Uncollectible loans and unsustainable agriculture Sunday, April 3, 2011 The Nova Scotia government wrote off $16.2 million in bad loans from 2008. The loans included more than $1 million in uncollectible student loans, and smaller amounts for pharmacare premiums and unpaid fees. But by far the majority of the uncollectible loans had been made by the Nova Scotia agriculture department. "This unusually high amount is due to defaulted hog loan accounts under the Farm Loan Board," said a ministry of finance press release."For many years, hog farming in Nova Scotia was heavily subsidized by government," the release went on. "When government support was discontinued in 2007-08, many hog farmers were unable to sustain their business due to low pork prices and rising production costs."The Canadian Pork Council's public relations manager, Gary Stordy, says the Nova Scotia industry has collapsed. There are six pig farms left, compared to more than 80 four years ago.Many provinces offer loans to producers of various commodities, Stordy says. Another pork example is Big Sky Farms Inc. in Saskatchewan. The province now has a stake in the embattled company. BP Inconsistent reports on red meat The 'bacon bubble' that didn't burst
Hong Kong suspends Alberta egg and poultry shipments Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Alberta eggs and poultry have temporarily lost access to an Asian trading partner. Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS) which under the Food and Environment Hygiene Department is responsible for ensuring food is safe, suspended the import of poultry meat and eggs from Alberta on May... Read this article online
Alberta RCMP launches Rural Organized Crime Team Wednesday, June 3, 2026 The Alberta RCMP is launching a new unit to monitor crime in rural communities. Following a $2 million investment from the provincial government, the RCMP announced part of the funding will support the creation of a new Rural Organized Crime Team (ROCT). The ROCT will be “a mobile unit... Read this article online
Drought Reaches Record Levels Across U.S. Midwest - What's the Outlook for the Summer? Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Drier weather across the Midwest and Upper Midwest has ushered in a new wave of drought concerns, with portions of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Indiana newly appearing on the U.S. Drought Monitor, according to the Nutrien Weekly Weather Intelligence Report by meteorologist Eric... Read this article online
Weekly Hog Market Facts: Ontario Prices Hold Steady While Futures Pull Back Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Ontario hog prices remained relatively stable heading into the week ending May 22, 2026, even as U.S. futures markets softened and slaughter volumes trended lower. The latest Weekly Hog Market Facts report highlights a market that continues to balance solid fundamentals with growing... Read this article online
Alberta Pork Congress 2026 Set to Bring Innovation and Industry Leaders to Red Deer Tuesday, June 2, 2026 The Alberta Pork Congress (APC) 2026 is set to return to Westerner Park in Red Deer on June 10 and 11, 2026, bringing together producers, suppliers, and industry leaders from across Western Canada for two days of innovation, education, and connection. Recognized as one of the most... Read this article online