'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
Recall petition against Alberta ag minister gathering signatures Thursday, November 27, 2025 An effort to recall Alberta’s agriculture and irrigation minister is in the fifth stage of the seven-stage process. As of Nov. 25, 2025, organizers in Minister RJ Sigurdson’s riding of Highwood have 90 days – until Monday, February 3, 2026 – to collect the required number of signatures –... Read this article online
Canada adopts ePhytos for grain shipments to Mexico Thursday, November 27, 2025 Canada is doing away with some paper documents related to ag exports to Mexico. Since Nov. 3, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has replaced paper phytosanitary certificates with electronic ones (ePhytos) for grain and related products heading to Mexico. These certificates... Read this article online
Sask. getting its first UFA store Wednesday, November 26, 2025 UFA is increasing its presence in Western Canada with its first store in Saskatchewan. At Agribition on Nov. 23, UFA revealed a new farm and ranch supply store will open in the Land of the Living Skies in 2026. The store will be at 850 North Service Road in Emerald Park. "While UFA... Read this article online
OFA celebrates student success and leadership with scholarships and a new award Wednesday, November 26, 2025 The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is investing in the future of Ontario agriculture by awarding six scholarships to students who demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and a passion for farming. Each recipient received $2,000 during OFA’s Annual General Meeting in Toronto... Read this article online
Navigating The World of Phytogenics in Swine Nutrition Wednesday, November 26, 2025 In Canada and around the world, the swine industry is undergoing transformation, driven by evolving consumer expectations, regulatory pressures, and the growing demand for sustainable production practices. Within this landscape, phytogenics have emerged as a promising innovation in animal... Read this article online