Photo: iStock/File

U.S. livestock: CME hogs drop to five-month low as U.S.-China trade tensions escalate

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures sank on Thursday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price in more than five months, as U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions in a war of tit-for-tat tariffs with China. Feeder cattle futures also slumped, and live cattle traded higher. American hog farmers […] Read more

Researchers are studying what might happen if livestock were removed from the landscape.

Research solidifies cattle’s role in soil health

British scientist argues that higher stocking rates and uniform distribution of animals lead to better soil structure

Glacier FarmMedia – Long-term grasslands studies have made researchers like Taro Takahashi a believer in the environmental value of livestock and grazing. Takahashi is a research scientist whose work at Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire, England, includes a life-cycle assessment of pasture-based cattle production systems. Rothamsted Research is one of the oldest agriculture research institutions in […] Read more


Photo: iStock/File

U.S. livestock: CME hogs sink by daily limit, hit three-week low on U.S.-China trade worries

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures tumbled by the daily, exchange-imposed limit on Wednesday, with the most actively traded contract setting a three-week low, as U.S.-China trade talks ended with no apparent signs of progress. Cattle futures also slumped as widespread selling hit U.S. agricultural markets on the last day of […] Read more

Improved design of handling equipment benefits all aspects of processing cattle.

Improved design applied to cattle handling equipment

Easier on cattle and people and the job gets done faster

For three weeks in December 2018, I filled in at a former practice. There were a few really positive things and improvements in many of the farms I visited previously. Most are progressive operators so improvements are always being made. These improve animal welfare and make it easier on the people involved — including me, […] Read more


Photo: iStock

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures drop to two-week lows on U.S.-China trade worries

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures extended losses on Tuesday, with U.S.-China trade concerns helping to push prices to their lowest levels in about two weeks. China imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports of U.S. pork and other farm products last year as part of the two nations’ ongoing dispute, hurting exports […] Read more



The new McDonald’s advertisements will be the first time that most Canadians see the new Egg Quality Assurance certification mark.  Photo: McDonald’s Canada

McDonald’s to promote Egg Farmers of Canada standards

Egg Farmers of Canada is working with McDonald’s Canada to launch a new certification trademark for eggs served in the food service chain’s 1,400 restaurants nationwide. McDonald’s advertising for its Egg BLT McMuffin sandwich sold this summer will display the EQA (Egg Quality Assurance) trademark. “The EQA program is the culmination of decades of work […] Read more

(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures drop by daily limit in retreat from gains

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) livestock futures stumbled on Monday, with technical selling and profit-taking knocking the hog market to its lowest price levels in more than a week. Traders said the market was ready for a setback after most-active October hogs climbed more than 20 per cent from a four-month low […] Read more


The nine-month-long mentorship focuses on areas ranging from production practices to marketing and advocacy work.

Cattlemen’s Young Leaders’ semi-finalists chosen

Eleven Albertans are among the 24 semi-finalists for this year’s Cattlemen’s Young Leaders program. The program pairs 16 young people with mentors who help them realize their career ambitions in the beef sector. The nine-month-long mentorship focuses on areas ranging from production practices to marketing and advocacy work. The Alberta semi-finalists are Tamara Quaschnick, Lacey […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

Cattle volumes remain low as pasture conditions improve

MarketsFarm – Manitoba cattle markets observed characteristically light volumes during week ended July 26, due in part to improving pasture conditions. “There hasn’t been any panic-selling in the western and southern parts of the province,” agreed Rick Wright of Heartland Order Buying Co. Wright mentioned the Northeast region of the province is drier than most, […] Read more