Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures ended lower on Friday on profit-taking and disappointment over export demand, after prices climbed to the highest level in 11 months. Strong domestic demand for pork continues to underpin hog futures, analysts said, with the most-active December contract surging 39 per cent on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange […] Read more
Tag Archives COVID-19 — page 33
U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures retreat from 11-month high
Cattle futures down on beef demand uncertainty
Manitoba cattle sector gets COVID-19 AgriRecovery
Program to help offset costs from 'extraordinary feed period'
Manitoba cattle producers whose usual markets for finished cattle were temporarily out of reach this spring and summer may now be able to offset some of the resulting extra feed bills. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her Manitoba counterpart, Blaine Pedersen, on Thursday announced the 2020 Canada-Manitoba Finished Cattle Feed Assistance Program, an AgriRecovery […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures climb to more than 10-month high
Live cattle lower on new lockdown concerns for beef demand
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on Thursday soared to their highest prices in more than 10 months, as meat demand continued to strain processor capacity and COVID-19 cases are rising in the United States, traders said. Thursday’s daily U.S. hog slaughter was 490,000 head — 2,000 fewer than the same period last […] Read more
Meat plants consider automation
Tyson hires former Google research executive as president
Glacier FarmMedia – Hundreds of meat plant workers in North America fell ill with COVID-19 when the pandemic hit earlier this year. It caused many processors to temporarily close or slow production. That was combined with high absenteeism because workers feared getting sick and higher rates of worker absence persist in some regions. Why it […] Read more
Canada urged to strike trade deal with ASEAN
‘Middle power’ countries encouraged to double down on free trade promotion and the international rules-based order
Glacier FarmMedia – As the world talks about trying to build back better and the post-COVID world, Canada should get in front by making a free trade deal with Southeast Asia. Why it matters: Canada must seek trade agreements with like-minded nations to help offset protectionist sentiments in key markets such as the United States, […] Read more
World Food Program seeking billions within six months to avert famine
Pandemic may double hunger worldwide, agency says
London | Reuters — The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will need to raise US$6.8 billion over the next six months to avert famine amid the COVID-19 crisis, the agency said on Tuesday. The WFP, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week for its efforts to prevent the use of hunger as […] Read more
Farm worker protections get more funding
Program means double the previous limit that can be claimed by farms
The Canadian and Ontario governments are investing more in protections for farm workers. The additional $11.6 million aims to help support Ontario producers to stop the spread of COVID-19 on their farms. Why it matters: Ontario farmers have incurred significant costs since COVID-19 meant infections on some farms, especially for seasonal foreign workers. The funds […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market digests rising COVID-19 cases
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves traded steady to $2 lower on average. The grain harvest is in its final stages and buying interest was noted from the farmer/backgrounding operator. The buying frenzy over yearlings has eased and finishing feedlots were active on all weight categories. Feather-light calves […] Read more
Do you really need to write it down?
Business plans aren’t real until they’re recorded and shared
Farm business plans could be one of the tools to help farmers get through the pandemic instability of 2020. “COVID-19 has given us a year where we can see the benefits that business planning can bring,” said Tom Button, Editor of Country Guide during a round table discussion with three other panelists during last month’s […] Read more
Trade-offs necessary in food-sector COVID recovery
Will Canadians accept higher prices, support for off-shore job creation?
Increased consumer interest in food systems could lead to new markets for farmers and food processors. Structural changes in the food sector have had significant impact on demand for agriculture goods, but the question is whether those changes will be long term or temporary. A series of conversations at Canada’s Digital Farm Show focused on […] Read more
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