With COVID-19 stopping most travel in its tracks, few of us these days think about wonderful places that our travel rewards programs promise to take us. So what about all those points we’ve been collecting? What will they be worth when we start travelling again? How well will airlines, hotel chains, and other businesses tied […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
What’s next: higher taxes or program cuts?
In an attempt to bridge the economic chaos brought on by the pandemic, Canada has had to take on massive amounts of new debt, largely funded by foreign lenders. Canada’s accumulated deficit last year amounted to $685.45 billion, the highest in Canadian history. With all the COVID-19 related emergency spending programs, even the government agrees […] Read more
Price may pressure beef consumption
Canadian beef consumption per capita has been gradually declining for the past decade and economic effects of the pandemic might further pressure consumer purchases, an agricultural economist suggests. Craig Klemmer, principal ag economist with Farm Credit Canada, said the price of beef could become an issue due to high unemployment and escalating credit card debt. […] Read more
Market outlook appears promising for pork and beef
The outlook is cautiously optimistic for Canadian beef and pork trade, say industry experts, so long as the worst effects from the pandemic are over. Fawn Jackson of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Phil Boyd of Turkey Farmers of Canada and livestock and meat market analyst Kevin Grier each said demand for beef, turkey and pork […] Read more
Market tools quickly adapt to COVID
Derivatives markets in grain continue to evolve as impacts of COVID-19 and the winds of protectionism buffet the global industry. Grain exchange officials from Europe and South America told the International Grains Council annual conference that they continue to develop new products and are modifying the products that the ever-changing industry could use. “It really […] Read more
Federal food surplus program details coming soon: Bibeau
Detailed plans of the federal government’s food buy-back program are expected soon, according to Agriculture Minister Marie Claude Bibeau. Ottawa tabbed $50 million of its COVID-19 response funds for agriculture to buy surplus food from farmers and redistribute it to communities in need. The challenge Bibeau and her federal colleagues are faced with is how […] Read more
Slaughter is recovering but supply chain still adjusting
The livestock slaughter pace in Canada and the United States is recovering from COVID-19 temporary closures and slowdowns, but the effect on the supply chain and prices will take time to get back to normal. COVID was a devastating experience for the meat sector, but it is amazing that plant operators and workers have adjusted […] Read more
Alberta’s potato stockpile 37% higher than average
Alberta has a boatload of potatoes in storage. As of June 1, stocks of processing potatoes in Alberta were 5.37 million hundredweight, which is 37.2 percent higher than the three year average for stockpiles in early June. Spuds have piled up in Alberta because french fry consumption has collapsed over the last two and a […] Read more
Alta. community creates scrub bags
Health-care workers can use the bags to store their work clothes after shifts to help reduce the spread of COVID-19
When Laurie Hermary first realized scrub bags were needed for health-care workers in neighbouring communities, she immediately went work. Hermary, along with many others, began sewing dozens of bags. Health-care and group-home workers can use them to store their work clothes after their shifts. With COVID-19, health-care employees are trying to reduce the spread of […] Read more
Sask. releases back-to-school guidelines
Saskatchewan has released its guidelines for students returning to school this fall, and there will be a few changes for those who ride the school bus to get there. There will be a seating plan that students will be required to follow. This is important to assist with contact tracing in the event of a […] Read more
