As NAFTA negotiations begin on Wednesday, there's no question dairy is one of the few agricultural issues where there's a serious conflict between Canadian and American objectives. On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland released Canada's list of demands, with protection of supply management for dairy and poultry on the list. Freeland made it clear... Read More
Category: Livestock
My daughter and grandson share the same birthday, August 7. They’re part of a pork-and-grain farming operation near Thamesville. At their birthday celebration on the weekend, our family barbequed pork sausage from their farm on the campfire. There was no reason to doubt the quality of the sausage. We trust the meat packers in nearby... Read More
After almost a month without any new cases, Manitoba's 61st case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus since early May was confirmed in a finisher hog barn in the southeast part of the province this week. As of Thursday, there were 22 sow herds, 13 nurseries and 26 finishing operations infected, according to the province's... Read More
It's a tale of two different markets when you look at the Canadian cattle business versus what's happening in the U.S. where feeders are anticipating a bigger calf crop this fall. Western Canadian feeders are looking at the same kind of numbers in terms of supply as last year, notes Anne Wasko in this latest... Read More
Canada's dairy processors and producers say the federal government has "failed to adequately support its dairy sector" after announcing plans for the allocation of cheese import licenses through the Canada-European Union trade deal (CETA). Canada agreed to tariff rate quotas for nearly 18 million kilograms of annual cheese imports in CETA under two categories: 16... Read More
Starting August 1, 2017, Japan has triggered a safeguard to increase the tariff on its frozen beef imports from countries that it does not have a free trade agreement with. Increasing the tariff on frozen beef imports from 38.5% to 50% will impact Canada and the United States and not Australia, Chile and Mexico who... Read More
With an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 cattle left behind in areas evacuated due to wildfires in B.C.'s central and southern interior, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association says it has asked the federal government for a quick response to help affected ranchers. "As an initial start, the CCA is requesting the federal government provide a tax deferral... Read More
If you were looking for the the July 1 USDA cattle on feed report to shock the market to the higher side, it did not deliver. Overall, cattle on feed in the United States were up 4 percent compared to a year ago, with heifers and heifer calves on feed up 11 percent compared to... Read More
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has a new president, as Pierre Lampron was elected on a two-year term at the group's annual general meeting in Edmonton on Wednesday. Lampron is a seventh generation organic dairy farmer in the Mauricie region of Quebec, according to DFC's website. He previously represented Quebec on the board of Dairy... Read More
Negotiating trade deals to increase market access is typically not easy. Non-tariff barriers, thickening borders, and increased commerce bureaucracy all make access to global markets and free trade very difficult. But what if market access could be made easier by just asking for it. Why didn't former Presidents, NCBA and a handful of U.S. Trade... Read More