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
Mid-Isle Farms gets $400K for expansion
A potato farm in western P.E.I. is getting $400,000 from the federal government to help expand its business. MORE
Old Home Week suspended pending agreement with partners, says exhibition board
A long running P.E.I. tradition, Old Home Week, may be cancelled if the board cannot come to an agreement with its partners. MORE
Spinning some yarns: Small farm gets help to create woolen mill
A farm in eastern P.E.I. is developing a woolen mill with funding from the federal and provincial governments. MORE
Billy Bee and Doyon honey brands shifts to all-Canadian honey in Canada
The company that owns the Billy Bee and Doyon honey brands says it will start using only Canadian honey for both products in Canada this year. MORE
Richmond recommends 11,000-sq.-ft. farmhouse restrictions
Richmond city council has voted to move ahead with proposed changes that would cap the size of a farmhouse on half-an-acre to just under 11,000 square feet. MORE
Government support for agricultural innovation vital
With the agriculture policy framework up for renewal, 2018 promises to be a critical year for the future of research 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
Cash prices propel live cattle to one-year high
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Wednesday reached its highest level in a year, ignited by short-covering and futures’ discounts to initial cash prices, traders said. MORE
Cargill to exit U.S. cattle feeding business
Cargill said on Wednesday it will exit the business of feeding cattle to direct capital toward other investments, the latest transformation for the global commodity trader. MORE
Total Commercial FI Cattle Slaughter 98.4%
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), produces a volume of data which livestock markets depend on. Key reports include monthly “Cattle on Feed”, “Quarterly Hogs and Pigs”, monthly “Cold Storage”, and “Cattle Inventory.” MORE
New Programme Keeps Pace with Competition
The Manager of Quality Assurance and Animal Care Programmes with Manitoba Pork says Canada’s new on farm pork quality and animal welfare assurance programme matches and exceeds those being offered in other countries MORE
Effective Vaccination Programmes Offer Excellent Payback
A Territory Manager with Zoetis says the payback on an effective vaccination programme can range from two to one to as much as seven to one MORE
Calysta, Cargill Officially Break Ground on New Feed Production Plant
NouriTech and its lead investors, Calysta, Inc. and Cargill, were joined by state and local elected officials yesterday to officially break ground on a 37-acre Memphis feed production facility. MORE
U.S. to study antimicrobial use on hog farms
The United States Department of Agriculture is launching a study into how, and how much, antimicrobials are used on hog farms in 13 states. MORE
Total Commercial FI Slaughter for Hogs 99.3%
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), produces a volume of data which livestock markets depend on. Key reports include monthly “Cattle on Feed”, “Quarterly Hogs and Pigs”, monthly “Cold Storage”, and “Cattle Inventory.” MORE
UK Pig Production to Move Up Later This Year
The current tight supply of pigs is expected to ease by the second half of 2017, with slaughterings expected to rise further in 2018, according to the latest forecasts from AHDB Pork by Bethan Wilkins, Analyst. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 20 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, April 26 HERE
Potatoes
Growing risks and shrinking profits in Washington’s potato industry
Washington state has 250 potato growers with the total crop contributing $7.4 billion to the state’s economy each year, Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission, told The Spokesman-Review. MORE
Another Successful Year Exhibiting at the WIC Conference
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission, once again, was an exhibitor at the annual Michigan WIC Training and Educational Conference. MORE
Infinite Possibilities
Potato growers (and really, anyone involved in production agriculture) are accustomed to a lack of appreciation from the larger population. At least once in a while, though, farmers will get a bone thrown to them. MORE
Nufarm Guide to Potato Solutions
Nufarm offers a wide range of crop protection products to help growers harvest the most yield from their potato crops. The company’s “Guide to Nufarm Solutions” provides an easy reference for when and how to use itsproducts on potatoes, including: MORE
Still Tasting Great
Potatoes play a huge role at foodservice MORE
Ugly Fight
The emergence of tuber necrotic viruses unites industry MORE
The Smorgasbord: Hodag
For years, chipping potato growers and researchers have sought varieties with common scab resistance. 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
Lamb Weston / Meijer acquires Oerlemans Potato Division
Lamb Weston / Meijer has reached the completion phase of the acquisition of the potato division of Oerlemans Foods, including a take-over of the plant in Broekhuizenvorst. MORE
New Kaida potato processing facilities include TOMRA Peelers and Sorters
After 15 years of development, Kaida (Beijing Kaida Hengye Agricultural Technology Development Co., Ltd) has grown into a leading vegetable and fruit chips exporter in China. MORE
Ten million investment announced for potato processing plant in Kenya
Switzerland-based New Ventures, through its food and beverage subsidiary Kingdom Foods [Kingdom GHL] has announced plans to set up a potato processing factory in Kenya, to be located in Elgeyo-Marakwet at a cost of Sh1 billion (10 million USD) MORE
Ciego de Avila guarantees potato seeds for next season
The high yields of the current potato crop in Ciego de Avila guarantees producers will have potato seeds for the next season. It will also be sufficient to satisfy the demands of the only pre-fried potato plant in the country, which allows sales at the border and to tourists. MORE
Potato production in Peru increased by 6% in February
Peruvian potato production increased by over 6% in February compared to the same month in 2016, totalling 279,326tn, and was a notable increase on the previous figure of 263,512tn, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola up, but soybeans down
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were stronger on Wednesday, as concerns over poor Canadian weather provided support. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
Alberta pledges ‘streamlined’ crop insurance inspections
Alberta’s provincial crop insurance agency will “streamline” its inspection procedures to better deal with unharvested acres from last fall, the government said Wednesday. MORE
Weather may put wrench in record-low summerfallow intentions
The amount of land left to summerfallow in Western Canada could hit a new record low in 2017, according to the latest Statistics Canada data, as the practice falls more and more out of favour. MORE
Tighter spray control in the field
What’s in a name? Plenty — especially when it comes to reducing off-target movement of spray applications. MORE
U.S. weather supports corn, weighs on soy
Soybean and corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade came under pressure over the past week, but are expected to see divergent moves in the near future as poor planting weather in the U.S. Midwest may see acreage shift out of corn and into soybeans. MORE
Corn tumbles on weather forecasts, NAFTA jitters
U.S. corn futures fell more than one per cent Wednesday on forecasts for better Midwest planting weather and news that the White House is considering an executive order on withdrawing from North American Free Trade Agreement, analysts said. MORE
AM markets: corn revives as US scotches idea of Nafta exit HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Trump tells Canada, Mexico he won’t terminate NAFTA treaty yet
U.S. President Donald Trump told the leaders of Canada and Mexico on Wednesday that he will not terminate the NAFTA treaty at this stage, but will move quickly to begin renegotiating it with them, a White House said. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – April 26 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 21 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, April 26 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
