Managing your risk continues to be the message that drives the decision making strategies of feedyards and ranches in Canada and the United States. One piece of stability to the Canadian market is the announcement that JBS will be exercising its option on the XL Foods purchase. All this and more in the Beef Market... Read More
Category: Livestock
China has approved four additional Canadian beef facilities that will now be able to export beef to China, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced today. The newly approved establishments will increase the Canadian export capacity for beef in a market estimated by the industry to be worth approximately $20 million... Read More
Cattle's nutritional needs change throughout the production cycle. Even a full-grown bull is going to need extra energy to get through a cold winter, but pregnant cows or growing animals have even more dynamic needs throughout the winter months. In fact, a cow's energy needs can increase significantly and protein requirements can nearly double during... Read More
JBS USA, a subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., has announced it is moving forward with purchasing XL Foods's Canadian operations. JBS took over management of the Brooks-based plant in late October after E. coli contamination shut down operations at the plant. JBS, upon exercising this option, anticipates the purchase of XL Foods to be completed... Read More
New Year's Eve held much excitement in U.S. politics, not because of any ball drop or extravagant party, but because of a late-night crunch session to hammer out a tax bill that would pull the U.S. from the so-called "Fiscal Cliff" of mandatory cost cutting and tax hikes. Included in the last-minute agreement was an... Read More
2012 is winding down, but optimism and fed cattle prices are up. Heading into to 2013, the Canadian beef cattle industry looks strong, although high feed prices are still weighing on the market. Our American friends are still struggling with a drought that isn't resolving quickly, which may offer some support to prices in the... Read More
'Tis the season for not just gifts and celebrations, but also countdowns and Top 10 lists. RealAgriculture.com is not immune to such year-end traditions, and, in the spirit of the holidays (and impending end of the world? Maybe), Shaun Haney and Lyndsey Smith have done an overview of the year's top ag news and events.... Read More
Canada's Competition Bureau has approved the sale of Puratone Corporation to Maple Leaf Foods and Big Sky Farms to Olymel in a major step towards consolidation of Canada's and especially Western Canada's hog industry. The bureau said in a statement: "the Bureau concluded that the mergers were unlikely to lead to a substantial lessening or... Read More
Providing an optimal feed ration for each stage of cattle production takes planning, as forage and grain varies in quality and composition from year to year and from bin to bin. Feed testing is the integral first step to developing a balanced and complete ration. Optimal rations maximize feeding efficiency, which can help cattle producers... Read More
More government assistance is on the way for Ontario livestock producers facing severe forage shortages as a result of this summer's dry growing conditions, according to a recent announcement by the federal government. The governments of Canada and Ontario will provide assistance through AgriRecovery to help livestock producers with transportation costs incurred in accessing feed... Read More