McDonald’s Canada is offering financial help to get more producers involved in its goal to build a sustainable beef program next year. McDonald’s Corp. is offering up to $20,000 for projects to work with ranchers and feedlots to successfully participate in the verified sustainable beef pilot project. Beef industry partners like veterinary clinics, producer organizations, […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
The increase in ‘artificial’ intelligence
Savvy consumers are more conscious of food labels and demand more products that list ‘no artificial ingredients’
Modern consumers are reading more labels, eating more snacks and relying more on the internet for nutritional information. The top trend is a demand for clear labels that assure consumers the products contain no artificial ingredients or GMOs, said Joanne Clifton of Innova Market Insights, an international database that tracks food trends and new products. […] Read moreGrisly cow mutilation puzzles Alberta family, investigators
A case of cow mutilation has left an Alberta family angry and perplexed. Keren Farquharson, who lives near Madden northwest of Calgary, made the grisly discovery on the afternoon of June 6 when she found a cow that looked like it was sleeping in the tall grass. Closer examination showed that an eye, udder, vagina […] Read more
B.C. to expand brand inspection area
MERRITT, B.C. —The British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association wants to expand brand inspection in the province. A resolution was passed at the association’s annual meeting to cover areas west of the Cascade Mountains. The brand inspection act lists the prescribed districts as the Peace River, Central Interior, Cariboo, Kamloops-Okanagan and Kootenay. “It just seems, as the […] Read more
Canadian lamb producers will still feel effects of COOL
A repeal of country-of-origin labelling on imported beef, pork and chicken is making its way through the U.S. Congress, but the sheep sector argues it does not go far enough. The Canadian Sheep Federation said the entire bill, covering all commodities, should be repealed. “If the legislation is only partially repealed, it leaves the door […] Read more
U.S. asks for arbitration on COOL damages
The United States has decided to ask the world trade organization for arbitration over the amount of damages Canada claims has been caused by mandatory country or origin labelling. Canada asked the WTO to impose retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion annually on key U.S. exports due to damages caused by COOL. “Canada is […] Read more
U.S. seeks arbitration on COOL damages
The United States has decided to ask the World Trade Organization to arbitrate the amount of damages Canada claims has been caused by mandatory country-of-origin labelling. Canada asked the WTO a to impose retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion annually on key U.S. exports due to damages caused by COOL. “Canada is disappointed that […] Read more
Cow mutilation perplexes Alberta family
A case of cow mutilation has left an Alberta family angry and perplexed. Keren Farquharson, who lives near Madden northwest of Calgary, made the grisly discovery on the afternoon of June 6 when she found a cow that looked like it was sleeping in the tall grass. Closer examination showed that an eye, udder, vagina […] Read more
Saputo announces animal welfare policy
Dairy Farmers of Canada welcomes the company’s move to enforce quality controls by setting pain and procedure regulations
Saputo, a Montreal based dairy processor, says it will refuse milk from farms that fail to treat cows humanely. The new policy is expected to be implemented across Saputo’s operations in Canada, the United States, Australia and Argentina. In a June 1 news release, the company announced it would not accept milk from farms that […] Read moreHarmony Beef faces delay
Canada’s newest beef processing plant is not likely to open until the first quarter of 2016, said company owner Rich Vesta. Harmony Beef, located northeast of Calgary, could process 800 head per day but it might be two more years before it reaches full production, Vesta told the Canadian Angus Association convention June 5. “When […] Read more
