INDUSTRY ROUNDUP - OLDER ARTICLES
Canadian cattle, sheep and goat producers gain market access to Philippines
January 24, 2012 - Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced today that the Government of Canada has secured live ruminant market access to the Philippines.
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Government investment to help Canada's food and beverage exporters
January 24, 2012 - The Government of Canada today announced funding of over $600,000 for Food Beverage Canada (FBC) to expand sales and product awareness.
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NAMP unveils online version of Buyer's Guide
January 24, 2012 - The North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) on Monday released a new online version of its Meat Buyer's Guide.
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AMSA announces Reciprocal Meat Conference details
January 23, 2012 - Registration is now open for the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) 65th Reciprocal Meat Conference, to be held June 17 to 20 at the North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.
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Global feed tonnage reaches record 873 million
January 23, 2012 - The world's feed production has reached an estimated 873 million metric tons, according to a global survey commissioned by Alltech. Conducted through Alltech's regional managers, the survey assessed the tonnage of 132 countries and all species.
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New North American meat association closer to reality
January 23, 2012 - The North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) and the U.S.-based National Meat Association (NMA) today announced they have taken additional steps towards creating a new North American meat industry association.
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Ont. livestock haulers' video showcases safety, security
January 20, 2012 - The Ontario Trucking Association's Livestock Transporters' Division (OTA-LTD) today released a video showcasing its efforts to promote animal safety and security.
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Harper on resumption of Canadian beef and cattle exports to S. Korea
January 20, 2012 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a statement today welcoming South Korea's decision to reopen its market to Canadian beef and cattle.
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Ritz says government will reduce agricultural red tape
January 20, 2012 - Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today issued a statement today in response to a Red Tape Reduction Commission report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
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Industry praises opening of S. Korean border
January 20, 2012 - Canadian meat industry associations are praising today's news that South Korea has opened its doors to beef from Canadian animals under 30 months of age.
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South Korea opens border to Canadian beef
January 20, 2012 - South Korea has opened its doors to beef from Canadian animals under 30 months of age, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced today. The country is the last significant Asian market to lift the ban after the 2003 bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak.
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Survey says Canadian farms being flooded by red tape
January 20, 2012 - Farmers in Canada are hit the hardest by government regulations and paperwork, according to research released today by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
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3rd Grease Summit coming to Vancouver
January 19, 2012 - Vancouver's third Grease Summit will take place on Feb. 16 at the Executive Hotel and Conference Centre Burnaby.
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Granny's Poultry boosts production of ginseng-fed chicken for Chinese New Year
January 18, 2012 - Manitoba-based farmer-owned poultry cooperative Granny's Poultry is boosting production of its Ginseng-Fed Whole Chicken for Chinese New Year next Monday, Jan. 23.
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U.S. study looks at antibiotics and pig feeds
January 17, 2012 - Antibiotics in pig feed increased the number of antibiotic resistant genes in gastrointestinal microbes in pigs, according to a study conducted by Michigan State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.
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Agriculture Union asks food industry to oppose CFIA cuts
January 17, 2012 - According to the Agriculture Union - PSAC, which represents federal food safety inspectors, planned cuts by the federal government to food safety initiatives may risk another major food borne illness outbreak along the lines of the 2008 listeriosis outbreak killed 23 Canadians.
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NAMP announces Center of the Plate II Course - March 27-28, in Chicago
January 16, 2012 - The North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) today opened registration for its 2012 course Center of the Plate Training II: Cuts to Culinary, which will take place March 27 to 28 at Kendall College in downtown Chicago, Illinois.
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Cattle producer named Manitoba's new ag minister
January 16, 2012 - Manitoba cattle producer Ron Kostyshyn on Friday was named the province's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives.
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Sunnymel begins recruitment campaign for NB workers
January 13, 2012 - The new Sunnymel chicken slaughterhouse scheduled to open later this year in Clair, N.B. has already started its recruitment campaign for 250 staff.
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Cargill reports drop in Q2 earnings
January 11, 2012 - Minneapolis-based Cargill on Tuesday reported $100 million in earnings from continuing operations in the fiscal 2012 second quarter, an 88 per cent decrease from $832 million in the same period last year.
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Maple Lodge Farms facing criminal charges
January 10, 2012 - Maple Lodge Farms, of Brampton, Ont. is facing 60 criminal charges over alleged violations of federal animal health regulations, according to a report in the Toronto Star.
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NAMP announces mini-conferences
January 9, 2012 - The North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) today announced it will hold a mini-conference on "Control of Non-O157 STECs in Beef Processing" prior to the start of its Meat Industry Management Conference in March.
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Time to appeal WTO's COOL rule extended to March
January 9, 2012 - The U.S. has more time to appeal the World Trade Orgainzation's (WTO) recent ruling against country-of-origin labelling (COOL).
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BRC conference to address challenges in retail supply chain
January 6, 2012 - The British Retail Consortium (BRC), a leading retail trade association from the U.K., is bringing together speakers representing retail, food services and food manufacturing to share insights and knowledge on the significant global challenges in today's retail supply chain at an upcoming conference.
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ICoMST 2012 set for Montreal in August
January 5, 2012 - The Canadian Meat Science Association and the Canadian Meat Council supported by INITIA (the Agri-food Foundation) are hosting the 58th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST 2012), Aug. 12 to 17 in Montreal.
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Hockey broadcaster Ron MacLean to join restaurant leaders at CRFA event
January 5, 2012 - Sportscaster Ron MacLean of Hockey Night in Canada will be the keynote speaker at the new Breakfast with Champions event at the CRFA Show, organizers announced today.
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Gov't investing in projects to eliminate viral disease in pork
January 4, 2012 - The Canadian government today announced an investment of $294,500 to initiate small-scale projects for controlling and eradicating Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), a viral disease that causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in young pigs.
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Major step completed toward Canadian beef access to South Korea
January 3, 2012 - A "major step" has been taken towards restoring access for Canadian beef in South Korea with the South Korean Parliament ratifying the import health requirements for Canadian beef, under 30 months of age, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast recently announced.
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Nadeau Maple Lodge appeal denied
December 23, 2011 - The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal by Nadeau Maple Lodge in its long legal battle with the Olymel/Groupe Westco Sunnymel project in New Brunswick.
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City of Kitchener, Maple Leaf task force holds first meeting
December 22, 2011 - A joint task force between the City of Kitchener and Maple Leaf Foods - comprised of two members from Maple Leaf Foods, two from the city and the local ward councillor - held its first meeting Tuesday.
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Maple Leaf Foods teams up with Second Harvest for Turkey Drive
December 22, 2011 - Maple Leaf Foods is helping Second Harvest, the largest food rescue program in Canada, feed more than 2,300 hungry people this holiday season by donating 680 turkeys to its ninth annual Turkey Drive.
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Maple Leaf shareholders approve rights plan
December 22, 2011 - Maple Leaf Foods announced today that the amended and restated shareholder rights plan agreement between the company and Computershare Investor Services Inc. as rights agent was accepted by shareholders and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
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Olymel workers in St-Damase vote in favour of new labour contract
December 22, 2011 - Workers at an Olymel poultry slaughtering plant at St-Damase in the Montérégie region of southwestern Quebec voted 59 per cent in favour of an eight-year labour agreement with the company.
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Arson confirmed in Sunnymel fire
December 21, 2011 - Arson was confirmed by local RCMP as the cause of the recent fire at the Sunnymel chicken slaughterhouse construction site in Clair, N.B.
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Recommendations from Weatherill report now in place
December 20, 2011 - The Government of Canada on Monday released its final report on the action it has taken to respond to all recommendations in Sheila Weatherill's report on the 2008 listeriosis outbreak.
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Government announces new market access for live cattle to the United Arab Emirates
December 20, 2011 - For the first time since 2003, Canadian producers can export live cattle to a market worth up to $40 million, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced today.
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AAFC invests in SRM removal research in Quebec
December 16, 2011 - The federal government today announced an investment of over $404,000 in Industries Riopel, a Quebec-based manufacturer of meat processing equipment, for two research and development projects to maximize the removal of SRM and high-risk tissues from carcasses processed by Canadian abattoirs.
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Alberta grocery chain introduces pork with DNA-based meat traceability guarantee
December 16, 2011 - An Alberta grocery chain is offering "fully DNA-traceable fresh premium Alberta pork" at its stores from Sturgeon Valley Pork, one of the first Canadian meat processors to employ DNA TraceBack from IdentiGEN Canada to trace its pork from the grocer's meat case back to the processing plant and farm of origin.
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Survey says Canadians pessimistic, reluctant to open wallets
December 15, 2011 - As the end of 2011 draws near, Canadians are doubtful about job prospects, their personal finances and whether it's wise to spend money right now, according to a survey released this week by leading analytical group Nielsen.
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Maple Leaf listeria settlement still not paid out
December 15, 2011 - The $25 million paid by Maple Leaf Foods to settle claims in class action suits related to a 2008 listeriosis outbreak have yet to be distributed.
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Sunnymel begins hiring process for poultry plant
December 14, 2011 - The management of Sunnymel, a partnership formed by Westco and Olymel, today began the process of recruiting manpower to fill approximately 250 positions for its future poultry slaughterhouse and cutting plant, currently under construction in the Village of Clair, N.B.
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CMC hiring for challenging new regulatory role
December 13, 2011 - The Canadian Meat Council is seeking to fill a challenging new role designed to fulfill the mission of the council to secure Canada's global meat competitiveness.
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Manitoba's Keystone Processors undergoes name change
December 13, 2011 - Keystone Processors, the company that plans on constructing a 250 head per day beef slaughter plant in Winnipeg, has changed its name due to infringement concerns, according to a report from Commodity News Service Canada.
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AMI Foundation unveils new website
December 12, 2011 - The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) today unveiled a revamped and redesigned website aimed at the scientific community, policymakers and media as a user-friendly source of meat and poultry science information.
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NB's Nadeau Poultry announces layoffs
December 12, 2011 - New Brunswick processor Nadeau Poultry today announced the layoff of approximately one-quarter of its workforce.
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Japan moving toward easing restrictions on beef imports
December 9, 2011 - Japan is taking steps that could lead to improved access for beef imports from several countries, including Canada, according to a press release from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
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"Supermarket Guru" predicts top food trends for 2012
December 8, 2011 - ConAgra Foods, one of North America's largest food companies, this week released predictions of the top 10 food trends for 2012, complied by "Supermarket Guru" Phil Lempert.
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NIAA releases white paper on use of antibiotics in food animals
December 8, 2011- Antibiotic use in food-animal production is the focus of a white paper recently released by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA).
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Updated: CMC, AMI welcome Canada-U.S. action plan
December 8, 2011- The Canadian Meat Council (CMC) said it welcomes Wednesday's release of the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Action Plan, which it said will lead to the timely implementation of measures that will reduce investments by both Canadians and Americans in unnecessary regulations.
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Cattle and pork industries praise Canada-U.S. border deal
December 7, 2011 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama today unveiled two action plans designed to speed up legitimate trade and travel, improve security in North America, and align regulatory approaches between the two countries.
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Federal court says ag minister acted illegally
December 7, 2011 - A federal court judge in Winnipeg ruled in favour of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) today, finding that Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz broke the law by introducing a bill to end the CWB's single desk for wheat and barley marketing in Western Canada without first consulting farmers.
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Meat MythCrushers take on greenhouse gas claims
December 7, 2011 - The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) and the American Meat Institute (AMI) are taking on the myths associated with the environmental impact of meat production in the latest of their Meat MythCrushers video series.
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Maple Leaf's board amends shareholder rights plan
December 6, 2011 - Maple Leaf Foods has amended the shareholders' rights plan previously adopted on July 28, the company announced. The move is seen as a defensive measure that can be used against a hostile takeover attempt.
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Grand River Foods finalizes sale of fresh poultry division to Maple Lodge Farms
December 6, 2011 - Cambridge, Ont. based Grand River Foods has finalized the sale of its fresh poultry processing division to Maple Lodge Farms for an undisclosed sum. The sale was announced in November and finalized last week.
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Cattle ID agency releases RFID research results
December 5, 2011 - The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) on Friday released the results of the second phase of research into the impact of fully integrated radio frequency identification (RFID) systems.
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B.C. poultry farmers warned to stop use of bovine antibiotic
December 1, 2011 - Poultry farmers in British Columbia are being warned to stop using a bovine antibiotic on chickens because it may behind a significant spike in drug-resistant Campylobacter bacteria found in chicken tested from grocery stores, the Vancouver Sun recently reported.
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