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
Manitoba providing tariff support for farmers Wednesday, September 2, 2026 The Manitoba government is taking steps to assist farmers and other businesses affected by the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. On Aug. 28 the provincial government announced more than $100 million in tariff supports. From an ag perspective, most of the supports come from... Read this article online
FETCO Calls for Labour Reform at West Coast Ports Amid Trade Uncertainty Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Canada’s growing trade dispute with the United States is creating significant uncertainty for businesses, investors and consumers. As the country works to strengthen trade relationships and diversify its international markets, reliable supply chains and greater labour stability have become... Read this article online
Irrimap Opens New Era of Smart Irrigation Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Researchers at Lethbridge Polytechnic have introducedIrrimap, a new web-based tool designed to help farmers, agronomists, and researchers better understand crop water use. The platform measures evapotranspiration (ET), which combines evaporation from soil and water surfaces with... Read this article online
CGC issues two licenses to start September Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Two grain companies started September by receiving licenses from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) One is from Saskatchewan. On Sept. 1, JGL Commodities received its primary elevator license for a facility in Marengo. This type of license goes to “an operator of an elevator which... Read this article online
Massey Ferguson launches N-Series planters at Farm Progress Show Wednesday, September 2, 2026 Massey Ferguson North America has unveiled its new N-Series Split/Narrow Row Planters during the 2026 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, introducing a lineup designed to offer growers greater flexibility, integrated planting technology and lower long-term ownership costs. The new series... Read this article online