Judge says Chinese ownership irrelevant Sunday, October 4, 2015 References to the Chinese government, the Communist Party and China's People's Liberation Army are "highly prejudicial" and must be edited out of statements of claim against large pig farms, a North Carolina judge has ruled.According to Associated Press, U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt agreed with pork industry leaders that Chinese ownership of Murphy-Brown LLC has nothing to do with recently filed nuisance complaints against the farms, operating since the 1990s. Smithfield Foods bought Murphy-Brown in 2000, and was subsequently taken over by WH Group, based in China, in 2013.The judge did not excise allegations regarding exports to China, and Chinese demand for and purchase of pork, because those allegations address a potential source of the alleged nuisance and "provide potentially useful contextual information." The lawsuit contends that Chinese demand for more pork will only increase demand for more North Carolina pork. BF An action plan for Lyme disease Whole Foods introduces 'value-oriented' stores
March 8 is International Women’s Day Friday, March 13, 2026 Across the United States and Canada, women are taking on increasingly visible roles in agriculture—managing farms, leading ag-tech startups, advancing research, and strengthening the rural economies that feed both nations. Their work reflects a shift in an industry once defined... Read this article online
Middle East conflict pushes fertilizer costs higher, forcing Ontario growers to rethink corn acres Friday, March 13, 2026 Ontario farmers are bracing for a turbulent spring as fertilizer and fuel prices surge in response to the escalating conflict involving Iran, a development that analysts say could reshape planting decisions across North America. The spike in nitrogen costs—the most critical and... Read this article online
Sask Farmer Say he Knows Why Fertilizer Companies Come Out Ahead When Markets are Disrupted Friday, March 13, 2026 As farmers continue to grapple with volatile input costs (Read: Fertilizer Prices Rise as Gulf Supply Tightens, one Saskatchewan farmer has offered a blunt assessment of why he believes fertilizer companies often appear to come out ahead during wars, sanctions, and global supply... Read this article online
PEI introduces one of Canada’s strictest honey bee import protocols for 2026 Friday, March 13, 2026 Prince Edward Island has released its updated 2026 protocol regarding the importation of honey bees, establishing some of the most stringent movement rules in the country. The protocol outlines new inspection, disease control, and transport requirements for any beekeeper or broker moving... Read this article online
Ontario Young Farmer Award Finalists 2026 Friday, March 13, 2026 The Ontario Outstanding Young Farmer (OOYF) Program will announce the province’s top young farmer during the 2026 awards banquet on April 8 at Cellar 52 in St. Jacobs, Ontario. The event will recognize young agricultural leaders whodemonstratestrong farming skills, innovation, and community... Read this article online