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
BC Boosts Poultry Farm Disease Defense Thursday, June 11, 2026 The Government of British Columbia is continuing its efforts to support poultry farmers and protect the province’s food supply. Through the Novel Tools and Technologies Program, poultry producers are receiving financial help to upgrade their barns and reduce the risk of avian... Read this article online
Harry Siemens Honored for Farm Reporting Thursday, June 11, 2026 Veteran agricultural journalist Harry Siemens has been honored with the North American Farm Reporting Excellence Award. This award recognizes his more than 50 years of service in agricultural communication across Canada and North America. The award was created by well-known U.S. farm... Read this article online
CANZA Marketplace available for farmers Thursday, June 11, 2026 A new online resource is available for farmers looking to capitalize on climate-conscious farming practices. “The Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food’s (CANZA) Marketplace is a long-term national effort to recognize and reward farmers for their stewardship efforts on their farms,”... Read this article online
Farm in the Dell looking to expand to Yorkton, Sask. Wednesday, June 10, 2026 An organization that works with adults in rural and farm settings is looking to expand its reach in Saskatchewan. “Farm in the Dell is a non-profit organization, and we support people with intellectual disabilities who live and work on the farm,” Lynette Zacharias, executive director of... Read this article online
Saskatchewan Students Gain Hands-On Farm Learning Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan and Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan have announced a new three-year partnership to improve agriculture education for young people across the province. The initiative focuses on providing hands-on learning experiences to help students understand... Read this article online