COOL Challenge Could Come Soon: CPC

U. S. plants are “very cagey.” – FLORIAN POSSBERG, CPC A Wo r l d Trade Organization challenge to U. S. country-of-origin labelling is virtually certain and recent remarks by U. S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack may have speeded it up, industry insiders say. A letter from Vilsack to U. S. meat processors in January


Manitoba Pork Producers Ease Toward Sow Stall Ban

“We think this is something we can’t ignore.” – MIKE TEILLET, MPC The Manitoba Pork Council may be edging toward supporting the eventual elimination of gestation crates for pregnant sows. A proposed policy statement in a sustainable development strategy being developed by the council calls for more research on, and a possible switch to, alternative

Pork Producers Mull Ethanol And COOL Offset Subsidies

The Canadian Pork Council may ask Ottawa to reimburse hog producers for financial hurt caused by U. S. ethanol subsidies and country-of-origin labelling. The idea emerged from a CPC brainstorming session on how to help the country’s beleaguered producers. The CPC is looking for short-and long-term strategies to help hog farmers through their worst financial


Core Buyers Are Loyal To Their Preferred Meats

Martin Gooch of the George Morris Centre has posted detailed reports on consumer surveys for chicken, lamb, veal and pork. It’s the most complete set of data available and was collected with funding from the federal Agriculture Department’s National Advancing Canadian Agricultural and Agri-Food Program. For chicken, the research found that the average Canadian household

Industry Vies For Federal Money

The Canadian livestock and meat industries are wishfully thinking as they wait for details on how the $50 million promised for Canadian slaughterhouses in the federal budget will be distributed. Jim Laws, executive director of the Canadian Meat Council in Ottawa, said he was surprised by talk that the money could be used to expand


Red Meat Industry Trying To Survive

Governments need to show more concern for the survival of the red meat industry and worry less about countervailing action because some provinces are willing to support livestock producers, pork and beef groups have told the House of Commons’ agriculture committee. Jurgen Preugschas, president of the Canadian Pork Council, told the MPs March 5, “It’s

Credit Crunch Hits The Pork Industry

“Every pig farmer’s risk rating is worse now than it was 18 months ago.” – STEPHEN MOFFETT, CPC Canada’s pork producers are worried the current financial crisis, coupled with continuing tough times in the industry, is causing them a serious credit crunch. The Canadian Pork Council is asking Ottawa to further loosen an already-extended repayment


Canadian Pork Council restructures board

The Canadian Pork Council will pare back its board from 18 to 11 members under a new structure to take effect this month. The council last week also announced a new corporate logo and its move to a new office on Laurier Avenue West, about five blocks south of Parliament Hill. The CPC said it

Ritz says expanding trade key priority

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz wants to focus on finding more customers for Canadian farm and food products and less on the future of Prairie barley marketing. Speaking to reporters in mid-January after official visits to India and Hong Kong, the minister said he’s looking forward to trips to the Middle East, Russia, Mexico and China