM at the Farm Centre MORE
PEI Apple Growers
The P.E.I. Apple Growers Association will be hosting Andrew Lovell, Chairman of Apple Growers of New Brunswick.
He will be sharing The Strategic plan for New Brunswick 2016-2026.
Please join us to understand the exciting opportunities we share and the financial rewards that can be achieved.
If you operate a farm at the present time and are interested in generating more profit per acre, I strongly encourage you to attend this event.
Its FREE for all interested simply call Geoff Boyle at 902-628-7434 to confirm your attendance.
It will be held Mar 31st at Rodd Royalty Charlottetown, Crowbush room.
Meet and greet from 6 -6:30pm, presentation to follow.
Women in Agriculture Recognition Award
The provincial board of PEI Women’s Institute is now accepting nominations for the Women in Agriculture Recognition Award. This award, in the form of a plaque and framed photo posted at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is presented bi-annually to recognize an Island woman making a major contribution to the PEI agriculture industry within the last five years. Members of the community or fellow farmers are encouraged to contact their local branches to nominate women in the agriculture industry for this award. March 31 marks the deadline for this and other scholarships and awards. A complete list of PEIWI awards and scholarships are available at www.peiwi.ca or by contacting the WI Office at 902-368-4860 or wi@gov.pe.ca. MORE
PEI Woodlot Owners Association Annual General Meeting
The Annual Meeting and Workshop of the PEI Woodlot Owners Association will be held on Saturday April 1, 2017 at the Farm Center, University Ave., Charlottetown.
Registration will begin at 8:30 am with the meeting to begin at 9:00 am.
Agenda topics include:
- Developing a sustainable woodlot
- Invasive species of trees and shrubs in our woodlots
- Forest Enhancement Program of PEI
- Role of Trapping in Animal Conservation
- Canadian Forum of Woodlot Owners
- Annual Business Meeting for all members of PEIWOA
Anyone with a woodlot on PEI is welcome to attend and participate.
Atlantic Green Expo
The first ever in Atlantic Canada!
Presented by Charlottetown company e365,
Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 23 at the UPEI, School of Sustainable Design Engineering.
Atlantic Green Expo will showcase green solutions from eco-friendly exhibitors covering topics
such as clean and energy saving technologies, organic farming, eco-friendly products, transportation, watersheds and more. Educational sessions will be held throughout the Expo for
people interested in making more environmentally sound decisions when choosing products and
services.
Atlantic Green Expo will also feature Keynote speakers and activities for children. Visit Atlantic
Green Expo website for further information at http://atlanticgreenexpo.com/
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
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
Trade Team PEI Business Mission to South Korea
When: May 15, 2017 – May 19, 2017
Where: Seoul, South Korea
Innovation PEI, in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) are seeking interest from PEI-based enterprises and organizations to participate in a multi-sector Business Mission to South Korea during the week of May 15-19, 2017. MORE
This mission will serve to enhance existing export relationships, provide opportunities for market expansion while at the same time providing an exceptional opportunity to introduce companies to this strong market. Korea is the 13th largest economy in the world and is one of the largest importing countries on the planet. P.E.I.’s exports to Korea in 2016 were almost $15 million and Canadian products/suppliers are much sought after for our high quality and reputation to deliver. This mission will be of particular interest to companies in the professional services, ICT, clean tech, education, manufacturing and food sectors. The customization of each delegate’s business development program to advance their mission-week and market objectives will be a core feature of this initiative.
During this week the Seoul Food and Hotel Show will be taking place offering mission participants a chance to see first-hand the breadth of product offering and to gather key market intelligence. While there is a Canada pavilion at this event, P.E.I. will not have a booth at the show for this year. Participants will be able to walk the show. However we will also be exploring this opportunity for future years. For details on the Seoul Hotel and Food Show visit http://www.seoulfoodnhotel.co.kr/
For more information on this mission and to express your interest in participating, please contact either of these mission leads by email or by phone:
Scott Ferris – Innovation PEI scferris@gov.pe.ca or (902) 368-5952 or Jeff Burry – ACOA Jeff.Burry@canada.ca or (902) 314-2197
