Local, Regional, Canadian News
Proposed pesticide ban surprises P.E.I. Potato Board
Health Canada’s proposal to phase out a pesticide over three years will have a significant impact on Island farmers, says the P.E.I. Potato Board. MORE
Origin of potato with needle needs confirmation say P.E.I. RCMP
Halifax Regional Police are investigating after they received a call Sunday night that someone found a needle in a batch of potatoes they say came from P.E.I. MORE
Harvesting entrepreneurs
Is there a correlation between being a farmer and being an entrepreneur running a successful business? If you examine life on a farm, you will see that there are many similarities with farming and business ownership. MORE
Canada shouldn’t lose resolve for a carbon tax, says Shell exec
Amid calls for Canada to abandon its plans for a carbon tax, it’s notable that none of the country’s largest oil and gas companies are voicing their concerns. Instead, the head of Shell Canada, and other CEOs, want governments to push forward with putting a price on carbon. MORE
Farming work exempt from proposed Alberta helmet law
Farmers and ranchers at work would be exempt from a proposed new law requiring off-highway vehicle (OHV) users to wear helmets while operating on public land in Alberta. MORE
Federation of Agriculture offering Forklift Training through the FCC AgSafety Fund
The PEIFA has received funding for forklift safety training through the Farm Credit Canada AgSafety Fund administered through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. This training is open to farm employees needing recertification as well as those who may be entering into employment in the agriculture sector.
Courses will be held across the Island and can he hosted at the farm. This training is being offered at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Space is limited.
Next available date:
December 7th
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289.
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
Train-the-Trainer Workshops on the Best Practices for Developing Standard Operating Procedures
This project will train students in the best practices to develop Standard Operating Procedures for tractor and machinery operation. It will include classroom training on CASA’s Safety Standard Operating Procedures Training Module as well as hands on exercises with students developing their own SOPs for their tractor and machinery. The initial session will be facilitated by a trained instructor. Future sessions will rely on trained volunteers to facilitate the group exercises on developing additional SOPs for tractor and machinery. Students will be encouraged to share their SOPs with other students to increase the number of SOPs available to all participants.
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289
Livestock
More culls, quarantines added to bovine TB probe
Thousands more cattle and calves in southeastern Alberta are now booked to be destroyed, as a search continues for animals that had contact with one or more of six tuberculosis-infected Alberta cattle. MORE
What will it take to expand the herd?
Throughout its fall district meetings, the Manitoba Beef Producers has been polling its membership for input on what it will take to expand the provincial herd MORE
Record High Beef Stocks in Cold Storage
This past week, livestock futures markets recorded higher prices, according to the latest Daily Livestock Report published by Steiner Consulting Group. MORE
Irish Farmers Call for Higher Beef Prices Heading into Winter
The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) National Livestock Chairman Angus Woods has said the grass cattle are now gone and winter finishers need a substantial price increase to cover costs and move cattle out of sheds. MORE
Humans raised dairy animals for longer than thought
Our link to milk-producing animals dates back to the onset of agriculture MORE
Technology Procedures Training Change in Response to Risk of Disease Transmission
Steve’s Livestock Transport says, in response to the growing risk of disease transmission during transport, procedures and technologies have change and there’s been a greater emphasis placed on training, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE
Scotland Launches Action Plan for New Generation Farmers
A 10 point action plan aimed at kick-starting a new generation of farmers by dramatically increasing the number of starter opportunities on public land has been published. MORE
Russia Reports More ASF Outbreaks
Russia has reported more outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) on pig farms. MORE
Ukraine Reports More ASF Outbreaks
Two further outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) have been reported by Ukrainian authorities to the OIE. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – November 24 HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Monday, November 28 HERE
Potatoes
McDonald’s accepts two new potato varieties for its fries: Blazer Russet and Clearwater Russet
When it comes to potatoes, french fries are the big outlet for Columbia Basin farmers. And when it comes to selling french fries, McDonald’s is the holy grail. MORE
Giving Thanks to Potato Breeders
Over the Thanksgiving holiday Americans boiled, mashed, baked, and buttered a whole lot of potatoes. In fact, thanks to meat-avoiding vegetarians and everyone else who just doesn’t like turkey, potatoes are the most commonly eaten Thanksgiving food, according to research group NPD. MORE
NW Farm Credit’s Wilson Receives Award
Blair Wilson, Idaho state president for Northwest Farm Credit Services, recently received the Northwest Regional Cooperative Award, which is determined by nomination and selected by cooperatives in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. MORE
Fewer potatoes from Brandenburg
The potato crop this year in Brandenburg was less this year than last year. In 2015, 322,500 metric tonnes of potatoes were dug up, compared to 317,000 metric tonnes this year, according to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office. MORE
2016 potato crop is 4th smallest on record
AHDB Potatoes’ first provisional estimate of total production in Great Britain for the 2016 crop year is 5.22 million tonnes, down 5% from 2015. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review: Canola dips with currency action
ICE Futures Canada canola market finished lower on Monday, as strength in the Canadian dollar put a bearish tone on prices. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Monday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
Soy rally extends to seventh day
U.S. soybean futures rose for the seventh day in a row on Monday, led higher by strong export demand gains in the soymeal market, traders said. MORE
AM markets: US biofuel boost sends palm oil to 4-year high HERE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
Young farmers talk about their future
We find out what these university students are thinking as they prepare to head home to the farm. They know their opportunities are great, but their challenges are humbling too MORE
Taxability to rise on Saskatchewan rangeland
The percentage of value (POV) subject to property taxes will be bumped back up on Saskatchewan producers’ rangeland and pasture for the 2017 tax year. MORE
It’s official — Manitoba set the antique harvest record, Guinness World Records says
The event raised $134,000 to be split between Canadian Foodgrains Bank and the Manitoba Agricultural Museum MORE
If you think “Butter is Back”, think again…
Consuming high amounts of four major saturated fatty acids – found in red meat, dairy fat, butter, lard, and palm oil – may increase risk of coronary heart disease, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. MORE
Scotland Launches Action Plan for New Generation Farmers
A 10 point action plan aimed at kick-starting a new generation of farmers by dramatically increasing the number of starter opportunities on public land has been published. MORE
Regular Updates
Weekly PEI Agriculture Market Comments – November 25 HERE
FCC Express – November 25 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Friday, November 25 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
ACORN, Atlantic Canada’s Organic Regional Network
SEEDS OF CHANGE: Changing Climate, Changing Agriculture – the annual ACORN Conference and Trade Show! ACORN’s conference is a fun, three-day event that brings together organic and sustainable farmers, processors and businesses from across the region and beyond. MORE
FCC Ag Knowledge Exchange
Date: December 6, 2016
Location: Charlottetown, PEI
Hosted by: FCC Charlottetown Office
Topic: Tax and the Corporate Farm, presented by Lance Stockbrugger
Register: HERE
Information Session – Workers Compensation Board – Coverage for Farmers
Effective January 1, 2017, all farms will be required to have WCB coverage under the Workers Compensation Act. For more information, please join us on
Wednesday, December 7th 12:00 – 5:00pm
Farm Centre – 420 University Avenue
For more information please call (902) 368-7289
Federation of Agriculture offering Forklift Training through the FCC AgSafety Fund
The PEIFA has received funding for forklift safety training through the Farm Credit Canada AgSafety Fund administered through the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. This training is open to farm employees needing recertification as well as those who may be entering into employment in the agriculture sector.
Courses will be held across the Island and can he hosted at the farm. This training is being offered at a discounted rate of $20 per person. Space is limited.
Next available date:
December 7th
For more information please contact Matt at the PEIFA office 902-368-7289.
PEI Organic Forum: 2020 – An Organic Vision for PEI
Join ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network) and the PEI COPC (Certified Organic Producers’ Co-op) for an opportunity to network with Island organic stakeholders and provide your input on the direction of organics on the Island, creating a vision and action plan to move organics forward. This event is FREE and includes dinner (donation to cover food appreciated).
Monday, December 12, 2016 at 420 University Avenue (Farm Centre). MORE
Information Session
A. Grain & Pulse Solutions would like to invite interested agricultural producers to an information session to discuss future Pulse acres, mainly on Prince Edward Island and expanding into Atlantic Canada.
Tuesday, December 13th 1pm-3pm
PEI Farm Centre, 420 University Ave (rooms 105-106)
Green and Yellow Field Pea 2017 expansion of acreage throughout PEI and the Atlantic Provinces will be the main focus. Faba bean production acreage will also be discussed in addition to winter pulse crop possibilities.
Discussions will consist of:
Introduction of W. A. Grain & Pulse Solutions, who we are and what we do.
Rotational benefits of Pulse crops.
Review of 2016 crop year results, best practice and lessons learned.
Introduction of new pulse varieties, both production and trial.
Marketing, export and value add potential for PEI and Atlantic Canada.
Results of Northern Ontario/Quebec and Western programs.
