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| CFIA fights two-tier inspection allegations |
| Source: TheBeefSite.com |
| Date: 05-Dec-2012 |
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CTV this week reported on a memo, which the CFIA says was sent four years ago to inspectors at the agency.
Allegations have been made the memo shows that meat inspectors were ordered to pass contaminated beef carcases at XL Foods' Brooks plant as fit.
"This is categorically false," the CFIA said in an official statement.
"The CFIA's first priority is safety... (read more on TheBeefSite.com) |
| NS lobster catch soars, price drops to $3 |
| Source: TheChronicleHerald.ca |
| Date: 04-Dec-2012 |
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The south shore's six-month lobster season opened last week with as many as 1,700 boats taking part. So far the catch is up 25 to 30 per cent over the same period last year.
“There’s too many (lobster). They have to get rid of them some way because there’s just no where to put them.”
“In the Bay of Fundy landings have also been up dramatically and in Maine. The Gulf of Maine is reall... (read more on TheChronicleHerald.ca) |
| CFIA defends memo telling inspectors to ignore contamination |
| Source: OntarioFarmer.com |
| Date: 30-Nov-2012 |
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The CFIA has issued a statement regarding a memo brought forward by CTV showing that inspectors at XL Foods plant in Brooks, AB, were instructed to ignore contamination on carcasses unless they were destined for Japan.
"Within meat plants, there are specific inspection tasks conducted at various stations and production points in production," the CFIA statement reads.
"The ... (read more on OntarioFarmer.com) |
| The eyes have it |
| Source: CBC.ca |
| Date: 30-Nov-2012 |
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It turns out a lobster's age can be found on its eyestalks — by counting its rings, like a tree.
Scientists have previously tried to deduce a lobster's age judging by size and other variables, but it's now known that lobsters and other crustaceans, such as crabs and shrimp, grow one ring per year in specific spots.
Some people have estimated they can go past 100 years. Now w... (read more on CBC.ca) |
| Inspectors at XL Foods plant were told to ignore contamination unless meat was headed to Japan |
| Source: TheGlobeAndMail.com |
| Date: 29-Nov-2012 |
| There were obviously problems with inspections at the XL Foods plant, the seat of this country’s largest beef recall. It turns out federal inspectors were ordered to “ignore” contamination on carcasses for Canadian consumers, but give extra scrutiny to meat destined for Japan.
Memos obtained by CTV News show inspectors were instructed to turn a blind eye to visible fecal and intestinal contami... (read more on TheGlobeAndMail.com) |
| NS introduces "grass-fed" certification |
| Source: AgriSuccessExpress |
| Date: 26-Nov-2012 |
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The provincial government is hoping Nova Scotia's beef producers will be better able to sell their products if they are certified under a new grass-fed beef label.
According to provincial agriculture minister John MacDonnell, Nova Scotia's beef producers have typically run cow-calf -- and not finishing -- operations.
"In Nova Scotia we can grow grass, and we can do it well... (read more on AgriSuccessExpress) |
| Calm cattle may be dark cutters, too |
| Source: phys.org |
| Date: 26-Nov-2012 |
| A new study is challenging the popular belief that flighty cattle are at a higher risk of being "dark cutters" - producing dark, firm, and dry meat.
The beef syndrome produces meat which is dark in color, dry, and spoils quickly. It also has variable tenderness.
Dark cutting is a complex problem caused by low muscle energy (glycogen) at the time of slaughter. Depletion of glycogen... (read more on phys.org) |
| Buyers stepping forward for Buffalo Park |
| Source: CBC.ca |
| Date: 23-Nov-2012 |
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The PEI government announced in the spring it was looking to get rid of the Buffalo Land Provincial Park, which consists of 40 hectares of land and 25 animals. This week the province announced that an interested party has come forward looking to buy the park.
Tourism Minister Rob Henderson said the government is looking for someone to take over the full operating costs, somewhere between $11,... (read more on CBC.ca) |
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| A new generation takes Shorthorns to the Royal |
| Source: The Guardian |
| Date: 23-Nov-2012 |
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Seymour Hurry made his first trip to The Royal Agricultural Fair 60 years ago - this year his granddaughter, Courtney Hogan, had Shorthorns in ring. She is the third generation of the family to show at the Royal.
Hurry made his first journey to the Royal in 1952, and got there in a railway box car along with several of his father's prize Dual Purpose Shorthorn cattle.
Hurry's ... (read more on The Guardian) |
| Feds seek to dicredit PEI lab that reported virus in BC salmon |
| Source: TheGlobeAndMail.com |
| Date: 23-Nov-2012 |
| The CFIA says the lab in PEI that revealed the first evidence of an infectious virus in BC salmon should be stripped of its international credentials.
The lab at the AVC is run by Frederick Kibenge.
The CFIA claims that infectious salmon anemia is not present on the West Coast. If the disease is confirmed by the government, it could lead to export restrictions on B.C. salmon.
Alexandra ... (read more on TheGlobeAndMail.com) |
| 2012 a big year for NB deer hunters |
| Source: AtlanticFarmer.com |
| Date: 20-Nov-2012 |
| Preliminary figures show that the deer harvest that just concluded in New Brunswick totalled 6,030 animals - this is up by 26 percent over 2011, and is the largest harvest since 2008.
“The deer harvest this year was up throughout the province, indicating the deer population has improved across New Brunswick,” said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northup.
One reason behind the increase was t... (read more) |
| NS mink farmers support new regulations, while waiting to see what they are |
| Source: AgriSuccessExpress |
| Date: 19-Nov-2012 |
| The NS Mink Breeders Association says recent amendments to the province’s Fur Industry Act are reasonable, and they support the act as it now stands.
"There are a lot of minor, housekeeping type things, but the act still provides for the sustainability of the industry," says president Dan Mullen.
Mink farmers are still waiting to find out exactly what the new regulations will be,... (read more on AgriSuccessExpress) |
| New slaughterhouse to open today |
| Source: AgriSuccessExpress |
| Date: 19-Nov-2012 |
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A cutting-edge slaughterhouse is set to open in New Brunswick today, which is is good news for poultry producers in the Maritimes.
Westco and Olymel are partners in the new $50-million facility Sunnymel facility.
The plant, which is located in Clair, NB - in the northwest corner of the province, near both the Quebec and Maine borders - will have a weekly processing capacity of 450,000 chi... (read more on AgriSuccessExpress) |
| Workshop: Wireless devices for farmers |
| Source: FCC |
| Date: 16-Nov-2012 |
| Ontario farmer Peter Gredig will speak at a workshop titled "Making The Most of Today’s Wireless Devices", to be held Nov. 21 in Cornwall, PEI.
Pre-register for this free event by calling 1-800-387-3232 or go to www.fcc.ca/learning
Topics covered will help farmers: know what to look for in selecting a service provider;
learn how wireless can help in your day-to-day activitie... (read more on FCC) |
| Farming halibut on land? |
| Source: TheChronicleHerald.ca |
| Date: 16-Nov-2012 |
| Paul Merlin wants to prove that it can be profitable to grow Atlantic halibut to market size on dry land.
“What we’re trying to prove is that we can take this as a template, once we get it working, and superimpose it just about anywhere in rural seacoast Nova Scotia,” said the president of Canaqua Seafoods Ltd.
The facility, a steel building housing eight 15-metre long tanks with extensive ... (read more on TheChronicleHerald.ca) |
| Vermont college forced to euthanize ox and waste the meat |
| Source: NYTimes.com |
| Date: 14-Nov-2012 |
| An ox named Lou was euthanized after his impending slaughter created a fervor - college officials and sustainable farmers on one side, and animal rights advocates on the other.
Lou was injured and has not been able to heal well enough to enjoy full quality of life. He and his team-mate (and twin) were therefore supposed to be slaughtered and served at the school, but a barrage of threats agai... (read more on NYTimes.com) |
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