Livestock
Health officials in Vancouver have closed a federally inspected poultry plant in that city after confirming an outbreak of COVID-19 so far affecting over two dozen employees. The public health arm of Vancouver Coastal Health, the regional health authority for the greater Vancouver area, on Tuesday declared a COVID-19 outbreak among staff at United Poultry […] Read more
Vancouver health officials shut poultry processor
COVID-19 hits at least 28 employees
Pig farmers seek aid of $20 per hog against market crash
Losses of $675 million expected from COVID-19-related causes
Canada’s hog producers seek an immediate federal cash injection equivalent to $20 per hog against a market crash that’s expected to cost their sector about $675 million overall. Officials with the Canadian Pork Council on Thursday called for Ottawa to provide further aid to hog farmers who are now expecting to lose $30 to more […] Read more
COVID-19 forces Tyson to shutter two major U.S. pork plants
UPDATED — Reuters — Tyson Foods is shuttering two pork processing plants, including its largest in the United States, to contain the spread of the coronavirus, further tightening meat supplies after other major slaughterhouse shutdowns. The closures are limiting the amount of meat the U.S. can produce during the outbreak and adding stress on farmers […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hog, live cattle futures fall on plant shutdowns
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog and live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, with the cash market for the animals weak as processing plants were forced to shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak, traders said. Tyson Foods will indefinitely suspend operations at its largest U.S. pork plant to contain the spread of the coronavirus, […] Read more
Are there shortages on your ranch?
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, along with other industry stakeholders, is conducting a weekly survey to determine any potential shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic that could disrupt the Canadian beef supply chain. The association will work with government and industry partners to provide support to avoid shortages and address any should they occur. A weekly update, […] Read more
Cut livestock insurance premiums, says CCA
Cattle producers need an insurance program but aren’t using it because the premiums are too expensive
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Western Livestock Price Insurance Program is not functioning properly due to very high premiums and needs to be quickly revamped, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “We’re having unprecedented volatility for markets. Having tools in place for farmers and ranchers has never been more important,” executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft said during a telephone town hall […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures firm
Cattle futures slip with stock sell-off
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog futures advanced for the second day in a row on Tuesday, with supplies remaining tight due to shutdowns at slaughterhouses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cattle futures were weaker, pressured by a sharp drop in equity markets. “Cattle are more closely tied with the economy,” said Don Roose, […] Read more
Unprecedented demand swings forcing milk to be dumped
Alberta Milk has temporarily reduced quota amounts to deal with oversupply caused by pandemic
Reading Time: 3 minutes No one likes to see milk being dumped, but it’s been an unfortunate part of the COVID-19 story. Dairy farms across North America have been dumping milk — and making headlines because of it. It’s a consequence of unprecedented swings in demand, said Karlee Conway, a spokesperson for Alberta Milk. “We’re just finding that consumer […] Read more
Canada sees no beef shortage, but prices may rise due to coronavirus
JBS plant at Brooks dials back to one shift
Ottawa/Winnipeg | Reuters –– The Canadian government is not expecting a beef shortage despite the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in certain meat-packing plants, though prices may rise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. Trudeau added that beef producers are placing a priority on supplying the Canadian market before exporting products. Canada, one of […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertainty defines feeder market
'Hope' factor remains supportive
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-`$5 on average while calves were unchanged to down $2. Sales were characterized by low volumes and limited buying interest. Feedlot operators are hesitant to step forward in the current environment, with packing plants on both sides of the border reducing capacity. At the same […] Read more
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