Canadian pork exports were surging from December 2018 to May 2019, but then trade disputes and packer slowdowns got in the way
Canadian hog producers were on the path to good times before Chinese complications and COVID-19 derailed producers, Statistics Canada analysis shows. However, the recovery of the North American packing industry since the pandemic shock and the return of China to buying Canadian pork have reversed some of the damage. “After the reopening of the Chinese […] Read moreTag Archives COVID-19 virus
COVID cases reported at Alta. potato plant
Eight cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among workers at the Cavendish Farms potato plant in Lethbridge. Chief medical officer Deena Hinshaw confirmed today that cases had been found at that facility, a $430 million frozen potato plant that opened a new facility in the city’s northeast quadrant slightly more than a year ago. “We […] Read more
Sask. cattle meetings go online
The Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association has moved its fall meetings online. An Oct. 9 news release said the meetings were to start Oct. 19 but “the planning realities along with continued hotspots made the 11 meetings with people travelling across the province inadvisable.” Chair Arnold Balicki said he was disappointed but it was the safe thing […] Read more
Conference cancellations cause headaches
The cancellation of crop conferences in the three prairie provinces has created challenges for farm groups. COVID-19 has caused the cancellation of FarmTech in Alberta, CropSphere in Saskatchewan and CropConnect in Manitoba. That is forcing provincial commodity groups to find new ways to hold their annual general meetings and disseminate important agronomic research and markets […] Read more
Program to protect farms, workers from virus
The Emergency On-Farm Support Fund will help improve living quarters, create temporary housing and purchase PPE
Applications are now open for a federally administered $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund. Aimed at lessening the impact of COVID-19 on farms and employee living quarters, the fund is being managed by Agriculture Canada, but cost-shared with producers 50-50. Money is coming from a $58.6 million fund announced by Ottawa in July focused on […] Read more
Program to protect farms, workers from COVID
Applications are now open for a federally administered $35 million Emergency On-Farm Support Fund. Aimed at lessening the impact of COVID-19 on farms and employee living quarters, the fund is being managed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), and cost-shared with producers at a 50-50 level. Money is coming from a $58.6 million fund announced […] Read more
Agri-Trade organizers back away from holding show in November
The Agri-Trade Equipment Expo has cancelled its 2020 show, which was to be held Nov. 11-13 in Red Deer. Citing travel restrictions by corporations that would impede exhibitor participation and attendance, show organizers said last week that cancelling was a difficult decision. Despite COVID-19, they had announced in September that the show would proceed under […] Read more
COVID project results in corn bounty
A mother and son duo worried at first that they had planted too much, but customers have not been in short supply
MONTMARTRE, Sask. — Staring out at the acre of land they were about to hand-seed with corn, Janet Kotylak and her son Riley both had the same thought. “Maybe we shouldn’t have done so much,” said Janet, explaining that, on paper, an acre of corn didn’t seem so daunting to plant by hand. “I was […] Read more
FCC likes dairy’s prospects
Canada’s dairy farmers have survived the pandemic better than some other farm sectors and that should continue, Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist says. While the industry will face increasing pressure from American imports for a few years, that should eventually reverse. “We think that 2020 is going to be worse (overall) than 2019, but […] Read more
Pandemic highlights resiliency of nation’s food system
Canada’s food industries faced production and demand shocks in the first six months of COVID, but most managed well
Despite much fear and near-panic, Canada’s food system survived the pandemic shock remarkably well, says a University of Guelph expert. While numerous small and evolutionary changes may come to the food industry in the wake of COVID-19, Michael von Massow doubts there will be a revolution. “Is the status quo really that bad?” pondered von […] Read more
