The JBS plant in Brooks Alta., adds a second shift and adopts more than 100 preventive measures to boost worker safety
The JBS beef packing plant in Brooks, Alta., returned to operating a second shift May 21, a month after reducing activity to one shift April 22. An outbreak of COVID-19 among employees reduced the workforce and many were not coming to work for fear of contracting the virus. The Cargill beef processing plant in High […] Read moreTag Archives COVID-19 virus
Major changes needed to process calves amid COVID-19
Spring processing is here, when larger groups of cattle producers sometimes gather to process the calves. This year, major changes are needed. I think some changes will become the new normal in the cattle industry and some will benefit us in other ways. Livestock producers are among the most knowledgeable when it comes to biosecurity […] Read more
Rural ERs to re-open next month in Sask.
Rural hospital emergency rooms closed as part of Saskatchewan’s pandemic plan will begin re-opening mid-June. Twelve ERs were temporarily closed to provide capacity, if needed, allow staff to train for COVID-19 treatment, and to move some vulnerable patients for their own protection. The closures were announced April 8, but communities expressed surprise when they actually […] Read more
Alta. local food council calls for better branding, food hubs
Alberta’s former local food council has put forward a number of recommendations it says will help bolster the sector. The recommendations were part of the council’s interim report, which was submitted in March 2019. The unreleased document was recently obtained by The Western Producer. Within the report, the council provided seven recommendations. It was mandated […] Read more
Turkey farmer donation helps young people
COVID-19 has been a weird and stressful time for most Canadians. Social isolation and incessant news about the pandemic can affect people in different ways, particularly kids, who may not have someone to talk to. That’s why Turkey Farmers of Canada has donated an additional $80,000 to Kids Help Phone and 4-H Canada. “The country’s […] Read more
CN executive predicts busy end to crop year
Canada’s largest railway company says it expects western Canadian grain to continue to move a brisk pace in June and July after spring seeding operations have wrapped up. Canadian National Railway’s Sean Finn, executive vice-president of corporate services, says a combination of factors led to greater-than-expected grain volumes on CN’s Canadian freight network in March […] Read more
Global food trade defended
COVID-19 has been a godsend for Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats and other food delivery companies. It’s also been a blessing for critics of the global food system. Dozens of academics and reps from environmental groups have used COVID-19 as an opportunity to slam “industrial farms” and “corporate control” of food distribution and take shots […] Read more
Ag committee hears CERB hurting employers
Members of the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture and agri-food heard from industry leaders May 15 about the challenges brought on by the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit. CERB is available to Canadians who have stopped working because of COVID-19 and provides temporary income support of $500 a week for up to 16 weeks. Ron Lemaire, […] Read more
JBS adds shift to Brooks packing plant
The JBS beef packing plant in Brooks, Alta., returned to operating a second shift May 21, nearly a month after reducing activity to one shift April 22. An outbreak of COVID-19 among employees reduced the workforce and many were not coming to work for fear of contracting the virus. As of May 21, there were […] Read more
Pandemic fallout hits bison industry
Bison meat exports to the United States and Europe took a hit in the first three months of 2020. Canada exported about $1.77 million worth of ground bison, ribeye, tenderloin and other products from Jan. 1 to March 31. In 2019, during the same three months, Canada exported $6.1 million worth of bison meat. The […] Read more
