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
Grain Markets React to Falling Crop Ratings and China Demand Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Grain markets experienced a volatile week ending July 31, 2026, as changing U.S. weather forecasts, declining crop conditions, geopolitical tensions, and renewed Chinese buying activity influenced trading, according to the latest Farms.com Risk Management , titled '' During the... Read this article online
PEI Dairy Leader Wins Atlantic COYF Title Monday, August 3, 2026 Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) has named Deanna Doctor of Kensington, Prince Edward Island, as the 2026 Atlantic Regionalhonouree. The recognition celebrates her achievements in dairy farming, leadership, and commitment to agricultural innovation. Over the past decade, Deanna... Read this article online
Rural Albertans wanted for grief study Friday, July 31, 2026 Researchers from the University of Alberta are looking to connect with rural Albertans who’ve dealt with grief related to substance use. “What we’ve been hearing from our past research and work in the community is there’s a lot of substance use related grief,” Holly Mathias, a human... Read this article online
Preparing for Farming Uncertainty Friday, July 31, 2026 Farm Management Canada has introduced a new report that proposes a National Strategy for Education and Communication on Agricultural Risk Management, aimed at improving how Canadian producers and agricultural service providers understand and use the wide range of risk management programs, tools... Read this article online
Central Ontario FS Expands Grain Network with Acquisition of Haley's Elevator in Burford Friday, July 31, 2026 Central Ontario FS is strengthening its presence in southwestern Ontario after signing a purchase agreement to acquire Haley's Elevator Inc., a long-established grain handling facility located in Burford. The acquisition marks another step in the growth of the company's grain elevator... Read this article online