In partnership with PEI Agromart and Island Lime, the PEI Federation of Agriculture is pleased to offer a scholarship of $2,000 for the 2017/18 academic year.
Application deadline is June 1, 2017. Click here for the application form.
Local, Regional, Canadian News
$5M more to hire youth for green agriculture projects
A program that supports green projects on farms has been expanded — Ottawa is making $5 million dollars available nationally over the next two years. MORE
Taking Canada’s agricultural trade to the next level
Expanding markets for agricultural products and streamlining regulations will help Canada meet the potential for growth in this powerful sector. MORE
Expanding international markets for Canadian probiotic products
Eva Nassif, Member of Parliament for Vimy, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, announced today that Bio-K Plus International Inc. was approved for up to $50,000 to reach new markets in the United States for their probiotic capsules and beverages. MORE
Minister MacAulay welcomes Canadian Grain Commission proposal to reduce user fees
Canada’s grain industry is known around the world for its quality, safety and consistency. In his address to members of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) at their Annual Convention on March 15, Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, stated that lowering user fees was a priority and that the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) was consulting with industry to find ways to save money for growers. MORE
Carbon tax more efficient than regulations: Coyne
And just because the Americans don’t have one doesn’t mean Canada will be less competitive, according to the National Post columnist MORE
The case for a carbon tax (and refund system)
Only with a well-structured refund mechanism will a carbon tax be fair to farmers MORE
Pesticide review a huge issue for horticulture sector
Time of worker re-entry after application and use of protective equipment are stumbling blocks MORE
Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
The Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative has been approved for a 2 year period. Applications will be accepted starting April 26, 2017.
The program is designed to hire youth aged 15 to 30 for internships of up to 12 months. It will be of interest to producers and organizations working in the agriculture industry and interested in implementing agriculture projects that are environmentally beneficial.
Producers operating a farm or ranch can hire a young person to implement an environmentally beneficial project in their operation.
Agricultural organizations, such as watershed groups and companies providing environmentally beneficial services can access the program to support an environmentally beneficial project their organization is implementing. Research organizations can receive funding to support their agricultural research that benefits the environment.
For an application form and more details on the program, please visit: Agricultural Youth Green Jobs Initiative
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
Feedlot operators aggressively bid up feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle continued the upward trend trading $5 to $8 above week-ago levels on average with higher quality feeders as much as $12 higher. Alberta packers were buying cattle near $177 on a live basis, which is about $35 above breakeven pen closeouts. MORE
Bison industry considers video auction
The Manitoba Bison Association is eyeing video auctions to improve safety and public engagement during sales. The system would replace the sales ring with video taken of animals within their pens and then uploaded online. Online bidding would also be available. MORE
USDA Report Highlights Decline in Frozen Beef Inventories
The highlight of the USDA-NASS (National Agriculture Statistic Service) “Cold Storage” report released 24 April was the decline in frozen beef inventories, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Beef, Sheep Producers Urged to Use Medicines Wisely
Helping beef and sheep producers understand best practice around medicine use is the focus of a new publication from AHDB Beef & Lamb. MORE
Cattlemen Praise Confirmation of Perdue for USDA Secretary
Craig Uden, president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, praised the Senate confirmation of former Governor Sonny Perdue to lead the US Department of Agriculture. MORE
T&T Lifts Ban on Imports of Corned Beef, Chicken Products
The ban on meat products imported from Brazil has been lifted by the Ministry of Agriculture. 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
Enzymes, Processing Can Increase Digestibility of Fibre Boosting Positive Nutritional Effects
A researcher with the Prairie Swine Centre says the use of enzymes or various processing methods can allow pork producers to capture the benefits of increasing levels of fibre in swine diets while mitigating the negative effects, according to Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Lean hogs surge on stocks data, strong pork demand
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed for a second day on Tuesday, with some contracts surging more than 3 percent, on bullish pork stocks data and seasonal buying, traders said. MORE
Frozen Pork Inventory at End of March Down 10%
The highlight of the USDA-NASS (National Agriculture Statistic Service) “Cold Storage” report released 24 April was the decline in frozen beef inventories, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Market Indicators Suggest Push for Significant Pig Price Increase
Quotes from the main processors remain in the range of €1.68/kg- €1.70c/kg again this week. Reports from pig farmers around the country indicate that the majority of pigs are moving at prices of €1.70c/kg plus, into export plants. MORE
Quotations Moving Sideward
This week, the European slaughter pig market appears to be in a continuously steady state. The quotations have been constant with no exceptions. The week after Easter is presenting markets which are altogether balanced. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 20 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, April 25 HERE
Potatoes
Growing Potatoes Involves High-Stakes Investment
Rex Calloway looks west through the large windows of his 1950s-era farmhouse near Quincy, Wash., and talks about the time, nearly 70 years ago, that his grandfather first arrived on this land. MORE
Potatoes USA Reps Visit Cuba
Potatoes USA organized an informational exchange mission to Cuba March 27 through 31, comprised of 16 board members, seed potato growers and agronomists to explore the potential role of U.S. potatoes in Cuba. MORE
N.D. Potato Stocks Down from 2016
The USDA says in its latest report that growers, dealers and processors in the state held 7.2 million hundredweight of potatoes in storage on April 1, down from 9.2 million a year ago. MORE
South Australia extends restrictions to combat tomato potato psyllid
South Australian authorities will further restrict the movement of Western Australian horticultural produce in an effort to prevent the spread of tomato potato psyllid. MORE
“Good absorption of Spanish Doré, the market is tired of old harvest”
The first lorryload of Spanish Doré was unloaded at VerDi Import last Saturday. VerDi grows Spanish Doré in the delta of the Rio Guadalquivir in the southernmost tip of Spain. MORE
Plentiful potato production will make exports necessary
Potato growers in the Akkar Valley, Lebanon, have started harvesting their crops for the current agricultural season amid fears that the country will not be able to export its production, which is expected to amount to between 90,000 and 100,000 tonnes this year. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola ends mixed
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were mixed on Tuesday, with losses in the front months and gains in the new crop contracts. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices mostly higher, barley unchanged HERE
Call for Patience in Assessing Survival of Fall Seeded Cereal Crops
The Executive Director of Winter Cereals Canada is calling for patience as winter cereal growers assess the viability of crops that were planted last fall MORE
DuPont profit beats on strong seed demand
Chemicals and seeds producer DuPont , which is merging with Dow Chemical Co, reported a better-than-expected profit for the seventh straight quarter, helped by a rise in seed sales, sending its share up 3.5 percent. MORE
Corn jumps as rains seen stalling U.S. planting progress
U.S. corn futures rose for a second straight session on Tuesday on a slower-than-average start to planting in the United States and forecasts for Midwest rains that will stall further progress. MORE
Deliveries of major grains, March 2017 HERE
AM markets: ‘Sliding Doors season’ lifts corn, wheat futures HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Pollinator support program coming to Manitoba this summer
The North America-wide initiative between General Mills and the Xerces Society aims to establish 3,000 acres of pollinator habitat in Manitoba by 2021. The program will host demo workshops here this summer MORE
Perdue ‘Very Good’ for US Agriculture, Says NPPC
Calling him “very good for America’s farmers and ranchers,” the National Pork Producers Council congratulated former Georgia Governor George “Sonny” Perdue on his confirmation by the US Senate as the new Secretary of Agriculture. MORE
China’s Food Prices Continue to Dip
The average price of food in 50 Chinese cities continued to drop between 11 April and 20 April, official data showed Monday. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 21 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, April 25 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
