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
Canada’s Farm Show Kicks Off in Regina Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Canada’s Farm Show, presented by Bunge, officially kicks off today at 9 a.m. at the REAL District in Regina, Saskatchewan, launching three days of education, innovation and collaboration for the agriculture industry. Running through Thursday, the event is bringing together thousands... Read this article online
Ag in the House: March 9 – 13 Tuesday, March 17, 2026 During question period on March 9, Conservatives took aim at Liberal policies and how these decisions affect everyday Canadians including farmers. Andrew Scheer, for example, said the fuel standard is making life more expensive. “This is effectively another kind of carbon tax, which... Read this article online
Canada Packers Posts Strong Volume Growth and Profitability in First Year as Standalone Company Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Canada Packers Inc., recently split off from Maple Leaf Foods, reported its financial results earlier this month for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2025, highlighting increased hog volumes, steady sales growth and disciplined financial execution. In the fourth quarter of 2025,... Read this article online
How to Avoid Soil Compaction at Spring Planting Monday, March 16, 2026 Soil compaction is one of the most costly yet overlooked challenges facing cash crop producers. Often described by extension agronomists as a “silent yield robber,” compaction restricts root growth, reduces water infiltration, and limits nutrient uptake—sometimes for years after the damage... Read this article online
Global Market Volatility Sparks Concerns for Commodity Markets Monday, March 16, 2026 On the weekly with expert Farms.com Risk Management Chief Commodity Strategist Moe Agostino, who shared that the markets moved positively in several sectors during the week of March 9 to 13, as a result of rising concerns about global price volatility, driven largely by higher crude oil... Read this article online