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
OVC Veterinarian Helps Pets During Wildfire Crisis Tuesday, September 1, 2026 When wildfires forced many Northern Ontario families to leave their homes, veterinary support became an important part of emergency response efforts. An Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) veterinarian stepped in to provide care for pets affected by theevacuationsaccording to the OVC... Read this article online
Churchill Port Resumes Grain Exports with Durum Wheat Shipment Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The Port of Churchill has marked a significant milestone with the loading of its first grain export vessel since 2020. The ship is carrying approximately 30,000 tonnes of Canadian durum wheat supplied by Saskatchewan-based AGT Foods and is scheduled to depart for Europe this week. The... Read this article online
David Hansen Earns Top Wheat Growers Honor Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Earlier this summer, the Wheat Growers Association awardedDavidHansenthe 2026 recipient of the Shovel of Gratitude Award, one of the highest honors presented by the organization. The award recognizes individuals whose leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact on Canadian... Read this article online
Cover Crops Influence Corn’s Natural Pest Defences Tuesday, September 1, 2026 The choice of cover crop may do more than improve soil health and nutrient cycling. New research from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences suggests it can also influence how crops defend themselves against insect pests, creating opportunities for farmers to enhance biological pest... Read this article online
Canada Launches First Private Forest Owner Survey in Over 20 Years, Farmers Invited to Participate Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Private forests are a familiar part of many Canadian farms, providing firewood, timber, wildlife habitat, clean water, and environmental benefits that extend far beyond property lines. Yet despite their importance, very little current information exists about the people who own and manage... Read this article online