Organization had feared the pandemic might reduce the number of growing projects this year, but that didn’t happen
The global pandemic has increased the number of hungry people in the world and the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is preparing to meet the challenge of helping to feed them. Until 2014, there had been a 30-year decline in the number of hungry, but violent events in Yemen, South Sudan and Syria, among other countries, changed […] Read moreTag Archives COVID-19 virus
Resiliency is a great idea, until you have to pay for it
Other than “unprecedented,” the term “resiliency” has been the biggest buzzword of the pandemic — at least in agriculture. I doubt I’ve taken part in a webinar, Zoom call or online press conference since March without the term being used prominently repeatedly. Resiliency is a hot concept right now, but what does it really mean? […] Read more
COVID-related plant problems helped boost spring beef prices
Increased prices reflected decreased supply when slaughter plants slowed production or closed due to COVID-19 infections
Prices for fresh and frozen beef rose 13.7 percent in May, reflecting decreased supply when slaughter plants slowed or temporarily closed due to worker illness from COVID-19. Statistics Canada issued a report Nov. 17 showing the May price increase was followed in June by the largest month over month price gain in five years of […] Read more
New COVID restrictions announced in Sask.
Saskatchewan has implemented a new set of restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19. The new orders take effect Friday and last until Dec. 17. At that time, they will be reviewed. The restrictions include limiting all indoor public gatherings to 30 people. Weddings, funerals and worship services are limited to 30, and no […] Read more
International travel promises to be extra challenging this winter
The official Canadian government travel advisory is clear: “Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.” Yet many Canadians are either making plans or thinking about a winter vacation in warmer climes. Most face a mind-boggling array of constantly changing regulations as to where they are allowed to go, where it might be safe to […] Read more
Second COVID-19 wave brings new challenges
It was less than a year ago when the Wuhan virus, as it was first known, was first discovered. In February, the World Health Organization named it COVID-19. In March, it was declared a pandemic and the world has been forever changed. Within agriculture, the meat-packing industry faced serious hurdles as workers became infected and […] Read more
COVID outbreak declared in Sask. meat plant
A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at the Thunder Creek Pork plant in Moose Jaw. The Saskatchewan Health Authority declared the outbreak on Nov. 16. It does so when two or more people in a non-household setting test positive. The plant employs about 250 people and is owned by Donald’s Fine Foods. It’s unknown how […] Read more
Indoor masks now mandatory across Sask.
Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces in Saskatchewan effective Thursday, Nov. 19. The government announced more restrictions today as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise and hospitalizations increase. As of Tuesday there were 2,055 active cases in the province, with 71 in hospital and 15 of those in intensive care units. There have […] Read more
Sask. expands mandatory mask order
Masks must be worn indoors in 59 more Saskatchewan communities, effective Monday, Nov. 16. A new public health order was issued Nov. 13 and is in place until at least Dec. 4. Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert were already covered by a mandatory mask order. Health minister Paul Merriman and chief medical health officer Dr. […] Read more
Canola seen gaining ground as biofuel during COVID-19
A drop in used cooking oil supplies because of the pandemic’s effect on restaurants has opened a door for the oilseed
COVID-19 is boosting the use of canola oil in the biofuel sector, says an industry official. That is because production of one of canola’s main competing feedstocks has been severely curtailed, said Ian Thomson, president of Advanced Biofuels Canada. There is suddenly nowhere near as much used cooking oil on the market. “With COVID and […] Read more
