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.

M-COOL to be Less Onerous than Feared
CANADA - Paragon Economics says the USDA's interim final rule for Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (M-COOL) will be less onerous for the red meat sector than originally feared, writes Bruce Cochrane.

$45 Million Allocated to Producers Under Advance Payments Program
CANADA - The Manitoba Pork Credit Corporation reports about $45 million have been allocated to pork producers from the four western provinces so far under the Federal Advance Payments Program, write Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: US Hog Prices Reach Record Highs
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

In-vessel Composting for Biosecure Deadstock
CANADA - A desire to relieve the impact of higher fuel costs while, at the same time, improving biosecurity on the farm is prompting a growing number of livestock operations to rely on in-vessel composting to dispose of animal mortalities.

Tightening of Corn Supplies Expected
CANADA - The Manitoba Corn Growers Association says less than ideal growing conditions and a strong demand from the ethanol industry could put pressure on supplies of corn for feed for the livestock industry this fall, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Commentary: Global Liquidations Drive Prices and US Exports
CANADA - This week's North American Pork Commentary from Jim Long.

Swine Budget Shows Loss of $30 per Pig
CANADA - The June 2008 budget figures compiled by John Bancroft, Swine Strategies Program Lead at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) show average income of C$138 per pig and costs of over C$169.

Feed Grain Prices Expected to Decline
CANADA - Informa Economics is projecting an easing of feed grain prices heading toward fall, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Cull Pork Finally Reaching Ontario Food Banks
CANADA - Two months after Ontario put up the money to pay for processing of hundreds of slaughtered pigs for the provinces' food banks, needy families look set to receive the fresh meat.

Interactive Agricultural Display Launched
CANADA - Prairieland Park in Saskatoon has introduced a new interactive educational display designed to build awareness of the importance of the province's agriculture sector, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Alberta Comes Up with Animal Protection Act
ALBERTA - The new Alberta Animal Health Strategy is set to be released for public consultation in August 2008. Contained within the strategy is an animal welfare component with several goals that will improve welfare of all animals in Alberta and increase...

Focus Shifts to Bilateral Trade Following Collapse of WTO Negotiations
CANADA - Following the collapse of the latest effort to secure a new global trade agreement, Canadian agricultural producers are counting on the federal government to step up and place a greater focus on securing new regional trade agreements.

Higher Priority on Bilateral Trade Called for
CANADA - The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan is encouraging Ottawa to shift its priority to bilateral trade agreements in the wake of the suspension of the latest round of World Trade organization negotiations, writes Bruce Cochran...

CPC Confident WTO Negotiations will Resume
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is confident stalled negotiations aimed at achieving a new world trade agreement will ultimately resume, writes Bruce Cochrane.