Reading Time: < 1 minute Livestock farmers in the U.S. would have a clearer path to bringing antitrust complaints against meatpacking companies for unfair business practices under a rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday.

US to clarify enforcement of antitrust laws in meatpacking

U..S food safety regulators expand bird flu testing in milk products
Canadian cases at nil as of mid-June according to CFIA testing
Reading Time: < 1 minute The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun testing more dairy products for evidence of the bird flu virus as outbreaks spread among dairy herds across the country.

Denmark will be first to impose CO2 tax on livestock emissions, government says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Denmark, a major pork and dairy exporter, will introduce a tax on livestock carbon dioxide emissions from 2030, making it the first country to do so and hoping to inspire others to follow, the government said on Tuesday.

Klassen: Canadian heifer retention tightening feeder supply
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta and Saskatchewan heifer placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels. Comments from ranchers and order buyers suggest that Western Canadian ranchers are holding back on heifers to expand the herd. This usually results in a narrowing of the steer/heifer spread.

U.S. livestock: Nearby cattle futures rise on strong demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) nearby cattle future contracts turned higher on Monday as stronger-than-expected domestic seasonal demand and firm prices in the cash market gave futures a boost, market analysts said.

Canadian beef sector urges resolution on Cargill labour dispute
Reading Time: 2 minutes In a joint news release issued June 24, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA), National Cattle Feeders’ Association (NCFA) and Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) strongly encouraged the Cargill Dunlop facility in Guelph and members of UFCW Local 175 to come to an expedited labour resolution. The CCA, NCFA and the BFO represent about 19,000 beef producers in Ontario and approximately 60,000 Canada-wide.

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle lower, live cattle mixed ahead of surprising USDA report
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle futures turned lower and live cattle were mixed on Friday, as traders squared positions ahead of a closely-watched monthly feedlot report and anticipated smaller cattle placements, traders said.

Bovine bird flu reports still at zero in Canada
Reading Time: 2 minutes Results of a national testing program conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released June 18 showed no evidence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the country’s milk supply. "Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume," said a release from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). It was also noted that even if traces of the virus were found, the pasteurization process would have rendered them harmless.

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures mixed, lean hogs lower on signs of cooling economy
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures were mixed on Thursday, with nearby live cattle contracts ticking higher amid signs of strength in the cash market and consumer demand staying firm, market analysts said.

Feed Grain Weekly: Wild weather in Alberta gives growers pause
Reading Time: < 1 minute Susanne Leclerc, owner of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, said moisture levels in Alberta are not distributed evenly with the north seeing plenty of rain and the south becoming drier. A recent cold snap between Calgary and Edmonton plunged lows to around the freezing mark earlier this week, while snow fell over parts of the Foothills.