August Member Profile – Phillip Jennings III and John MacSwain HERE
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
**SAVE THE DATE**
PEI Open Farm Day 2017 – Sunday, September 17th
Farmers Helping Farmers annual fundraising steak barbecue
Saturday Aug 12 from 4-6:30.
Tickets $30. Tickets available at Riverside Market, PEIFA office or from board members.
Call 902-393-0071
Minister MacAulay visits Oregon and Idaho to promote Canada-U.S. agricultural trade
Canada and the United States (U.S.) benefit from a long-standing history of bilateral cooperation, especially in agricultural trade. The Government of Canada is working closely with the U.S. Administration, as well as state and local officials, to strengthen the robust Canada-U.S. partnership and to ensure continued support for millions of trade-dependent middle-class jobs on both sides of the border. MORE
Canada and Mexico look to increase agricultural trade
Canada’s minister of agriculture and his Mexican counterpart say they’re looking to increase trade between the two countries despite concerns the U.S. wants to review the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). MORE
Workers, advocates call for changes to Temporary Foreign Worker program
Henry Aguirre, a temporary foreign worker from Guatemala, considered himself lucky when he got a job in Quebec as a chicken catcher, rounding up poultry and handing them over for processing. MORE
Report recommends Alberta require farm safety training, machinery checks
A judge says Alberta should require mandatory agriculture safety training and equipment checks following the death of a worker who was pulled into a farm machine. MORE
Expanding International and Domestic Markets for British Columbia’s Agri-Food Sector
The agri-business sector is a key driver of growth in the Canadian economy and a source of good, well-paying jobs for the middle class. The Government of Canada is committed to helping British Columbia’s agri-food sector grow their businesses, expand and access new markets at home and abroad as we target reaching $75B in exports of agri-food products by 2025. MORE
Bayer shows off new apps at 4-H summit
A new app will bring weed identification to the field with the click of a smartphone camera. MORE
Farmland school tax reforms may be coming
KAP officials sense the Manitoba government might make changes during its current mandate MORE
Taking charge of climate
Standing at the window in his kitchen, Fort Fraser, B.C. rancher Wayne Ray watches the heavy grey clouds and he shakes his head. It’s July — haying season — but the rain won’t let him get at it. MORE
Women hike Bruce Trail for farm women
Two Canadian women are in the final leg of hiking the Bruce Trail to raise money to help women farmers in Ghana, Africa. MORE
ACORN AGM & Speaker Series
Location: Tweedie Hall, Wallace McCain Centre
Mount Allison University
62 York Street/62 Rue York
Sackville, NB
August 21, 2017 from 1:00-4:00PM/13h00-16h00
BBQ/Potluck to follow at/à suivre 4:30PM/16h30 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/
Client Satisfaction Survey: Business Risk Management Programs
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with provincial partners, has launched an online survey seeking producers’ input on the level of satisfaction with our Business Risk Management (BRM) programs (AgriStability, AgriInvest, AgriInsurance, and Advance Payments Program). The survey is intended to be completed by producers who have applied to these programs in recent years and focuses on their experience with them.
Results from this survey will help us understand client expectations and improve BRM program delivery services.
The anonymous survey will be available until July 31, 2017 and will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
To complete the BRM Client Satisfaction Survey, please click here.
Thanks in advance for helping us better serve Canadian producers.
Livestock
End-of-month positioning pressures CME live cattle
Last Friday’s selling of Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts carried over into Monday, led by sell-stops and position squaring on the last trading session of the month, traders and analysts said. MORE
Beef Production for W30 Up 5.7% from a Year Ago
Livestock markets were under the influence of the summer doldrums last week, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Irish Farmers Resisting Beef Price Pressure, Says IFA
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said farmers are strongly resisting unnecessary pressure from the factories this week on cattle prices. MORE
Japan’s Frozen Beef Safeguard Triggered in Q1 of Japanese Fiscal Year
The Japanese government released its June import figures for frozen beef. MORE
Swine Health Information Sharing Results in Reduction in Numbers of PED Infected Farms
The Manager of Swine Health Ontario credits a programme where pork producers share their farm’s swine health information with helping dramatically reduce the number of farms infected by Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea MORE
Manitoba Works to Eliminate New More Virulent Strain of PRRS
The President of the Canadian Association of Swine Veterinarians says the will is there to eliminate a new more virulent strain of PRRS MORE
Pork Production for W30 Up 2% from a Year Ago
Livestock markets were under the influence of the summer doldrums last week, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Q2/2017: Czech Beef, Pork Production Down; Poultry Production Up
Beef and pork production in the Czech Republic decreased in the second quarter of the year while poultry production rose, according to figures released by the Czech Statistical Office. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – July 27 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, July 31 HERE
Potatoes
ONTARIO POTATO RESEARCH FIELD DAY
The Ontario Potato Board and the University of Guelph’s Plant Agriculture Department is hosting the 2017 Ontario Potato Research Field Day on August 16 at the Elora Research Station. MORE
On-farm Bruise Assessment
Data is powerful in minimizing bruise MORE
Little Potato Company Impacts Local Economy
The Little Potato Company, the world’s largest supplier of creamer potatoes, opened the doors to its newly built $20 million dollar facility in DeForest, Wis., Thursday. MORE
Brand Boom
Fresh produce branding is expanding and having a huge impact on the industry. Branding influences the way consumers see and buy produce, so it’s important we understand these changes. MORE
Potatoes USA Offers New School Foodservice Materials
To help school foodservice operators serve potatoes at breakfast, lunch and beyond, Potatoes USA has developed a wealth of new assets and training materials. MORE
MANAGING SOIL HEALTH IN POTATOES
Soil health can be seen as the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans. This definition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) speaks to the importance of managing the soil so it can continue to sustain life for future generations. MORE
Dewulf is to unveil Torro – a new 2-row offset harvester with bunker – at Potato Europe 2017
Dewulf has expanded its product range with a new 2-row trailed offset harvester with bunker that has been named Torro. MORE
Tummers keeps developing its potato processing equipment!
As the people are the heart of Tummers, R&D is the backbone. Tummers is continuously working on improving their machinery, the process, service or other aspects to apply to the demands of the market, within the Tummers Group. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola Dips with Soy
The ICE Futures Canada canola market finished lower on Monday, tracking losses in US soybeans. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Canola market dips to rally, heat stress hits wheat crops
The ICE Canada canola market had a bit of a wild ride during the week ended July 28, with the November contract falling to its lowest level of the past month at one point before the brakes were hit on the drop and the market rallied $25 in three days. MORE
‘Keep it Clean’ to protect grain markets
With harvest approaching, western Canadian farmers are being reminded to avoid trade disruptions by “Keeping it (crops) Clean” from pesticide residues. MORE
Canadian wheat decline with U.S. futures, rising loonie
Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada lost ground during the week ended July 28, as declines in the US futures and strength in the Canadian dollar both weighed on prices. MORE
Scouting flax crops for pasmo
At the recent Crop Diagnostic School, Manitoba Co-operator reporter Allan Dawson spoke with Rachel Evans, extension agronomist with the Flax Council of Canada, about what flax producers can do to avoid pasmo appearing in their flax crops. MORE
Farmers watch markets rally as crops wither
If Glacier FarmMedia weather and market analyst Bruce Burnett had to pick one word to sum up the state of the Prairie crop this summer, it would be “variable.” MORE
Assessing whether or not to spray soybean aphids?
There’s an app for that, but farmers still need to scout and take beneficial insects that prey on soybean aphids into account MORE
Corn, soybeans, wheat fall, ending win streak
U.S. corn and soybean futures weakened on Monday on forecasts for beneficial weather for crop development, traders said. MORE
AM markets: US crop uptick hits soy prices. But wheat gains HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Get your nature fix
Being surrounded by wide open spaces and nature is undoubtedly one of the benefits of a farming lifestyle. Unfortunately, as farms get bigger, busier and more high-tech, farmers may find they are spending less time enjoying nature. MORE
Sibling rivalry
… and how to prevent it destroying your family business! MORE
JBS taps BNP Paribas for Moy Park sale
JBS SA, the world’s No. 2 food processor, has picked BNP Paribas SA to help sell Moy Park Ltd, which the company has put on the block, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. MORE
Deere Is 5th-Largest Agricultural Bank in U.S.
On the short list of corporations that control the lives and livelihoods of farmers is John Deere, the country’s largest seller of tractors and combines. MORE
Farmer suicides rise in India as climate warms, study shows
When Rani’s husband died by drinking pesticide, he left the family in debt. But even if they could pay off the loans, Rani said their farming days are over. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – July 28 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – July 26 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, July 31 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
Acorn Request for Proposals – Organic Market Research Study
ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) is seeking marketing/market research expertise to conduct an organic consumer market study in New Brunswick (and possibly all the Maritimes). The organization is accepting proposals until August 2nd at noon. Full details can be found here.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Open House on Prince Edward Island
Join us as we celebrate 150 years of agriculture and showcase agricultural research and innovation at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre on Prince Edward Island.
August 5, 2017, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – 1200 Brackley Point Road Harrington, Prince Edward Island MORE
Farmers Helping Farmers annual fundraising steak barbecue
Saturday Aug 12 from 4-6:30.
Tickets $30. Tickets available at Riverside Market, PEIFA office or from board members.
Call 902-393-0071
ACORN AGM & Speaker Series
Location: Tweedie Hall, Wallace McCain Centre
Mount Allison University
62 York Street/62 Rue York
Sackville, NB
August 21, 2017 from 1:00-4:00PM/13h00-16h00
BBQ/Potluck to follow at/à suivre 4:30PM/16h30 MORE
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
SAVE THE DATE
PEI Open Farm Day 2017 – Sunday, September 17th
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
Obsolete pesticide & animal health medication collections – November 6 – 17, 2017
Prince Edward Island from November 6 – 17, 2017.
Collection site locations and dates are available HERE.
