Feds announce tax support for farmers

Feds announce tax support for farmers

In a news release distributed today linked to Budget 2017, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced tax relief to help farmers who received compensation under the Health of Animals Act from livestock destroyed due to the bovine tuberculosis outbreak in 2016 and 2017 in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The federal government also released its 2017 list of designated regions for livestock […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Monday, hit by profit-taking after last week’s sharply higher cash prices drove some trading months up by their 3-cents per pound daily price limit on Friday. Funds “rolled” the December contract and simultaneously bought deferred ahead of similar moves on Tuesday. Tuesday is […] Read more


Photo: File

Canadian agricultural exporters urge Trans Pacific Partnership without U.S.

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), added its voice to the long list of Canadian agricultural exporters urging the federal government to achieve a trade deal with the 11 remaining Trans Pacific Partnership members. The planned summit in Vietnam next week represents a unique opportunity for Canada to take the forefront in negotiations as the […] Read more

File photo

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures retreat from 5-month high

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Thursday settled lower, pressured by profit-taking after futures posted new highs for the contract and reached their highest level in almost five months, said traders. December futures led decliners after funds “rolled” that month and at the same time purchased deferred contracts ahead of similar […] Read more


U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat from five-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Thursday settled lower, pressured by profit-taking after futures posted new highs for the contract and reached their highest level in almost five months, said traders. December futures led decliners after funds “rolled” that month and at the same time purchased deferred contracts ahead of similar […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Alberta back in national chicken quota arrangement

A new federal-provincial agreement for allocating broiler chicken quota will formally include Alberta Chicken Producers for the first time since 2013. Chicken Farmers of Canada announced Thursday it has a new federal-provincial agreement (FPA) in hand, including a new quota allocation methodology. The new deal was concluded Tuesday, CFC said, when the Farm Products Council […] Read more


Al Madley checks in with SPOT several times a day from remote pastures.

A safe SPOT for remote locations

Satellite messenger system sends an “I’m ok” message to designated contacts for regular safety checks

Canadian farmers are big users of smartphones, more than the general population, according to a 2015 Ipsos Canada study. That should be no surprise. Aside from the regular uses for an array of ag-related apps, smartphones also provide a lifeline for many rural residents facing emergency situations. But what of those who have no cellular […] Read more

(MGC.com.au)

Saputo woos Australia farmers in Murray Goulburn rebuild

Winnipeg | Reuters — Saputo, one of Canada’s largest dairy producers, aims to return Australia’s Murray Goulburn Co-operative to profit by aggressively pursuing more of the country’s milk supply, its CEO said on Thursday. The Montreal-based company agreed last week to buy the co-operative for C$1.3 billion including debt, and has already planned 15 meetings […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise again on cash hopes

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures bounded to life-of-contract highs for the third straight session on Wednesday, rising on expectations that beef packers will continue paying higher prices in Plains cash markets, traders said. About 1,500 cattle sold at the weekly Fed Cattle Exchange online auction at $120/cwt, which was up from feedlot […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Cattle traceability to pay off in Cargill pilot

UPDATED, Nov. 2 — A pilot program running through one of Canada’s biggest beef packing plants aims to test systems that can show consumers the exact path of their beef from ranch to restaurant — and reward cattle producers for their trouble. Cargill on Wednesday announced a new year-long Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration pilot, with […] Read more