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
CAAIN receives $50 million from Ottawa Thursday, August 27, 2026 The federal government is investing in Canadian agriculture through technological innovation. Ottawa is providing the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) with $50 million to support its work of funding innovative projects in ag, Industry Minister Mélanie... Read this article online
2026 Great Ontario Yield Tour forecasts a New Record High in Corn and Soybean Yields Thursday, August 27, 2026 Ontario farmers could be on track for one of the most productive growing seasons in provincial history. The 2026 Great Ontario Yield Tour is forecasting a record average corn yield of 206 bushels per acre (“bpa”), with a range of +/-1% at 203.94 to 208.06 bpa depending on how the season... Read this article online
Court Approves First Monette Farms Land Sale Amid Insurance Questions Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Monette Farms has cleared an important milestone in its creditor protection proceedings, with a court approving the first sale of property as the company continues efforts to reduce debt and restructure its operations. At the same time, new uncertainty has emerged regarding the farm... Read this article online
Protect Grain from Allergen Risks Wednesday, August 26, 2026 Maintaining a reputation for clean and safe grain is important for Canadian farmers, grain handlers, and the agriculture industry. Evensmall amountsof allergenic crops mixed with cereal grains can create serious food safety concerns and lead to shipment rejections in domestic and... Read this article online
Canadian Wool Industry Responds to New U.S. Tariffs Wednesday, August 26, 2026 The Canadian Wool Council has raised concerns about the impact of newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian wool and other products. The United States has introduced tariffs of 50% on a range of Canadian goods following the collapse of recent trade discussions between Ottawa and... Read this article online