Livestock producers affected by drought, flood or excess moisture conditions in 2017 may be eligible for 2017 tax relief. Agriculture Canada on Feb. 6 released the final list of regions designated under the Livestock Tax Deferral Provision, adding regions in British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The initial list, posted Nov. 6, 2017, also listed regions in […] Read more
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Alta. declares February distracted driving month
Talking on a hand-held phone or texting while driving can cost Alberta motorists $287 and three demerit points. That penalty is important to remember, particularly in February, which has been designated as “distracted driving month” by the provincial government. Alberta statistics indicate driver distractions contribute to 20 or 30 percent of collisions. Distracted drivers are […] Read more
Bovine growth hormone whistle blower dies at 84
Shiv Chopra, a former researcher with Health Canada who made headlines over objections to a veterinary drug, died Jan. 7 at the age of 84. Chopra and a fellow scientist, Margaret Haydon, claimed they were being pressured into approving the use of a bovine growth hormone that can boost milk production in dairy cows. The […] Read more
German fire causes livestock vitamin shortage
A global shortage of vitamins A and E for livestock use is forcing feed manufacturers to revise formulations. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said today that the shortage was caused by an Oct. 31 fire at the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Supplies are expected to remain below optimum levels well into the first quarter […] Read more
China-Canada meat deal includes pilot project
The federal agriculture department revealed more details Dec. 7 about greater access for Canadian beef and pork in the Chinese market. Following a trade mission by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that concluded yesterday, there is an agreement to launch a pilot project on the export of chilled and fresh beef and pork from “Canadian establishments […] Read more
Many farmers got a break from hailstorms this year
Hail caused less damage across the Prairies in 2017 than it did in 2016, according to the final report tabled Dec. 4 by the Canadian Crop Hail Association. Western Canadian farmers with hail insurance were paid $96 million on about 8,600 claims, making 2017 one of the lightest claim years since 2009, the CCHA said. […] Read more
China agrees to accept more Canadian meat
More beef and pork can be sold into China following an agreement announced today by the federal government, but details are yet to be revealed. According to the Canadian Meat Council, Canadian bone-in beef, fresh chilled beef and pork products could see expanded access in a deal that could increase exports by up to $100 […] Read more
Veal code of practice gets update
An updated code of practice for veal calves was released today by the Canadian Veal Association and the National Farm Animal Care Council. First developed in 1998, it is the 11th code to be updated through the council’s consensus-based approach to code development. It was prepared by a 17-person committee that included veal producers, researchers, […] Read more
Pink sheep ear tag officially banned
Sheep producers can no longer use the pink Ketchum Kurl-Lock No. 3 tags in their animals. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency officially revoked their use today, after warning of the pending change in September. The tags are no longer approved under the livestock identification and traceability program. The Canadian Sheep Federation advised that animals cannot […] Read more
Hail damage kept in check in August
All hail the relative absence of hail on the Prairies. That could well be the celebratory cry for farmers with the number of damaging hailstorms tracking below the five-year average, according to the Canadian Crop Hail Association. In its report for August, issued Sept. 5, the CCHA listed two hailstorms of note in Alberta, two […] Read more
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