Canada Packers posts first results

 

Canada Packers Inc., a pork business spun off last year by Maple Leaf Foods Inc., posted a profit of $23.2 million on sales of $429.4 million.

For the same period last year, its division profit was $50.6 million on sales of $424 million.

Mental health becomes tribunal hearing issue

 

The mental health of a dairy farmer battling the Dairy Farmers of Ontario marketing board became a central issue in an appeal tribunal hearing Wednesday.

Geoff Spurr, lawyer for the marketing board. sought an adjournment until the appellants can present a doctor’s opinion that they are able to withstand the pressure of cross-examination.

Spurr said he doesn’t want to harm their mental health and said he’s sure the members of the appeal tribunal agree.

Lawyer Andrew Patterson said the appellants he represents are willing to proceed without a doctor’s opinion because the whole process is stressful and “they just want to get over with it."

The tribunal ruled in favour of Spurr’s motion and set Mar. 16, 19 and 20 to continue.

There was also an indication that a settlement might be possible and no hearing would be necessary.

Good Food Day is back

 

the Good Food Innovation Awards are returning as a national platform celebrating the people shaping Canada’s food future.

 

Founded by the late Anita Stewart, the awards were created to honour innovation, leadership, and the power of food to connect communities from coast to coast to coast. 

Her understanding of Canadian cuisine reached far beyond urban centres. It lived in farmers’ markets, in the wilderness, on docks and fishing boats, in the North, in remote kitchens, and wherever Canadians gathered around the table.

 

She said “Canada is food, and the world is richer for it”.

 

The program paused after her passing during the pandemic. This conscious decision emphasized collaboration over competition and allowed time for Anita’s family, the board, and the wider food community to breathe.

 

Now, the awards return with renewed purpose with Food Day Canada and the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

 

The Stewart family hopes the Good Food Innovation Awards will grow to become 

Gene-edited pork labeling questioned

The Canadian Pork Council said it supports gene editing in pig breeding programs, but said its not practical to require labeling as du Breton and others have asked.

“We know domestic and international consumers will want to educate themselves on this technology, but it is important to note there is no mechanism to track or segregate this product through supply chains,” the Canadian Pork Council said.

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved gene-edited pigs developed by Genus PLC and PIC (Pig Improvement Company), ruling them safe for food and feed. The pigs have been gene edited to resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada also said that environmental and human health risks were no different than with pigs currently available. The CFIA and Health Canada also found no difference in nutritional value, according to a Jan. 23 news release.

Ag. barometer gains three points

 

After sliding earlier this year, the Ag Barometer gained three points in February to sit at 116.

But Purdue University’s survey found that future expectations slipped again to sit at ts lowest level since September 2024. It’s now at 45 points below a year ago. 

Nearly 44 per cent of producers report their operation is worse off than last year, and only seven per cent plan to increase machinery purchases.

Still, 51 per cent plan to expand their farms within the next five years.

Beef farmers join rail protest

 

Beef Farmers of Ontario is joining the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and l”Union des Producteurs Agricole in opposing the route for a proposed high-speed rail line between Ottawa and Montreal.

They said this route will disrupt farming by splitting some farms, impacting drainage systems and closing rural roads.

They are asking that::

-       The line stay out of prime farm land;

• Avoid breaking farms into smaller pieces and keep fields and farm operations whole;

• Protect farm drainage systems that are essential for crop production;

• Address farmers’ concerns about construction impacts and ongoing costs, including fencing, and the building, upgrading and long-term maintenance of safe farm crossings for equipment and livestock, and

• Ensure agricultural impact assessments are independent, thorough and publicly available.

PDCoV in Huron County

There has been an outbreak of porcine deltacoronavirus at a nursery in Huron County, reports Swine Health Ontario.