Livestock
Residents of the New Brunswick town where poultry producer Groupe Westco and processor Olymel want to build a chicken slaughter and cutting plant have until Feb. 17 to speak their piece on the companies’ plans. The $40 million joint-venture project, dubbed Sunnymel, was the subject of public information sessions Jan. 21 and 22 in Clair, […] Read more
Sunnymel chicken plant plans up for comment
Klassen: Cattle markets coming under pressure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cattle on feed report was considered bearish for the cattle complex. Feedlot inventories were five per cent higher than last year due to swelling placements in December. It now looks like beef production in the first half of 2011 will be above year-ago levels. Feeder cattle prices have been led […] Read more
CFIA, DFC to draft on-farm biosecurity standard
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Dairy Farmers of Canada are working on a voluntary, farm-level biosecurity standard for Canada’s dairy sector. An advisory group, made up of representatives from DFC, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, academia and provincial and federal governments, has been set up to “guide the development” of the standard, CFIA said […] Read more
Agribition CEO to exit after four years
Canadian Western Agribition’s CEO and general manager plans to head back to ranching at the end of March and start a consulting career. Jason Pollock on Tuesday announced his plans to leave the international livestock show’s front office and return to his family’s ranch at Maple Creek in southwestern Saskatchewan. An executive search will begin […] Read more
E. Ont. frozen dessert maker’s expansion backed
A Peterborough, Ont. dairy firm known for its ice creams and frozen desserts has picked up provincial funding toward equipment to double its production. Central Smith Creamery will get $174,801 from the province’s Eastern Ontario Development Fund for “cutting-edge technology” on its production line that’s expected to help the dairy firm create 10 jobs. “This […] Read more
Analysts see return to profits for hog farmers
(Reuters) — Canadian hog farmers look to return to profitability later this year, slowing the pace of herd downsizing as high hog prices outweigh the negative effects of a surging Canadian dollar, industry analysts said Thursday. Hog farmers have suffered from several mostly unprofitable years because of high feed costs, a strong dollar and the […] Read more
Alta. Liberals name new ag critic
A nurse and former Lethbridge city councillor turned MLA will be the new critic on the agriculture and rural development file for Alberta’s provincial Liberals. Party leader David Swann on Thursday shuffled the shadow cabinet in his eight-member caucus and named Bridget Pastoor to handle the agriculture, rural development, municipal affairs, seniors and community supports […] Read more
Que. meat processor funded to equip expanded plant
A Quebec meat processing firm wrapping up work on a multi-million dollar expansion project will get another $1 million federal loan for new equipment. The “conditionally repayable” funding for Les Viandes Laroche, based at Asbestos, Que. about 60 km north of Sherbrooke, will flow through the federal Slaughter Improvement Program, the government announced Thursday. “This […] Read more
Traceability funding program now taking forms
Operators of feedlots, auctions and other sites in Canada where large volumes of livestock from various herds mingle can now apply for federal money to help upgrade the sites and buy equipment to trace and identify the animals. The three-year, $20 million Livestock Auction Traceability Initiative (LATI) is accepting applications for proposals for projects beginning […] Read more
NW Ont. meat processor expansion funded
A meat cutting and processing operation in northwestern Ontario expects to offer new services to area livestock producers through a province-backed expansion. Griffiths Country Meats, operating at Oxdrift, Ont., about 15 km west of Dryden, has picked up a $45,500 grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. and its Enterprises North job creation program. […] Read more
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