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
How to Avoid Soil Compaction at Spring Planting Monday, March 16, 2026 Soil compaction is one of the most costly yet overlooked challenges facing cash crop producers. Often described by extension agronomists as a “silent yield robber,” compaction restricts root growth, reduces water infiltration, and limits nutrient uptake—sometimes for years after the damage... Read this article online
Global Market Volatility Sparks Concerns for Commodity Markets Monday, March 16, 2026 On the weekly with expert Farms.com Risk Management Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino, who shared that the markets moved positively in several sectors during the week of March 9 to 13, as a result of rising concerns about global price volatility, driven largely by higher crude oil... Read this article online
Record bulk grain exports at Port of Vancouver in 2025 Monday, March 16, 2026 Canadian ag helped the Port of Vancouver have a record year in 2025. “The Port of Vancouver handled 170.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in 2025, an almost 8% increase compared to the previous record set in 2024,” the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said in a March 9... Read this article online
Small Firms Call for Energy Action Monday, March 16, 2026 Farmers and small business owners across Canada are urging governments to act quickly to strengthen the country’s domestic energy supply. According to new preliminary data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), many businesses believe stronger energy production and... Read this article online
Canada’s Real Seasons (According to Farmers Who Actually Live Here) Monday, March 16, 2026 According to a chart that’s been making the rounds on social media, courtesy of The Weather Network—the Canadian calendar has officially been updated. Apparently, we no longer live by the simple rhythm of winter, spring, summer, and fall. Instead, we now rotate through such crowd... Read this article online