Olymel opens meat processing plant

 

Olymel has officially opened a new meat processing plant at Trois-Rivieres, Que., that can slice and package both pork and chicken.

At $142 million, it is the largest investment the company has made. The plant can process up to 50 million kilograms a year, which is four times more than the company’s previous capacity.

Innovations include battery storage so electricity can be purchased at lower off-peak-demand times and released when prices are high.

There will be air chilling instead of water, heat recovery and closed-loop water management.

Olymel is owned by farmers and is the dominant meat packer in Quebec. 

Ag committee stymied

The all-parties House of Commons Agriculture committee has had another of its recommendations rejected by Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald.

This time it is a call for mandatory reporting of the prices meat packers pay for hogs and cattle, just as it is in the United States.

As reported earlier, he rejected the committee's call for a pause on closing seven research facilities and a careful review of the likely consequences.

The agriculture department replied that here is no legislative authority to collect price information in Canada.  Statistics Canada has authority to collect, compile and publish statistical information, but that is subject to constraints of proportionality, purpose and protecting confidentiality.

The industry structure in Canada is also a factor, it said, because there is a high level of concentration and a limited number of processors. This makes sharing detailed price information more complex. Ther department did not say that the two dominant meat packers report prices they pay for cattle slaughtered at their U.S. plants.

MacDonald agreed with the committee recommendation calling for a transparent way to identify previously frozen meat in the supply chain, better interprovincial meat trade and stronger support for provincial and local slaughter plants.

The response said the government continues work to amend the Specified Risk Material regulations and harmonize them with the U.S. The comment period on proposed amendments ended Sept. 9.

As well, it supported in principle a recommendation to develop a regionalized approach to reportable diseases to keep exports moving.

Oosterhof to boost risk funding

In his first appearance before a farm audience, new Agriculture Minister Sam Oosterhof announced that funding fort risk management programs will be increased to $250 million next year.

He made the announcement at the International Plowing Match crowd near Walkerton.

Premier Doug Ford and Rural Affairs Minister Lisa Thompson were also there.

“We have an ambitious goal to increase the funding through the Risk Management Program to $250 million by next year,” said Oosterhoff. 

“I’ve heard strong and resolute support for that, and the need to maintain that commitment and grow that program.”

“There’s also opportunities on the processing side — to keep more of that product here in Ontario, process it, turn it into goods that we can then add value, create jobs, and export all over the globe,” Oosterhoff said.

Canada has lost companies that processed, especially Niagara-area fruits and Southwestern Ontario sugar beets, but has recently been adding scores of relatively small plants including on-farm ones making cheeses,  jams, jellies and baked goods.

“We have to look at new markets (besides the United States) and expanding what we’re producing,” he said. 

Hunt foresees belt tightening

 

Murray Hunt said the organizations for dairy farming will soon face  a cost crunch as the 9.000 dairy farms shrink to a predicted 3,500 by 2036.

“That little spigot at the end of the milk tank can’t pay for the structure that we have now,” he said.

He urged organizations serving dairy farmers to work together to find efficiencies.

He made the comments in accepting the 2026 Dairy Cattle Industry Distinction award.

Hunt developed programs to identify dairy genetics that would improve the next generation of dairy cows.

He said the early results led to industry-wide improvements in udders, but said more attention should have been given to improving feet and legs.

Hunt has won about every dairy industry award available.

Swineweb says pigs goals shifting

 The strategies for hog farming are shifting said Swineweb in an online article.

The current focus is on individual sow performance and genetics, but the future will measure profit.

One thing that means is not only aiming for large and healthy litters but also a sow’s lifetime performance.

Another shift is management for heavier market weights of up to 300 pounds.

And beyond genetics, managers will be trying to identify pigs whose efficiency remains more stable when disease or environmental disruptions occur.

Meat packers will look beyond pounds produced toward the composition, quality and value of those pounds. That is already happening at farmer-owned Conestoga Meat Packers at Breslau, Ont.

Another new measurement is whether the next generation of genetics produces more economic value per pig space, per sow, per pound of feed and per pound of pork marketed. That’s where genetics ultimately leaves the laboratory and enters the balance sheet, Swineweb said.

The next great pig won’t necessarily be the animal that breaks a production record. It may be the pig that survives longer, remains efficient under pressure, reaches tomorrow’s market weights economically and produces exactly the pork the market values.

For the next generation of swine genetics, maximum performance may no longer be enough; the target is maximum economic performance across the entire production system, Swineweb said.

Pork touts its economic impact

 

Canada’s pork industry contributes more than $24 billion in economic activity and supports approximately 100,000 direct and indirect jobs, said the Canadian Pork Council in a new report.

It said this underlines the importance of continued government support for preventing the spread of diseases, for research and international trade.

It starts at farms, but includes their demand for inputs such as feed, veterinary services and medications and jobs in meat packing.

Canadian hog farms generated $7.2 billion worth of in farm income in 2025; pork exports were valued were worth $5.82 billion.

MacDonald snubs parliamentary committee

 

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald is snubbing a parliamentary committee to go ahead with the closure of seven research facilities, including a food safety lab at Guelph.

In his reply to the agriculture committee’s report, Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres, he said he noted the recommendation to “pause and reverse” the closures in Lacombe, Alta., Indian Head and Scott, Sask., Portage la Prairie, Man., Guelph, Ont., Quebec City and Nappan, N.S. but said research will continue at other locations.

Farm organizations all opposed the cuts. The Saskatchewan government stepped in, signing a memorandum of understanding to keep its two farms operating with industry support.

“Closure of the research and development centres will be phased and carefully managed” and many staff will be retained, reassigned or relocated, MacDonald said.

He is cutting 665 positions in his agriculture department and 587 at his Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Trump eyes potash deal with Belarus

United States President Donald Trump said he is negotiating a “massive’ deal to buy potash from Belarus.

That sent shares in Nutrien, the world’s largest potash producer based in Saskatchewan, tumbling down.

Canada has long been the United States’ main source of potash.

Belarus is a close ally of Russia and is much further from the U.S. farmers, especially in the main field crops area immediately south of Saskatchewan.

Canada has granted the province’s potash miners the right to work together on pricing exports.

It’s not yet clear whether BHP, which is in the process of opening the largest potash mine in Saskatchewan, is prepared to join the export cartel. Its head office is in Australia.

Trump said the deal he is negotiating will be at a lower price.

Nutrien sells about 80 per cent of its potash exports to the United States which last year bought $4.2 billion worth.

Canada Pork gets $3.8 million

 

The federal government is giving up to $3.8 million to Canada Pork to diversify its export markets, mainly to Asia.

About 70 per cent of Canada’s pork is exported.

Diversification is core to Canada Pork's mandate, and this investment helps us build and maintain international markets, reach new global customers and keep our industry strong at home," said Hans Kristensen, chair of Canada Pork.

Greenhouse gets $5 million from feds

Kinghaven Farm is getting $5 million from the federal government for a new greenhouse near King City, 

Kinghaven will produce leafy greens such as lettuce.

Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said the money will come from the new National Food Security Strategy announced recently by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The money will be used for adopting and customizing automation and climate control technologies at the new greenhouse.

“Controlled environment agriculture is key to building a resilient, stable food system in Canada,” MacDonald said. 

“This investment in Kinghaven Farms’ innovative greenhouse technology will boost local production, reduce reliance on imports and ensure Canadians have reliable access to high-quality, locally grown greens year-round. This project strengthens food security and reinforces Canada as a leader in sustainable agricultural practices.”

A news release said this greenhouse will reduce imports, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from long-haul transportation and provide year-round Canadian-grown leafy greens. The new greenhouse will be able to grow two million kilograms a year.

The company markets under the Haven Greens brand.

                          

Syngenta adds biological research

 

Syngenta has added biologicals to the seeds testing it performs at its Honeywood Research center at Plattsville.

It is also changing the name from Canadian Seedcare Institute to Canadian Seedcare and Biologicals Institute.

The facility performs extensive testing on pesticides that are applied to seeds, including ones to ensure the seeds can flow freely through farm seeding equipment and that all seeds are adequately treated.

“By expanding the institute’s mandate to include biologicals, we are further investing in Canadian agricultural research to support our customers and contribute to a more productive, competitive and resilient sector,” said Syngenta Canada president Shaun Vey.

Syngenta is a global company.

Fire damages Greenfield storage

A lightning strike ignited a fire in storage tanks at the Greenfield Global ethanol-production plant in Chatham.

The company said it will not stop ethanol production and cleanup and containment operations are underway.

“A thorough investigation will be conducted to identify opportunities for continuous improvement once cleanup activities have been completed,” the company said..

There were no injuries.

Beekeepers seek emergency aid

 

 

Canada’s beekeepers are pleading for emergency aid because the new 50 per cent U,S. tariff has eliminated 60 per cent of their market.

They are also facing rising costs and many were on the financial brink before the tariff, according to Connie Phillips, executive director of the Canadian Beekeepers Federation.

She said the need is immediate so beekeepers can prepare colonies for the winter.

She said it is not only beekeepers who are at risk, but also blueberry and canola growers who need bees to pollinate their crops.

In a letter to Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Prairies Economic Development, the Beekeepers Federation appealed for an immediate interim payment to each bee colony to help keep them viable. It said it expected “sales to the United States to go to zero and stay there until the tariff comes off.”

 

Sheep Federation to run traceability

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has reached an agreement to allow its traceability program to be administered by the Canadian Sheep Federation.

The hand-over will take effect at the end of this year.

For sheep producers, this means the industry will have a more direct role in guiding the system it relies on, with CSF providing the national leadership, administration and support needed to deliver it, the sheep federation said.

Chairman Fred Baker said “this announcement caps 20 years of progress in traceability for the Canadian sheep industry. 

"Now the work of making traceability deliver for Canadian lamb producers can begin. This agreement reflects confidence in our industry’s ability to lead and support that system, and we take that

responsibility seriously”. 

As part of a 90-day transition period, the Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) will begin operating under the name SheepTrace.

The federation will also establish a SheepTrace Advisory Committee to help guide the program. 

The committee will have representation from every province, including

producers and other industry stakeholders.

Wastewater outrage in the United States

 The Environmental Working Group is reacting with outrage because the United States Environmental Protection Agency has scrapped its guidance on monitoring long-lasting harmful chemicals in wastewater.

Melanie Benesh, the working group’s vice-president for government affairs, said stripping away this service opens the door for corporations to boost profits by ignoring discharge regulations.

The PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called “forever chemicals” because they persist for a long time and have been linked to kidney, liver, pancreatic and testicular cancers; as well as immune system suppression, thyroid disease, reduced vaccine efficacy, reproductive and developmental harm, low birth weight, increased cholesterol, weight gain in children and dieting adults, and a growing list of serious health effects.

The elimination of EPA guideance undermines an important tool for preventing PFAS pollution from reaching the nation’s waterways, where it can persist for decades and become a costly, long-term contamination problem., the Environmental Working Group.

The PFAS can get into waters, such as the Great Lakes, shared by Canadians.

For wastewater treatment plants, industrial facilities and state permitting authorities, the change raises questions about whether and how PFAS monitoring and discharge limits will be maintained in wastewater control permits.

The agency claims its rollback is an effort to address “confusion” and “inconsistent application” across states. But it creates a glaring contradiction in federal policy.

The working group said If the EPA continues to defend PFAS monitoring requirements in individual permits, including in a recent settlement involving a Massachusetts wastewater treatment plant, why is it withdrawing guidance that helped states implement those protections?

That question matters because PFAS are exceptionally persistent and difficult to remove once they enter the environment.  Preventing these chemicals from entering waterways in the first place is critical to reducing exposure and avoiding the long-term costs of contamination and cleanup.

Benesch said “let’s call this what it is: The EPA is doing corporate polluters’ dirty work at the expense of public health.

“The EPA has abandoned its mission, choosing to protect industrial polluters rather than the families forced to drink companies’ toxic runoff.

By stripping away Clean Water Act guidance for PFAS discharges, the agency is deliberately blinding state regulators and giving chemical manufacturers permission to pollute without fear of oversight. 

“The EPA is actively tearing down the guardrails that keep PFAS out of our drinking water.

“Hiding behind bureaucratic excuses about ‘process and confusion’ is insultingly weak. If the EPA was genuinely concerned about procedure, they would finalize binding, enforceable standards today, not erase the only thin line of defense that communities have left.” the working group said.

“Families living downstream don’t get a polite administrative memo when cancer-causing chemicals poison their drinking water. They just get the contamination, the medical bills and decades of forever chemicals in their blood.

“At a moment when the science on PFAS harm has never been clearer, the EPA is signaling loud and clear to industry that corporate convenience matters more than clean water.

“That’s not regulatory housekeeping. That’s putting industry profits over public health,” the Environment Working Group said.

Just when you think the Trump administration can't get any worse, it gets worse.

Romaine lettuce from U.S. under scrutiny

 The Canadian Food inspection is once again requiring extra vigilance for food-poisoning bacteria on romaine lettuce from the United States.F

It is response to a number of food-poisoning outbreaks in Canada traced to lettuce from California.

From September 24 to December 17, 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be adding temporary conditions to Safe Food for Canadians licences for the importation of romaine lettuce, including salad mixes containing this lettuce, the CFIA said.

“During this period, importers will be required to provide evidence their supplier participates in the Romaine Test & Learn program or negative E. coli O157 test results for each shipment of romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas Valley of California,” it said.

Perry joins Fruit and Vegetable Growers Canada

 

The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) has hired Matthew Perry as manager of policy and communications.

He joins Stephen Heckbert who was recently chosen to be the executive director.

Perry will develop policy in close collaboration with members and oversee communications to support a competitive domestic fruit and vegetable sector.  It is basically a lobbying role to the federal government.

Perry has worked for Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness and national advocacy associations. 

In his role, Perry will work closely with four advocacy working groups on trade, competitiveness, crop protection, labour and business risk management. 

He and the director of government relations will consult members on emerging policy and regulatory issues to ensure grower priorities are reflected in formal submissions. 

Perry will also manage communications to keep members informed on key files and ensure grower priorities are clearly communicated to government.

  
“With Matthew’s strong communications and consensus-building background and experience in agriculture, policy and politics, he will be a great asset to FVGC, and we are eager to have him on board,” said Heckbert.

PED in Oxford County

 

There has been an outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea at a nursery-to-finish hog farm in Oxford County.

                           

Food inflation declines

 

 

For the first time in more than two years, food prices rose by less than the overall inflation rate.

In September Statistics Canada found food prices were up by 2.8 per cent from a year ago while overall inflation was up by three per cent.

 

Olymel recalls chicken breast strips

Olymel is recalling chicken breast sticks because its own testing detected Listeria monocytogenes food-poisoning bacteria. 

 Most of the product was sold in Quebec. No illnesses have been reported.

CFIA suspends a licence

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the licence of Ramelli Truffles Ltd. of Toronto for failure to meet regulatory requirements. The company was faulted for hazard identification, labelling requirements, traceability and recall preparedness

Empire profits still rising

As consumers complain about rising grocery prices, Canada’s big supermarket chains continue to pile up greater profits.Empire said its net income for the most recent quarter was $233 million, up from $214 million for the same quarter last year. Revenues were $8.48 billion, up from $8.26 billion. Revenues for food sales were up by one per cent, which is much less than food price inflation. Empire owns a number of retail chain stores including Sobey’s. Freshco and Farm Boy.

Peanuts with salmonella on recall

 

PK brand Roasted Lemon ‘N Chilli Peanuts are under recall because testing detected salmonella food-poisoning bacteria.

They were distributed in Ontario.

                           

 

Sam Oosterhoff is agr minister

Sam Oosterhoff, the youngest person (19) elected to the Ontario legislature in 2023, is the new agriculture minister He is a farmer’s son from the Niagara Region and has been an assistant to the ministers of energy intensive industries. After the 2016 election the Hamilton Spectator wrote that he is a social conservative opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage and was home-schooled in a religious family. He is of Dutch heritage. Before defeating Richard Dykstra for his first nomination, he worked in politics in Ottawa. He takes over agriculture from Trevor Jones who was moved to Minister of Immigration and Skills Development.

Ontario ponders ban on horse slaughter

 

 

Ontario is proposing a ban on horse slaughter and horse meat processing at provincially-inspected meat plants.

It said its ban does not extend to federally-inspected plants but none of them are currently licenced to slaughter horses.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness is proposing the ban due to public concerns about animal welfare.

Horse slaughter and exports to Japan have been under increased animal welfare activists’ attacks for the last several years.

There are federally-licenced horse slaughter plants in Alberta and Quebec. There is a steady export demand for Canadian horse meat.

The horse industry regards horse slaughter as a safe, convenient and economical way to dispose of culled horses.

The government said “we encourage you to review and consider this posting. Comments and feedback can be submitted to OMAFA using the Regulatory Registry, or via email to william.martin@ontario.ca.

Trump bans whey from Canada

 

United States President Donald Trump plans to ban Canadian whey and whey products.

He also intends to ban Canadian beer, wine and liquor and motorcycles in another escalation of his tariff war on Canada.

These latest measures are to take effect Sept. 28.

His bans came after Canada placed new tariffs on about $28 billion worth of U.S. products, also including milk proteins.

There are no indications of a return to trade negotiations.

The ban on whey products will be hard on the Canadian dairy industry which has enjoyed surging demand for milk protein products for people taking GLP weight-reduction and diabetes-controlling drugs. They need high protein diets.

Perth County gets improved ambulance service

 

Perth County is getting improved ambulance service from a joint program with London Central Ambulance Communications Centre.

The new service will do a better job of matching service with the needs of clients.

The goal is to send the right resource to the right patient at the right time. 

The service “ensures patients receive the most appropriate response based on their medical needs while allowing dispatchers to provide critical instructions before paramedics arrive." said Tristan Barter, Deputy Chief of Operations, Perth County Paramedic Services. 

Emergency Medical Dispatchers will ask additional questions about the patient’s condition and exact location, especially in life-threatening emergencies such as cardiac arrest, stroke symptoms, severe bleeding, trauma, or loss of consciousness.

Even while you are still answering questions, Paramedics will already be on the way.

If the situation is not life-threatening, there may be longer wait times so that paramedics remain available for those who need immediate critical care.

Dispatchers will stay in contact with the caller to provide support and instructions until help arrives.

Canadian tariffs worry American dairy farmers

 

Canadian tariffs on dairy products from the United States that went into effect today have drawn worrisome reports from Wisconsin and Ohio.

Wisconsin news media reported that the dairy industry ships protein products that are in surplus from butter manufacturing.

Ohio news media said “with Canada ranking among the top foreign destinations for U.S. dairy commodities, regional industry leaders warn that tariff barriers could strand finished inventory and weigh heavily on farmgate mailbox prices.

“When export avenues contract, commercial milk solids back up into domestic butter, powder, and cheese vats, placing downward pressure on Federal Milk Marketing Order Class prices and narrowing the operating margins of producers already struggling to break even.” one reporter wrote.

Global inflation at 4.8 per cent

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has pegged the global inflation rate at 4.1 per cent.

Inflation rose in13 countries and declined in 14, it said.

Energy inflation was at more than 10 per cent for the fourth month in a row, but food inflation declined in 23 countries and by two per cent in some, but not Canada where it was 4.2 per cent.

In the G20, year-on-year headline inflation fell to 3.9 per cent in July, from 4.1 per cent in June. 

Headline inflation in China halved, reaching 0.5 per cent in July. It also declined in Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa, while it rose in Argentina and remained stable in Saudi Arabia.

Trump ups pressure on packers

 

United States President Donald Trump is increasing pressure on the biggest beef packers in the United States, including the two that dominate the Canadian market: JBS and Cargill.

Under one of his executive orders thee United States Department of Agriculture has been directed to prioritize investigations into potential Packers and Stockyards Act violations and increase enforcement resources and staffing. 

The department was also instructed to coordinate with the Department of Justice and report to the president on current enforcement actions, resource needs and plans to strengthen enforcement over the next year.

The aim is to find and stop price-fixing and market dominance abuses.

The administration also targeted processing capacity, directing the agriculture department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to expand the Cooperative Interstate Shipment and Talmadge-Aiken programs. 

The move is intended to allow more meat produced at qualifying state-inspected facilities to be sold across state lines, increasing competitive pressure on the big companies.

CFIA suspends a Quebec licence

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has suspended the licence held by Boulanger Bistan of Quebec, effectively putting it out of business until it is compliant with food safety regulations.

It has suspended or cancelled more than 20 licences this year held by Quebec companies, more than all of the rest of Canada.

Are they worse than other Canadian food companies, or has the CFIA. inspection staff there suddenly woken up or become less forgiving?

Swine research gets $3.1 million from feds

 

The federal government has announced $3,111,486 for the Canadian Pork Council to invest in the Atlantiic Veterinary College which will use it for tools to diagnose swine diseases.

The new equipment and technology will be able to scan for a number of worrisome swine diseases from a single sample.

Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald said farmers care deeply about their animals an work hard to protect them against infectious diseases.

“By investing in swine health surveillance solutions, we are continuing to equip the industry with the tools it needs to detect and respond quickly,” he said.

                                    

Chicken farmers support processors

 

Chicken Farmers of Ontario has announced the companies it has chosen to support through its Growth Program for Processors launched last year.

The marketing board operates a quota-like system to allocate supplies among the province’s processors. That policy came after pricing broke down amidst a battle between Ontario and Quebec processors who were offering premium prices to buy chickens.

The marketing boards deemed that a threat to supply management which is granted by governments on the condition they keep their markets supplied at controlled prices.

Under this year’s Ontario Market Opportunity Policy the board allocated chickens to Farm Fresh Poultry Ltd., Hafiz Halal Poultry Inc.,Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Sargent Farms a division of Sunrise Poultry, and Simple Path Farms Poultry Ltd.

Those supported under the new entrant program are Country Poultry Processing Inc. and Nipissing Game Farm Inc. 

Existing new entrants who are receiving additional support this year are Amir Specialty Poultry , Laplante Poultry Farms Ltd. / Ferme Avicole Laplante Ltèe. and Simple Path Farms Poultry Ltd.

Chobani investing in Pennsylvania

Chobani will invest about $1.7 billion Cdn over the next five years to establish a major manufacturing and warehouse hub in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

The project represents the largest single private sector investment in the history of Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector.

As part of an expanded transaction with Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP), Chobani is purchasing an existing 1.5-million-square-foot facility in Upper Macungie Township for $125 million, with full commercial dairy processing scheduled to commence in 2027.

Chobani will use it to make high-protein, lower-sugar ultrafiltered milk, ready-to-drink protein shakes, dairy creamers, and cold-brew coffee beverages under its La Colombe brand. 

The location provides significant supply-chain advantages, positioned within a 500-mile radius of approximately 40 percent of the U.S. population, it said.

Ontario and Quebec could also say they have huge U.S. markets within 500 miles.

B.C. and Manitoba to build food terminals

 

British Columbia and Manitoba are planning to build food terminals and take advantage of new federal funds that support them.

BC Food & Beverage, which represents provincial food processors and manufacturers, is planning a $700-million facility similar to the Ontario Food Terminal.

The western anchor would be part of a network of terminals along interprovincial routes already running to Alberta, the Prairies and Northern Canada.

Manitoba’s industry association is looking to build a terminal that will cost between $150 and $200-million.

“What Donald Trump has done is, he’s made us realize, ‘Wow, we’re vulnerable – we have a lot of eggs in one basket,’” said Michael Mikulak, executive director of Food & Beverage Manitoba. 

Food terminals, which function as independent wholesale food marketplaces, offer a more efficient way for Canadian supply to meet Canadian demand, he said.