'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'
Strychnine training available now Wednesday, May 6, 2026 The mandatory training course for Prairie individuals planning to apply or distribute strychnine to control Richardson’s ground squirrels (gophers), is available now. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) is offering the course until Aug. 1 to people in Saskatchewan... Read this article online
How to Keep Your Groundwater Safe and Clean Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Groundwater plays a vital role for families and businesses in rural and agricultural settings. It supports essential activities such as livestock care, irrigation, and cleaning processes, and in many areas, it's the sole source of drinking water. For this reason, it's critical for rural... Read this article online
Rising Waters on the Canadian Prairies and Beyond Wednesday, May 6, 2026 Spring flooding is intensifying across large portions of Canada, placing farms under growing pressure during one of the most important windows of the agricultural year. From the Prairies to Central Canada and into Atlantic regions, saturated soils, elevated rivers, and damaged rural... Read this article online
Operating farm equipment in the Canadian territories Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Farms.com’s final look at insurance and licensing requirements for ag equipment takes readers up to the Canadian north with the three territories. Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut Is a license... Read this article online
Monette Farms Granted Court Extension as $90M Financing Secured Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Monette Farms has been granted additional time under court protection as one of North America’s largest private farming operations works to stabilize itself during the heart of the 2026 planting season. On May 1, 2026, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta approved an amended order... Read this article online