Processing plant future one less worry for pork board Tuesday, April 7, 2009 © AgMedia Inc.by BETTER FARMING STAFFAs Ontario Pork’s board prepares for a new term, there’s one worry off its plate: the short-term future of Maple Leaf Foods Inc.’s Burlington processing plant.Last week, the company announced it would delay the sale of the plant, “despite active negotiations with several prospective purchasers.” It attributed the delay to economic conditions making credit difficult to obtain and said sales efforts would resume once markets rebound, likely in 2010.Wilma Jeffray, Ontario Pork’s new chair, says the organization’s board hasn’t discussed the announcement’s implications. “We’re glad that they are continuing, absolutely,” she says, and notes the plant slaughters more than half of the hogs processed in the province.Maple Leaf’s restructuring plans, including centralizing pork processing in Manitoba, have sparked concerns among producers that the Burlington plant would be shut if a buyer could not be found.It would mean a processing capacity loss of more than two million hogs annually, according to figures presented in the company’s 2008 annual financial review.These concerns were a major factor in sparking Ontario Pork’s market renewal strategy project begun in 2006, says Jeffray.Jeffray says the expressions of interest in the plant shows the business is viable.Company financial statements indicate its meat products group, which includes the plant, had operating earnings of $29.5 million in 2008 before the costs of a product recall and restructuring are taken into account.Mary-Ann Hendrikx, the board’s new vice-chair, says selling the plant would make Maple Leaf “competitors for pork in the province through their other (processing) operations. I think there’s probably a little bit of complication along those lines.”The company may not want to encounter extra competitive pressure under the current market conditions, she says.Michael Vels, Maple Leaf’s chief financial officer, could not be reached for comment.Jeffray says the Ontario Pork board’s priority right now is finding a solution to unrest within the sector. “What we’re doing now isn’t that healthy.”Addressing the long-term sustainability of the industry is next and will “take input from everyone.”In October, the Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission removed Ontario Pork’s single desk marketing powers.Producers and regional associations have appealed the order with the Ontario Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal. The Tribunal has stayed the order. No date has yet been set for the hearing. BF Pork stay stays but so do questions Second Look: Why don't we brand Canadian pork?
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