Meat market experts for beef, turkey and pork say demand was strong in the first part of 2020 and further gains could come if livestock sectors successfully navigate their way through COVID-19.

Long-term market outlook appears promising for pork and beef

Demand for Canadian beef was up by 17 per cent in 2019 over 2018

Glacier FarmMedia – The outlook is cautiously optimistic for Canadian beef and pork trade, say industry experts, so long as the worst effects from the pandemic are over. Fawn Jackson of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Phil Boyd of Turkey Farmers of Canada and livestock and meat market analyst Kevin Grier each said demand for beef, […] Read more

CME August 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle backslide amid cautious slaughter improvements

Lean hogs down on supply backlog

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, pulling back after a rally last week on signs that meatpackers may be working through backlogs of market-ready cattle, traders said. Although slaughter rates have returned to pre-coronavirus levels, cattle remain heavier after backing up in feedlots when processing plants closed this spring […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Feds proposing to expand wage subsidy program

Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government wants to expand an emergency wage subsidy program so that all businesses suffering losses from the COVID-19 outbreak will benefit, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on Friday. Morneau told a news conference that Ottawa would drop an earlier requirement stipulating that businesses needed to show a 30 per […] Read more

CME August 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end steady to firmer

Lean hogs dip after weekly advances

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed steady to firm on Friday, stabilizing after a two-session rally attributed to speculative buying and signs that meat packers may have worked through much of a backlog of market-ready cattle, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) August live cattle futures settled unchanged at 103.275 cents/lb. and […] Read more


Flour use has remained steady for decades in Canada.

Flour market slow and steady

Future growth could depend on the new pandemic-driven affinity for baking

In a world of uncertainty, Canada’s milling industry remains stable in both demand and growth. Gordon Harrison, president of the Canadian National Millers Association (CNMA), says grain flour (particularly wheat) is expected to stay a staple food in Canada. As well, he says increases in domestic consumption are possible despite changes in regulatory, environmental, and […] Read more


Doug Ford

Ontario bumping up Risk Management Program by $50 million

The program has been re-opened for applications until July 30

The Ontario government has come through a year earlier than expected with an additional $50 million for the provincial Risk Management Program (RMP). Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the announcement today at Craven Farms in Chatham-Kent, as he visited farms and processors in the area.   Why it matters: Several areas of Ontario agriculture have […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Ontario to insure for crop loss due to lack of labour

AgriInsurance offering hailed as a first in Canada

Ontario’s federal/provincial AgriInsurance program has been temporarily expanded to include coronavirus-related labour shortages as a covered cause for crop loss. Producers already enrolled in an eligible production insurance plan and hit by crop losses due to labour disruptions during the 2020 growing season will be able to get further insurance coverage, the Ontario and federal […] Read more