FILE PHOTO: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks during an interview with Reuters reporters in Washington, U.S., November 29, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

US agriculture secretary sees ‘chaos’ in meat market without congressional action on Prop 12

Canadian sector worried state-specific regulations will cause severe complications for producers selling into U.S.

There will be chaos in the U.S. meat marketplace without congressional action on California's Prop 12 law that tightened animal welfare requirements for pork products sold in the state, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said during a congressional hearing on Wednesday.

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

Smaller U.S. swine herd likely as Prop 12 takes effect, think tank says 

Canadian pork sector concerned the animal welfare law will act as a non-tariff trade barrier 

The cost of compliance with a California animal welfare law, which takes full effect on New Year’s Day, will likely shrink the U.S. national hog herd and lead to further consolidation, a Washington State think tank says. “No one will be spared the change in market pressures,” wrote Pam Lewison, director for the Washington Policy […] Read more


File photo of hogs in transit near Red Deer, Alta. (Stefonlinton/iStock/Getty Images)

Olymel shipping backlogged hogs to U.S.

Company-owned hogs to go south after COVID closes Red Deer plant

Winnipeg | Reuters — Olymel said Friday it was shipping pigs to the United States to help clear a backlog of hogs after it had to temporarily close its Red Deer, Alta. slaughter plant because of a coronavirus outbreak. Olymel shut the plant on Wednesday and declared force majeure — unforeseeable circumstances that prevent contract […] Read more

Seaboard Triumph Foods’ new pork plant is under construction at Sioux City, Iowa. (Video screengrab from SeaboardTriumphFoods.com)

Sizzling hog market waits on new U.S. plants

CNS Canada — Prices for Canadian hogs are enjoying a seasonal bump as consumers prepare for the summer grilling season. In Canada, the Signature No. 5 (Maple Leaf) Index daily price was listed at $179.68 per 100 kg (ckg) on May 26. That price was up $1.11/ckg compared to the week previous, according to data […] Read more



(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Hog prices fighting for stability

CNS Canada — Canadian hog prices have been drifting slightly lower over the past few weeks but are showing signs of turning the corner, according to one industry expert in Saskatchewan. Brad Marceniuk, a provincial livestock development specialist in Saskatoon, said he expects prices to stabilize in the next couple of weeks as slaughter numbers […] Read more