Local, Regional, Canadian News
P.E.I. farm groups hold different opinions on high-capacity wells
Groups representing P.E.I. farmers found themselves on opposite sides of the fence Monday night when it came to the future of high capacity wells in the province. MORE
Farmland value on P.E.I. takes big jump
The average value of Prince Edward Island farmland was up 13.4 per cent in 2016, increasing the rate on a trend that goes back to 2010, according to a report from Farm Credit Canada. MORE
Carbon tax effects could undermine rural support for PCs
Manitoba’s coming carbon tax must not hurt farmers or the governing Progressive Conservatives (PC) could face a new right-wing party next election. 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/
Livestock
Grazing no compaction disaster
It makes sense that a 1,200-pound cow would place quite a lot of pressure on the ground on which it walks. MORE
CME live cattle up for fourth straight session
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle rose for a fourth consecutive session on Monday, fueled by short-covering and futures’ discounts to last week’s cash prices, said traders. MORE
Beef Export Tonnage Up 20%, Imports Down 17%
To explain cattle prices during the first quarter of this year in terms of fundamental market forces, we need to look at both seasonal (e.g. key changes compared to the fourth quarter of 2016) and also year-over-year market supply and demand aspects, write Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Continued Strong Pace for US Beef Exports in February
February results for US pork and beef exports were well above year-ago levels, with pork exports posting the strongest February volume on record, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. MORE
IFA in Brussels on Beef Markets, Brexit & Brazil
Speaking at the EU Commission Civil Dialogue Meeting in Brussels on beef last week, IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said the prospects for the EU beef market for 2017 look more positive than 2016. MORE
China to Broaden Financial Market Access, Beef Import
China will broaden market access for financial sector investments and beef imports from the US, Financial Times reported on Monday citing officials from both sides familiar with the matter. MORE
CPC Addresses Climate Change with Senate Committee
The Canadian Pork Council was in Ottawa to address the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry about its study on the potential impact of climate change on the agriculture, agri-food and forestry sectors. MORE
Cross Border Disease Control Key Priority in Manitoba, Minnesota
The Past-President of Minnesota Pork says controlling the movement of disease is among the top priorities of pork producers in both Manitoba and Minnesota, according to Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Hog Slaughter During W14 Up 6.8% Compared to Previous Year
Hog slaughter for week ending 8 April was 2.301 million head, 6.8 per cent higher than the same week a year ago, according to Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
New US Slaughter Capacity Key to Keeping Up With Expected Increased Slaughter Hog Numbers
H@ms Marketing Services says new US slaughter capacity will be key to keeping up with an expected increase in slaughter hog numbers this coming fall, Bruce Cochrane reports. MORE
Pig Prices Continue Recent Upward Surge
Pig prices have continued their recent surge with the SPP up by 1.43p to 153.13p, weekly contribution prices are also tending to improve and spot pigs remain in very short supply and it is quite hard to sell an empty pen, but where there were a few spare pigs about prices were in the 160p/kg region and more in places, writes Peter Crichton in his “Traffic Lights” commentary for 7 April 2017. MORE
Hypor genetics are in Guatemala
Hypor Genetics has sent 223 seed-stock pigs to Sanacusa in Guatemala for a breeding program for Central America. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – April 6 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, April 10 HERE
Potatoes
New fungicide for early blight and brown spot available
Syngenta Canada Inc. has announced the launch of Aprovia Top fungicide, offering Canadian potato growers a new tool for foliar early blight control and brown spot suppression. MORE
POTATOES AND WATER MANAGEMENT: FROM DELUGE TO DROUGHT
Potato producers know all too well that controlling Mother Nature is as likely as reigning in a two year-old. In either case, you’re doomed before you start. MORE
LaJoie and Davenport Appointed to Lead Potatoes USA Industry Outreach Committee
Jay LaJoie of Van Buren, Maine and Jason Davenport of Arvin, California were appointed to the Potatoes USA Executive Committee on March 16, 2017, at the organization’s 45th Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. MORE
Starter Fertilizer Proves Key
This year, much of the Midwest experienced unseasonably warm early spring weather, tempting many growers with a lot of acres into planting early. There are reasons to plant early, like increasing yield potential, smoothing out the spring rush workload and avoiding planting delays, but there are also challenges associated with early planting. MORE
Answering Consumers’ GMO Questions
With genetic technology becoming increasingly more mainstream, it’s not uncommon for growers to get questions from consumers about these crops. MORE
Top 5 Beneficial Insects
Everyone knows growers spend a lot of time and effort beating back their tiny, creepy-crawly friends. Some of those little guys can cause a lot of damage in a crop, and they make for some sneaky effective enemies. MORE
Florida Potato Field Day Set
More than 20,000 acres of potatoes are grown in around Hastings, Fla., in the northeastern part of the state. That figure represents more than 60 percent of the state’s potato crop acreage, which boasts an annual production value of $180 million. MORE
Idaho Looks to Bolster China Trade
Idaho is one of the smallest U.S. states by population, but does big trade with China, the state’s fourth-largest export market. MORE
Requirements of crisp factories make washing potatoes a necessity
Thomas Thuillier from French cooperative Chipex has noticed that the requirements of crisp factories are becoming ever higher. The company supplies about 100,000 tonnes of potatoes to crisp manufacturers. MORE
Producers from Sinaloa store 30,000 tons of potatoes
Producers from Sinaloa have been forced to store thirty thousand tons of potatoes, so far, in response to the low prices that prevail for the product at a national level. MORE
Potato supplier HZPC and its distributor Wesgrow Seed Potatoes are charged by the South African Competition Commission
South Africa’s competition watchdog (Competition Commission South Africa) has charged the Dutch seed potato breeder HZPC Holland B.V. and its exclusive South African distributor Wesgrow Potatoes for anti-competitve conduct for the exclusive supply of the variety Mondial. MORE
Irish potato pilot project showing results in Guyana
A 90-day Irish potato trial project is currently underway in Guyana and, on its eight week, is now showing some positive results. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola ends mixed with intermonth spreading
The ICE Futures Canada canola market finished mixed on Monday due to intermonth spreading. Traders were exiting the May contract in favour of July. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices mostly lower, barley unchanged HERE
Agronomics and economics: A few graphs of interest
At the Manitoba Agronomists Conference in December, Roy Arnott and Anastasia Kubinec of Manitoba Agriculture gave a joint presentation titled Agronomics & economics — crop management decisions need both! The full presentation is available on the Manitoba Agriculture website, but here are a few snapshots. MORE
Cinderella crop is the child of immigration
Much of the attention focused on newcomers to Canada these days is laced with fear that they will bring change. MORE
Corn firms on short-covering
U.S. corn futures climbed about two per cent on Monday on short-covering ahead of the Midwest planting season and chart-based buying, analysts said. MORE
AM markets: soy attempts bounce, despite drop in palm prices HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Seeding innovations roundup
During 2016, several Prairie-based seeding equipment manufacturers announced new design enhancements to meet customer demand. Here’s a look at the major announcements that will begin production for 2017 model-year machines. MORE
Brandt buys Saskatoon power generating equipment plant
Tractor and equipment manufacturer Brandt expects to double its manufacturing footprint — and expand into new equipment lines — after closing a deal for a major Saskatchewan plant site specializing in power generation machinery. MORE
MESA Launches Online Certificate Course in Applied Agroecology
The Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA) recently launched an interactive Certificate in Applied Agroecology course to help grow and connect new agroecological farmers. The course provides a technical and theoretical toolkit to face an increasingly globalized food system and encourages collaboration of agroecological practices of on-farm activities. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – April 5 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – April 7 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, April 10 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop
Please join us Tuesday, April 18th at the Holman’s Building, 250 Water Street, Summerside, from 9 am to 4pm for this enlightening Farmers Market Vendor’s Workshop.
The cost is $25.00 for Summerside Market Vendors and $35.00 for the other direct marketers, costs includes, entrance, workbooks, and lunch.
To pre-registrar please call 902-303-1103 or email summersidefarmersmarket@gmail.com
Sign-up before April 10th, 2017 to reserve your seat for this incredible opportunity and kick off the start to the summer season. MORE
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
