Smithfield hit by higher hog prices Thursday, June 10, 2010 Smithfield Food Inc, and the analysts who keep an eye on it, have been caught off guard by the recent leap in hog prices. Meatingplace.com notes that Smithfield was warning investors before regular meetings that its fourth quarter numbers will be weaker than expected, in spite of changes in the way the company is doing business.A BMO Capital Markets analyst noted that Smithfield had still made the right decisions by restructuring its hog business and reducing the amount of debt carried on its balance sheet. The world's largest hog producer is expected to do much better in 2011.Higher raw material costs, meaning hogs, are affecting Smithfield's fresh pork business, while the unexpected run-up in futures has hurt the value of those assets, according to "mark to market" accounting, a system of assigning current market value to financial instruments. BP Bacon a must for foster children? Canada's share of world pork trade predicted to decline
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Thursday, April 30, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Pet Obesity a Growing Concern Thursday, April 30, 2026 Pet obesity has become one of the most common health concerns seen during routine veterinary visits, alongside dental disease. Nearly 60 percent of pets in the United States are considered overweight, which can reduce overall life expectancy and increase the risk of chronic conditions such... Read this article online
Rail Inflation Index Increased for Maximum Revenue Entitlement for Western Grain Thursday, April 30, 2026 The Canadian Transportation Agency has announced its determination of the Volume-Related Composite Price Index for the 2026–2027 crop year, setting the index at 1.9864 for the Canadian National Railway Company and 1.9474 for the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway Company. The updated... Read this article online
Inside the Collapse of Monette Farms and What It Signals for Big Agriculture Thursday, April 30, 2026 The restructuring of Monette Farms is raising hard questions about how large is too large in modern agriculture—and whether today’s risk tools are keeping up. (Read the article: Monette Farms Seeks Court Protection as Mega-Farm Restructures Amid Financial Pressures) For years, Monette... Read this article online
Ontario Community Food Program Wins BASF Rural Impact Award Wednesday, April 29, 2026 A community focused food initiative in Ontario has receivedsupportthrough a national agricultural support programsponsored by BASF.Petrolia Community Refrigeratorwas named thefirst-placewinner in Ontario under the2026 Growing Home with BASFprogram, earning a $25,000 award for its work in... Read this article online