Butterball, have you tried beer? Monday, February 3, 2014 A New Hampshire farmer feeds his Thanksgiving turkeys beer to make them "fatter, more flavourful and juicier," according to an Associated Press story. For poultry farmer Joe Morette, the eureka moment occurred one hot July day in 1993 when a turkey knocked over a worker's can of beer and started drinking. Morette has been feeding his flock beer (preferably lager) ever since. While Morette's customers are happy, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is not, saying turkeys shouldn't consume beer. However, the national director of Humane Heartland says, "I consulted with an avian veterinarian who said that, while giving beer to turkeys is not a standard protocol, hops could be beneficial for the intestinal tract." Maybe Butterball should be taking note. At press time, there was still no explanation for a mysterious November shortage of over-16-pound turkeys, which the Associated Press reports cut Butterball's shipments of Thanksgiving turkeys by 50 per cent. BF Farmers behaving badly Red tape strangles Greenbelt farmers
Ontario Supports Farmers Through 4R Nutrient Program Thursday, January 22, 2026 Several key agricultural organizations and the provincial government have renewed the Memorandum of Cooperation for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship program for a third term. The agreement brings together the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Fertilizer Canada, Grain Farmers of... Read this article online
Canada-Ontario Funding Aims to Expand Agri-Food Markets Wednesday, January 21, 2026 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $20 million through the new Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to help farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses expand sales of Ontario-grown products domestically and internationally. The initiative... Read this article online
Bushel Plus rebrands to BranValt for global harvest-tech growth Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Bushel Plus Ltd., a well‑known name in harvest optimization tools and training, is preparing for a major brand transformation as it shifts to a new global identity: BranValt. The company recently announced that the transition will officially take effect in July 2026, marking a... Read this article online
Canada Negotiates Tariff Reductions on Canola Seed by China Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Mark Carney has concluded his visit to Beijing for high-level meetings with Chinese leaders, including Xi Jinping. The visit marked the first trip to China by a Canadian prime minister since 2017 and resulted in a joint statement outlining a new strategic partnership between the two countries.... Read this article online
Ontario Pig Producer Disease Advisory -- PED and PDCoV Risks Rising This Winter Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) and Porcine Deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) continue to pose significant risks to swine operations across the industry. Both viruses are highly infectious, spread easily through manure, contaminated equipment, transport vehicles, and human movement, and can have... Read this article online