Concerns about beef availability in the marketplace continue to sizzle like steak on a barbecue. As slaughter plants in Canada and the United States reduce line speeds, shifts or effect temporary closures to deal with COVID-19 concerns, analysts say supplies are likely to be affected. Market analyst Kevin Grier said Canadian slaughter is likely to […] Read more
Barb Glen
Stories by Barb Glen
Beekeepers face tough challenges
Canadian beekeepers this year are unable to get the packages of bees they normally buy from New Zealand, Australia and Chile to replace winter bee losses. In an ordinary year, 40,000 to 60,000 packages of bees would come to Canada from those countries but loss of commercial flights due to curtailed COVID-19 related air travel […] Read more
Beekeepers face worker shortage due to travel restrictions
The temporary foreign workers employed by Canadian beekeepers are starting to arrive, much to the relief of many. Rod Scarlett, executive director of the Canadian Honey Council, said a charter flight of workers from Nicaragua arrived last week and another flight with more workers is expected shortly. As well, workers from Mexico have started to […] Read more
Calgary Stampede cancelled due to COVID-19
The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth has met its match in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Calgary Stampede, the annual rodeo, midway and western heritage showcase that draws international visitors to Alberta every year, will not be held in 2020, for the first time since it became annual in 1923. In an announcement today, Calgary Stampede […] Read more
Hog sector in crisis: federal aid requested as farms start euthanizing pigs
Canada’s hog producers are asking the federal government for an immediate direct cash payment of $20 per hog to address a cash flow crisis that has already forced some to euthanize market ready pigs. Canadian Pork Council chair Rick Bergmann said in a news conference today that producers are losing $30 to $50 per pig […] Read more
Easier transportation worsens weed problem
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — COVID-19, the virus that caused a global pandemic, is spread by one of the same things that allow invasive weeds to spread: ease of transportation in modern society. “We have this amazing, fantastic global transportation system that didn’t exist for almost all of history,” said invasive species expert Kelly Cooley. “We’ve […] Read more
Cargill forced to close meat plant
The beef industry fears producers could lose half a billion dollars by June if the Alberta processor stays closed that long
The Cargill meat processing plant in High River, Alta., which slaughters 40 percent of the cattle in Canada, announced temporary closure effective April 20. Date of reopening is unknown, but the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said it could mean industry losses of half a billion dollars by June if the closure lasts that long. Halt of […] Read moreTwo types of ways to cope with COVID stress
Hoarders and deniers are both dealing with unprecedented pressure — and both kinds of behaviour are based on fear
There seem to be two common responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s the toilet paper hoarders who act out of fear and the dismissive folks who also act out of fear. The former are over-responders and the latter are under-responders, but both are responding to anxiety, said psychologist McMillan James. Speaking via an April 2 […] Read moreConsumers expect more from beverages
Modern options include ready-to-drink teas, drinks with less sugar and beverages containing pulses and cannabis
Comfort and health are behind the most recent trends in consumer beverage choices. And the COVID-19 virus may affect consumer beverage purchases, said Howard Telford, head of soft drinks for Euromonitor International. “Particularly when we think about the last few weeks, this anxiety economy of consumer products, I think that’s certainly an area where demand […] Read moreHog prices take ‘pummelling’ as processors slow down
Canadian hog plants are doing “yeoman’s work” in keeping their operations running, says a Canadian market analyst, but productivity is down and there are worries that might cause a glut of market-ready pigs with no place to go. Kevin Grier of Kevin Grier Market Analysis and Consulting said a five to 10 percent decrease in […] Read more
