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
German minister for food and agriculture visits P.E.I.
German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt joined his Canadian counterpart Lawrence MacAulay Monday at MacAulay’s farm in St. Peter’s Bay. MORE
Agricultural runoff complaints increase on P.E.I.
There have been 15 complaints to P.E.I.’s Ag-Environment Team this spring, more than the last two years combined. MORE
Research supports on-farm adoption of clean technologies and practices
Farmers know the importance of keeping the land, water and air healthy to sustain their farms from one generation of farm family to the next. They also know that a clean environment and a strong economy go hand-in-hand. MORE
Quebec sets up single line for flooded farmers
Quebec farmers whose operations have been hit by flooding in recent weeks will have a single number to call for provincial support starting Tuesday. MORE
Three B.C. dairy workers who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty get jail time
British Columbia’s provincial court says three dairy farm workers from the Fraser Valley have been sentenced to jail for causing distress to an animal after an undercover video showed several employees abusing milk cows. MORE
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries – Job Opportunity
AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS OFFICER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES
Location: Charlottetown
FULL-TIME CLASSIFIED POSITION – (COMMENCING IMMEDIATELY)
Closing date – May 23, 2017
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is committed to the sustainable development of the agriculture industry on Prince Edward Island. The purpose of this position is to provide a broad range of highly specialized technical services to the staff of the Sustainable Agriculture Section to support the delivery of professional agri-environmental and engineering services that ensure that our natural resources are used in a sustainable manner. This position will also provide key technical support to research that will lead to improved beneficial management practices and assist in the delivery of agri-environmental policy and programs. 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
Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were rather subdued this past week; average prices were unchanged from seven days earlier. However, the bloom has come off the rose as the extreme highs from earlier in May have evaporated. MORE
Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives gets ready for summer research
Alexis Stockford, reporter with the Manitoba Co-operator, takes an up close look at summer research preparations at the Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives. MORE
Fed Cattle Futures on W20/2017 Close on Firm Note
Fed cattle futures closed last week on a firm note, with the August contract up 140 points and the Jun-Aug spread now at the lowest point since last November, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Cattlemen Applaud Gov Branstad’s Confirmation as Ambassador to China
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has applauded the confirmation of Governor Terry Branstad as Ambassador to China, saying that he is the “ideal person to help facilitate the US beef industry’s return to the Chinese market.” MORE
Research Suggests Eating Beans Instead of Beef Would Sharply Reduce GHGs
A team of researchers from four American universities says the key to reducing harmful greenhouse gases (GHG) in the short term is more likely to be found on the dinner plate than at the gas pump. MORE
U.S., China accelerate beef talks
Talks on restarting U.S. beef exports to China are moving fast and final details should be in place by early June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, allowing U.S. farmers to vie for business that has been lost by rival Brazil. MORE
Cattle Prices Continue to Strengthen
IFA National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods said cattle prices are continuing to strengthen with the base price for steers having moved up to a minimum of €4.10 all round and some prices of €4.15 to €4.20 paid. MORE
Fifth PED Case Prompts Call for Pork Industry Stakeholders to Minimise Movements
Manitoba Pork is encouraging pork producers and their service providers to step up their attention to biosecurity in the wake of the latest confirmed case of PED MORE
Pork Inventories in Cold Storage at End of April Down 6%
The latest USDA ‘Cold Storage’ report contained some positive implications for red meat demand in April, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Pig Prices Continuing on Upward Track
Prices are continuing on their upward track with no red ink in sight, although we have yet to scale the dizzy heights reached in November 2013 when the DAPP (now the SPP) hit 172.03p; MORE
Duo Set to Showcase Specially Selected Pork
On the first Saturday of June, thousands of people will descend on Thainstone Mart to visit the Taste of Grampian event, in association with Specially Selected Pork, which celebrates the richness and diversity of food in the region. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 18 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Friday, May 19 HERE
Potatoes
New Equipment adds flexibility to packaging operation PEI potato exporter
New packaging equipment at a Prince Edward Island potato packer, purchased with a loan from ACOA (the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), is expected to help the company reach new customers. MORE
POTATO LATE BLIGHT MANAGEMENT
Potato late blight is a devastating disease of potatoes. It can destroy a potato field in a few days if wet weather prevails and no effective fungicides are applied. MORE
The National Potato Council (NPC) applauds today’s official US kick-off to renegotiate NAFTA
The United States has officially indicated its desire to renegotiate the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement, triggering a 90-day consultation window before formal talks begin. MORE
FreshFel and Profel to Organize Their First Conference This Year
PROFEL, the European Association of Fruit and Vegetable Processors, and Freshfel, the European Fresh Produce Association, will join forces, holding their first cross-sector conference on Tuesday the 20th of June 2017, at the Thon Hotel EU, Brussels. MORE
TOMRA delivers the largest eco steam peeler
The new Eco steam peeler from TOMRA stands more than eight metres tall, and has the capability to peel 650kg of potatoes in less than seven seconds. MORE
Doomsday? Svalbard Seed Vault flooded, threatened by Climate Change
It was designed as an impregnable deep-freeze to protect the world’s most precious seeds from any global disaster and ensure humanity’s food supply forever. MORE
UK approves GM blight resistant potato field trial
In the United Kingdom, farming minister George Eustice (DEFRA) has approved a four-year trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes at The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich between 2017 and 2021. MORE
Belgium: Colruyt tests new collaboration directly with potato producers
Colruyt is the first distributor in Belgium to initiate a cooperation with potato producers. MORE
NW Europe potato planting area grows to 10 year high
The first estimate of acreage planted to potatoes in the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) region is projected to have reached a 10-year high. MORE
Asda now selling purple fries
From acai bowls to purple sprouting broccoli, the trend for purple food in all shapes and sizes has been sweeping the UK. Following this trend, Asda has released purple fries, called Majesty Chips. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review: Canola corrects higher
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts were stronger on Friday, taking some direction from the advances in Chicago Board of Trade soybeans and soyoil. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
Western Canadian wheat bids trend lower
Hard red spring wheat bids in Western Canada were lower during the week ended May 12, weighed down by action in U.S. futures. MORE
Corn, soybeans rise after rains
Chicago Board of Trade corn and soybean futures rose on Monday morning, supported by concerns that rain will delay field work in key growing areas and may damage some recently seeded crops, traders said. MORE
New plants could improve food supply
More than 1,700 new plants have been discovered in the past year, including species that could help provide food in the future, says a report from England. 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
650,000 blue jackets
Future Farmers of America brings more young people into agriculture, and gives them the tools to succeed MORE
CHS replaces CEO after earnings decline, Brazil exposure
CHS Inc., the biggest U.S. agricultural co-operative, named a new chief executive on Monday, after suffering a sharp decline in income and confirming it was a creditor of a failing Brazilian commodities trader. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – May 17 HERE
FCC Express – May 19 HERE
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Reports – May 19 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, May 16 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
