Canadian-bred Yukon Gold potato, beloved by cooks, marks 50th anniversary
The Yukon Gold potato might have come from humble roots, but the Canadian-bred spud has achieved global status among chefs and food writers. It seems Gary Johnston, the plant scientist who bred the yellow-fleshed potato 50 years ago, was ahead of his time. MORE
Beef prices could start falling by summer’s end
No beef relief expected early in grilling season MORE
The Census of Agriculture
All Canadian farm operators will have received a letter at the beginning of May with instructions for quickly and easily completing the questionnaire online. The online questionnaire automatically adds totals, for example. As a result, completing it online limits the questions to the precise ones that specifically apply to an operator’s farming industry. It also reduces the need for Enumerators to call back operators to clarify answers. On average, farmers should spend 30 per cent less time responding to the 2016 Census of Agriculture than they did in 2011.
Although many farm operators may still prefer to complete their census questionnaire on paper, they may want to give online completion a try. The online application is interactive, easy to understand and reduces completion time. Plus, there are fewer questions on the 2016 Census of Agriculture questionnaire than on the 2011 questionnaire.
Livestock
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb for sixth straight session
Feeder cattle end mostly firm, lean hogs finish lower MORE
CME: Australia’s Beef Exports Predicted to Go Down
Beef trim prices spent most of 2015 in a downtrend as supplies of imported beef from Oceania climbed to the highest levels in over ten years, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
Cattle Outlook: US Beef Exports Up from Last Year
US beef exports totalled 186.9 million pounds during March. That was 0.9 per cent more than a year ago, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Hog Outlook: Pork Exports Totaled 453.1 million pounds in March
US pork exports totaled 453.1 million pounds during March. That was 2.9 per cent more than a year ago. Foreign demand for US pork was up in 2.3 per cent January, 3.4 per cent in February, and 7.9 per cent in March after being down 11.8 per cent in 2015, write Ron Plain and Scott Brown, Ag Economics, MU. MORE
Slow-growth chicken in demand
The Wall Street Journal reports that lobbying pressure has been applied to retailers to buy only slower-growing breeds of chicken. MORE
A+W books further sales growth, shifts bacon sourcing
Canadian burger and root beer chain A+W has logged a 12th straight quarter of same-store sales growth, this time following a shift in pork sourcing for its bacon supply. MORE
Researchers Use CT Scans to Determine Carcass Composition
Researchers at the IRTA institute in Catalonia are using computerised tomography (CT) scans to determine fat, muscle, and bone composition in animals or their carcasses, in a move which could help the meat industry save time and money. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Weekly Market Report – May 4 HERE
*Scroll down the page to find the report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, May 6 HERE
Potatoes
UPGC – April Newsletter HERE
Updated – AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola Jumps To End Week
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were up sharply on Friday, hitting fresh nine-month highs on the back of fund buying, weakness in the Canadian dollar, and a rally in the Chicago Board of Trade soy complex. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
StatsCan report confirms tightening canola, wheat supplies
Canadian canola and wheat supplies are much tighter heading into the final months of the 2015-16 crop year than they were at the same point a year ago, according to Statistics Canada’s latest stocks report. MORE
U.S. grain firms rejecting GMO crops that lack global approval
Across the U.S. Farm Belt, top grain handlers have banned genetically modified crops that are not approved in all major overseas markets, shaking up a decades-old system that used the world’s biggest exporting country as a launchpad for new seeds from companies such as Monsanto. MORE
U.S. grains: Soy surges as export hopes rise
Chicago corn, wheat firm MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Copper sulfate linked to bee declines
New researcher is linking a popular fungicide and fertilizer to bee declines. MORE
Ohio researchers probe bee pollination of soybeans
Although soybean crops are self-pollinating, some species of bee and fly pollinators can enhance soybean yields, says a researcher at The Ohio State University. MORE
New Study Presents Strategies for Producing Food for Growing Population
Agriculture now produces more than enough calories to meet basic human dietary needs worldwide. Despite this seeming abundance, one out of eight people do not have access to sufficient food. MORE
Regular Updates
FCC Express – May 6 HERE
StatCan – Stocks of principal field crops, March 31, 2016 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Friday, May 6 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
2 Day Standard First Aid and CPR Courses
(Membership discounted rate of $70)
May Dates:
May 11th-12th– Stratford May 16th-17th– Summerside
May 24th-25th– Stratford
*First aid and CPR course are also available at your farm for a minimum of 8 participants. Please contact Charlotte at 902-368-7289 for more details.
