'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
Colouring a Safer Future for Farm Kids Thursday, April 30, 2026 Teaching children about farm safety is an essential part of protecting the future of Canadian agriculture. With that goal in mind, the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has launched the Kids FarmSafe Colouring Contest, a creative initiative designed to help young people learn... Read this article online
Pet Obesity a Growing Concern Thursday, April 30, 2026 Pet obesity has become one of the most common health concerns seen during routine veterinary visits, alongside dental disease. Nearly 60 percent of pets in the United States are considered overweight, which can reduce overall life expectancy and increase the risk of chronic conditions such... Read this article online
Rail Inflation Index Increased for Maximum Revenue Entitlement for Western Grain Thursday, April 30, 2026 The Canadian Transportation Agency has announced its determination of the Volume-Related Composite Price Index for the 2026–2027 crop year, setting the index at 1.9864 for the Canadian National Railway Company and 1.9474 for the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway Company. The updated... Read this article online
Inside the Collapse of Monette Farms and What It Signals for Big Agriculture Thursday, April 30, 2026 The restructuring of Monette Farms is raising hard questions about how large is too large in modern agriculture—and whether today’s risk tools are keeping up. (Read the article: Monette Farms Seeks Court Protection as Mega-Farm Restructures Amid Financial Pressures) For years, Monette... Read this article online
Ontario Community Food Program Wins BASF Rural Impact Award Wednesday, April 29, 2026 A community focused food initiative in Ontario has receivedsupportthrough a national agricultural support programsponsored by BASF.Petrolia Community Refrigeratorwas named thefirst-placewinner in Ontario under the2026 Growing Home with BASFprogram, earning a $25,000 award for its work in... Read this article online