Pork belly futures a thing of the past Monday, October 3, 2011 The mid-July notice from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange was simple and terse."Because of a prolonged lack of trading volume and after significant discussion with industry participants, CME will be delisting Frozen Pork Bellies Futures and Options effective Monday July 18, 2011."According to Minyanville Media, which reports on commodity trading, pork belly trading, which celebrated its 50th birthday this year, was the most recognized and glamorous of the commodity trading contracts. Pork bellies, frozen in the winter when demand was low, were thawed in the summer to meet the high demand when bacon and tomato sandwiches were peaking. The seasonal demand produced a need to hedge against higher prices. A single contract consisted of 40,000 pounds of frozen trimmed bellies from which bacon was made.Minyanville said trading in hog bellies declined for a number of reasons. The packing industry has switched to fixed price contracting. A few huge companies producing both pigs and bacon dominate. On top of that, demand is no longer seasonal, with hamburger chains adding bacon to make their sandwiches more palatable. BP 'This program is no ASRA' It's the pork, stupid!
Fertilizer Canada Welcomes Supply Chain and Labour Measures in Bill C-39 Friday, September 25, 2026 Canada's fertilizer sector is throwing its support behind the federal government's proposed Building Canada Strong Act, saying the legislation could help strengthen the transportation and supply chain systems that are critical to agricultural trade. Fertilizer Canada President and CEO... Read this article online
Equipment Technician Demand Reaches New Highs Friday, September 25, 2026 Canada's agriculture and construction equipment industry is facing a growing shortage of skilled technicians, according to a new report released by industry organizations the Canada Equipment Dealers Association (CEDF)and the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation (AEDF). The findings... Read this article online
B.C. ag minister won’t seek re-election Friday, September 25, 2026 British Columbia’s minister of agriculture won’t run in the next provincial election when the time comes. Lana Popham, the NDP MLA for Saanich South currently in her second tenure as the ag community’s voice in the provincial legislature, made the announcement on Sept. 21. “I am sad to... Read this article online
Dorothy Long Leads New Era for Canadian Food Focus Thursday, September 24, 2026 Canadian Food Focus is entering a new stage of growth with the appointment of Dorothy Long as Executive Director. The organization, which focuses on improving food literacy and public trust in agriculture, aims to help Canadians better understand where their food comes from and how it is... Read this article online
Judy Sweet Strengthens Future of Farm Education Thursday, September 24, 2026 A significant investment in agricultural education is set to benefit students, researchers and the livestock industry in western Canada. Long-time Lakeland College supporter Judy Sweet has contributed funding to the Student-Managed Farm (SMF) Lab Revitalization Project. The investment... Read this article online