Local, Regional, Canadian News
December Member Profile – Anthony Nabuurs HERE
Agriculture groups discuss changes to industry at AGM
Agriculture is changing throughout the world, including here in the Prairies. MORE
Federation of Agriculture offering Forklift Training through the FCC AgSafety Fund
The PEIFA has received funding for forklift safety training through the Farm Credit Canada AgSafety Fund administered through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. This training is open to farm employees needing recertification as well as those who may be entering into employment in the agriculture sector.
Courses will be held across the Island and can he hosted at the farm. This training is being offered at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Space is limited.
Next available date:
December 7th
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289.
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
PEI Young Farmers AGM
Saturday, January 7th at the Delta Prince Edward
Guest speakers include Greg Peterson of Peterson Farm Bros and Lane Stockbrugger of LDS farms.
(Check out Peterson Farm Bros Youtube channel HERE)
$40 early bird registration, fter December 20, 2016 the price will be $50 per person.
Email peiyoungfarmers@outlook.com to register for event.
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 40 registration also covers your Young Farmers of PEI Yearly membership fee ($25).
This is a Young Farmer event but people of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.
Train-the-Trainer Workshops on the Best Practices for Developing Standard Operating Procedures
This project will train students in the best practices to develop Standard Operating Procedures for tractor and machinery operation. It will include classroom training on CASA’s Safety Standard Operating Procedures Training Module as well as hands on exercises with students developing their own SOPs for their tractor and machinery. The initial session will be facilitated by a trained instructor. Future sessions will rely on trained volunteers to facilitate the group exercises on developing additional SOPs for tractor and machinery. Students will be encouraged to share their SOPs with other students to increase the number of SOPs available to all participants.
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289
Attention: Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate Holders
To renew your pesticide applicator certificate there are three options available for you:
First Option: Renewal of your certificate by receiving Continuing Education Credits.
Second Option: Take a one day training course & write the two hour exam.
Third Option: Make an appointment to come in and write the two hour exam.
First Option: The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be offering two different training days Day A and Day B. You are required to attend one Day A and one Day B over the five year re-certification period. Only one day per calendar year can be credited.
Day A – Topics covered: General Information, Regulations, Environmental Safety, and Application Technology.
Day B – Topics covered: Emergency Response, Labeling, Professionalism, Traceability, Integrated Pest Management, and Human Health and Safety.
Your current Pesticide Applicator Certificate will remain valid until the expiry date printed on your certificate. New Class A certificates will now all have an expiry date of March 31. The fee payable for a new 5-year certificate is $75.
When you have met the requirements to renew your license, you will be mailed an application form for renewal of your Pesticide Applicator Certificate. Should you fail to attend both of these training sessions prior to the expiry date on your current Certificate, you will need to successfully complete the written examination to obtain a new certificate.
The 2017 training schedule is as follows:
Day A:
December 6,2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
Day B:
December 8,2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. All information sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and will be completed by 4:00 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and there is a $ 25. fee to offset this cost. To register for one of these training days please call (902) 368-4154.
Livestock
TB in the spotlight again with Alberta outbreak
As Alberta begins to feel the repercussions of a confirmed case of bovine tuberculosis (TB), Manitoba looks to close its nearly two-decade-long chapter with live animal TB testing. MORE
CME live cattle slide off three-month peak
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday peaked at a three-month high before profit-taking dropped contracts to near session lows, said traders. MORE
Positive Picture for US Beef Exports
USDA/FAS has released its weekly update on US beef and pork exports and the data continues to paint a very positive picture for both proteins. MORE
UK Food Producers Call for Tariff-free Access to Europe’s Single Market
The largest coalition of food producers in the UK’s history has come together for the first time to call for tariff-free access to the Single Market and continued access to a competent and reliable workforce in order for British food and farming to flourish post-Brexit. MORE
Study Shows Sows Can Tolerate Temperature as Low as 9°C
Conversion of gestation sow housing from stalls to group systems signifies a major shift for the recently revised Canadian Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. MORE
US Pork Exports Looking Positive
USDA/FAS has released its weekly update on US beef and pork exports and the data continues to paint a very positive picture for both proteins. MORE
Added Fat in Pig Diets May Affect Digestibility of Nutrients
Added fat increases the energy content of swine diets, but it may also affect the digestibility of nutrients. MORE
NPA Looking for New Senior Policy Advisor
The National Pig Association (NPA) is looking for a new senior adviser to join its award-winning team. MORE
Gobarto Signs Deal to Acquire Polish Pig Breeding Business
Polish meat processor Gobarto S.A. has signed a preliminary deal to acquire local pig breeder PPH Ferma-Pol sp. z o.o. from Poland’s Ministry of Treasure. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – December 1HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, December 1 HERE
Potatoes
EarthFresh Farms acquires Grand Bend Produce
EarthFresh Farms recently announced the acquisition of the assets of Grand Bend Produce, a Southwestern Ontario based fresh potato business. MORE
PepsiCo owned company reduces water and carbon emissions by half
Walker Crisps, a PepsiCo-owned company, accomplished the difficult feat of cutting their water use and carbon emissions, required to produce potatoes, in half in just five years. MORE
Improved Potato Treatment in Washing
How potatoes are treated during the washing process is crucial for the fresh pack and particularly for small and fragile specialty products. MORE
Hungary’s potato imports rose by 11% in 2016
Because of a reduction in Hungary’s potato production, there has been a greater need for imports this year. MORE
Rangpur potato farmers see soaring profits
Recently potato prices have been soaring for Rangpur potato farmers. This is good news for the farmers, who are taking advantage of a lack of demand in the region. MORE
BREXIT and the Potato Industry
The UK’s Brexit vote to leave the European Union has dominated the headlines since the end of June, but what will the effect on the potato industry be? MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola rises with soyoil
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market finished higher in choppy trading on Thursday, following a rally in Chicago Board of Trade soyoil. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
What’s in your wheat?
Sprout damage and gluten strength are perennial topics in Canadian wheat production, as well as at the Canadian International Grains Institute in downtown Winnipeg, where comprehensive testing can answer questions about quality. MORE
Canadian wheat, canola crops seen weathering snow
Canada’s wheat and canola crops withstood wintry weather that stalled the autumn harvest, and production topped last year’s output, according to Reuters’ industry survey of 13 analysts and traders. MORE
Wheat falls on Southern Hemisphere harvest
U.S. wheat futures fell on Thursday for a sixth straight session, pressured by the expanding harvest of crops in the Southern Hemisphere that should add to plentiful global grain stockpiles, analysts said. MORE
Flower growers turn to weed ahead of legalization
Some Canadian flower growers are turning to weed, with the country’s plan to legalize marijuana for recreational use expected to spur a spike in legal sales of the drug. MORE
ADM sells stake in Canada Malting owner GrainCorp
U.S. agricultural commodities trader Archer Daniels Midland has sold its 19.9 per cent stake in GrainCorp to underwriters UBS, just three years after a failed bid to wholly acquire the Australian grain handler, ADM said Thursday. MORE
AM markets: weather sends spring wheat premium soaring anew HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
The ag-robots are here
Standing in front of a fully autonomous T8 tractor, New Holland’s vice-president, Bret Lieberman summed up what the company is telling its people in just two sentences at this year’s U.S. Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. MORE
Canopy to buy fellow Canadian pot producer Mettrum in $430M all-stock deal
Marijuana producer Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:CGC) is offering to buy Mettrum Health Corp. (TSXV:MT) in a friendly all-stock deal valued at $430 million. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – November 30 HERE
CFA In Action – November 29 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, November 30 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
ACORN, Atlantic Canada’s Organic Regional Network
SEEDS OF CHANGE: Changing Climate, Changing Agriculture – the annual ACORN Conference and Trade Show! ACORN’s conference is a fun, three-day event that brings together organic and sustainable farmers, processors and businesses from across the region and beyond. MORE
FCC Ag Knowledge Exchange
Date: December 6, 2016
Location: Charlottetown, PEI
Hosted by: FCC Charlottetown Office
Topic: Tax and the Corporate Farm, presented by Lance Stockbrugger
Register: HERE
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
Federation of Agriculture offering Forklift Training through the FCC AgSafety Fund
The PEIFA has received funding for forklift safety training through the Farm Credit Canada AgSafety Fund administered through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. This training is open to farm employees needing recertification as well as those who may be entering into employment in the agriculture sector.
Courses will be held across the Island and can he hosted at the farm. This training is being offered at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Space is limited.
Next available date:
December 7th
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289.
PEI Young Farmers AGM
Saturday, January 7th at the Delta Prince Edward
Guest speakers include Greg Peterson of Peterson Farm Bros and Lane Stockbrugger of LDS farms.
(Check out Peterson Farm Bros Youtube channel HERE)
$40 early bird registration, fter December 20, 2016 the price will be $50 per person.
Email peiyoungfarmers@outlook.com to register for event.
If you’re between the ages of 18 and 40 registration also covers your Young Farmers of PEI Yearly membership fee ($25).
This is a Young Farmer event but people of all ages are invited and encouraged to attend.
PEI Organic Forum: 2020 – An Organic Vision for PEI
Join ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) and the PEI COPC (Certified Organic Producers’ Co-op) for an opportunity to network with Island organic stakeholders and provide your input on the direction of organics on the Island, creating a vision and action plan to move organics forward. This event is FREE and includes dinner (donation to cover food appreciated).
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 420 University Avenue (Farm Centre). MORE
Information Session
A. Grain & Pulse Solutions would like to invite interested agricultural producers to an information session to discuss future Pulse acres, mainly on Prince Edward Island and expanding into Atlantic Canada.
Tuesday, December 13th 1pm-3pm
PEI Farm Centre, 420 University Ave (rooms 105-106)
Green and Yellow Field Pea 2017 expansion of acreage throughout PEI and the Atlantic Provinces will be the main focus. Faba bean production acreage will also be discussed in addition to winter pulse crop possibilities.
Discussions will consist of:
Introduction of W. A. Grain & Pulse Solutions, who we are and what we do.
Rotational benefits of Pulse crops.
Review of 2016 crop year results, best practice and lessons learned.
Introduction of new pulse varieties, both production and trial.
Marketing, export and value add potential for PEI and Atlantic Canada.
Results of Northern Ontario/Quebec and Western programs.
