Ontario Pork board plans meetings with farmers before releasing its position on a mandatory sow stall ban Thursday, May 16, 2013 by SUSAN MANNOntario Pork’s board will issue its position on a mandatory sow stall ban after it consults with farmers and others once the national Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs is released for public comment June 1.The National Farm Animal Care Council in consultation with industry and other stakeholders is developing the code. Keith Robbins, Ontario Pork spokesman, says they anticipate there will likely be a 60-day consultation period as part of the code’s release.He says the board will host a minimum of one meeting and possibly a series of three meetings across Ontario near the end of June with elected producer representatives and farmers. The board talked about having a representative from the council that developed the code give a briefing about what’s in it, the background behind what’s included and then “soliciting some kind of feedback” from farmers, he says. “I don’t think the board is going to issue a position statement until after that consultation.”Producers will be given support materials ahead of time, he says. Ontario Pork will try and get as many farmers as it can to the meetings, which will probably be held in areas with the largest numbers of pork farmers.The meetings will cover all aspects of the code, including the use of sow stalls. The code also talks about pain controls, spacing and “all the aspects, such as lighting and all the rest of it,” he says.In March, delegates at Ontario Pork’s annual meeting voted 69-12 against a mandatory sow stall ban in Ontario. But several pork buyers, including Tim Hortons and the Retail Council of Canada, representing grocery stores, have called on the industry to discontinue the stalls’ use by 2022. BF Ontario Pork starts collecting fees on out of province weaner sales Certification program aims to produce ractopamine-free pork
Alberta Crop Harvest Nears Completion with Gains Friday, October 3, 2025 According to the latest AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, Alberta’s harvest is advancing quickly thanks to warm and dry conditions across much of the province. By September 23, 2025, 77 percent of major crops were harvested, an increase of 18 percent from the previous... Read this article online
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Peavey Mart Reboot- New Ownership Group Targets 7–12 Stores Thursday, October 2, 2025 For many, Peavey Mart, is a name synonymous with rural retail in Western Canada. As previously reported by Farms.com (read the article Is Peavey Mart Making a Comeback?), the new ownership group that acquired the Peavey Mart name and intellectual property from the now-defunct Peavey... Read this article online
When Cattle Roam--Legal Risks and Road Safety for Rural Drivers Thursday, October 2, 2025 It’s late. A vehicle barrels down a rural highway. Suddenly—impact. A Black Angus steer, nearly invisible against the asphalt, has wandered into the road. The consequences are costly—and potentially litigious. According to attorney Kelsea Eckert, whose firm , PA, has handled numerous... Read this article online