'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
Rappa High-Speed Electric Fencing System Friday, June 12, 2026 Rappa has introduced its vehicle-mounted fencing solution, the Rappa Winder, to the U.S. market, offering a faster and more efficient way to install and retrieve electric fencing. The system reduces fencing time by up to 80 percent, allowing producers to deploy approximately 650... Read this article online
RDAR extends OFCAF pause to September Thursday, June 11, 2026 A non-profit organization in Alberta that supports producer-guided ag research is extending its pause on funding applications. Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), which receives funding from the province and federal government, won’t accept new applications for the 2026 On-Farm... Read this article online
BC Boosts Poultry Farm Disease Defense Thursday, June 11, 2026 The Government of British Columbia is continuing its efforts to support poultry farmers and protect the province’s food supply. Through the Novel Tools and Technologies Program, poultry producers are receiving financial help to upgrade their barns and reduce the risk of avian... Read this article online
Harry Siemens Honored for Farm Reporting Thursday, June 11, 2026 Veteran agricultural journalist Harry Siemens has been honored with the North American Farm Reporting Excellence Award. This award recognizes his more than 50 years of service in agricultural communication across Canada and North America. The award was created by well-known U.S. farm... Read this article online
CANZA Marketplace available for farmers Thursday, June 11, 2026 A new online resource is available for farmers looking to capitalize on climate-conscious farming practices. “The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food’s (CANZA) Marketplace is a long-term national effort to recognize and reward farmers for their stewardship efforts on their farms,”... Read this article online