Crude oil prices are recovering as global economies rebound from COVID-19 disruptions and a few ultra-bulls are talking of the potential to see peaks of US$100 per barrel in the next few years. That would raise farm diesel costs, but also lift ethanol and biodiesel values, which would in turn support crop prices. Of course […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Pets can provide COVID-19 comfort
Cats are kings in the Canadian pet world. There were 8.1 million cats as household pets in this country, a 2020 figure that does not include the many barn and feral cats that likely roam farms, ranches and acreages. In contrast, pet dogs numbered 7.7 million in 2020, slightly up from 2019 figures of 7.6 […] Read more
Feds’ prairie rep reassures farmers on grain drying
More prairie people are needed at the centre of the federal government, Jim Carr told the Canadian Crops Convention March 3. And with everything that society has learned from the trend toward working remotely during the pandemic, that’s more possible than ever to make real. “I think there are going to be some significant changes […] Read more
Red Deer hog plant starts reopening today
The Olymel pork processing plant in Red Deer is resuming slaughter operations today after temporarily closing for 14 days due to a COVID-19 outbreak among workers. Olymel said it has received the green light from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to reopen the plant, which it will do gradually by starting slaughter today and cutting room […] Read more
Cattle herd size continues to shrink
The one percent drop in the national cattle herd is part of a general decline that has been happening since 2005
The number of Canadian cattle and sheep shrank in 2020, but there were more hogs compared to the previous year. Statistics Canada released its livestock 2020 livestock inventory March 1, showing a one percent decline in the national cattle herd, totalling 11.2 million animals, and a two percent decline in sheep numbers, totalling 800,000. Total […] Read more
CFA members want interprovincial meat trade expanded
Members of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture say interprovincial meat trade should be a priority for the body looking at enhancing free trade within the country. Delegates to last week’s annual general meeting voted in favour of a resolution put forward by Keystone Agricultural Producers to refer the issue to the Regulation Reconciliation and Co-operation […] Read more
Beef sector saw winners and losers during COVID
Consumers paid more for beef, processors and retailers increased their profits and feedlot owners lost millions in 2020 because of COVID-19. A paper published through the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, written by project co-ordinator Karen Spencer, indicates feedlots lost an estimated $379 million in gross revenues for 2020 compared to the previous […] Read more
Prairie processors get federal cash for COVID-related safety measures
Twenty-four meat processing operations across the Prairies used up to $7.8 million in federal funds to support their safety measures and investments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim Carr, special representative for the Prairies, said March 2 that the Emergency Processing Fund was designed to help protect meat plant employees from COVID-19 through various safety […] Read more
Red Deer hog plant may open this week
Hog producers who deliver to Olymel are hopeful the Red Deer plant will reopen sometime this week. The plant, which can slaughter 45,000 hogs per week when in full operation, temporarily closed Feb. 15 due to widespread worker illness from COVID-19. It had already slowed its slaughter capacity on Feb. 5 due to high worker […] Read more
Processing study ends soon; cattle producers make recommendations
The federal committee on agriculture is expected to soon wrap up its study into Canada’s processing capacity. Beginning in November 2020, MPs have heard from more than 50 witnesses on the issue. During a Feb. 23 meeting, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association testified. In an accompanying brief, seven recommendations on how to “create an environment that […] Read more
