Alberta Pork has been notified about a confirmed case of H1N2v influenza discovered in Alberta. H1N2v influenza is an infectious respiratory disease caused by type A influenza viruses. It is commonly found in populations of livestock around the world. As noted by Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health, this animal virus is…
From low pig pricing to COVID-19 impacts, and from rising farm costs to less opportunity for farm businesses to thrive, Alberta hog producers today are in a very tight spot. As time goes on and profitability continues to decline, some producers are reducing production or exiting the industry altogether. Despite these challenges, it is as…
All business relationships contain a balance of power. In the Alberta hog industry, over time, the power has swung from an equitable place for both producers and packers, to favouring packers and retailers. Between 1969 and 1996, Alberta Pork acted as the single-desk seller for hogs in the province. In those days, there were nearly…
Alberta Pork’s 51st annual general meeting (AGM) will take place for all registered producers and industry partners during the afternoon of Thurs., Nov. 26. Please save this date in your calendar if you plan on attending. COVID-19 has impacted our lives and industry greatly, including placing restrictions on in-person gatherings. This year, Alberta Pork’s board…
Historical ups and downs in the hog marketplace have come to be expected. However, since last year, and more dramatically this year, low pig prices are sending a signal to Alberta’s pork producers that they should reduce barn inventory to minimize financial damage to their businesses. In the past few months, with increasing frequency, producers…
Confusion surrounding hog pricing formulas has somewhat hindered producer understanding of contracts for a long time. By breaking out the components of the formulas, it is possible to observe some of the drivers behind the different formulas and thereby provide clarity. Canada prices pigs using U.S. data Historically, the U.S. has been Canada’s primary market…
In mid-May, B.C. Pork, Alberta Pork, Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork issued a joint invitation to executives from Maple Leaf Foods, Olymel and Donald’s Fine Foods to discuss the state of the western Canadian pork industry, and to work for solutions that generate shared value for producers and processors. Our request was to meet before…
Every year, the Red Deer Swine Technology Workshop attracts more than 150 pork producers and farm employees to attend presentations and networking sessions with industry partners. Swine Tech 2020—what would have been the workshop’s 25th installment—was originally scheduled to take place in late October. Due to the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and provincial health…
Alberta Pork has launched a new economics web section designed to support producer success by providing the necessary tools for effective financial decision-making. The new section includes pork market and hog supply reports, contract pricing breakdowns, information on our cost of production study and the latest economic research. In the coming weeks, Alberta Pork, in…
The Alberta Pork Board of Directors welcomes its latest members, following an election for two available Director-at-Large positions. On Mar. 16, a representative from the Alberta Agricultural Products Marketing Council visited Alberta Pork’s office in Edmonton to witness the unsealing of the ballot envelopes and boxes, and to verify the count performed by Alberta Pork…