Ontario producers need to remain vigilant about PED Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by SUSAN MANNThe weather might have been unseasonably warm over the past few days but Ontario’s pork producers are not out of the woods yet when it comes to the threat of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, says Ontario Pork’s technical programs veterinarian.Mike DeGroot says there have been a few new cases lately and “everyone needs to keep their biosecurity up through the summer and early fall to keep PED out as well as other diseases.”PED cases typically slow down in the warmer months.In Ontario, the virus is still actively being spread around. However, “it (the spreading) has definitely been reduced. The virus is fairly well contained but it’s still out there and able to spread and affect farms,” he notes.The virus gets onto farms either through pig transporters, service vehicles or people. “A movement of pigs is the biggest risk factor,” DeGroot notes. “This is reflected in the dozen cases we’ve had in 2016 so far. Eight of them were at finisher sites where transporters were headed to pick up pigs.”DeGroot says transporters are washing the trucks. But “obviously not all trucks are washed at this point. They are washing a higher proportion than they did before PED” came to Ontario.The number of cases is the same as for the first half of last year but way less than the same time period two years ago, when the virus first hit the province.Knowing where the virus is and “sequencing loads can help” cut down on the disease’s spread, he says.Swine Health Ontario is still working on a plan to eliminate the virus from Ontario.In total, Ontario has had 97 confirmed cases of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) virus since Jan. 22, 2014 when the first farm in the province, a Middlesex Country farrow-to-finish operation was confirmed to have the virus.There were 69 confirmed PED cases in 2014 and 16 cases in 2015. Of those 16 cases from 2015, 12 occurred from January to about June 7 and that’s the same number of cases as this year so far. From January to June, 2014 there were 59 cases.Of the the total number of cases that have erupted since the virus first appeared in Ontario in 2014, DeGroot, says 75 to 80 per cent have been eliminated.PED is a viral disease causing vomiting and diarrhea. The disease can be severe in nursing piglets with an almost 100 per cent mortality rate. In growing pigs, there is widespread diarrhea and a low death loss. The disease isn’t a human health or food safety risk. BF Canada's pork industry considers shift to national pork grading system Organic sows, feeder pigs, change hands
FCC's New 6,000-Acre Innovation Farm in Manitoba Thursday, July 17, 2025 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is enhancing its Innovation Farm Network to support Canadian farmers and foster agricultural innovation. The network has expanded by adding a 6,000-acre farm in MacGregor, Manitoba, with 2,600 acres dedicated to growing potatoes. This is the first time a potato... Read this article online
North American Pork Leaders Focus on Health Thursday, July 17, 2025 Leaders from the Canadian Pork Council (CPC), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) from the United States, and the Mexican Pork Producer Organization (OPORMEX) recently gathered at a trilateral meeting in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. The goal was to discuss key issues related to... Read this article online
Canadian Pork Council rejoins Canadian Federation of Agriculture Thursday, July 17, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has a new old member. The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) has rejoined the national organization, bringing the total number of CFA members to 28. The pork producer group withdrew from the CFA in 2013 over trade policies. “We are unwilling to... Read this article online
Celebrate Farming with Alberta Open Farm Days 2025 Thursday, July 17, 2025 Alberta Open Farm Days returns on August 16 and 17, 2025, inviting Albertans to explore the heart of agriculture and rural tourism. This annual event connects people with local farmers and food producers, offering a chance to learn about farm life and food production. Now in its 13th... Read this article online
Ag buildings among Manitoba’s most endangered structures Thursday, July 17, 2025 Two buildings related to Manitoba’s ag history are among the most endangered in the province. The Scallion Granary and the Lake of the Woods Grain Elevator appear on the Manitoba Historical Society’s list of the Top 10 Endangered Structures for 2025. The list is made up of... Read this article online