Hearing dates set for national pork promotion and research agency proposal Thursday, December 17, 2015 by SUSAN MANNThe Farm Products Council of Canada is holding two days of hearings next year to look into the merits of a Canadian Pork Council proposal about establishing a pork promotion and research agency.The hearings will be held Jan. 19, 2016 at the Delta Bow Valley Downtown Hotel in Calgary and Feb. 16, 2016 at the Montreal Hyatt Regency in Montreal.Canadian Pork submitted its proposal to Farm Products in July. The new pork agency’s objectives would be to promote domestic pork consumption, further develop export markets for Canadian pork and support technical and market research.“These objectives are intended to strengthen the markets for hogs and pork, optimize production efficiencies, increase domestic consumption and enhance financial returns from the marketplace,” the proposal says.The levy to fund the new agency would apply to both domestic production and imports. It would be 75 cents per market hog or live hog equivalent for imports.Gary Stordy, Canadian Pork public relations manager, says the levy wouldn’t be new for Canadian producers. “The proposal takes into account the existing levies producers pay,” he says.The new agency is needed because in several provinces the current levy collected and spent on research, promotion and market development is decreasing, the proposal says. Furthermore, imports have never contributed towards research and promotion activities, as there isn’t currently a levy on pork and pork product imports.The estimated net return to Canadian producers is at least $4.79 for each check off dollar invested, the proposal says.Many provincial pork boards across Canada, including Ontario Pork, support the proposal.Stordy says if the proposal were successful the new agency would be set up within the next year. BF Pork council victor in ear tag dust-up New organization tackles swine health
Global Conflict Drives Major Surges in Commodity Markets Monday, March 9, 2026 A major international conflict the war in Iran has disrupted trade flows, pushing energy and grain prices sharply higher. On the weekly Ag Commodity Corner+ Podcast with Commodity Strategist Abhinesh Gopal shared the markets made sharp moves in the week of March 2 to 6, after a rapidly... Read this article online
Alberta Beef Producers forming traceability group Monday, March 9, 2026 A livestock organization in Alberta is forming a working group to explore the federal government’s proposed traceability changes. A March 5 statement from Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) indicates the organization’s delegates passed a resolution at the most recent AGM supporting this group’s... Read this article online
Canada invests in youth ag employment Monday, March 9, 2026 The federal government is investing in the future ag workforce. On March 5 at the Atlantic Council Cereals and Oilseeds conference, Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald announced $27 million over two years in AAFC’s Youth Employment and Skills Program. This program, originally launched... Read this article online
SARM Calling for Stronger Rural Emergency Funding Friday, March 6, 2026 The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is calling on provincial and federal governments to strengthen funding and partnerships that support emergency response services across rural Saskatchewan. Rural municipalities playa major rolein protecting communities during... Read this article online
Ag included in Carney’s trip to Japan Friday, March 6, 2026 Canada’s ag industry is part of the equation when it comes to the country’s continued relationship with Japan. A March 6 joint statement by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicates establishing a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” which includes... Read this article online