AGRImag is the OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE of the PEI FEDERATION of AGRICULTURE, which represents the interests of the Island’s twelve agricultural sectors. This provincial magazine is distributed quarterly to 3,000 readers via the Island Farmer Newspaper at no cost to readers. The agricultural community and industry connections use this resource to stay up to date with all sectors of agriculture including their own sector. AGRImag also provides an online version, which ensures ongoing communication between the PEI Federation of Agriculture members, other sectors, and the general public. This enables AGRImag’s audience to follow and be kept constantly up to date on important issues. It also allows all of them to provide input, post their own comments and ideas, thereby creating an online agricultural community.

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Marc and Sally Bernard have been honoured as the “Farmers of the Year” by the P.E.I. Certified Organic Producers Co-operative.

Nestled in what Marc likes to call “buckle of the potato belt” in Freetown, the couple has converted a conventional potato farm into an organic grain and livestock operation that goes by the corporate name of Barnyard Organics.

Mark and Sally both knew they wanted to make their living by farming. They both grew up on a farm (he in Lower Freetown, she in New Brunswick), and when they met while studying at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

They decided to pursue opportunities outside of conventional agriculture, and quickly settled on organics, which had been of longstanding interest to both of them. “We both knew that although conventional farming was working for a lot of people, it wasn’t working for even more and we wanted to try something different,” explains Mark.

The production of organic grains and oilseeds continues to be the main focus of the 550 acre farm but Sally brought with her to PEI a love for raising livestock and took the opportunity to diversify the farm further.  The farm produces certified organic grain, soybeans, hay, chicken, and eggs.  While grains are the focus of the farm, their farm specialty is without a doubt Sally’s fresh lamb from her flock of 25 Polled Dorset ewes.

The sheep are all pasture raised and as young lambs receive a diet of organic oats and soybean to produce a flavorful lamb product that is certified organic.  The couple takes great pride in the fact that they grow all of their own feed, so they know exactly where everything comes from.

Mark’s parents still live on the farm and his father, a former potato farmer, is a great help.  Though he had struggled with the idea of organics at first, Mark’s father has come around over the years.  “I used to do that as a kid,” he says while learning about new organic methods.

“It seems to me,” says Mark, “that I’m starting to farm more and more like my grandfather did, which generally seems more sustainable and more viable.”

The young couple is bound to have an exciting farming career on the Island; while they are successfully revitalizing their little corner in Freetown, their efforts extend beyond.  They are both active volunteers in the organic and farming community; Mark is involved with the Certified Organic Producer’s Co-op, and both are active members of Young Farmers of PEI.

The P.E.I. High School Agriculture Certificate Program is a three year program which students complete during their grade 10, 11 & 12 years. Students apply to enter the program during their grade 9 year as a part of the course selection process. Once in the program, students complete their high school curriculum with a ‘specialization’ in agriculture. This program was modeled after CATT, the Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism. The P.E.I. government purchased the rights to model the agriculture certificate program off of the CATT program in 1999, and began to develop this unique program based on the same set of academy guidelines. The first group of grade 10 students on P.E.I. started the program in 2000 in the Western School Board (WSB) and graduated in 2003 from Kensington Intermediate Senior High School (KISH), and Kinkora Regional High School (KRHS). In 2007, Westisle Composite High School, a third WSB Island high school began a certificate program, and they will see the first graduation class in June of this year.

Students are required to acquire 240 hours of agriculture industry work experience through any combination of paid employment, volunteer, cooperative work study or workshop hours.

Employment opportunities, Internship features:
Practical: takes place between/during their Grade 11 and Grade 12 year or at the end of Grade 12.

Relevant: Addresses current talent pool challenges, and is a win-win proposition for the future job market. In long term, a pool of trained young people for the future employment needs will be available.

Benefits:
Employers: Certificate students bring enthusiasm and fresh perspectives; a good partnership will be formed between your organization and the local high school; certificate students can complete projects and provide valuable manpower.

Students: Will be able to test career options in a changing society, gain valuable work experience and network with members of the agriculture industry.

Internship sponsor responsibilities:
Work assignment whereby the student intern joins your
company organization to learn all aspects of your business.
On the job supervisor will insure a quality, well-rounded
work experience.
Meaningful work experience so that Certificate students can
learn about agribusiness cultures, teamwork, planning and
acquiring specific agriculture related skills.

If you are interested in a having an Agriculture Certificate student work with your farm or agricultural business this coming season, please contact the local program coordinator in your area.

Kensington Intermediate Senior High School
- Jessica Reeves, 836-8901
Kinkora Regional High School – Shelley Tremere, 877-2424
Westisle Composite High School – Kim Williams, 853-8626

Officially, her new title is Research Manager at the Crops and Livestock Research Centre. But sitting in her office overlooking the research grounds in Charlottetown, Dr. Maria Rodriguez calls it a dream job. “Prince Edward Island is the place to be if you’re interested in agriculture and looking for an excellent quality of life for your family,” says Rodriguez.  “It just feels so good to be here.”

The Venezuelan-born Rodriguez is the ninth research manager in the centre’s 100-year history. She arrives at the centre at a time when Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is expanding its research focus. While scientists continue to investigate better ways to control insects and diseases and improve crops and animal health, the department is also using new technologies, an increased emphasis on collaboration with partners and a growing understanding of agriculture’s potential to create benefits that go beyond the sector. Those benefits include better health, a cleaner environment, safer food and a range of innovative new products that can grab consumer interest in a competitive global marketplace, and provide opportunities to diversify agriculture in the region and increase the profitability of farmers.

Rodriguez brings an extensive background in agricultural science, trade policy and food inspection to the job. Rodriguez grew up in Miranda state, in the valleys of Central Venezuela, and later moved to Anzoategui state in the Eastern Plains. She earned a degree in agronomic engineering from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. She co-managed a family farm, taught as a university lecturer, and worked as a farm consultant in that country. She came to Canada in 1992 and worked on various research contracts to do clinical trials for veterinary drugs. She also undertook a PhD in animal physiology at McGill University.

Her thesis on the effects of electric and magnetic fields from major power lines on the physiology of dairy cows was the result of a joint research project involving Hydro Quebec, McGill University, the Province of Quebec and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. From there, she went to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency where she was a senior policy advisor for the Fish Inspection Program.

Rodriguez joined Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 2006, where she worked in food safety and quality policy and in international trade policy before becoming Deputy Director for Latin America and Caribbean trade policy. She says her 28-year career has given her the kind of experience that should mesh well with research in a province where trade is such a big part of agriculture and where seafood is so closely linked. “There is a strong link between agriculture and trade here,” says Rodriguez.  “In line with the department’s research plan, I would like to explore opportunities for scientific cooperation with international research institutes and with other countries in trade-related areas.” In the meantime, she wants to get to know the industry on Prince Edward Island and across the region. “I want to get acquainted with our clients, with our staff, with our partners, with the issues and the region. Good relationships are important for good research. For me, it is very important to understand the context where we work and the needs of the sector.”  The Crops and Livestock Research Centre includes the 65-hectare Home Farm in Charlottetown and 330-hectare Harrington Research Farm.

Rodriguez says the department and the research centre are focusing on strengthening the management of collaborative partnerships with research collaborators.  The goal is to maximize the research benefits coming out of the partnerships. For example, the centre also has three scientists working on a research team at the Institute for Nutrisciences and Health in Charlottetown that includes researchers from the National Research Centre and the University of PEI.

With farms getting geared to swing into planting mode, the issue of Farm Safety comes significantly to the forefront.  Potential hazards lurk in every activity and taking the extra time to ensure safe equipment and practices can save a lot of long term grief.  Equipment that has been sitting idle over the winter, and maybe even since last spring, needs to be checked to ensure that guards are in place, that things are functioning as they should, and that proper lighting and signage is in place before venturing out onto public roadways.  When time is short and work is pressing, it is almost certain that farmers will be in a rush. This is when we need to be safety conscious maybe more than ever.  Don’t cut corners with band aid repairs or by not taking the necessary precautions.  The pain of regret is not worth it.

As mentioned in the Winter issues of AgriMag, the Federation began working on educational material in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and the Highway Safety Division of the Department of Transportation to raise awareness in the farm community of safety regulations in the Highway Traffic Act that apply to Agriculture equipment and practices which have been identified as issues of non-compliance by the various enforcement agencies.  The design work is pretty close to being completed, and over the next few months it is planned to run an awareness campaign in various PEI publications and to be a presence with educational banners, pamphlets, etc. at as many agriculture exhibits as possible.  Pamphlets will be mailed to farms on PEI, posters will be distributed to agriculture supply and service entities around the Island, audio/visual material will be made available to the various commodity organizations for their use as well as there will be a web page activated at PEIRoadSafety.com for producers to get the details regarding the elements that are the focus of the campaign.

The Canadian Agriculture Safety Association launched Canadian Agriculture Safety Week on March 8th at Kool Breeze Farms in Travellers Rest which drew the attention to the importance of on Farm Safety programs and practices.

The Federation continues to facilitate training sessions for Tractor Safety, Fork Lift Certification, First Aid, and anyone who has interest in this is encouraged to call the Federation office for more details.

Advance Payment Program

The Advance Payment Program (APP) again offers interest free advances on agriculture inventories up to $200,000.00 in value to PEI farmers.  The interest portion of these advances is paid by the Federal and Provincial governments.   If farmers qualify, they can receive as much as $400,000.00 but pay interest rates of Prime-1/4% for those advance amounts over $200,000.  The Federation works diligently to deliver this program in an efficient and timely manner for Island Farmers.   Management of the APP program has changed this year as Gerard Dougan has retired from the position.  The Federation was very fortunate to have had Gerard take on this initiative to get the APP running out of the Federation office over two years ago.  We wish Gerard well as he takes on new priorities.  Tim Seeber, Assistant Manager with PEIFA and manger of the PEI Hog Board takes on the role of APP manager and will continue to work with Andrew Wood in the Federation office to deliver the program on a wide range of Island production.

Environmental Farm Plan

The Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program for farmers continues to evolve as more and more Island farmers have gone through the program for their second and third times updating the environmental action plans on their farms.  Federation staff, Karen Murchison and John Jamieson work closely with producers to identify key areas of concern on the farm and to help them determine the best course of action to handle the issue on a wide range of environmental topics.  PEI farmers continue to make significant strides on the environmental priorities needed to sustain their farms and the Federation is proud to be working with Island farmers to help them with this initiative.

Farm Safety Program

The Farm Safety Program also continues to be a priority as the  Federation is working closely with the provincial Department of Transportation to raise the awareness of safe highway travel for Island motorists.  This campaign funded in part by the province and the Federal government will work to increase the awareness to both farmers and the general public of the “dos and don’ts” of safe road transportation for farm machinery and what to do when approaching farm machinery on Island roads.  The farm safety program will also continue to work to deliver safety training programs in many important areas such as first aid, forklift training, safe tractor training and others.

Farmer Counseling Program

The Farmer Counseling Program (FCP) is also a program that the Federation is proud to be making available to Federation members in a confidential manner.  This program is cost shared with the PEI Department of Agriculture.  In these challenging times it is good to know that Island Farmers have a place to turn when the stress can become too much.  Members of the Federation receive this service for free and non members can access it for a fee.  If you or someone you know is having a difficult time dealing with stress on the farm, whatever the reason, please call Frank MacAulay at (800) 736-8006 or (902) 432-0277.  All calls are strictly confidential.

Health and Dental Benefits Plan

The Health and Dental Benefits Plan continues to provide valuable health coverage for Federation members and we are proud to be continuing the program this year.  For more information on this and other Federation initiatives or programs please call the Federation office at 368-7289 or visit our website at www.peifa.ca

The past few months have continued to be an evolving environment for Island hog producers.  In late February, Maple Leaf Foods announced they would be closing the hog processing line at their Berwick facility in Nova Scotia due to the inability to secure enough hogs to keep the operation viable.  This meant finding another home for anywhere upwards of 1,000 PEI hogs per week.  Since the closure of the hog kill in Berwick (the plant continues to manufacture processed meats) on March 26th, these hogs have been transported to Viandes ASTA in St-Alexandre Quebec.

The Federal Hog Industry Transition Program ran the last of four auctions on March 10th and the overall result of the program saw 423 successful bids that will remove almost 130,000 sows from the Canadian breeding herd.  This will remove any short term over supply in Canada, but in some cases has left questions as to the potential shortage of hogs to maintain the domestic processing capacity. This reduction in numbers has already negated any short term expansion and is raising concerns about long term viability of some operations particularly in Ontario and Quebec.  Almost 80,000 isoweans from Western Canada continue to flow south of the border weekly as well as a few thousand market hogs as the anticipated impacts of COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) in the USA have not materialized as originally feared.

The herd reduction south of the border, though not as drastic as here in Canada, as well as the recent announcements of Russia and China to restart buying of North American pork, and the fading of the influence of the H1N1 virus have all contributed to renewed hope amongst the producers that remain in the industry. They are hoping that in the short term, and even more so, the future markets, will  respond accordingly to reduced supply and increased demand.

During the downturn the Canadian Pork Council turned its attention to the task of reshaping the industry for a more sustainable production environment. That has included recapturing  over 35% of the domestic market that has been lost to imports, seeking new export markets to reduce the dependency on the USA (currently our largest trading partner), and the resurgence of the Canadian dollar.  These efforts, as well as those of working with the Federal government to revitalize the BRM (Business Risk Management) programs that, with the passing of time, have lost their usefulness to the livestock industry, all provide an industry focus that will hopefully provide sustainability to the hog industry moving forward.