Farm Safety Week is March 13 19 See more below!!
Vernon River / Orwell Watershed Association Meeting
March 9 7:00 pm St. Joachims Church Hall Vernon River
Speakers will include: John Phillips East Prince Agri Group, Chiel Middelkamp Organic Producer and David MacKenzie Hog Producer
Local, Regional, Canadian News
SPECIAL PRICING ON RAM TRUCKS FOR MARCH
Thinking of a new truck this spring through the PEIFA / Chrysler fleet discount program? Additional savings are available for March 2016. See more HERE[1][2]
Ban snowmobiles from ditches, asks blueberry fields manager
Randy Pitre says snowmobiles have caused thousands of dollars of damage to the blueberry fields he manages MORE[3]
Vigilante justice about to come down on P.E.I. snowmobilers
Crop manager says farmers patience stretched to limit by snowmobilers driving over fields, damaging plants MORE[4]
Easter Beef Show and sale 2016 sees entry increase
We hope that we can continue doing this for 65 more years MORE[5]
Research finds most nitrates in Northumberland Strait come from P.E.I.
A research team has discovered that Prince Edward Island is exporting more than just potatoes. MORE[6]
Imperfect, but tasty, produce going on sale in P.E.I.
Produce that perhaps tastes better than it looks will be sold at discount pricing in numerous P.E.I. grocery stores. MORE[7]
P.E.I. sheep lady
Jackie Paynter was filled with anticipation over the arrival of a barn load of babies. There was anxiety as well. It s always fun to see the new babies come, but it s absolutely exhausting, says Paynter. MORE[8]
Earliest ever: Hillgrove maple syrup producer looks back over 60 springs
NS He taps about 75 trees in Hillgrove, up on the ridge above Digby, enough to make a little syrup for his family and good friends. He can look back over 60 odd springs and this is by far the earliest he has ever started making maple syrup. MORE[9]
Northgate Gonz lez sets Idaho potato display record
The previous record was 92,500 pounds, set in 2012 by a display in Canada. MORE[10]
*From 2012*
Sobeys completes World s Largest Potato Display in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
October 4, 2012 1 potato 2 potato 92,500 potato yes, indeed. 92,500 pounds of PEI potatoes made their way to the world s largest potato pile-up in Prince Edward Island this week. MORE[11]
Environment Canada says spring will be warmer than normal
Milder than usual temperatures for March, April, May predicted right across the country MORE[12]
Farm Safety Week March 13th 19th
Be an Ag Safe Family
Save on Safety for Farm Safety Week!! MORE[13]
In celebration of Farm Safety Week March 13th-19th, local businesses are giving you the chance to save on safety!
Green Diamond Equipment 20% off of guards, shields, lighting kits, personal protective equipment and much more throughout the month of March.
T&K Fire & Safety 15% off of safety equipment throughout FSW.
Island First Aid 15% off of family and vehicle first aid kits throughout FSW.
*Visit in store for details*
Personal stories help bring Ag Safety Week to life
Accidents always happen to somebody else. A least that s what R jean Pommainville thought until that summer afternoon in 2009 when he fell from the top of a loaded hay wagon and shattered his left heel on the ground. It changed my life, says the third-generation farmer, who was 54 at the time. MORE[14]
Livestock
$2.6 Million Committed to Marketing Canadian Beef Genetics
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Calgary on Wednesday to announce almost $2.6 million for developing markets for Canadian beef cattle genetics. MORE[15]
COOL declared dead
On Tuesday, the USDA released its final rule to repeal the controversial mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork. MORE[16]
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle snaps back in anticipation of cash prices
Lean hog market ends higher, USDA to end mid-year biannual cattle report MORE[17]
CME: US Cattle Numbers Continue to Increase
The general theme in the US cattle market in the last two years is that cattle numbers are slowly increasing and expansion will continue to gain steam in the next couple of years. If we zoom out just a little bit, however, we will notice that the same cannot be said for our partners to the North and South, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE[18]
Canada Hog Market
Last commentary I started a fool s errand (which I ve done before) of commenting on the future. I suggested for Canada that we might be heading back to the future, writes Bob Fraser, Sales & Service, Genesus Ontario. MORE[19]
CME: Expansion of Hog Breeding Herd Expected
The next USDA update on US hog and pig inventories will be published at the end of this month (March 25) and Statistics Canada will release this week its semi-annual report on Canadian hog and pig inventories, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner. MORE[20]
Lower Pork Exports Expected to Pressure Live Hog Prices
The Director of Risk Management with h@ms Marketing Services says an anticipated lag in exports of beef, pork and chicken combined with increased slaughter hog numbers will put pressure on live hog markets, writes Bruce Cochrane. MORE[21]
New Research Aimed at Improving PEDv Control
Beginning in the spring of 2013, a deadly virus spread quickly throughout the swine industry. The Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDV) has been reported in over 35 states and is estimated to have an annual economic impact of up to $1.8 billion. MORE[22]
Assessing the Environmental Impact of Meat Production
A new European project is being established to map, understand and reduce the environmental impact of packed fresh meat from beef, pork and lamb. MORE[23]
Study: Beef consumption must be cut dramatically to control climate change
European scientists want consumers to stop eating so much beef and dairy, saying the methane and nitrous oxide being emitted is to blame for global warming. MORE[24]
New Canola Seen as Substitute for Soybean Meal in Poultry and Swine Rations
A new canola trait launched by Dow AgroSciences this week has the potential to expand the market for canola meal and change rations used for hog and poultry production. MORE[25]
Ontario Cattlemen s Association Market Report Friday, March 4 HERE[26]
Potatoes
Gillenkirch installs high quality & hygienic plant for handling potatoes at Rollo Bay Holdings
Due to the alarming situation in Prince Edward Island by having needles contaminated potatoes, the company Rollo Bay Holdings Ltd. contacted Gillenkirch for a possible solution for this problem. MORE[27]
Northgate Gonz lez sets Idaho potato display record
The previous record was 92,500 pounds, set in 2012 by a display in Canada. MORE[28]
From 2012
Sobeys completes World s Largest Potato Display in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
October 4, 2012 1 potato 2 potato 92,500 potato yes, indeed. 92,500 pounds of PEI potatoes made their way to the world s largest potato pile-up in Prince Edward Island this week. MORE[29]
Dickeya Species pester Maine Seed Potato Growers
A little-understood bacteria is bringing back an older potato disease and is threatening the reputation of Maine seed potatoes, which farmers up and down the East Coast buy to grow their own spuds. MORE[30]
Oregon researcher participates in potato pest study
Dee Denver, a genomicist in Oregon State University s College of Science is part of an international team studying potato cyst nematodes. Denver is working with scientists from Idaho, New York, Canada, France and Scotland on a five-year, $3.2 million project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. MORE[31]
Spanish potatoes could lose British market this year
The Spanish early potato campaign will kick off with serious problems this year because of the situation with exports to the UK, explains David S nchez, director of PepSur Marketing. Spain may have to stop exporting to this country this year because of the latest update to the phytosanitary protocol. MORE[32]
Potatoes New Brunswick Chair balances PNB responsibilities with Potato Farming
New Brunswick s Shawn Paget is among the new generation of potato farmers working hard to ensure that the industry remains an integral part of Canadian agriculture. MORE[33]
Weekly Michigan Potato Report March 2 HERE[34]
USDA Daily National Potato and Onion Report HERE[35]
Crops
North American Grain/Oilseed Review Canola Ends Mostly Higher
THE ICE Futures Canada canola market ended mostly higher Friday with the most-active May contract finishing unchanged, while the more-deferred contracts tracked US soy higher. MORE[36]
ICE Futures Canada Friday: Canola futures prices higher, barley lower HERE[37]
Record fund short, Lula s kitchens cook up ag price gains HERE[38]
U.S. grains: Soybeans surge on short-covering, export demand
Wheat edges up, notches biggest weekly gain in 3 months MORE[39]
Wheat up for third day on U.S. weather concerns
Chicago wheat rose for a third straight session on Friday, with the market set for its biggest weekly gain since early December on concerns over dry weather in parts of the U.S. Plains. Soybeans rose to a one-week high on support from strong demand from top importer China, while corn edged higher although the market is on track for a second week of declines amid plentiful supplies. MORE[40]
Grain Farmers of Ontario Daily Commodity Report HERE[41]
More Futures Prices HERE and HERE[42][43]
General Interest
A Rooftop Greenhouse Is Feeding Thousands of Montreal Citizens Year-Round
There s a green oasis in the wintery cityscape of Montreal, and it s three stories up in the air. Lufa Farms is the world s first commercial rooftop greenhouse and ensures that 6,000 Montreal customers get some of the freshest sustainable produce, meats, and products possible. MORE[44]
Prairies to play pivotal role in future food production
Climate change will provide both challenges and opportunities for Prairie producers by the year 2050 MORE[45]
Monsanto threatens to exit India over GM royalty row
Monsanto, the world s biggest seed company, threatened to pull out of India on Friday if the government imposed a big cut in royalties that local firms pay for its genetically modified cotton seeds. MORE[46]
World food prices stable in February near seven-year low
World food prices stabilized in February, as rising vegetable oil and meat prices offset declining cereal, sugar and dairy prices, the United Nations food agency said Thursday. The Food and Agriculture Organization s (FAO) food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 150.2 points in February against a revised 150 points the month before. MORE[47]
Increased Biofuel Production Could Lead to Global Food Deficit, Study Shows
As strategies for energy security, investment opportunities and energy policies prompt ever-growing production and consumption of biofuels like bioethanol and biodiesel, land and water that could otherwise be used for food production increasingly are used to produce crops for fuel. MORE[48]
Regular Updates
FCC Express March 4 HERE[49]
Ontario Farm Market Summary Friday, March 4 HERE[50]
AgWeather Atlantic HERE[51]
Today s Local Weather HERE[52]
Meetings and Events
Vernon River / Orwell Watershed Association Meeting
March 9 7:00 pm St. Joachims Church Hall Vernon River
Speakers will include: John Phillips East Prince Agri Group, Chiel Middelkamp Organic Producer and David MacKenzie Hog Producer
2016 WIREWORM RESEARCH & EXTENSION SEMINAR
Monday, March 14th, 2016 Red Shores Racetrack, Charlottetown, PE
Cost: $20.00 (includes buffet lunch) Payable at the door
To Register: Contact Ryan Barrett at (902) 892-6551 or
Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN) presents:
Holistic Farm Life Planning with Debbie Lawrence, founder of Abundant Living[55]
Date & Time: March 14-15th, 9-5pm each day (lunches included)
Location: Riverside Resort and Conference Centre, 35 Mactaquac Rd, French Village, Fredericton, NB
Full Details: HERE[56]
2016 Maritime Beef Council Annual Conference
March 18-19 Four Points Sheraton Moncton, New Brunswick
Agenda and Registration Information HERE[57]
PEI Young Farmers Curling Bonspiel & Trivia
Saturday March 19 Corwall Curling Rink
Curling from 1:00 5:00, Trivia and Social from 5:00 8:00
Members and Spouse Curling and Trivia $20.00 Non-Members $25.00
To Enter teams or for more information contact Ian Drake 902-394-1349
Speak Up Real Dirt on Farming Speaker Training
March 31st Credit Union Place Summerside
10:00 am 4:00 pm
Call Cliff @ 902-368-7289 to Register. MORE[58]
Atlantic Cranberry Management Course
April 1 & 2, 2016
Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown MORE[59]
PEI Blueberry Information Day & Annual General Meeting
April 5 Murchison Centre Charlottetown
PEI Strawberry Growers Association Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, April 13th, Summerside Location to be announced. Meeting starts at 9:00 am
PEI Woodlot Owners Association Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 16th, 2016 Farm Center Charlottetown
Registration will begin at 8:30 am and meeting will start at 9:00 am. Open to all woodlot owners on PEI and PEI Federation of Agriculture members are reminded that a two year membership is half price for them. Agenda will be available soon.
Pesticide Continuing Education training schedule for 2015/16:
Day A: March 8, 2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH Charlottetown
Day B: March 10, 2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH Charlottetown
Registration begins at 8:30 am Fee $25 Course begins at 9:00 am 4:00 p.m.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided
One day course reviewing the manual and followed by writing the Pesticide Applicator Class A exam is as follows:
March 16, 2016 Rodd Royalty, TCH, Charlottetown
Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. Training sessions begin at 8:45 a.m. and are completed by 3:30 p.m. The exam will be from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Pesticide Certificate fee is $75.
To register for one of these training courses or should you have any questions or require additional details,
please call Muriel Power 902-368-4154 or email
References
^ PEIFA / Chrysler fleet discount program (peifa.ca)
^ HERE (peifa.ca)
^ MORE (www.cbc.ca)
^ MORE (www.theguardian.pe.ca)
^ MORE (www.cbc.ca)
^ MORE (www.theguardian.pe.ca)
^ MORE (www.theguardian.pe.ca)
^ MORE (www.theguardian.pe.ca)
^ MORE (www.atlanticfarmfocus.ca)
^ MORE (www.produceretailer.com)
^ MORE (www.peipotato.org)
^ MORE (www.cbc.ca)
^ MORE (peifa.ca)
^ MORE (www.fcc-fac.ca)
^ MORE (www.realagriculture.com)
^ MORE (www.cattlenetwork.com)
^ MORE (www.agcanada.com)
^ MORE (www.thebeefsite.com)
^ MORE (www.thepigsite.com)
^ MORE (www.thepigsite.com)
^ MORE (www.thepigsite.com)
^ MORE (www.thepigsite.com)
^ MORE (www.thebeefsite.com)
^ MORE (www.cattlenetwork.com)
^ MORE (www.realagriculture.com)
^ HERE (www.ontariobeef.com)
^ MORE (www.potatopro.com)
^ MORE (www.produceretailer.com)
^ MORE (www.peipotato.org)
^ MORE (www.potatopro.com)
^ MORE (www.freshplaza.com)
^ MORE (www.freshplaza.com)
^ MORE (www.potatopro.com)
^ HERE (www.mipotato.com)
^ HERE (www.ams.usda.gov)
^ MORE (www.manitobacooperator.ca)
^ HERE (www.fcc-fac.ca)
^ HERE (www.agrimoney.com)
^ MORE (www.agcanada.com)
^ MORE (www.agprofessional.com)
^ HERE (www.gfo.ca)
^ HERE (www.agrimoney.com)
^ HERE (www.fcc-fac.ca)
^ MORE (www.bonappetit.com)
^ MORE (www.manitobacooperator.ca)
^ MORE (www.agcanada.com)
^ MORE (www.agcanada.com)
^ MORE (www.thepigsite.com)
^ HERE (us4.campaign-archive2.com)
^ HERE (www.ontariofarmer.com)
^ HERE (atl.agrometeo.org)
^ HERE (www.theweathernetwork.com)
^