Livestock
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 lower on average with some auctions down $5 to as much as $8. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $258 delivered, down $15 from the April highs. Feeding margins have slid into negative territory quite rapidly and could be […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market continues to soften
West Edmonton MLA named Alberta ag critic
An Edmonton Realtor turned provincial MLA is Alberta’s new official opposition critic for agriculture and forestry. Rachel Notley, leader of the province’s opposition New Democrats, on Monday announced her shadow cabinet and named Lorne Dach, MLA for Edmonton-McClung, as the party’s ag critic. Dach came to the legislature in the 2015 election with a political […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs limit down on trade war woes
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) fell the daily three-cent-per-pound limit on Monday as fears of a prolonged trade war between the U.S. and China triggered long liquidation, analysts said. China said it would impose higher tariffs on a range of U.S. goods, following Washington’s decision last […] Read more
Japan beef buyers ease back a bit on purchases
Reading Time: < 1 minute After surging in January, beef sales to Japan slipped a little in February as buyers adjust to the new Trans-Pacific trade deal, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. An initial tariff cut (to about 27 per cent from 38.5 per cent) in the new year saw beef sales more than triple in January to 3,545 tonnes […] Read more
Ottawa looks to speed up emergency access to livestock drugs
Livestock drugs not currently available in Canada could become easier to access in emergencies, if proposals for amended federal drug regulations get on the books. Health Canada, proposing to streamline the processes for emergency access to drugs for livestock as well as people and pets, on Friday announced a public comment period on its proposals, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Escalating trade war pressures CME hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — Concerns about a prolonged trade war between the United States and China pressured U.S. lean hog futures on Friday, while cattle futures advanced. U.S. and Chinese negotiators ended two days of talks to try to salvage a trade deal in Washington on Friday after the U.S. imposed a new set of […] Read more
Dairy Queen CEO tries to find new tastes, keep franchisees happy
Omaha | Reuters — The chief executive of International Dairy Queen Inc. is counting on the 79-year-old brand, owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, to adapt to changing consumer tastes rather than latch onto the latest fad, while ensuring that rising labour and food costs don’t squelch its franchisees. Troy Bader, who became CEO in […] Read more
P.E.I. dairyman named provincial ag and land minister
A Prince Edward Island dairy farmer who unseated the province’s incumbent premier on election night is the new provincial minister for agriculture and land, and for justice and public safety. Bloyce Thompson, the new Progressive Conservative MLA for the district of Stanhope-Marshfield, was sworn in Thursday as a member of incoming Premier Dennis King’s nine-member […] Read more
Got a new cutie on the farm?
Reading Time: < 1 minute The fourth edition of Agriculture for Life’s #FarmBabies photo contest is now open. “Our #FarmBabies19 contest is a fun way to welcome spring on the farm and celebrate the countless hours of work that farmers and farm families spend caring for their new arrivals,” said Luree Williamson, CEO Ag for Life. “Many people don’t understand […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures recover on hopes for China trade deal
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures shook off early losses to end mostly higher on Thursday as fears about rising acrimony between Washington and Beijing gave way to hopes that negotiators may be able to hammer out a deal to end the U.S.-China trade war. U.S. President Donald Trump said it was possible the […] Read more