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
‘Weeds can become your best friend’: PEI Food Exchange hosts Herb Day
Islanders at a Charlottetown workshop Saturday were learning everything they needed to know about growing their own herbs. MORE
‘You don’t have to do it all’: Island ‘farm mama’ talks about life beyond Instagram filters
Spring is not the season of sunshine and budding trees and warm breezes, at least not if you are farm mom, Sally Bernard. MORE
From small seeds sprouts school/community gardening project
The months of May and June create quite a flurry of activity in the garden and at garden retailers. There is a temptation to just buy everything that looks good right now. Well, hold on for a moment. MORE
Minister MacAulay Discusses Key Agricultural Issues with Alberta Stakeholders
As a leading driver of jobs and trade, the agriculture and food sector is one of Canada’s key growth industries. Budget 2017’s targeted agri-food investments will help the sector build on its competitive strengths, allowing farmers to grow their businesses and create good, well-paying jobs for Canadians. MORE
Congratulations to Mr. Andrew Scheer on his victory tonight!
Dairy Farmers of Canada would like to congratulate Andrew Scheer on his win in the Conservative leadership race. MORE
PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative
Following is a link to our new podcast: http://organicpei.com/podcast/
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/
Livestock
Jersey cattle numbers on the rise in Manitoba
Butter and cheese are back as part of a healthy diet, and so is the interest in Jerseys MORE
Congress Urged to Relieve Rural America from Increasing Regulatory Burden
Arizona rancher David Cook testified before the US House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, calling on Congress to remove layers of red tape and bureaucracy that have become detrimental to the management and health of public lands. MORE
Rally in Cattle Prices This Spring One of the Biggest on Record
The rally in cattle prices this spring has been one of the biggest on record, fed by improving export buying and domestic consumer appetites, according to Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Total Beef Shipments During W20 Up About 3%
The latest official monthly export data available is for the month of March and we will have to wait until 2 June for the April data to become available, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Bearish USDA report rattles CME live cattle
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Friday finished sharply lower, hit by fund liquidation and the morning’s bearish U.S. Department of Agriculture Cattle on Feed report, said traders. MORE
U.S. April feedlot cattle placements jump to 14-year high
Ranchers placed 11 per cent more cattle in feedlots in April than a year earlier, the most for the month in 14 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, beating average forecasts. MORE
Path of Manitoba PED infections tough to track
Officials investigating a recent spate of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) cases in southeastern Manitoba hog barns aren’t yet seeing a clear picture of how the virus is spreading from site to site. MORE
Lean Pork Fits in Balanced Eating Plan for Weight Loss, Healthy Aging
Including nutrient-rich lean pork as part of a weight-loss diet could help women achieve their weight-loss success and improve their ability to get around. MORE
Pork Shipments in May Indicate Robust Growth
The latest official monthly export data available is for the month of March and we will have to wait until 2 June for the April data to become available, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
NZ Pork Welcomes Government Focus on Biosecurity
The announcement of additional operating funding for biosecurity is a vital protection for the country’s primary industries, according to New Zealand Pork. MORE
Calls for chicken irradiation in Canada following approval for ground beef
A consumer advocate is pushing Ottawa to promote the irradiation of chicken to kill illness-causing bugs and to do a better job of getting buyers on board. MORE
Albania returning Brazil poultry shipment with salmonella
TIRANA, Albania – Food authorities in Albania say they are returning a poultry shipment to Brazil after tests found high levels of salmonella. MORE
Dairy statistics, March 2017 HERE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 25 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, May 26 HERE
Potatoes
COMPANION PLANTING OFFERS HOPE FOR WIREWORM CONTROL
“Attract and kill” method could hit pest populations hard while costing growers less. MORE
Dose of Vitamins
Vitamins are chemical compounds that our bodies need in small amounts to be healthy. We obtain vitamins from our diet, mostly from plant sources. Plants, too, need their vitamins to function properly. But unlike us, plants can make vitamins on their own. MORE
Syngenta Blight Hotlines Deliver Insights
Longstanding partnerships between Syngenta and key researchers on the potato blight hotlines continue in 2017. The hotlines, sponsored by Syngenta, provide growers in Idaho, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon and Washingtonaccess to local information about disease pressures. MORE
Dutch agronomists help farmers in Myanmar boost their potato yield
On a hot day this month, farmers and workers in the wide expanse of fields outside southern Shan State’s Heho Township, Myanmar, could be seen harvesting potatoes MORE
Advances in genetic improvement of potatoes
The Basque Agricultural Research and Development Institute, NEIKER-Tecnalia, has made advances in the genetic improvement of potatoes with the goal of obtaining varieties with high levels of bioactive compounds (anthocyanins, phenols and total carotenoids), as well as a healthy antioxidant capacity, adapted to the region’s growing conditions. MORE
Scottish college to train next batch of “potato disease police”
The health and reputation of a Scottish industry worth around £100 million a year depends on the work of “tattie roguers” – and it needs more of the potato disease police. MORE
Zimbabwe potato processor looking to import as the country runs out of potatoes
Zimbabwe has run out of potatoes for making potato chips, prompting a company in Southerton industrial area to approach government seeking an urgent import permit to buy potatoes from South Africa, as heavy rainfall affected local supply. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola Dips With Technicals, US Soy
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts ended lower on Friday, weighed down by losses in the US soy complex. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Late spring planting means more soybeans in Ontario
Ontario farmers are stopped across most of the province as consistently wet weather holds up planting and pushes farmers to plant more soybeans instead of corn. MORE
Range of conditions as Sask. farmers try to complete seeding
It’s been an unusual year for farmers in the province of Saskatchewan, to say the least. MORE
Top 5: Making the Most of Crop Insurance
Insurance is just one of those things most people would rather not think about. After all, if you end up using it, something bad must have happened. MORE
Soy slips to 13-month low
U.S. soybean futures fell to a 13-month low on Friday while corn and wheat each gained more than one per cent on spreading and position squaring ahead of a three-day weekend, traders and analysts said. MORE
AM markets: soy futures hit 13-month low, amid China worries HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Flying hook nearly hits farmer
Wawanesa farmer warns others not to use a tow rope with hook to extract a stuck vehicle MORE
Glencore seen paying up to US$6 billion in possible Bunge deal
Miner and trader Glencore may pay up to US$6 billion in cash in a possible tie-up with U.S. grains trader Bunge based on current valuations, Moody’s ratings agency said on Friday, but said it did not expect an outright acquisition. MORE
JBS scandal might reduce Brazil meat supplies, industry group says
An unfolding corruption scandal involving meatpacker JBS SA may reduce meat supply in Brazil, potentially benefiting rivals of the world’s largest beef exporter, industry group Abrafrigo said. MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action May 23 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – May 24 HERE
FCC Express – May 19 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 26 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, May 25 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
