Contract Research Programme Reinvigorated
CANADA - The president and CEO of the Saskatoon based Prairie Swine Centre reports improved profitability in the swine industry is allowing the centre to reinvigorate its contract research programme, Bruce...

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.

Improved Productivity and Increased Profits
CANADA - Practical advice to help pork producers improve productivity and increase profits is the focus of the Prairie Swine Centre's just released 2010 annual report, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Weather Conditions to Influence 2011 Grain Quality
CANADA - A weather and crop analyst with the Canadian Wheat Board expects weather conditions between now and harvest to play a key role in influencing the quality of this year's grain crops, Bruce Cochrane...

Call for Resumption of Trade Talks with South Korea
CANADA - A coalition of Canadian agricultural commodity groups is calling on Canada's premiers and agriculture ministers to express their support the immediate resumption of free trade talks with the Republic...

Genesus Breeding Stock Sale to Russia Announced
CANADA - At the Canada-Russia forum held on 1 June in Ottawa, Canada’s Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz in the presence of Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Victor Zubkov announced the largest sale...

Pork Commentary: Lower Corn Plus Higher Hogs
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Managing Margins Key to Remaining Profitable
CANADA - The president of Paragon Economics suggests the ability to manage margins will be key to remaining profitable as pork producers contend with rising feed costs and limited availability, Bruce Cochrane...

Swine Health Board Funding Included in 6 June Budget
CANADA - The Canadian Swine Health Board (CSHB) is pleased that funding to continue its programming was included in the Federal Budget released last week (6 June). Funding had been announced in the 22...

Maple Leaf Completes C$800 Million Debt Refinancing
CANADA - Canadian meat and poultry processor Maple Leaf Foods last month entered into a new four year C$800 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of Canadian, US and international instit...

Federal Swine Industry Support Secured
CANADA - The president of the Canadian Pork Council says the election of a majority government helps ensure committments made to Canada's pork producers prior to the 2 May federal election will be honored,...

Canada, Finding the Right Level?
CANADA - Statistics Canada has released the results of their latest survey of Canadian hog farms. They concluded the Canadian swine-breeding herd on 1 April was 0.2 per cent smaller than a year ago, but...

Altering Purchasing Patterns in Response to Prices
CANADA - A senior market economist with the George Morris Centre expects consumers to alter their food purchasing patterns as prices rise in the grocery store, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Corn Moves Lower
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

CME: Highlights of Quarterly Hogs and Pigs Survey
CANADA - Statistics Canada released on Thursday (28 April), the results of its quarterly survey of hogs and pigs operations. The data covers the first quarter of calendar year 2011 and thus is one month...

Pork Commentary: Tough Week for Hog Producers
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Pork Commentary: Lean Hog Prices Push to $1.00
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Recapturing Lost Domestic Market Opportunities
CANADA - Canada Pork International says recapturing lost opportunities within the domestic market will be a key focus of domestic pork promotion efforts over the next few years, Bruce Cochrane writes.

Taking Advantage of Strong Crop, Livestock Markets
CANADA - A University of Manitoba agricultural economist is advising farmers who rely on exports to take advantage of strong grain and livestock markets as one way of protecting themselves against the...

Pork Industry Changes Improve Export Opportunities
CANADA - Canada Pork International says changes made by Canadian pork producers over the past number of years have well positioned the Canadian pork industry to maximise opportunities on the export market,...

Manitoba Producers Vote to Restructure Pork Council
MANITOBA, CANADA - The province's pork producers have voted to accept a plan to restructure the organisation that represents their interests, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Corn Price Moves Even Higher
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Fuelling of Pork Industry Recovery Expected
CANADA - Growth in the demand for pork in emerging markets is expected to continue to lead the recovery of the Canadian pork industry, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Focus on Planting Forward Contracted Crops
CANADA - A weather and crop analyst with the Canadian Wheat Board expects prairie farmers to focus on getting the most profitable crops and crops that have forward contracted into the ground as they contend...

Staying Current on Feed Requirements Advised
CANADA - A US-based agricultural economist is advising pork producers to keep a close watch on feed costs and to stay ahead of their feed requirements heading toward the 2011 planting season, according...

Fire Kills 2000 Pigs
US - Two thousand pigs were killed and 1,000 savedin a fire on a pig farm outside of Taber, Alberta, last week.

Meeting Pork Industry Sustainability Commitments
CANADA - The University of Manitoba expects to play a key role in helping the province's pork producers deliver on a range of commitments outlined in their recently released vision for the long-term sustainability...

Opportunities to Increase Utilisation of DDGS
MANITOBA, CANADA - With the use of distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on the rise in Canada, the demand for updated information on the product’s nutritional value is great.

Increased Use of Alternative Feed Ingredients
CANADA - A research nutritionist with the Prairie Swine Centre reports rising feed costs have prompted an increased reliance on the use of alternative feed ingredients such as dried distillers grains with...

FTA with Korea Remains Pork Industry Priority
CANADA - The president of the Canadian Pork Council is hoping the matter of free trade discussions involving Canada and the Republic of Korea won't get pushed to the background by the federal election,...