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Have we finally rounded the corner of what has been one of them most impactful times in a generation? Well, as business thinker Peter Drucker put it, “Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window.” Granted, some of you know your local backroads so well, you could perform such a feat (though please don’t). Experience and knowledge goes a long way, but still can’t predict surprises like one of your neighbour’s loose cows crossing the road!
Looking back, it’s obvious now that our industry isn’t immune to the COVID-19 pandemic. Periodic shut-downs and reduced capacity at packing plants wreaked havoc on our just-in-time pork supply chain. Restrictions on large gatherings essentially eliminated the milk-fed and BBQ pig market. Conferences and trade shows, who many value for their social aspect, were cancelled. Through it all, many pork producers not only persevered, but did commendable acts by donating more to food banks and thanking pork processing workers with free lunches.
In addition to COVID-19, our industry continues to remain vigilant for ASF and other pathogens. The general public now has a sense of what biosecurity is and it remains as one of our best defenses. Hats off to Ontario pork producers and the provincial government for enacting Bill 156, Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act. The last thing we need are a bunch of yahoos terrorizing farm families and truckers. A special shout out to those truckers who have to endure all that nonsense (and unfortunately tragedy) in Burlington. Thank you!
This year has had its challenges, but these are also the times we look out for one another. For those of you with crops to harvest, we wish you well. It’s been a great growing season and this fall is off to a good start. We are proud to call Canada our home and grateful to be your supplier of Canadian swine genetics. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at AGC!
Fundamental Rethink in Genetic Selection?
