Meat processing company Olymel will permanently close its Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu plant this summer, a move that affects 135 employees     The Canadian Press The company's management explained in a news release that the plant, which processed poultry and pork products, was operating at only 40 per cent capacity. The plant is closing its doors for good on July 19.    "Olymel has been restructuring for the past two years as ...

A researcher with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine says improving animal welfare management will result in healthier more productive animals that will cost less to bring to market     by Bruce Cochrane - Farmscape.ca "What the Chair in Swine Welfare is doing for you" will be discussed as part of the Prairie Swine Centre's spring producer meetings planned for Strathmore April 30th, Swift Current May 1st and Niverville ...

In Sherbrooke, Que., dozens of tractors slowly rolled along a stretch of road between the regional offices of Quebec's farmers association and the Agriculture Department a few hundred meters away    by Jacob Serebrin - The Canadian Press Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December. "It's pretty hard to get farmers out of their farms, ...

Alberta Health Services is warning about the "significant health risk" associated with uninspected meat products purchased from eight Calgary food businesses    The Canadian Press The businesses are Alta Halal Meat, Bismillah Meat and Grocery, Madina Halal Meat and Grocery, Maher Fresh Halal Meat, Mediterranean Halal Meats and Deli, Mustafa Madani Halal Meat and Grocery, Shawdesi Bazaar, and Shawdesi Foods and Catering.    "AHS is working with the Canadian Food ...

Farm Credit Canada is now accepting applications from registered charities, non-profit organizations and First Nations, Métis and Inuit governments/communities in rural Canada for the FCC AgriSpirit Fund     The fund supports capital projects that enrich the lives of residents in communities with fewer than 150,000 people. There is a total of $1.5 million in funding available. Projects can receive between $10,000 and $25,000.    "Projects include greenhouses, community gardens ...

Texas officials reported on Monday that a farm worker tested positive for H5N1, or bird flu, that has spread to dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Michigan and Idaho - the first time the virus has infected cattle     by Julie Steenhuysen - Reuters Health officials and scientists say the risk to humans remains low, but many questions remain. IS BIRD FLU A CONCERN? The Texas case is ...

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 ...