Glacier FarmMedia – There are no signs that the spread of avian influenza will be contained anytime soon, according to a workshop recently hosted by Animal Health Canada. “We are now starting the third wave,” said Manon Racicot, veterinary epidemiologist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, during the March 29 workshop in Ottawa. Those waves […] Read more
Avian flu farm-to-farm spread looks less likely
Wild birds remain most likely suspects, but the CFIA is investigating detection of the disease in flies and darkling beetles
Agro-terrorism threats continue to increase
The line between activism and extremism is crossed once illegal activities begin to affect farmers and the supply chain
Glacier FarmMedia – Threats to the North American agricultural supply chain can come from a range of bad actors – from international terrorist groups to domestic extremists to organized crime to corporate or academic espionage. The threat landscape has increased over the past 20 years, according to Andrew Rose, a strategic adviser to food and […] Read more
Some bills remain unpaid as Hay West winds down
CFA initiative helped drought-stricken ranchers on the Prairies source hay from eastern Canada last year
Glacier FarmMedia – Nearly 20 million tonnes of feed made up the 2021 Hay West program. Now eastern Canadian farmers are hoping things have improved enough on the Prairies this year to help them settle accounts as the aid program’s sponsor, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, wraps up the initiative. Todd Lewis, CFA second vice-president, […] Read more
QR code enlisted to promote beef
Code is part of the Information Gateway initiative by Canada Beef that is designed to boost sales
Glacier FarmMedia – Canada Beef is seeking better ways to get domestic product into the fridges of more people by giving them an easy way to access nutritional information along with cooking tips for dozens of cuts of meat. The first phase of the Information Gateway initiative will give consumers access to a digital profile […] Read more
Wool advocates hope to boost domestic sales
Industry says synthetic materials pushed wool out of fibre markets, but consumer demand for sustainability is growing
Glacier FarmMedia – An opportunity exists to build a larger, higher quality wool production industry in Canada, according to The Campaign For Wool Canada (TCFW), and the organization has developed a five-year strategic plan to do that. “There are definitely challenges but there are huge opportunities in Canadian wool,” said Matthew Rowe, TCFW Canada chief […] Read more
Sheep, goat producers work together to improve genetic potential
Four organizations hope increased co-operation will do for their sector what genetic research did for the beef industry
Sheep and goat producer organizations are starting an initiative to improve genetics in Canadian flocks in conjunction with the University of Guelph. The project aims to strengthen the genetic evaluation program GenOvis, modernize breed registration and provide better information for meat and dairy production in sheep and goats. Why it matters: There is room for […] Read more
Canada slips on food affordability ranking
Economist says rising grocery prices and stagnating incomes have combined to increase pressure on consumers
Glacier FarmMedia – This year will be challenging for consumers as inflation is expected to push costs higher, according to food industry commentator Sylvain Charlebois, who spoke at Farming Smarter’s Global Crop Production virtual conference last month. The Dalhousie University Agri-food Analytics Lab director said the inflation rate is driving food prices higher while income […] Read more
COVID-19 not kind to Canada’s wool industry
Clothing retailers were forced to close during pandemic, only to open in fits and starts as public health restrictions allowed
Glacier FarmMedia – Wool might be a secondary market for the Canadian sheep industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic still cut deep into the business as the textile supply chain ground to a halt, according to the country’s wool co-operative. Eric Bjergso, general manager of Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers, said 2020 was the most difficult year […] Read more
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