The British Columbia minister of public safety and solicitor general has issued a series of ministerial orders under the Emergency Program Act in response to COVID-19. Issued March 26 by minister Mike Farnsworth, the province is stepping up consumer protection and enforcement. These measures include: • Supply chain: Establishing a new provincial supply chain co-ordination […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
COVID-19 impacts on the meat trade
The Canadian beef sector has formed a cross industry team to ensure stable beef production and trade can continue under the restrictions of COVID-19. The first desire is to ensure people stay safe but it is also important to ensure business continuity and make sure food is abundant in stores as well as keep trade […] Read more
Farm preparation in the face of COVID-19
Farm preparation in the face of COVID-19 means making plans that are subject to change to protect people, livestock and farm assets. Emergency management specialist Rebecca Gimenez Husted provided a disaster response plan for the livestock sector during a virtual conference sponsored by Alberta Farm Animal Care on March 19. “This is an unforeseen thing […] Read more
CCA calls for clearer labels
OTTAWA — Plant-based proteins are here to stay but meat producers want them labelled more clearly. “It is a shock that they are allowed to use ‘meat’ in any sort of advertisement, whether it says alternative or plant-based meat,” said beef producer Dan Darling of Ontario during the CCA annual meeting in Ottawa March 11-13. […] Read more
BSE status may be negligible by 2021
OTTAWA — Canada’s request for negligible risk status for BSE has been delayed but an upgrade from controlled risk may not make much difference to some trading partners. “To this day Canada’s representation to trading partners requesting full access is based on Canada’s controlled risk status,” said Geoff Adams of Global Affairs Canada. “Most of […] Read more
Ontario beef producers look for federal assistance amid severe market turbulence
OTTAWA — Cascading events are pushing Ontario beef producers over the edge. Requests for short-term assistance have gone to the federal government but there is no action so far, said Jack Chaffe, vice-president of Beef Farmers of Ontario. The organization estimated market and trade disruptions have caused average weekly losses of $2 million over the […] Read more
Coronavirus weighs heavily on beef, pork export markets
RED DEER — Meat-producing countries are focused on shipping more to China but the unexpected consequences of COVID-19 could slow export expectations. Besides more quarantines and cancelled travel plans due to the new coronavirus, the ongoing threat of African swine fever continues to weigh heavily on the global protein market, said Dave Weaber, vice-president of […] Read more
Aussie meat agency pushes for higher producer returns
RED DEER — The Livestock and Meat Agency of Australia is charting a new course where job one is improving producer returns. The producer-led organization was formed in 1998 to foster long-term prosperity for the Australian red meat and livestock sectors but times have changed, said Jason Strong, managing director. The organization has helped turn […] Read more
COVID-19 taking a toll on cattle markets
Cattle markets in Canada and the United States are being knocked around with uncertainty due to the threat of COVID-19. Canada follows the U.S. cutout wholesale beef price which is soaring while live prices struggle. “We are hearing from our producers across the country that the spread between the boxed beef side and the live […] Read more
Virus concerns disrupt cattle markets
RED DEER — Large meat supplies, plunging profits and uncertainty about the spread of the COVID-19 virus are affecting livestock markets. The United States is working through record levels of beef, pork and poultry resulting in lower prices for producers. There was a four to five percent increase in U.S. pork supplies year over year […] Read more
