Consumers' attitudes towards science a factor in animal welfare debate Tuesday, January 14, 2014 by SUSAN MANN For consumers, animal welfare considerations are not just about the science, says University of Guelph Prof. Michael Von Massow. Some consumers don’t necessarily care what the science says, he adds, noting animal welfare scientists will say a very humane way to euthanize a piglet is to grab it by the tail and “whack him on the concrete. It’s quick, painless and humane. But the average consumer doesn’t want to see that picture.” Von Massow told delegates to the Dairy Farmers of Ontario annual meeting in Toronto last week “you can make the argument until you are blue in the face” that the approach is humane. But once consumers see it they don’t care about those scientific reasons. They’re just uncomfortable with that practice. “The science tells us what we can do but it doesn’t tell us what we should do,” says Von Massow of the university’s college of management and economics. Animal welfare isn’t “just about the science,” he notes. It is about managing consumers’ perceptions or making the case that “this is okay.” Von Massow says consumers are becoming more interested in animal welfare but they don’t have a good understanding of farming practices “so there is this gap there right now. It’s important that we participate in that discussion” and inform consumers of how farmers do their jobs and “why it’s the right thing to do.” But farmers shouldn’t just rely on falling back on the position that “the science says this works,” he explains. Consumers might just say they don’t care what the science says and that they don’t feel good “about that.” BF American and European businesses are transforming Canada's retail landscape DFO announces quota policy review
Corn and Soybean Crops Fall Short in 2025 Predicts Great Ontario Yield Tour Thursday, August 28, 2025 Ontario’s 2025 corn and soybean harvest is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory, as persistent drought and heat have pushed yields below the Agricorp 10-year average say experts and master scouts Moe Agostino and Henry Prinzen of the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour.... Read this article online
Global grain trade gets a shake-up: What it means for Canadian farmers Thursday, August 28, 2025 The global grain and oilseed trading industry is undergoing a major transformation—and Canadian farmers should take note. A recently published study in the September 2025 issue of discussed how the traditional dominance of a few multinational giants is giving way to a more competitive,... Read this article online
Ontario Farmers Share Yield Strategies Amid Drought Wednesday, August 27, 2025 The Great Ontario Yield Tour held an event at Petersen Custom Farming in Osgood, Ontario, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The farmer panel during lunch was one of the highlights of the event. Farmers and industry experts gathered to discuss yield strategies and the realities of this season’s... Read this article online
2025 Livestock Tax Deferral Regions Announced Tuesday, August 26, 2025 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has published the initial list of prescribed regions eligible for the 2025 Livestock Tax Deferral provision, a key support measure for Canadian livestock producers grappling with the impacts of extreme weather. “As we continue to see the very... Read this article online
Why Pork Producers Should Care About Canada’s Pig Code Update Tuesday, August 26, 2025 As many farmers will know, as part of the normal process for review, the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has launched a comprehensive review of Canada’s Pig Code of Practice, last updated in 2014. The review was announced in May. The process, expected to span three years,... Read this article online