The Canadian Food Inspection released a report that there were 119 outbreaks of avian influenza last year, 11 of equine infectious anemia, nine of chronic wasting disease, two of Newcastle disease and also two of Cysticerosis and one of bovine tuberculosis.
The CFIA has ordered the destruction of about 19 million chickens, turkey, ducks, geese, pigeons and ostriches to counter the spread of highly-pathogenic avian influenza.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has detected highly-poisonous E. coli 0157 food-poisoning bacteria in burgers sold under Loblaws’ no name label.
The CFIA said no illnesses have been reported by consumers.
E. coli 0757 is the bacteria that infected drinking water in Walkerton in 2000 resulting in the death of seven people; 2,300 were sickened, 22 of them with permanent kidney damage.
Global food prices declined for the fourth month in a row, reported the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Dairy prices were down by 4.,4 per cent and meat prices by 1.3 per cent.
But on an annual basis, meat prices averaged 5.1 per cent higher than the previous year.
Vegetable oil prices declined by two-tenths of one per cent, but cereals prices increase by 1.7 per cent.
Ethanol production pushed corn prices up.
The Ontario Regulatory Registry is inviting public comment on a proposal to increase fees collected by the Turkey Farmers of Ontario marketing board.
The amendments would give board authority to collect a 1.25 cents per kilogram from farmers and processors to be given to the Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency, also known as Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC), until December 31, 2028.
It would also increase the existing production levy from 1.8 cents per kilogram to 2.1 cents per kilogram.
The levy funds the "Think Turkey" campaign, a national marketing campaign established in 2020 with the intent to increase per capita consumption of turkey.
The campaign uses advertising, digital media, and public relations to promote whole turkeys and value-added products. The proposed amendment supports industry efforts to sustain the domestic turkey sector amid growing import pressures.
Per capita consumption declined from 3.5 kilograms in 2022 to 5.3 in 2024.
Angela Zilke of Embro has been appointed to a three-year term on the board that oversees the Grain Financial Protection Board.
She represents grain growers in Waterloo Region and Oxford County on the Grain Farmers of Ontario organization.
Meteorologists predict a quick exit for La Niña exit and a 75 per cent chance of transitioning to ENSO-neutral by Jan-March.
Expect neutral conditions to persist through at least late spring with a growing chance of El Niño in 2026, they said.