Urayasu, Japan | Reuters — The 11 remaining nations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States edged toward sealing a comprehensive free trade pact after New Zealand agreed to amend laws that are not subject to TPP, to enable its ban on foreign home purchases. The pact aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial […] Read more
TPP talks without U.S. near final stretch
Maple Leaf Q3 profit beats on overall sales growth
Reuters — Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s biggest pork processors, posted a quarterly profit that beat analysts’ estimates, helped by growth across all its businesses. The company, whose brands include Schneiders, Maple Leaf and, since March, Lightlife, said adjusted operating earnings rose to $65.15 million in the third quarter from $61.52 million a year […] Read more
Mexico considers pork in response to NAFTA produce proposal
Mexico City | Reuters — Mexican negotiators are working on a response to informal U.S. proposals to include protections for fresh produce in the re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), two people briefed on the proposals said. U.S., Canadian and Mexican delegations finished a second round of talks last week to renegotiate […] Read more
Alberta Pork website gets a revamp
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Pork has launched a new version of its website. In addition to information and recipes for consumers, the website offers answers to questions such as, ‘Why are most pigs raised indoors?’ and whether added hormones are found in pork. It has also numerous resources for producers. This includes information on animal care, traceability, biosecurity, […] Read more
Canadian pork shipment flagged in China for ractopamine
Winnipeg | Reuters — A Canadian shipment of pig feet to China, produced by meat packer Olymel, has tested positive for residues of banned growth drug ractopamine and may curb future trade, Canadian government and industry officials say. China views the tainted shipment as a “systemic failure” of Canada’s program that certifies pork sent to China […] Read more
Ag groups tout potential of trade pact with China
Canadian ag commodity groups expect to make a case for freer trade with China during consultations now underway alongside Ottawa’s talks on a possible free trade deal with Beijing. Federal Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Friday announced public consultations, running until June 2, following last September’s announcement of “exploratory discussions” on a free trade agreement […] Read more
Fat herds, leaner profits: For China’s pig farmers, New Year feasts bring cold comfort
Beijing/Reuters – With China’s Lunar New Year festivities fast approaching, pig farmers in the world’s biggest pork market have little to cheer. As they fatten herds to meet peak demand, a slump in retail prices and a spike in feed costs are grinding up profits. A wave of imports has squeezed pork retail prices 10 […] Read more
Olymel buys Alberta hog farming operation
Pork and poultry processor Olymel has tightened the links in the hog supply chain for its Alberta pork plant by buying supplier Pinnacle Farms. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Quebec’s La Coop federee, announced Friday it has bought Standard, Alta.-based Pinnacle, including all its hog inventory, for an undisclosed sum. The company’s 30 employees […] Read more
Argentina pledges access for Canadian pork
Canada and Argentina are in late-stage talks that would see Canadian pork exporters regain access to that South American market. Following a meeting between Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the federal government last Friday said the two countries have “acknowledged the necessary steps to complete the process to allow for […] Read more
Local food experts share their stories
Reading Time: < 1 minute Bonnie Spragg of Spragg’s Meat Shop and Nicola Irving of Irvings Farm Fresh will be presenters at Getting into Local Foods workshops later this month. The Spraggs started their meat-processing business so they could produce meat products in their own facility and sell them from their on-site store in Rosemary. The Irvings also raise pigs […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
