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
Pilot project supports Ontario and Quebec ag Friday, July 24, 2026 A new two-year pilot project is designed to help livestock farmers in Quebec by giving them access to an Ontario abattoir. The project, a collaboration between the Quebec and Ontario governments, with additional support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), would see a limited... Read this article online
Canada Opens Interprovincial Alcohol Sales Thursday, July 23, 2026 A major change to Canada's internal marketplace is set to create new opportunities for wineries, breweries and distilleries after nine provinces signed a landmark agreement allowing direct-to-consumer sales of alcoholic beverages across participating jurisdictions. The deal is being hailed... Read this article online
Bertha Armyworm Hotspots Emerging Across Saskatchewan Thursday, July 23, 2026 Canola growers across Western Canada are once again being encouraged to keep a close watch for bertha armyworm, one of the most damaging insect pests affecting the crop. While outbreaks do not occur every year, specialists say the pest can quickly move from a minor concern to a major... Read this article online
How One Simple Tool Can Help Protect Crop Quality Thursday, July 23, 2026 Planning crop harvests requires more than monitoring field conditions—it also means ensuring crop protection products have sufficient time to break down before harvest. Using the correct pre-harvest interval (PHI) helps growers meet residue requirements, protect market access and... Read this article online
B.C. sod farmer looks back on World Cup experience Thursday, July 23, 2026 A B.C. farmer will hold onto the fact he, and Canadian agriculture, got to play a role during the World Cup. “It was quite exciting to be a part of that, to be a part of Canadian history,” Bert Bos, owner of Bos Sod Farms in Abbotsford, told Farms.com. In February 2025, Bos’s farm... Read this article online