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
P.E.I. lowers age for truck-driving licence
New amendments to P.E.I.’s Highway Traffic Act would permit an 18-year-old in the last stages of their graduated driver’s licence to receive a Class 3 license to operate a heavy truck. MORE
Mr. President, you’re right: Supply management is unfair
The real victims of this unfairness are Canadian consumers however MORE
B.C. ag minister, ag critic hang on in election
British Columbia’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition agriculture critic have both held onto their seats in the legislature so far through the province’s harrowing election Tuesday. MORE
2016 Census of Agriculture HERE
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Job Opportunity
AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OFFICER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
Location: Charlottetown
FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED POSITION – (COMMENCING IMMEDIATELY)
Closing date – May 23, 2017
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is committed to the sustainable development of the agriculture industry on Prince Edward Island. The purpose of this position is to provide a broad range of highly specialized technical services to the staff of the Sustainable Agriculture Section to support the delivery of professional agri-environmental and engineering services that ensure that our natural resources are used in a sustainable manner. This position will also provide key technical support to research that will lead to improved beneficial management practices and assist in the delivery of agri-environmental policy and programs. MORE
Farm Credit Canada – Job Opportunity
Passion for agriculture required
Manage relationships with local producers and be responsible for a developing loan portfolio. You’ll tailor financing packages to meet your customers’ needs, including both lending and non-lending products, and help them build success.
Job Title: Relationship Manager
Location: Charlottetown, PE
Closing date: May 19, 2017
Language required: English
Term: Permanent
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
Livestock Industry Shines Spotlight on Use of Grazing to Prevent Wildfires
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council today kicked off a media and advertising campaign that will shine a spotlight on how grazing on public lands helps to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires – the leading threat to species like the greater sage grouse. MORE
Sampling Organic Materials Effectively
Two videos from AHDB demonstrate how to sample slurries and farmyard manures (FYM) for nutritional profiling. MORE
China’s Taste for Aussie Beef Blessing for Industry
A continually growing demand for Australian cattle from China is likely to make the industry going from strength to strength, according to experts who are lauding China’s taste for Aussie beef. MORE
Investigators tracking PED infections
Hog producers are on high alert after a third case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) was confirmed within five kilometres of two initial infections May 8. MORE
Pork Demand Fuels Dramatic Improvement in Cash Hog Prices
The Director of Risk Management with h@ms Marketing Services credits a dramatic turn around in cash hog prices to phenomenal export demand for US pork, Bruce Cochrane reports. MORE
Further Delay of Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule Opposed
The US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is delaying the effective date of the rule published on 19 January 2017, for an additional six months to 14 November 2017, to allow time for further consideration by USDA. MORE
All Pig Farmers Should Demand Price Increase, Says IFA
Chairman of the IFA Pigs Committee, Tom Hogan, said the Irish pig price remained relatively stable once again this week. MORE
Vietnam puts pork on menus as farmers face glut, low prices
Pork may be hogging menus in Vietnam’s factories and army canteens for some time to come, as the country tries to keep pig farmers stricken by a glut in supply from going under. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 4 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, May 10 HERE
Potatoes
What’s the future of Colorado potato beetle control?
An old pest is becoming a new problem, according to Tracy Shinners-Carnelley, director of research and quality enhancement for Peak of the Market. MORE
Planning underway for 2017 Potato Field Days
Mark your calendar now for the series of three potato field days across Michigan. Each field day will provide insight into new varieties and include speakers on relevant topics of interest to Michigan potato growers. MORE
Iott and Andersen Re-elected to PGMI Board of Directors
Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc. (PGMI) recently held elections for two board seats up for re-election. Dennis Iott (current chair) of Iott Seed Farms, Inc. in Kalkaska along with Duane Andersen of Andersen Brothers, LLC of Blanchard will both continue with a three-year term on the board of directors. MORE
Potato Machine Manufacturer AVR highlights Crop Handling & Storage Equipment Options
Following a first smooth crop handling & storage season, in which potato machine manufacturer AVR launched the new Falcon receiving hopper and the Cobra store loader, they explain a number of options for the crop handling & storage equipment in more detail. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola drops with soyoil
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were weaker on Wednesday, with the largest losses in the nearby July contract as the old/new crop spread narrowed in. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Tight supplies keep canola supported
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were up and down during the week ended Wednesday, although the nearby bias could still be pointed higher, according to a market analyst. MORE
Preparing for western bean cutworm in 2017
Western bean cutworm (WBC) has earned the designation of primary pest of corn in Ontario, and it is starting to become important for dry bean growers too. MORE
Soybean seeding advanced in central region, gearing up in the West
Right now — the middle of May — is considered the ideal time for seeding soybeans. MORE
Soybean and lentil success: Agriculture census shows trend to more crop variety
Fewer and slightly older Canadian producers are planting more cropland on larger farms and are making relatively stable profits. MORE
As Italy seeks pasta labels, Canada worries about durum sales
Italy has this week formally asked the European Commission to allow it to require country-of-origin labels on pasta sold there, raising alarms for Canadian durum wheat exporters who fear the move will dampen sales. MORE
Check the germ on that wheat seed
This is a seeding season where pre-planting testing of wheat seed is an important first step, and seed treatments may be more important than ever. MORE
Corn, soybeans poised for move upward
Wet weather across much of the Midwest could be throwing a monkey wrench into the plans of U.S. corn farmers, according to a market-watcher. MORE
Corn up on USDA world stocks view
U.S. corn futures rose about two per cent on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s forecast for global inventories at the end of the 2017-18 marketing year fell below trade expectations. MORE
New Product: SipcamRotam ReTurn
SipcamRotam announces the launch of ReTurn, a new broad-spectrum oxamyl-based crop protection product formulated to control various sucking and chewing insects and nematodes in vegetables, fruits and other crops. MORE
AM markets: corn rally fades, amid doubts at ‘bullish’ data HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Common ground found over potluck
It was out of sheer curiosity that Janet Kroeker picked up the phone and called the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute in Winnipeg a few months back. MORE
Many Parts of Queensland Still Affected by Drought
New drought declaration details highlight that farming families in more than two thirds of Queensland are still battling the devastating impact of drought while primary producers in the north west were now entering the recovery phase, AgForce said today. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – May 10 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 5 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, May 10 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
