Canada to Consult WTO on COOL Regulations
CANADA - The Government of Canada is seeking formal consultations with the United States under the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process on country-of-origin labelling (COOL) measures.

Maple Leaf Challenges COOL Legislation
CANADA - Maple Leaf Consumer Foods says U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling has impacted the ability of Canadian processors to compete in the U.S. retail market and needs to be challenged, writes Bruce Cochrane.

IBM Track Manitoba Meat with Digital Passport
MANITOBA, CANADA - A new food traceability system in Manitoba was shown to work after a test tracked food from farm to fork.

Short-Term Cattle and Hog Loan Programs Altered
CANADA - In recognition of the ongoing cash crunch facing cattle and hog producers, the Saskatchewan government has unveiled changes to its short term cattle and hog loan programs, writes Bruce Cochrane.

COOL and Canada: What will US Consumers Choose?
CANADA - US based food companies are unsure about the impact that COOL (Country of Origin Labelling) will have on their operations, and some Canadian food industry pundits are responding with anxiety.

Healthy Meat: New Generation of Trans Fat Research
CANADA - Alberta's livestock industry is investing $2 million to spearhead the next generation of research into the health benefits of natural trans fats.

Livestock Transport Conference Aiming to Teach
ALBERTA - The Livestock Transport Conference is slated for January 29, 2009, at the Radisson Hotel in Calgary. It will be hosted by Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC).

Canadian Beef Pushes to Re-open Korean Market
CANADA - The Government of Canada is continuing to work hard to re-open the Korean market to Canadian beef.

Counting the Value of Grazing Grass in Canada
CANADA - A multidisciplinary team of scientists from the Universities of Manitoba and Saskatchewan has launched a project that will investigate the value of grasslands in helping Canada reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, says Bruce Cochrane.

Diets that Equal Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions
CANADA - Research conducted by the University of Manitoba has shown cows fed a grain based diet will produce less greenhouse gas than cows feed a forage or grass based diet, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Cutting Emissions: Less Grass, Less Gas
CANADA - A University of Manitoba scientist says he's figured out how to cut the amount of greenhouse gas belching from cows by as much as 200 litres a day -- feed them grain instead of grass.

Econiche: World's First E. coli O157 Vaccine
CANADA - Econiche, the world’s first vaccine designed to reduce the shedding by cattle of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7, has received full licensing approval from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Canada Resumes Beef Trade Talks with Korea
CANADA - The Government of Canada says it is working for farmers by pursuing technical negotiations with Korea on issues related to exports of Canadian beef. Korea banned imports of Canadian beef in May 2003, after bovine spongiform encephalopathy...

Maple Leaf Explains Listeria Situation at its Plant
CANADA - Maple Leaf Foods held a press conference last week regarding the ongoing problems with listeria contamination at one of its plants.

ALMA Launches New Web Site
CANADA - Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) has launched a new web site, offering livestock producers and the meat industry in Alberta now have a new central information source.

ALMA: New Industry Experts Join In
ALBERTA - An international businessman, a key industry representative and a nationally acclaimed marketing executive have all been named to the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA).

Manitoba Commits to TB Testing Support
CANADA - The Manitoba province has commited itself to supporting producers test their livestock for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB).

Meat Recall Scandal in Canada
CANADA - It came to light over the weekend, that the recall of meat produced by Maple Leaf meat company, that caused 19 deaths and has left 30 people seriously ill in hospital, could have started 6 days earlier.

Alberta: Age Verification Key to Unlock Markets
ALBERTA - More than 30 additional staff from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) and 30 part-time staff from Livestock Identification Services (LIS) are now available to assist producers in age verifying their 2008 calf crop.

Farm Education Centre to Target Youth
CANADA - Beginning in the Fall of 2009 the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment plans to expand its public education and outreach with the opening of the Glenlea Farm Education Centre, writes Bruce Cochrane.