Agriculture news

• Western Canadian Farmers Struggle with Federal Trade Policies

  17-03-2025 19:32 via farms.com
  Western Canadian farmers are facing increasing frustration with federal trade policies that they say favor Eastern Canada, leaving them exposed to economic hardship. Many producers argue that policies designed to protect industries in the East, such as dairy and poultry supply management, limit opportunities for growth and expansion in the West.The impact of these policies is felt across multiple sectors, from grain to livestock. Pork producers in particular have faced challenges due to restrict
  
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• PLF technologies can benefit swine industry stakeholders beyond the farm

  17-03-2025 17:50 via farms.com
  Producers can use data from precision livestock farming technology to work more efficiently and better care for their animals. But the benefits don't stop there. Veterinarians, food companies, government officials, scientists, animal welfare groups and grocery stores can also use this data. It could help them be more transparent, follow government regulations and make the swine industry more responsible and efficient. The role of PLF in enhancing transparency and efficiency is crucial, making st
  
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• Balancing Welfare and Productivity in Swine Care | Kurt Preugschas, DVM

  17-03-2025 17:45 via farms.com
  Kurt was born and raised on a pig farm near Barrhead, Alberta, which sparked his passion for swine production and medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 from WCVM in Saskatoon. After graduation, he went directly into swine medicine and has worked in swine practices in Manitoba and Alberta. In 2019, Kurt started a new swine veterinary practice, Precision Veterinary Services inc., based in Red Deer, Alberta. He and his wife Tanja have their home near Lacombe with
  
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• Weekly Hog Market Update – Week Ending March 14, 2025

  17-03-2025 17:42 via farms.com
  Hog prices remained steady with slight fluctuations across major markets. In Ontario, the 100 percent base formula price closed at 233.92 per hundredweight, up from the previous year’s 200.35 per hundredweight. The average dressed weight remained stable at 109 kilograms, while total market hog sales reached 126,271 head, reflecting a 3 percent increase compared to last year.In Canada, total hog slaughter across federal and provincial plants reached 451,832 head, marking an 8 percent increa
  
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• Iowa State University Examines Truck Washing and Decontamination

  17-03-2025 17:28 via farms.com
  Research conducted by Iowa State University suggests swine producers and transporters can reduce truck washing and decontamination costs through the strategic scheduling of truck washing. Iowa State University, with funding provided through the Swine Health Information Center Wean-to-Harvest Biosecurity Research Program in partnership with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and Pork Checkoff, used computer modeling to determine how different levels of swine transport trailer washin
  
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• Farm Safety in Canada Gets $1.6M Boost

  17-03-2025 16:36 via farms.com
  The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association receives $1.6 million to improve farm safety across Canada. This funding supports accident prevention, mental health, and agricultural worker safety.
  
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• Canada resumes receiving pork from Smithfield Foods

  17-03-2025 15:46 via farms.com
  Details about what caused the suspension are unknown
  
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• Highlighting Irish ag on St. Patrick’s Day

  17-03-2025 15:03 via farms.com
  It’s St. Patrick’s Day, so why not grab a green beverage and learn a little bit about agriculture on the Emerald Isle
  
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• Your Voice Matters at National Pork Industry Forum

  17-03-2025 14:55 via farms.com
  The atmosphere at the National Pork Industry Forum was a little lighter than it was in 2024. More than 500 people gathered in Orlando, Fla., for one of the pork industry’s most anticipated events. Bryan Humphreys, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), described the mood of the industry as cautiously optimistic.“A number of things are happening politically, both domestically and internationally. Some of them directly impact the business of the pork industry and some of th
  
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• Preisler Wins Paulson-Whitmore Award, Reflects on 28-Year Pork Career

  17-03-2025 14:53 via farms.com
  In 2022, Dave Preisler retired from a successful 28-year career leading the Minnesota Pork Producers Association and advancing Minnesota’s agricultural community. On March 13, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and National Pork Board awarded Preisler with the distinguished Paulson-Whitmore State Executive Award for his exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing the pork industry.“Receiving this award is really humbling, especially as you look at the list of people wh
  
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• Iowa Pork Barbecue Competition Calls on Backyard Grill Masters to Show Their Skills

  17-03-2025 14:51 via farms.com
  Are you the king or queen of backyard barbecue? It’s time to put your skills to the test! Amateur grillers from across Iowa are invited to showcase their talent at the backyard BBQ competition, part of the BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark event this summer in Des Moines.Presented by the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Iowa Cubs, the third-annual BBQ & Brew is a fun-filled, charitable event happening Saturday, June 21 at Principal Park. Open to the public, attendees will en
  
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• Maps: Risk of Dry Weather for Southern Prairie Heading into Summer; Ontario Wetter

  17-03-2025 12:00 via farms.com
  The southern Prairies could see drier weather heading into the summer, while southern Ontario producers could be dealing with wetter-than-normal conditions for planting, according to the Weather Network’s seasonal forecast. Released Thursday, the forecast suggests a generally typical Canadian spring season, with the usual wild swings between warmer and colder weather. “Spring in Canada is consistently inconsistent. Changeable weather and temperature roller coasters tend to dominate t
  
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• New National Potato Wart Response Plan Ready For 2025 Potato Crop

  17-03-2025 11:58 via farms.com
  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is committed to helping contain, control, and prevent the spread of potato wart. The new National Potato Wart Response Plan has been finalized and will take effect with the 2025 potato crop.The response plan outlines measures and activities that must be followed when a potato wart detection is confirmed and applies to new detections of potato wart anywhere in Canada, other than Newfoundland and Labrador. It replaces the Potato Wart Domestic Long-term Ma
  
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• Canada invests in five networks to stimulate innovation in key emerging technology sectors

  17-03-2025 11:56 via farms.com
  Since its launch in 2017, the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has supported collaboration between businesses, research institutions and non-profit organizations to drive growth in key emerging technology sectors. It funds business-led projects in areas where Canada has an economic advantage, such as cleantech, life sciences, agriculture/agri-food, mining and aerospace. Over the years, SIF networks have supported over 750 small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that have created over 1,200 jobs
  
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• Minister MacAulay announces investment to support the health and safety of Canadian farmers ahead of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week

  17-03-2025 11:55 via farms.com
  The Government of Canada is committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of Canada's agricultural community while supporting the long-term sustainability and success of the sector.Today, ahead of Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW), which takes place March 16 to 22 this year, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,607,291 over 3 years to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) through the AgriCompetitiveness Program, an
  
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• Canada’s Proposed Ethanol Tariffs: Potential Impacts on the U.S. Swine Industry

  17-03-2025 11:47 via farms.com
  Canada is considering imposing tariffs on U.S. ethanol imports, a move that could have significant ripple effects across multiple sectors, including the swine industry. While ethanol may seem unrelated to pork production, its deep ties to corn demand and pricing could bring notable shifts for swine producers.Corn Prices and Feed Costs Ethanol production is one of the largest consumers of U.S. corn, and any disruption in ethanol exports could lead to a decrease in demand. If ethanol sales to Cana
  
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• USDA Plans to Close FSA and NRCS Offices: What It Means for Swine Producers

  17-03-2025 11:44 via farms.com
  The USDA is planning to terminate leases for dozens of Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices across the country, a move that could significantly impact swine producers who rely on these services for farm loans, conservation programs, and technical assistance.Potential Impact on Swine Producers Many pork producers depend on FSA programs for loan assistance, disaster relief, and risk management programs that help stabilize operations. The potential clo
  
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• Producer to Producer: Indiana farm manager shares real life perspective from the barn

  17-03-2025 11:33 via farms.com
  Tim Burnside, swine farm manager at I & S Furrer Farms in Wolcott, Indiana, spoke at the Four Star Veterinary Service Pork Industry Conference in Muncie, Indiana, to share his experience as a swine farm manager. After his presentation, he spoke with The Pig Site's Sarah Mikesell about his on-farm experiences. Tell us about I & S Furrer Farms. We have about 1,800 sows and are a farrow-to-finish operation with three finishing facilities. At any given time, we have 24,000 to 25,000 ani
  
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• Tariffs make pork business more complicated, Smithfield Foods CEO says

  17-03-2025 11:28 via farms.com
  Tariffs make it more complicated for Smithfield Foods, the biggest US pork processor, to sell all parts of a pig, Reuters reported, citing CEO Shane Smith on Wednesday.US President Donald Trump roiled agricultural markets by announcing tariffs last week on goods from China, Mexico and Canada, the top importers of American farm products. Two days after the announcement, Trump suspended most of the tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month.China, the world's biggest pork consumer, retaliated with h
  
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• Hog futures fall on tariff worries, technical selling - CME

  17-03-2025 11:27 via farms.com
  Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures edged down on Thursday under pressure from technical selling and worries that US President Donald Trump's tariff war could hurt export demand, Reuters reported, citing analysts.The European Union announced has a plan to impose duties on US imports, including on poultry and meat products."The market is worried about what will happen with the EU," Doug Houghton, analyst at Brock Associates, said.CME's April lean hog contract settled down 0.875-cen
  
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