A long ride is less stressful Wednesday, August 10, 2011 Shorter truck trips are more stressful to market hogs than longer truck rides, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science.The reason? Pigs need time to recover from the stress of loading before they get stressed again when they disembark, says Prof. Michael Ellis, at the University of Illinois's Urbana-Champaign campus.Another stress factor is floor space. Overcrowding is stressful, but pigs that have too much space are thrown around as the livestock truck moves. University researchers found that U.S. market pigs on average require five square feet each.Co-author of the study with Ellis was Bradley Wolter, chief operating officer of the Maschhoffs packing company in Carlyle, Ill. Wolter says working with Ellis allowed the company to reduce pig losses due to transportation and handling by more than one percentage point in a system that was already well managed and where less than half a per cent of pigs died because of movement and handling. BP Another sign of bacon's popularity: clogged drains 'Welfarists' pressure supermarkets
New Pivot Technology Helps Farmers Manage Water Better Friday, October 9, 2026 Centre-pivot irrigation systems could offer farmers more than water delivery, with new technology helping transform the equipment into a mobile field-monitoring platform. Autonomous Pivot is developing a system that collects real-time information to support irrigation planning and crop... Read this article online
Second Harvest Reports Rising Demand for Food Aid Friday, October 9, 2026 Community organizations across Canada are facing growing pressure as more people seek assistance to meet their basic food needs. New findings from Second Harvest’s The State of Food Charity in Canada survey reveal increasing demand for food assistance, leaving many organizations struggling... Read this article online
Western Canada’s Premier Fall Livestock Showcase Friday, October 9, 2026 Manitoba AG EX is the province’s largest all-breeds cattle show. Drawing top breeders, livestock exhibitors, and industry leaders from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Held each fall in Brandon, Manitoba AG EX is more than just a cattle show, it’s a celebration of agricultural... Read this article online
Regina Food Bank Opens Indoor Farm to Grow Fresh Produce Year-Round with Support From FCC Friday, October 9, 2026 The Regina Food Bank has officially opened Regina's first modular indoor farm, a hydroponic growing system designed to provide a steady supply of fresh leafy greens throughout the year, including during Saskatchewan's harsh winter months. Supported by a $250,000 contribution from Farm... Read this article online
Small Plane Crashes Near Fergus Into a Corn Field Friday, October 9, 2026 A small aircraft crashed into a corn field north of Fergus on Friday morning, sparking a fire and prompting a major emergency response in rural Wellington County. Witnesses reported hearing unusual noises from the aircraft before the collision, while police and aviation authorities... Read this article online