News Archive

An international body has ruled the United States' laws requiring mandatory country-of-origin labels on beef, pork and produce violate its commitments to global trade rules.

Canada's Agriculture Minister is hopeful last week's WTO ruling that US Mandatory COOL discriminates against foreign livestock will open the door to a negotiated settlement of the dispute, writes Bruce Cochrane.

In this week's Pork Commentary, Jim Long writes about the latest Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) win between Canada and Mexico.

In what it calls the final phase of its "value creation plan," one of Canada's most iconic food firms plans sweeping consolidations and staff reductions in its processed meats operations across the country.
Maple Leaf Foods' latest plan, announced Wednesday, calls for construction of a new $395 million prepared meats facility at...

Profitable prices for the next year are hanging in front of hog producers’ eyes and many are locking those prices in.
That’s a change from many times of increasing prices, said Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op’s risk management specialist. But it shows producers are now being prudent and wary after surviving a brutal...

A US based agricultural economist blames cooler weather and resulting increased growth rates for a substantial reduction in North American live hog over the past couple of weeks, writes Bruce Cochrane.

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CANADA - The closure of the Cloverdale Foods Minot pork packing plant is expected to have minimal impact on prices paid for western live hogs, Bruce Cochrane writes.

US - Cloverdale Foods announced Tuesday that it will close its Minot, North Dakota hog slaughter plant, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner.

Last week, Jim Long attended the National Pork Industry Conference (NPIC), which was held at the Kalhari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Genesus was a sponsor, here are his observations: This year, NPIC set a new attendance record in its multi–year history. The Wisconsin Dells locale is family friendly, inundated by water parks...

CANADA - Recognising the increase in travel during the summer, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is reminding travellers of the precautions they can take to protect Canada's animals, agricultural sector and economy from serious foreign animal diseases.

US - The extreme heat and humidity that swept through the US the last several days not only caused great discomfort for people working in swine barns, cut pigs appetite but also ripped market hog weights lower, writes Jim Long in this week's Pork Commentary.

Improvements planned for the Hylife Foods hog slaughtering plant at Neepawa in Manitoba will allow expanded slaughter capacity and additional value-added processing, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Canada's agriculture department has lowered its estimates of crop harvested areas, as flooding and excessive rain look to leave much land fallow this year.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada released its grain and oilseed outlook, which is based on analysis, not a farmer survey, late on Tuesday.
Severe wetness in southern areas of the...

The US government should accept rulings within the World Trade organisation to prevent potential damage to the US pig meat trade.

Limits on expansion in Manitoba's hog industry, again meant to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Winnipeg, will now include a requirement for "advanced environmental practices" on farms before new barns can be built.
Reversing nutrient loading in the lake now also finds the province considering buyouts of farmers in flood-prone areas as...

Farmers in Western Canada's waterlogged crop belt expect to plant their crops 10 days to three weeks behind schedule, raising the risk of lower yields and quality, a Canadian Wheat Board official said Monday.
Snowfall late last week and through the weekend worsened wet conditions that have kept tractors idle this spring.
Planting...

Canadian producers hope free trade negotiations with India will result in that country allowing imports of Canadian pork products, according to an official with one of the agencies trying to open those doors.
"There is definitely demand for Canadian pork in India," according to Jacques Pomerleau, president of Canada Pork International.
Currently, no...

The president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association says challenges facing pork producers are similar on both sides of the Canada US-border, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Cash lean hogs continued to push higher last week with 53 – 54 per cent lean hogs averaging 95.76 lb US at the end of the week up from 82.70 US a year ago or about $27.00 per head. It is certainly better, but when you consider Omaha corn a bushel...

A research scientist with Prairie Swine Centre is recommending a number of strategies for reducing the levels of airborne contaminants in swine barns, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Canadian pork producers are starting to see a return to profitability, but it's too early to tell if they are completely out of the woods yet.
That's according to Richard Anderson, executive vice-president of Informa Economics in Memphis, Tenn., who spoke Tuesday at the Canadian Wheat Board's annual GrainWorld conference in Winnipeg.
On...

CANADA - The big market factors may be largely beyond their control, but pork producers can apply fresh thinking to build a stronger economic future.

(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...

LEDUC, Alta. — Alberta pork producers are seeking short-term aid to pull them through an unprecedented economic crisis where returns on market hogs are well below their cost of production.

A meeting is set for Dec. 17 to discuss a sustainability support fund for producers until a hog price insurance scheme...