A flock of chickens in the southeast corner of Manitoba has contracted a confirmed case of infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), an acute herpes viral respiratory tract infection of chickens, turkeys, and pheasants, that may result in severe production losses and mortality as high as 85%. ILT is on the list of four notifiable diseases at the… Read More
Within a month of announcing its collaboration with the University of Saskatchewan, Canadian tech startup Transport Genie Ltd., is set to conduct field trials of its smart sensors in Switzerland. The company announced this week that it is working with Swiss-based integrated poultry company Prodavi SA. Starting in June, Transport Genie sensors will be installed… Read More
The Government of Canada is supporting the work of the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) with an $8.24 million contribution, provided under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), and AgriScience Program Clusters. The financial backing will be in addition to $3.78 million invested by the poultry industry. Funds will go towards addressing threats to the poultry… Read More
Earlier this year, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) announced it would no longer carry out enforcement of Ontario’s animal welfare laws. The announcement has spurred Ontario’s government to evaluate how animal welfare enforcement is handled in the province and will shape new animal welfare legislation. As part of that… Read More
Turkey Farmers of Canada have launched a five-year advertising and PR campaign encouraging consumers to #ThinkTurkey (#PensezDindon). The campaign will focus on engaging primary meal planners to raise awareness of the benefits of turkey, drive year-round demand, and increase overall consumption and retail availability of the protein. Launched May 6, the campaign includes billboards, transit… Read More
Look for poultry producers to flock to Stratford, Ont., on November 4 and 5, 2020, for the newly-minted Canadian Poultry XPO. The new poultry industry tradeshow was announced today at the opening of the 2019 Canadian Dairy XPO by show founders Jordon and Donna Underhill, who will now bring the dairy showcase model to the… Read More
The federal government has earmarked nearly $4 billion in compensation in its next budget for those involved in the supply-managed sector. Now, dairy, chicken, and turkey groups are waiting for the specific details on how the money will be doled out. “What I see here in the budget is something that, where the government is… Read More
For generations, if you wanted protein in your diet, consumers would dive into a steak, pork tenderloin, or chicken breast. With the benefit of venture capital and technology several food innovators are pushing the envelope in the development of synthetic or cell-cultured proteins. It looks like a chicken breast, it tastes like a chicken breast… Read More
The Government of Canada has published revisions to the Health of Animals Regulations (HAR). The regulations come into force one year from publication, on February 1, 2020. While the advent of revamped regulations is not unexpected — there has been a significant amount of consultation on the proposed changes — the timing of the final… Read More
Ontario’s provincial government, in partnership with the federal government, has announced updates to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program. The compensation program was significantly changed under the previous Liberal provincial government, leading to a dramatic increase in rejected claims, higher fees, and much longer wait times to receive approved compensation. After consulting with farmers and… Read More
How far have we come in 30 years of plant breeding and agronomic knowledge? Well, in this edition of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson reflects back on corn and soybean yield averages for Ontario and the gains may surprise you. What about wheat? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out if we’ve made… Read More
Maple Leaf Foods has announced plans to spend $660 million to build a new, 640,000 square foot fresh poultry processing facility at London, Ont., and to invest in projects that “accelerate adoption of advanced manufacturing and production technologies.” Those investments support the company’s goal of reducing its environmental footprint by 50 per cent by 2025. The… Read More
Many of us are full-fledged carnivores, but fewer and fewer Canadians are cutting into a barbecued steak. That’s the conclusion of a new Dalhousie University study looking at Canadian attitudes toward plant-based protein alternatives. According to the study, 6.4 million Canadians say they are limiting the amount of meat they eat, and the number will likely… Read More
The 25-year-old trade deal known as NAFTA is no more. As of Sunday night, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement know as USMCA was born. So what does this mean for producers? Let us break it down for you… Increased market access for American dairy farmers So far, market access into the Canadian dairy sector has been… Read More
Most livestock producers are aware that significant changes are coming to how they’ll access antibiotic medication for animals as of December 1, 2018. Beginning then, several commonly used antibiotic medications (especially those important for human medicine) will no longer be available through your feed or animal supply store, instead being accessible only through your veterinarian…. Read More