Local, Regional, Canadian News
June Member Profile – Douglas and Ian Simmons HERE
‘Strong leader … good team player’ wins WI agriculture award
Mary Robinson, a former president of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture, is this year’s winner of the 2017 Women in Agriculture Award from the P.E.I. Women’s Institute. MORE
PEI Food Exchange launches Garden Share website
The PEI Food Exchange is trying to make it easier for people who don’t have a garden of their own to find a place to plant. MORE
Celebrating fries with the works: P.E.I. Potato Board kicks off summer campaign
Fries with the works are on the menu for a new promotion by the P.E.I. Potato Board. MORE
P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay meets with U.S. agriculture minister
Canada’s agriculture minister held his first face-to-face meeting with his U.S. counterpart in Toronto Monday. MORE
Government of Canada wants to hear from Canadians in developing A Food Policy for Canada
A Food Policy for Canada will be the first-of-its-kind for the Government of Canada, and represents an important step in tackling the opportunities and challenges of Canada’s food system. MORE
Conference board issues provincial food ‘report card’
Saskatchewan has earned nearly all As for industry prosperity, household food security and other areas in Canada’s Food Report Card 2016. MORE
Funding available to collaborative projects
The federal government has announced it will spend $950 million on what it’s calling an “Innovation Superclusters Initiative” to advance sectors like infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and agriculture. MORE
Backbencher calls for carbon tax transparency
Monte McNaughton, Conservative MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex has introduced legislation to require a separate line to show the new carbon tax on natural gas bills. 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
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/
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.
Livestock
Cattle extend gains as beef prices rise
U.S. cattle futures climbed about one per cent on Monday, with several deferred live cattle contracts notching lifetime highs and front-month feeders hitting a 15-month peak on investment fund buying tied to gains in beef prices. MORE
Changes Welcome to Tissue Tagging for Beef Efficiency Scheme
While the aims of the Beef Efficiency Scheme are admirable, the administration of the scheme has resulted in a number of beef farmers choosing not to participate and others deciding to withdraw their participation. MORE
Live Cattle Exports Up 43% on Last Year
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said live exports are performing well this year and providing a major boost to cattle farmers. MORE
FAO Reaches Milestone in Famine Prevention Campaign in Somalia
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is pushing forward with a massive campaign that has so far treated more than 12 million animals in less than three months, protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families who rely on their livestock’s meat and milk for survival. MORE
U.S. asks Canada to end ‘underhanded’ dairy pricing class
The United States has asked Canada to eliminate a new “underhanded” dairy-pricing class that has undercut sales by U.S. dairies to Canadian processors, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Monday. MORE
Canada beats U.S. in pork sales to China – feet, elbows and all
Canada has overtaken the United States as the top North American supplier of pork to China as farmers and meat packers in both nations battle for lucrative shares of the biggest global market. MORE
Heat used to disinfect hog trailers
Research at Saskatoon has demonstrated that heat is effective in eliminating diseases from hog-trucking equipment.
It’s a welcome alternative to intensive and meticulous washing and disinfecting that has been the approach for cleaning trucks returning from the United States where Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus is widespread. MORE
CPC Addresses Non-Tariff Trade Barriers with Standing Committee on Agriculture, Agri-Food
Representatives from the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) were in Ottawa last week to address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Non-Tariff Trade Barriers to the Sale of Agricultural Products in Relation to Free Trade Agreements. MORE
Consumers view free-range eggs as better tasting
Egg buyers appear to have linked taste with the ‘happiness’ of the hens MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – June 1 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, June 5 HERE
Potatoes
US frozen and fresh potato exports recover
Total U.S. frozen potato exports recovered in March, up 17% over March 2016 and bringing the total for the first three-quarters of the marketing year to 754,953 metric tons, up 3% over the same period last fiscal year, according to Potatoes USA’s data. MORE
PotatoSize app helps farmers predict yields with their smartphones
As part of the smart farming project, a software-based potato yield model that has been developed jointly by agridata centre Agrimetrics and the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) is aimed at giving farmers reliable predictions on a crop’s likely yield and value via their smartphones. MORE
US main destination for frozen yellow potatoes
In the first few months of 2017, frozen yellow potato exports have had a somewhat slower pace than in the same period of last year. MORE
Fertility Considerations for Potatoes
The following should be considered when developing a fertilizer program for potato production. MORE
Six new potato varieties in recent years
Science not only preserves our heritage in terms of germplasm, but it also allows developing food varieties that, in this case, combine the best characteristics of the different types of potatoes that exist in our country. MORE
Kenya seeks to revamp potato farming & improve yields
Kenya’s potato stakeholders have vowed to revamp potato farming to help to increase supply as demand for the produce, mostly consumed as fries, rises in both urban and rural areas. MORE
Domestic new potatoes vs. foreign cold-storage potatoes
It seems retailers are still giving preference to foreign cold-storage potatoes (mainly from France) even though domestic new potatoes are available. A producer and trader confirmed this and also confirmed the falling prices during week 21. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American grain/oilseed review: Canola starts week off on a high note
ICE Futures Canada canola closed stronger on Monday, as canola moved in correction-based trade after losses in earlier sessions. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices mixed, barley unchanged HERE
Wet weather delays seeding season for Ontario farmers
The fields at Nandale Farms in Pakenham, ON are generally starting to sprout by early June but this year that’s not the case. MORE
Consultations sought on grading U.S. wheat imports
Grain industry consultations are needed before the Canada Grain Act is amended to allow imported U.S. wheat to receive a Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) grade, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commssion says. MORE
Alfalfa in early bud stage, time to cut alfalfa/grass mixes
This is the fourth release for the Green Gold program in 2017 assessing forage conditions in Manitoba. Reports will be issued from various areas of the Province (Eastern, Central, Interlake, and Western) in the weeks and months ahead. MORE
Get more from cover crops
Cover cropping is certainly the hot topic of the last two years, with lots of interest in everything from traditional oat and red clover covers to multi-blending and inter-seeding covers into standing crops. Recently, Twitter has been alive with photos and links, and with descriptions of progress and the impacts of various cover crop regimens. MORE
Spring wheat futures climb on weather worries
U.S. spring wheat futures traded on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) closed higher on Monday for a fourth straight session on fears of hot, dry weather in the northern Plains, while corn and soybean futures ended fractionally higher. MORE
Tips for Managing Field Irrigation
One thing I know in life is that there is no magic pill that will make it easy to do anything. There is nothing to take to make you keep your hair. Nothing to make you lose weight. Nothing to keep you from making the wrong decision. The same thing goes for field irrigation management. MORE
China’s wheat hoard masks tightening in global market
World wheat supply is expected to hit record levels in 2017-18 for the fourth year in a row, but remove China from the equation and next year’s global wheat carry-out would be the lowest in four years. MORE
AM markets: spring wheat futures hit fresh high on US woes HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
USDA to Help Farmers Adapt to Climate Change
While Democratic lawmakers and farm activists criticized President Donald Trump for his decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Treaty, agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue shrugged off climate change as inevitable and said the USDA was “committed to digging ever deeper into research to develop better methods of agricultural production in that changing climate.” MORE
AgroExpo 2017
Aug. 15-16, progressive thinkers and innovators from the agriculture industry will gather at AgroExpo 2017. The event is designed to allow the time and space to demonstrate in the field how the latest products and services will benefit individual farms. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – June 2 HERE
Rayglen Market Comments – May 31 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Thursday, June 1 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
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
