Like an unwelcome itch that never goes away, American Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) legislation recently came back to haunt the Canadian meat industry – particularly the cattle and beef sector     by Will Verboven – The Bulletin The COOL issue is decades old and has cost the industry millions in product discounts, logistical hoops, red tape, and lobbying expenses by our provincial and national cattle producer organizations. I suspect the beef industry may have hoped that the World Trade Organization ruling in favour of Canada and Mexico had finally put the issue to r ..read more

On behalf of beef producers, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is cautiously optimistic that the Government recognized the Livestock Tax Deferral’s effectiveness in providing relief for producers in Budget 2024 and recognized it as a crucial tool for producers in times of natural disasters such as drought or floods     Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) The CCA has requested a change to the Income Tax Act to include all classes of cattle and allow producers to self-elect when they need to use the deferral. “Beef producers are encouraged to see the Livestock Tax Deferr ..read more

The 2024 budget changes on capital gains will create many winners and losers among Canada’s entrepreneurs, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB notes important budget progress in unlocking $2.5 billion in carbon tax rebates for SMEs.      Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Capital Gains Changes a Mixed Bag for Entrepreneurs “The big surprise for small business is a series of changes to capital gains taxation,” said Dan Kelly, CFIB president. “Our early assessment is that most small business owners will come out ahead or ..read more

Canada’s Codes of Practice provide critical guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. The Codes serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practice       NFACC and the Codes Canada’s Code development process is led by NFACC. Key components of the process are: the inclusion of scientific committees to review research on priority welfare issues;  ownership of the individual Codes by the relevant stakeholders through their active participation in developing the Code;   measurable components to facilitate the developmen ..read more

The Swine Health Information Center and the American Association of Swine veterinarians are helping prepare livestock producers for dealing with highly pathogenic avian influenza     by Bruce Cochrane – Farmscape.ca In response to the identification of highly pathogenic avian influenza in livestock in the United States including goats and dairy cattle, the Swine Health Information Center in collaboration with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians will host a webinar on influenza A viruses April 19th. SHIC Executive Director Dr. Megan Niederwerder says the webinar wil ..read more

Canada’s food and beverage manufacturers face a mix of obstacles and optimism for profit margin improvements in the year ahead, according to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report      by Jim McAlister –  Farm Credit Canada(FCC) After hitting a record $165 billion in food and beverage manufacturing sales last year, 2024 is expected to see sales moderate in sync with slowing inflation and tighter household budgets. Despite sector-specific headwinds and changing consumer shopping habits, the overall outlook is more positive. Population growth and stabilizing input cos ..read more

U.S. officials have identified H5N1 bird flu in roughly a dozen dairy cattle herds across 6 states      by Lauren Pelley –  CBC News Confirmation that a dangerous form of bird flu is circulating among U.S. dairy cattle has raised questions among dairy producers — and consumers — on both sides of the border. Dairy and beef farmers are implementing biosecurity measures to keep H5N1 out of their herds, while Canadians are understandably concerned about what these outbreaks could mean for food safety. So what is the scope of these dairy cattle outbreaks, and how is Canad ..read more

Five projects will receive up to $1 million in funding each under Phase 2 of the Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) program       The five projects, approved for funding by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will target the Canadian meat processing industry and the Canadian controlled environment agriculture industry with the goal of advancing automation and robotic technologies. These companies have developed ideas to address challenges such as work productivity, labour shortages, and operational efficiency.    “These cutting-edge solutions will help the sector ..read more

Growing up on a ranch in the Columbia River Valley, water has always been part of Kat Hartwig’s life, and over the years, she’s noticed changes     by Brenna Owen – The Canadian Press Marshy areas her family used for irrigation or watering cattle are dry, wetlands are becoming “crunchy” rather than spongy underfoot, and snowmelt is disappearing more quickly each spring, ushering in the dry summer months, Hartwig says. Climate science supports her observations, showing that global heating is causing warmer temperatures and increasingly severe droughts in British Columbia. &nbs ..read more

Spring has sprung and farmers are back in the fields; however, in the corridors of the House of Commons, the spotlight is now on Bill C-58     by Alex Oulton – Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) A proposal stirring heated debates, raising significant concerns across various sectors of the economy. This Bill could certainly have an impact on the agricultural sector.  Bill C-58 has passed its second reading and is now at the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. This b ..read more