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
Canadian Farmland Values Rise Faster Than US Thursday, April 16, 2026 FCC analysis highlights rising land costs and growing affordability pressure Farm Credit Canada has released a new economic analysis that sheds light on changing farmland value trends in Canada and the United States. The study shows that cultivated farmland values in Canada are... Read this article online
Conservative MP wants faster ag product approvals Thursday, April 16, 2026 An Alberta Conservative MP introduced a bill designed to speed up approvals to give farmers access to the tools they need. David Bexte, the MP for Bow River, introduced Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization (FARM) Act on April 14. If passed, the law would... Read this article online
Bill 21 Pause Sparks Rural Water Debate in Manitoba Thursday, April 16, 2026 Opposition requests more consultation on water rules affecting farms Manitoba Progressive Conservatives have decided to delay consideration of Bill 21 a provincial proposal focused on water systems and safety. The decision keeps the bill from moving forward until the fall legislative... Read this article online
Old Farmer’s Almanac releases Canadian summer forecast Thursday, April 16, 2026 What’s in store for summer 2026? For that let’s turn to The Old Farmer’s Almanac and its Canadian summer forecast. “This summer is expected to trend warmer than normal across much of the country, including southern Quebec, the Prairies, and southern British Columbia,” the guide... Read this article online
Royal Canin Clarifies Groundwater Use With Amended Water Permit Near Guelph Thursday, April 16, 2026 Royal Canin Canada Company has received approval from Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) to amend its Permit to Take Water (PTTW) for its pet food manufacturing facility near Guelph, Ontario, following weeks of public consultation and local... Read this article online