U.S. pork stocks rise to a record high

reuters / Pork stored in U.S. warehouses in October rose to a record high for that month as hog herds were reduced due to high feed costs. Producers have hurried their animals to market at a record pace and, coupled with the normal seasonal buildup in hog slaughters, that could result in tighter supplies in

After beef’s biggest recall: What’s next?

The reopening of the XL beef plant at Brooks is not the end of troubles for the Canadian beef industry

The past two months have seen considerable turmoil in Alberta’s beef sector because of the XL beef recall. Although there has been some relief with the JBS takeover there could still be a long way to go. Canada’s beef sector has been influenced by a number of factors:  Grass. Western Canada’s cow-calf sector grew because



Canola variety selection tool now live with 2012 results

The tool includes an economic calculator, interactive maps, and the ability to refine searches by five traits

The online Canola Variety Selection tool is now live with data from the 2012 Canola Performance Trials (CPT), giving canola growers another tool to compare variety performance. The CPT provides science-based, unbiased performance data that reflects actual production practices. The selection tool provides comparative data on leading varieties and newly introduced varieties. The tool includes


Monster storm Sandy spares U.S. livestock sector serious damage

Reuters / The monster storm that pummelled the eastern U.S. appears to have largely spared American livestock operations. Poultry producer Perdue Farms temporarily shut down four of its processing plants in the northeast and a distribution centre. The company said two of the large producers had extensive flooding while others were relying on generators to

Consumers, farmers squeezed as grain giants tighten grip

Reuters / A global race for grain trading power is putting more of the world’s vital cereals in the hands of fewer companies, with a string of recent acquisitions raising fears that consumers will pay even more for their food, while farmers are squeezed. Archer Daniels Midland last week bid for Australia’s last independent grain


CFIA officials reviewing XL procedures

The number of Canadian confirmed cases of E. coli from the XL beef plant at Brooks, Alta. had reached 11 by press time Monday. Meanwhile, the beef recall had spread from North America to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety had advised local companies to stop selling and to recall “a small



Iowa testing milk for aflatoxin

chicago / reuters / Iowa, the No. 1 corn producer in the United States, began requiring the state’s dairy processors to test all milk received in the state for aflatoxin Aug. 31, the toxic byproduct of a mould that tends to spread in drought-stressed corn. The Iowa Department of Agriculture said the required aflatoxin screening

UN urges change in U.S. biofuel policy to avoid food crisis

The United Nations’ food agency stepped up the pressure on the United States on Aug. 10 to change its biofuel policies because of the danger of a world food crisis, arguing the importance of growing crops for food over their use for fuel. Global alarm over the potential for a food crisis of the kind