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Tag Archives COVID-19

(Sollio Co-operative Group video screengrab via YouTube)
Hogs, Livestock, Markets

Olymel restarting hog slaughter at Red Deer

Work to resume at pork plant this week

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Meat packer Olymel plans to restart slaughter operations Thursday at one of Canada’s largest hog plants following a major outbreak of COVID-19 among employees. Olymel, an arm of Sollio Co-operative, said late Wednesday it had recalled “employees that are needed to ensure that the gradual restarting of operations goes smoothly” at its Red Deer, Alta. […] Read more
As a farmer, Cynthia Beck knows first hand about mental health issues, and she is also working as a health care provider to help others who may be going through a tough time.
Cattleman’s Corner, News

Connecting rural communities to mental health

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help

By
People in rural communities with limited access to mental health care can use the phone as the first step to reach a crisis intervention program, says Cynthia Beck, a farmer and university student completing her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She plans to finish graduate school and become a registered clinical psychologist working in rural […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Beef Cattle, Livestock

Beef cattle sector weighs in for federal food processing study

Cattlemen's Association makes recommendations to Commons' ag committee

By
The House of Commons’ standing committee on agriculture will soon be wrapping up its study into Canada’s processing capacity. Since November, MPs have heard from more than 50 witnesses on the matter — including representatives from the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, whose president Bob Lowe and executive vice-president Dennis Laycraft testified at a committee meeting Tuesday. […] Read more
Tom Vilsack speaks to farmers at a rural agricultural co-operative at Guira de Melena in Cuba on Nov. 13, 2015. (Photo: Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini)
General, Markets, Reuters

U.S. Senate confirms Vilsack as Biden’s ag secretary

Pandemic leaves USDA 'a lot of work to do'

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Reuters — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Tom Vilsack to head the Department of Agriculture, returning the former Iowa governor to the job he held under ex-President Barack Obama. The 100-member Senate approved Vilsack 92-7. He needed a simple majority in the Democratic-controlled chamber to be confirmed. As secretary of the sprawling department, Vilsack […] Read more
The number of cattle processed at Canadian and U.S. packing plants exceeded expectations from July through December 2020.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

COVID impact may be easing by early summer

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Life may not be quite back to normal, but beef markets might be

By
The beef and cattle markets continue to recover from the effects of the COVID pandemic. During the first quarter of 2020, beef demand was adjusting to higher unemployment levels as coronavirus spread throughout the U.S. and Canada. The problem was exacerbated when outbreaks of the virus among workers forced processing plants in Canada and the […] Read more
(Bob_bosewell/iStock/Getty Images)
General, Markets, Weather

Budget could include new BRM program, ag labour plan

Proposal for 'AgriResilience' program goes to Freeland

By
A new pre-budget report from the House of Commons’ finance committee is recommending several measures directly related to agriculture — including sought-after tweaks to AgriStability and creation of an entirely new business risk management program. The multipartisan committee heard testimony and received submissions from more than 800 groups and individuals. Mostly-virtual meetings took place in […] Read more
CME April 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)
Livestock, Markets, Reuters, Weather

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end week lower

Hogs down on Olymel's plan to ship Canadian hogs south

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Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Friday, but failed to end the week higher as a cold snap across the U.S. Plains and into Texas hampered slaughterhouses and backed up cattle, traders said. “There’s still a big mess,” said Dennis Smith, commodity broker at Archer Financial. “The good news is, the […] Read more
File photo of hogs in transit near Red Deer, Alta. (Stefonlinton/iStock/Getty Images)
Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

Olymel shipping backlogged hogs to U.S.

Company-owned hogs to go south after COVID closes Red Deer plant

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Winnipeg | Reuters — Olymel said Friday it was shipping pigs to the United States to help clear a backlog of hogs after it had to temporarily close its Red Deer, Alta. slaughter plant because of a coronavirus outbreak. Olymel shut the plant on Wednesday and declared force majeure — unforeseeable circumstances that prevent contract […] Read more

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