Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Livestock Traceability in Canada - Is it do-able?

Do you think the Federal Provincial Territorial Ministers (Canada) commitment at the FPT meeting this summer of having a full traceability system for Livestock in place by 2011 is achievable?

Views: 685

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rocky on October 6, 2009 at 1:07am
I think it can be - but the question I always wonder is who is paying for it? I'm not going to argue with the concept - I think it's good -- I just think it's really expensive that doesn't equal real results. I mean - shouldn't beef guys be making money with all the improved traceability and market access they've gotten? Is having a system for pigs going to help them make money? I don't think so.
Permalink Reply by Joe Dales on October 6, 2009 at 10:00am
Hi Sara:

I agree with some of the points Rocky makes.
The technology is certainly available to implement a system.

The issue is the cost/benefits - governments can mandate a system like in beef but can a system create the added value from a marketing price perspective to warrant the extra costs.

Are we generating a premium for Canadian Beef because of traceability over non traced beef on the world market or in any market.

Identity Preserved soybeans do generate a premium for the producer so they can decide to do the extra work for the extra revenue...so there are market driven models that do work.

Thanks,

Joe
Permalink Reply by pigsrgr8 on October 8, 2009 at 5:39am
Pretty low priority on hog farms these days.
Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on October 8, 2009 at 2:21pm
Not a chance for the non-SM sector....I give the SM sector a 95% chance of pulling it off. There will be a traceability scheme....a la gun control, eHealth, etc., but as far as being real-time current this will only be a dream. Without a clear and bankable economic benefit for participants it will be in perpetual disarray. Throw in the myriad of 'hobby' livestock practioners and I shudder at the resources about to be wasted. Not to say that it isn't a necessary idea, but the approach has been all wrong. Unlike IP crop production where the marketplace expects and rewards traceability, I just don't see the same pressure along the generic export livestock food chain beyond what is already existing. As for the idea of traceabilty to combat disease outbreaks...I see too many feathers flying overhead or wildlife around in its natural state to take much consolation. Unlike certain equipment dealers that record every size and make of every machine in their market area for competitve reasons, I just don't see the same degree of impetus driving this agenda by the processors.

However, if livestock processors or exporters are driving this agenda then WHY is public money and government so involved? Not content to lobby for the demise of local abattoirs thru overbearing food safety regs, or to rest after successfully passing the murder of 22 citizens thru tainted meat onto government, they have now successfully convinced decision makers to ante up public dollars to rebuild and enhance their marketing efforts. Will National Grocers be more content and pay a premium to stock Ontario livestock products over foreign product? I think our dollar approaching par will have more say. Now please tell me where I am wrong and what I am missing?
Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on October 8, 2009 at 2:22pm
..just another way for decision makers to divert their attention from the REAL issues facing Canadian agriculture!!
Permalink Reply by Bristow on January 9, 2010 at 8:11pm
It is a joke and puts extra cost on the product, if the meat is not edible all those meat inspectors are not doing their job are they. Plus the retard who came up with this whole concept should be run out of town as carpet bagger, and the money should be spent on something more practical. The consumer doesn't care and will only buy the cheap imported meat. An other example of miss management, and pricing your local product out of the market. An if you are a farm and don't see what it is, then more fool you. Doomsday book rember that passed history.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Agriculture Day Highlights the Importance of Public Research for Prairie Farmers

As Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) works through research and staffing changes, clear communication will be key for Alberta farmers and seed developers as they plan for the next phase of Canadian agricultural innovation. Today’s Agriculture Day is a good moment to recognize the people, partnerships, and public institutions that keep Canadian agriculture competitive, resilient, and innovative. It’s also a natural time to reflect on how agricultural research in Canada is changing, and why transparency and communication matter to the people who rely on that work every season. AAFC is currently in a period of transition. Like many federal departments, it is navigating workforce adjustments and internal decisions that will shape how its research programs operate in the years ahead. So far, aside from occasional confirmations to media about closures and layoffs, AAFC has not publicly released formal details on the changes underway. That’s understandable. Staff deserve time to make

Register today: SeedWorld Webinar

Save your spot AAFC research cuts have put new pressure on Canada’s plant breeding pipeline — especially in Western Canada, where crop innovation is essential to competitiveness, diversification, and long-term resilience. This webinar convenes leaders from across the seed and crop development system to ask a simple question: If we could design the ideal plant breeding model for Western Canada today, what would it look like? If Canada wants to remain globally competitive, plant breeding can’t be treated as optional infrastructure. This session is a timely conversation about what needs to change — and what could be built.   Attendees can expect to learn: How AAFC research cuts are impacting plant breeding in Western Canada What an “ideal world” plant breeding system could look like today Why a producer-driven, not-for-profit model is gaining attention How plant breeding can be funded sustainably for the long term What needs to change to keep Canada globally competitive in crop innova

Ag in federal NDP leadership candidate plans

Rob Ashton, the national president of the International Longshore Workers Union, addresses ag through an indirect proposal

Indoor Berry Farming Without Bees

Montel and TMU have partnered to test airflow-based pollination technology at MoFarm, aiming to produce indoor berries without bees and strengthen Canada’s year-round food production system.

Market Outlook - Wheat

Bids to Canadian prairie producers have been relatively flat with basis improvements being thrown at producer bids to entice product into the system when needed on futures drops. The market sits comfortably for the time being but will keep its focus onto winter wheat conditions in Black Sea, European Union and United States when they do begin to break dormancy into April. The crops in these regions are believed to have escaped the worst of the winterkill scenarios mid January. Some drought issues in the U.S. winter wheat growing region and some mixed state-by-state analytics in the periodical updates provided on the overwintering crop. Once dormancy breaks, that’s when we will know the best and the market will likely stay sideways until it gets a solid feel of what that crop looks like. Aside from this, demand drive is what the market will need to see to chew away at some of the increased stocks that have ended up on the global balance sheet. As for Western Canadian wheat values, we ar

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service