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Tag Archives COVID-19

Opinion: Keeping up in a fast-moving COVID-19 world
Foreign worker confusion shows the speed things are changing
It is difficult to write something timely about a situation that unfolds by the moment, as a glimpse into how matters have evolved in Ottawa over the past few days […] Read more

Editorial: Food system resilience should be priority
We only had a small amount of COVID-19 coverage in our last issue of Farmtario. What a difference in a couple of weeks, as our world has been turned upside […] Read more

Commodity markets in uncharted risk territory due to COVID-19 concerns
Lower Canadian dollar has kept soybean and wheat prices up
World grain and oilseed markets are digesting logistical and fundamental changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and historically low crude oil values. The risk environment is unprecedented; commodity merchants are […] Read more

How COVID-19 is upending global food supply chains
Cows fed strawberries in India, watermelons rot in U.S., okra not reaching Canada
Satara/Singapore/London | Reuters — In the fertile Satara district in western India, farmers are putting their cattle on an unorthodox diet: Some feed iceberg lettuce to buffalo. Others feed strawberries […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit 17-1/2-year low
Cattle also sink as virus measures disrupt markets
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures fell on Friday to the lowest point since late 2002 on tumbling pork prices and slowing slaughter rates as measures to control the […] Read more

Canada’s pork sector up to speed, aware of challenges
Processing plants enhancing biosecurity; producers being urged to watch their stress levels
They’re adding protective plexiglass shields, bringing in trailers to separate groups of workers, and boosting communication on biosecurity. It’s all part of an ongoing effort to ensure pork processing plants […] Read more

Pandemic planning leads to staff cuts at Agropur
Dairy co-operative enters 'business continuity' mode
Dairy co-operative Agropur’s “business continuity” plan against the COVID-19 pandemic calls for job cuts and layoffs for about three per cent of its total workforce. Longueuil, Que.-based Agropur announced Thursday […] Read more

Alberta’s provincial meat inspectors to train for federal duty
Provincial inspectors to be seconded to CFIA-inspected packers
Provincial meat inspectors in Alberta could soon be seconded to federally inspected packing plants under a new work-sharing arrangement between the province and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The federal and […] Read more

CBOT weekly outlook: Pandemic drives Chicago prices lower
MarketsFarm — The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to pressure U.S. markets, including the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), according to Scott Capinegro, president of Barrington Commodities at Barrington, Ill. “It’s […] Read more

Tight supply chains pose food system risks with virus
Lack of redundancies in meat production system could post challenges
A lack of redundancies in agri-food system supply chains means there are risks for farmers from a disruption like that caused by COVID-19. Farm Credit Canada chief agricultural economist J.P. […] Read more