Nineteen municipalities named for livestock tax deferral

Western Canada’s continued drought issues this year led the federal government to jumpstart identification of areas where producers can get in on the livestock tax deferral provision — including a chunk of south-central Manitoba. Why it matters: Much of central Manitoba had less than 60 per cent of normal rainfall for the growing season as[...]

Hold off on milk price hike, dairy farmers say

The process to set the next national price adjustment for Canadian milk will now take an extra week, triggered by stakeholder objections, for a round of consultations -- in which the national dairy farmer group plans to call for a delay on any increase. The Canadian Dairy Commission -- the Crown corporation managing Canada's milk[...]


PigTrace tag prices go up Dec. 15

One of the prices producers pay for hog traceability will be going up 10 per cent. The Manitoba Pork Council said in a notice to producers Wednesday that the Canadian Pork Council will apply a 10 per cent increase to the prices of PigTrace ear tags and accessories, effective Dec. 15. Table: PigTrace ear tag[...]

Olymel bacon plant deal a 'signal,' union says

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[...]


New Zealand, Canada each claim wins in CPTPP dairy dispute

A dispute settlement panel called by New Zealand under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade pact has ruled Canada's limits on dairy market access cramp its agreed-upon obligations. But despite the panel's findings in New Zealand's favour, Canada is also framing the panel's ruling as a win -- as it also generally upholds Canada's ability to[...]

Quebec ag ministry, UPA organize to round up rogue dairy herd

Quebec's provincial ag ministry and the Mauricie regional arm of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) are asking for the public's patience as they organize a new effort to capture a herd of dairy cattle on the loose since the summer. Quebec media quoting dairy farmer Pierre Lapointe, the animals' owner, have said the cattle[...]


Meat lobby says U.S. voluntary label rule could spur trade action

U.S. meat industry lobbyists say Washington's proposed new rules governing voluntary 'Product of USA' or 'Made in the USA' labels would "impose the same standard" as that country's now-defunct mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law -- and frustrate U.S. packers who import Canadian meat or livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Food Safety and[...]

FCC to offer beef heifer replacement loans

Cattle producers wanting to expand or maintain herds -- in a time of nationwide herd contraction -- are the expected beneficiaries for a new loan program from Farm Credit Canada. FCC on Tuesday announced what it calls the Replacement Heifer Program, consisting of a loan with a maximum loan life of seven years and a[...]


Mid-year farm gate price hike approved for milk

A request from Canada's dairy farmer organization for an unscheduled increase in the current farm gate price for milk, to help farmers catch up with steep rises in their costs of production, has been granted. The Canadian Dairy Commission said Tuesday it will recommend that the farm gate price for milk be increased effective Sept.[...]

Livestock tax deferral list begins in West for 2023

The level of drought in parts of Western Canada so far this year has given the federal government a head start in drafting its list of jurisdictions where producers can get in on the livestock tax deferral provision. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay on Monday announced an initial list of designated regions for the provision for[...]