China’s demand for U.S. pork so far has been disappointing, analysts say.
 Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Hog futures set nine-month low on big supplies, China trade tensions

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures extended their decline on Friday, with the most active contract touching its lowest price in nine months under pressure from large supplies and the worsening U.S.-China trade war. Cattle futures also weakened. China on Friday vowed to fight back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt […] Read more



Tracking beef produced under sustainable beef protocols from ranches all the way to a store or restaurant is a big undertaking. VBP+ 
is using government grants to make its part of the tracking system more streamlined and cost-effective.

Sustainable beef pilot moving up to the next level

With more than a thousand ranchers and feedlots on board, the challenge is making the operation itself sustainable


Reading Time: 3 minutes A shot of federal funding for Verified Beef Production Plus will help make the running of the sustainable beef program itself more sustainable — while improving it for participating producers. The $602,000 federal grant will help the Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration Pilot take a step up and become an ongoing program, said Shannon Argent, business manager […] Read more



Photo: iStock/File

U.S. livestock: CME hogs drop to five-month low as U.S.-China trade tensions escalate

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures sank on Thursday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price in more than five months, as U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in a war of tit-for-tat tariffs with China. Feeder cattle futures also slumped, and live cattle traded higher. American hog farmers […] Read more

Photo: iStock/File

U.S. livestock: CME hogs sink by daily limit, hit three-week low on U.S.-China trade worries

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures tumbled by the daily, exchange-imposed limit on Wednesday, with the most actively traded contract setting a three-week low, as U.S.-China trade talks ended with no apparent signs of progress. Cattle futures also slumped as widespread selling hit U.S. agricultural markets on the last day of […] Read more


The nine-part feed series is a joint effort between Alberta Agriculture and applied research and forage associations.

Livestock feed webinar series launches on YouTube

Next live webinar on Aug. 1

Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers who aren’t able to catch a new series of webinars on feeding strategy can review them later on YouTube. The nine-part series, which take place every second Thursday at 7:30 p.m., is a joint effort of Alberta Agriculture and applied research and forage associations. The first two webinars were on grazing options for dry […] Read more

Photo: iStock

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures drop to two-week lows on U.S.-China trade worries

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures extended losses on Tuesday, with U.S.-China trade concerns helping to push prices to their lowest levels in about two weeks. China imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports of U.S. pork and other farm products last year as part of the two nations’ ongoing dispute, hurting exports […] Read more



The new McDonald’s advertisements will be the first time that most Canadians see the new Egg Quality Assurance certification mark.  Photo: McDonald’s Canada

McDonald’s to promote Egg Farmers of Canada standards

Egg Farmers of Canada is working with McDonald’s Canada to launch a new certification trademark for eggs served in the food service chain’s 1,400 restaurants nationwide. McDonald’s advertising for its Egg BLT McMuffin sandwich sold this summer will display the EQA (Egg Quality Assurance) trademark. “The EQA program is the culmination of decades of work […] Read more