Local, Regional, Canadian News
Research supports on-farm adoption of clean technologies and practices
Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms and livelihoods from one generation of farm family to the next. Sustainable farming practices will allow them to further grow their operations, while protecting the environment. MORE
Operation Pollinator to create friendly spaces for bees and other pollinators on the Prairies
Canada and the Soil Conversation Council of Canada have signed on to a multi-year partnership to promote the dedicated spaces for pollinators on the Prairies. MORE
OPR threatened, organic industry officials say
The organic industry is mounting a protest against pending changes for its Organic Products Regulation (OPR) that it says has potential to “undo the entire Canadian organic supply chain.” MORE
New investments make provincial budget good for agriculture, says KAP
Keystone Agricultural Producers is giving the provincial budget a thumbs up from the agriculture sector. MORE
Young farmers are on board and looking ahead
Innovative training programs are raising the leadership capabilities of Canada’s youngest farmers MORE
Deadline for Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation scholarship
Deadline for Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation post-secondary scholarship applications is April 30. MORE
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/
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO:
Develop a process and identify suitable metrics to ultimately deliver a data set which definitively describes the economic, environmental and social effects of a robust organic agriculture industry on Prince Edward Island; link to detailed project description.
Please direct any inquiries to: Karen Murchison, PEI COPC Research Coordinator
email@organicpei.com or 902-894-9999
Livestock
Researchers hope breakthrough will lead to test for bovine tuberculosis
Researchers say they are developing a test for bovine tuberculosis they hope could someday spare ranchers and governments from costly quarantines and mass slaughters of cattle. MORE
Ergot an ongoing problem for cattle producers
Wet weather, low-till and uncut ditches all help create an environment where ergot can thrive MORE
Live cattle drop from one-year peak, hogs rise
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle fell on Monday in a profit-taking setback after notching one-year highs for four straight days last week, traders said. MORE
Trichomoniasis Outbreak Hits Beef Cattle Herds in Kansas
The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory recently reported an outbreak of Trichomoniasis (Trich) in beef cattle herds with five new cases reported in three counties – leading the state lab to recommend diagnostic testing to help keep the disease at bay. MORE
Feedlots Unlikely to Maintain Current Placement Rate in H2/2017
The latest USDA cattle on feed numbers came in above the average of analyst estimates, which would normally call for a somewhat bearish reaction from futures when they open, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Decline in Cattle Weights More Significant in 2017
Cattle and hog weights have been trending in opposite directions in the last few weeks. Some of this is seasonal but it also may reflect some of the short-term supply issues in both markets, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Reduced Cattle Availability Supports Modest Farmgate Price Rise
Farmgate prime cattle prices have shown some modest increase over the past couple of weeks, according to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) analysis, and currently stand 10-11 per cent higher than this time last year. MORE
Reducing dairy environmental footprint makes good business sense!
Did you know that greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian dairy farms have gone down an average of 1% a year between 1990 and 2012? MORE
Higher Canola Meal Inclusion Offers to Reduce Costs of Lactating Sow Diets
Research conducted by the University of Manitoba suggests pork producers can reduce feed costs by including canola meal at higher levels in the diets of lactating sows MORE
Threatened Changes to US Trade Policies Cause Market Uncertainty
The Vice-President Pork Analysis with EMI Analytics says talk of changing US trade policy is creating uncertainty in hog markets but, as yet, has not impacted prices MORE
Soy protein concentrate a replacement in piglet diets
Animal nutritionists have long known that plant-based protein sources are less expensive for swine feed rations. MORE
Mexico Hog Market
Mexican pork exports grew 9.5 per cent in 2016, compared to the previous year, writes Fernando Ortiz. MORE
Korea Celebrates Success of US Meat at Event
Celebrating continued growth and success in South Korea while also recognizing the many partners that have helped the US become the top beef and pork exporter to that country, USMEF hosted the “World Class US Meat Appreciation Event” at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul. MORE
Wisconsin dairy farms face closure due to Canadian policies
A cheese factory in central Wisconsin is offering a lifeline to some dairy farms threatened by Canada’s milk pricing policies that may force other farms to close. MORE
Estonian Milk, Meat Prices Up in March
The average purchase price of raw milk was up 41.3 per cent on year in March, while the purchase price of pork increased 11.6 per cent, Statistics Estonia reported on Friday. MORE
Ag Minister Submits Proposals to PM to Help Pig Farmers
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong has submitted a variety of proposed solutions to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to help the struggling pig-farming industry recover. MORE
Chicken production declines
Chicken production declined by seven-tenths of one per cent in Ontario during the first two months of this year, reversing years of steady increases. MORE
Iranian Livestock, Poultry Exports Earn $1.2 Billion
More than $1.2 billion worth of livestock and poultry products were exported over the 11 months to 18 February, registering a $554.7 million trade surplus in the sector, a deputy agriculture minister said. MORE
New Animal Welfare Inspection Reports
APHIS is posting Animal Welfare inspection reports involving business entities that occurred after the Agency restricted the public’s access to the search tool for the Animal Care Inspection System on 3 February 2017, while the Agency conducts a comprehensive review of the information on its website. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 20 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, April 24 HERE
Potatoes
THE LITTLE POTATO COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW U.S. HEAD OFFICE AND PLANT IN WISCONSIN
The Little Potato Company has announced its plan to develop and operate a new $20 million U.S. Head Office and processing facility in the Village of DeForest near Madison, Wisconsin. This new facility will supplement the Company’s Canadian Head Office and plant in Edmonton, Alberta. MORE
Overcoming Low Farm Commodity Prices
Here are a few ideas from the crop side to save money due to low farm commodity prices. MORE
Efforts to eradicate damaging nematodes in 27 infected Idaho potato fields progressing well
Progress is being made eradicating the microscopic potato cyst nematodes that have been threatening Idaho’s $900 million potato industry the last decade, according to the latest update by USDA-APHIS. MORE
United States Potato Stocks Up 6 percent from April 2016
The 13 major potato States held 133 million cwt of potatoes in storage April 1, 2017, up 6 percent from April 1, 2016. MORE
New BlightCast foresees risk of aggressive blight
Potato growers will have a better opportunity to predict blight risks, and tailor their proactive fungicide programme to specific seasonal challenges this year. MORE
Gangwish and Moss Appointed to Lead Potatoes USA Research Committee
Steve Gangwish of Watertown, South Dakota and Dan Moss of Declo, Idaho were appointed to the Potatoes USA Executive Committee on March 16, 2017 at the organization’s 45th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. MORE
AVR launches trailed Ceres 450 combined potato planter
Now that the potato planting season is upon us, we have a newcomer in the field. MORE
Variety screening reveals potatoes with resistance to zebrachip disease
he Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant pathology team in Amarillo intentionally infected potato plants with psyllids positive with the bacterium that causes zebra chip, a deadly disease plaguing the potato industry for the past 15 years. MORE
Cypriot potatoes becoming increasingly popular in Europe
These potatoes, which have Global GAP and IFS certificates, have been present on the international market for 10 years and have reached an average of 50,000 tonnes marketed per year. MORE
Greece: 50% increase of potato prices this year
Despite the cheap imports arriving from Egypt, producer prices for open ground potatoes remained high in Greece after Easter. MORE
Irish potato farmers saw a boost in trade over Easter
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) says that Easter has given a welcome boost to the potato trade and with the weather remaining on the cool side, consumption will remain robust over the coming weeks. MORE
Good EU demand for Maltese new potatoes
Good weather conditions this spring have made for a good growing season in Malta. MORE
Gambia Lifts Ban on Import of potatoes
The Gambian regime of President Adam Barrow has lifted a ban on the import of onions and potatoes into the country. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola Continues Higher
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were stronger on Monday, hitting their highest levels of the past months as concerns over tightening supplies and speculative buying provided support. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
Canola Council of Canada sticks to 2025 production goal
The Canola Council of Canada says advice to lengthen rotations will not change its 2025 yield goals of 52 bushels an acre for a total 26 million tonnes. MORE
Grain Growers applauds move to accelerate CGC outward inspection fee reduction
Grain Growers of Canada says it is pleased to see an April 22 Canada Gazette notice that proposes an early reduction of Canadian Grain Commission outward inspection fees as of August 1, 2017. MORE
CFIA approves camelina oil for use in Atlantic salmon feed
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved mechanically-extracted camelina oil as a feed ingredient for farmed salmon and trout, Genome Atlantic says in a release. MORE
Alberta farm groups want provincial government action on unharvested crops
A coalition of Alberta farm groups calling itself “Team Alberta” is meeting with the province’s province’s agriculture minister and representatives from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) on Wednesday seeking immediate action regarding approximately one million unharvested acres still sitting in farmers’ fields. MORE
Soybeans rise on dollar weakness, short-covering
Chicago soybean futures rose for a second session on Monday, touching a three-week high on short-covering, and as a weaker U.S. dollar raised hopes for fresh export sales. MORE
AM markets: grain bears take heart in rapid US plantings HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Ag-market sees new interest in dry-product spreaders
New machines designed to broadcast dry fertilizer are hitting dealerships for the 2017 season MORE
Searching for Farm Policy Clues from Trump
Like his predecessors, President Donald Trump ran for the White House on headlines and has to govern by the details. MORE
Senate confirms Sonny Perdue as agriculture secretary
The Senate on Monday confirmed former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to be agriculture secretary in President Donald Trump’s administration as the farming industry looks to Washington for help amid a downturn in the market. MORE
New lawsuit claims CWB kept $145 million of farmers’ money
Brookdale Manitoba farmer Andrew Dennis has filed a statement of claim in the Manitoba Court of Queens Bench claiming the now-defunct Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) withheld money owed to farmers to help finance its transition to a private grain company. MORE
Mesa 2 Tablet with Android OS
Juniper Systems announces the release of its Mesa 2 Rugged Tablet with Android 5.1. Available in a sleek package with the highest-rated protection against water and dust, the Mesa 2 can go with growers into the harshest of environments. MORE
Getting ‘lean’ for farming
Small farms like Ben Hartman’s can be among the first to boost their numbers by adopting lean, but there are lessons for all MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 21 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, April 24 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
The Prince Edward Island Beekeeper’s Association – Annual General Meeting and Spring Information Workshops
*Membership with the PEI Beekeeper’s Association is required for Growing Forward 2 applications in 2017
April 27th
The PEI Farm Centre – 420 University Av, Charlottetown, 6:00pm Registration & Mixer
6:50 – 7:10pm Shauna Mellish
Overview of Premis Identification Regulations and how this applies to Apiaries
7:10 – 7:30pm Sebastian Ibarra
Introduction, Varroa Mite research, IPM in the Apiary
7:30 -7:40pm, Fletcher Colpitts
2016 Honey Bee Inspection Program Report
7:40 – 8:00pm Stephanie Compton
Extension Report and Programs* for 2017
8:00pm Business Meeting Begins
Please feel welcome to contact Stephanie Compton: sicompton@gov.pe.ca
902-314-0816 for details. Pre-registration is not required.
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
