U.S. pork supplies at all-time high

Hog price recovery months away Reuters — U.S. pork production in October hit a record high as the hog slaughter surged to an all-time high of 10.86 million head. The latest USDA data shows more hogs passed through U.S. packing plants last month than ever before as farmers liquidated their herds as the worst drought in

U.S. crop insurance a post-election target

The federal government will likely shell out $15 billion or more for its share of crop losses caused by drought

Reuters – Federally subsidized crop insurance will be a big target for U.S. lawmakers looking to cut the budget deficit in the lame-duck session of Congress that opened recently after a status quo general election. But lawmakers aren’t expected to break their deadlock over enacting a five-year, $500-billion Farm Bill covering a wide range of


Is pork industry’s business model broken?

There is no doubt that, whichever way you look at it, Western Canada is a good place to raise pigs. The combination of abundant space and locally grown feed ingredients provides key elements that are missing in some important pig-producing countries such as Denmark, where manure disposal is a challenge, and China, where a lot

U.S. farm law expires amidst Congressional standoff

Reuters / Expiration of U.S. farm law on Oct. 1, shutting off dairy supports and putting 2013 crop subsidies in limbo, was expected to cause pain for some farmers and frustration for many, but programs like food stamps and crop insurance will roll on, analysts said. U.S. government funding is assured through March 2013 for


Inhumane treatment documented again

California processor Central Valley Meat Co. is the subject of a recent Internet animal cruelty video released by anti-meat organization “Compassion over Killing.” The video captured instances of inhumane handling practices that are not condoned by the beef and cattle industry or the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended

USDA asks markets when is the best time for data

washington/reuters / The government asked farmers, traders and futures exchanges June 7 for ideas on when it should release potentially market-moving agricultural reports, such as crop forecasts, now that commodity markets are open nearly all day. It could result in the first change in the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports in nearly two decades and





CGC guarantees Canadian grain quality worldwide

The baker is already planning his production and quality-control program for months ahead, based on grain from halfway around the world he has never laid eyes on, much less inspected. But he isn’t worried. He knows he will almost certainly get exactly the right kind of wheat with the precise specifications he requested. He also

Obama calls for end to direct payments

With Congress beginning an overhaul of U.S. farm law, President Barack Obama called Feb. 13 for elimination of a $5-billion-a-year subsidy paid to farmers regardless of need but held steady funding for the department’s often-criticized data forecasting arm. Obama proposed reforms totalling $32 billion over 10 years for farm supports in his new budget. It