The U.S. Supreme Court on May 11, 2023, chose to uphold Proposition 12, a California law allowing the state to block pork sales from out-of-state producers if they don’t abide by specific regulations.Hannah Thompson-Weeman, the CEO of Animal Agriculture Alliance in Arlington, VA, said the Supreme Court upheld Proposition 12 in California, challenged by
Relax gene editing will speed up new varietal development
On May 3, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released its updated guidance on plant breeding innovation, bringing a close to a consultation process launched in 2021. The guidance covers the environmental safety of plants developed using gene editing and is grounded in the exact science
When a new study recently conducted in partnership with the University of Guelph suggested that 40 per cent of farm operators will retire by 2033 and leave Canada without enough farmers, some farmers on Twitter responded.The report, put together by the Royal Bank of Canada, Boston Consulting Group Centre for Canada’s Future and the
On April 18, the Canadian Pork Council said Olymel’s announcement of the closure of its Vallée-Jonction, QC plant is tough news for the industry.“The reasons the company stated – the pandemic, an ongoing labour shortage, inflationary pressures and challenges with accessing foreign markets – have impacted the entire industry,” said Rene Roy, chair of
Ian Smith
Ian Smith, whose parents started the farm, continues to crop the original quarter section of land, inhabits the farmhouse and buildings, and raises pigs, cattle and chickens.“Things are going fine,” said Smith on his messenger communications app after a question prompted that remark. “I will start cultivating later today as I have press
According to the National Pork Producers Council in the United States, Dr. Elizabeth Cox, animal care program manager for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Prop 12 enforcement will start on July 2, 2023. Since the definition of sow housing changed 18 months ago, no product or pigs will be “grandfathered in.” Therefore,
Stan Vanessen, Alberta Pork chair
Producers in Alberta should see a smooth transition following a changing of the guard at Alberta Pork. Early in Spring, Lethbridge-area producer Stan Vanessen took the reins from Brent Moen, who had served as chair for the past four years. Moen becomes vice-chair for the final year of his term,
Fully Renovated 1100-head sow barn with Gestal loosehousing system.
The breeding barn is taking shape and almost ready for sows
Blue Clay Farms, located in the Red River Valley near Arnaud, Manitoba, started the colony in 1994, raising crops and livestock. The colony also manufactures metal and produces quality products in the BLC cabinet division.In 2022
The Future of PED Working Group developed a Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea elimination plan for Manitoba. The group set it up in response to a major outbreak in 2021-2022 to look at PED management strategies, including what worked and what needed to change.Jenelle Hamblin, the Director of Swine Health with Manitoba Pork, told the AGM
Inside Research Barn
Researchers in Lacombe are leading the world in a series of projects aimed at tailoring pig genetics to create high-quality primal cuts.Around the globe, different buyers have diverging demands when they’re selecting primals – the most expensive parts of the carcass, says Lethbridge-based livestock breeder Bob Kemp, vice-president for research, development and
