Call for Stepped-Up Biosecurity
CANADA - Outbreaks of swine vesicular disease in Italy have prompted the Canadian Swine Health Board to advise Canadian pork producers to step up their focus on biosecurity, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Revised Pig Code of Practice Expected by Mid-2013
CANADA - The National Farm Animal Care Council’s Pig Code Development Committee expects a new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs to be ready for publication by mid-2013, writes Bruce...

Impacts of Ethanol Policies on Livestock Industry
CANADA - A study from the George Morris Centre demonstrates that the growth of ethanol production in Canada has had negative economic consequences for the livestock industry.

Canadian Hog Producer Optimism on the Rise
CANADA - Optimism among hog producers is on the rise. In 2011 three quarters of hog producers (75 per cent) agree that their farm or business will be better off five years from now, according to a...

Canadian Pork Council Elects New Chair
CANADA - At a recent meeting of the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), Mr Jean-Guy Vincent received the country-wide support of his peers, and will lead the charge for the Canadian pork industry in the upcoming...

Govt Committed to Working with Hog Industry
MANITOBA, CANADA - Manitoba's Minster of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives says the provincial government is committed to working with the pork industry to ensure the province's pork processors have...

Call for Reasoned Approach to Water Concerns
CANADA - The Economic Development Officer with the Town of Neepawa is calling for a responsible reasoned approach to addressing water quality concerns in Lake Winnipeg, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Call for Action to Ensure Adequate Hog Supplies
CANADA - The Mayor of Brandon is urging the Manitoba government to take steps that will ensure the province's pork processors are able to access the supplies of hogs necessary to maintain the viability...

New Efforts Announced Aimed at Controlling PRRS
CANADA - A new two-year project announced earlier this week will bring together pork producers, veterinarians and industry to pilot a strategy aimed at reducing the transmission of porcine reproductive...

Act Threatens Supply of Hogs for Processing
MANITOBA, CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council warns provincial environmental legislation adopted earlier this year is putting the supply of hogs for the province's pork processors at risk which, in turn threatens...

RCC's Action Plan will Improve Trade for Hog Sector
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is pleased that the pork industry’s input to the Canada-United States Regulation Cooperation Council (RCC) has been fully covered in the Joint Action Plan announced...

Manitoba Hog Supply Stability Concerns Maple Leaf
MANITOBA, CANADA - According to Bruce Cochrane, Maple Leaf says provisions contained within the recently adopted "Save Lake Winnipeg Act" raise significant concerns over the ability of Manitoba's pork...

PRRS-Free Herd Certification Enrolment Due to End
CANADA - Sask Pork expects between 80 and 85 swine operations across Canada to participate in the Western Canada PRRS-Free Herd Certification Pilot Project, Bruce Cochrane writes.

PRRS-Free Herd Certification Expanded
CANADA - A pilot project designed to allow pork producers in Western Canada to certify that their herds are free of PRRS has been expanded to include Ontario and Quebec, wroites Bruce Cochrane.

Hopes for Negotiated Resolution of M-COOL Dispute
CANADA - Canada's Agriculture Minister is hopeful last week's WTO ruling that US Mandatory COOL discriminates against foreign livestock will open the door to a negotiated settlement of the dispute, writes...

WTO COOL Ruling Applauded
CANADA - Canadian Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers has welcomed the ruling from the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued this morning stating country of origin labelling...

Hopes of WTO Ruling Resolving Labelling Dispute
CANADA - Canada's International Trade Minister is hopeful the WTO ruling on Canada's complaint over US Mandatory COOL will open the door to a resolution of the dispute, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Govt Helps Raise Ontario's Agricultural Profile Abroad
ONTARIO, CANADA - The Government of Canada is helping Ontario farmers boost sales and enhance competitiveness abroad with investments of more than $1 million. Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary for...

New Hedging Proposal Under Recommendation
CANADA - The general manager of Sask Pork is confident a programme being developed to address market volatility will allow pork producers to make more effective use of hedging to lock in future hog prices,...

Training Can be Customised by Region
CANADA - The Canadian Swine Health Board says provincial delivery of its new National Biosecurity Training programme for swine producers is allowing the programme to be customised to suit individual regions,...

Meat Council Calls for Resumption of FTA Talks
CANADA - The Canadian Meat Council says with the recent ratification by the US congress of a US-South Korea free trade agreement its critical for Canada to work toward its own deal with that nation, writes...

Government is Helping Farmers, Says Report
CANADA - The Harper Government is helping farmers to access more markets and a better bottom line, according to a new report. Beef, pork, canola, wheat, pulses and animal genetics were singled out as particular...

Industry Urges Resumption of FTA with South Korea
CANADA - In the wake of the ratification of a US free trade agreement (FTA) with the Republic of Korea, Canada's red meat industry is again urging Ottawa to resume negotiations aimed at securing a Canada-South...

Call for South Korea FTA Talks to Resume
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council, Canada Pork International, Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Canadian Meat Council have joined forces to urge the Government of Canada to resume the Free Trade...

Pork Producers Urge Cooperation in Sustainability
MANITOBA, CANADA - According to Bruce Cochrane, the Chair of Manitoba Pork Council, with the provincial election now behind us, pork producers are hoping the provincial government will be prepared to take...

Canadian Swine Exporters Pleased by Rate Extension
CANADA - The Canadian pork industry is pleased to learn that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) fees for endorsing export certificates will remain at the same level for another two years. ...

Fee Cap for Livestock & Embryo Industries
CANADA - The Government of Canada will save producers up to $2.7 million in user fees relating to export certification of certain Canadian livestock and embryo industries.

Canadian and US Traceability Can be Aligned
CANADA - PigTrace Canada is confident a national swine traceability system being developed in Canada will be compatible with a new system being proposed by the US Department of Agriculture, writes Bruce...

Bill Threatens Ability of Abattoirs to Access Pigs
CANADA - The executive Vice President of Hylife Foods warns the ability of his company's recently upgraded Neepawa pork processing plant to access adequate hog supplies is being threatened by the Manitoba...

CPC and CPI Back Call to Conclude Doha Talks
CANADA — The Canadian Pork Council and Canada Pork International have given full backing to the call in the Cairns Group Farm Leaders’ communiqué for governments “to re-focus their efforts in bringing...