I expect this will result in a patchwork of laws that are likely to make U.S. meat producers very uncomfortable. Ultimately, it could push Congress to set federal standards.

Comment: Court ruling could catalyze new wave of U.S. animal welfare laws

The precedent could leave pork trade to navigate an eventual legislative patchwork

Should California be able to require higher welfare standards for farm animals raised outside its borders if products from those animals are to be sold in California? On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court decided the answer is yes. The result was determined by a 5-4 vote in the court case, National Pork Producers Council

sows

California animal housing law spells trouble for local trade

Prop 12 stipulates out-of-state farms must meet specific housing standards to sell in California -- and Canadian regulations may not meet them

Pork groups say a recently upheld U.S. law, which could reduce the flow of Manitoba-born weanlings to the United States, will contribute to breakdowns in an integrated Canada-U.S. market. If individual states can introduce non-tariff trade barriers, “it will change the fundamental dynamic of how we can handle international trade negotiations,” said Stephen Heckbert, executive


Iowa Pork Producers Association director Aaron Juergens speaks at the Manitoba Pork Council annual meeting in Winnipeg April 13.

Pork sector shows cross-border anxiety on meat labelling

American pork producers also nervous on VCOOL, U.S. industry reps say

Hog producers in Iowa and Minnesota aren’t pleased with U.S. changes to meat labelling that could have spillover effects into Manitoba, representatives told Manitoba Pork’s gathered membership in mid-April. “As pork producers, we love the trade,” said Aaron Juergens, an Iowa hog farmer and director with the Iowa Pork Producers Association. Why it matters: Manitoba’s

CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs turn lower

August feeder cattle down second day

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s most-active live cattle and lean hog futures turned lower Monday on a down day overall in livestock trade. CME June live cattle ended lower Monday after three consecutive days’ climb, at one point dipping below their 10-day moving average before closing at 164.875 cents/lb., down 0.6 cents on the day (all


(Sollio Co-operative Group video screengrab via YouTube)

Olymel to shut one Quebec hog slaughter plant

New provincial hog supply agreement in works as Vallee-Jonction facility set to close

Quebec-based meat packer Olymel’s bid to stem losses in its fresh pork business now includes closing down one of its five Canadian hog slaughter plants. Olymel, the protein arm of Sollio Co-operative, announced Friday it will wind down operations at its hog slaughter, cutting and deboning plant at Vallee-Jonction, Que. and permanently close the facility

VIDEO: Manitoba Pork weighs industry issues at AGM

VIDEO: Manitoba Pork weighs industry issues at AGM

From public outreach to taking the fight to wild boars, on to trade and everything in between, Manitoba Pork Council had a packed agenda at its annual general meeting held today in Winnipeg. Manitoba Co-operator editor Gord Gilmour spoke with Cam Dahl, the organization’s general manager, about some of the big issues facing the sector,


Chinese pork giant WH Group processes more chicken to offset competition

Chinese pork processing giant WH Group processed 30 per cent more poultry last year, the company said March 28, as it diversifies into other meats to lower costs and become more competitive. WH Group, which owns U.S.-based Smithfield Foods and also has operations in Europe, reported a 34.3 per cent rise in annual profit to

CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures continue climbing

Lean hog futures down on day

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures continued climbing Tuesday, with most-active June live cattle again reaching a new contract high. CME June live cattle closed Tuesday at 163.95 cents/lb., up 0.25 cent on the day, while lightly-traded front-month April also closed at a new contract high of 172.3 cents, up 0.925


(L-R) Fair co-chair Wayne Buhr and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson present first and second place in this year’s Royal Manitoba Winter Fair pork quality competition to members of Shady Lane Hutterite Colony.

Shady Lane Colony wins at pork competition

Pork producers once again vie at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair

Shady Lane Colony of Treherne come out with bragging rights after this year’s pork producer head-to-head competition at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. The fair’s annual pork quality contest saw the colony walk away with a rare double win, having put forward both the best and second-best carcasses. “It’s hard to believe. The competition is

U.S. to up meat label requirements

U.S. to up meat label requirements

Reuters – U.S. ranchers lobbying for tighter rules on meat origin labelling got a win in early March. Meat, poultry or eggs labelled as a U.S. product must come from animals raised and slaughtered within the country under a rule proposed by the Biden administration March 6. Existing rules for the label permit its use