Worldwide hog production shrinks and Smithfield rocks Sunday, February 6, 2011 Only last June, a troubled Smithfield Foods Inc., based in Virginia, was denying published reports from Brazil that it was going to sell its pork production to JBS, the Brazilian meat packing giant that had already purchased Smithfield's beef operations. What a difference a few months make for the self-described world's largest pork processor and hog producer. While worldwide hog production shrank two per cent, Smithfield reported record high earnings in the quarter ending Oct. 31.Smithfield made money on both pig raising and processing. Live hog market prices rose 54 per cent to $56 per hundredweight from $36. Cutout prices rose more. "Smithfield is performing at record levels and we are focused on continuing to deliver strong earnings in the second half of fiscal 2011. All indications are that fiscal 2011 will be a record year for the company," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer, in a December press release.Published reports indicate that Smithfield managed to pay down half of a US$1 billion debt in bonds that were due in 2011. The other half may not be as easy, since recently the U.S. government renewed an ethanol subsidy that keeps grain prices high. BP 'Pocket pigs' pose problems Commercial feed is the salmonella culprit
China reduces tariffs on Canadian canola seed Tuesday, March 3, 2026 China is furthering reducing its tariffs on Canadian canola. On Feb. 28, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced its final ruling on anti-dumping levies for Canadian canola seed and lowered the related tariffs from 75.8 per cent to 5.9 per cent. Paired with China’s standard 9 per cent... Read this article online
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to Visit Toronto and Southwestern Ontario Tuesday, March 3, 2026 The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry will be in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario later this week as part of its ongoing study on the role of Canada’s agriculture and agri‑food sector in strengthening national food security. The fact‑finding mission is scheduled for... Read this article online
Stats Canada reporting higher sheep and cattle inventories Monday, March 2, 2026 New data from Statistics Canada shows higher sheep and cattle inventories on Jan. 1 of this year compared to 2025. Stats Canada’s livestock estimates report counted 11.1 million head of cattle on farms, compared to 10.9 million head in 2025. This 2.5 percentage increase represents the... Read this article online
Ag in the House: Feb. 23 – 27 Monday, March 2, 2026 Conservatives want to know why the government is acting in ways that harm Canada’s agriculture industry. During question period on Feb. 23, Conservative Agriculture Critic John Barlow highlighted Liberal policies, closing ag research sites, and red tape as reasons why farmers struggle and... Read this article online
Ag included in Carney’s visit to India Monday, March 2, 2026 Announcements and commitments related to agriculture have emerged from Prime Minister Carney’s trip to India. A March 2 fact sheet from Carney’s office indicates multiple deliverables with some involving segments of the Canadian ag industry. Here’s what they are: Both governments... Read this article online