Idaho takes an animal activist lesson from Ohio Monday, April 5, 2010 Last month, the Senate in the state of Idaho approved a bill to set up a livestock care standards board. It's a move similar to one made in Ohio (see Short Takes, Better Farming, Dec. 2009) where a board was established with a set number of veterinarians and farm group representatives. The board in Ohio sets standards for animal care and health and environmental standards as well. As in Ohio, the state aimed to set animal welfare laws before the Humane Society of United States (HSUS) got to influence them. The bill must still pass the Idaho House of Representatives. According to a local newspaper, legislators anticipate that the chicken raising industry will grow in Idaho.The HSUS hasn't given up on Ohio. In February, animal activists started gathering signatures to put a referendum on the November ballot that would require the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to adopt certain animal treatment practices for veal, pig and layer hen production. The group needs 600,000 signatures. BF A market for camels' milk in the West Behind the Lines - April 2010
Ontario Invests $7M in Agri-Food Innovation Tuesday, May 26, 2026 The Ontario government is committing up to $7 million to support 34 new research projects aimed at transforming innovative ideas into practical, market-ready solutions for farmers and food processors across the province. Delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, the... Read this article online
Sunrise Farms invests over $100 million to build advanced poultry plant in Woodstock Monday, May 25, 2026 Ontario’s agri-food sector is set for another major boost as Sunrise Farms announced an investment of more than $100 million to build a state-of-the-art poultry processing facility in Woodstock. The expansion—described as the largest greenfield project in the company’s history—will... Read this article online
Falling Behind on Direct Alcohol Shipping Deadline Monday, May 25, 2026 Canada’s small alcohol producers are growing increasingly frustrated as a promised timeline for direct-to-consumer (DTC) alcohol shipping reforms approaches with little visible progress. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling out federal and provincial... Read this article online
Saskatchewan Startup Unveils Portable Device to Detect Crop Diseases in the Field Monday, May 25, 2026 With global crop losses from pests and diseases reaching as high as 40 percent annually, a Saskatchewan-based startup is working to equip farmers with faster, more practical tools to protect their yields. PathoScan Technologies, founded in Saskatoon, has developed a portable... Read this article online
Beau’s and Kubota launch Ontario tractor giveaway celebrating rural life Monday, May 25, 2026 Ontario residents have a chance to take home a brand-new Kubota BX2680 tractor this summer thanks to a new partnership between Beau’s Brewing Co. and Kubota Canada Ltd. Beau’s Brewing Co. is an independent Canadian craft brewer founded in Vankleek Hill, Ontario. Since 2006, Beau’s... Read this article online