Producers Urge for Swift Sort Out For Mandatory COOL
CANADA - North American hog producers are urging the US government finalise the Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling issue as quickly as possible and end the uncertainty facing pork producers, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Exports on a Roll
CANADA - Last week Jim Long reported that the Iowa-Minnesota lean price was US$48.89 on 21 March. Three weeks later - 10 April - the price was US$ 58.76, giving a 10¢ ($20 per head) increase in 3 weeks. He says producers can expect another $30/head...

Canadian Genetics Shipped to Expanding Russian Agri-Business
CANADA - Genesus has just completed the successful delivery of a Four Plane Shipment of swine genetics to Kuban AgroHolding of Krasnodar, Russia.

Ottawa Farmers Get $50-million for Culling Herds
CANADA - The federal government plans to pay pig producers up to $50-million in total to slaughter as many as 150,000 breeding pigs. The move is aimed at curbing the deepening crisis in Canda's pig industry.

Euthanasia - Only Option for Manitoba's Desperate Producers
WINNIPEG - Desperate Manitoba pig producers, suddenly unable to ship young pigs to the United States, are preparing to euthanase hundreds of thousands of animals over the next few months.

Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program Begins Today
CANADA - A 50 million dollar program designed to help Canadian pork producers reduce the size of their breeding herds officially kicks off today, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Producers Should Apply Early for Federal Cull Program
CANADA - Canadian pork producers are being encouraged to apply as early as possible for compensation under the Federal Cull Breeding Swine Program, says Bruce Cochrane.

Support Building to End Manitoba Hog Moratorium
CANADA - Support among Manitoba's agricultural commodity organisations for an end to the province's ban on hog industry expansion continues to build, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Carnage Continues But Ethanol Ideal is Over
CANADA - Last week Jim Long reported that Spectrum, a Manitoba feed/ 20,000-sow production operation was in receivership. Another Western Canadian production system was also in trouble and this week comes the sad news that Stomp Farms, a 25,000-sow system...

Cull Program Applications to be Available Monday
CANADA - Applications for the federal government's 50 million dollar Cull Breeding Swine Program will be made available beginning Monday, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Early Access to AgriStability TAP
MANITOBA - The provinces beleaguered hog farmers will be offered early access to their expected AgriStability payout for 2008, under a Targeted Advance Payment (TAP) program that was announced by Manitoba's government yesterday.

Manitoba Pork Council Calls on Ottawa to Challenge M-COOL Under NAFTA
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council reports Canadian weanling pig producers are beginning to feel the impact of pending U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling legislation, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Futures Markets Suggest Higher Hog Prices By Summer
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board reports the current futures markets suggest western Canadian hog prices could start to see a rebound by early 2009, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Strategy Session Planned to Fight Hog Ban
CANADA - Manitoba’s pork producers are demanding the provincial government accept the science and reverse its decision to impose permanent moratoriums on the development of new or expanded hog barns in three regions of the province.

Sask Pork Calls for End to Support Caps
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board is calling on government to remove the caps on agricultural support programs designed to help livestock producers contend with the economic crisis currently affecting their industry.

Manitoba Minister Calls for Cooperation Over Nutrient Loading Concerns
CANADA - Manitoba's minister of agriculture is encouraging stakeholders to work together as the province takes action to reduce the amount of nutrients ending up in Lake Winnipeg, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Minister Ritz at New Brunswick Agriculture Summit
CANADA - The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, will co-chair the New Brunswick Agriculture Summit today.

Government Policy Blamed for Pork Farms Bankruptcy
SASKATCHEWAN- A flawed federal farm support program is being blamed for the bankruptcy of Saskatchewan's second-largest pig producer Stomp Farms Ltd. The Leroy-based business employs 250 people and has been losing money since late last summer.

Summit Called to Discuss Manitoba Moratorium
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council is calling on its sister agricultural groups to express their support for a reversal of the provincial government's decision to impose regional moratoriums on hog industry expansion.

Winter Fair Offers Hands-On Experience of Livestock Production
CANADA - The 101st annual edition of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair kicked off yesterday at Brandon's Keystone Centre and visitors are getting a unique opportunity to learn about what actually happens on a modern livestock operation, writes Bruce Coc...