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...

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...

Maple Leaf Sees Earnings Soar
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods saw its earnings from operations before restructuring and other related costs increase by 54 per cent to C$77.5 million in the second quarter of the year.

Minimal Impact on Western Canadian Live Hog Prices
CANADA - The closure of the Cloverdale Foods Minot pork packing plant is expected to have minimal impact on prices paid for western live hogs, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Key to Stabilising Rural Communities
CANADA - The MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette says improvements planned for the Hylife Foods hog slaughtering plant in Neepawa will mean more of jobs needed help stabilise Canada's rural communities,...

Producers Welcome Neepawa Plant Upgrade
MANITOBA, CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council says upgrades planned for the Hylife Foods hog slaughtering plant will allow Hylife to expand its markets, increase the demand for hogs, create jobs, and generate...

Higher Slaughter Capacity, Value-Added Processing
CANADA - Improvements planned for the Hylife Foods hog slaughtering plant at Neepawa in Manitoba will allow expanded slaughter capacity and additional value-added processing, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Crawford Appointed as Chairman of Maple Leaf
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods has announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Purdy Crawford Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, effective 22 June 2011.

Maple Leaf Chairman Passes Away
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods is mourning the passing of its Chairman, Wallace McCain.

Maple Leaf's Fresh & Prepared Meats More Profitable
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods has reported its results for the first quarter of 2011, which includes an increase of more than 60 per cent in adjested operating earnings and significant improvements in the...

Eden Valley Buys Larsen Plant in Berwick
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA - Chicken company, Eden Valley Poultry, has announced plans to buy the Larsen Packers' pork processing plant in Berwick, which was slated to close at the end of April.

Pork Processing Plant Ramp-Up Going Smoothly
CANADA - The senior vice-president of Donald's Fine Foods reports the ramp-up of the company's newly renovated Thunder Creek Pork processing plant in Moose Jaw has been going well, writes Bruce Cochra...

Maple Leaf Delivered Strong Q4 Earnings Growth
CANADA - Increased net earnings were among the highlights of Maple Leaf Foods' results for the fourth quarter (Q4) and fiscal year 2010, thanks to cost control and price increases and despite rising raw...

Hylife: Initial Response to New Name Positive
CANADA - The executive vice-president and chief operating officer of La Broquerie, Manitoba based Hylife, says the initial response to the company's new name has been positive, according to Bruce Coch...

Board Change for Maple Leaf
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods has reached an agreement with West Face Capital, a Toronto-based investment fund that owns approximately 11.4 per cent of the company's shares outstanding.

Maple Leaf to Close Prepared Meats Plant
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods is to close its prepared meats plant in Surrey, British Columbia at the end of September this year.

Surveillance for Notifiable Diseases Gets a Boost
CANADA - Canada is enhancing the way it monitors the national swine herd for federally reportable swine diseases: CFIA is collecting blood samples from mature pigs at slaughter houses during January...

Hog and Poultry Days 2010: Pork Quality Competition
CANADA - A Poplar Point area Hutterite Colony has topped a field of 30 to claim the top award at the Manitoba Hog and Poultry Days 2010 Pork Quality Competition, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pending Slaughter Plant Opening Applauded
CANADA - Saskatchewan's pork producers are applauding the pending opening of the newly renovated Thunder Creek Pork processing plant in Moose Jaw, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Opening of Thunder Creek Pork: Expectations
CANADA - The mayor of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, says the re-establishment of federally inspected pork processing in Saskatchewan will mean the creation of new jobs and economic activity, writes Bruce C...

Federal Govt Invests in Primary Pork Processing
CANADA - The Member of Parliament for Palliser suggests the re-establishment of primary pork processing in Saskatchewan is an indicator that the province is open for business, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Maple Leaf Completes Sale to Fearmans Pork Inc.
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods announced yesterday that it has closed the sale of its pork processing operation, located in Burlington, Ontario, to Fearmans Pork, Inc., an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners...

Maple Leaf to Close Sale of Burlington Pork Plant
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. announced yesterday that it is proceeding with the sale of its pork processing operation, located in Burlington, Ontario, to an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc.

Maple Leaf Results Hit by Rising Raw Material Costs
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has reported its financial results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2010. Sales were flat overall but results from the Meat Group were improved.

Re-Opening of Moose Jaw Gets Positive Response
CANADA - Officials with Donald's Fine Foods report the response among Saskatchewan swine industry stakeholders to its planned re-opening of an idled Moose Jaw pork processing plant has been extremely positive,...

Moose Jaw Pork Facility Renovations on Track
CANADA - The owners of Thunder Creek Pork report renovations to the Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan based pork processing plant remain on track for a late December 2010 opening, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Improved Profit Margins Expected in Maple Leaf
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods is confident a Comprehensive Value Creation Plan approved by the company's board of directors last week will boost profit margins by 75 per cent over the next five years, writes...

Pork Producers Applaud Agri Research Facility
CANADA - Pork producers are applauding the planned construction of a new Agricultural By-Products Processing Research and Demonstration Facility at the University of Manitoba's Glenlea Research Station,...