Posted by Christina Florencio on Fri, Jun 22, 2012
.jpg)
(Photo: Lord Rex)
Ottawa- The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) is pleased to learn that Canada has been invited to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The successful completion of these trade talks can significantly enhance long term market possibilities for Canadian pork.
“The continuous efforts to open new and existing markets by the federal government will increase export opportunities for Canadian pork,” stated CPC’s Chair Jean-Guy Vincent. “A seat at the TPP negotiation table is an opening for Canada to secure long term market development opportunities, and to enhance its terms of trade with free trade agreement partners, who are, or wish to be TPP participants.
“The Pacific region is comprised of many economically emerging countries that are experiencing significant growth in both per capita incomes and population. These conditions generally lead to rapid increases in consumption and importation of meat products,” added Vincent. “Many of Canada fastest growing pork export markets are in this region and pork exports to its top ten Pacific Asian markets, in addition to Japan, have quadrupled over the past ten years to now exceed $600 million on an annual basis.”
Export access is of crucial importance to the Canadian pork industry. Canadian pork exports in 2011 exceeded $3.2 billion and about two-thirds of Canada pork production is exported. With constantly changing conditions of export competition exchange rates, agricultural policy and technical barriers – Canada’s pork producers are extremely concerned that Canada does not fall behind the United States and to other competitors in terms of access acquired through regional trade agreements. The CPC is thus very supportive of the federal government’s current pro-trade agenda, seeking improved terms of trade for Canada through agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and now, the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The CPC serves as the national voice for hog producers in Canada. A federation of nine provincial pork industry associations, our organization’s purpose is to play a leadership role in achieving and maintaining a dynamic and prosperous Canadian pork sector.
Posted by Christina Florencio on Thu, Jun 21, 2012
The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) has been established to represent all businesses involved in the anaerobic digestion and biogas industries, to help remove the barriers they face and to support its members to grow their businesses. Its principal aim is to enable and facilitate the development of a mature anaerobic digestion industry in the UK within 10 years.
The ADBA third annual trade show and conference, UK AD & Biogas 2012 will focus specifically on demonstrating where anaerobic digestion can offer the best benefits to local authorities, and the food and farming industries.
Showcasing why AD is the missing link to achieving maximum waste and resource management, climate-smart farming and sustainable food production, this event will not only show how beneficial the integration of AD can be but how it can be most successfully achieved.
The city of Birmingham will be hosting the 2 Day Conference on July 4-5 and will have 22 free seminars, professional AD clinics (legal, finance, farming), 200 Exhibitors and an expected 3000 visitors.
Octaform is a member of the ADBA and will be one of the exhibitors at the conference. Come visit us at Booth C31!
Register now. We hope to see you there!
Posted by Christina Florencio on Wed, Jul 20, 2011
(Photo by: Maurice)
TOPIGS, one of the global leaders in pig breeding and artificial insemination, shipped 324 breeding pigs to Japan last month. These animals, classified as "the top" contenders from the company's breeding pyramid and with the highest SPF health status, all came from Canada.
This shipment follows a quarantine period in Japan that resulted from the devastating earthquake, and tsunami. The pigs were transported to their final destination: a Japanese farm with 3000 sows that will use Topigs InGene for future sow replacement. Earlier this year the same hog operation imported breeding stock from Canadian farmers.
More imports to Japan from Europe and Canada will take place later in 2011. With these imports, the Japanese market will be provided with a breed of high-performance genetics that will help Japan recover from its recent quarantine. Since the introduction of boars and sows to the Japanese market a few years ago, they have surprised Japanese farmers with their high and efficient production of piglets and meat.
Are you getting the most out of your Hog Operation? Learn how one hog farmer increased his yields and saved money:
Posted by Lee Drever on Wed, Jul 06, 2011
Atlantic halibut, orange roughy, Chilean sea bass and shark are among the red-listed species already removed from the shelves of Safeway.
One of Western Canada’s largest grocery retailers, Safeway announced this week their Sustainable Seafood Policy in partnership with SeaChoice, a national Canadian coalition of leading environmental organizations working to protect the health of our oceans by improving the sustainability of seafood.
At the core of Safeway’s policy is their sustainable seafood commitment: by 2015, all fresh and frozen seafood will be sourced from sustainable and traceable sources, or be in a credible improvement project. To meet this goal, SeaChoice and Canada Safeway will engage with the retailer’s suppliers to assess and improve sustainable seafood procurement, as well as educate employees and customers about the environmental concerns associated with seafood.
One of the most sustainable sources of seafood is from recirculating aquaculture systems. Hardy species like Tilapia can thrive in a tank environment nourished on a low-protein trout feed without chemicals or antibiotics. Atlantic salmon are also proving to be a great sustainable source of farm-raised protein (see here and here).
RAS farm-raised Salmon, Tilapia, Trout, Bass, Abalone and Barramundi are just some of the species currently green-listed by SeaChoice as the most sustainable sources of seafood.
“As one of Western Canada’s largest food retailers, Safeway is committed to continue transitioning our seafood to sustainable sources over time to make a measurable difference in the planet’s ecosystems,” said Chuck Mulvenna, Canada Safeway CEO. “While the oceans have provided healthy food choices for generations, there is clear scientific evidence that many species of marine life are being threatened. Safeway’s seafood sustainability policy outlines our commitment to provide sustainable options for our customers to enjoy.“
Click here to learn about Octaform's aquaculture tank solutions.
The partnership between Canada Safeway and SeaChoice is in collaboration with the US partnership of Safeway Inc. and FishWise, a California-based non-profit focused on helping seafood retailers, distributors and producers develop and implement comprehensive sustainable seafood policies. Canada Safeway’s Sustainable Seafood Policy is consistent with the Common Vision for Environmentally Sustainable Seafood. Common Vision is an ambitious, but realistic guide to environmentally responsible seafood for businesses, developed by more than fifteen of North America’s leading ocean conservation organisations. Both SeaChoice and FishWise are members of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions, which developed the Common Vision for Environmentally Sustainable Seafood in which Safeway’s Sustainable Seafood Policy is based.
Posted by Lee Drever on Tue, May 31, 2011
Do you have "Happy Hogs"? Click here to find out how "Happy Hogs" translated into profits for a MT farmer.
It has been long understood by hog farmers that excessive heat equals reduced growth and reproduction in hogs but an Iowa State University animal scientist is leading a research project to further understand the actual physiological impacts of heat stress on pigs.
“The primary objectives are to evaluate why and how heat stress reduces swine productivity,” said Lance Baumgard, Iowa State associate professor and the Norman L. Jacobson Endowed Professor of Nutritional Physiology.
“Heat stress is the costliest issue for American animal agriculture and is even more economically devastating in the developing world. If climate change continues as predicted, the negative effects of environmental heat stress on pig production will become more severe,” he said.
Having a clear understanding of the biological mechanisms responsible for reduced productivity during heat stress is needed to develop strategies to improve suboptimal production during the warm summer months, Baumgard added.
Building with concrete is one of the best ways to create a stable climate temperature for livestock.
Baumgard is heading a team of animal scientists from Iowa State, the University of Arizona, the University of Missouri and Virginia Tech University. They will study how heat affects swine in several areas including nutrition, reproduction, muscle biology and immunology.
The $2.5 million research project is funded for five years by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Posted by Lee Drever on Fri, Mar 18, 2011
Old McDonald had a farm...
...and on his farm he had a tank full of tilapia?
With an ever-increasing global need for sustainable animal protein, agriculturists are turning to aquaculture for an alternative source of revenue.
Currently the fastest growing segment in the farming industry, inland aquaculture is taking off in a big way.
Here are 5 reasons why...
1. Demand
America’s appetite for seafood is growing and with 83% of it being imported from outside of the country, farmers are recognizing an opportunity to feed this demand from their existing infrastructures.
Montana Farmers Raising Salmon
At the end of last year, the Miller Hutterite Colony in Montana suspended hog-farming in favor of Coho salmon. Working with Envirotech Ag Systems and Aquaseed Corp., they started the first ever commercial salmon farm in the state.
http://www.choteauacantha.com/articles/2011/03/16/news/doc4d7fefebb4e7d365338985.txt
2. Sustainability
The UN has estimated that the world's food output needs to double by 2050. With depleting wild stocks and an increasing demand for seafood, land-based, closed-containment aquaculture offers a sustainable source of protein that can be grown locally.
Bruce Swift runs a land-based aquaculture
operation in Aggasiz, British Columbia.
3. Technology
Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology is becoming cheaper, more efficient and environmentally friendly. Tank technology now offers a diverse selection of options from smaller FRP (fiberglass) tanks to larger energy efficient PVC-lined concrete tanks.
4. Byproducts
Smart aquaculture operations are now producing profitable byproducts from their effuse. High-value greenhouse crops like tomatoes can be fertilized with fish waste water. At the same time, tomato beds are used as sand biofilters to clean the water of ammonia wastes so that it can be recycled back into the fish tanks.
5. Education
Aquaculture has long been recognized as a growth industry by post-secondary institutions; high school agriculture programs are also starting to follow suit.
Agriculture Students turn to Aquaculture
http://www.mcdonoughvoice.com/news/x13270135/A-new-aquaculture
Posted by Christina Florencio on Thu, Mar 03, 2011
-resized-600.jpg)
Octaform manure tank and barns built for Hargraves Farms, Brandon, MB
Good news for Canadian Farmers looking for a break. The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has made it easier for Farmers to have access to credit for the establishment, improvement and development of farms. This newly ammended funding supports the renewal of Canada's weakening agricultural sector and enables co-operatives to have better access to market opportunities.
The CALA program (Canadian Agricultural Loans Act) features up to $500,000 in loans for Lands and Buildings, and up to $350,000 for other loan purposes.
Eligible applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
-
Be established farmers
-
Beginning/start-up farmers (less than 6 years of farming)
-
Agricultural co-operatives with a majority (50% +1) farmer membership
-
Farmers assuming ownership of the family farm
The terms for the loans are pretty flexible- maximum term for loans is 10 years, with 15 years for loans on land purchases. Interest to be paid on a floating rate is the lender’s prime rate plus a maximum of one percent. Interest to be paid on a fixed-term rate uses a formula based on the lender’s residential mortgage rate plus a maximum of one percent.
The new ammendments to CALA was implemented in June 2009 and since then, the program issued over $146.6 million in loans to Canadian farmers, including $17.7 million in loans for new farmers.
With the help of CALA's finiancial support to the Canadian farmers and Agricultural co-operatives have a bright future to look forward to.
Check out: www.agr.gc.ca/cala, fgp-pgf@agr.gc.ca or call 1-888-346-2511 for more info.