CLUNY, Alta. — Buying breeding animals sight unseen is common in the hog industry, but a Quebec based genetics company wants to change that. “Before everybody got so concerned about health protocol and biosecurity, people were able to go to somebody else’s barn and pick the boars they wanted,” said Barry Tomiski, vice-president of business […] Read more
News
Shopping made simple at the Boar Store
Western Producer Livestock Report – for Jun. 30, 2011
U.S. HOG PRICES HIT RECORD Tight supply and strong pork exports to South Korea and China drove U.S. cash hog prices to record highs. Packers had to chase supply to fill contracts for the coming July 4 holiday barbecue demand. Hog prices might fall now that the holiday demand has been met. U.S. pork exports […] Read more
Unseeded area estimates grow
Farm groups in Saskatchewan and Manitoba think there will be more unseeded acres than the Canadian Wheat Board is forecasting. The board released an estimate June 14 of 6.5 million unplanted acres in the two provinces, down from 10 million acres last year. It said the number could be as low as six million or […] Read more
Producers worry about hog care plan’s uncertain rules
FORT SASKATCHEWAN, Alta. — Alberta pork producers are confident their animals are well cared for, but they aren’t willing to tie their sales to an animal safety program whose rules are still uncertain. The voluntary Animal Care Assessment program was introduced in 2005 as a way to allow producers to demonstrate their high quality animal […] Read more
Rain or snow, sleet or hail, we want to know
Here’s a quick quiz. What has been the top story in western rural Canada so far this year? a) weather b) weather c) weather If you chose one of the above, you are obviously correct. The only other story that even comes close is labour disputes, but not getting your mail for three weeks does […] Read more
Little seeding expected after insurance deadline
As last week’s crop insurance deadlines passed, many farmers tied up their last frantic seeding efforts. And while some have and might attempt post-deadline seeding, most have put their fields into next year country. “I think it’s (a situation of ) clean it up and get it ready for next year and get on with […] Read more
Producers must take action to avoid fly, parasite resistance
We heard years ago about resistance with fly tags. I believe the first tags were called Bovaid and with no other tags on the market, researchers noticed resistance developing after a few years. Soon other companies were making tags with a different family of chemicals so producers could rotate them and ward off resistance. Horn […] Read more
CD Howe Institute tells CWB to prove worth
The Canadian Wheat Board should lose its monopoly if it cannot publish commercial information that proves its single desk status creates a better deal for grain farmers, says a business think-tank. The Toronto-based C.D. Howe Institute said wheat board claims that it is a big enough player in world grain markets to affect prices and […] Read more
Mexico weed policy shuts out canaryseed
The bird cage door has once again slammed shut on canaryseed sales to Mexico. Canadian and Mexican plant protection officials have failed to extend an interim agreement regarding quarantine weeds that expired June 21. “For nearly a year government officials have been negotiating a solution, and the expiry of the agreement is a failure to […] Read more
Pioneer builds Ont. canola facility
Seed technology companies continue to ramp up their investment in Canada’s canola industry. Pioneer Hi-Bred hosted an open house earlier this month at the new seed production facility it is building in Wingham, Ont. The $15 million plant will produce parent inbreds for the company’s hybrid seed production facility in Lethbridge and experimental hybrids for […] Read more
