SASKATOON – A quarter of the Canadian beef industry could be lost before the sector stabilizes two years from now, predicts Brian Nilsson. “The really good news for everybody in this room – it’s going to happen next door,” the co-chief executive officer of Nilsson Bros. and XL Foods told the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Symposium. […] Read more
Karen Briere
Stories by Karen Briere
CCA president optimistic about future
SASKATOON – Brad Wildeman sees a challenging future for the beef industry as his term as president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association nears its end. However, he’s convinced the sector will adapt and survive. Speaking recently to producers attending the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference, he pointed to past issues, such as imports of European beef […] Read more
Price insurance viable: analyst
SASKATOON – Preliminary Saskatchewan research into a cattle price insurance program shows the idea could work, says a provincial cattle analyst. Grant Zalinko told producers at the Saskatchewan Beef Industry Conference that more technical work must be done but the analysis so far indicates this type of program, which essentially guarantees a floor price, could […] Read more
Old disease still poses problem on Prairies
SASKATOON – Cattle producers who find a high number of open and late cows should consider suspecting an old disease. Vibrio has fallen off the radar over the past 20 years but it’s still a potential problem, said Leanne Van De Weyer, a graduate student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon. She […] Read more
Livestock producers wait for word on feed assistance
SASKATOON – Saskatchewan livestock producers still don’t know if they will receive help from Agri-Recovery to cover feed shortages caused by drought. Provincial agriculture minister Bob Bjornerud asked the federal government in November to consider triggering the program, which is supposed to respond to natural disasters such as weather. There has been no reply and […] Read more
Big Sky Farms’ fate in hands of creditors
Creditors will meet at a Saskatoon hotel Feb. 8 to vote on the future of Big Sky Farms. The Humboldt, Sask.-based hog company, one of Canada’s largest, owes more than $111 million to lenders, suppliers, farmers and the provincial government. Unsecured creditors hold about $32.5 million of that debt. A plan approved by the Court […] Read more
Moose Jaw plant part of XL Foods plan
SASKATOON – The XL Foods beef slaughter plant in Moose Jaw, Sask., is still part of the company’s long-term plan, says co-chief executive officer Brian Nilsson. However, the facility has to be more competitive before it re-opens, he told a beef industry conference. The plant has been closed since last April after the company said […] Read more
Storm takes toll on Prairies
Winter struck with a vengeance last weekend, bringing much of southern Saskatchewan to a standstill and forcing many to find someplace warm. In Rockglen, Grasslands Health Centre became an impromptu gathering point after a blizzard knocked out power and left it as the only larger building in town with an alternative heat source. Provincial officials […] Read more
Cattle groups struggle over checkoffs, national representation
SASKATOON – Tensions between Saskatchewan cattle producers are boiling to the surface. At issue are who controls the check-off money and disagreements over who will represent them at the national level. The tensions intensified at last week’s provincial beef conference, which brought together all cattle sectors and marked the inaugural meeting of the year-old Saskatchewan […] Read more
Prairie equipment manufacturer makes big donation to Haiti
Edmonton philanthropist and agricultural entrepreneur Frank Flaman donated $500,000 to Haitian relief efforts last week, saying he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. Moved by the photographs and stories emerging from Haiti after a Jan. 12 earthquake, the founder of Flaman Group of Companies first announced a $250,000 donation to Salvation Army, and then decided […] Read more
