Poultry producers are advised against trying to scare wild bird flocks away from commercial operations because they may bring back infected material.

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

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

The line between animal activism and bioterrorism can become thin and the threats are increasing over time. These protestors from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals earlier this year in Mexico City didn’t do more than disrupt traffic, but others threaten to do much more damage to farming and food processing.

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


East Coast farmers are hoping things have improved enough on the Prairies this year to help them settle some of the accounts from the Hay West initiative.

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

The QR code will give consumers information on cuts, cooking instructions and food safety and storage tips.

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

The Campaign for Wool Canada is in talks with different levels of government about how best to develop research and marketing.

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

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

The food bill for an average family of four in Canada is expected to increase by $900 this year.

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

Canada remains a small producer of wool on the international market, producing about three million pounds a year.

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