If South Korea and Canada sign a free trade agreement soon, Canadian beef could be back there by year end. South Korea was Canada’s third best beef customer before South Korea banned Canadian beef after BSE was found in Canada in 2003. “Boneless, bone-in, offal, under 30 months all by the end of this year […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Border set to reopen Nov. 19
A U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement Sept. 14 that it will soon open the border to all classes of cattle and bison was hailed as great news by the beef industry. The rule to harmonize cattle trade with countries presenting a minimal risk of introducing BSE into the United States, also known as Rule 2, […] Read more
Rule eases meat export restrictions
Canada can start exporting a wider range of bison, beef and live animals to the United States on Nov. 19. Known as Rule 2, the extensive minimum risk regulation will allow for the export of any live animal for breeding or slaughter born on or after March 1, 1999, and beef products of any age […] Read more
Disease survey declares herds healthy
A study of infectious disease in cattle shows Canada has a healthy beef herd. It began measuring the incidence of bovine viral diarrhea, bovine leukosis virus, neospora caninum and Johne’s disease in 179 herds in 2003. The diseases were selected because they are known to exist in Canada and are chronic conditions with economic or […] Read more
Wal-Mart goes shopping at local meat firms
Opportunity has come knocking at two Alberta meat companies and it sounds a lot like Wal-Mart. The retail giant has asked Paradise Valley Free Range Pork of Paradise Valley, Alta., and Diamond Willow Organic Beef of Pincher Creek, Alta., to supply meat for the newly opened Wal-Mart super centres in Pincher Creek, Wainwright, Vegreville, Leth-bridge […] Read more
Llama sector gains ground
Commercial llama breeders have turned a potential disaster into a business opportunity. When Canadian producers were caught up in the BSE whirlwind in 2003 and banned from exporting their animals, they used the crisis to help them develop the commercial side of the business. “BSE affected the breeding stock industry but it opened up the […] Read more
Biogas may get approval
A biogas plant that has been on the drawing board for more than six years may receive final regulatory approval this fall so that construction can start later in the year. ECB Enviro North America Inc. plans to build a plant near Lethbridge to use agricultural waste and byproducts to produce gas capable of generating […] Read more
Alberta farmer wins big
TORRINGTON, Alta. – Martin Vervloet carried the UFA entry form around in his truck for two weeks before a local farm service centre manager reminded him to fill it in for a sweepstakes running this summer. It is a good thing he did, because the Torrington farmer ended up with the grand prize, a $50,000 […] Read more
Packers off hook for price setting
A study funded by cattle producers has found the Canadian packing industry not guilty of price setting during the BSE crisis. “The debate at the time was whether or not a monopoly or collusive situation existed,” said Kee Jim, finance chair of the Canada Beef Export Federation. “While market power did increase, however, it was […] Read more
Johne’s difficult disease to track
Cattle producers often don’t suspect they have Johne’s disease in their herd until an animal is obviously ill. That’s why dairy producers such as Michael Hall don’t think the country’s voluntary national Johne’s disease program goes far enough in its efforts to detect and eradicate the disease. Producers know little about the disease, he said […] Read more
