In northern Spain, lamb farming feels chill winds of coronavirus

Reuters – At this time of year, Miguel Angel Rivilla is usually swamped with work, selling his prized sheep to markets throughout Spain for “lechal” — a cherished dish of roasted, unweaned lamb popular at Easter and other times of celebration. But as with so many businesses in a globalized economy, the coronavirus has managed



Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Supply chain working but canola groups have concerns

Federal field trials need to continue and growers need protective equipment, they say

There have been no issues so far with supplies of inputs and parts, transportation or oilseed processing during the pandemic, canola industry officials report. “We’ve been really focused on making sure farmers have access to inputs and resources to get the 2020 crop in the ground,” Canola Council of Canada president Jim Everson said during

Cemetery employees fill in the grave of JBS USA meat packing plant employee Saul Sanchez on April 15, 2020 at Greeley, Colorado, following his death from COVID-19. (Photo: Reuters/Jim Urquhart)

Trump orders U.S. meat processing plants to stay open

Advocates call for protective equipment for plant workers

Washington/Chicago | Reuters — President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered meat-processing plants to stay open to protect the food supply in the United States, despite concerns about coronavirus outbreaks, drawing a backlash from unions that said at-risk workers required more protection. With concerns about food shortages and supply chain disruptions, Trump issued an executive order


Hog farmer Mike Patterson walks through one of his barns at Kenyon, Minnesota, about 70 km south of St. Paul, on April 23, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Nicholas Pfosi)

Piglets aborted, chickens gassed as pandemic slams meat sector

"We have to have less hogs somehow"

Chicago | Reuters — With the pandemic hobbling the meat-packing industry, Iowa farmer Al Van Beek had nowhere to ship his full-grown pigs to make room for the 7,500 piglets he expected from his breeding operation. The crisis forced a decision that still troubles him: He ordered his employees to give injections to the pregnant

“When Canadians are unavailable or unwilling... farmers need international workers to help grow and harvest food for our tables.” – Canadian Horticultural Council.

A temporary foreign worker solution

With tens of thousands of Canadians laid off due to COVID-19, people may wonder why farmers are hiring foreign workers. That’s a good question

Mid-March, amidst the initial panicked onset of a COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian borders closed to most international travellers and a swath of the ag sector panicked. They were counting on foreign workers — tens of thousands of them — to fill their ranks for the busy season ahead of them. Without workers from countries like Mexico


Postmedia closing several rural Manitoba newspapers

Postmedia closing several rural Manitoba newspapers

The financial downturn from COVID-19 has rendered the publications no longer financially sustainable

Postmedia is closing eight rural Manitoba newspapers due to dwindling revenues aggravated by the COVID-19 crisis, the company announced April 28. The publications include the Altona Red River Valley Echo, Carman Valley Leader, Interlake Spectator, Morden Times, Selkirk Journal, Stonewall Argus & Teulon Times, Winkler Times, and The Prairie Farmer. In addition several other newspapers

CME June 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs limit up on fears of tightening supplies

Cattle up on rising beef packer margins

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose their daily limit on Monday on fears of tightening domestic pork supplies as the coronavirus pandemic forces slowdowns at slaughterhouses, analysts said. June lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled up the daily maximum of 3.75 cents at 55.275 cents/lb., the contract’s highest since


Comment: COVID-19 and the Canadian food supply chain

Comment: COVID-19 and the Canadian food supply chain

Canada’s food security isn’t threatened but supply chains will see substantial adjustment

Your bread and salad dressing will still be on the shelves, but that does not mean that everything is normal. Food supply chains are long, complex and certainly could be impacted by COVID-19. Fruits and vegetables Imported sources appear to be stable and the refrigerated trucking industry continues to supply adequate transport. It is likely

Delta 9 gets green light for automated cannabis packing line

Delta 9 gets green light for automated cannabis packing line

Other expansions to the grow facility postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic

Cannabis company Delta 9 has government clearance to begin using its on-site, automated packing and processing facility. “This approval will allow us to streamline and automate our packaging and labelling activities and improve our ability to bring consumer-packaged cannabis products to market,” said Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot in a news release on April 13.