August Member Profile – Jonathan MacLennan HERE
Job Posting – PEIFA
The PEI Federation of Agriculture is seeking a full-time Executive Assistant. View the job posting HERE
Local, Regional, Canadian News
P.E.I. blueberry growers offer $10K reward for info on vandalism
‘Shocking’ damage requires industry response, says association MORE and MORE
National Free Trade Deal Expected to Benefit Canadian Agriculture
Manitoba’s Premier says a new national agreement that will begin the process of eliminating barriers to trade among the provinces will benefit all Canadians, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
New approach to Governor in Council and Ministerial appointments
The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is responsible for recommending Governor in Council appointments to five different agri-food organizations: the Canadian Dairy Commission, the Canadian Grain Commission, Farm Credit Canada, Farm Products Council of Canada and the Canadian Agricultural Review Tribunal. The Minister is also responsible for the Appointment of Board and Committee members to the Farm Debt Mediation Service Appeal Boards and National Program Advisory Committee. MORE
More on Canadian Dairy Commission appointments HERE
More on Farm Debt Mediation Service Appeal Boards appointments HERE
Livestock
Klassen: Feeder cattle market comes back to life
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $4-$6 higher on average — in some cases as much as $10 higher in the major feeding regions of Alberta. A couple of auction barns held their first yearling sale of the year and optimism returned with a vengeance. A minor bounce in feeder and live cattle futures along with a softer Canadian dollar set a positive tone. MORE
Live Cattle Futures Improvements Aim for Better Risk Management
Futures company CME Group has announced a number of actions designed to enhance Live Cattle futures markets and help cattle producers manage risk. MORE
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle
Feeder cattle finish mixed, lean hogs close mostly higher MORE
Wendy’s aims for antibiotic-free chicken by next year
U.S. fast food chain Wendy’s aims to source all of its chicken products from birds raised without the use of antibiotics “important to human medicine” by 2017. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – August 4 HERE
Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, August 8 HERE
Potatoes
Black Gold Farms has started the harvest of red potatoes in Indiana
The red potato harvest has begun at Black Gold Farms’ operation in Winamac, IN, located about two hours south of Chicago and the same distance north of Indianapolis. Focusing exclusively on red potatoes for the fresh market, the Winamac farm grows several hundred acres of premier quality Norland and Dark Red Norland varieties, which will be harvested between now and the end of August. MORE
LARGEST U.S. RED POTATO PRODUCER TAKES PUMMELING
The weather has put Red River Valley farmers through the wringer this year. Now the nation could be feeling the effects. “You know you kind of take care of them as if they’re your kids. So, you know, it’s probably like other kids seeing their kids get hurt,” says third generation potato farmer Andrew Moquist. MORE
Look Out for New PVY Strains
Several newly evolved strains of potato virus Y (PVY) have emerged and are threatening the U.S. potato industry, including potatoes grown in Washington State. These new strains can render potatoes unmarketable and significantly reduce crop yield. What’s worse is the new viruses are particularly difficult to detect with the naked eye. MORE
McDonalds’s of the Future Serves Unlimited Fries
McDonald’s has recently opened a new location in Missouri, the US, with services that include self-serve kiosks for ordering meals, table service, and the highly sought after option of unlimited french fries. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola firms alongside soy, veg oil
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market chalked up modest gains Monday, tracking advances in the US soy complex. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: corn eases, despite rare US crop rating decline HERE
Oats face numerous pre-harvest question marks
Oat producers are playing the waiting game when it comes to one of the most important things for oat crops: quality. “There’s always a concern about quality and you never know where that is going to be until harvest,” said Art Enns, president of the Prairie Oat Growers Association at Morris in Manitoba’s Red River Valley. MORE
Promoting Canadian wheat in Latin America
Customers in Peru and Chile like the quality of CWRS, and are interested in more CPSR MORE
U.S. grains: Soy rises to one-week high on export deals
Short-covering lifts corn, big crop outlook caps gains MORE
Moisture in or moisture out?
Are you really drying that grain when you turn on the fans? MORE
PEI Grain Elevators Prices – August 4 HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Farm tech investment drops off after record year
Investor backing for agriculture technology startups cooled in the first half of 2016 after record global investment last year, according to industry data released on Monday. MORE
The FAO Food Price Index went down in July
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) – an indicator of global food prices – averaged 161.9 points in July 2016, 1.3 points (0.8 percent) below June and 1.4 percent below the corresponding month last year. The modest decline in July that followed five consecutive monthly increases was largely caused by drops in international quotations of grains and vegetable oils, more than offsetting firmer dairy, meat and sugar prices. MORE
Regular Updates
PEIDAF Agriculture Marketing Report – August 5 HERE
AAFC – Agri-info Newsletter – August 2016 HERE
FCC Express – Friday, August 8 HERE
ACORN E-New – August 2016 HERE
StatsCan – Farm product prices, June 2016 HERE and HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Monday, August 8 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
East Coast Style 2016 – Dairy Sale & Show
Aug 11 – 13 – Eastside Holsteins, Frenchfort MORE
OPEN HOUSE AT AAFC HARRINGTON RESEARCH FARM
EVERY THURSDAY IN AUGUST 2:00 – 4:00 PM – August 11, August 18, August 25
Early September with an organic potato variety day with David Main
View all details HERE
Farmers Helping Farmers Annual Beef Barbecue
Saturday August 13th from 4:00-6:30pm at the Harrington Research Station, 1200 Brackley Point Road.
Tickets are $30 each for adults, $10 for children under 12, and take-out is available. You can get your tickets by emailing farmershelpingfarmerspei@gmail.com or dropping by the PEIFA Office in the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue.
National Organic Week – Sept 17 – 25, 2016
Canada’s National Organic Week is the largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country. MORE
Namaste Lamb Event
Featuring Celebrity Chef Vikram Vij
A newly branded signature event this year on the Fall Flavours calendar and it will be held on September 24th at 6:00 pm. The event will be held at Rodd Crowbush Resort. Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased online or by phone at 1-866-960-9912 MORE
