By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Monday, March 27, 2023

Mar 27, 2023 | 3:07 PM

For the first time in two decades, Japan is reopening its doors to Canadian processed beef.

The development also removes the last restrictions on Canadian beef that Japan put in place in 2003, after the discovery of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Alberta.

Canadian Cattle Association President Nathan Phinney said cattle producers are grateful for the removal of trade barriers for processed beef in Japan.

“Our industry will continue to support global food security by providing some of the most sustainable and highest quality beef in the world,” Phinney said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Government of Canada to further remove remaining trade barriers and expanding our trade capacity in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Japan is an important market for Canada beef and beef products with an estimated value of $518 million.

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has revoked a primary control zone for the highly contagious avian flu in B.C.

This happens when post-outbreak surveillance is completed, and no further cases of avian influenza are detected.

The agency’s website showed the number of birds that have been impacted in the province was 3,657,000.

CFIA said that while the virus affects birds, there is no evidence it can be passed to humans who consume poultry products.

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Farmers in the Cowichan Valley said they are losing crops and dealing with property and field damage caused by Roosevelt Elk.

The threatened species typically moves to lower elevations during the winter months searching for more plentiful food, but in the last few years, some herds have been staying on farmland in the Duncan area year-round.

A University of Alberta research project intended to reduce human-elk conflict in the Cowichan Valley started in August 2021 and aims to test deterrents to keep elk out of farms.

Researchers said they hope to share their work with farmers and the provincial government to help with the management of Roosevelt Elk.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW