Taiwan's beef about Ractopamine in pork Monday, December 3, 2012 Taiwan agreed in July to set a maximum residue limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) of growth promoter Ractopamine in imported beef cuts from the United States, and imports began in September. The limit for the same drug in pork is zero. What gives?Economic policy analyst Ross Korves, in a recent column published in the Truth About Trade and Technology, wrote that "most of Taiwan's pork consumption comes from domestic production, but only a small amount of beef is produced locally. "Use of Ractopamine, first approved for sale by Eli Lilly in the United States 10 years ago, remains controversial. In July, the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome set a 10 ppb limit following a very close (69-67) vote. (The limit in the United States is 30 ppm.) The Codex was created by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization in 1963 to set food standards and codes of practice that contribute to the safety of food trade, according to Korves.Taiwan is Canada's tenth largest export market, with sales worth $54.25 million in 2010, up 211 per cent from 2007, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The United States sold about the same amount of pork there in 2010. BP What consumers like and don't like Biggest American producers add more sows in 2012
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online
Co-ops Acquire Blair’s Ag Retail Sites Thursday, September 4, 2025 Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has announced the sale of six Blair’s Family of Companies (BCS) ag retail locations to four local Co-ops, marking the end of a major transition. This change follows FCL’s purchase of all remaining shares in its joint venture with the Blair’s family,... Read this article online
Regenerative Oats Farming Showcased at Field Days Thursday, September 4, 2025 The 4th Annual Regenerative Organic Oats (ROO) Field Days marked a major milestone in advancing sustainable agriculture, uniting farmers, industry partners, and community leaders at Katerynych Family Farm near Richard, Saskatchewan. Hosted by Nature’s Path Organic Foods in partnership with... Read this article online
Alberta Cattle Producers to Step Away from CCA in 2026 Thursday, September 4, 2025 The Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) Board of Directors has announced its decision to formally withdraw membership from the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), effective July 1, 2026. The decision follows months of strategic review and discussions around accountability, transparency, and value... Read this article online
Alberta Reviews Future of Farm Plastics Thursday, September 4, 2025 The Government of Alberta is gathering feedback on whether agricultural plastics should be managed under a provincial regulatory framework. This initiative is being led by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas together with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation. The consultation is focused... Read this article online