Reading Time: 3 minutes Cassidy Marcotte knows horses, operates a cow-calf operation with her fiancé, and has taken basic animal science. But it was a little overwhelming when the University of Alberta student was given $10 million to start a broiler operation. “I know a lot about beef but I knew nothing about chickens starting this project,” said Marcotte, […] Read more
Better than bitcoin? Students (sort of) make millions from farming
All-day breakfasts lead to record-breaking year for eggs
People still outnumber layers in Alberta — but the hens are catching up fast
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s egg industry has cracked the code for increased sales — all-day breakfast at your favourite fast-food chains. “Egg consumption is up in Canada, and all-day breakfasts have been the main driver,” said Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of the agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University. “Eggs are primarily consumed in the morning, and now all […] Read more
Walmart creating own Angus beef supply chain
Reuters — Walmart Inc. is taking control of the supply chain for Angus beef sold in some of its stores, cutting out meat processors as the company looks to offer higher quality products in an intensely competitive grocery industry. The world’s largest retailer said Wednesday the move would allow it to ensure supplies of quality […] Read more
USMCA deal modestly boosts U.S. economy, trade panel finds
Washington | Reuters — The new North American free trade pact would modestly boost the U.S. economy, especially auto parts production, but may curb vehicle assembly and limit consumer choice in cars, a hotly anticipated analysis from the U.S. International Trade Commission showed on Thursday. The ITC report is a crucial step in the push […] Read more
China eyes U.S. poultry, pork imports in trade talks
Reuters — China would likely lift a ban on U.S. poultry as part of a trade deal and may buy more pork to meet a growing supply deficit, but it is not willing to allow a prohibited growth drug used in roughly half the U.S. hog herd, two sources with knowledge of the negotiations said. […] Read more
More ag issues for Alberta’s next government
There are a host of issues that affect farm profitability — here are seven key ones
Reading Time: 2 minutes The carbon tax, research funding, and farm safety are three top-of-mind issues for Alberta’s farm leaders heading into the provincial election — but they’re not the only ones. Here’s what seven farm leaders had to say about other priorities for the next provincial government: 1. Market access “We want to make sure that, with these […] Read more
Closing the loop: Food waste gets gobbled up on farms
Chickens eat sushi while washing it down with non-alcoholic beer
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sushi, sandwiches, broccoli, yogurt, and non-alcoholic beer. Sounds like things you might eat when in fact, it’s what I feed my chickens. Yes, you read that right. My chickens eat sushi and drink non-alcoholic beer on occasion. It’s all thanks to a program called The Loop and a local grocery store chain, Save-On-Foods. The Loop […] Read more
Mexican farmers urge ‘mirror’ tariffs on Trump’s rural base
Mexico City | Reuters — Leaders of Mexico’s agricultural sector are urging “mirror measures” on U.S. farm imports in politically sensitive products such as yellow corn and poultry, in an effort they argue would counter decades of subsidized imports from the United States. The three-month-old government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is currently working […] Read more
Order your heritage chickens
Reading Time: < 1 minute The University of Alberta Heritage Chicken program is again offering small flock enthusiasts the chance to order heritage chicks until supply sells out. “Heritage chicks are vaccinated and hatched at the U of A’s Poultry Research Centre,” says Dawn Hage, program co-ordinator. “This year, we’re offering Brown Leghorn, Light Sussex, Plymouth Barred Rock, Random Bred […] Read more
Maple Leaf profit misses estimates on weak pork prices
Reuters — Packaged meat producer Maple Leaf Foods missed analysts’ estimates for quarterly profit on Thursday, as weak pork prices offset growth in its prepared meats business. Pork prices have taken a beating from the Sino-U.S. trade war, with China’s retaliatory tariffs affecting demand from the South Asian country, which is the world’s biggest pork […] Read more