Blair Cressman is director of Ontario Pork's sales division.

Push for more hog processing intensifies after Quebec closures

Shipping more hogs to the U.S. instead of Quebec means more truck disease risk

Reduced hog processing in Quebec has forced the redirection of thousands of Ontario hogs to U.S. and Manitoba processing plants. The change has increased shipping costs for Ontario producers and increased disease risk in the province. Why it matters: Shipping hogs outside the province is more expensive for farmers and the economic contribution of value-added […] Read more





(Sollio Co-operative Group video screengrab via YouTube)

Olymel to consolidate Ontario, Quebec further-processing

Chicken plant at Paris, Ont., and pork plant at Princeville, Que. to close

Pork and poultry packer Olymel is preparing to permanently shut two further-processing facilities and shift their work to other plants in a new round of consolidation. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Quebec’s Sollio Cooperative, announced Wednesday it will permanently close its pork boning and packaging plant at Princeville, Que. effective Nov. 10, and its […] Read more

Olymel’s Drummondville, Que. bacon plant.(Drumco.ca)

Olymel bacon plant deal a ‘signal,’ union says

Deal ends three-week strike at Drummondville

Unionized workers at Olymel’s bacon processing plant at Drummondville, Que. have voted to accept a four-year deal, ending a three-week strike and serving as a “signal” to employers in the region, their union said. Olymel announced Friday that CSN-represented workers at the Bacon Inter-America facility, who’d been on strike since May 26, voted 93.6 per […] Read more


Olymel plans to permanently shutter its Vallee-Jonction plant (above) at the end of the year.

Olymel plant closure affects Ontario pork producers

Ontario Pork pushes for increased provincial processing capacity

The closure of another Ontario-accessible hog processing plant is raising concerns in the province’s pig sector. Olymel, the protein arm of Sollio Co-operative, on April 14 announced the Vallee-Jonction, Que., hog slaughter, cutting and deboning facility will wind down and permanently close on Dec. 22. Why it matters: Ontario pork producers who ship to Quebec […] Read more

(Shadowinternet/E+/Getty Images)

Olymel to idle multiple Prairie hog barns

Packer cites 'continued financial losses' in sector

Pork packer Olymel is preparing to dial back its hog production in Western Canada by shuttering six of its sow units in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Olymel, the agrifood arm of Quebec’s Sollio Cooperative Group, announced Friday it has served 80 employees with layoff notices at five sow units in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan. The […] Read more