A man and a child ride away from a protest site at Windsor, Ont. on Feb. 12, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Carlos Osorio)

Windsor-Detroit trade corridor reopens after police clear protesters

Prairie premiers oppose use of Emergencies Act

Windsor/Washington/Ottawa | Reuters — North America’s busiest trade link reopened for traffic late Sunday evening, ending a six-day blockade, the Canada Border Services Agency said, after Canadian police cleared the protesters fighting to end COVID-19 restrictions. Canadian police made several arrests on Sunday and cleared protesters and vehicles that occupied the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, […] Read more

A man reacts as protestors continue blocking access to the Ambassador Bridge at Windsor, Ont. on the evening of Feb. 11, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Carlos Osorio)

Farm and agrifood groups press for clear border crossings

Injunction granted to clear Ambassador Bridge blockade

Groups representing Canada’s farm and agrifood sectors want to see an “immediate” end to multiple border blockades thrown up in recent weeks by protestors in three provinces — while the auto sector has secured a court order that one blockade be taken down. The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, […] Read more


CME April 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat on profit-taking

Hog futures lower despite rising cutout

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures weakened on Friday as the market retreated from contract highs hit this week. Profit-taking weighed on futures prices, though the market remains supported by strong demand for cattle from meatpackers, traders said. Packers such as Tyson Foods and JBS slaughtered an estimated 120,000 cattle on […] Read more

A good lameness-prevention plan starts with a basic understanding of what a set of four healthy hooves is all about.

Tips to prevent dairy cow lameness

Proper nutrition is the key to keeping cattle walking with comfort

Top-performing dairy cows must have healthy hooves. Walking and standing on four good hooves is the foundation of eating lots of well-balanced feed and then producing lots of milk. It is also a prerequisite for good standing heats, which leads to successful pregnancy. On the other hand, lame cows have a painful time getting out […] Read more


Feed barley picture will change by fall

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: With high feed prices, western Canadian feedlots will be at a competitive disadvantage to U.S. feedlots until September

Prairie barley prices reached historical highs earlier in January. Lethbridge-area feedlots were buying feed barley in the range of $445-$455/tonne delivered while Red Deer operations made purchases from $430-$440/tonne. The barley market is functioning to ration demand through higher prices. The domestic feed market needs to trade high enough to halt offshore movement for barley […] Read more

File photo of a view near the Canadian end of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Windsor and Detroit and is considered one of North America’s busiest trade routes. (Steven_Kriemadis/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. urges Canada to use federal powers to ease border protest disruption

Disruptions force automakers to reduce operations

Windsor/Washington | Reuters — Canada should use federal powers to ease the growing economic disruption caused by the blockage of a vital U.S.-Canada trade route by protesters opposed to coronavirus mandates, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration said on Thursday. The closure of the Ambassador Bridge, North America’s busiest international land border crossing and a vital […] Read more


(Xinzheng/Getty Images)

China blocks Lithuanian beef, dairy, beer as Taiwan row grows

Canada seeks to join EU trade case against China

Beijing/Vilnius | Reuters — China suspended imports of beef, dairy and beer from Lithuania this week, Lithuania’s veterinary control agency said on Thursday, amid a growing trade dispute over the Baltic nation’s relations with Taiwan. China’s General Administration of Customs had informed the country it was halting the exports due to “lack of documentation,” the […] Read more

CME April 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle lower, strong slaughter data supportive

Hogs also trade higher, end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended lower despite finding new contract highs on Thursday, pressured by lower movement across the agricultural commodities late in the trading session, though tight cattle supplies underpin the market, traders said. “Demand in general still is in good shape. You’re going to have incrementally fewer […] Read more


Protestors’ vehicles block the route leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, on Feb. 8, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Carlos Osorio)

More government action likely as border blockades hit trade

Manitoba's main crossing now also blocked

Reuters — The shutdown of a vital U.S.-Canada trade route is knocking out automakers’ operations as the business impact from the two-week-old protests against Canada’s pandemic measures ramp up pressure on authorities to quell the demonstrations. The protests started as a “Freedom Convoy” occupying downtown Ottawa, opposing a vaccinate-or-quarantine mandate for cross-border truckers mirrored by […] Read more