Joe Dales's Blog (72)

Your Essential Ag & Country Directories are Here – Online and Ready!

The annual Ag & Country directories for Prairies and Ontario are now live online - these directories are your go-to resource for maximizing productivity and supporting rural living.

PigLEARN Expands Training Library with New Modules Focused on Handling, Health, and Safety

The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) is preparing to release a new set of training modules as part of its PigLEARN platform, continuing its push to provide practical, accessible education for workers entering the swine industry. Launched earlier this year, PigLEARN is an online learning platform designed to give new barn workers a strong foundation before stepping into day-to-day production tasks. The system was showcased this month at the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2025. A Growing Library of Practical Swine Training Mark Fynn, Training Resources Coordinator with the CPC, says the platform has quickly grown to become a comprehensive resource. PigLEARN currently includes 86 training modules covering topics such as: Group sow housing Pig handling and movement Transport preparation Euthanasia protocols Farrowing unit procedures General barn workflows Each module includes built-in knowledge checks and is available in multiple languages—including English, French, Tagalog, Spa

Countdown to Christmas -- Farms.com Holiday Calendar Brings Fun for the Whole Family

Farms.com is helping farm families celebrate the season with its Holiday Countdown Calendar! Starting December 1, click each day to reveal festive surprises.

Stronger Together: How Collaboration Is Transforming Swine Disease Preparedness in Western Canada

The Saskatchewan pork sector is entering a new era of disease preparedness as producers, veterinarians, and government partners work more closely than ever to guard against both endemic and foreign animal diseases. At the recent Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2025 in Saskatoon, provincial leaders highlighted how coordination and communication across the industry have strengthened dramatically over the past decade. The message was clear: no single group can tackle swine disease alone. A Shift Toward Shared Responsibility According to Saskatchewan’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Stephanie Smith, one of the biggest changes in modern animal health management is the move toward industry-wide integration. Collaboration isn’t just encouraged — it’s becoming the standard. Canada’s evolving structures, including national and provincial surveillance networks and the development of Animal Health Canada, are enabling faster information flow, better detection of disease trends, and more c

Ontario Hog Market Trends: Prices Continue to Ease as 2025 Wraps Up

Ontario hog markets continued their late-fall softening trend in the week ending November 28, with formula prices, cutouts, and feeder pig values all posting declines. Here are the key developments producers need to know. Ontario Market Prices Slide Again The 100% Base Formula Price dropped to $209.29/ckg, down from $218.13 the previous week — its lowest level in several weeks. Average dressed hog pricing settled at $259.22/ckg, with highs of $288.87 and lows of $226.11. Weekly dressed weight averaged 108.54 kg, and total hog marketings reached 118,407 head, a strong figure relative to this time last year. Weaned and feeder pig prices softened alongside formula declines: Weaned pigs: $54.42 Feeder pigs: $86.33 Canadian Slaughter Strong; Provincial Prices Ease Canadian hog slaughter remained robust at 456,721 head, well above year-ago levels. Provincial prices reflected the broader softness: Quebec Pool: $205.10/ckg Manitoba Hog Value: $229.20/ckg The Canadian dollar strengt