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
P.E.I. lowers age for truck-driving licence
New amendments to P.E.I.’s Highway Traffic Act would permit an 18-year-old in the last stages of their graduated driver’s licence to receive a Class 3 license to operate a heavy truck. MORE
Islander’s eggs rejected at food bank
An Island egg farmer was taken aback Thursday morning when her donation to a food bank was turned away. MORE
Bevan-Baker raises issues regarding farm income in P.E.I. Legislature Thursday
Bevan-Baker posed questions in legislature Thursday regarding this trend, comparing farm revenues from the mid 1970s to today. MORE
Ag census logs more younger and female farm operators
While people age 55 and over still make up the fastest-growing segment of farmers in Canada, the latest Census of Agriculture shows slightly more producers under age 35 for the first time in five censuses. MORE
Farms growing and crop sizes increasing, even as farmers’ ranks dwindle
Fewer and slightly older Canadian producers are planting more cropland on larger farms and are making relatively stable profits. MORE
Fewer farms and farmers in northern Ontario, says Census
Less of northern Ontario is being used to grow food than five years ago, according to new numbers out today from the 2016 census. MORE
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Continue Work Towards the Next Agricultural Policy Framework
Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture met today to discuss the path forward to developing the next agricultural policy framework, which will help Canadian farmers and food processors grow their businesses. Ministers* are committed to continued support to the agricultural sector and will reconvene in July to ensure work is on track to launch the next framework on April 1, 2018. MORE
Federal government strikes advisory panel to look into reopening prison farms
The federal government is setting up an advisory panel to look at the possibility of reopening prison farms in Kingston, Ont., that were closed by the former Conservative government. MORE
Canada taps veteran negotiator to drive talks on NAFTA
Canada’s senior negotiator at talks to renew NAFTA will be the official who worked for years to push through a major free trade deal with Europe, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. MORE
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Job Opportunity
AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OFFICER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
Location: Charlottetown
FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED POSITION – (COMMENCING IMMEDIATELY)
Closing date – May 23, 2017
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is committed to the sustainable development of the agriculture industry on Prince Edward Island. The purpose of this position is to provide a broad range of highly specialized technical services to the staff of the Sustainable Agriculture Section to support the delivery of professional agri-environmental and engineering services that ensure that our natural resources are used in a sustainable manner. This position will also provide key technical support to research that will lead to improved beneficial management practices and assist in the delivery of agri-environmental policy and programs. MORE
Farm Credit Canada – Job Opportunity
Passion for agriculture required
Manage relationships with local producers and be responsible for a developing loan portfolio. You’ll tailor financing packages to meet your customers’ needs, including both lending and non-lending products, and help them build success.
Job Title: Relationship Manager
Location: Charlottetown, PE
Closing date: May 19, 2017
Language required: English
Term: Permanent
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
Local cattle prices track wild week in U.S. futures
Large price swings in the U.S. cattle futures led to similar activity in the Manitoba cattle auctions during the week ended May 5. MORE
Further Delay of Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Rule Opposed
The US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is delaying the effective date of the rule published on 19 January 2017, for an additional six months to 14 November 2017, to allow time for further consideration by USDA. MORE
All Pig Farmers Should Demand Price Increase, Says IFA
Chairman of the IFA Pigs Committee, Tom Hogan, said the Irish pig price remained relatively stable once again this week. MORE
Pork Demand Fuels Dramatic Improvement in Cash Hog Prices
The Director of Risk Management with h@ms Marketing Services credits a dramatic turn around in cash hog prices to phenomenal export demand for US pork MORE
All Pig Farmers Should Demand Price Increase, Says IFA
Chairman of the IFA Pigs Committee, Tom Hogan, said the Irish pig price remained relatively stable once again this week. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 11 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Thursday, May 11 HERE
Potatoes
Potandon Produce Now Shipping Potatoes From Arizona
Potandon Produce L.L.C., the exclusive marketing agent for Pinto Creek Co., LLC in Eloy, Arizona, announced Monday that its fresh potato season has begun in Arizona. MORE
Washington Potato Producers To Vote On Marketing Order
Washington potato producers will vote from June 9–23, 2017, on whether to continue the federal marketing order regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Washington. MORE
The Sainsbury Laboratory received approval for a four-year trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes
In the United Kingdom, farming minister George Eustice (DEFRA) has approved a four-year trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich between 2017 and 2021. MORE
Enjoying potatoes together more often
Cooled potatoes anticipate the need for fresh convenience products. The segment has grown considerably in recent years. MORE
Northwest Potato Research Consortium has awarded grants for 37 regional potato projects
The Northwest Potato Research Consortium recently approved a combined $1.5 million in grant funding to 37 research projects. MORE
Protect the Austrian potato instead of boycotting the harvest
For the first time. trade chains are to be obliged by a political party to dispose of 30,000 metric tonnes of potatoes due to wireworm damage – enough to feed 600,000 Austrians for a whole year. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola down, but off lows
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were weaker on Thursday, with fund selling a feature, as bearish technical signals and ideas the market was looking overbought had speculators liquidating some of their long positions. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Thursday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Prairie feed wheat, barley at seasonal highs
Feed barley and feed wheat appear to be settling into some seasonal highs, according to a market-watcher in Alberta. MORE
Canola chart turns neutral to bearish
The ICE Futures Canada July canola contract has run into resistance from a chart standpoint and nearby technical signals look neutral to bearish. MORE
Winter wheat takes a beating in the east
Mid-winter thaws hit hard at overwintering cereals in January and February, and farmers in eastern Manitoba are just now discovering the impact. MORE
Agriculture Benefits Honey Bees
It’s no secret that pesticides can cause harm to honey bee colonies, but a new study from University of Tennessee researchers has found that under the right conditions, the overall health of honey bee colonies can benefit as a result of row crop production. MORE
Weed Scientist: ‘If It’s Working, Change It’
It might seem like an odd recommendation to make—to change something if it’s working. MORE
Building a complete protein package
As more innovative uses for pulses are explored in response to global demand for healthier food products, Canadian pulse producers may look forward to increasing demand for their crops. MORE
Soy, corn sag on technical selling
U.S. soybean futures hit a 1-1/2-week low on Thursday, pressured by follow-through weakness after Wednesday’s poor technical close and some farmer selling, analysts said. MORE
AM markets: cotton hits contract highs, dodging ag malaise HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Climate Corporation Buys HydroBio
The Climate Corporation, a Monsanto subsidiary, has bought HydroBio, an agriculture software company based in Denver. The HydroBio team will join The Climate Corporation in delivering digital to growers worldwide. MORE
SPP Up for Tenth Consecutive Week
The EU-spec SPP rose for the tenth consecutive week, to hit the highest level since August 2014 in the week ending 6 May, with shortages reported especially for the fresh market, reports Millie Askew, AHDB Analyst. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – May 10 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 5 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, May 11 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
