PEIFA Golf Tournament
Thursday, August 10th – Countryview Golf Course. 9:00a.m. shotgun start. Includes 9 Holes of golf, cart and bbq steak dinner – $60.00 per person.
Contact Jennifer at 902-368-7289 or jmurphy@peifa.ca to register.
MUST PRE-REGISTER by August 4th.
Local, Regional, Canadian News
Dairy quota increase could mean more cows on P.E.I.
Dairy quotas in the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec are going up five per cent on July 1, and that could mean some Island dairy farms will start planning for big growth. MORE
Photo contest celebrates agriculture and fisheries
Islanders can showcase the natural beauty inspired by our agriculture and fisheries industries through government’s annual photo contest. MORE
Serving up an unpalatable minimum wage
Governments jumping on the $15-an-hour bandwagon are missing an opportunity to look at how the next technological revolution will affect our food systems. And that’s a shame. MORE
2016 Census of Agriculture: Growing opportunity through innovation in agriculture
Farming is an increasingly complex business. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, farms are adapting their business model to take advantage of new opportunities in the market. MORE
Ag sector equity rises in 2016
Agriculture sector equity rose slightly in 2016, according to a Statistics Canada balance sheet on the industry. MORE
U.S. Trade Representative says no deadline for NAFTA deal
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said on Wednesday there was no deadline for completing NAFTA trade talks between the United States, Canada and Mexico even as lawmakers warned that U.S. business would be hurt by prolonged negotiations. MORE
Fusarium head blight risk maps
Fusarium head blight risk maps are posted daily courtesy of Manitoba Agriculture. During the winter wheat flowering period up to the end of the flowering period for spring wheat, these risk maps will be updated here. MORE
Advance Payments Program through the PEI Federation of Agriculture
Eligible producers will are now able to apply for the 2017 Advance Payments Program through the PEI Federation of Agriculture.
Federation Members will continue to receive a preferred rate on Administrative Fees. This is available for farmers who have paid their dues in 2017 or those that were members as of December 31, 2016.
For more information on the program, please contact Andrew Wood or Tim Seeber at 902-368-7289.
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/
Selection Process for Farm Products Council of Canada
On February 25, 2016, the Prime Minister announced a new process for Governor in Council appointments. This new process supports an open, transparent, and merit-based selection process focused on identifying high-quality candidates who demonstrate Canada’s diversity.
This process will be used to select new members for the Farm Products Council of Canada. I am writing to you to seek your assistance in promoting this selection process.
The candidates we are looking for must have experience as a primary producer, in agribusiness, in the agri-food industry, or in food distribution or retail. Candidates should also have experience in decision making with respect to sensitive and complex issues, experience in maintaining effective relationships with multiple stakeholders and balancing their interests and divergent views, and an understanding of the Canadian supply management system for poultry and eggs.
I encourage you to inform your members of this opportunity and invite interested candidates to apply for a member position at the following website: HERE
Livestock
CFTC fines cattle futures traders US$5 million
U.S. futures regulators fined a Memphis trading firm and three associates US$5 million on Wednesday for using a manipulative tactic in CME Group’s cattle futures, a market grappling with extreme volatility. MORE
Number of Cattle Marketed Outpaced by Cattle Placed on Feed
There is broad expectation that cattle inventory numbers continued to increase in May as the rate of the number placed on feed outpaced the number of animals marketed, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
China Gives Greenlight to US Beef Imports
China began importing US beef on Tuesday in fulfilling its pledge on the US-China 100-day action plan to boost bilateral economic ties. MORE
Amid Cattle Slaughter Row, Punjab Budget Bats for Pigs; TN Waits for Courts to Decide on Trade Restrictions
Even as the Centre’s ban on cattle sale for slaughter at animal markets has triggered a country-wide debate, Punjab government on Tuesday announced setting up of new pig breeding farms, saying “there was need to diversify in agriculture allied activities.” MORE
Dairy protection sought ahead of NAFTA talks
The head of Canada’s dairy industry group highlighted the role of Canadian dairy producers in the domestic market, as the potential for trade agreement renegotiations loom. MORE
2017 Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival Set for Saturday
Organisers of the Great Saskatchewan Bacon Festival expect to raise about 7,000 dollars this year to fund youth projects MORE
Ontario man heads to court after more than 1,000 pigs found dead: Ontario SPCA
A 27-year-old Ontario man is set to appear in court Thursday near London, Ont., to answer to animal cruelty charges after more than 1,000 pigs were found dead on a farm earlier this year. MORE
Hogs hit one-year high as pork prices extend gains
U.S. lean hog futures were mostly higher on Wednesday, with the front-month contract rising to the highest levels in a year on support from rising prices for wholesale pork, traders and analysts said. MORE
US Pork Industry Plan to Allow Continued Production in Presence of Disease
Iowa’s Agriculture Secretary says a plan being developed by the US pork industry will enable state animal health officials to allow pork production to continue in the presence of a foreign animal disease outbreak MORE
Behaviour Study Shows Piglets Prefer New Toys
We can’t help but be tempted by new things. We see it in a child’s eyes when she opens a new toy, and feel it every time a new version of the iPhone is released. MORE
Amid Cattle Slaughter Row, Punjab Budget Bats for Pigs
Even as the Centre’s ban on cattle sale for slaughter at animal markets has triggered a country-wide debate, Punjab government on Tuesday announced setting up of new pig breeding farms, saying “there was need to diversify in agriculture allied activities.” MORE
EU Pig Meat Demand Still Struggling
Consumer demand for pig meat in key EU markets continues to struggle in 2017 and it is more export demand that is supporting the EU market, writes Leo Colby, AHDB Consultant. MORE
Close Cooperation in Pig Supply Chain
Pigs are farmed on a very small scale in Norway, with a total of 90,000 sows and average herd sizes of 50 sows. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – June 15 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, June 21 HERE
Potatoes
Researchers Engineer Heat Tolerance in Potatoes
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute and the University of St. Andrews have developed a technique to engineer heat tolerance in potato crops, potentially providing potato breeders with a valuable tool in their quest to create varieties suited to the requirements of growers, industry and retailers. MORE
Michigan Potatoes partners with registered dietitian to develop potato recipes
The Michigan Potato Industry Commission (MPIC) announced today a new partnership with Kristy Hegner, a registered dietitian with a Master of Public Health degree and the owner of Chocolate Slopes food blog, a resource for anyone looking for healthy recipes, realistic nutrition and fitness tips and a little adventure. Kristy uses the blog to help other families lead a healthy lifestyle through tips and tricks on how to eat healthy and stay fit in this fast-paced, over-indulging, fast-food-on-every-corner type of country we live in MORE
Michigan Potatoes on Display at United Fresh’s Trade Show
Michigan Potatoes made their inaugural presence at the United Fresh 2017 Trade Show at the McCormick Place in Chicago last week as a part of a Specialty Crop Block Grant coordinated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). MORE
Dinner on the Farm with Congressman Moolenaar
The first annual Dinner on the Farm with Congressman Moolenaar, hosted by the county Farm Bureaus in the 4th Congressional District was held June 19 in Gratiot County. The Michigan Potato Industry Commission helped sponsor the event by proving potato chips for the meal. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola up, but beans down
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were stronger on Monday, as supportive chart signals and persistent weather concerns provided support. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Canola headed down, looking for spark
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were up and down during the week ended Wednesday, with the bias turning lower as losses in outside markets weighed on values. MORE
Soybeans elbow their way to top of Prairie market
As soybeans rise in acreage across Western Canada, many are wondering which crop will bear the brunt of their sudden expansion. MORE
Garlic growers look to develop certified seed
The Ontario garlic industry is gradually working to create a cleaner seed supply, which should help reduce disease transmission on cloves. MORE
The elevator repairman
Country elevators are disappearing, but so long as George Payette can swing a sledgehammer or pound a nail, a few lone survivors stand a chance. MORE
Inside the Grain Revolution and the Future of Bread
While it may sound old-fashioned, home milling could have the potential to redefine one of the world’s oldest processed foods—bread. MORE
Corn, soy set for major move on acres
Corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade could be set for a major move depending on what the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals in next week’s acreage estimates, according to an analyst. MORE
Urban Ag Only Provides Small Environmental Benefits in Northeastern US
“Buy local” sounds like a great environmental slogan, epitomized for city dwellers by urban agriculture. But when it comes to growing fruits and vegetables in vacant lots and on rooftops in cities, is the practice really better for the planet than conventional farming? MORE
Wheat dips, halting rally as weather damage assessed
Chicago wheat futures fell nearly two per cent on Wednesday, after hitting their highest level in a year as traders assessed the extent to which hot, dry weather would dent a global market laden with record inventories. MORE
VRI Helps Growers Increase Efficiency, Yields
Precise water application, water savings and, of course, increased yields are just a few of the advantages offered by Valley Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI). Growers across the U.S. are benefiting from it, and Valley continues to improve its VRI offerings for center pivot and linear precision irrigation. MORE
Emergency Aid to Combat Hunger in North-east Nigeria
Seeds and fertilizer for more than one million people are being distributed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in north-eastern Nigeria for the planting season that begins this month. MORE
AM markets: rouble, real gang up against rises in ag prices HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
PotashCorp, Agrium choose new married name
Canadian fertilizer giants Agrium and PotashCorp have picked the new brand under which they plan to do business once their proposed merger clears. MORE
New Sensors Could Enable More Affordable Detection of Pollution, Diseases
When it comes to testing for cancer, environmental pollution and food contaminants, traditional sensors can help. The challenges are that they often are bulky, expensive, non-intuitive and complicated. MORE
Grasshopper Farming Provides a More Environmentally Friendly Protein
Hargol FoodTech, the first company to produce large quantities of grasshoppers for human consumption, is now distributing to manufacturers in the United States. Grasshoppers CAN BE a source of healthy protein and nutrients, including iron and Vitamin C. Hargol’s primary product is currently grasshopper flour, and they hope to sell whole grasshoppers and food additives in the near future. MORE
Brazil blocks JBS deal, seeks asset freeze
A Brazilian judge has blocked JBS SA’s planned sale of a South American unit while the attorney general’s office urged the company’s assets be frozen, in signs of fallout from a corruption probe involving the controlling shareholders of the world’s No. 1 meatpacker. MORE
Ag World Golf Classic Aids Ailing Families
Area agriculture producers, processors and industry businesses rose to the challenge and set a new event record by raising over $73,000 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of the Inland Northwest at the 4th Annual Ag World Golf Classic held June 14 at Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, Wash. Through the generosity of the event’s 118 sponsors and donors and 144 golfers, this year’s event proved to be a huge success. MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action – June 21 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – June 21 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, June 21 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
PEI Barn Quilt Trail – Applications Now Available
The PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee is pleased to announce a new initiative in celebrating rural PEI and discovering the agriculture industry.
As part of the C150 celebrations, we will be launching the PEI Barn Quilt Trail across PEI in the fall of 2017.
This project has been funded by the Government of Canada.
The committee is currently accepting applicants for host farms for the initial 25 barn quilts until June 23, 2017.
More information can be found at www.peibarnquilttrail.com including the registration form.
We appreciate you helping us spread the word of the application process and look forward to sharing more information in the coming months including a major launch in September!
PEI COPC Organic Farm Tour
PEI COPC will be hosting a one day organic farm tour on Wednesday, July 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m..
Local media, social media guests, COPC staff, PEIDAF Minister and Deputy will be attending the tour of five COPC member farms, including: Dexter Cattle Company, Square One Organics, Red Soil Organics, Heartbeet Organics, and Schurman Family Farm.
Transportation and lunch are provided.
Seats are limited and tickets will be on sale beginning next week ($25 each or $20 for COPC members).
Contact Karen at email@organicpei.com or 902-894-9999 for more information.
3A Airbrakes Test Facilitation
***UPDATE–WE ARE NOW TAKING NAMES FOR OTHER DATES THAT MAYBE OFFERED FOR 3A TRAINING IF INTERESTED PLEASE GET YOUR NAME ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE NEXT TRAINING SESSIONS!! WE MAYBE OFFERING SESSIONS IN JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER***
From field to road…do you have employees that drive your trucks, but don’t have their licenses?
We are looking for experienced drivers that would like to obtain their Airbrakes and Class 3A license.
The PEI Agriculture Sector Council will be facilitating these two courses through JVI and Access.
This project will be processed through the Canada Job Grant and Skills PEI.
Draft Schedule:
Day 1- Airbrake theory
Day 2- Review of Airbrakes and Airbrake test (written on site), Preform a pre-use inspection
Day 3- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Day 4- Driving and Testing for Class 3A (time scheduled test on site)
Requirements- must have valid truck driving experience, but not licensed & Medical completed and returned
Lunch will be provided
For more details on registration requirements, contact Laurie at 892-1091.
Registration is now open, limited seating available. To sign up, contact the PEI Agriculture Sector Council at 892-1091 or e-mail info@peiagsc.ca
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
