As we navigate value chains in a global pandemic, many ag and food commodities are experiencing supply disruption and major shifts in demand of both product and destination. These shifts are perhaps most evident in protein markets, and Michael Young, president of Canada Beef, says that the value chain is adapting as well as it… Read More
Maple Leaf Foods has named Nadia Theodore as senior vice president of global industry and government relations, effective October 13, 2020. Theodore steps in for Rory McAlpine, who will retire after 15 years with Maple Leaf Foods. Theodore currently serves as the Consul General of Canada to the southeast U.S., based at Atlanta, Georgia. Since… Read More
A recent Burger King advertisement has caused a stir for its claims about cows and methane portrayal of farmers, but it’s ended up with an outcome that’s a step in the right direction, according to many farmers and ranchers. Burger King released a letter, dated July 21, announcing their new partnership in the Global Roundtable… Read More
As pork producers continue to struggle with slumping prices, Alberta Pork and the Canadian Pork Council have launched an online calculator aimed at increasing transparency in how pigs in Western Canada are priced. The calculator uses pricing formula data compiled in-house by Alberta Pork, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture mandatory reporting, which is also… Read More
The impact of COVID-19 on the livestock industry has been severe. There were weeks of packers operating at half to no slaughter capacity, market-ready cattle waiting to get on a truck, and the food service sector being crippled due to closures. One of the measures suggested to help mitigate the financial strain by the cattle… Read More
Let’s get one thing straight — livestock produce methane when they burp. It’s called enteric methane emissions, and it comes from the front end, not the back. That’s just the beginning of all the ways Dr. Frank Mitloehner wants people to shift their thinking when it comes to livestock and methane. In this RealAg LIVE!… Read More
For a good portion of Ontario, rain has returned mid-summer. The trouble is that rain took a long time to show up, and where it has fallen, it’s been spotty and selective. Plenty of hay and pasture fields are still in need of moisture and are only now showing any real re-growth from first or… Read More
Cattle prices are holding steady for most of the U.S. and Western Canada on strong wholesale demand. Ranchers, too, are cautiously optimistic as pasture and hay supplies are good and calf prices have been holding steady. It’s not all sunshine and green grass, however, says Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock Exchange, as there are still… Read More
This post first appeared on Dr. Frank Mitloehner’s blog and is re-posted with permission. Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, hold the methane? A new communication campaign from Burger King is promising beef that comes from cows that are 33 percent less gassy on average, allowing the international fast-food chain’s consumers to have it their way without… Read More
Elanco Animal Health has received regulatory approval of its acquisition of Bayer Animal Health after agreeing to several anti-trust related conditions. The US$7.6 billion deal was announced in August 2019. As part of its review, Canada’s Competition Bureau found Elanco and Bayer Animal Health are each other’s closest competitors in several markets, specifically in poultry insecticides… Read More
On this Thursday edition of RealAg LIVE!, host Shaun Haney takes a deep dive into the machinery and technology side of agriculture with President and CEO of Ag Growth International, Tim Close. Shaun and Tim talk about the executive suite of AGI, discussing everything from augers, to bins, to software. Tune in to RealAg LIVE!… Read More
More than two months after the federal government announced $50 million in emergency funding for provinces that want to offer cattle set-aside programs, the Manitoba government has still not released any information on what the program will look like for beef producers in the province. The cattle set-aside initiatives aim to help cover the costs… Read More
A California-based company that makes “animal-free” alternatives to dairy products using microflora is receiving US$50 million in funding from the Canada Pension Plan’s investment fund. Perfect Day announced a new US$300 million round of funding last week, led by the contribution from the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Founded in 2014, the company has developed… Read More
Sheep farmer Sandi Brock might look a little familiar, if you’re keen on YouTube and Instagram. The Staffa, Ont. farmer was raised on a dairy farm, worked on a broiler breeder farm, and then eventually chose sheep as the livestock venture to diversify her grain enterprise. Brock learned so much in those first years of… Read More
The Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) has presented two members with leadership awards as recognition for their work in the livestock health industry. Jean Szkotnicki received the Industry Leadership Award for her many years of service to the Canadian animal health industry. As an early supporter of a harmonized global approach to the technical requirements… Read More