It's entirely possible that the United States Congress could ratify the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA/CUSMA) before Christmas, says Jim Wiesemeyer, Washington analyst for ProFarmer, as the votes are there — but will they? There is still work to be done in Congress ahead of the holidays, Wiesemeyer says, including passing a spending bill, so ratification before... Read More
Category: Livestock
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef held its general assembly at Christchurch, New Zealand, last week. As chair of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Anne Wasko was there and shares her insight and experience below: As the current chair of Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB), I was pleased to represent CRSB at the... Read More
Ashley Honsberger will be taking on the role of executive director for the Poultry Industry Council (PIC) effective December. “Ashley’s experience and passion will be a great addition to our organization,” says Ed Verkley, chair of the board for PIC. “Her demonstrated ability to build relationships and develop programs with a broad range of stakeholders... Read More
During the first week of November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume — a good news story for many, including Canadian Pork Council chair, Rick Bergmann. "It's the best news that we could ever get, because China is our third largest market," says Bergmann. "They're going... Read More
Canadian farmers have been caught in the crossfire of the strained U.S./China/Canada trade relations. Several crops, such as wheat and peas, have avoided being impacted negatively, while canola, pork, and beef exports have been targeted by the Chinese. Farmers have lashed out at the federal government for not forcing change, talking tougher, or being vocal... Read More
As the saying goes, if Henry Ford had listened to what his customers wanted, they would have said, "Faster horses." For Nicole Zeni, that innovation philosophy means that while you do need to listen to your customers, you must be open to change, and challenged to thinking broadly and for the long term. Zeni manages... Read More
Although there's no official statement released on the prime ministers website yet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tweeted out that Canadian pork and beef exports to China will resume. To note, the prime minister thanks newly appointed Ambassador to China, Dominic Barton. He’s had the position since September 4th, and was quoted saying, "The relationship... Read More
Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ernie Hardeman, is back in the province after leading a trade mission to South Korea and Japan. Joining the minister was Vic Fedeli, Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and several industry members, representing Ontario farmers. In an op-ed released following the trip, Hardeman says, "It... Read More
As farmers anticipate the ratification of the new NAFTA deal, USMCA, Democrats in the U.S. are seeking changes to the new pact text. Jon Tester (D-MT) has gone back in time to suggest a change that would greatly impact the beef industry in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Tester is asking for the Republican-led... Read More
A sheep in full wool can look plump and well-fed, even when they're quite thin. The only real way to assess body condition is by getting your hands on the animal, even once sheared. But what are you feeling for, exactly? How can you tell a body condition score (BCS) of 3 from a 2?... Read More