PEI Potato Growers participating in Open Farm Day 2016
PEI Open Farm Day is this Sunday, September 18th, with thirty farms across the province opening their doors to welcome the public to learn more about where their food comes from, as well as highlighting the value of agriculture to our economy and our culture. MORE
Warm fall ahead for P.E.I. says Weather Network
The nice weather is expected to continue well into October for P.E.I., according to The Weather Network’s fall forecast. Meteorologist Erin Wenckstern said Islanders can expect above normal temperatures and near normal precipitation for the next two months. MORE
Can a weakened loonie make Canadian agriculture stronger?
The loonie recently hit a six-year low against the American dollar, fueled by weaker energy prices and looming interest rate increases in the United States. These combined to put our currency on a downward trend since 2012. What does a weaker Canadian dollar mean for agriculture?
P.E.I Farm Technician Apprenticeship 2017 Training Block
Monday, January 9 – Friday, February 10, 2016 at the Farm Centre, 420 University Avenue, Charlottetown P.E.I.
Developed in consultation with the PEI Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee, this one-of-a-kind, free two-year registered apprenticeship program combines classroom learning with on-farm experience, earning students a Certificate of Qualification in Farm Technician by the PEI Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning.
Apprentices work throughout the year gaining skills on-farm with a farm mentor in addition to participating in five weeks of in-class training delivered by Extended Learning, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, on PEI. This unique program was developed to address the demand for a skilled, sustainable, agricultural workforce on P.E.I.
Those interested in starting the journey to become a Blue Seal Certified Farm Technician must first register with;
P.E.I. Agriculture Sector Council at 902- 892-1091, 1-866-892-1091 (toll free) or email: info@peiagsc.ca
Livestock
Young cattle producers wanted
Young producers are critical in the province’s goal of upping cattle numbers and the Young Cattlemen’s Council hopes to help meet that goal MORE
Breed all the cows at one time
AI advances mean the technique might deserve a second look MORE
Pounds pay for preconditioning calves
Tradition is sometimes blamed for the apparent lack of interest in preconditioning calves up to now. For Oliver Schunicht, however, tradition is the very reason he continues to precondition calves on his farm near Strathmore, Alta. MORE
U.S. livestock: Supplies drop CME lean hogs third straight session
Live, feeder cattle futures close lower MORE
Producers Share of Pork Price Continues to Rise
UK – The producer’s share of the retail pork price recorded increased marginally in August, reaching 36 per cent, the highest share for the past 18 months. MORE
Ontario Cattlemen’s Association Market Report – Tuesday, September 13 HERE
Potatoes
Fatal attraction: companion planting technique controls wireworms in potatoes
Wireworm damage cost Price Edward Island potato growers around $6 million in 2014. Decades ago the click beetle larvae were successfully controlled with chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides. Those agents were banned in the 1970s and 1980s because of their toxicity to animals and their tendency to build up in the soil. MORE
HOW MCCAIN FOODS USES BIG DATA
Big data was something McCain Foods discovered by chance. In fact it was a concept its director of agronomy Dr. Yves Leclerc wasn’t even familiar with until about a year and a half ago. MORE
Potato Europe 2016: Grimme to present many practical improvements of its planting, harvesting and handling technology.
Agricultural Machinery manufacturer Grimme will present at the Potato Europe in France several practical improvements of its planting, harvesting and handling technology. MORE
AAFC / InfoHort Potato Reports HERE
USDA – Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE
Crops
North American Grains/Oilseed Review – Canola dips with veg oil
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market drifted slightly lower on Tuesday, pressured by weakness in vegetable oil, crude oil and the lingering effects of yesterday’s USDA production report. MORE
ICE Futures Canada Tuesday: Canola futures prices lower, barley unchanged HERE
AM markets: wheat misses grains revival. But for how long? HERE
U.S. challenges Chinese wheat, corn, rice price supports at WTO
The United States on Tuesday launched a challenge to China’s price supports for domestic production of rice, wheat and corn at the World Trade Organization, charging that these far exceed limits that China committed to when it joined the WTO in 2001. MORE
U.S. grains: Soy, corn drop on record U.S. crop view, firmer dollar
FSA acreage data suggests crops may be even larger MORE
PEI Grain Elevator Prices – August 29 HERE
Grain Farmers of Ontario – Daily Commodity Report HERE
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE
General Interest
How to pay off your first farm (by age 30)
Jeff Vanhie has known all his life he wanted to farm. As one of five children on his family’s 30-cow dairy farm near Ailsa Craig northwest of London, Ont., he “farmed” the living room carpet as a toddler and by age 12, was saving money to buy his first farm. At 23, that dream became a reality and he’ll have that farm paid off when he marks his 30th birthday this September. MORE
Fertilizer merger highlights big-picture concerns
A multi-billion-dollar merger between two major crop input companies is the latest in a string of consolidation efforts in North America’s agriculture industry, drawing attention again to the possible effects on the value chain. MORE
Chinese pesticide firm to buy Adama Agricultural
Acquisition creates a merger between two ChemChina subsidiaries MORE
Regular Updates
Rayglen – Grain Insight Special Alert- September 12 HERE
Ontario Farm Market Summary – Tuesday, September 13 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)
September 24th-25th– Stratford September 27th-28th– 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.
Open Farm Day
Sunday, September 18th!
The PEI Agriculture Awareness Committee is pleased to present Open Farm Day on Sunday, September 18th. Islanders are encouraged to get out and visit some of the 30 participating farms that will be opening their barn doors. Information on each farm along with maps can be found HERE
National Organic Week – Sept 17 – 25, 2016
Canada’s National Organic Week is the largest annual celebration of organic food, farming and products across the country. MORE
PEI COPC 13th Annual Organic Harvest Meal & Celebration
September 25, 2016 6:00 PM at Confederation Centre of the Arts. MORE
Namaste Lamb Event
September 25 – Featuring Celebrity Chef Vikram Vij
A newly branded signature event this year on the Fall Flavours calendar and it will be held on September 24th at 6:00 pm. The event will be held at Rodd Crowbush Resort. Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased online or by phone at 1-866-960-9912 MORE
Canadian Agricultural Safety Association Annual Conference and AGM
Rodd Charlottetown Hotel – 75 Kent St. – October 4th-6th
This year’s theme is “Empowering the AgSafe Family – keeping kids safe”. The conference will bring together farmers, safety professionals, equipment manufacturers and researchers to probe the reality and discuss new approaches to improve the safety and health of children, youth, their families and young workers in Canada’s ag community. Conference details and registration information can be found HERE
World Food Day – October 16 MORE
