'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'
Quebec elects PQ government Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Quebec voted for change on Oct. 5 as the Parti Québécois (PQ) earned 59 seats – five short of a majority – and will form the next government. “To elected premier of Quebec is a huge privilege. It’s also a great responsibility,” PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said in his victory speech... Read this article online
New Syngenta foliar insecticide available for potato growers Tuesday, October 6, 2026 A new tool is available for Canadian potato and specialty crop growers to protect their crops from insect pressure. Syngenta recently introduced Incipio foliar insecticide, which includes a novel Group 30 mode of action called PLINAZOLIN. (Click here to go to Incipio’s specialty crop... Read this article online
How One Ontario Pumpkin Farm Turned 10% of Production Into Half Its Revenue Tuesday, October 6, 2026 For one Ontario farm that was looking beyond traditional commodity production to strengthen their businesses,the answer has come from an unlikely source: ornamental pumpkins and gourds. Located east of St. Thomas, Ontario, Butters Farms has built a successful niche around seasonal... Read this article online
Canadian Food System Trust Holds Steady, but Uncertainty and Misinformation Are Rising Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Canadians largely maintain a positive view of the nation's food system, but rising concerns about affordability, misinformation, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence are creating a more complex environment for maintaining public trust. That was among the key findings... Read this article online
Canadian Agri-Businesses Face Insurance Crunch as Premiums Rise and Coverage Options Shrink Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Small agricultural businesses across Canada are facing a mounting insurance challenge as premiums climb and coverage options become harder to find, according to research from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The report highlights a growing concern among farmers,... Read this article online