'Pocket pigs' pose problems Sunday, February 6, 2011 "Pocket pigs" got a big boost last year in Britain when celebrity guests, including soccer star David Beckham and his glamorous wife Victoria, went home from the Golden Globe movie awards with miniature pot-bellied pigs in their goodie bags. The pigs, which cost £3,000 to buy, were compliments of the owner of Patty's Royal Dandie Miniature Pet Pig. It was a good publicity stunt. By early December British authorities were warning of dangers involved in buying these pigs as pets for children. The pigs can carry and pass on the skin condition erysipeloid and the bacterium Streptococcus suis, which can lead to illness, including meningitis and deafness in humans. The micro pigs have been bred down to size, only 28 grams at birth. They still weigh as much as 29 kilograms and 35 centimetres in height when fully grown. They can live to be 18 years old. BP Manitoba producers sink under an increasing burden of regulation Worldwide hog production shrinks and Smithfield rocks
Flash Drought Threat Grows Across Southern Plains as Historic El Niño Builds Saturday, August 22, 2026 After flooding, a derecho, storms, and wildfire smoke, asignificant shift in North America's weather pattern is creating a new set of challenges for farmers, with forecasters warning that flash drought conditions are becoming a growing concern across key agricultural regions of the United... Read this article online
U.S. Opens Door to Additional Beef Imports in Bid to Lower Ground Beef Prices Friday, August 21, 2026 President Donald Trump announced on August 21 that the United States will temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef intended for ground beef production to enter the country without being subject to out-of-quota tariffs for a period of 90 days. According to the president, the... Read this article online
Niagara Flooding Pushing Fruit Prices Higher, Not Only This Year, but for Many Years Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Heavy rainfall and flooding in Ontario's Niagara region could have lasting effects on fruit production and prices across Canada. Agricultural experts warn that damage to orchards may reduce supplies of popular fruits such as peaches, plums, and cherries in the coming years.Read the article:... Read this article online
New Ag Partnership Prioritizes Farmer Mental Health Wednesday, August 19, 2026 The Do More Agriculture Foundation and McDonald’s Canada have announced a new partnership focused on supporting mental wellbeing within Canada’s agricultural community. The collaboration began with a roundtable discussion held during the Canadian Beef Industry Conference on August... Read this article online
Canada places restrictions on Finnish pork imports over ASF Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Canada is restricting some imports of Finnish pork and related products due to African swine fever (ASF) in that country. An Aug. 18 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notice indicates the measures are meant to “safeguard the health of Canada’s livestock and prevent the economic... Read this article online