Len Penner, CEO Cargill Canada, started the discussions. He introduced a recipe for success in global agriculture that requires a keen focus on the customer and collaboration with willing partners; ensuring that the participating partners gain financial benefits from each other. Canada ranks third as a global agricultural exporter, with 50-55% of our commodities being sent to other countries. Although many consumers are becoming more demanding in their food requirements, Canadian farmers can readily produce safe and healthy foods. Canadian companies need to show their advocacy in terms of corporate ethics; supplying food from sustainable production methods (traceability and environmental stewardship). These added aspects of sustainability will be expected in the normal price of foods. Bio-fuels will, and are, having an impact on Canadian agriculture. Ethanol production from wheat and corn, biodiesel from canola and soybean oil will create higher prices for those feedstocks as they compete against their uses directly for human food and as livestock feeds.

Lacombe gilts probed at Bloomsbury Farms in December averaged 120 Sire Line Index, with a high of 161 EBV. These gilts averaged a Dam Line Index of 112, where the high was 131 EBV.  

Landrace boar SUND 6401S probed at F&S Hog Farm in November grew to 100 kg in 116 days. His backfat was only 10.6 mm with a 64.7 mm loin muscle lean depth.