Smoke and mirrors on 'free range' in Oz? Monday, April 5, 2010 Last year, Humane Society International surveyed more than 3,000 Australians and found that over 93 per cent questioned didn't know that the label "free range" applied to meat from pigs that had access to the outdoors only in the first few weeks of life before being transferred to a "factory farming operation."Lisa Chalk, communications manager for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), complains that terms like "free range," "corn-fed" and "organic" are used inconsistently. Australia's largest animal welfare organization is calling for mandatory national standards.Pork production standards and labels are still on the back burner in Australia, for now. Meanwhile, the RSPCA has egg production in its gun sights. Chalk calls hen cages "legalized cruelty" and wants all hens raised out of cages.It's more than an animal cruelty issue, because consumers are paying more for eggs that are raised under so-called ethical standards. A consumer watchdog group charges that there are many more free range eggs on the market than could possibly be produced and consumers are paying more for them than for eggs produced in battery cages. Oops!! BP Choking on changes to hotdogs Brits promise more honest labelling
Plant Essential Oils Boost Swine Growth Monday, April 6, 2026 A long-term study conducted by researchers at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, has highlighted the potential of plant-based essential oils as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters in swine production.... Read this article online
Alberta Water Reporting Rules May Ease for Small Farms Monday, April 6, 2026 The Government of Alberta has introduced changes to the Water Act that will require mandatory water use reporting. These new rules aim to improve water management and ensure sustainable use of resources. However, discussions are ongoing, and farmers still have an opportunity to shape how... Read this article online
Ag in the House: March 23 – 26 Monday, April 6, 2026 During the March 25 session of question period, Conservative Ag Critic John Barlow wondered which Liberal policies have hurt farmers the most. “Is it the fact that the Liberals are closing seven research centres and firing hundreds of scientists? Is it because we are the only G7 country... Read this article online
Operating farm equipment in Manitoba Monday, April 6, 2026 Farms.com’s third look into insurance and road rules for farm equipment in Canada is for Manitoba’s ag community. Do Manitobans need a license to drive a tractor? If the driver is at least 16, and the tractor is on private land, or temporarily on a public road for travel between fields... Read this article online
Study reveals key climate drivers of potato beetle outbreaks Monday, April 6, 2026 A long term research project from Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Wisconsin is offering new insight into what drives Colorado potato beetle outbreaks, giving US potato growers a clearer picture of how weather patterns and environmental conditions shape one of the... Read this article online