Skim milk powder. (PelchGroup.com)

Canada says TPP offers limited access to dairy market

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada said on Monday that a major trade deal agreed by 12 Pacific nations would only allow limited access to protected Canadian domestic dairy and poultry markets, a politically sensitive issue ahead of the Oct. 19 election. Officials said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would offer up just 3.25 per cent of […] Read more



TPP trade ministers, shown here in July in Maui, have meetings in Atlanta on Wednesday and Thursday. (USTR.gov)

TPP trade ministers push to wrap up ambitious trade deal

Atlanta | Reuters — Pacific trade ministers readied on Wednesday to close the biggest trade deal in a generation but warned there was still work to be done on issues ranging from intellectual property to trade in dairy and automobiles. Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said ministers from the 12 countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership […] Read more

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, shown here in February in Brampton, Ont., said farmers and processors would be “compensated” for losses incurred through any increased market access granted under a TPP deal. (Agr.gc.ca)

Canada to pay farmers for any losses under TPP deal, Ritz says

Reuters — Canadian farmers will receive government compensation for any losses resulting from a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, the country’s agriculture minister said Wednesday in a discussion about the nation’s protected farm sectors. The U.S., New Zealand and Australia want Canada to start dismantling a system of supply and import controls over dairy, poultry […] Read more



(McDonalds.ca)

McDonald’s cage-free egg pledge pressures farmers

Reuters — This month’s pledge by McDonald’s Corp. to phase out eggs laid by caged hens in its North American restaurants will increase competition for limited supplies of cage-free eggs. The ban, which follows similar moves by Burger King and food services company Sodexo, carries higher costs that may, at least initially, sting farmers. For […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

McDonald’s investor wants it to cut antibiotics in all meats

Los Angeles | Reuters –– A McDonald’s Corp. shareholder group is renewing its call for the fast-food chain to stop buying any meat from animals raised with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections. The move from the Congregation of Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas, comes amid growing concern from public health experts that the overuse […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Study alleges U.S. fast food still mostly raised on antibiotics

Los Angeles | Reuters –– Most large U.S. fast-food chains still serve meat from farm animals that have been routinely fed antibiotics, consumer groups said in a new report, which concluded that many companies have not yet laid out plans to curb the practice. Subway, Starbucks, KFC and Domino’s Pizza were among the industry leaders […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Yukon to help cover livestock vets’ travel costs

The Yukon government has launched a pilot program to help cover veterinarians’ travel and service expenses for farm calls. The territory government on Tuesday announced it will accept up to 30 farmers for the pilot of the Veterinary Services Program, running from now to the end of March 2016. The program will reimburse participating veterinarians […] Read more