Trumpers extend beef price probe to stores

 In their campaign to pin the blame for high prices, the United States Department of Justice on Tuesday said it is expanding its investigation of record high beef prices to eight major grocery chains.

In a post on X, the Antitrust Division said associate attorney general Stanley Woodward sent letters to Kroger, Walmart, Publix, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize, Costco and Amazon.

“Beef prices are a critical concern to Americans, and a priority for this Justice Department,” the post said.

 The Trump administration first said last year that producers “have to get their prices down,” then blamed the “Big Four” meatpackers and launched an antitrust probe in May, and now is rattling the next link in the meat supply chain.

The executive branch’s search for answers continues despite what economists say are the clear culprits: a record-low cattle inventory caused primarily by droughts and prolonged by persistent consumer beef demand.

It would make more sense to probe the lack of action on climate change. As if Donald J. Trump would ever do anything to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers’ optimism returns

For the first time in more than a year, researchers from Purdue University have found that farmers they survey every month are optimistic about their business future.

The index for future expectations moved up 11 points, the index for current conditions by one point and for exports over the next five years to the highest level – 400 points – since December 2025.

They are also optimistic about government supports, but concerned about rising input costs.

The percentage of producers who said the U.S. was headed in the “right direction” has ranged from 51 to 57 per cent  since April, with 51 per cent of respondents saying that the U.S. was heading in the right direction in August.

Canadians respond to Nepal’s flooding

 

Canadians are responding to the devastating flooding in Nepal, including the Mennonite Central Committee, World Renew, Save the Children and ICNA Relief Canada.

 

"It was heartbreaking to witness the scale of devastation caused by the floods,” said Durga Sunchiuri, MCC Nepal program director. 

"I have never seen such extensive destruction before. Many affected families are struggling without electricity and basic necessities in temporary holding areas, facing significant uncertainty about their housing and livelihoods."

 

World Renew which is an agency of the Christian Reformed Church, said it is working through partners it has in Nepal.

 

MCC is working with two existing local partners, Sahayogi Hatharuko Samuha (Group of Helping Hands, SAHAS) and the National Mental Health Self-Help Organization (KOSHISH) to provide emergency relief.

 

In the first weeks following the flooding, partners will deliver assistance to people living in temporary evacuation centers, including churches. MCC support will include food, water purification tablets, hygiene and dignity kits, bedding, clothes and psychosocial support in the affected districts. MCC will also support recovery efforts following the initial emergency phase. 

 

Both SAHAS and KOSHISH have partnered with MCC to respond to past disasters in the region, including the 2015 Nepal earthquakes. MCC's ongoing program in Nepal already supports food security, livelihoods and nutrition, mental health and education.

 

In the first days following the flood, MCC also supported immediate search and rescue operations by providing five 5.5-kilowatt generators after power had been knocked out in the Rasuwa district. Rescue workers relied on these generators for relief operations, including locating missing or injured people.

 

"We hope that this timely and much-needed assistance will go a long way in supporting the affected communities," says Christina Nisha, MCC representative for Nepal. 

 

"We are coordinating our efforts with other non-governmental organizations in the region and are grateful for the resilience and strength of our partners. These trusted organizations hold incredible knowledge and capacity. We welcome your prayers and support on their behalf, as well as for all the people of Nepal."

Feds selling research cattle

 

The federal government is selling cattle it used for research at facilities it is closing.

It has already sold 130 head from Nappan, N.S., and will soon sell about another 450 from Lacombe, Alta.

Some others involved in long-term research projects will be moved to the research station at Lethbridge.

The agriculture department said in an e-mail to a reporter for the Western Producer that “offering these animals through public auction supports continued growth of the sector by providing producers with direct access to high-quality animals, including bred cows that can contribute immediately to herd growth and productivity.

“This approach helps support producers as they strengthen and expand their operations.”

Wheat exports resume from Churchill

For the first time in six years, wheat is once again being shipped out of the port at Churchill on Hudson’s Bay.

The first is 33,000 tonnes of Durum wheat from Saskatchewan bound for Europe. Two more ships are lined up for loading.

AGT is shipping the grain through AGG at the port.

“This is what a diversified Port of Churchill looks like,” said Mike Spence, AGG board chair and mayor of Churchill. 

“Prairie grain heading to Europe, critical minerals and Manitoba potash reaching international markets, and essential goods moving north to communities in Nunavut.”

“For AGT Foods, the Port of Churchill offers a compelling advantage: a shorter, efficient route connecting Western Canadian agriculture directly with customers in Europe and the Mediterranean,” said Murad Al-Katib, president and chief executive officer of AGT Foods.

Europe ponders punitive residue limits

The European Union is considering pesticide residue limits that would cripple Canadians who sell to European Union member countries.

More than $1.4 billion in Canadian agricultural exports are at risk if a new report, Vision For Agriculture and Food, is adopted.

There is no scientific evidence that the Canadian exports pose a risk to consumers.

The report calls for zero residue for 18 pesticides that are banned by the European Union.

That would impact 235 commodities from 86 exporting countries. About $1 billion of Csnafisn exports are at risk.

The European report speculated on three responses:

1.Producers in exporting countries do not change their current practices and lose their European markets.

2.   Some producers adjust their practices.

3.More producers shun the use of the 18 pesticides.

EU total agricultural imports would plunge 41 per cent under the first response. eight per cent under the second and 0.4 per cent under the third.

European crop production would grow under all three scenarios as domestic farmers fill the gap left by reduced imports, the report said without examining how that could be done given current pesticide bans and manure and fertilizer limits.

The EU relies on imports for 29 of the impacted commodities, such as figs, almonds, hazelnuts and beans.

Canada is one of 14 countries that exports more than $1.4 billion annually of the listed commodities to Europe.

Lentils  would be hard hit.

Janelle Whitley, senior director of market access and trade policy with Pulse Canada, said “this policy would shift how MRLs  (minimum residue limits) are set from a risk-based process to a hazard-based process that isn’t yet clearly defined,

“We continue to raise these concerns with the Canadian government and directly with officials in Brussels,” said Whitley.

The pesticides glufosinate, spirodiclofen, mancozeb and metiram are tied to the largest import values that are at risk.

“It is explicitly a preliminary, exploratory analysis, not the rigorous impact assessment required under the EU’s own Better Regulation framework,” the U.S. Department of Agriculutre’s Foreign Agricultural Service stated in an Aug. 25 report summarizing the JRC study. It has more than $16 billion US at risk.

“This point reinforces why the United States and other trading partners are right to insist that no MRL reductions be finalized .  . . until a complete, dedicated impact assessment — one that meets the EU’s own procedural standards — has been conducted.” the U.S. said.

                  

Succession plan wins international award

 

A farm succession planning guide developed by Wellington County has won the award of excellence in innovation from the International Economic Development Council.

Justine Daynard, leader of the project, said the idea came from looking at Statistics Canada data about the age profile of farmers in Wellington County and the province.

Many have not developed a comprehensive plan for what usually is a very personal, emotional, complex and detailed challenge.

It goes far beyond considering whether a family member will inherit the farm or if it will be sold to someone who respects the land and community.

Finances are important, including taxes.

Today’s farming operations are larger than a generation ago, the finances are more complicated and a lot of people and businesses can be involved. For example, there could be written or hand-shake agreements for land rental, hired workers, equipment rentals or custom-operator contracts and sales commitments.

The process typically takes three to five years, Daynard said.

Wellington County farmers immediately responded when workshops were first offered two years ago. Two workshops were fully subscribed and all 250 copies originally printed were snapped up. More than 1,000 visitors have checked out the on-line website.

Daynard and her team have now developed a “white label” plan that other municipalities can adapt to their unique situations.

People from other nations have also expressed an interest in using the plan for their farmers.