Category: Livestock

The popularity of robot milkers continues to grow dramatically across Canada. Today, between 15 and 20 per cent of Canadian farms milk cows using robot technology. Ten years ago, that number hovered near five per cent. Western Canadian dairy farmers are the biggest adopters with between 25 and 50 per cent of farms in different... Read More

The Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited (CCWG), headquartered at Carleton Place, Ont., is being led by an interim general manager after Eric Bjergso was suspended with pay, beginning March 15, 2023. In a letter sent late last week to share holders, CCWG advises that the executive committee, supported by the board, "initiated a temporary suspension-with-pay... Read More

Japan is reopening its doors to processed beef from Canada, removing the last restrictions it has had in place since 2003, after the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta. Japan is Canada’s third-largest market for agriculture and food exports. "Under the new Indo-Pacific Strategy, the federal government committed to seizing... Read More

Often when talking about the cattle markets, we talk about carcass weight, but sometimes without even completely realizing what it means or what the average weight can tell us. Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange says at the end of the day, we're all selling beef tonnage — pounds of beef is what consumers... Read More

Premier Doug Ford's government released its latest budget for Ontario, with a major focus on health care and housing. Tucked in the budget, however, are a few items directly or indirectly applicable to agriculture in the province, including a focus on improving veterinary access in under-serviced areas, support for trades, and a manufacturing credit. In... Read More

Egg Farmers of Canada has announced a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The announcement was made during EFC's annual meeting in Ottawa this week, where it celebrated the 50th anniversary of the organization and supply management in Canadian egg production. "Stepping up our commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is a... Read More

It's been nearly six years since Canada ratified a major trade agreement with its second largest trading partner, the European Union. While the deal has been hailed as an overall success, it has yet to live up to its potential when it comes to agricultural exports from Canada. At the time in 2017, it was... Read More

Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is set to ruffle some feathers this week as he makes the bold claim that it's been too warm. Too warm!? Spring seems to be taking its time arriving this year, but Johnson explains what he means and why it might change the scouting schedule. Also on this week's Wheat Pete's... Read More

There are lots of things we are always keeping our eyes on in the cattle markets, but today, our eyes are on the fed cattle markets. Since our last Beef Market Update with Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange, the U.S. markets have taken a bit of a dive, while in western Canada we... Read More

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has committed $343 million over five years to continue the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration of the University of Guelph, OMAFRA, and the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO). The Alliance brings together academia, government, and industry to support Ontario’s agri-food sector through research... Read More