For a couple months, Canada’s food supply system was front page news. At grocery stores, flour and toilet paper ran out. Some beef and pork plants shut down as hundreds or thousands of workers got sick with COVID-19. Going to the grocery store became a mission seemingly fraught with danger. Hoarding of food and fear […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Mushroom farmers unhappy
Members of Parliament sitting on the committee dealing with agricultural issues continue to hear concerns over the federal government’s response to COVID-19. During a May 27 meeting, members of the Canadian Mushroom Growers Association raised “grave concerns” over the support they have received. Chief executive officer Ryan Koeslag said additional measures put in place by […] Read more
Packers regain pace after slowdown
Plans are in place in Alberta for a fed cattle set-aside program, but there are concerns other sectors will need assistance
Alberta’s two major packing plants are approaching full capacity, which is welcome news for the cattle industry facing a fed cattle backlog of about 130,000 head. Kelly Smith-Fraser, chair of Alberta Beef Producers, said the JBS plant in Brooks, Alta., and the Harmony Beef plant in Balzac, Alta., were operating near full capacity and the […] Read more
Agribition postpones show for this year
Canadian Western Agribition has become the latest casualty of COVID-19 restrictions. The Regina event was to celebrate its 50th show this November but has decided to postpone for a year. The new dates are Nov. 22-27, 2021. President Chris Lees said the difficult decision was made with the health and safety of people in mind. […] Read more
Sask. unveils pandemic budget
Saskatchewan introduced what it called its pandemic budget June 15. The government expects to run a $2.4 billion deficit for 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 virus and its effects on the economy. The budget forecasts revenues of $13.65 billion, down $1.2 billion from the previous year, and spending of $16.07 billion, up $1.1 billion. About […] Read more
Farmers reject AgriInvest averages data
The average balance in a Canadian AgriInvest account, excluding those in Quebec, is $28,124, according to figures from the federal government. That, farm organizations say, is why asking farmers to draw those accounts down might not have the intended effect. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and others have asked for help for the sectors impacted […] Read more
Rural communities feel social impact of COVID
Travel restrictions make it even more difficult to deal with issues such as addiction, domestic violence and mental health
Supply chain disruptions are causing much stress in rural Canada, says a woman who works with rural communities in her role with Ontario’s agriculture ministry. Jacqui Empson Laporte, who also volunteers with Victim Services in Huron County, Ont., where she lives, participated last month in a virtual panel held by the University of Guelph to […] Read more
Chicken producers tell MPs pandemic has taken its toll
Chicken Farmers of Canada told federal members of Parliament that producers have faced a “sharp decline” in sales as a result of a significant drop in food services, which represents roughly 40 percent of their market. CFC chair Benoît Fontaine spoke during a virtual meeting of the agriculture committee on May 29. He told MPs […] Read more
Malting barley acres drop as COVID hits beer sales
Malt sales are plummeting as COVID-19 hammers North American beer consumption but that will be offset by increased malt barley demand out of China, say industry officials. “For sure the malting companies are struggling,” said Peter Watts, managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. He spoke to one grain industry official who told […] Read more
Currencies rebalance as COVID chaos shifts to control
The worst of the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 shutdowns appears to be behind us and equity markets, oil prices and the Canadian dollar are recovering from the lows hit in March. Restrictions on public gatherings and on business are easing and investors hope that people will start spending again, although likely not at […] Read more
