PEIFA Golf Tournament
Thursday, August 10th – Countryview Golf Course. 9:00a.m. shotgun start. Includes 9 Holes of golf, cart and bbq steak dinner – $60.00 per person.
Contact Jennifer at 902-368-7289 or jmurphy@peifa.ca to register.
MUST PRE-REGISTER by August 4th.
Local, Regional, Canadian News
‘Quite a nasty pest’: Watch out for the brown marmorated stink bugs
Prince Edward Islanders are being asked to be on the lookout for a bug that feeds on crops. MORE
Islanders can submit plant samples for disease testing until November
Home gardeners, farmers and greenhouse operators can now submit plant samples for disease testing at an Island laboratory. MORE
Eastern dairy farmers get big quota increase
The eastern Canadian provinces have approved a five per cent dairy quota increase — their largest one-time quota increase since the daily quota system was implemented in 1998. MORE
Forecast for food inflation lowered, but meat prices to jump in 2017: report
The researchers behind Canada’s annual food price report say that while they expect food inflation to be slightly lower this year than previously estimated, shoppers should expect big jumps in the price of meat. MORE
Photo contest celebrates agriculture and fisheries
Islanders can showcase the natural beauty inspired by our agriculture and fisheries industries through government’s annual photo contest. MORE
Joint Statement of Secretary Perdue (United States), Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Canada) & Secretary Calzada (Mexico) Regarding Trilateral Agriculture Meetings in Savannah, Georgia
Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Jose Calzada and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement at the conclusion of their first trilateral meetings in Savannah, GA, June 19-20, 2017. MORE
NAFTA agriculture ministers see ‘few’ differences over trade
The U.S., Canada and Mexico have “relatively few” differences on agricultural trade, agriculture ministers from the three countries said in a joint statement after meeting Tuesday to discuss the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. MORE
Advance Payments Program through the PEI Federation of Agriculture
Eligible producers will are now able to apply for the 2017 Advance Payments Program through the PEI Federation of Agriculture.
Federation Members will continue to receive a preferred rate on Administrative Fees. This is available for farmers who have paid their dues in 2017 or those that were members as of December 31, 2016.
For more information on the program, please contact Andrew Wood or Tim Seeber at 902-368-7289.
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/
Selection Process for Farm Products Council of Canada
On February 25, 2016, the Prime Minister announced a new process for Governor in Council appointments. This new process supports an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process focused on identifying high-quality candidates who demonstrate Canada’s diversity.
This process will be used to select new members for the Farm Products Council of Canada. I am writing to you to seek your assistance in promoting this selection process.
The candidates we are looking for must have experience as a primary producer, in agribusiness, in the agri-food industry, or in food distribution or retail. Candidates should also have experience in decision making with respect to sensitive and complex issues, experience in maintaining effective relationships with multiple stakeholders and balancing their interests and divergent views, and an understanding of the Canadian supply management system for poultry and eggs.
I encourage you to inform your members of this opportunity and invite interested candidates to apply for a member position at the following website: HERE
Livestock
Weaker fed cattle prices pressure feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3-$7 lower on average, with shorter-keep replacements over 850 lbs. as much as $10 lower in some cases. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $159-$161, down nearly $12 from week-ago levels. MORE
Cattle settle mostly lower on technical selling
U.S. live cattle and feeder cattle futures were mostly lower in a technical selloff on Tuesday, with each declining to the lowest levels in about two months before trimming losses. MORE
Price Ratio of Boneless Ribeyes: Fed Steer Trending Higher
Whether it is highly marbled choice ribeyes, succulent bacon, inventively flavored chicken wings, or full fat milkshakes, consumers are voting with their dollars for more flavor, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Public Justice Files Suit on Behalf of Farmers to Require COOL on Meat Products
Public Justice, representing the Ranchers-Cattlemen Legal Action Fund (R-CALF USA) and Cattle Producers of Washington (CPoW), filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington against the US Department of Agriculture, alleging that USDA regulations that allow beef and pork to be classified as “domestic products” even when those meat products are slaughtered in other countries, confuse consumers and harm American farmers. MORE
Muscles Matter to Get maximum Carcase Value
To help businesses maximise value and quality from the beef carcase, AHDB has drawn on years of master butchery experience to create a new Beef Muscle Guide. MORE
Tamil Nadu Assembly: DMK Stages Walkout Over Cattle Ban Issue
The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) walked out of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly on Tuesday, protesting against the unsatisfactory response of the state government to recent cattle market rules. MORE
Romania Reports Anthrax Outbreak
The Romanian veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Anthrax in Botosani. MORE
JBS aims to shed Alberta feedlot in divestment plan
Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA revealed a major divestment plan Tuesday, putting its Alberta cattle feeding assets and others on the block to cut debt after a corruption scandal raised concerns about its financing costs. MORE
Pilot Testing of Canadian Pork Excellence Wraps Up
The Manager of Producer Services with Sask Pork says final adjustments to the new Canadian Pork Excellence Programme are now in the works MORE
Dramatic Shift in Price Ratio of Pork Items
US – Whether it is highly marbled choice ribeyes, succulent bacon, inventively flavored chicken wings, or full fat milkshakes, consumers are voting with their dollars for more flavor, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Wheat Co-products Vary in Protein Digestibility When Fed to Livestock
Research from the University of Illinois is helping to determine the quality of protein in wheat middlings and red dog, two co-products of the wheat milling process that can be included in diets fed to pigs and other livestock. MORE
Tyson Announces Plans to Invest $59M to Expand Macon GA Distribution Center
Tyson Foods, Inc. is investing $59 million to expand its distribution center in Macon, a move that will add jobs, improve efficiency and support the company’s plans for growth. MORE
NPPC Calls on Government to FMD Vaccine Bank
The National Pork Producers Council is calling on the US government to provide one billion dollars over five years to fund the creation of a Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine bank MORE
Pig Processors Fail to Follow European Market
There has been no change in official quotes for pigs this week, which remain at €1.70c/kg. MORE
GB Pig Slaughterings Pick Up Slightly in May
UK production of pig meat was 74,300 tonnes in May, up 1 per cent compared to the same month in 2016, and the first year on year increase seen in 2017, writes Duncan Wyatt, lead analyst at AHDB. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – June 15 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, June 20 HERE
Potatoes
Fry Factory Inc adjusts automatic restaurant french fry cutter to North American potatoes
An entrepreneur in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island has modified an automated restaurant french fry cutter to the North American market. MORE
GOOD NEWS FOR FRESH POTATO PRICES
Canada’s potato storage holdings as of June 1 were down 14.4 per cent — or just over 2.8 million hundredweight — from the year before, according to figures from the United Potato Growers of Canada (UPGC). MORE
Tests negative, weather positive for late blight in Ont. potatoes
Aside from concerns regarding drier conditions in different potato-growing regions of Ontario, some growers are testing for late blight. Spore traps near Delhi came back negative recently — but did indicate an increase at the end of the experiment. MORE
2017 PGA GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Potato Growers of Alberta is hosting their annual golf tournament on Thursday, July 6, 2017. MORE
Controlling Colorado Potato Beetles
The Colorado potato beetle can cause significant losses in potato crops. The Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks provide tips to help potato growers manage Colorado potato beetle populations. MORE
US Imported More Potatoes than in 2016
U.S. volume of imports of dehydrated, fresh, frozen, chips and seed potatoes are up 7% for July 2016 – March 2017 compared to the same period the previous year, according the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA). MORE
Brexit affects potato industry
During the Europatat Congress in Antwerp, Belgium, Cedric Porter of the World Potato Markets gave a presentation titled Brexit and the Potato Industry. MORE
Europatat Conference on plant health and potato trade was, well… GREAT!
Last week on 15 & 16 June, the Europatat Congress 2017 took place, organised in coordination by Europatat, the European Potato Trade Association, and Belgapom, the Belgian Potato Trade and Processing Industry Association. MORE
Pleasing results for Stet Holland potatoes
Famous for their gold potatoes cultivated in the red soil near the Guà river, the Colognes area in the Veneto region is welcoming the first harvesting of 2017. MORE
New techniques catch potato pests on the hop on Kangaroo Island
Seed potato growers on Kangaroo Island are adopting a new strategy to manage the aphids and thrips pestering their crops, taking on expert advice from agronomists and entomologists to adopt integrated pest management for these insect pests. MORE
Netherlands contributes $4m towards potato development center in Tanzania
A new potato center will be co-financed by the Dutch ministry of Economic affairs (USD4m) and a group of nine companies that are active in the potato industry to help Tanzanian farmers to improve their yields. MORE
Already millions lost due to extreme drought in Belgium
During the months of March, April and May, there was much less precipitation than usually. The current month, June, is also very dry so far. Very warm weather has been forecast for this week. The influence on the cultivations is large, and there are many complaints from the potato and fruit sector. MORE
POTATO CYST NEMATODES THREATEN CROP IN KENYA
Infestation of potatoes by the potato cyst nematode (PCN), a pest ravaging potato plants that was discovered in Kenya two years ago, has reached alarming levels. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola up, but beans down
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were stronger on Monday, as supportive chart signals and persistent weather concerns provided support. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Dry spell sparks call for voluntary water use reduction in Pembina Valley area
Parts of the Pembina Valley were asked last week to reduce their water use as a dry spell across the region endured and demand for water peaked as farmers sprayed fields and residents watered lawns. MORE
Prime drying weather boosts first forage cut
Grain producers may have been cursing the province’s dry spell in the first week of June, but it was good news for forage growers looking for their first cut. MORE
Wheat climbs as traders fret over U.S., French crops
U.S. spring wheat futures set fresh 2-1/2-year highs on Tuesday as a further decline in spring wheat condition ratings surprised traders and coincided with concern about damage to French wheat from a heat wave. MORE
AM markets: will Trump put fizz into the soyoil market? HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Growing professional
Across the country, young farmers like Holly White and Kent Sereda are building respect for a new generation of business skills MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – June 16 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – June 14 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, June 15 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
PEI Barn Quilt Trail – Applications Now Available
The PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee is pleased to announce a new initiative in celebrating rural PEI and discovering the agriculture industry.
As part of the C150 celebrations, we will be launching the PEI Barn Quilt Trail across PEI in the fall of 2017.
This project has been funded by the Government of Canada.
The committee is currently accepting applicants for host farms for the initial 25 barn quilts until June 23, 2017.
More information can be found at www.peibarnquilttrail.com including the registration form.
We appreciate you helping us spread the word of the application process and look forward to sharing more information in the coming months including a major launch in September!
PEI COPC Organic Farm Tour
PEI COPC will be hosting a one day organic farm tour on Wednesday, July 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m..
Local media, social media guests, COPC staff, PEIDAF Minister and Deputy will be attending the tour of five COPC member farms, including: Dexter Cattle Company, Square One Organics, Red Soil Organics, Heartbeet Organics, and Schurman Family Farm.
Transportation and lunch are provided.
Seats are limited and tickets will be on sale beginning next week ($25 each or $20 for COPC members).
Contact Karen at email@organicpei.com or 902-894-9999 for more information.
3A Airbrakes Test Facilitation
***UPDATE–WE ARE NOW TAKING NAMES FOR OTHER DATES THAT MAYBE OFFERED FOR 3A TRAINING IF INTERESTED PLEASE GET YOUR NAME ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE NEXT TRAINING SESSIONS!! WE MAYBE OFFERING SESSIONS IN JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER***
From field to road…do you have employees that drive your trucks, but don’t have their licenses?
We are looking for experienced drivers that would like to obtain their Airbrakes and Class 3A license.
The PEI Agriculture Sector Council will be facilitating these two courses through JVI and Access.
This project will be processed through the Canada Job Grant and Skills PEI.
Draft Schedule:
Day 1- Airbrake theory
Day 2- Review of Airbrakes and Airbrake test (written on site), Preform a pre-use inspection
Day 3- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Day 4- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Requirements- must have valid truck driving experience, but not licensed & Medical completed and returned
Lunch will be provided
For more details on registration requirements, contact Laurie at 892-1091.
Registration is now open, limited seating available. To sign up, contact the PEI Agriculture Sector Council at 892-1091 or e-mail info@peiagsc.ca
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
