Ron Friesen

Reading Time: 2 minutes The National Farmers Union has reacted furiously to media suggestions it may be in bed with a long-time nemesis of the Canadian cattle industry. Kevin Hursh, a Saskatchewan agricultural commentator, last month accused the NFU of being “cozy with the American beef protectionist group known as R-CALF.” The Alberta Farmer website the same week ran […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Bewildered farmers may well be wondering what the future holds for prices. Analysts discussing the topic that last week’s GrainWorld conference in Winnipeg couldn’t offer much by way of answers. While the world faces a big recession with no quick recovery, the feeling was grain prices will hold their own and possibly improve. But the […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes This month has been a rough one for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, with the auditor general criticizing it and a group of veterinarians suing it. Auditor-General Sheila Fraser released a report faulting the way CFIA manages the risks posed by foreign plant pests and diseases entering Canada. The same day, news emerged that federal […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes A short window of opportunity exists for changing the country-of-origin meat labelling rule before a new U. S. administration dashes Canadian cattle producers’ hopes. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association hopes the outgoing Republican administration will make COOL more trade-friendly before the incoming Democrats take office January 20. Otherwise, COOL may stay the way it is under […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian livestock producers have finally succeeded in getting the federal government to initiate a World Trade Organization challenge to the U. S. country-of-origin meat labelling rule. Their task now is to live with COOL while the WTO case makes its long and torturous way through the system. It could take up to three years to […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes “If they can make it work, great. We’re in favour of it.” – Martin Unrau, MCPA Manitoba’s newest beef processing project has a new name and a new corporate structure. Natural Prairie Beef Inc. and the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council are joining hands to form Keystone Processors Ltd., which will kill cattle and process beef […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian cow-calf and feeder operators are receiving only half as much for their cattle as their parents and grandparents did, according to a new study. And it’s mainly because of powerful packers and an over-dependence on the U. S. export market, the study by the National Farmers Union concludes. The report, released on the eve […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes “These things, by and large, are not political.” – Nick Giordano, NPPC Canadian agriculture officials fear an increased wave of U. S. trade protectionism following this month’s election of a Democratic president and a heavily Democratic Congress. Fairly or otherwise, Democrats are viewed outside the United States as much more protectionist than free-trade Republicans. The […] Read more