Livestock
British Columbia’s plans to broaden farmers’ eligibility for municipal property tax exemptions will now be extended to livestock genetics operations, horse stud services and syrup producers, as well as to retired farmers. Providing more details on regulatory amendments first announced in November, the province on Wednesday said it will give B.C. farmers "more flexibility in […] Read more
B.C. assessment breaks extended to livestock genetics
Feeder cattle exports up amid shifting grain economics
The cost-of-gain advantage in Canada has kept feeder cattle exports to the United States down for the last couple years, but in the last five months, Canadian feeder cattle exports have begun to climb back up because of a shift in grain economics between Canada and the U.S. Slaughter cattle exports, on the other hand, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market sleeps in uncertainty
Rising corn futures, European economic turmoil and passive consumption patterns have strained feeder prices. Cattle futures dropped faster than a power window last week, with traders squealing about changing market conditions. It was not long ago that upside was unlimited and the world would run out of beef. My brother sold backgrounded heifers last week […] Read more
Pork exports seen up despite weak Korean demand
Demand for Canadian pork products from South Korea may be slowing down, but the total volume of exports is still expected to remain steady, to slightly higher in calendar year 2012. South Korea imported a lot of Canadian pork products in 2011 following that country’s outbreak of foot and mouth disease — but it’s not […] Read more
Recovered Ontario sheep were scrapie-negative
Over two dozen sheep that vanished from a scrapie-quarantined eastern Ontario farm for about two months have all tested negative for the brain-wasting disease. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday confirmed it had recovered, euthanized and tested 26 of the 31 adult sheep that went missing in early April from Linda Montana Jones’ quarantined […] Read more
Canada formally drops WTO beef dispute with Korea
The Canadian government has formally shut down its 2009 request for a trade dispute settlement panel over South Korea’s 2003 ban on Canada’s beef. Korea in January re-opened its market to Canadian beef from cattle under 30 months of age, as per a June 2011 agreement to restore Canada’s beef market access. That agreement led […] Read more
Klassen: Weaker fed cattle spill over into feeder complex
Alberta packers bought slaughter cattle in the range of $110-$112 per hundredweight last week, down $3/cwt from a week earlier in June. Packers have finished purchases for the July 4 weekend; therefore, the market was experiencing softer demand. Sluggish fed cattle prices caused feeder cattle to trade $2-$5/cwt lower in comparison to a week earlier. […] Read more
Que. beef plant to go for sale, whole or in pieces
The receiver for Eastern Canada’s largest slaughter plant for cull cattle plans to put the facility up for sale, whether it goes in one fell swoop or piece by piece. Benoit Gingues of receiver RSM Richter said in a notice filed last week in Quebec Superior Court in Montreal that the "intended plan of action" […] Read more
Smith leaving Alta Turkey producers
The Canadian turkey industry is losing on of its longest serving members. After 24 years with the Alberta Turkey Producers (ATP), Greg Smith has retired from his role of executive director. Former Assistant Executive Director Cara Dary has accepted his position as of June 1, 2012. “I am proud to have served the Board for […] Read more
New website helps consumers understand natural trans fats
It’s time for fresh thinking on trans fats – from health recommendations, to food choices to nutrition labeling. And now there is a new website to help. New research has unveiled that not all trans fats are created equal. A growing amount of evidence continues to suggest that industrial trans fats are indeed a major […] Read more
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