Livestock
(Resource News International) — The number of hogs in Canada has been on a steady decline over the past five years, and there seems to be no end yet in sight to the ongoing contraction, according to industry officials. “Given the current status of the hog industry in Canada, there does not appear to be […] Read more
Canada’s hog numbers continue to decline
Maple Lodge, farmers plan new N.S. poultry plant
Ontario poultry processor Maple Lodge Farms and a group of Atlantic Canada chicken and turkey producers have signed on to build a new $46 million processing plant in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. The partners on Tuesday announced plans to put up their new plant in an industrial park at Kentville, N.S., and expect to be […] Read more
Prairies’ forage crops need dry weather
(Resource News International) — Forage crop including pasture land, hay and silage crops across Western Canada vary in condition from province to province. But there’s one thing on which experts agree: the region’s forage crops need continued sunny, warm, dry weather to keep feed prices low for Canada’s livestock sector. “If we get some good […] Read more
E. coli seen thriving in globe’s warming climate
Genetic changes in E. coli bacteria may be triggered by the Earth’s changing climate and environment, allowing it to survive longer both inside and outside livestock, a new research review warns. The review paper, co-authored by University of Guelph microbiologist and environmental sciences professor Jack Trevors with researchers in Portugal and the Netherlands, suggests some […] Read more
Klassen: Larger sales set stage for fall feeder run
Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were steady to $2 higher last week; volumes were rather light with many auction markets still closed for summer holidays. There are not many cattle coming on the market in Western Canada, which makes it difficult to get a handle on the current price structure. Fed cattle were selling […] Read more
Pilot projects to revisit interprovincial meat trade
With provincially-inspected abattoirs now unable to sell into some domestic markets just minutes away, Canada’s ag ministers have pledged to work toward creating pilot projects toward freer interprovincial trade in meat. The pledge came out of last week’s official communique from the federal/provincial agriculture ministers’ meeting in Saskatoon, “as part of the ongoing work to […] Read more
Control for pasture shrubs, invasive plants launched
Dow AgroSciences Canada has picked up Canadian registration for a dual-mode tank-mix to control shrubs, invasive plants and broadleaf weeds on rangeland and permanent pasture. The Calgary-based arm of U.S. chemical firm Dow bills its new Reclaim tank-mix as a convenient option with a “favourable environmental profile,” adding that it’s also “safe to grass, with […] Read more
Que. biodiesel maker gets federal startup loan
A company planning to make biodiesel from tallow and recycled vegetable oils in southern Quebec has picked up an $800,000 federal loan toward its start-up costs. QFI Biodiesel will use the funds from the federal Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) to start its plant at St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, southeast of Montreal, the government said Monday. QFI plans to […] Read more
Ont. Teachers reject Maple Leaf’s poison pill
A plan to stall any uninvited takeover bid for Maple Leaf Foods by attaching a “poison pill” plan to its shares has raised the ire of one of the company’s biggest shareholders. The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan last week said it opposes the plan as adopted by Maple Leaf’s board of directors and would vote […] Read more
Lower pay scale eyed for new Ont. solar farms
Ontario farmers lining up to get in on a provincially-guaranteed electricity purchase program and install solar panels on their property may face a lower rate of return on their investments than their early-bird neighbours. The Ontario Power Authority, which oversees the microFIT program, proposed Friday to cut the rate it pays on power generated from […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
