While they call the rapid decline in the number of farmers shown in the Census of Agriculture a “crisis” that caught few in the industry by surprise, both of the Island’s general farm organizations are worried the Statistics Canada data may actually be on the optimistic side. The survey from the 2011 census shows a 12.2 per cent drop in the number of Island farmers between 2006 and 2011. That is above the national average of 10.1 per cent.  Nationally, 33,135 farmers exited the industry over the last five years. “I wouldn’t have been surprised if it was 25 per cent when ...

Island farmers will  benefit when the Harmonized Sales Tax is introduced  next April by receiving  investment tax credits on many of the items they purchase for their business, maintains a consultant with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council. Fred Bergman studied the issue at the request of PEI Federation of Agriculture. He presented his finding during a meeting the federation co-sponsored with a number of other groups recently at the Farm Centre. The evening was designed to provide a look at how the new tax could impact the entire business community, and Bergman was the only speaker to focus specifically on agriculture. ...

Prince Edward Island grain elevators will undergo a major expansion with an investment from the Island Community Fund, says Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Ron MacKinley. “The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to help farmers who are producing more grain and oilseed crops to meet the growing demands of the export market,” said MacKinley. “Existing facilities are not able to handle the increased volume of the crop. This investment will provide additional storage capacity, improved handling systems and will also allow farmers to hold their crop in order to get a better price.” The Prince Edward Island Grain Elevator Corporation ...

While it will be challenging, Agriculture Minister George Webster is convinced Atlantic Beef Products Inc. can keep its losses close to the $1. 5 million cap imposed by the province. The veteran minister came in for plenty of questions on the issue when his estimates were on the floor of the legislature. The plant lost close to $3.2 million last year, forcing the province to review its support for the facility. When Finance Minister Wes Sheridan unveiled his budget in April, he announced Island taxpayers would only cover up to $1.5 million in losses for 2012. ...

The Beef Industry Initiative has survived the budgetary axe. Both the PEI Cattle Producers and the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry Energy and Environment called for the program to continue into the next budget year. Agriculture Minister George Webster faced several questions on the issue during discussion of his departmental estimates. Jerry Gavin, the department’s director of finance and corporate services, told Georgetown-St Peters MLA Steven Myers efforts are now under way to combine the Beef Industry Initiative  and the Beef Quality Improvement programs.” Gavin said the idea of the initiative, which includes the Herd Health program, is to improve the quality of ...

A star-studded lineup featuring some of Canada’s top celebrity chefs will create mouth-watering dishes featuring Prince Edward Island culinary products during this year’s Fall Flavours Festival. Food Network Canada stars Chef Susur Lee, an internationally acclaimed Toronto-based chef who has appeared on Iron Chef America and Top Chef; Chef Anna Olson, host of Bake with Anna Olson; Chef Anthony Sedlak, judge on Family Cook Off; and Bob Blumer, host of World’s Weirdest Restaurants will entertain crowds and showcase the province’s spectacular culinary products at Signature Events throughout the festival. They will be joined by Chef Mark McEwan, head judge of Top ...

For most farmers during most of the last decade, the “business” of farming didn’t make much sense. Using the equity in a farm and investing in even a safe government, low interest bond would have been a better bet than using that equity to cover last year’s losses, and financing  next year’s crop. Fortunately, for the rest of us, farmers are driven by other qualities: stubbornness, pride, self reliance, hope. In an ironic twist those very qualities work against farmers when it comes to the most basic element of any farm’s business plan-- getting a fair price out of the market. ...

Purebred poultry breeds from around the Maritimes will be at the Gateway Arena in Borden-Carleton May 19 for the 27th edition of the P.E.I. Spring Show. This event, hosted by the P.E.I. Purebred Poultry Fanciers Association, is the first of  three major Maritime shows for the season. The other events in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are held in the fall. It is also one of the largest spring shows in Canada. Organizers are expecting approximately 400 entries in this show. Most of the region's top breeders and exhibitors will be there competing for a wide array of trophies and other awards. ...

Cutbacks to the country’s food safety system are putting the lives of Canadians needlessly at risk, maintains Malpeque MP Wayne Easter. The former national president of the National Farmers Union was one of the speakers during an opposition day motion on food safety recently in the House of Commons. He said the government has forgotten the painful lessons learned in the Ontario town of Walkerton in 2000. Seven people died and thousands became ill after e-coli entered the water supply. “Walkerton proved that cuts to essential government services protecting the health and safety of Canadians are reckless and can cause Canadians to ...