Report tackles Russian ractopamine ban Wednesday, February 27, 2013 by SUSAN MANNRussia’s demand for ractopamine-free meat from Canada, the United States and other suppliers doesn’t comply with international trade practices, according to a George Morris Centre report released Wednesday.In addition, the Russian request has no merit according to the United Nation’s Codex Alimentarius Commission, which has approved a maximum residue limit for ractopamine and has set acceptable daily intake standards, senior market analyst Kevin Grier says in the report. It was commissioned by Elanco Canada, makers of Paylean, the company’s brand name for ractopamine.The Codex commission is the United Nations’ food safety and quality standards setting body.Russia’s practice of using non-tariff barriers and penalties on trading partners is common and widely known, Grier says, noting they use the barriers to protect their market for domestic suppliers and because they want to become self-sufficient in livestock and poultry production.For Canadian processors that export to Russia, “this is not a case of meeting customer requests; it is a case of complying with unreasonable and costly demands,” he notes.Russian officials told Canada on Dec. 7, 2012 they wanted their meat imports to come from animals that weren’t fed ractopamine. The feed additive is approved for use in Canada for finishing barrows and gilts as well as beef and turkey. It promotes leanness in animals raised for meat. It’s approved in 26 countries, including the United States.Gary Stordy, Canadian Pork Council public relations manager, says “we are aware processors are meeting the Russian market requirements. They are conducting tests and will continue to do so.”The council is working with groups, such as the Canadian Meat Council; the pork industry’s market development agency Canada Pork International; and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to understand the Russian market requirements and “explain the process we undertake as producers as well as processors.” The groups are also working to find an alternative system “for an efficient way to meet this Russian market requirement.”Earlier this month, the Russians announced temporary trade restrictions against U.S. pork, beef and turkey shipments because they didn’t comply with their request for ractopamine-free meat. Although the Russians threatened they would impose a similar restriction on Canada’s pork and beef shipments, they haven’t yet instated it. Earlier this month a CFIA spokesperson said Canada continues to export beef and pork products that meet the Russian requirements.Russia is the third largest export market for Canadian pork but it represents just eight per cent of total Canadian production, Grier says. BF Ontario pesticide safety certification takes to the Internet Bonnett returns for another term at the helm of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online
2025 Election Results Prompt Concern and Reflection Among Prairie Farmers Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Users on Agriville.com weigh-in on the 2025 federal election outcome As news broke on April 28 that Mark Carney’s Liberals had won the 2025 federal election, many western Canadian farmers on Agriville.com shared their reactions. The mood was largely one of disappointment, with... Read this article online
Support IPM With a Bench Sponsorship Tuesday, April 29, 2025 The International Plowing Match & Rural Expo (IPM) Local Committee has launched the Bench Sponsorship Project for the upcoming 2025 event in West Niagara. This initiative invites individuals and businesses to sponsor commemorative benches for $500 each, helping enhance the visitor... Read this article online
New board members for Ontario Pork Friday, April 25, 2025 Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online
A Chicken’s Dream: The Perfect Home for Our Feathery Friends! Friday, April 25, 2025 BY: Zahra Sadiq Do you raise chickens on your farm for personal, friends and family use? Don’t you think your feathery friends deserve to live in style? If so, look no further, Roost & Root have plenty of chicken coop models to choose from that you and your chickens will... Read this article online