Tennessee backs down on ag-gag law Monday, August 5, 2013 In June's Better Pork, we reported that lawmakers voted to make Tennessee the latest state to approve a so-called "ag-gag" law, a bill to make it illegal to record animal cruelty incidents on livestock farms without reporting them to the police right away.Just after we went to press, Tennessee Republican governor Bill Haslam vetoed the bill, following the opinion of his Democratic attorney general that it wouldn't pass a constitutional challenge, freedom of speech being nearly as important in that country as freedom to own a gun.According to Meatingplace.com, Haslam also cited concerns that the new law might take away reporters' rights to gather information for stories, and that it might be harder to prosecute legitimate animal cruelty cases "as an unintended consequence."As well, a number of Tennessee celebrities jumped on the bandwagon, among them songwriter Emmylou Harris, country music singer Carrie Underwood and even Priscilla Presley. The Humane Society of the United States sees it as a victory; the Animal Agriculture Alliance, which writes and speaks out against animal rights legislation, is not pleased. BP A Chinese takeover of Smithfields? The battle of the polls over gestation stalls
RCMP warns of traffic ticket scam Thursday, July 9, 2026 Police in the Prairies are warning residents about scams alleging residents have unpaid tickets. Saskatchewan RCMP received multiple reports on June 29 of people receiving text messages indicating they’re due in court for an “unpaid traffic citation,” and that a failure to appear can... Read this article online
Manitoba Crops Under Pressure as Flooding, Hail and Excess Moisture Damage Fields Thursday, July 9, 2026 Manitoba farmers are navigating one of the most challenging stretches of the 2026 growing season as excessive rainfall, flooding and damaging hailstorms have affected crop development across large portions of the province. According to weekly crop and weather reports compiled by... Read this article online
Western wrapping up filming in rural Alberta Thursday, July 9, 2026 A new movie scheduled for a 2027 release uses rural Alberta as its backdrop. The Horseman, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Barry Pepper, is wrapping filming this week. Alberta’s branch of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), says the project began... Read this article online
Rigas Karamanos Wins Les Henry Award Thursday, July 9, 2026 Dr. Rigas Karamanoshas been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Les Henry Award, an honor that recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to soil and water science and their practical application in agriculture across Western Canada. The award celebrates leadership,... Read this article online
Canada Boosts Beef Market Growth Thursday, July 9, 2026 The Government of Canada has announced an investment of more than $4 million to support the growth of the country's beef sector. The investment will help increase market opportunities for Canadian beef producers, strengthen trade relationships, and promote Canadian beef products in Canada... Read this article online