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. farm income leaps in 2016
P.E.I. farm income was up 35 per cent in 2016, continuing a strong run since a peak in 2011. MORE
‘Entrance into the future’: Potato packer gets $1M ACOA loan for upgrades
A potato packer in eastern P.E.I. is expanding its operations with a loan from ACOA. MORE
Ontario gets poor report card for agriculture
The Conference Board of Canada gives Ontario a relatively poor report card for agriculture in the first analysis of its kind. MORE
Waterloo gets $1.9M to study greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural sector
The federal government is providing $1.9 million to the University of Waterloo to examine greenhouse gas emissions associated with agricultural activities, as well as the potential benefits of alternative land use practices. MORE
New Alberta labour standards for paid farm workers tabled
Waged farm workers in Alberta will be allowed to unionize and get new rules governing vacation pay and youth employment, under a provincial labour bill tabled Wednesday. MORE
App sounds sweet to honey producers’ group
A smartphone app imported from Australia might be the next big tool for beekeepers to manage their sometimes complicated relationship with surrounding farmers. MORE
PEI Potato Board staff met with Shawn Schofield of the Agri-Environmental Unit
This meeting was to review what his staff saw in 2016 in responding to complaints, doing educational visits to farms, etc.
In an overall sense, most potato farms were doing things properly, particularly in the potato year.
After this meeting we would like to help raise awareness of two items in particular:
- 15 M buffer zones are required along PEI watercourses for ALL CROPS including grain and soybeans – not only row crops such as potatoes.
The Agri-Environmental Unit is happy to help growers review their fields and stake out areas for buffer zones.
- Burn permits are required when burning brush on your property. Permits are good for the season and are available free of charge. A permit and a quick call to your local fire department when you plan to burn will avoid unnecessary responses from local fire departments.
Burning garbage (particularly shingles, plastic and tires) is not permitted.
Shawn Schofield can be reached at: 902-393-5285.
PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative
Following is a link to our new podcast: http://organicpei.com/podcast/
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/
Livestock
Beef producers react to U.S. NAFTA scare
Manitoba’s beef producers were initially alarmed by reports in late April that NAFTA was on the chopping block in the form of an executive order to withdraw from the trade agreement. MORE
More farms released from TB quarantine
The Canadian Food Inspection agency has released another five premises from quarantines established to prevent the spread of tuberculosis among cattle herds in Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan. MORE
Live cattle retreat following initial cash prices
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts slumped on Wednesday, pulled down by technical selling and lower preliminary cash prices, said traders. MORE
Participants Actively Preparing for COF Report
The next “Cattle on Feed” report will be released during trading hours on Friday, which is a bit unusual and something that market participants likely are actively preparing for, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
China to Expand Imports from US
China will increase imports from the United States in wide-ranging areas including agricultural products, energy and high-tech equipment, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday. MORE
Building Île d’Orléans
In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Dairy Farmers of Canada has produced a book, Dairy Farmers—Deeply Rooted for a Strong Future that honours Canada’s dairy tradition and the contributions dairy farmers have made to Canada’s emergence as a nation. MORE
Key Challenge When Using Thermal Assisted Drying, Decontamination
A Graduate Student with the University of Saskatchewan says the biggest challenge, when using heat to kill diseases causing pathogens in swine transport trailers, is ensuring all surfaces reach a high enough temperature to kill the organisms MORE
Expectation of Pig Price Increase Heating Up
Official pig price quotes remain around the €1.70c/kg mark, but the level of expectation among pig producers for a price rise is heating up. MORE
Global Demand Helps to Strengthen European Pig Prices
Farmgate prices for Scottish pigs are the strongest they have been since mid-2014 and 38 per cent higher than this time last year, according to the latest Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) analysis. MORE
Minister Says Pakistan Values Partnership with OIE for Livestock Development
Pakistan greatly values its partnership with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for its livestock development, disease control and overall poverty alleviation. MORE
Ontario chicken production ramps up
Ontario’s chicken farmers are finally ramping up production to fill increased allocations from the national agency.
In the most recent quota period, Ontario production increased by 8.2 per cent over year-earlier levels; the national increase was seven per cent. MORE
Tyson, World Resources Institute Team Up on Environmental Goals
As part of its deeper commitment to sustainable food production, Tyson Foods, Inc. has announced a collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI) to develop industry leading, science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) and outcome-based water conservation targets for its operations and the company’s supply chain. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 18 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, May 24 HERE
Potatoes
Simplot cancels plans to grow commercial GMO potatoes in Canada this year
There will be no commercially grown GMO potatoes on Prince Edward Island this year, according to Simplot Plant Sciences, the company that developed the Innate potato. MORE
SEED POTATOES GO TO WASTE DUE TO TRADE RESTRICTIONS
The repercussions of the tomato potato psyllid outbreak are taking shape in Western Australia (WA), with seed potato growers starting to feed hundreds of tonnes of perfectly good produce to their cattle. MORE
Tender, Loving Care
Bruise prevention begins before planting
Anything that makes separating soil from potatoes difficult during harvest, and handling can increase the risk of bruise damage. Two of the biggest culprits in this battle are clods on medium- and fine-textured soils, and rocks in any soil type. MORE
Key Technology introduces a new medium capacity sorter: the VERYX® B140
Key Technology expands its VERYX® family of digital sorters with the introduction of the VERYX B140, a medium-capacity belt-fed sorter. MORE
Potatoes cheaper in Poland than in Ukraine
“If we look at prices in all European countries, potatoes are sold for the cheapest price in Poland,” stated Oleksy Dorosenko, president of the Retail Chain Association of Ukraine. He noted that, in Poland, vegetables are actually cheaper than in Ukraine. MORE
Walmart stores to test skinny potatoes
Wal-Mart Stores, the largest retailer in the U.S. is expected to begin testing the Skinny Potato this month, says Scott McDulin, vice president of Schmieding Produce Co. in Springdale, Ark. MORE
Peru is Latin America’s largest producer of potatoes
The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri) stated that Peru had become the main producer of potatoes in Latin America. MORE
Zimbabwe potato producers seek import permit amid shortage
Zimbabwe has run out of potatoes for making potato crisps, prompting a company in the Southerton industrial area to approach the government seeking an urgent import permit to buy potatoes from South Africa, as heavy rainfall affected local supplies. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola Dips With Currency Issues
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts finished slightly lower on Wednesday, weighed down by bearish action in the Canadian currency. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Weather issues, tight stocks lift canola
The ICE Futures Canada canola market lost ground during the week ended Wednesday, pushed down by losses in the U.S. soy complex. MORE
Lower North American durum acres keep attention on yields
North America’s smaller durum acreage base in 2017 could give prices a boost later in the growing season, depending on how yields shape up for the new crop, according to a U.S. analyst. MORE
Wheat, corn firm on short covering
Chicago wheat futures closed higher on Wednesday on light short covering, one day after the spot contract fell about one per cent on better-than-expected U.S. wheat condition ratings. MORE
Corn, soy rangebound
Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade are expected to hold near-term ranges, as traders decide where to lay their focus amid a mix of factors. MORE
AM markets: ags fall, as ‘Washington chaos’ deters investors HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Forging a community
Tiny Cloverdale, Man. once had a church, dance hall, one-room schoolhouse and the small cow-calf operation owned by Tom and Pam Jenkins. MORE
Robots Help Bring More Data to Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the world’s least digitized major industries. This is, however, changing. Indeed, data acquisition and analytics companies are already a hot topic, and as such are subject to growing capital investments. This trend is captured in the chart below. MORE
Seeding smartphone tips
Cellphones have been dubbed “smartphones” but sometimes the way folks are addicted to them causes dumb problems. MORE
Glencore looking to expand agriculture business, CEO says
Miner and trader Glencore is looking to expand its agriculture business via its partnership with two Canadian funds, the company’s CEO said on Wednesday, but has no plans to move into any commodities it does not already trade. MORE
The Cuba Effect
A new era of U.S.-Cuba relations presents opportunities and challenges for U.S. agriculture. MORE
‘Senior’ management
At 82, Amilcare Merlo is still planning the long-term future of the company that will be his legacy MORE
Regular Updates
CFA in Action May 23 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – May 24 HERE
FCC Express – May 19 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 19 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, May 24 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
