Local, Regional, Canadian News
PEIFA 76th Annual General Meeting
Are you planning to attend? Please call or email Jennifer at jmurphy@peifa.ca or 902-368-7289 to pre-register and help us plan.
Friday, January 27, 2017 – Confederation Centre of the Arts Agenda
Meeting Costs: Members free – Non-Members $25.00
Excellence in Agriculture Banquet: Members $40.00 – Non-Members $45.00
‘Bright future’ for agriculture, says Emo, Ont. farmer
A new generation of northwestern Ontario residents is getting back to the land. MORE
Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan Invest in Crop Research
Today Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced nearly $7.7 million in funding for 46 crop-related research projects through the province’s Agriculture Development Fund (ADF). MORE
Pork research cluster gets $1.8M in new investment
The Government of Canada is providing an additional $1.8 million to the pork research cluster to continue responding to consumer concerns around the humane treatment of animals, Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced today. MORE
WCWGA wants reduced Canadian Grain Commission fees, refund
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay will discuss CGC fees with the new commissioners and the commission will consult the grain sector on the issue this winter MORE
Canada keen to boost ties, seal trade pact with India
Canada is keen to boost its business ties with India and is moving forward with attempts to seal a trade pact, Canada’s minister of infrastructure and communities told Reuters. MORE
Protectionism game comes with raised economic stakes: Frum
Trade policies that hurt Canada could blow back on U.S. also MORE
Students go on an ag adventure
Ag Days will see students scouring the show site, seeking clues and gathering information about agriculture. MORE
Farm safety to be a highlight of Ag Days
Farming is a hazardous business and Ag Days aims to help build a culture of safety MORE
PEI Wild Blueberry Growers Association Marketing and Production Workshop
Open to all members, no registration fee, no pre-registration necessary
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017, 9:00am-12:00pm
Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, Charlottetown
Guest Speakers include Dr. David Yarborough (Wild Blueberry Specialist, University of Maine), Neri Vautour (Executive Director, WBANA Canada), Mike Nicholas (Nicholas and Knight Ltd., UK), Jamie Blanchard (Trade Development Officer, Innovation PEI) and Bryan Inglis (CEO,Food Island Partnership)
Chainsaw Maintenance and Safety course
The PEI Woodlot Owners Association – in co-operation with the Department of Forestry is looking to hold a Chainsaw Maintenance and Safety Course. For further information please contact Matt Hughes at 902-368-7289 or mhughes@peifa.ca
Career Opportunity – Executive Director
Since 2000, ACORN has been Atlantic Canada’s key organization for information on organic
agriculture and eating organics. From seed to farmer to consumer, ACORN’s talented and
dedicated team works to support a unified and effective organic sector throughout the
region. We are currently recruiting for a new Executive Director, who will be responsible
for leading the organization according to the strategic direction set by our Board of
Directors. This is a permanent, full-time career opportunity, based out of Sackville, NB. MORE
Livestock
Beef cattle market continues to see volatility
Coming off two years of solid prices, cattle producers are adjusting to the realities to today’s market MORE
Creating a natural rhythm
Lighting experts suggest the correct light intensity and duration can have positive effects on the health, fertility, welfare and productivity of dairy cattle MORE
Profit-taking, beef quotes drop CME live cattle
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were pressured on Wednesday by profit-taking, partly in response to sharply lower wholesale beef values, said traders. MORE
Cattle limit up on technical buying
U.S. live cattle futures climbed to a nine-month high on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session on chart-based and investment fund buying, traders and analysts said. MORE
Danish Crown Acquires German Slaughterhouse
Following the acquisition, Danish Crown will at a single stroke become the fifth-largest cattle slaughterhouse in Germany and a major player in the north European market for organic beef. MORE
Welsh Farmers as Frustrated as Ever with Bovine TB
NFU Cymru has made it clear to the Welsh Government that farmers across Wales are ‘as frustrated as they have ever been’ with the impact bovine TB is having on Wales. MORE
Dairy producer takes the next big step
Change Makers: As a couple, the Craigs’ decision to transform their farm and leverage new opportunities has opened up a new future MORE
Grasslands Hold Potential for Increased Food Production
About 40 per cent of natural grasslands worldwide have potential to support increased livestock grazing, according to a new study published in the journal “Global Change Biology”. MORE
Farmers, Smallholders Warned Not to Feed Kitchen Scraps to Animals
The Animal and Plant Health Agency is warning farmers and smallholders not to feed catering or kitchen waste to livestock such as pigs and poultry, even if they are being kept as pets. MORE
95% Pig Farmers Ready for Compliance with New Antibiotic Rules
US pig farmers are not only well aware of new federal rules for on-farm antibiotic use, but already are complying. MORE
More Funding for UK Antibiotic Resistance Action
Funding for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) Alliance has more than tripled this year in support of a new business plan which will help UK farming play its part in the global drive to reduce antibiotic use across animal and human medicine. MORE
Germany Is Ahead
This second week of the new year, the European price structure starts moving. After the Christmas season, the live animals’ market was only scarcely supplied with low quantities at brisk demand. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – January 5 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, January 11 HERE
Potatoes
Aprovia Cleared to Fight Verticillium Wilt in Canada
A label expansion for Syngenta’s Aprovia fungicide, to cover additional soil-borne potato diseases, makes it the first fungicide in Canada approved to suppress verticillium wilt in potatoes. MORE
World potato production up 16% since 2006 while US stagnates
Last year was a difficult one for US for potato farmers with dropping planted area and a new incoming President who farmers worry may risk current trade deals with two of the countries major potato exporters, Mexico and Canada. MORE
US Potato Growers Select 2017 National Potato Council Leadership
At the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2017 Annual Meeting January 6-7 in San Francisco, Dwayne Weyers of Aspen Produce, LLC, in Center, Colorado, was elected to serve as NPC’s 2017 President and to lead the council’s Executive Committee. MORE
IDAHO POTATO OUTLOOK SOMEWHAT BRIGHTER IN 2017
For Idaho growers looking for a bright spot in 2017, potatoes might be that crop — if potatoes are already part of the rotation. MORE
Nanoparticle fertilizers may help fight fungal diseases
Scientists at the Conneticut Agricultural Experiment Station are using nanoparticle technology to apply copper to the shoots of plants. Based on preliminary findings in the research, these nanoparticles are better at helping deliver the necessary nutrients to the plants and keep them healthy despite the presence of Fusarium in the soil. MORE
Discover Potato Processing in the Eastern US
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission will be embarking on a 4-day journey providng growers and shippers with an opportunity to interact with a variety of potato processors in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania from March 7-10, 2017. MORE
Speakers Confirmed for 2017 Winter Potato Conference
All the speakers for the 2017 Winter Potato Conference to be held January 30 – February 1, 2017 have been finalized. The agenda has something to offer all attendees with eighteen breakouts session, 35 exhibitors and an opportunity for college students to interact with exhibitors and growers. MORE
Potato Processor Lamb Weston publishes a quarterly report for the very first time
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW) has just published its second quarter 2017 results. MORE
Vista Valley Ag Presented with National Potato Council’s 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award
Boyd Foster of Vista Valley Ag in Ririe, Idaho, received the prestigious 2016 Environmental Stewardship Award during the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2017 Annual Meeting, held January 6 in San Francisco, CA. MORE
Potato Expo 2017 Sees Success as Growers Network and Learn
Potato Expo 2017, held January 4-6 in the city of San Francisco, featured one of the highest number of attendees and exhibitors, the second annual Spud Nation Throwdown Chef Cook-Off, and optimism over the future of the potato industry. MORE
Bangladesh potato farmers struggling with rock-bottom prices
Potato prices have fallen to prices as low as TK 4 per kilogram at wholesale markets in the northern districts of Bangladesh. MORE
Jordan considers allowing potato imports to tackle high prices
The Ministry of Agriculture of Jordan is considering allowing the import of potatoes in limited quantities for limited periods, granting the necessary licences for this purpose. MORE
Spain: Leon potato prices increase by up to 20%
The upward trend continues for all potato varieties in the market of Leon and in the last month prices have already increased by between 15 and 20%. MORE
UK potato supplier Preva Produce for sale
Norfolk potato supplier Preva Produce has been placed in administration and is up for sale with 20 job losses due to significant cash flow pressures and difficult trading conditions. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola Down Ahead Of USDA Report
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts ended with small losses on Wednesday as speculative selling weighed on prices and traders squared positions ahead of Thursday’s US Department of Agriculture supply/demand reports. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged
ICE weekly outlook: Canola watching South America
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved lower during the week ended Wednesday, breaking below some chart resistance levels in the process. MORE
CBOT weekly outlook: Soy, corn to tilt lower moving forward
Following a U.S. government supply and demand report due out Thursday, soybeans and corn are expected to be sideways to lower as traders anticipate upcoming supplies, one U.S. analyst says. MORE
Tipping point seen for March canola
ICE Futures Canada canola futures find themselves at a bit of a tipping point from a chart standpoint, with the most active March contract settling right at the $500 per tonne mark on Tuesday. MORE
Crop production show in Saskatoon talks all things agriculture including canary seed
After many years of testing and producer levies, canary seed received approval for human consumption in 2016 – for both Canada and the United States. But it’s strictly for the skinless or de-hulled variety. MORE
Wheat hits one-week low on Plains forecasts
U.S. wheat futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday on forecasts for much-needed moisture in the southern Plains, analysts said. MORE
Wheat, corn weak as traders await USDA report
Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures firmed on Tuesday, recovering from weakness in overnight trading on technical buying amid lingering concerns about weather in key South American growing regions. MORE
AM markets: China tax fuels trade war talk, but ags unphased HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Farmers’ markets drive food sector innovation
While many view farmers’ markets as an enjoyable and quaint, albeit inefficient, place to buy food, few would characterize them as cutting edge. MORE
CAFTA less enamoured with Europe trade deal
Deal doesn’t solve trade barriers, making it less attractive to the sector, longtime trade champion says MORE
AGCO bets big on China
While the war of words heats up between Beijing and Washington, AGCO is becoming a major player in the Chinese economy MORE
Union Urges Govt to Compel Banks to Allocate Funds to Agriculture
The General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has appealed to the Nana Akufo Addo administration to use policy tools to compel commercial banks in the country to cede a substantial portion of their loan portfolio to the agriculture sector. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Report – January 6 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – January 5 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, January 11 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
PEI Wild Blueberry Growers Association Marketing and Production Workshop
Open to all members, no registration fee, no pre-registration necessary
Wednesday, January 18th, 2017, 9:00am-12:00pm
Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, Charlottetown
Guest Speakers include Dr. David Yarborough (Wild Blueberry Specialist, University of Maine), Neri Vautour (Executive Director, WBANA Canada), Mike Nicholas (Nicholas and Knight Ltd., UK), Jamie Blanchard (Trade Development Officer, Innovation PEI) and Bryan Inglis (CEO,Food Island Partnership)
SSDE Industry Engagement Day – January 20, 2017
Our first semester is behind us and it was a tremendous success. During last semester we hosted our first Industry Engagement day and had the great privilege of welcoming well over 100 people to our School of Sustainable Design Engineering. Building on that success, we wish to start the New Year off with good momentum and hold our next Industry Engagement day on the 20th of January 2017. This day will have a specific focus on Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture.
Goal – Is to gather Industry, Government, and Academia and look for collaboration to advance Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture. We will also to take the opportunity to introduce the Class of 2017.
Date and time – 20 January 2017 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Location – UPEI Campus. 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE.
Agenda
10:00 – Welcome to the Province of Prince Edward Island and to the University
10:10 – Keynote Address from the Province
10:30 – Introduction of the first keynote speaker Dr. John K. Schueller from the University of Florida by Dr. Aitazaz Farooque
10:35 – Key Note address: Precision Agriculture Technologies for Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture
11:05 – Introduction of the second keynote speaker Dr. Animesh Dutta from the University of Guelph by Dr. Bishnu Acharya
11:30 – Meet the Graduating Class of 2017 – Introduction by Dr. Wayne Peters, the Director of Student Experience
11:35 – Guided tour by the Industry Partnerships Group
12:00 – Lunch (provided – no turkey)/Networking – 60 mins
1:00 – Panel discussion led by the School of Sustainable Design Engineering with keynote speakers and Government/Industry representatives
2:00 – wrap up and thank you by Dr. Nick Krouglicof, Associate Dean of Engineering and Allan Dale, Industry Partnerships Group
Please RSVP to Lisa Sanderson at lmsanderson@upei.ca
