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
Alberta, B.C. Cattle Producers Unite to Support Wildfire-Affected Ranchers Monday, September 14, 2026 Cattle organizations in Alberta and British Columbia are joining forces to help livestock producers navigate the ongoing challenges created by wildfires, drought, and feed shortages. The B.C. Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) and Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) have announced a... Read this article online
Tight Corn Supplies and Rising Chinese Demand Could Fuel Next Grain Market Rally Monday, September 14, 2026 The U.S. Department of Agriculture's September crop report delivered a mixed reaction from grain markets, but according to Farms.com Risk Management Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino, the longer-term outlook remains constructive for corn and soybeans. Speaking during the for... Read this article online
5 Ways Farmers Can Reduce Combine Losses and Improve Harvest Performance in 2026 Monday, September 14, 2026 As combines begin rolling across corn and soybean fields, Iowa State University specialists Doug Houser and Luke Fuhrer are reminding producers that harvest success is about more than speed. According these two experts from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU... Read this article online
Smart Cover Crop Management Boosts Soil Health and Yields Monday, September 14, 2026 Cover crops have become an important management tool for farmers across the Midwest. They offer several benefits, including reducing soil erosion, improving soil health, controlling weeds, conserving moisture, increasing organic matter, and retaining valuable nutrients such as nitrogen.... Read this article online
The cost of filling a combine in Canada Monday, September 14, 2026 Canadian diesel prices are high. “The price of diesel has gone up pretty much everywhere to levels that we have never seen,” Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, told CTV News Channel on Sept. 12, adding he expects the high prices to stick around for almost nine... Read this article online