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
Black Sea Peace Prospects Influence Global Grain Prices Monday, September 7, 2026 Grain and oilseed markets remained closely tied to geopolitical developments, weather conditions and export expectations during the week ending September 4, 2026. Corn futures were largely unchanged, while soybeans posted a new contract closing high and soybean meal also strengthened.... Read this article online
Canada invests $3.1M in swine health surveillance Monday, September 7, 2026 Recognizing that infectious disease is one of the major risks to swine production, the Government of Canada is helping industry further develop the tools needed to safeguard animal health, strengthen sector resilience, and support future growth. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath... Read this article online
Heads Up Plant Protectants Unveils New Brand Identity Friday, September 4, 2026 Saskatchewan-based Heads-Up Plant Protectants unveiled a refreshed brand identity at the 2026 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, introducing a new logo, updated visual design, revised messaging, and a redesigned website. The rebrand reflects the company’s continued focus on supporting... Read this article online
Canada Expands Livestock Tax Relief for Producers Friday, September 4, 2026 Canadian livestock producers continue to face growing challenges as extreme weather events affect forage supplies and day-to-day farm operations. Drought, flooding, and excess moisture can reduce feed availability, making it difficult for ranchers tomaintainhealthy breeding herds and sustain... Read this article online
Saskatchewan Expands AgriStability Support for Farmers Friday, September 4, 2026 Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit have announced changes to the 2026 AgriStability Program to provide additional support for producers affected by excess moisture and localized flooding across Saskatchewan. The... Read this article online