Chicago | Reuters –– The Chicago Mercantile Exchange saw all of its live cattle and all but two feeder cattle futures contracts fall by the daily trading limit on Monday, pressured by technical selling and weakening wholesale beef prices, traders and industry analysts said. Meanwhile, CME lean hog contracts continued their slump on Monday, dropping […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Technical trading, holiday fears sour hog, cattle futures
Our future Canadian farm leaders need to network
There is incredible diversity in the ag sector and great benefit in sharing ideas with farmers in other sectors
Reading Time: 3 minutes If we are to spread our wings in agriculture, it is often a good idea to look around. We gain an appreciation of the whole of agriculture if we look at all of it, rather than be limited to our sector. There are many good examples of how commitment can bring something into the mainstream. […] Read more
A Liberal ‘fix’ for temporary foreign worker program may be elusive
New government’s pledge to help beleaguered meat processors will be a tough sell
Reading Time: 3 minutes The new Liberal government has vowed to fix the broken federal temporary foreign worker program for Canada’s beleaguered meat processors — but that may not be enough. Despite “endless” domestic recruitment and a seven per cent unemployment rate in Canada, the country’s meat industry is still short about 1,000 workers. And the situation “just gets […] Read more
Foreign worker program a paperwork jungle
The temporary foreign worker program can be tough for farmers to navigate without help
Reading Time: 2 minutes If you want to hire temporary foreign workers for your agricultural operation, get ready to do some serious paperwork. The “most challenging component” of the program is something called a labour market impact assessment, immigration consultant Martine Varekamp-Bos said at the recent Ag Labour Summit. The intent of the program, managed by Service Canada, is […] Read more
TPP deal to pressure Canadian dairy farmers, Saputo says
Reuters — Canadian farmers will get squeezed between new trade deals that allow more dairy imports to enter the country and slow-growing domestic consumption, Saputo’s CEO said on Thursday. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal is expected to open access for New Zealand, the U.S. and other countries to 3.5 per cent of the Canadian market, […] Read more
Global markets: U.S. jobless claims rise
CNS Canada — The following is a glance at the news moving markets globally. EGYPT EXPECTED TO IMPORT A WIDER VARIETY OF FOOD — Despite currency issues that have put a damper on imports and created difficulty for small and medium sized businesses in the country, Egypt has said it will be importing a wider […] Read more
Lawrence MacAulay sworn in as Canada’s new agriculture minister
Ottawa/Manitoba Co-operator – Only hours after being sworn in by Governor General David Johnston and mere minutes after leaving his first cabinet meeting, Canada’s newly minted Minister of Agriculture paused to speak with reporters gathered on Parliament Hill Nov. 3. “I’m certainly pleased,” said Lawrence MacAulay. “Being a dairy farmer and a seed potato farmer […] Read more
New Liberal government has lots on its ag ‘to do’ list
Manitoba Co-operator – Grain transportation and trade top of the new Liberal government’s agricultural agenda, says veteran Saskatchewan MP and former agriculture minister Ralph Goodale. Other priorities include determining if farm aid programs are adequate, investing in infrastructure to protect soil and water and refocusing the government’s role in scientific research. The Canadian Wheat Board […] Read more
Maple leaf touts sustainability efforts
Reading Time: < 1 minute Maple Leaf Foods has launched a new website — mapleleafsustainability.ca — to highlight the company’s efforts in the areas of animal care, nutrition, environmental impact and food security. “The issues are daunting, but as Canada’s largest protein company, we want to be at the leading edge of change,” said Maple Leaf CEO Michael McCain. The […] Read more
Learn the ins and outs of direct marketing
Marketing Made Easy workshop in Calgary on Nov. 5
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Marketing Made Easy workshop takes place Nov. 5 in Calgary and Jan. 20 in Fort Saskatchewan. “This workshop examines selling products at Alberta-approved farmers’ markets and beyond,” said Delores Serafin of Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “You will learn strategies for creating a lasting first impression, clearly identifying your target clients, and how to make […] Read more