Market Access Key To Stabilizing Canadian Beef Industry

Expanding export opportunities and reducing unnecessary regulations are the best ways to restore profitability to the Canadian beef industry, cattle producers have told the Commons agriculture committee. About 65 per cent of the beef produced in Canada is consumed by Canadians, but that is a fairly stable market facing increased competition from imports, John Gillespie,

Maple Leaf Steps Up Its Battle With Listeria

“If one of our facilities doesn’t find it during regular testing, we would audit them to make sure their testing was thorough enough.” – MAPLE LEAF FOOD SAFETY OFFICER RANDY HUFFMAN Maple Leaf Foods is tackling listeria on several fronts in its 27 Canadian food plants to try to keep the wily bacteria out of


Snapshots Of Going Organic In Manitoba

A farm-based processor There’s more money to be made in processing.” Gerard and Marie-Paule De Ruyck began the switch to organic on their Swan Lake farm in 2001. That year they broke up 25 acres of pasture, sowed and harvested what turned out to be a very good field of oats and never looked back.

Vendors transact $1 billion annually

FOR MORE INFO? Log on to www.farmersmarketscanada.ca For an indepth presentation on the future of Canadian farmers’ markets and more detail on Farmers’ Markets Canada log on to the December 1 Agriwebinar presentation by Brent Warner found on Canadian Farm Business Management Council website at www.agriwebinar.com Mention this the next time someone declares “no one


Russia to cut poultry, pork import quotas

Overseas suppliers of meat to Russia may make fewer shipments to that country next year as Russia plans to cut 2009 import quotas on poultry by 300,000 tonnes and pork by 200,000 tonnes. Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev announced the government’s plan Monday, as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin urged the government to speed up reform. “We

Hog co-op sees a small but reliable American market

“It keeps our feet inside the American border.” – JOHN PREUN, MANITOBA PORK MARKETING CO-OP Manitoba pork producers could soon be part owners of a hog slaughter plant in North Dakota. The Manitoba Pork Marketing Co-op may join a group of hog farmers from northern U. S. states in taking majority ownership of a small


What’s in a name? For EU foods, it’s paperwork

“I do agree with those who say that if we have too many, then the value of this tool becomes less important.” – EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel Europe may risk devaluing the reputation of its treasure trove of high-quality foods as ever more product names win protected status, joining the ranks of hams

Listeria inquiry may become CFIA review

“It will be hard to do anything of substance that fast.” – FOOD LAWYER RONALD DOERING As concerns about listeria and other food safety issues percolated through the Oct. 14 election campaign, federal officials tried to find candidates to head an inquiry promised by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The appointment i sn’t expected until after