New PED strain gives Ontario's pig industry a wide berth for now Monday, January 12, 2015 by SUSAN MANNThe new, third strain of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus that’s showed up in the United States hasn’t appeared in Ontario, says an Ontario Pork spokesperson.The new strain was found in a Minnesota hog herd, and researchers say it’s a possible mutation of the original virus that was first discovered in the United States in April 2013. Ontario had its first case of PED virus almost a year ago on a Middlesex County farm. Since then there have been 69 confirmed cases.PED causes vomiting, diarrhea and high death loss in nursing pigs. In growing pigs, there is widespread diarrhea with low mortality. PED is not a human health or food safety risk.There was a second strain of PED found on an Ontario hog farm in June “that was slightly different from the original strain that was here but it hasn’t been found since then either,” says Mike DeGroot, Ontario Pork national biosecurity coordinator. “It was contained to just one farm.”DeGroot says it’s not surprising a third strain has surfaced. “I know they’re talking about it being a possible mutation and viruses are known to do that.” He points out that since PED hit the United States, they have found not only the different PED strains but also different coronaviruses, such as the delta coronavirus.“I think whatever contaminated the North American industry probably sent a couple different stains over here at that time,” he says.DeGroot says there’s always a risk the new strain could come to Ontario too. Farmers should continue to follow good biosecurity practices to keep new strains as well as the old ones out of their barns.But there’s not a lot of evidence that strains of virus have moved this way from the United States since last January when PED virus was suspected to come to Ontario via nursery feed, he explains, adding they’re more worried about containing the PED virus that’s in Ontario now.Most farms infected last year in Ontario have either eliminated the virus or have plans in place that will eliminate the virus shortly from the farm, he says.“If we can have less than three or four new cases a month for the January, February months and then move into warmer weather and then get zero cases again across the summer, I think we’re doing pretty good.” BF Behind the Lines - February 2015 PED causes a spike in pork prices
CFA shows support for the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, October 21, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is showing its support for the Toronto Blue Jays as they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday to start the World Series. “Congratulations to the @BlueJays on last night’s big win!” the CFA said on X on Oct. 21. “Canada’s team is on fire and... Read this article online
CGC issues grain dealer license to AgroHall Foods Ltd. Tuesday, October 21, 2025 The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) issued a new license last week. AgroHall Foods Ltd./ Les aliments AgroHall Ltée in Regina, Sask., received a grain dealer license on Oct. 17, the CGC’s website says. The Sask. location is at 1881 Scarth St., Suite 1500, the Moose Jaw & District... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
October ag minister roundup Monday, October 20, 2025 Farms.com is again scouring social media and online activity to see what Canada’s ministers of agriculture are doing to support farmers and the industry overall. Beginning with federal Minister Heath MacDonald, he and some of his provincial counterparts recently returned from four days of... Read this article online
Out of Feed, Out of Luck: The Real Cost of Feed Delivery Failures in Swine Operations By Casey L. Bradley, Ph.D. – Animistic Monday, October 20, 2025 From Science to the Barn: What We Know About Feed Gaps Whether you’re managing a 2,400-head finishing barn or a 6,000-sow farrow-to-wean, the assumption is that if the bin has feed, the pigs are eating. But what if they’re not? Feed outages—defined as either full-blown empty feeders or... Read this article online