PED in Huron County

 

There has been an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus in a nursery barn in Huron County.

China-Canada reach tariff truce

 

Canada has agreed to allow 29,000 Chinese-made electrical vehicles into the country at a six per cent tariff in exchange for China allowing a resumption of canola seed, oil and meal imports at a 15 per cent tariff and relaxation of tariffs on Canadian peas, lobsters and crabs.

The deal apparently does not include Canadian pork.

China’s reduced tariffs take effect in March and last until the end of the year.

Prime Minister Mark Carney described the trade deal as preliminary.

Earlier in the two days of negotiations, Canada lifted a ban on Chinese investments in Alberta’s oilsands.

Traceability regs on pause

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is pausing its updated fraceability regulations to give farmers more time to ponder them and register their responses.

They were to go into effect  in April, but livestock industry leader said they need more time to ensure the farmers they represent know what’s proposed.

Kevin Boon, general manager for the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association, said it iwill be holding a town hall meeting.

 He said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not done any education or announcements about the new regulations.

Boon said there is a lot of wrong information circulating so “we’re going to go ahead and do it to get that information out there Let’s get people better informed. We have a problem when people make comments without the correct information.”

The updating process began 14 years ago and included three months for public consultations and comments.

The proposals were first published in March, 2023.

Once they are published in the Canada Gazette, there will be a year before they take effect.

Aw. c'mon guys. How long do you really need? Or do you simply object to complying?

Land prices uncertain

 

Whether land prices in the United States will go up or down this year depends on location, said Colton Lacina, senior vice president of Farmers National Company.

“After years of steady growth, we’re seeing the farmland market stabilize,” he said.

“This isn’t a sign of collapse but a recalibration that reflects current commodity prices, input costs and regional production conditions."

Areas with high crop yields, diversified farms, and dependable groundwater continue to attract buyers and maintain steady values, he said.

 Regions facing commodity price pressure, lower yields, or limited alternative income sources are seeing lower demand.

 “Farmland values are increasingly determined locally, sometimes down to the township,” Lacina said. 

“Buyers are carefully assessing soil quality, the percentage of tillable acres, water access, and how a parcel fits into their current operations. Those details matter more than ever.”

 Farmland remains a resilient, long-term asset, and well-priced properties are attracting strong interest, he said. 

Investors are particularly interested in how much they can charge for rent.

Olymel names Daniel Rivest CEO

 

Olymel has picked Daniel Rivest to take over from Yanick Gervais as chief executive officer effective in July.

Gervais will remain as strategic advisor until October,  
2027.

Gervais is credited with guiding Olymel through a significant transformation of its business model, strengthening resilience and performance during a period of operational and market challenges including huge losses and closure of a number of hog-processing plants.

Rivest joined Olymel in 2016 and has held several senior leadership roles, including senior vice president of sales and marketing, before being appointed chief operating officer.

He has more than 20 years of experience in food processing, played a key role in executing Olymel’s strategic plan and delivering recent operational results.

Gordon appointed to research board

 

Robert Gordon of Guelph has been appointed to a three-year term on Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario.

It was formerly the Ontario Research Institute of Ontario.

Gordon ius dean of Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph` which is the single largest recipient of Ontario’s agricultural research funds.

Seems to be a major conflict of interest.

Premier Ford defends dairy supply management

 

Premier Doug Ford told the annual meeting of Dairy Farmers of Ontario that he will fight to preserve supply management for dairy farmers.

“We’ll stand and fight day after day, but we’re never giving up supply management as long as I’m premier." 

He also said he is trying to save the auto industry which employs about 500,000 workers, but also noted that the dairy industry is responsible for 900,000 jobs.