Local, Regional, Canadian News
April Member Profile – George and Melaney Matheson – HERE
Jaylor to buy U.S. TMR mixer manufacturer
Southern Ontario feed mixer manufacturer Jaylor plans to expand its total mixed ration (TMR) product lineup by buying a U.S. competitor. MORE
Wireless providers ordered to set up alert system
Canada’s wireless providers have until April 2018 to set up wireless public alerting systems on LTE networks. MORE
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/
PEI Sheep Breeders’ Association hosts meeting
Dr. Jeff Wichtel & Niorn Ratanapob will be delivering the results of the completed study for the Association’s “Increasing Perinatal Lamb Survival in Island Sheep Flocks.”
Saturday, April 8 – 7:00 – 9:30pm – Charlottetown Farm Centre
Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop
Please join us Tuesday, April 18th at the Holman’s Building, 250 Water Street, Summerside, from 9 am to 4pm for this enlightening Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop.
The cost is $25.00 for Summerside Market Vendors and $35.00 for the other direct marketers, costs includes, entrance, workbooks, and lunch.
To pre-registrar please call 902-303-1103 or email summersidefarmersmarket@gmail.com
Sign-up before April 10th, 2017 to reserve your seat for this incredible opportunity and kick off the start to the summer season. MORE
Department of Agriculture & Fisheries – 2017 Agricultural Pesticide Loader / Mixer Training
Loader/Mixer Training
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Location: Rodd Royalty (next to the Peter Pan), Charlottetown
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
Course starts at 9 a.m. till 12 noon
Cost $50.00 (The fee for a five (5) year Loader/Mixer Certificate is $50. Please bring this payment with you and make cheques payable to the Minister of Finance.)
Individuals who do not apply pesticides, but are directly involved with the mixing of a non-domestic pesticide for the application of agricultural crops, must have a Pesticide Loader/Mixer Certificate. No exam is required, but you must attend a half day training session to receive a Loader/Mixer Certificate. Must be 18 years of age for certification .
Please Note: If you hold a valid Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate,
a Loader/Mixer Certificate is NO LONGER REQUIRED.
As space is limited, please pre-register by calling 902-368-4880.
Livestock
Two more TB herds released
Two more herds have been released from tuberculosis quarantine in Western Canada, bringing the total released to 30 and the number still under quarantine down to 43. MORE
Optimism drives investment in lighter-weight cattle
The last week of March was a busy one for most auction marts in Manitoba as just over 12,200 animals made their way to the stockyards. MORE
Beef the Lobster Tail of Meats
The growing beef supply won’t automatically find more room in the meat case, but it can earn its way with differentiated quality. MORE
Cattlemen Applaud USDA Decision to Allow Emergency Grazing
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), acting in response to a directive from President Donald J. Trump, authorized emergency grazing on Conservation Reserve Programme (CRP) lands located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas – the three states which were most heavily impacted by ongoing wildfires which began on 6 March 2017. MORE
New Beef Directory Connects Consumers, Farmers in Northeast
Consumers in the Northeast are more discerning with their food dollar when seeking beef as compared to all consumers in the United States, according to research findings from the 2016 Northeast Consumer Beef Index. MORE
Cattle Prices Rising to Meet Strong Market Demand
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has said cattle prices are rising strongly with the base for steers at €4.00/kg and €4.10/kg for heifers, and top base prices of €4.15/€4.18 paid in deals with additional benefits on transport and clipping. He said young bulls are making €4.05 flat for Us and Rs. MORE
Bargain buying rallies CME hogs
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs closed higher on Thursday after bargain buying lifted futures from four-month lows, said traders. MORE
HCM City Faces Problems with City Pork Plan
HCM City’s technology-based programme to control and trace the origin of pork that began recently is encountering difficulties, according to the Department of Industry and Trade. MORE
Business as Usual for Overseas Trade, Says QMS
Despite the prevailing Brexit uncertainty, the next two years are expected to be pretty much “business as usual” for red meat overseas trade, according to Stuart Ashworth, Quality Meat Scotland’s Head of Economics Services. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 6 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, April 6 HERE
Potatoes
SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE LATE BLIGHT DETECTION
Determining late blight presence and the resulting pressure on potato crops is an ongoing challenge. Usually, potato growers start a preventive fungicide program with broad spectrum fungicides before row closure, which ensures stems and leaves at the base of plants are protected from both early and late blight. If late blight is identified in the field, growers switch to fungicides that specifically target it for enhanced crop protection. MORE
John Halverson elected as new chair of Potatoes USA
John Halverson of Arbyrd, Mo., has been elected as the new chair of Potatoes USA in Denver. 2017-18 will be his fifth year on the board and his third year on its executive committee. MORE
Prickly Problem
Researchers have confirmed what Oregon growers have feared for nearly two years: some populations of Russian thistle in the northeastern part of the state have developed resistance to glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. MORE
Spot Farm Scotland trials show benefits of reduced cultivation depths
Commercial trials carried out at AHDB’s Strategic Potato (Spot) Farm in Perthshire have shown that reducing cultivation depths can lower input costs while maintaining or increasing yields. The results were shared at a recent open day. MORE
Demand for cassava in Europe has increased
Traditionally, in Europe, cassava was only in demand among Latin American, Indian, African, or Arab ethnic groups. In recent years, however, consumption has increased, meaning that this tuber is reaching the general public. MORE
“I expect barely enough potatoes from Malta in coming weeks”
Yesterday morning, the first Santé potatoes from Malta arrived at potato wholesaler Altena in Veen, the Netherlands. “We have a regular harvest of Santé, but especially the Alphas are doing well. MORE
Phytophtora resistance outbreak looming
The amount of resistant potatoes is steadily growing. This contributes to the cultivation security, but also demands attention during cultivation. Without measures and resistance management the risk of breakout is looming. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola weakens with speculative selling
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were weaker on Thursday, as speculators returned to the sell side following recent gains. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Wheat bids soften in Western Canada
Spring wheat bids in Western Canada were steady to lower during the week ended March 31, as a softer tone in U.S. futures and strength in the Canadian dollar weighed on prices in the countryside. MORE
Trade’s outlook for U.S. soybeans bearish on canola
Speculation ahead of a much-anticipated dataset from the U.S. Department of Agriculture had ICE Futures Canada canola chopping around a wide range in the week ending March 31. MORE
Wheat falls in thin trade
U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday on technical selling, hitting their lowest level since last week on a lack of supportive news and plentiful global inventories, analysts said. MORE
Minnesota finds source of Palmer amaranth on CRP land
An invasive weed likely entered Minnesota through seed planted on land in a U.S. conservation program, state agriculture officials said on Thursday, bringing to a close an official probe of a growing threat to agricultural production. MORE
Refuge sought for West’s midge-tolerant SWS wheats
Refuge seed and other stewardship measures will be needed for the “majority” of soft white spring (SWS) wheat varieties grown on the Prairies, to protect the midge-tolerant trait many of them have now been found to have. MORE
AM markets: grain markets await signals on Syria, China HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Oregon Considers Restricting Neonics
Oregon’s state legislature is considering restricting the use of a major class of pesticides, and honey bee advocates are pushing to get it passed. MORE
Keri Glassman Urges Nutrition Education to Change the Food System
Keri Glassman, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, is speaking at the inaugural Boston Food Tank Summit, “Investing in Discovery,” on Naked Juice’s “Are We Becoming Nutrient ‘Dense’?” panel. The Summit will be held in collaboration with Tufts University and Oxfam America on April 1, 2017. MORE
Heading to MARS
A new research project underway in Europe may give farmers a reason to think swarms are a good thing. Far from swarms of locusts or other troublesome pests, the MARS (Mobile Agricultural Robot Swarms) project is working on creating swarms of small, autonomous robots that can seed farm fields on their own. MORE
Securing Land Rights in Zambia
Chief Ndake received us in the community land rights office of the small compound that constitutes his “palace.” As one of Zambia’s traditional authorities, he reigns over a swath of Nyimba District in the country’s Eastern Province, and he is working with the Zambia Land Alliance to improve land rights and tenure security for his subjects. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – April 5 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – March 31 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, April 6 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
PEI Sheep Breeders’ Association hosts meeting
Dr. Jeff Wichtel & Niorn Ratanapob will be delivering the results of the completed study for the Association’s “Increasing Perinatal Lamb Survival in Island Sheep Flocks.”
Saturday, April 8 – 7:00 – 9:30pm – Charlottetown Farm Centre
Department of Agriculture & Fisheries – 2017 Agricultural Pesticide Loader / Mixer Training
Loader/Mixer Training
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Location: Rodd Royalty (next to the Peter Pan), Charlottetown
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
Course starts at 9 a.m. till 12 noon
Cost $50.00 (The fee for a five (5) year Loader/Mixer Certificate is $50. Please bring this payment with you and make cheques payable to the Minister of Finance.)
Individuals who do not apply pesticides, but are directly involved with the mixing of a non-domestic pesticide for the application of agricultural crops, must have a Pesticide Loader/Mixer Certificate. No exam is required, but you must attend a half day training session to receive a Loader/Mixer Certificate. Must be 18 years of age for certification .
Please Note: If you hold a valid Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate,
a Loader/Mixer Certificate is NO LONGER REQUIRED.
As space is limited, please pre-register by calling 902-368-4880.
Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop
Please join us Tuesday, April 18th at the Holman’s Building, 250 Water Street, Summerside, from 9 am to 4pm for this enlightening Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop.
The cost is $25.00 for Summerside Market Vendors and $35.00 for the other direct marketers, costs includes, entrance, workbooks, and lunch.
To pre-registrar please call 902-303-1103 or email summersidefarmersmarket@gmail.com
Sign-up before April 10th, 2017 to reserve your seat for this incredible opportunity and kick off the start to the summer season. MORE
Atlantic Green Expo
The first ever in Atlantic Canada!
Presented by Charlottetown company e365,
Friday, April 21 to Sunday, April 23 at the UPEI, School of Sustainable Design Engineering.
Atlantic Green Expo will showcase green solutions from eco-friendly exhibitors covering topics
such as clean and energy saving technologies, organic farming, eco-friendly products, transportation, watersheds and more. Educational sessions will be held throughout the Expo for
people interested in making more environmentally sound decisions when choosing products and
services.
Atlantic Green Expo will also feature Keynote speakers and activities for children. Visit Atlantic
Green Expo website for further information at http://atlanticgreenexpo.com/
Institute of Canada (AIC) is hosting a national conference titled “Agriculture Innovation in a changing environment”
Addressing the topic of climate change and agriculture.
April 24-26, 2017 in Winnipeg, MB MORE
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
