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 in limbo; P.E.I. government says it will ‘smooth’ things out
The future of P.E.I.’s Old Home Week is in limbo, but Agriculture Minister Alan McIsaac says he is confident it will go ahead this year in Charlottetown. MORE
Justin Trudeau defends carbon tax after visit to Saskatchewan farm
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his proposed carbon tax after a visit to a farm in the community of Gray, south of Regina. MORE
Maple Leaf posts higher-than-expected profit
Meat-packing company Maple Leaf Foods reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by increased retail sales in Canada and higher exports. MORE
Keystone Agricultural Producers adds detail to its carbon tax policy
Keystone Agricultural Producers’ (KAP) carbon tax policy was further refined at its advisory council meeting here April 20. MORE
Alberta recruits new board for AFSC
Alberta’s provincial government has named a new board of directors to its farm financing and crop insurance agency, to replace the board it fired last year. MORE
Manitoba dairy: Trump comments ‘not based on fact’
As the U.S. and Canada trade verbal shots over supply management and protectionism while dairy groups in New Zealand and Australia say they’ll support any U.S. WTO actions, Manitoba dairy producers are standing pat. MORE
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
Wal-Mart gets serious about CO2 reduction
IFarmers may be skeptical about the reality of human-caused climate change but if they’re hoping to supply Wal-Mart in the future they’ll have to seriously reduce their carbon emissions. 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
Stronger futures and weaker dollar boost cattle prices
The numbers moving through Manitoba’s cattle auction yards may be slowing down for the season, as attention turns to spring field work and other priorities, but prices for the cattle still finding their way to the rings continue to strengthen. MORE
Cattle rise as cash prices surge
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle surged to contract highs on Thursday and closed up the daily limit in most contacts on stronger-than-expected cash markets and robust demand for beef, traders said. MORE
U.S. feeder cattle placements surge in March
In the past year there has been a slight increase in the U.S. feeder cattle herd, the latest USDA Cattle on Feed Report shows. MORE
U.S. red meat production rises in March
IU.S. red meat production amounted to 4.54 billion pounds in March, a six per cent increase over the same month a year ago. MORE
COF Report Shows Feedlot Marketing’s Aggressive
The factor causing cattle dressed weights this year to decline more than seasonally since the beginning of January has been the rate at which slaughter steers and heifers have been marketed, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Cattle Prices Continue to Kick on
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has said the cattle trade is continuing to kick on with a base price of €4.05/4.10 for steers and €4.15/4.20 for heifers. MORE
What Managing Production Means
Much has been written over the past year about the ongoing global dairy crisis – a sustained glut of supply on the world market leading to world milk prices that are below the costs of production for most farmers – we thought it would be the perfect time to write about what managing production means here in Canada. MORE
Effort to Automate Swine Transport Vehicle Washing Moves to Next Phase
An effort to automate the cleaning and disinfection of swine transport vehicles is about to move into the next phase MORE
IFA Meets Department on Regional Vet Labs
Meeting with senior Department of Agriculture officials this week, IFA President Joe Healy said the current Regional Veterinary Laboratory structure is recognised internationally as the optimum disease surveillance structure and must be built on to enhance the services already provided to farmers and the agriculture industry. MORE
Poultry and egg statistics, February 2017 HERE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 27 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, April 27 HERE
Potatoes
MCCAIN FOODS USA RECALLS HASH BROWNS AFTER GOLF BALLS ‘INADVERTENTLY HARVESTED’ WITH POTATOES
McCain Foods USA is recalling frozen hash browns in nine states because pieces of golf balls may be mixed in with the potatoes. MORE
U.S. EFFORT TO ERADICATE NEMATODE POTATO PEST SUCCEEDING
Progress is being made eradicating a microscopic pest that has been threatening Idaho’s $900 million potato industry the last decade, federal officials say. MORE
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE TO HOLD INTERNATIONAL POTATO DISEASE SUMMIT
Two bacteria threatening the potato industry worldwide will be the focus of a Potato Disease Summit Nov. 9 in Bangor, Maine, convened by the University of Maine. MORE
Naturally Helpful
In agriculture, growers are always looking for ways to increase their yields and profitability. In recent years sustainability has become another important consideration when determining the best methods and materials to use on the farm. MORE
Team Players
Everyone in the fresh produce business understands that supply dictates price; oversupply kills price, and balanced supply stabilizes price. MORE
Rain Delays Idaho Planting
Eastern Idaho growers are hoping for a warm, dry spell after cold rain delayed much of their spring planting schedules. MORE
Wild with Calcium
Have you ever cut into a potato to find a dark spot or hollow heart? Early research shows that these defects are likely the result of calcium deficiencies in the potato—and that tuber calcium is genetically linked to tuber quality. MORE
West Australia moves from Potato Psyllid Eradication to Control
Potato Psyllids, a destructive plant pest found for the first time in Australia in February cannot be eradicated, so the industry will seek to manage it, rather than destroy it. MORE
$10,000,000 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
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola settles mixed
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were mixed on Thursday, as farmer selling weighed on the front months and weather concerns gave the new crop contracts a boost. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices mostly higher, barley unchanged HERE
CWRS bids rise along with weaker Canadian dollar
Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada moved higher during the week ended April 21, as sharp weakness in the Canadian dollar made up for the softer tone in the Minneapolis spring wheat futures. MORE
StatsCan canola and soybean estimates surprise traders
ICE Futures Canada canola strengthened on the week, as wet weather in Western Canada continues to put last year’s harvest on hiatus. MORE
Mustard acres feeling squeeze from canola
Following the largest mustard crop in more than a decade in 2016, supply/demand fundamentals are expected to spur a reduction in Canadian mustard seedings in 2017. MORE
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
Corn, soy gain on planting delays, relief over NAFTA
Chicago corn and soybean futures edged higher on Thursday on concerns about weather delays to spring planting and relief that the White House will not immediately withdraw the U.S. from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). MORE
BASF still out for ag chem deals
German chemicals giant BASF said it would continue to push for acquisitions to shore up its crop protection business, after the antitrust-related sale of assets from the merger of Dow Chemical and DuPont left it empty-handed 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
New from John Deere
Next month, John Deere will host a formal event to pull the wraps off several new additions to its equipment line. What will be under the covers? MORE
Potash Corp sees better conditions ahead, raises 2017 profit estimate
A stabilizing market for one of Canada’s biggest mineral exports has boosted Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Inc.’s (TSX:POT) outlook for the year ahead. MORE
Freeland sees softwood progress as Canada-U.S. wage ‘polite, amicable’ trade
Anyone looking for a political decoder for how the Trudeau government might be interpreting Donald Trump’s latest spate of anti-Canadian trade rhetoric could do worse than American comedian Stephen Colbert. 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
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
