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
Global Efforts Secure Future of Canadian Wheat Thursday, April 23, 2026 Canadian wheat reaches more than eighty international markets annually. Large shipment volumes anda strong reputationmake stable global demand essential. The country holds top positions in durum wheat and oats exports and continues to rank among the world’s leading wheat exporters.... Read this article online
Rising Fertilizer Prices Could Shift Canada 2026 Crop Plans Thursday, April 23, 2026 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Economicsre-affirms what every Canadian farmer already knows, Canadian farmers are approaching the 2026 seeding season with higher uncertainty than usual. Rising fertilizer prices, influenced by global instability and conflict in the Middle East, are increasing... Read this article online
HPAI confirmed in Saskatchewan Thursday, April 23, 2026 Saskatchewan has its first cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of 2026. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) website indicates three detections between April 14 and 17 in three separate rural municipalities. On April 14, HPAI was detected in a commercial poultry... Read this article online
Soybean Cyst Nematode Is in almost every soybean producing state and province Thursday, April 23, 2026 Understanding Detection, Prevention, and Management of Soybeans’ Most Costly Pest Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), , remains the most damaging pathogen affecting soybeans in North America, costing U.S. farmers more than one billion dollars in lost yield annually. Updated national surveys... Read this article online
Ontario Exempts Farmlands from Stormwater Fees Thursday, April 23, 2026 The Ontario government has takenan important stepto support farmers by exempting eligible agricultural lands from municipal stormwater fees. This decision is expected to bring meaningful financial relief to farmers across the province and strengthen the agricultural sector. Stormwater... Read this article online