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AgCanada Reports: A Bright Future For Canadian Agriculture.

Bright Future for Canadian Agriculture

 

Ottawa, Ontario, February 28, 2011 - Three major reports released today all point to healthy prospects for the agricultural industry. The reports give a clear snapshot of the state of the sector, portraying a highly complex, integrated and globally-competitive value chain that is an expanding and vibrant part of the Canadian economy.

"We are looking at another bumper year for farm incomes in 2010 thanks to good prices, lower input costs and initiatives such as AgriRecovery that helped Prairie farmers deal with weather disasters," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "It's encouraging to see even higher prices for grains, oilseeds and hogs."

Farm incomes in 2010 are expected to surpass the record set two years ago, with 2011 also anticipated to be a good year for Canadian farmers, according to Farm Income Forecast report released today. The 2011 Overview reports that farm incomes in 2009 were at their second highest level in two decades. The average net operating income for Canadian farms in 2010 is expected to peak to more than $50,000, a five per cent jump over 2009 and 31 per cent above the 2005-09 average.

"Our young farmers hold the seeds to future growth and we will continue to work with this dynamic group of entrepreneurs as we transition to a renewed generation of farmers," said Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn, who last November launched the first National Future Farmers Network.

The Medium Term Outlook for the next 10 years points to continued high prices for grains and oilseeds leading to dynamic growth in production and exports. Prices for cattle and hogs are expected to increase slightly, offsetting higher feed costs. This will allow for moderate growth in production and exports for the livestock sector.

Both the Farm Income Forecast and the Medium Term Outlook reinforce findings in the 2011 edition of the Overview, which indicates a younger generation of farmers on the horizon. The Overview reports that farm operations that are managed solely by farmers between the ages of 18 and 39 tend to be well distributed across farm types, size and province and are likely to have higher profit margins, a higher share of on-farm family income and earn higher gross farm revenues.

The three reports produced by AAFC's Research and Analysis Directorate can be accessed online at the following links:

Canada's Farm Income Forecast for 2010 and 2011
Medium Term Outlook for Canadian Agriculture 2011
An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System 2011

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Soybean Fungicide Decisions

As soybean crops move into flowering, questions are sure to be raised about whether fungicide applications are needed. In anticipation, let’s take a closer look at the potential disease threats and what Manitoba On-Farm Network research has told us. What Should We Be Concerned About? Foliar diseases infecting soybeans in Manitoba typically occur at low severity levels and are not expected to impact yield most years. These usually include bacterial blight, downy mildew and Septoria brown spot. Stem diseases generally have a greater impact on yield. White mould: infections begin at nodes along the main stem. Wilted plants may be spotted from afar, within a humid canopy may find white mycelial growth and black sclerotia bodies later in the season. This disease is the main target of fungicide applications. Cool, wet conditions throughout July and August favour white mould. For every 10% increase in the percent of plants infected with white mould, 2-5 bu/ac of yield are lost in soybeans.

Fungicide Decision Tool for Managing Mycosphaerella Blight in Field Peas

When your peas have reached V10 (10th node stage), it is an ideal time to start scouting each field to evaluate if a fungicide application to manage Mycosphaerella blight is warranted. Continue scouting for symptoms from V10 (10th true node) to R2 (beginning bloom), during mid-June to late July. Mycosphaerella (Ascochyta) blight is the most widespread and economically damaging foliar disease of Manitoba field peas. Peas are the single host crop of Mycosphaerella but it can be managed by foliar fungicide. This pathogen can be stubble-, air-, soil- and seed-borne. Spores can travel long distances by air, meaning there is a disease risk even in fields where peas have not been grown previously. The impact of disease severity on yield will depend on how early the disease sets in and how quickly it progresses into the upper crop canopy. Early infections during the bloom to early/mid-pod stages cause the most damage if left untreated. Use this fungicide decision worksheet when scouting to

Manitoba pork, canola producers hold steady amid heavy tariffs

A slab of back bacon from Natural Raised Pork comes with a waitlist. Ian Smith points to tariffs. Since the United States placed levies on imports from Canada, Manitobans have increasingly been calling Smith about his farm near Argyle, some 40 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg. “There’s more people wanting to support local and I’m one of few people that do what I’m doing,” said Smith, 62. He estimates 90 per cent of his pork products are bought by Manitoba households; the latter goes to a packing plant. Last year, it was a 50-50 split. Smith works alone, hustling to meet the four-to-six week waitlist that’s accumulated. He keeps hundreds of feeder pigs and a couple dozen sows; it’s a relatively small operation, he noted. “If there’s any mistakes to be made, there’s only one person to blame and that’s me,” he said with a laugh. Smith doesn’t export to China — so he’s shielded from that nation’s levies still hanging over the Canadian industry.

KAP Welcomes Appointment of New U.S. Trade Representative

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) welcomes the appointment of Richard Madan as Manitoba’s new trade representative to the United States. “We commend Premier Kinew and Minister Moses for making Manitoba’s voice a priority in Washington, D.C.,” said KAP President Jill Verwey. “We look forward to working with Mr. Madan to advance the interests of Manitoba farmers and the agricultural industry, ensuring these interests are at the forefront of his work as he forges stronger relationships with American policymakers and trade officials.” Agriculture is an important part of Manitoba’s economy, with $4.29 billion in agri-food exports to the U.S. alone in 2024, and KAP sees the new presence in Washington as instrumental in fostering strategic relationships with key states that are important to our trade interests. “The U.S. is Manitoba’s largest agri-food export destination and is one of Manitoba’s key trading partners on the international stage,” added KAP General Manager Colin Hornby. “

2025 Annual General Meeting

On Wednesday, June 18th, the Ontario Farmland Trust hosted its Annual General Meeting. The meeting was held hybrid again this year, with members and friends joining both virtually and in person.

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