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
New Canola Processing Could Boost Protein and Oil Profits Wednesday, December 17, 2025 While canola oil remains the crop’s main commercial product, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are working to unlock additional value from the plant, which was first developed in the 1970s. Canada’s canola sector contributes an estimated $43.7 billion annually to the... Read this article online
Trade deals 101 Wednesday, December 17, 2025 It’s difficult to go a day without hearing something about a trade deal. The Canadian government, for example, is involved in trade talks with at least four partners. Until Jan. 26, Canadians can weigh in on potential partnerships with India, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and... Read this article online
Plants flip genetic switch to survive sudden cold, study finds Wednesday, December 17, 2025 One things for sure—weather happens. When a sudden cold snap hits a farm, it can destroy seedlings slow growth. It can make the season's growth 'iffy' going forward. But like a ray of sunshine, results from a new study offer farmers hope. Scientists have discovered how plants... Read this article online
Ham for Christmas? Tuesday, December 16, 2025 As many pork producers will know, ham is a strong preference for Americans for their Christmas meal. Americans purchase approximately 318 million pounds of ham during the Christmas season. By comparison, about 22 million turkeys are consumed during the same period. If we assume the... Read this article online
P.E.I.’s ag minister is the new premier Tuesday, December 16, 2025 Prince Edward Island’s minister of agriculture is also the province’s newest premier. Bloyce Thompson, who also held the justice file and was the deputy premier, was sworn in as the province’s 35th premier on Dec. 12 after former premier Rob Lantz resigned to seek the leadership of the... Read this article online