Fried foie gras, grilled. (Vichie81/iStock/Getty Images)

French foie gras makers toast rising output after bird flu gloom

Canada, U.S., Japan ban French poultry imports since vaccination

Paris | Reuters — French foie gras output is set to rise for the first time in five years in 2023 as France starts vaccinating ducks against bird flu that has destroyed flocks in recent years, but trade bans that followed will weigh on exports, producers said on Thursday. France has been among the countries […] Read more

CME January 2024 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle sag on packer margins, beef export sales

December lean hogs turn slightly lower

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures eased and feeder cattle tumbled to June lows at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Thursday as poor margins for U.S. beef processors limited demand for livestock, brokers said. A marketing-year low in weekly U.S. beef export sales also hung over the market. Meat companies are grappling with tight […] Read more


After a summer of pretty good grass, this cow has a body condition score in the five to six range indicating she's heading into winter in pretty good shape.

Start planning a proper winter ration now for your cattle

Feed requirements are fairly low in fall, but it's not the time cut corners on nutrition

After spring calves are weaned, early-gestation beef cows require the lowest amount of nutrients compared to the rest of the year. Some see this as a sign to save money by putting them on low-quality pastures or other poor feeds. Rather, it should be seen as a springboard to map out a good winter-feeding plan, […] Read more

Ron Kostyshyn is sworn in on Oct. 18, 2023 as Manitoba’s minister for agriculture, with Premier Wab Kinew at left. (Government of Manitoba video screengrab via YouTube)

Former ag minister returns in new Manitoba cabinet

Kinew names Kostyshyn to ag portfolio

Incoming Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has brought a former provincial agriculture minister back to the cabinet table to handle the ag file. Ron Kostyshyn, who from 2012 to 2016 was then-premier Greg Selinger’s ag minister while serving as MLA for the northwestern riding of Swan River, was sworn in Wednesday as minister of agriculture in […] Read more


CME December 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages and June 2024 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mixed as packer margins stay in red

December lean hogs up off Tuesday's contract low; deferred months lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures were mixed on Wednesday, as beef packer margins stayed in the red and cash cattle prices were expected to be steady to higher, traders said. Hog futures were also mixed on the day. February and May lean hog futures dipped to new contract lows on sluggish […] Read more

The argument against allowing the U.K. into the CPTPP centres on their one-sided non-tariff trade barriers applied to Canadian meat.

Cattle producers need to support CCA on ‘a bad deal’

UK should be kept out of trade agreement until it accepts Canadian meat products

Editor’s note: Earlier this year it was announced that the Canadian government was considering a plan for the United Kingdom to join a major international trade agreement known as the Comprehensive Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The move has raised the ire of the Canadian meat industry, which has been angry for years over […] Read more


(Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Ontario demand sets the price structure for calves

Corn in Ontario at $232/tonne, U.S. corn in southern Alberta at $315

For the week ending Oct. 14, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $4 higher compared to a week earlier. Calves in the range of 500 to 800 pounds traded $4-$6 lower in Alberta. However, in eastern Saskatchewan and in Manitoba, calves in this weight category were relatively unchanged compared to the previous week. In […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC to offer beef heifer replacement loans

Loan program for those wanting to build, maintain herds

Cattle producers wanting to expand or maintain herds — in a time of nationwide herd contraction — are the expected beneficiaries for a new loan program from Farm Credit Canada. FCC on Tuesday announced what it calls the Replacement Heifer Program, consisting of a loan with a maximum loan life of seven years and a […] Read more


CME December 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures rise on supply concerns

Chicago lean hogs slump

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed on Tuesday, amid ongoing concern over animal weights shrinking and a steady stream of heifers being sent to slaughter, traders said. Rising cash cattle prices also gave the beef market a boost on the day, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said meat processors […] Read more

(Video screengrab from Saputo.com)

Hold off on milk price hike, dairy farmers say

Dairy commission to consult again before making annual adjustment

The process to set the next national price adjustment for Canadian milk will now take an extra week, triggered by stakeholder objections, for a round of consultations — in which the national dairy farmer group plans to call for a delay on any increase. The Canadian Dairy Commission — the Crown corporation managing Canada’s milk […] Read more