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
Table Beet Harvest has Begun Wednesday, July 15, 2026 July marks the beginning of Ontario's fresh beet harvest season, with growers across the province supplying one of Canada's most popular root vegetables to grocery stores, farmers' markets, food processors, and wholesale distributors, and fellow farmers. Known for their versatility,... Read this article online
Massive Norfolk County Barn Fire Kills 20,000 Hogs, Shuts Down Highway 3 in Southwestern Ontario Wednesday, July 15, 2026 A devastating barn fire in Norfolk County has left one of Ontario's largest hog facilities destroyed and an estimated 20,000 hogs dead, drawing attention across the agricultural sector and raising new questions about emergency preparedness, livestock protection, and farm infrastructure... Read this article online
Canadian Grain Commission Updates Grain Grading Rules for 2026-27 Crop Year Tuesday, July 14, 2026 The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is introducing several important changes to grain grading procedures for the 2026-27 crop year, including updates affecting Canada Western Amber Durum, wheat and red lentils. The revisions, which take effect August 1, were developed following... Read this article online
Snap Beans are the Fastest-Growing Vegetable Crop in Canada? Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Fresh yellow and green bean season is officially underway across Ontario and Quebec, bringing one of Canada's most popular summer vegetables to grocery stores and farmers' markets. Harvest typically begins in July and continues through early fall, with both provinces serving as... Read this article online
Minnesota Wildfires Threaten Agriculture as Governor Walz Mobilizes National Guard Monday, July 13, 2026 Farmers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba are closely monitoring a growing wildfire situation in northern Minnesota after Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to assist firefighting efforts. The decision... Read this article online