Why do some sows prefer to stay out of their stalls? Wednesday, October 6, 2010 Given a choice, some pregnant sows simply choose to stay in their 26-inch wide gestation stalls, according to research conducted by the Prairie Swine Centre in Saskatchewan, published on the website of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.The study found that 95 per cent of the sows left their stalls at some point to be in a group area but, over 24 hours, about 40 per cent spent less than two per cent of their time outside the stalls. Other animals spent 80 to 90 per cent of their time outside the stalls in a common area with other gestating animals.Animal behaviourist Harold Gonyou observed that the sows that stayed out tended to be older, larger sows and that raised some questions. Are the younger sows avoiding these larger animals and staying in their space for protection against bullying? Or are the 26-inch wide stalls too small for the older animals and so they choose to lie down elsewhere? BP Contradictory views on animal welfare Things about bacon you maybe didn't know
How to Avoid Soil Compaction at Spring Planting Monday, March 16, 2026 Soil compaction is one of the most costly yet overlooked challenges facing cash crop producers. Often described by extension agronomists as a “silent yield robber,” compaction restricts root growth, reduces water infiltration, and limits nutrient uptake—sometimes for years after the damage... Read this article online
Global Market Volatility Sparks Concerns for Commodity Markets Monday, March 16, 2026 On the weekly with expert Farms.com Risk Management Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino, who shared that the markets moved positively in several sectors during the week of March 9 to 13, as a result of rising concerns about global price volatility, driven largely by higher crude oil... Read this article online
Record bulk grain exports at Port of Vancouver in 2025 Monday, March 16, 2026 Canadian ag helped the Port of Vancouver have a record year in 2025. “The Port of Vancouver handled 170.4 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in 2025, an almost 8% increase compared to the previous record set in 2024,” the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said in a March 9... Read this article online
Small Firms Call for Energy Action Monday, March 16, 2026 Farmers and small business owners across Canada are urging governments to act quickly to strengthen the country’s domestic energy supply. According to new preliminary data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), many businesses believe stronger energy production and... Read this article online
Canada’s Real Seasons (According to Farmers Who Actually Live Here) Monday, March 16, 2026 According to a chart that’s been making the rounds on social media, courtesy of The Weather Network—the Canadian calendar has officially been updated. Apparently, we no longer live by the simple rhythm of winter, spring, summer, and fall. Instead, we now rotate through such crowd... Read this article online