CFFO Blog's Blog – October 2011 Archive (4)

Nova Scotia invests in beef sector

Farmers have until Dec. 11 to apply for the Nova Scotia Beef Development Program

hio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Adopts Iowa State University Disease Diagnostic Codes

The Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has successfully adopted Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory "Disease Diagnostic Codes" developed by Iowa State University. A Swine Health Information Center funded project has resulted in the successful adoption by the Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory of Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Disease Diagnostic Codes developed by Iowa State University. SHIC Executive Director Dr. Lisa Becton says the goal of the project was to make better use of diagnostic data when assessing trends for disease detection on a case basis, rather than just looking at PCR results. Quote-Dr. Lisa Becton-Swine Health Information Center: When tissue cases are submitted, a lot of times there is information that is provided by the attending veterinarian that is not always in a standardized framework. The system that Iowa State University VDL developed provides for a standardized coding framework and this is important because it allows further capture of the different p

Rebound in Pork Demand Needed to Support Stronger Hog Markets

The Chief Economist with EA Risk says a rebound in pork demand is what's needed to provide upward price support for hog prices moving forward. The day-two keynote address yesterday, as part of Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2026 looked at the outlook for the hog market. Dr. Lee Schulz, the Chief Economist with EA Risk, formerly Ever.Ag Risk Management, says although hog supplies are forecast to be similar to year ago levels, weakened demand for pork due to the economy, fueled by a higher cost of living has put substantial downward pressure on hog prices. Quote-Dr. Lee Schulz-EA Risk: Consumers are not keeping up. If you look at real disposable personal income, it's been down four months, month over month here in 2026, pretty large decline here in September. So, consumers are, are, are feeling it. I think they're seeing it, but again, they're also feeling it then in their pocketbooks and what that has done is it's impacted demand across the board. Pork has, has been one of them

Sask Pork Concludes a Successful Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium 2026

he Communications and Marketing Coordinator with Sask Pork credits the Sask Pork team and the Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium advisory committee with a successful 2026 edition of the annual event. Although the numbers have not yet been crunched, the 2026 edition of Saskatchewan Pork Industry Symposium held this week in Saskatoon drew a possible record number of participants from across North America. Sask Pork Communications and Marketing Coordinator Steve Seto says it was a team effort. Quote-Steve Seto-Sask Pork: Our advisory committee was absolutely fantastic, which is a group of people, industry representation, whether it be packers, genetics companies, everybody that is involved in that committee. They make symposium go. We meet a few times a year and we say, what are the hottest topics, what are people concerned about, what do we need to address? And they are able to help build our agenda and they do a fantastic job. The advisory committee, everybody that was involved wit

Beyond Meat’s Q3 revenue falls 8.1%

Beyond Meat, a plant-based meat alternative maker, reported an 8.1% year-on-year fall in third-quarter revenue, according to Reuters. The company said the decline was mainly due to a drop in the volume of products sold, reported Reuters. Gross margin rose to 19.3%, the highest in five years, which the company attributed to reduced manufacturing, inventory and logistics expenses. The net loss narrowed from a year earlier, helped by improved gross profit and other income. International retail sales rose, driven by increased burger and ground beef sales in Europe. Beyond Meat expects fourth-quarter net revenue of $54 million to $59 million. It said the operating environment remains uncertain and volatile and may affect future results, and it is limiting guidance to the fourth-quarter revenue outlook because of that uncertainty.