Reuters — Wal-Mart Stores said it was aiming to switch to a cage-free egg supply chain in the U.S. by 2025, joining a host of companies that have committed to stop using eggs laid by caged hens. The biggest food retailer in the U.S. said Tuesday it would mandate its egg suppliers to be certified […] Read more
Wal-Mart plans for cage-free U.S. egg supply by 2025
Lessons learned from the avian flu disaster
The biosecurity do and don’t list is incredibly long, and even reaches into the homes of poultry farm workers
Reading Time: 3 minutes The mood at the Western Poultry Conference was sombre as Helen Wojcinski detailed the carnage of the avian influenza outbreak that tore through the U.S. 17 months ago. More than 10 million turkeys and about 11 per cent of the U.S. layer population lost. More than 220 farms in 15 states hit. Losses of $3 […] Read more
Saskatchewan ag minister, ag critic return in election
Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister and opposition ag critic both easily held their ridings Monday night as the governing Saskatchewan Party completed its electoral hat trick. By about 1 a.m. Tuesday, Premier Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party had won 51 of 61 ridings, for a third straight majority mandate coming out of Monday’s general election. The opposition New […] Read more
Study finds seven practices drive farm business success
Reading Time: < 1 minute Successful farmers in Canada use seven business management practices that set them apart, according to a newly released study commissioned by Agri-Food Management Institute and Farm Management Canada. The Dollars and Sense report listed the top seven practices that drive farm financial success: Never stop learning; Make business decisions using accurate financial data; Seek the […] Read more
Egg farmers releases sustainability report
Reading Time: < 1 minute Egg Farmers of Alberta has released its second annual Sustainability Report. The 2015 edition expands the amount and variety of metrics being reported on, and also sets a number of progressive targets. “Last year’s report set the stage by telling the story of where we’ve come from,” said Susan Gal, the organization’s general manager. “This year’s […] Read more
Message received on antibiotic use
Poultry health expert says industry has responded to consumer concerns and is reducing antibiotic use
Reading Time: 2 minutes The poultry industry has a good news story when it comes to antibiotic use and it’s time to share it. “The industry is driving the bus right now and that’s a good thing,” said Dr. Tom Inglis, a vet and managing partner of Poultry Health Services in Airdrie. “It behooves us to think a little […] Read more
Cara to buy St-Hubert restaurant, food businesses
Reuters — Cara Operations, owner of the Swiss Chalet casual dining chain and Harvey’s burger outlets, said Thursday it will buy St-Hubert BBQ, one of Quebec’s largest casual dining chains, for $537 million to gain a foothold in the province. The deal, expected to close this summer pending regulatory approvals, was cheered by analysts and investors. […] Read more
Two more states’ eggs, poultry allowed into Canada
Cross-border travellers may again bring raw poultry meat, eggs and live birds into Canada from North Dakota and Missouri. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency last week shortened its list of U.S. states under avian influenza-related restrictions to just one. Indiana remains under limits imposed in January after highly pathogenic (“high-path”) H7N8 avian flu turned up at […] Read more
Premium Brands buys meat supplier C+C
Montreal meat distributor and processor C+C Packing is set to become a new eastern arm for Vancouver food firm Premium Brands. Premium Brands last Tuesday announced a $146 million cash-and-stock deal to buy C+C and its in-house processing arm Premier Meat Packers. The company supplies fresh and frozen meats to grocery chains, the hotel and […] Read more
CETA a household word on Canadian farms, in Europe not so much
Trade deal is a ‘non-story’ on the other side of the Atlantic
Reading Time: 2 minutes The man on the other end of the phone is confused. “I have not heard of this before,” Marek Nowak says slowly. “I am of no help for this.” He’s been asked about the impact the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement — commonly called CETA — might have on Polish dairy farmers such as himself. […] Read more