Manitoba Expands Compulsory Coverage by WCB
CANADA - The Manitoba government has announced it will expand compulsory coverage by Workers Compensation to an addition 30 thousand workers, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Saskatchewan Swine Herd Cut by 10 Percent
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board reports just over 40 of the province's pork producers have participated in the federal Cull Breeding Swine Program, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Over 500,000 Pounds of Pork Distributed
CANADA - The Food Banks of Saskatchewan expects pork diverted to the province's food banks as a result of the Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program to help feed Saskatchewan's needy well into next year, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Market Inventory Down 12%
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Disruptions in Food Marketing Patterns Possible
CANADA - The U.S. based Food Marketing Institute warns short term disruptions in traditional food marketing patterns are possible as a result of the introduction of Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Hog Industry Turnaround Sooner Than Expected
MANITOBA - Manitoba hog producers are getting closer to and some are even past the point of profitability.

Formation of Alberta's Livestock and Meat Agency
ALBERTA - The formation of Alberta's new Livestock and Meat Agency was announced in June 2008. The role of the Agency is to work as a catalyst with industry to help regain Alberta's competitiveness and return to profitability.

Processing Definition Under M-COOL Called For
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is encouraging the U. S. Department of Agriculture to allow the broadest possible definition of processing when it begins enforcing new Country of Origin Labelling rules, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Reason for Maple Leaf's Product Recall Confirmed
OTTAWA - The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have received laboratory results from Health Canada that establish a link between meat products recalled by Maple Leaf Foods from their plant in Toronto and an outbreak...

Impact of COOL on Canadian Pork - Expectations
CANADA - North American pork producers, processors and retailers are preparing for the introduction of what is expected to be a complex but far less onerous U.S. food product labelling system than had originally been feared.

Final Pork Quality Unaffected by Low Birth Weight
CANADA - Research conducted by the Prairie Swine Centre shows, while small birth weight piglets will grow slower than their larger litter mates, the quality of the meat they produce will be equal, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Power Company Looks at Pig Manure
CANADA - Manitoba Hydro wants hog farmers to turn pig manure into power, and is offering companies more than a million dollars to do it.

Maple Leaf Takes Precautionary Measures
TORONTO - Maple Leaf Foods today announced it is voluntarily expanding a recall of packaged meat products manufactured at its Bartor Road facility in Toronto, as a precautionary measure, as they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes....

Prototype Solid Manure Injection Going Well
CANADA - The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute reports field tests of its latest field scale prototype solid manure injection system are going well, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Determination of the Impact of COOL Expected
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board predicts American pork processors and retailers will ultimately determine the impact of new U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling on Canadian hog producers, writes Bruce Cochrane.

M-COOL to Impact Canadian Slaughter Hogs
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council says the biggest outstanding concern with U.S. Country of Origin Labelling is the impact it could have on the movement of Canadian slaughter hogs into U.S. packing plants, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Sound Advice for Canadian Swine Producers
CANADA - Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Initiatives is advising swine producers to be aware of the risks associated with feeding grains that may have been contaminated by fusarium head blight, writes Bruce Cochrane.

London Swine Conference 2009
CANADA - The next London Swine Conference will be held at London Convention Centre, London, Ontario on 1-2 April 2009.

Avoid Fusarium Contaminated Grain
Western Canadian Swine Producers Advised to Avoid Fusarium Contaminated Grain

Higher Prices Push Producers Closer to Profitability
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture reports significant improvements in lives hog prices have moved western Canadian pork producers closer to profitability than they have been in the last year, writes Bruce Cochrane.