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
Manitoba Produces Most of the Nation's Sunflower Crop Wednesday, July 29, 2026 With their bright yellow blooms and towering stalks, sunflowers are among the most recognizable crops in agriculture. While they are often associated with decorative gardens and summer tourism, sunflowers also represent an important commercial crop in Canada, supplying food, birdseed, and... Read this article online
10,000 Chickens Die After Break-In at Nova Scotia Poultry Barn Wednesday, July 29, 2026 A Nova Scotia poultry operation in Pine Grove is dealing with a devastating loss after a suspected break-in resulted in the deaths of approximately 10,000 chickens. According to investigators, the incident occurred at a poultry barn on Naugler Road in Pine Grove, located in Lunenburg... Read this article online
Manitoba Crops Advance Rapidly as Canola Flowers and Corn Nears Tasseling Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Manitoba producers are seeing crops advance quickly across much of the province as warm weather continues to drive development in cereals, oilseeds, soybeans, and forage crops. According to the Manitoba Crop Report for the week ending July 26, crops are generally progressing well,... Read this article online
Pre Harvest Glyphosate Timing Protects Crop Markets Wednesday, July 29, 2026 As harvest season approaches, growers are being reminded that proper timing is essential when applying pre-harvest glyphosate for weed control. Following recommended staging guidelines can help protect crop quality, reduce residue concerns, and support continued access to domestic and... Read this article online
Grain Safety is Literally a Matter of Life and Death Wednesday, July 29, 2026 The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is encouraging farmers, workers, and rural communities to make safety a priority during the sixth annualBeGrainSafeWeek, taking place from August 10 to 16. The awareness campaign is part of theBeGrainSafeprogram, which was launchedto... Read this article online