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
Grain Traders Monitor China Summit and Crop Estimates Monday, September 21, 2026 Grain and oilseed markets showed mixed movement during the week of September 18, 2026, as traders focused on U.S. yield revisions, Black Sea export disruptions, Canadian production estimates, crop conditions in Western Canada, and expectations surrounding the upcoming U.S.-China summit.... Read this article online
Federal government invests in farm safety Monday, September 21, 2026 The federal government is investing in an organization dedicated to farm safety. Ben Carr, the MP for Winnipeg South Centre, on Sept. 20 announced a federal investment of more than $1 million over two years for the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) to help the organization... Read this article online
Ag Minister MacDonald Tours Southern Ontario Monday, September 21, 2026 Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector received a strong vote of confidence during a recent southern Ontario tour by Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald. Throughout the visit, the Minister met with farmers, food processors, agribusiness leaders and community organizations... Read this article online
Harvest Weather Alert: Midwest Rain Risks Rise as Super El Nino Strengthens Monday, September 21, 2026 As summer gives way to autumn, farmers across the U.S. Midwest and parts of Canada are watching a weather pattern that appears poised to become increasingly active during the heart of harvest season. According to Nutrien Ag Solutions meteorologist Eric Snodgrass, recent atmospheric... Read this article online
U of G Launches Powering Food Futures Initiative, Invites Farmers to Shape Canada’s Agri-Food Future Monday, September 21, 2026 A new national initiative is inviting farmers, industry leaders, researchers and policymakers to help shape the future of Canada’s agri-food sector at a time when food security, climate resilience and global competitiveness are taking on heightened importance. Powering Food Futures, a... Read this article online