
General

Food and beverage sales to fall in 2024; processor margins to improve
Stabilizing or declining input prices working their way through the supply chain, FCC says
Farm Credit Canada is predicting Canadian food and beverage sales will fall slightly this year as consumers manage tight budgets. Gross margins, however, should increase as the effects of falling commodity prices work their way through the supply chain, the farm lender said in an April 9 news release.

Nearly 55 million people face hunger in West and Central Africa
Soaring prices have helped fuel a food crisis in West and Central Africa, where nearly 55 million people will struggle to feed themselves in the coming months, U.N. humanitarian agencies warned on Friday.

Alberta gets farm family class one driver’s license
Alberta farmers and their family members now have the option to apply for a farm-restricted class one driver’s licence. It would allow them to drive almost any form of motor vehicle to and from the farm. These licenses with be issued with condition code “P” meaning the driver must comply with farmer restrictions. Applicants must […] Read more

Beef stakeholders invited to weigh in on code of practice
Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle to be updated
The Canadian Cattle Association has initiated an update to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Beef Cattle.

Bird flu pushes US dairy farmers to ban visitors, chop trees
North Carolina joins total states reporting outbreaks of avian influenza dairy herds
Dairy farmers in the United States are raising their defenses to try to contain the spread of bird flu: banning visitors, cutting down trees to discourage wild birds from landing, and disinfecting vehicles coming onto their land.

Seventeen U.S. states restrict cattle imports from avian flu-infected areas
Several U.S. states have restricted cattle imports from states that have seen infections of avian influenza Type A H5N1 in dairy herds.

Organic group send petition to federal government
Feds asked to establish policies and programs to help organic producers meet consumer demand, create sustainable food systems
The petition says that Canadian consumers are driving strong demand for organic food, and asks the federal government to establish policies and programs to “encourage growth in the domestic supply of organic to meet the market opportunity,” and to “meaningfully recognize and incentivize sustainable resilient food systems, such as organic, across all departments that relate to Canadian food policy.”

USDA to halt July cattle report and some crop data, citing budget levels
Cancelation a 'major blow' to livestock sector, ag economist says
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is canceling its July cattle inventory report as well as county-level estimates for crops and livestock, the government said in a statement on Tuesday, citing budget constraints.

Ag resources for teachers released
New online resources will help Canadian teachers educate students in grades 10 and 11 about what it takes to grow the food they eat.

U.S. cattle vets rename bovine bird-flu
CDC asks state health authorities to have plans in place to test, treat farm workers; says risk to humans still low
An organization representing American cattle veterinarians has opted to refer to bird flu in cattle as bovine influenza A virus, or BIAV, in hopes of distancing it from its avian counterpart.