The family of a Cargill worker who died of COVID-19 has filed a formal complaint with the RCMP. Benito Quesada, 51, was among more than 950 employees who became infected during an outbreak last year at the company’s meat processing plant in High River, Alta. Two workers died, including Quesada. “Health officials confirmed the outbreak […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Risk management needs support now
After providing Canadian families with a reliable source of food throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s agriculture sector is in a position to help lead the post-pandemic economic recovery. But in order to do so, farmers are telling their governments that they cannot do it without help. Beyond the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, […] Read more
Ottawa, Ontario urge support of AgriStability changes
Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her Ontario counterpart have issued a statement urging all provinces to support proposed changes to AgriStability. Swift endorsement and delivery of this enhanced AgriStability program is critical,” Bibeau and Ernie Hardeman said. They said farmers face challenges from COVID-19, yet have pressed on. “While the proposed changes to AgriStability […] Read more
Provinces have no clear plans to vaccinate meat plant workers
As Canadians brace for a COVID-19 vaccine shortage, it remains unclear when temporary foreign workers — thousands of whom are employed in meat packing plants — will receive it. On Jan. 15, Canada’s minister responsible for vaccine procurement, Anita Anand, said the country’s supply of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine was experiencing a delay because the […] Read more
Biodiesel demand survives pandemic slump
The oilseed-based biofuel has fared better than ethanol because of its use in the trucking sector, which hasn’t slowed
COVID-19 slashed corn demand from the ethanol sector but it temporarily boosted canola demand from the biodiesel industry, says an official. The impact of the pandemic on North American biodiesel production has been minimal, said Chris Vervaet, executive director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association. In the United States, which is the main North American […] Read more
Food service giant executes pandemic pivot
Sysco found itself forced to improvise last spring, such as helping convert closed restaurants into pop-up grocery stores
The pandemic tore a hole in the hull of Canada’s biggest food service supplier as thousands of restaurants and institutions closed. It also caused Sysco to sail into an iceberg of product oversupply as deliveries continued after its sales slumped. That caused a “pandemic pivot,” Kim Doherty, Sysco’s manager of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, […] Read more
Family files RCMP complaint over Cargill COVID death
The family of a Cargill worker who died of COVID-19 has filed a formal complaint with the RCMP. Benito Quesada, 51, was among more than 950 employees who became infected during an outbreak last year at the company’s meat processing plant in High River, Alta. Two workers died, including Quesada. “Health officials confirmed the outbreak […] Read more
Argentina suspends corn exports
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) — Argentina will suspend sales of corn for export until Feb. 28, the agriculture ministry said Dec. 30, announcing the surprise move as part of the government’s effort to ensure ample domestic food supplies. The move by the world’s third-largest corn supplier was a sign of tightening global food supplies during […] Read more
Railways made the most of grain opportunity
CN and CP say recent legislation allowed them to make the improvements that helped accommodate increased volumes
Nobody knew COVID-19 was coming, but Canada’s railways were primed to make the most of their sudden ability to ship grain to port. Two years of heavy investing into 2020 had set up Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway to be able to haul much more grain than before the 2018 Transportation Modernization Act […] Read more
Trucking industry faced COVID-19 backlash from fearful public
Truck drivers were on the front lines of the war to keep the Canadian grain, industrial and commercial systems operating during the first months of COVID-19. But when they needed momentary respite so they could keep doing their duties, they were often treated like enemies rather than noble warriors. “Life on the road is challenging […] Read more
