Province’s Tories oppose ALTO

Eleven provincial Tories have issued a statement calling for meaningful consultation on ALTO, the federal government’s proposed high-speed rail line linking Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa.

The 11 MPPs who made the statement include Laurie Scott, Steve Clark, Dave Smith, Tyler Allsopp, Ric Bresee, John Jordan, George Darouze, Stéphane Sarrazin and Billy Denault plus two cabinet members: Minister of Colleges and Universities Nolan Quinn and Labour Minister David Piccini.

“If Alto is to proceed, local voices impacted by this project deserve to see their feedback reflected in the project’s planning, route selection and delivery. 

"The federal government must ensure that any potential future rail project minimizes impacts on farmland and is supported by the people affected.” the statement said.

Dairy lobbying overwhelms trade talks

Canada’s dairy industry accounted for 90 per cent of the responses when the federal government invited public comment on trade talks with the United States and Mexico.

Matt Malone is a scholar at the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the author of Open Governments, Secret Canada: Hiding Information Other Countries Share, used Access to Information to learn that 4,572 of the total of 5,143 responses from stakeholders were dairy special interest groups or dairy farmers engaged in a letter-writing campaign.

All the public got was an opaque summary of the consultations, leaving it unclear where any specific input came from, Malone said.

“As with so much of the Carney government’s approach to trade with the United States, the attitude was tight-lipped and need-to-know,” he said.

It was similar with comments on government plans to regulate Artificial Intelligence. All the public got was an AI-generated summary of comments and no identification of who was lobbying and what for.

Cargill chief forecasts complex future

 

Cargill’s Brian Sikes, the board chairman and chief executive officer, foresees a complex future.

He wrote a letter in the annual report saying slowing population growth, aging consumers, shifting dietary preferences, geopolitical tensions, artificial intelligence (AI) and climate disruption are reshaping the global food system, requiring companies to focus on “smarter movement, stronger connections and deeper trust” rather than simply increasing production.

Cargill said it has spent the past two years restructuring its operations, consolidating five enterprises into three and reducing its business groups from 23 to 14 while investing in digital technologies, AI capabilities and acquisitions, including Mig-Plus and Teys, to improve efficiency and better serve customers.

As an example of its use of technologies, he said an AI-powered hypothesis engine is helping researchers reduce work that once took months to just hours. Cargill has been using AI in supply chain management, product development, grain forecasting and research.

Turkey price-fixing winding up

 

Class-action lawsuits alleging price-fixing by turkey processing companies in the United States are winding up with federal court approval of a settlement for four companies.

 House of Raeford and Prestage Farms will be paying $18.7 million US to their customers; Purdue and Foster Farmers reached settlements earlier.

In total, $59 million has been paid in class-action lawsuits filed by various groups of customers of Butterball, Cargill, Cooper Farms, Farbest Foods, Foster Farms, Hormel, Jennie-O Turkey Store, House of Raeford, Perdue Farms, Prestage Farms and Tyson Foods.

Corn, soy prices boost farmers’ mood

 

Higher prices for corn and soybeans brought a turn-around in farmers’ moods in the United States, reported Purdue University.

The improvement in July ended three straight months of declines in Ag Economy Monitor it publishes every month based on a survey of about 700 farmers.

Yet only 13 per cent said their financial situation is better than a year ago. About a third of those surveyed said they expect to end the year better than last year.

Only about a half of farmers think the U.S. is headed in the right direction, a sharp decline from the 70 per cent average for the last six months.

Judge certifies farmers beef price-fixing lawsuit

 

A federal judge has certified a nation-wide class-action lawsuit for farmers who claim beef packers conspired to lower prices for their csttle.

The judge dismissed U.S. Premium Beef shareholders from the lawsuit,  but certified it against Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill and National Beef for cattle they bought between June 1, 2015, and Feb. 29, 2020.

The judge refused certification for traders and suppliers of feeder cattle.

He rejected a motion from the packers to have expert witness Dr. Basil Lamb dismissed from testifying for the farmers.

Ten fire departments fight barn fire

 

Ten fire departments from Huron and Bruce counties fought a barn fire in South Bruce Friday.

Nobody was injured during the response to the barn on Concession Road 4 and Sideroad 25 near Teeswater.

The fire destroyed two structures filled with hay and straw. No livestock were lost.

The Ontario Provincial Police said the fire is being investigated as suspicious.

Loblaws sales, profits increase

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. reported a 4.1 per cent increase in sales and a profit of $751 million compared with $714 million for the second quarter of its fiscal year.

Sales were $15.3 billion.

Same-store sales increased by only 1.6 per cent which is less than food inflation measured by Statistics Canada.

Canadian whey exports to U.S. to be tariffed

 

Canadian exports of whey and similar dairy proteins to the United States are scheduled to be hit with a 50 per cent tariff on Aug. 19.

President Donald Trump repeated attacks on Canada’s supply management system for dairy and poultry when he signed the new executive order.

Canada is exporting about $200 million worth of dairy proteins to the U.S., most of it whey.

There is keen demand for protein foods, much of it stemming from the injection of GLP products to reduce weight and control diabetes.

Canada ‘s dairy industry has long sought markets for skim milk powders and whey and before it discovered a way to export to the U.S., was selling its surplus as feed for calves and other livestock.

AGCO sales down 19.7 per cent

 

Farmers are tightening their belts and are reducing new machinery purchases, prompting AGCO to adjust production and dealer inventories.

Its sales in North America were down by 17.9 per cent for its second fiscal quarter and by 15 per cent for the first half of the year.

It fared better on world-wide totals which were down by only one per cent in the second quarter.

“While near-term market conditions are difficult, we are confident in the strategic actions we have taken to strengthen AGCO's competitive position and are committed to executing our Farmer-First strategy, expanding technology adoption and creating long-term value for our shareholders,” said Eric Hansotia, AGCO's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Feds promise $50 million

The federal government is promising to give National Products Canada $50 million to support investments in food manufacturing.

The government set up National Products Canada in 2015 as a non-profit organization. So far it has invested $11.9 million in early-stage ventures.

CFIA cancel, suspends licences

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has cancelled the licence of Dan Gifts Inc. of Laval, Que.

It said the company failed on the following points:

 

• Identification and analysis of hazards;
• Complaints, recall and traceability procedures;
• Failure to give assistance to the inspector;
• Failure to provide the requested documents, information and access to data.

It also suspended the licence of Montreal Pita Inc.

It cited sanitation, biosecurity and biocontainment; pest control, and implementation of a preventive control plan.

Bacon on recall

 

A Maple Leaf Foods subsidiary in Illinois is recalling about 12,000 pounds of bacon because it was not presented for re-inspection by United States officials.

The products were produced in Canada and were intended for distribution throughGrocery Outlet in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. 

Growmark buys Haley’s Elevator

Central Ontario FS, a retail division of GROWMARK Inc., has bought Haley’s Elevator Inc. of Burford.

The elevator will provide grain marketing services to Brant, Norfolk and Oxford counties.

“This strategic acquisition represents a key step in the continued growth of our grain elevator system. It enhances our ability to serve growers in the region and reinforces our commitment to providing trusted, local solutions backed by the strength of our co-operative network,” the companies said in a joint news release.

The family-owned elevator services corn, soybeans, rye and soft red wheat.

The elevator has a storage capacity of 1.4 million bushels, with a receiving capability of 25,000 bushels per hour and a drying capacity of 3,600 bushels per hour of corn at a 10-point moisture removal.

Beef farmers announce $2,500 scholarship

 The Beef Farmers of Ontario is setting up an annual $2

,500 scholarship on honour of Dr. Ira Mandell.

The first winner is PhD student Madeline McLellan who will research beef rations and the impact on carcass qualify.

The Dr. Mandell Beef Research Award will recognize exceptional research that advances knowledge, innovation and sustainability.

The BFO said throughout his career, Dr. Mandell made significant contributions to beef production and meat-quality research, education and critical research infrastructure. 

He played an influential role in developing the Ontario Beef Research Centre, helped modernize the University’s meat research

facilities and served as an advisor to BFO’s Research Committee for more than 20 years. 

He helped shape research priorities that continue to benefit Ontario beef farmers.

“Dr. Mandell understood the importance of connecting academic research with the practical needs of beef farmers and the broader industry,” said BFO president Jason Leblond.

“This award is a fitting way to recognize his remarkable legacy while encouraging emerging researchers to pursue innovative work that will benefit Ontario’s beef sector for years to come,” Leblond said.

McLellan’s research examines how supplementation with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and rumen-protected methionine affects muscle energy metabolism, feed efficiency and beef quality.

Her findings could help Ontario beef farmers improve productivity, manage production costs and continue delivering high-quality beef to consumers, BFO said.

The research may also support the future approval of GAA as a feed ingredient for beef cattle in Canada, potentially providing producers

with an additional science-based nutritional tool.

“Madeline’s research is a great example of the practical, industry-focused work this award was created to recognize,” said Kim Jo Bliss, chair of BFO’s research Ccmmittee. 

“Her work could help farmers improve feed efficiency and animal performance while continuing to produce high-quality

beef. It reflects Dr. Mandell’s commitment to research that addresses real-world challenges and

delivers practical value for Ontario beef farmers.”

                           -30-

 

U.S. farm subsidies climb again

Farm subsidies are poised to increase to $55.4 billion US ($78 billion Cdn) this year, provided politicians approve the current ask for $11 billion.

Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, said this additional money is meant to be a springboard, not a new floor for government support.

The administration is requesting $10 billion in temporary economic assistance for 2026 row crop and specialty crop producers and $1.1 billion for producers hit by catastrophic freeze losses this past winter

If approved, that money would come on top of the $44.3 billion in government payments USDA’s Economic Research Service has estimated for farmers this year. Combined, that would total $55.4 billion.

Whatever happened to the Uruguay Round trade agreement to cap farm subsidies? Could Canadians impose countervailing duties - or at least threaten to do so as a counter to Trump's tariff threats?

Pollution closes beaches

All beaches in Huron County are currently unsafe for swimming, according to the latest testing from Huron Perth Public Health.

The health units did not say whether the pollution is from flooded municipal sewage treatment plants or from manure runoff from farms.

After taking water samples on Wednesday, the HPPH team said all of the 13 beaches tested showed higher than acceptable bacteria levels.

Cautions against swimming have been posted at Amberley, Ashfield, Port Albert, Sunset, Goderich Main, St. Christopher's, Rotary Cove, Blacks Point, Pavilion Road, Hay, Port Blake, Bayfield Pier, and Howard Street beaches.

The Health Unit says those who swim risk being exposed to bacteria that may cause diarrhea or infections of ears, nose, throat, eyes, and skin. 

Updates from water sampling will be posted soon.

Dutch offer cash to retire farmers

The Dutch government has set aside $1.2 billion to pay farmers to retire.

The fund aims to reduce nitrogen manure pollution.

The measure is open to micro, small and medium-sized livestock farms raising dairy cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, veal calves, dairy goats, rabbits, meat ducks and other cattle. 

Priority will be given to farms located in areas where nitrogen levels are high.

Eligible participants will receive direct grants covering between 100 and 110 per cent of eligible costs, providing a strong financial incentive for producers who decide to cease operations permanently. The programme will remain in force for five years.

I know some farmers who have moved to Canada because they were frustrated by changing environmental regulations mainly related to manure.

Beef plant closure hits Ontario hard

JBS USA announced it is closing its beef-packing plant at Souderton, Pennsylvania, leaving 2,300 weekly marketings from Ontario looking for a new home.

There aren’t many in Ontario which is dominated by the Cargill plant in Guelph. Norwich Packers and Ontario Halal Meat Packers of Milton are possibilities for small volumes.

Beef Farmers of Ontario president Jason Leblond of Powassan said the scheduled closure “is concerning for Ontario’s beef sector” but that the organization “will continue working to understand the impacts … and advocate for solutions that maintain strong market access and competitive pricing.”

Food systems analyst Kevin Grier said in an online post that no other states within the region have anywhere near the slaughtering capacity of Pennsylvania.

“While it is easy to see why the U.S. and the western Canadian industry sloughed off the news, it is a concern for Ontario. Ontario cattle feeders might be the only ones in North America that are worried about Souderton.”

Beef packers have been losing money on every animal slaughtered this summer and the Pennsylvania plant Is not the only one that has closed.

Dairy industry applauds Trump’s tariffs

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the United States Dairy Export Council (USDEC) have issued a joint statement strongly supporting the President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian dairy imports.

Trump has signed the executive order, but paused implementation until late August.

The tariff aims to gain easier access to the Canadian market.

Trump and the dairy industry have persistently complained about the way Canada administers import quotas.

The Canadian organizations that speak for dairy farmers want Canada to hold firm.