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
GMO potatoes will not be grown commercially on P.E.I. this season
There will be no commercially grown GMO potatoes on Prince Edward Island this year, according to Simplot Plant Sciences, the company that developed the Innate potato. MORE
PEI Potato Board staff met with Shawn Schofield of the Agri-Environmental Unit
This meeting was to review what his staff saw in 2016 in responding to complaints, doing educational visits to farms, etc.
In an overall sense, most potato farms were doing things properly, particularly in the potato year.
After this meeting we would like to help raise awareness of two items in particular:
- 15 M buffer zones are required along PEI watercourses for ALL CROPS including grain and soybeans – not only row crops such as potatoes.
The Agri-Environmental Unit is happy to help growers review their fields and stake out areas for buffer zones.
- Burn permits are required when burning brush on your property. Permits are good for the season and are available free of charge. A permit and a quick call to your local fire department when you plan to burn will avoid unnecessary responses from local fire departments.
Burning garbage (particularly shingles, plastic and tires) is not permitted.
Shawn Schofield can be reached at: 902-393-5285.
‘They have piercing, sucking mouths’ and could be bound for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotians are being asked to stay on the lookout for an agricultural pest called the brown marmorated stink bug that’s known to turn perfectly good fruit “into a smoothie.” MORE
Ontario’s dairy group names new GM
Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) has found its new general manager within the organization. MORE
Behind the barn doors at Edmonton’s urban farm
‘You might know 146 people. I know 146 animals in the barn and I know them inside and out’ MORE
MacAulay not saying if he’ll fix U.S. wheat-grading irritant
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay has heard the Canadian grain sector’s request to fix a trade irritant over grading imported American wheat, but isn’t saying if he’ll do anything about it. MORE
From farm to fork, brought to you by artificial intelligence
Many Canadian consumers have noticed that lettuce and celery prices have skyrocketed recently. Such fluctuations happen all the time. But artificial intelligence is about to change that. MORE
Canada and Germany announce closer ties in agricultural research
World demand for food is growing and research and innovation will help Canadian farmers and food processors meet that demand. The Government of Canada is supporting science and innovation with key global partners to build the capacity necessary to take advantage of growth opportunities and create good, well-paying jobs. MORE
CANADIAN YOUNG LEADERS CHOSEN FOR YOUTH AG-SUMMIT
Bayer, together with partners Groene Kring (GK) and Fédération des Jeunes Agriculteurs (FJA), is pleased to announce that 100 bright young minds have been selected to participate in the third global Youth Ag-Summit, which will take place in Brussels, Belgium from Oct. 9-13, 2017. MORE
Deadline extended for comment on cash ticket deferral
Public consultations on the income tax treatment of deferred grain cash tickets, with an eye toward “potential elimination” of farmers’ option to defer grain income, have been extended by two months. 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
Fall Calving Season May Yield Higher Returns for Southeastern Beef Producers
The vast majority of cow-calf producers in Tennessee and the Southeast using a defined calving season have long favored spring calving; however, researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have evaluated the risk and returns for a fall calving season, proving once again that timing is everything. MORE
Dealers Threaten to Stop Bringing Cattle to Lagos
Cattle dealers, butchers and other stakeholders at the Oko-Oba Abattoir in Agege, Lagos State, have threatened to ensure that no cattle were brought to Lagos State until the state government compensate them for the Sunday demolition at the abattoir. MORE
Dairy Cows Serve as Surrogate Moms for Wagyu Beef Cattle
A start-up in Mie Prefecture is attempting to beef up the breeding of famed “wagyu” cattle through surrogate birthing by Holstein dairy cows in Hokkaido. MORE
Dairy fat not heart and stroke culprit
A review of 29 health studies involving more than a million patients says dairy fat doesn’t increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. MORE
Research Demonstrates Value of Enrichment
A research Scientist Ethology with the Prairie Swine Centre says studies are showing that enriching the living environment of pigs improves productivity at all stages of growth MORE
PigTrace Canada Encourages Greater Use of PigTrace Data
PigTrace Canada is encouraging swine health officials to make wider use of PigTrace data when tracking swine disease outbreaks MORE
Hogs gain, cattle ease on spread unwinding
U.S. lean hog futures rose to a three-month high on Tuesday while live cattle declined as some investors unwound hog-cattle spreads, traders and analysts said. MORE
Summer Hog Futures Bolstered in Recent Days
Hog slaughter for the week was 2.249 million head, 6.3 per cent higher than the previous year, reports Steiner Consulting Group, DLR Division, Inc. MORE
Demand for Slaughter Pigs Continues
The current European slaughter pig market appears overall optimistic. Many quotations recently went up considerably. In relation to demand, the scarce quantities of live pigs on offer are regarded as price boosters. MORE
Alternative Asian Markets Support EU Markets
EU exports of all pig meat products (including offal) to third countries grew by 5 per cent year-on-year in the first three months of 2017, according to latest figures from the EU commission, reports Bethan Wilkins, AHDB analyst. MORE
Atlantic Stockyards Market Report – May 18 – HERE
*Scroll down to find current report
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, May 23 HERE
Potatoes
NEW SPECIALTY POTATOES OFFER CHOICE
The outlook for Innate, Carisma, Rooster and other varieties in 2017. MORE
New potato-derived health product hits store shelves
A Carberry business that successfully launched a natural health product for the hog sector has now released a second-generation product aimed at the human market. MORE
Nominations Open for 2018 Potatoes USA Board Members
Potatoes USA announces nominations are now open for new Board Members for the 2018-2021 term. MORE
Unlawful use of farm-saved seed potatoes in Belgium leads to large fine and damage compensation
The Antwerp Court of Appeal has sentenced a farmer in the Belgian province of Antwerp to pay a large fine and damage compensation to Breeders Trust. MORE
Indian potato seed company receieves $4.6m investment
Bengaluru-based potato seeds firm Utkal Tubers India Pvt. Ltd has raised around USD $4.6 million from Zephyr Peacock India Fund and CapAleph Indian Millennium SME Fund, according to a media report. MORE
Hundreds of tons of potatoes go to waste after Australian trade restrictions
The repercussions of the tomato potato psyllid outbreak are taking shape in Western Australia, with seed potato growers starting to feed hundreds of tonnes of perfectly good produce to their cattle. MORE
Peru becomes the leading potato producer in Latin America
Peru has managed to consolidate itself as the first potato producer in Latin America and the second in the American continent, only behind the United States, the Andean country’s Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry (Minagri) reported on Monday. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola rises with low stocks, seeding delays
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts ended higher on Tuesday, propped up by seeding delays and low commercial stocks. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices higher, barley unchanged HERE
Eyes on winterkill as producers assess forage stands
It appears forage producers in eastern Manitoba are suffering the same weather-related winterkill that hit winter wheat in the region. MORE
Soggy forecast worries Prairie farmers in race to seed crops
Heavy rain forecast for the soggiest parts of the Prairies this week is likely to further delay seeding in the world’s biggest canola-exporting country, meteorologists say. MORE
Southeast Manitoba sees considerable winterkill in alfalfa
Fields throughout the Southeast have experienced considerable winter kill due in part to the mild conditions this past winter and rains that may have reduced the insulating effect of the snow and/or caused icing that suffocated the alfalfa. MORE
Corn falls on reassuring crop progress data
U.S. corn futures fell 1.5 per cent on Tuesday, halting a two-session advance as weekly U.S. planting progress data eased concerns about rain-related delays in the Midwest, analysts said. 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
Small SWOT, big ideas
Over the last four years Ontario organic farmer and consultant David Cohlmeyer has completed over 20 business plans for smaller and medium-sized farms. But before doing a business plan, with updated budget, balance sheets, marketing plans and cash flow statements, Cohlmeyer works with the clients to do a SWOT analysis. MORE
Glencore approaches Bunge on possible takeover
Glencore Plc said on Tuesday its agricultural unit has made an informal approach to commodities trader Bunge Ltd. about a “possible consensual business combination,” the company said in a statement. MORE
U.S. farm groups oppose Trump’s cuts to ag spending
U.S. farm groups on Tuesday pushed back against President Donald Trump’s proposal to slash agriculture spending, viewing it as a fresh threat to a struggling farm economy. 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 23 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
