Local, Regional, Canadian News
Don’t blame Canada, say P.E.I. dairy farmers after Trump remarks
Dairy farmers on P.E.I. say they are not worried about U.S.president Donald Trump’s criticism of Canada’s supply management system. MORE
Province warns about grass fire danger
Fire crews on P.E.I. had to respond to at least eight brush fires over the Easter weekend. MORE
The Farm Network takes farm food products beyond local
The Farm Network is pioneering a new category of food business, helping farmers grow their sales of local products to reach commercial scale 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/
Draft National Plant and Animal Health Strategy Ready For Consultation
FPT Governments, Industry, Academia and others have partnered together to develop a Plant and Animal Health Strategy for Canada to protect Canada’s plant and animal resources. The Strategy is intended to protect plants and animals from new and emerging risks by focusing efforts on coordinating partner actions to collaborate and provide a more effective approach to risk prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
The draft Strategy is currently available on the CFIA website (http://bit.ly/2oaMOZg).
Do you support the Strategy and its implementation?
Do you have feedback?
You can get involved and have your say! Join the conversation in one of the following ways until April 30th:
- Read the draft Plant and Animal Health Strategy for Canada (http://bit.ly/2pxxve2)
- Complete a 20 minute questionnaire (http://bit.ly/2pae5zF)
- Suggest edits and improvements (http://bit.ly/2nIDz78)
- Attend a Webinar (http://bit.ly/2oaQfzh)
- Help implement the Strategy (http://bit.ly/2p0w8II)
- Follow the conversation on Twitter @CFIA_Canada
- Join the conversation on social media using #CanPAH
Livestock
Forage fed vs. corn silage in dairy cattle
Corn silage use is trending on Quebec’s large dairy farms, but Valacta’s Robert Berthiaume argues farmers who run against the herd can bulk up their bottom line with perennial forages. MORE
Beef 911: Easy treatments for young calves?
Over the years many of the effective treatments for bacterial scours and some for pneumonia in newborn calves have been taken away from us. Other antibiotics used in conditions such as viral scours are simply precautionary to prevent secondary bacterial invasion. MORE
Live cattle futures up for 9th straight session
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Wednesday for the ninth consecutive session, and hit a one-year high for a second day in a row, after cash prices exceeded expectations, traders said. MORE
Beef Fuels Team Beef in Boston
Thanks to the national beef checkoff, beef was front and center during the 121st Boston Marathon on 17 April. MORE
March Retail Beef Prices Up Compared to Previous Month
Retail beef prices in March increased compared to the previous month but they were still about 5 per cent lower than the previous year and down 7.9 per cent from the peak in May 2015, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Which Production Attributes are Most Important to Consumers
For many consumers, buying a gallon of milk is much more complex than finding the preferred fat content and expiration date. They want to know how the cows were treated, what they were fed, whether they received growth hormones or antibiotics, whether the milk is organic, and so on. MORE
Trump wins support for possible WTO action on Canada dairy
Australia and New Zealand dairy industry leaders say they would support moves by the United States to draw the World Trade Organization into a trade dispute with Canada, after President Donald Trump said existing rules were unfair. MORE
Canadian Pork Excellence Incorporates Latest Research, Technology
The Manager of Quality Assurance and Animal Care Programmes with Manitoba Pork says the update of Canada’s on farm food safety and animal care programme incorporates the latest research and technology, Bruce Cochrane writes. MORE
Retail Pork Prices Sharply Higher in March
Retail pork prices were sharply higher in March, largely due to the run-up in the price of bellies the previous month, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Reciprocal Recognition of Food Safety with US of Mutual Benefit
Australian exporters are in a significantly stronger position as preferred suppliers of safe, high quality food to the United States of America (USA) after the signing of a bilateral Food Safety Recognition Agreement this month. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 13 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, April 19 HERE
Potatoes
Tiger-Sul Hires U.S./Canada Sales Manager
Christopher Rowe brings more than 30 years of industry experience to Tiger-Sul Products. MORE
Carisma is back! Lower GR Potato Returns to Ontario Grocery Stores
Potato lovers rejoice! Following a highly successful launch in 2016, Canadian produce company EarthFresh is bringing its lower glycemic response (GR)* Carisma potato back to Ontario grocery retailers for an extended season. MORE
2016 Retail Year in Review
2016 provided a lot of new information for the retail sector of the potato industry. Russet potatoes continued to dominate the retail landscape in 2016, with a 65 percent share of the total volume of potatoes sold at retail. MORE
Efforts to Eradicate Idaho Nematodes Succeeding
Federal officials say progress is being made in eradicating a microscopic pest that has been threatening Idaho’s $900 million potato industry for the last decade. MORE
Splitting N Applications Improves Efficiency
Proper management of split applications provides nitrogen when plants need it most MORE
Potato Production India estimated at 47 million tonnes.
The potato production in India is estimated to be around 47 million tonnes for this crop year, just behind the all-time high witnessed in 2014. MORE
First large-scale Solynta Hybrid seed potato trials highly successful
Potato breeder Solynta started a potato revolution nearly ten years ago: to develop and apply new breeding technologies to convert potatoes into a hybrid crop. Years of research went into the development of a hybrid potato. MORE
Potato Area Grows 3.6% in NEPG Countries
North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) estimates that the increase in potato acreage in the North-West European countries will grow by 3.6% in 2017, compared to 2016. MORE
Bejo introduces its first True Potato Seed variety
Bejo has obtained breeder’s rights on its first True Potato Seed (TPS) variety. This new potato hybrid, Oliver F1, can be cultivated directly from botanical seeds and, after transplanting, produces table potatoes in one season. MORE
Venezuela: The delay in seed imports complicates potato production
The potato production’s problems multiplied this season. The delay in seed imports was decisive. The sowing cycle began later than usual and 50% of the crop was lost at the start of the rainy season. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American grain/oilseed review: Canola stays strong
ICE Futures Canada canola closed stronger on Wednesday. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
Manitoba’s first case of stripe rust near Austin overwintered
The first case of stripe rust this growing season was found in a Manitoba winter wheat field near Austin April 17, but the fungal disease was detected in the same crop last fall. MORE
You may be ready for seeding, but is your land?
There’s little doubt that in recent years Manitoba farmers have been getting the crop in earlier and earlier. MORE
Get a jump in April with these jobs
It’s still a bit early to get into the field, but here are a few jobs you can do now to set yourself up for success this season. MORE
Province ‘optimistic’ vegetable processor will reopen
Receiver is working on a marketing package to pitch to potential new owners, says government spokesperson MORE
What’s your canola-seeding rate?
When it comes to putting in canola, few decisions are more important than getting the seeding rate right. MORE
How early is too early to seed canola?
Fields may have soil temperatures adequate for canola establishment and enough moisture for emergence, but should growers seed canola in early to mid-April? MORE
Soy futures edge higher
U.S. soybean futures firmed on Wednesday, posting a mild recovery from two days of losses after holding technical support above the one-year lows hit last week. MORE
China to work off corn stockpile in three to five years
China will work off its corn stockpile in the next three to five years, said an executive at one of the country’s top corn processing firms on Wednesday, as firms ramp up processing capacity to use up the old stocks of grain. MORE
Exports of grains by final destination, February 2017 HERE
AM markets: oil price revival helps ags. Even palm oil gains HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
2018 Farm Bill: Have your voice heard in crafting the next Farm Bill
Congress considers the Farm Bill only once every five years. The 2014 Farm Bill expires on September 30, 2018 and the Senate Agriculture Committee has already begun the process of crafting the new bill. The upcoming 2018 Farm Bill will provide many opportunities to continue support for Michigan jobs, farmers and families. MORE
Mutually Beneficial Plan to Balance Sino-US Ties
The meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump concluded on a positive note with the two sides agreeing on a 100-day plan to boost their relationship by taking concrete measures to balance bilateral trade. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – April 19 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 13 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, April 19 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
