Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) has announced new partnerships with Tree Canada, Cleanfarms, and Ducks Unlimited Canada. “DFC and our farmers are committed to finding innovative new ways to foster sustainability in dairy farming,” says Pierre Lampron, president of DFC. “We are excited to work with these exceptional organizations to improve farming productivity, reduce waste, plant trees… Read More
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada (AITC-C), along with its 10 provincial members, has launched a teaching guide with interactive resources for “Guardians of the Grasslands,” a documentary that explores the role that cattle play in the survival of Canada’s grasslands ecosystem. Guardians of the Grasslands in the Classroom will complement the 12-minute documentary through viewing and reflection questions,… Read More
Wild pigs pose ecological and agricultural problems across Canada and into the United States. Every year, this rapidly reproducing, non-native species expands its territory, most recently being discovered in Alberta’s Elk Island National Park. Originally brought into the country to help diversification efforts in agriculture in the late 80s and early 90s, the invasive species, cross-bred… Read More
There’s a lot happening in the cattle markets as we hit mid-October (?!) already. Anne Wasko of the Gateway Livestock Exchange says the markets south of the border have held mostly steady, at around $124 for live cattle in the south, and $124-$125 in the north, while noting the cutout drop-off we are still seeing…. Read More
Olymel’s management has announced the sudden passing of its president and CEO, Réjean Nadeau. Nadeau, 71, succumbed to a sudden and virulent cancer. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 14, surrounded by his loved ones at his home in Rougemont, the company says. The date and location of a memorial are soon to be… Read More
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) have both made contributions to the Hay West 2021 initiative to help cover shipping costs to send hay to drought-stricken farmers in the Prairie provinces. The 2021 Hay West initiative, organized by Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA), is moving hay from eastern Canada to the… Read More
The Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) is planning to return to Stratford, Ontario, for a live dairy industry showcase on April 6 and 7, 2022. CDX has not run its traditional tradeshow since 2019 — the event was cancelled in 2020 and a virtual program was presented in 2021. “Things will look different,” says CDX founder and… Read More
The advent of a global pandemic certainly added volume to the narrative that local equals resilient when it comes to economies, especially food-related economic systems. But Jayson Lusk, food and agricultural economist at Purdue University, says that evidence suggests otherwise, and that a vibrant trade economy actually adds resiliency to local economies. To demonstrate his point,… Read More
The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $1.5 million for Manitoba Egg Farmers (MEF) to establish the Egg Layer Research and Public Engagement Facility at the University of Manitoba’s (UM) Glenlea Research Station. Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Ralph Eichler made the announcement on October 8, in honour of World Egg Day. “I… Read More
Over the next year, Walmart Canada will source 1.5 million pounds of beef sourced from CRSB Certified sustainable farms and ranches. To qualify, farmers and ranchers must be certified through a third-party audited system, in accordance with sustainability standards set by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB). Walmart says this is just the first commitment,… Read More
Maple Leaf Foods says it has completed a $182 million expansion at its prepared meats plant in Winnipeg, Man., creating a “Bacon Centre of Excellence.” The 73,000 square-foot addition to the facility on Lagimodiere Boulevard will significantly increase the company’s capacity for making pre-cooked, microwaveable bacon. “We are very excited to see this project come… Read More
New research suggests that a vaccine for African swine fever virus could be available soon. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) announced Sept 30 that a vaccine candidate for the highly contagious hog disease has been shown to prevent and effectively protect European- and Asian-bred swine against the currently circulating Asian… Read More
How many calves are left for the fall run? The answer could be more than usual; however, with the dry conditions in 2021, it’s also possible the very early start to the run means there are fewer calves left to come to town. The answer to where the fall run volume — and prices —… Read More
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released it’s September 1 Cattle on Feed report Friday afternoon. According to the report, feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head with cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market totalled 11.2 million head as of September 1, 2021. Year over year, the inventory is… Read More
The Herrema family have been giving back since Gary Herrema emigrated from Holland to farming country in Ontario’s Durham Region in 1949. The Uxbridge, Ont. farm family has always been active in local fairs, farm and community groups, and municipal politics. They also believe investing in their soil is vital for the health of their… Read More