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
USDA Report Sparks Mixed Results Across Grain Markets Thursday, October 15, 2026 Grain and oilseed markets posted mixed results during the week ending October 9, 2026, as traders evaluated larger-than-expected U.S. corn production estimates, harvest delays, changing fund positions and potential weather risks in South America. Corn prices declined sharply, while... Read this article online
Paul Hoekstra Joins U of G Leadership Thursday, October 15, 2026 The University of Guelph has appointed Paul Hoekstra as its first executive director of agri-food strategy and partnerships, marking an important step in the institution’s efforts to strengthen ties with Ontario’s agricultural and agri-food sectors. Hoekstra brings more than 20 years of... Read this article online
Canada Backs Smart Lettuce Farming Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Vegetable farmers across Canada face several challenges, including labor shortages, rising production costs, profitability concerns, and the increasing effects of climate change. These challenges make it more important than ever for growers to have access to accurate information and... Read this article online
Using bats to protect crops and livestock Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Just as Batman has been known to use live bats to thwart crime in Gotham City, B.C. farmers are invited to learn about employing bats to stop insects causing crop and livestock damage. The Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society and the BC Community Bat Program are hosting a free event... Read this article online
Sask. opens consultations on farmland law Wednesday, October 14, 2026 The Saskatchewan government is inviting farmers and others to take an online survey related to farm legislation. Until Nov. 30, Saskatchewanians can participate in the public consultation related to The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act, which covers multiple farm ownership... Read this article online