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
Old Home Week disagreement prompts calls for organizational changes
The general manager of Old Home Week says the event board’s ongoing disagreement with one of its partners — Red Shores — speaks to a organizational problem that needs fixing. MORE
P.E.I. beekeepers win bronze for honey wines at world competition
A P.E.I. honey producer is bringing a fresh taste to one of the first alcoholic beverages known to humans. MORE
Tapping into new market opportunities for Canadian maple products
Canadian maple syrup may appear on more kitchen tables in the United Kingdom and India in the near future. Canada’s maple sector will get up to $1.5 million to develop new markets and consumer demand for maple products. MORE
Ontario budget seeks tax flexibility for on-farm processing
The Ontario government has balanced its budget for the first time in since 2008 — but Thursday’s budget contained little news for agriculture and rural Ontario. MORE
Alberta replaces sacked board at controversial farm loan agency
Almost a year after firing the board that oversees farm loans and crop and animal insurance, Alberta’s agriculture minister has announced eight new members. MORE
Milk production being ramped up
Manitoba’s dairy farmers are preparing for what may be the largest increase of processing capacity ever seen as a result of one project. MORE
KAP has a plan to tackle skyrocketing farmland taxes
Last fall many Manitoba farmers were shocked by double-digit increases in municipal tax bills on farmland because of its higher assessed value, but Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) has a plan for relief. MORE
Trump’s milk shake
For the first time U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he knows of the existence of supply management, also known by the global community as Canada’s milk cartel. MORE
Teacher turns to crowdfunding to buy greenhouse for Nunavut students
A teacher in a remote Nunavut community is trying to buy and build a greenhouse in the hopes that he and his students can cut the sky-high costs of healthy eating in the North. 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
Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI Showcased at Canadian, HK Events
Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI will enjoy a high profile in Toronto and Hong Kong this month at two leading food and hospitality trade fairs – SIAL Canada and Hofex. MORE
Live cattle hit one-year high on fund buying
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Friday notched a one-year high for a third straight day, with strength from fund buying during the month’s final trading session, traders said. MORE
Surge in Cash Cattle Prices During W17/2017
Cash cattle prices surged last week as packers chased limited supplies of market-ready animals, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Application of Heat to Swine Transportation Equipment Inactivates Disease Causing Pathogens
Scientists with VIDO InterVac have confirmed the application of heat to swine transportation equipment is an important step in ensuring pathogens will be rendered incapable of transmitting disease MORE
Recovery in Global Pork Production to Drive Exports
Global pork production is expected to increase by 1 per cent in 2017 to 110.7 million tonnes cwe, according to the latest USDA global outlook report, according to Leo Colby, AHDB Consultant. MORE
Production Costs for Hog Producers Look Positive
EMI Analytics says the anticipated cost of producing hogs is looking particularly positive this coming summer, Bruce Cochrane reports. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 27 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, April 28 HERE
Potatoes
Potatoes are #1!
According to a study conducted by the Packer, Potatoes are the number one fresh produce item that consumers say they are likely to purchase; overtaking tomatoes’ six-year reign at the top. Potatoes had good appeal across all age groups, income levels and across the country, though once again middle-aged and older Caucasians in the mid-west were the most likely to buy. Sixty-four percent of shoppers say that the spuds they buy will be used as a side dish, but using potatoes as the main focus of a dish is growing in popularity. MORE
Potatoes USA Recognized at Produce for Better Health Conference
At the recent Produce for Better Health conference, Potatoes USA was recognized for being a “Role Model” in 2016. Role Model recipients support the organization’s mission of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This is the third-year Potatoes USA has been awarded this recognition. MORE
Potatoes are not a cheap crop to grow
Winter reminded us that ‘it hasn’t gone away you know’ courtesy of the Arctic blast we endured over the past couple of days. But let’s hope that’s the end of that and normal service will be resumed – at least as far as the weather is concerned – as we head towards the weekend. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Old crop canola drops, but new crop steady
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts settled mixed on Friday, with losses in the nearby months and a firmer tone in the more deferred positions. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices mostly higher, barley unchanged HERE
Unharvested crops, wet spring causing headaches for Prairie farmers
When Humphrey Banack looks out the window on his farm, he can’t see some of the fields he depends on to put food on the table and pay his bills. MORE
Glyphosate clears Health Canada re-evaluation
Crop protection companies selling glyphosate have two years to make minor changes to parts of their product labels, as the 43-year-old herbicide formally clears Health Canada’s re-evaluation process. MORE
When a grain silo collapses
On November 1 last year, when Martin and Teresa Van Raay’s 100-foot-tall steel silo smashed to the ground, it set off a flurry of activity that involved their suppliers, friends and fellow farmers. MORE
Corn, soy fall on dry weather forecast
U.S. corn and soybean futures fell on Friday on the prospect of dry weather for key Midwest production areas in early May, which would give farmers access to fields during a crucial planting window, traders said. MORE
AM markets: wheat futures rise as fresh US freezes loom HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
IFA’s Support on Brexit Negotiations Building Up in Brussels
Speaking from Brussels where he is attending a meeting of the European farm group COPA, IFA President Joe Healy said there is an increasing realisation among farm bodies across Europe of the potential damaging implications of a hard Brexit. MORE
Ready-to-Eat US Pork Featured in Mexico Retail Promotion
Addressing a growing demand for ready-to-eat pork items in Mexico’s retail sector, USMEF offered tasting samples of US pork to customers at Jardin Aleman meat boutiques in Leon, the most populous city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. MORE
China seen set to become world’s second-biggest wine market
China is set to overtake Britain and France to become the world’s second-largest wine consumer by value behind the U.S. by 2020 as consumers turn to more middle-range wines, the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR) organization said Thursday. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – April 26 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 28 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, April 26 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
