Local, Regional, Canadian News
Carbon tax hot topic in P.E.I. legislature
Environment minister Robert Mitchell was put in the hot seat Thursday to defend the possible implementation of a carbon pricing tax. MORE
Charges stayed in Ontario sheep abduction case after judge finds unreasonable delay
Charges in a long-running case over the abduction of prized sheep from an Ontario farm were stayed this week, after a judge found there had been unreasonable delays in bringing the matter to trial. MORE
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
Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA) and sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
CRA has been conducting a Consumer Confidence Index in the region for the last twenty-five years and felt the time was right to have a business perspective on the economy in Atlantic Canada. CRA will produce a Business Confidence Index for each of the four Atlantic provinces and the region overall for comparison purposes.
We would encourage all our members to simply clink on the link below and help us build our own Business Confidence Index. Please be assured that all individual company responses will be treated in complete confidence and only aggregated data will be reported. The survey will only be opened until Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Why not take a few moments and complete the survey now. This survey is only open to those in the private sector.
To complete the survey click on the following link: https://surveys.cra.ca/s/112297/?assn&l=en
Should you have any questions on the survey, or require assistance accessing or completing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Corporate Research Associates at surveys@cra.ca.
To view the summary report of the inaugural Atlantic Business Confidence Index, click here.
Livestock
Increase to national beef checkoff to come in 2017
Canadian beef producers should expect to see an increase to the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off sometime in 2017, but the exact date is yet to be determined. MORE
Have you hugged your cow today?
The just-completed merger of Manitoba and Alberta Pools into Agricore took up much of our Dec. 3, 1998 issue. That included what became a somewhat controversial “Farming is everything” advertising campaign, that included the new grain company’s double-page spread of a farmer hugging a dairy calf. MORE
Referendum to Reinstate Iowa Beef Checkoff Passes
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today announced the passage of the referendum to reinstate the $.50 per head Iowa beef checkoff that was held 30 November. MORE
US Beef’s Arrival in Israel Celebrated with Nebraska Black Angus Dinner
USMEF recently participated in an event celebrating the return of US beef to Israel, where it is available for commercial distribution to restaurants, hotels and supermarkets following an agreement signed earlier this year between USDA and the Israeli Veterinary Services. MORE
Rise in Korean Imports of US Beef in 2016
South Korea’s imports of US beef jumped 47.6 per cent on year in the first 10 months of this year, data showed Friday, partly because of a falling demand for pricey Korean beef amid the implementation of an anti-graft law. MORE
Hogs up again on cash prices, fund buying
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rallied for a fourth consecutive session on Thursday, spurred by higher cash prices and technical buying, said traders. MORE
US Antibiotic-Resistant Gene Finding Not in Market Hog
The National Pork Board has reacted to the recent research paper from the Ohio State University research study detailing the researchers’ discovery of an antibiotic-resistant gene in one farrowing barn. MORE
Mexico Hog Market
About six weeks ago I reported prices for Mexico with an average of 28.1 MXN pesos/kg (68¢/lb USD) liveweight, a higher average of 16.6 per cent from the same 4 weeks the year before, writes Fernando Ortiz, Genesus Ibero-American Business Development. MORE
EU Weaner Prices Hold Firm
Latest data from the EU Commission reports the EU average weaner price for week ended 27 November as €44.57/head. This is actually the highest figure for the year to date, a distinct contrast to previous years when prices have declined from a peak in April. MORE
African Swine Fever Reported in Russian Zoo
Russia has reported more outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in wild boar, with one outbreak affecting a zoo. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – December 8 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report –Thursday, December 8 HERE
Potatoes
THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF YIELD MONITORING TECHNOLOGY
Given how important and detailed the data is they provide, you wouldn’t be the first person to assume that potato yield monitors must be confusingly complicated and inaccessibly high-tech. MORE
Potato cultivation declining since German Reunification
The potato has been in retreat in Saxony-Anhalt since the German reunification. In 1990, potatoes were farmed on almost 73,000 hectares of land. MORE
App with satellite images for Belgian potato sector
There are many initiatives for precision agriculture. The Belgian potato sector will start using satellite images next year. MORE
INTERPOM | PRIMEURS Announces Innovation Award Winners
Stefaan and Els Cocquyt of Moerkerke-Damme and Sébastien Dubuisson of Beloeil are the winners of the fourth Inno Potato Award, the awards bestowed by the Flemish and Wallon government at INTERPOM | PRIMEURS 2016. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola drops with soy complex
ICE Futures Canada canola were down sharply on Thursday, as losses in the Chicago Board of Trade soy complex weighed on values. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
The forage value of cover crops
Western research shows cover crops can be worth their weight for grazing or even baling MORE
Soybeans down on profit-taking before USDA data
U.S. soybean futures dropped two per cent on Thursday, the steepest decline in 2-1/2 months, on profit-taking tied to lower veg oil prices and extended weather outlooks for rainfall in Argentina, traders and analysts said. MORE
Fertilizer prices ‘float along’ with eyes on China, corn
It’s shaping up to be a typical winter season for fertilizer prices, according to an industry expert, but he cautions plant expansions in the U.S., corn acreage and the murky world of Chinese exports will all play a part in determining any price spikes in coming months. MORE
Fall rye and winter wheat seeded areas, fall 2016 HERE
AM markets: Indian, Saudi moves foster wheat price rebound HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Trump win unlikely to impact Dow deal, DuPont CEO says
DuPont CEO Ed Breen said on Thursday the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is not likely to have an impact on his company’s planned merger with rival Dow Chemical. MORE
Farmers Advised to Plan Strategy Now Before Downturn
Farmers could enjoy a buoyant couple of years ahead of Brexit but the industry may face another downturn after 2020, experts have warned. It is therefore vital that they re-evaluate their business plans to make the most of the good times and protect against future volatility. MORE
Washington state suing agrochemical giant over PCB pollution
Washington on Thursday became the first U.S. state to sue the agrochemical giant Monsanto over pervasive pollution from PCBs, the toxic industrial chemicals that have accumulated in plants, fish and people around the globe for decades. The company said the case “lacks merit.” MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action – December 7 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – December 7 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – December 2 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, December 8 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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.
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.
Business Confidence Index (BCI) survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. (CRA) and sponsored by TD Canada Trust.
CRA has been conducting a Consumer Confidence Index in the region for the last twenty-five years and felt the time was right to have a business perspective on the economy in Atlantic Canada. CRA will produce a Business Confidence Index for each of the four Atlantic provinces and the region overall for comparison purposes.
We would encourage all our members to simply clink on the link below and help us build our own Business Confidence Index. Please be assured that all individual company responses will be treated in complete confidence and only aggregated data will be reported. The survey will only be opened until Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Why not take a few moments and complete the survey now. This survey is only open to those in the private sector.
To complete the survey click on the following link: https://surveys.cra.ca/s/112297/?assn&l=en
Should you have any questions on the survey, or require assistance accessing or completing the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Corporate Research Associates at surveys@cra.ca.
To view the summary report of the inaugural Atlantic Business Confidence Index, click here.
