Sask. Crop Insurance Changes Welcome

Saskatchewan Stock Growers president Calvin Knoss welcomed changes to that province’s crop insurance program in response to drought conditions in northwest and west-central Saskatchewan. “We appreciate the efforts of federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and our Saskatchewan minister, Bob Bjornerud, in moving these changes forward so quickly,” said Knoss. “The three measures announced today stand

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No one doubts the severity of the cash crunch burdening the current generation of hog producers in Manitoba. Watching one’s equity erode with each hog sold is not something we’d wish on anyone. Barns are being depopulated and producers are shutting the door. These investments were made in good faith, and while any investment is


Hog Sector Needs Support

The onslaught of negative consumer perceptions around H1N1 Influenza A has added to the Canadian pork industry’s situation. High feed costs, a strong Canadian dollar, low hog prices, the economic crisis reducing access to credit, and Country of Origin Labelling have, over the years, undermined Canadian pork producers. The onslaught of negative consumer perceptions around

Source Of Infection A Mystery

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency insists a herd of pigs in Alberta infected with the H1N1 swine flu got it from a person, even though a prime suspect in the case was cleared. “Contact with an infected person remains the most likely source of infection on this farm,” CFIA said in a statement last week


Prime Suspect Cleared In Alberta H1N1 Herd

Acarpenter who returned from Mexico to an Alberta farm where pigs became infected with the H1N1 flu virus did not spread the disease to the animals, as previously believed. Alberta Health and Wellness said blood tests showed the man did not have H1N1 and so could not have infected the animals. It had been widely

USDA Starts Surveillance Of Pigs For Flu

The U. S. Agriculture Department will soon launch a pilot surveillance project to look for new strains of flu virus in pigs, including the new strain of H1N1 flu, chief veterinarian John Clifford said June 2. The program will examine samples from sick pigs voluntarily submitted to government and private labs, as well as any


Letters – for May. 28, 2009

Where’s the warming? Regarding global warming: I do not believe in it. In the 1950s, I’d go to work every winter in Winnipeg, Toronto or California; I came back every spring April 1 and would get on my tractor – no cab, no jacket – and start farming. By April 20, the wild oats would

New Virus Could Still Mutate, Spark Pandemic

“This is clearly different than what we see from seasonal influenza” The new H1N1 flu virus could still mutate into a more virulent form and spark an influenza pandemic that could be expected to circle the globe up to three times, the World Health Organization said May 12. The impact of any pandemic would vary,


H1n1 Symptoms In Pigs Similar To Humans

Thai scientists who infected piglets with the new H1N1 virus spreading around the world said May 11 the strain caused flu-like symptoms in the animals before disappearing, just like many of the human cases. An outbreak of the new strain, known as swine flu, that has killed at least 53 people – mainly in Mexico

Hog Industry Fights Against Swine Flu Backlash

“Importers from other countries are really nervous about buying right now.” – JURGEN PREUGSCHAS, CPC Canadians are being urged to eat more pork as the hog industry mounts a publicity drive against a backlash from the H1N1 Influenza A virus that has become known as swine flu. The Canadian Pork Council and its marketing arm