Increased demand for a common livestock drug, ignited by an unproven belief it can treat COVID, is causing alarm. “If there is a run on ivermectin because people are taking it for themselves, that’s a sad comment on the willingness of people to take risks on unproven things,” said Dr. Louis Kwantes, president of the […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 virus
Grocery buyers paying COVID-19 tax
Canadians’ ballot decisions in the Sept. 20 federal election will likely differ depending on what they care about. But since everyone eats and most of us try to manage a limited food budget, the most important electoral issue will likely be inflation. Or at least it should be. Everything is costing Canadians more, including food. […] Read more
COVID saga keeps going over the top
Sometimes what looks like a farm story isn’t really a farm story. For the longest time, that’s what I thought was going on with this crazy business of people taking ivermectin to cure COVID. Sure, ivermectin is a common veterinary drug that livestock producers frequently use to control parasites in their animals, and we’ve written […] Read more
We must swallow our pride and roll up our sleeves
COVID-19 vaccination rates lag in rural areas and among farm families. I’ve tried to understand this vaccine hesitancy, but I find none of the lame brain arguments viable. “Oh, I’m not around many people and the infection rate has been low around here.” Lots of rural people have had COVID and the delta variant is […] Read more
Cattle numbers increase; shows sector coping with COVID
Hog inventories were up year over year as stronger exports were more than offset by piglet births and lower slaughter
WINNIPEG (MarketsFarm) — Canadian cattle, hog and sheep inventories were all higher as of July 1, compared with the same date in 2020, according to a news release from Statistics Canada. The federal agency said the Canadian livestock sector continued to cope with challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meat processing facilities faced temporary […] Read more
Vaccinations low in southeast Alta.
With some of the highest cases of COVID-19 being recorded in southeastern Alberta since the pandemic began, officials are urging residents in rural areas with the lowest rates of vaccinations to get the shot. “The delta variant is spreading quite rapidly and is a concern for everybody in Alberta. The best way to protect yourself […] Read more
Steakhouses lose their sizzle
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Just as American steakhouses are recovering from the first wave of COVID shutdowns, the Delta variant threatens to diminish the appetite for a sector seen as a barometer for full U.S. economic recovery. Many top steak restaurants found new customers by reinventing themselves during the crisis, but the comeback of […] Read more
More mink with COVID-19 have been discovered in B.C.
The British Columbia government is identifying more cases of COVID-19 in mink as the province’s affected fur farms remain under quarantine. As of Aug. 6, eight mink have tested positive for the virus on one farm, after two cases were initially identified in May. Three of those mink had escaped their cages but were captured […] Read more
Recommendations made to help Ont. labour shortages
Both attracting people to the industry and making it possible to live in rural communities a challenge
Farm labour shortages in Ontario have reached crisis levels since the start of the pandemic. The National Farmers Union, Ontario region, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture have recommendations to address the problem. NFU farm labour coordinator David Thompson said the biggest issue is lack of living wages. “Farm workers in Ontario specifically are not […] Read more
B.C. funds safe fruit harvest
The British Columbia government has allotted $625,000 for a safe fruit harvest this year. The money is designed to help ensure safety in work camps so workers can adhere to COVID-19 protocols. This funding expands on the money invested last year. Of that $625,000, $457,000 is being used to upgrade the work camp in Loose […] Read more
