MarketsFarm — Farmers, commodity traders and market analysts will have to wait a while for agriculture-related reports from Statistics Canada in 2020. The main reason for the delay is the COVID-19 pandemic, said John Seay, an analyst with StatsCan’s agriculture, energy, environment and transportation statistics branch in Ottawa. “Given the COVID-19 outbreak, senior management is […] Read more
Pandemic to delay StatsCan’s agriculture reports
Focus on production this year — not prices — say market watchers
Farmers are being advised to have a marketing plan in place, but otherwise focus on production
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s a good time to take a break from chasing prices, say market watchers. “This year, more than most I’ve seen in recent years, could be a good break for growers who have stretched their rotations to try and grow the crop they feel is most economically advantageous,” said Mike Jubinville, senior markets analyst with […] Read more
Maple Leaf poultry plant shuts for ‘deep cleaning’
COVID-19 found in three workers at Brampton facility
One of two Maple Leaf Foods plants at Brampton, Ont. has gone into shutdown mode for “deep cleaning” in the wake of three cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus among its workers. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Wednesday that operations at the company’s Kennedy Road poultry slaughter and packing plant in Brampton are suspended “while we complete […] Read more
Road tests suspended in Alberta
Reading Time: < 1 minute Commercial and passenger road tests have been suspended in Alberta because of COVID-19 for at least four weeks — which means about 200 commercial road tests would have been delayed. Alberta Transportation’s priority will be to determine which drivers require tests to address urgent needs, such as supporting the delivery of essential goods. Following this, […] Read more
Universities can adapt to COVID-19, UCVM dean says
As administrators and faculty modify the system, dean calls for renewed public focus on food production and distribution
As COVID-19 pushes universities to change the way they teach, carry out research and conduct clinical work, the dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Calgary is confident that they can adapt. The academic system “from coast to coast is very intact,” Dr. Baljit Singh said. “We will continue to develop new technologies. We […] Read more
Keeping up is hard to do during these trying times
But here are some key information sources and some of the many news stories dealing with the pandemic
Reading Time: 4 minutes Even if you weren’t calving or getting ready to seed — and had good internet — it would be hard to keep up with all the developments affecting your farm or ranch during the pandemic. Here is a partial list of advisories and new stories at press time (March 31). Government The provincial government has […] Read more
Albertans coming together while keeping their distance
COVID-19 can't stem the flow of good will and generosity
Reading Time: 3 minutes Drawing a heart and putting it in your window or turning on the Christmas lights. Finding small containers so you can give away farm-milled flour to a food bank. Teaching kids how to grow a garden. Across Alberta, people are finding ways to give their neighbours and communities a lift in these troubled times. In […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market lacks buying interest
Market gives in to pressure from Chicago futures
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5-$8 lower on average, with yearlings dropping as much as $10-$12 in certain areas. It appears buyers are incorporating a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand longer-term. Rising unemployment levels, sluggish consumer confidence and a sharp drop in disposable income are all factors […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures drop as pandemic roils markets
Technical buying lifts hogs, feeder cattle
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures plunged to their daily trading limit on Monday — with prices for the front-month contract hitting the lowest seen since December 2009 — as beef inventories remain robust with much of the U.S. restaurant industry shuttered due to the pandemic. April live cattle were down the 4.5-cent […] Read more
Federal carbon tax rises despite opposition, pandemic
Ottawa not backing away from scheduled increases
Ottawa — The federal government has pushed ahead with an increase to the carbon tax despite continued calls from the agriculture sector for reprieve from the program. The price on carbon rose from $20 per tonne to $30 per tonne effective April 1. The federal Liberal government is standing firm on its commitment to increase […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
