Fall calf volumes lower than last year

Manitoba’s cattle auction yards were busy once again during the week ended November 9, as the fall run continued at full speed. Prices held relatively steady for the most part, although top-end bids for many classes of cattle were mostly lower, rather than higher, in many instances. “We’re at the peak of the fall run

Battle over country-of-origin labelling is far from over

CCA says any cow slaughtered in U.S. should be considered American but R-CALF says that wouldn’t be right

The U.S. is promising to revamp its controversial mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling Act — but it doesn’t appear anything will happen soon. The World Trade Organization has ruled the regulations, known as COOL, violate international trade law and with all of its appeals exhausted, Washington promised to comply with the ruling, said John Masswohl, director of


Still waiting for the U.S. to respond to COOL ruling

The pivotal day in getting action on a ruling by the World Trade Organization that U.S. American country-of-origin labelling (COOL) program discriminates against Canadian livestock is shaping up to be Oct. 2. That’s the day when the WTO will impose a deadline for the U.S. to amend the offensive provisions in COOL, says John Masswohl,

WTO conclusion tests U.S. commitment to international trade deals

The U.S. commitment to fair trade will be put to the test by the World Trade Organization ruling that the American country-of-origin labelling (COOL) measure discriminates against Canadian livestock and is inconsistent with international trade rules. The late-June decision shouldn’t have come as a surprise based on last fall’s WTO panel ruling against the U.S. measure. Stalling for


Producers must speak up on trade

Trade negotiations. I can almost hear the pages turning as people turn to other things that seem more relevant. For years everyone involved in agriculture has been subjected to the strong arguments on both sides of this issue. And yet, very little seems to change. For example, since 2001, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha



Canada’s grain freight regulations inhibit productivity

The cost of railway infrastructure projects, such as the Rogers Pass tunnel or network acquisition, is staggering. In contrast, rail’s air, trucking and marine competitors have an advantage from the outset in not having to build or maintain infrastructure. And while rail can withstand underinvestment for years, eventually a lack of capital catches up and

CFIA applies new rules to food importers

Two years after admitting that it didn’t have a registry of food importers, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is finally proposing to introduce a licensing regime for the estimated 25,000 businesses, which bring foreign-made food or beverages into Canada. The government announced a Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan in 2007, which was to include measures


Travel, trade and local markets

It was no surprise to learn last week that our federal minister of agriculture has racked up $271,000 in travel expenses since March 2011, the most of anyone in the federal cabinet. But unlike some of his colleagues, whose expense accounts have raised eyebrows among Canadians and howls of protest from opposition critics, we expect

Canada counter-appeals COOL ruling

staff / A World Trade Organi-zation panel’s ruling criticizing the U.S. government’s country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law is now under appeal from both sides of the table. The WTO last week reported receiving formal notice that Canada, like the U.S., plans to appeal parts of last November’s ruling from the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). The