A federal grand jury in a U.S. District Court in Colorado has indicted four current and former senior executives from two major American chicken companies for their role in conspiring to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chickens. “Executives who cheat American consumers, restauranteurs, and grocers, and compromise that integrity of our food supply,… Read More
Chicken Farmers of Canada’s board of directors has adjusted the May to July chicken allocation by 12.6 per cent nationally, to reduce production in an effort to address lower demand for chicken from restaurants and food service providers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in production will be highest in Ontario, Quebec,… Read More
Meat coolers are going to look a lot different as we navigate COVID-19, but according to the Canadian Meat Council, each step of the livestock processing chain is collaborating, communicating, and committed to keeping food moving to grocery stores. Chris White, president and CEO of the Canadian Meat Council, says the livestock processing sector is… Read More
The decision to close a processing plant as it relates to COVID-19 infection of staff is a complicated one. Food processing plants have strict protocols and clear guidance on food safety issues, but the advent of a human disease pandemic is a new territory for all — processors included. Ultimately, the decision to close a… Read More
The packing industry is crucial to the entire food value chain in agriculture and, with that, comes the importance of government inspectors. The question is, what happens if these inspectors contract COVID-19 or if they aren’t able to work due to the risk of contracting the virus? The issue was highlighted with the partial closure… Read More
The Chicken Farmers of Canada have announced its new executive following its recent annual general meeting, and has unveiled a new logo as well. Continuing as chair is Benoît Fontaine, from Stanbridge Station, Que., a chicken and turkey grower. He has served on the board since 2013 and has been chair since 2016. First vice-chair… Read More
Some of Canada’s largest meat processing companies are publicly announcing their COVID-19 response measures in an effort to offer reassurance and transparency to the public and others in the food supply chain. While minimizing the human health risk associated with having a large number of employees working at a single facility is the primary concern,… Read More
With coronavirus cases on the rise, the federal and provincial governments have increased risk mitigation measures to slow down the spread of the virus. Farmers and ranchers are a relatively independent and often secluded, so the impact of any quarantine would be limited on daily operations during planting or calving. The business risk to agriculture… Read More
National hog and poultry groups are welcoming proposed legislation aimed at mitigating animal health risks from trespassers on farms. Conservative shadow minister for agriculture and Foothills MP John Barlow introduced Bill C-205 on Tuesday. The private member’s bill would make it an offence under the Health of Animals Act to enter, without lawful authority or… Read More
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented a “transition period” for the feed, water, and rest requirements for all livestock sectors, in addition to the previously announced grace period extended to beef and dairy animals. CFIA says it will use the first two years of the new regulation period, beginning February 2020, to “focus… Read More
Ashley Honsberger will be taking on the role of executive director for the Poultry Industry Council (PIC) effective December. “Ashley’s experience and passion will be a great addition to our organization,” says Ed Verkley, chair of the board for PIC. “Her demonstrated ability to build relationships and develop programs with a broad range of stakeholders… Read More
Charges have been laid in the September long weekend activist protest at a rural Alberta turkey barn. In the morning hours of September 2, protesters gathered along the highway adjacent to the Jumbo Valley Colony turkey barn near Fort MacLeod, Alta., some of whom entered the barn illegally. RCMP were called to the scene around… Read More
October 11th is World Egg Day, and come rain or shine — or even snow, Canadian farmers are out promoting the business of eggs. The special day was established at the International Egg Commission conference held at Vienna back in 1996. The celebration occurs on the second Friday of October each year and is meant… Read More
We are less than six months away from new federal livestock transportation regulations coming into force, and significant clarification is still needed surrounding the implementation of the rules. The existing rules for livestock transport within Canada have been overhauled from all sides, including: the angle of loading ramps, hours allowed in transit, restrictions on movement… Read More
In the face of plant-based protein being all the rage, some may have also noticed a subtle but significant push for the continued celebration of meat. The rise of nose-to-tail feasts, carnivore-centric restaurants, and even a reality TV show that puts butchering skills to the test are a all a testament to humans’ continued love… Read More