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
Recall against Alberta ag minister likely to fail Thursday, February 12, 2026 The recall against Alberta’s minister of agriculture is likely to fail. With only nine days remaining to collect signatures, organizers in Minister RJ Sigurdson’s riding of Highwood have only secured 807 of the 15,788 (5.1 per cent) signatures required to recall the minister, according to... Read this article online
Possible measles exposure at Manitoba Ag Days Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Health officials in Manitoba are asking anyone who attended Ag Days in Brandon and the surrounding area to monitor symptoms of measles. “Possible exposures may have occurred in the city on the event days, on the days leading up to it and the days following it…,” Manitoba Health said in a... Read this article online
Former ag minister Ritz remembers working with Prime Minister Harper Wednesday, February 11, 2026 On the heels of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s official portrait unveiling in Ottawa on Feb. 3, Farms.com connected with his agriculture minister Gerry Ritz about working with Canada’s 22nd prime minister. Ritz, who in 2020 was elected reeve for the Rural Municipality of Mervin in... Read this article online
Bonnefield joins Canadian Agriculture Investment Coalition Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Bonnefield Financial Inc. announced its participation in a new investment coalition focused on strengthening Canada’s agriculture and food industry. The coalition, brought together by Farm Credit Canada, includes more than 20 investment organizations. Together, they are prepared to invest... Read this article online
McDonalds Canada and Cargill back youth leadership in beef sustainability Tuesday, February 10, 2026 The Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef announcednew supportfrom industry partnersMcDonald's Canada and Cargillto strengthen youth involvement in beef sustainability leadership. The support focuses on the CRSB Council Youth Position, a non-voting role created in 2025 to ensure youth... Read this article online