U.S. sow gestation stalls under attack Sunday, April 1, 2012 The pressure to end the use of dry sow stalls is growing south of the border, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the vise. In early February, the Austin Daily Herald in Minnesota reported that Jeff Ettinge, chief executive of Hormel Foods, announced at its annual general meeting plans to end use of sow gestation crates on its Arizona farms by next year and in Colorado and Wyoming by 2017. Ettinge was responding to a question from a member of the HSUS, which is a shareholder.At about the same time, the HSUS announced it was going after Wal-Mart suppliers Seaboard Foods and Prestige Farms. HSUS subsequently complained to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission that Seaboard and Prestige spread "grossly false and misleading statements" about its animal welfare practices."McDonald's Corporation announced it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline their plans to phase out use of sow gestation stalls by May. "McDonald's wants to see the end of sow confinement in gestation stalls in our supply chain," said a joint press release with HSUS.In addition, Bon Appetit Management, a nationwide food service operator, announced it would phase out pork products from stall-housed sows by 2015. BP Behind the Lines - April 2012 Pakistan capital inundated with wild boars
Canola Storage Tips Keep Crops Market Ready Tuesday, June 9, 2026 Farmers knowproper storage is important tomaintaincanola quality and ensure it meets market standards. One major concern for growers is the use of malathion in storage bins. Malathion residue can remain in bins for many months after treatment. This residue can transfer to canola seeds,... Read this article online
Copper thefts occurring on Manitoba farms Monday, June 8, 2026 Manitoba farmers performing equipment checks are realizing thieves targeted their operations over the winter. “We were getting ready for the season and noticed the copper wire had been cut and pulled off of an entire irrigation pivot,” Rachel Proden, who farms near Portage la Prairie,... Read this article online
Alta. farmers encouraged to take vet services survey Monday, June 8, 2026 An Alberta rural community wants farmers and ranchers to participate in a survey to highlight the importance of access to veterinary services. The Municipal District of Wainright created the survey to gather input from producers on veterinary access and how it contributes to animal... Read this article online
Water Based Nanotech Improves Pesticide Use on Crops Monday, June 8, 2026 Delivering pesticides effectively to crops is a long-standing challenge in agriculture. Traditional spraying methods often cause droplets to bounce offleavesdrift away in the air or wash into soil and water bodies. This leads to wasted chemicals with higher costs and environmental... Read this article online
Canola Crisis and Cattle Threat Shake Global Commodity Markets Monday, June 8, 2026 The market saw sharp price declines during the week ending June 5, 2026, as investment funds reduced positions and removed risk premiums related to weather and global conditions, according to the latest Ag Commodity Corner+ Podcast titled “” Farms.com Risk Management Commodity Experts... Read this article online