Tariffs are easily the biggest issue – perhaps storm cloud is a better word – hanging over agriculture in Canada today.It’s rather easy to understand the impact of tariffs – they impede the natural supply and demand flow of products crossing borders. The reason for tariffs are simply political tools imposed on trade for
Insurance challenges and the sheer ferocity of barn fires mean prevention is the best, if not the only defence, say leaders in hog production.Alberta Pork does not have hard statistics on barn fires, but has reviewed the two reported to its office within the last year, says Javier Bahamon, quality assurance and production manager
It’s tasty, nutritious, convenient, and budget-friendly. And when you choose pork from your local grocery store or butcher, you’re supporting businesses, farmers, and the economy. So let’s stand together and pick pork, eh! These are just a few of the newly featured ‘support local’ posters. •
Cam Dahl
Cam Dahl, GM of Manitoba Pork Council, said the political uncertainty now threatens agriculture more than market fluctuations or input costs.“Producers have tools to manage things like price changes or input costs. But right now, we don’t know what’s coming—even next week.”That unpredictability is stalling decisions on everything from production levels to maintenance
Tariff Tensions: U.S. and Canada’s diverging strategies
Are we or aren’t we going to settle with the United States so we can all move forward? As my friend Jack Dawes always says when signing off our frequent phone calls, “Act as if we’re normal.”As the U.S. and Canada clash over tariffs, private equity manager Stephen
Julia Rylands
Something of an era is coming to an end.Julia Rylands of Muddy Feet Farm is liquidating the last of her small registered Tamworth herd at Duncan, B.C..When the last of her stock goes it may be the last herd of Tamworths west of Ontario.Rylands admitted the decision to get out of pig production
Major winds, blowing snow and a temporarily closed highway could not keep attendees away from the 15th Saskatchewan Livestock Expo, previously known as Cramer Ag Expo. While some got stuck on Highway 1 (West of Swift Current) for almost three hours, others chose to detour their route, adding a hour and a half, but
Bill Alford
h@ms Marketing of Headingley, MB, held three producer meetings in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with the clear and confident message, “We are here for producers—because we are producers.”General manager Bill Alford told us there were about 150 producers at the new Community Hall in Oakville, MB. As a producer-owned cooperative, h@ms’ unique structure
Producers who have been in the hog business for long enough will recall a time when a really good sow might wean 28 pigs per year, maybe 30. Improved genetics and updated management systems have raised that benchmark considerably, to 34 or better. Reports have come from Brazil of some sows birthing litters of
Aron and Aleah de Gier
Vertical integration comes in many forms across Alberta; some massive, some not so much.About 15 minutes west of Didsbury, a young couple with three small children hope to grow their farming business enough that it can support the whole family.Aron and Aleah de Gier were still newlyweds when they moved
