Dairy producers from across Canada and around the world helped the Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) establish a record attendance earlier this month. Overall, attendance at the Stratford, Ont., dairy industry trade show surpassed 16,000, breaking the attendance record of 14,900, set last year. Those are huge numbers considering there are about 15,000 dairy farms in… Read More
Category: Livestock
The world’s largest pork producer and processor has launched a new business unit dedicated to expanding the use of pigs in human medicine, including tissue regeneration and potentially organ development for transplants. Smithfield Foods announced the creation of its Smithfield Bioscience division last week. “Our commitment to innovation and sustainability stretches across all aspects of… Read More
What do consumers think of Canadian farmers? Recent studies tell us that consumers appreciate and respect farmers’ efforts to produce healthy, affordable, safe food for Canadians. But to maintain the strength of the Canadian farm brand and consumers’ trust, farmers must continue to be brand champions for their own farms and their industry, says Len… Read More
Trade has been the focal point for the beef industry in North America, lately, as both Canada and the U.S. search for export growth. It seems like we talk more about trade deficits and surpluses between countries than we have in a long time. This week in the Beef Market Update with Anne Wasko, Anne… Read More
AgriClear, a North America-wide online transaction and payment platform for cattle buyers and sellers, has announced a collaborative marketing agreement with Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+). Verified Beef Production Plus (VBP+) is a national program providing verification of Canadian beef production practices at the farm, ranch, and feedlot. Delivered nationally under the umbrella of the… Read More
Summer may feel a long way off, but being prepared to manage heat stress in dairy cattle goes a long way in warding off the production losses that go along with it. We’re also well into the 2016 feed crop, and there are reports of several farmers struggling to keep mycotoxin (specifically DON/vomitoxin) levels low enough… Read More
Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan government rolled out its 2017-18 cost-cutting budget yesterday, and there’s something for everyone to pick on. Affecting all sectors, Wall is increasing the provincial sales tax (PST) from five to six per cent, and has re-written what goods and services are no longer PST-exempt. Specific for farmers, beginning April 1, 2017, fuel tax… Read More
When it comes to mating horses, there’s a lot at stake. Stud fees can soar into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And likewise, offspring from a particularly promising pairing can be extremely valuable. These animals could be the start of a new line, and lead to generations of prime performers. But… Read More
The Canadian Dairy XPO (CDX) returns for its fifth year at the Stratford Rotary Complex April 5 & 6. This year the show coincides with the Spring Discovery Show in Ancaster (April 3 to 6) and the National Holstein Convention in Markham (April 5 to 8). With three national dairy events happening in southwestern Ontario during… Read More
AGCO is expanding its forage equipment business, acquiring the forage division of Lely Group. Lely, which is known more for its dairy equipment in North America, manufactures balers, loader wagons, mowers and rakes in Europe. The two companies have reached an agreement-in-principle, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2017. “The integration… Read More
Trade has become the talk on all news programs and in coffee shops across not just Canada, but all of North America. America’s Trump administration has promised it will improve current deals and strike new bilateral agreements around the world, creating opportunities and challenges for Canada. With the impending NAFTA renegotiation being a hot topic,… Read More
We all have our favourite months of the year. For some people, it’s December due to Christmas, or it could be April, because the cropping season begins, but right now the most critical month for cattle producers is March. It seems that many cattle analysts believe March may end up being a bit more bearish… Read More
Change is good. Change is the only constant. Be the change you want to see in the world. There’s no shortage of sayings that reference change. Michael Barrett, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, prefers, though, to use imagery when discussing change and being ready for it. In his words, there are lines in the sand,… Read More
Today marks International Women’s Day, and McDonald’s Canada is marking the occasion with a new commercial celebrating the farm women who play a role in bringing home the beef in Canadian agriculture. In the commercial, you’ll likely recognize Alberta’s Jill Harvie (@BrightPasture) from a previous McDonald’s commercial, and also featured for this Old MacDonald-themed sing-a-long is… Read More
The Canadian Sheep Federation (CanSheep) has announced the launch of the Canadian Verified Sheep Program (CVSP). A rebranding of the Food Safe Farm Practices program, this new program adds two additional modules on animal care and biosecurity. Sheep farmers who have already completed the Food Safe Farm Practices program will only need to complete these… Read More