P.E.I. realtors say value of quality farmland rising faster than ever
‘This is as big a jump as I’ve seen’ MORE
Experience of living on a first generation farm sure comes in handy
Brittany Peters had some tough choices to make recently. For instance, should she go with the cheapest fertilizing method for her sugarcane crop or should she take a risk, invest some money in a new technology and potentially increase her crop yield?
Earls: “we’ve made a mistake”
Earls Kitchen and Bar has reversed its decision to source all its beef from Kansas and apologized to Alberta beef producers. MORE
Focusing on the future of Canadian food
A new collaboration network with a focus on food will be coming to Canada soon with the launch of The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CFI). Farm & Food Care Canada, a national charitable organization with the vision for building public trust in food and farming, will be introducing The Canadian CFI at their first annual Public Trust Summit in Ottawa May 31-June 1. MORE
Ag researchers calling for ongoing research evolution
The new federal government’s been saying all the right things, but that hasn’t translated into a lot of concrete action yet MORE
Exploring endless possibilities
Planning for your future is always a daunting task, but plant science diploma student Riley Kilfoil appears to have it all figured out. MORE
Livestock
The great divide: Earls controversy has larger implications for beef industry
A move to woo customers with ‘certified humane’ beef ignited a firestorm — and highlighted the gap between producers and consumers MORE
CME: Beef Exports Expected to Increase
Monthly trade numbers, on a carcass weight basis, will be released on Thursday by USDA-ERS. This data will be for the month of March, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE
U.S. livestock: More gains for CME live cattle
CME lean hogs turn lower MORE
Japanese Pork Imports On the Up
Although much of the world’s attention has been on China, it was not the only Asian market taking more pork in early 2016. Japan too increased its intake in the first three months of the year by over 20 per cent, compared with the same period last year. MORE
EU Pig Prices: Prices Increasing in Many Countries
Uphill at last! After a long lean period, the European pig slaughter market is finally appearing optimistic again with the pig prices going up. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Wednesday, May 4 HERE
Potatoes
Ontario potato crop update
The early-planted potato crop in the Leamington area is sprouting nicely with strong, healthy sprouts. In the Simcoe-Delhi area, the second earliest area, planting is progressing well, according to the potato crop update from Eugenia Banks. A few seed lots coming from other provinces had high incidence of common scab and silver scurf. MORE
Weekly Michigan Potato Report – May 4 HERE
Potato experts link up to improve varieties for South Asia
The International Potato Center (CIP), global seed potato company HZPC and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA) have announced a new partnership. Their joint aim is to develop better potatoes for tropical and subtropical conditions. MORE
Good yields in pilot potato cultivation in arid areas in India offer new opportunities
When CIP staff first arrived in Jodhpur things felt familiar. The arid landscape, the water table, and the warm days that fed into cool evenings were reminiscent of Gujarat – India’s most productive potato growing state, except that at Jodhpur and Jaisalmer district runs along the Pakistan border no potatoes were grown. MORE
Giant potato stops off in NY county
On Tuesday 3rd May, the world’s largest potato made a stop off in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to kick off the first ever Potato Chip Festival. MORE
US (ND): Court upholds potato farmer’s crop insurance fraud conviction
On Wednesday 4 May, the federal court of appeals upheld Aaron Johnson’s conviction and sentence for damaging his potato crops to commit insurance fraud. MORE
UPGC – April Newsletter HERE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
Fungicide ban looms
Fruit and vegetable growers are at risk of losing their most effective fungicides almost immediately and soon after that many other significant pesticides. The federal government’s Pest Management Review Agency is reviewing registrations now and Craig Hunter is urging growers to take the time and trouble to complete a survey organized by the Canadian Horticultural Council. MORE
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola Finishes Mixed
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market ended mixed on Wednesday. The July contract finished lower as traders took profits while vegetable oil advances and currency issues lifted the more-deferred values. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Wednesday: Canola futures prices mostly higher, barley unchanged HERE
ICE weekly outlook: Canola hits $500, watching volumes
ICE Futures Canada canola contracts seem to have found a new range during the week ended Wednesday, with both the July and November contracts lifting around the $500 per tonne mark. MORE
CBOT weekly outlook: Soy, corn consolidating
Commodities await growing season MORE
U.S. grains: Soy, wheat firm on bargain buying
Technical support noted MORE
StatsCan grain stocks data to confirm feed demand, production
Just how much barley did Canadian cattle eat over the past winter? Will there be any old-crop wheat left over this year? And how much canola was really grown in 2015? Answers to these questions and more will be closer to being found when Statistics Canada releases its latest stocks data on Friday. MORE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
A new era on the farm begins
We’re living at the dawn of the robot as hired farmhand MORE
Stacking enterprises makes farms more profitable and efficient
North Dakota’s Gabe Brown says they’ve found some surprising revenue streams on their operation MORE
Global Food Price Index Up in April
Global prices of key staple food commodities rose in April, marking its third consecutive monthly increase after four years of decline. MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen Market Comments – May 4 HERE
CFA in Action – May 3 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Wednesday, May 4 HERE
AgWeather Atlantic HERE
Today’s Local Weather – HERE
Meetings and Events
2 Day Standard First Aid and CPR Courses
(Membership discounted rate of $70)
May Dates:
May 7th-8th– Stratford May 11th-12th– Stratford
May 16th-17th– Summerside May 24th-25th– Stratford
*First aid and CPR course are also available at your farm for a minimum of 8 participants. Please contact Charlotte at 902-368-7289 for more details.
