'Ag gag' law passes in another U.S. state Friday, June 7, 2013 Tennessee is the latest state to approve a bill making it illegal to record animal cruelty incidents on livestock farms without reporting them to the police right away. The "ag gag" concept is catching on as farm groups and agribusiness try to take the wind out of the sails of activists performing undercover operations. The current Tennessee law doesn't ban shooting photos and filming on farms entirely, as do laws in Iowa and Utah. The Tennessee law calls for sending film to the cops within 24 hours. An Alabama law gives 120 hours leeway. "These bills are a reaction to the bad publicity that erupts whenever a new undercover video is released," says the About Animal Rights website, which continues: "These bills are troubling not only to animal protection activists, but also to those concerned with food safety, labour issues, free speech and freedom of the press" because they "apply equally to journalists, activists and employees." When the Retail Council of Canada recently announced its member stores wouldn't buy pork from farms using gestation stalls in 2022, Mercy for Animals took credit, citing its videotaping inside a Puratone pig barn late last year. BP Now it's hunting with drones Where patrons 'sweat like a pig, then eat one'
Canada resumes imports from biggest US pork plant Monday, March 17, 2025 Canada has resumed imports from the biggest US pork-processing plant, a Smithfield Foods facility in Tar Heel, North Carolina, after suspending shipments for about a week, Reuters reported, citing the company on Friday. The halt temporarily limited a market for American pork products at a... Read this article online
Canada resumes receiving pork from Smithfield Foods Monday, March 17, 2025 Canada is once again accepting pork shipments from Smithfield Foods’ processing plant in Tar Heel, N.C. Canada suspended imports last week “following an issue with a limited number of certain offal shipments,” Smithfield said in a March 14 statement. “We are grateful to the USDA and the... Read this article online
Iowa State University Examines Truck Washing and Decontamination Monday, March 17, 2025 Research conducted by Iowa State University suggests swine producers and transporters can reduce truck washing and decontamination costs through the strategic scheduling of truck washing. Iowa State University, with funding provided through the Swine Health Information Center Wean-to-Harvest... Read this article online
Weekly Hog Market Update – Week Ending March 14, 2025 Monday, March 17, 2025 Hog prices remained steady with slight fluctuations across major markets. In Ontario, the 100 percent base formula price closed at 233.92 per hundredweight, up from the previous year’s 200.35 per hundredweight. The average dressed weight remained stable at 109 kilograms, while total market hog... Read this article online
Balancing Welfare and Productivity in Swine Care | Kurt Preugschas, DVM Monday, March 17, 2025 Kurt was born and raised on a pig farm near Barrhead, Alberta, which sparked his passion for swine production and medicine. He graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine in 2010 from WCVM in Saskatoon. After graduation, he went directly into swine medicine and has worked in swine... Read this article online