Tennessee backs down on ag-gag law Monday, August 5, 2013 In June's Better Pork, we reported that lawmakers voted to make Tennessee the latest state to approve a so-called "ag-gag" law, a bill to make it illegal to record animal cruelty incidents on livestock farms without reporting them to the police right away.Just after we went to press, Tennessee Republican governor Bill Haslam vetoed the bill, following the opinion of his Democratic attorney general that it wouldn't pass a constitutional challenge, freedom of speech being nearly as important in that country as freedom to own a gun.According to Meatingplace.com, Haslam also cited concerns that the new law might take away reporters' rights to gather information for stories, and that it might be harder to prosecute legitimate animal cruelty cases "as an unintended consequence."As well, a number of Tennessee celebrities jumped on the bandwagon, among them songwriter Emmylou Harris, country music singer Carrie Underwood and even Priscilla Presley. The Humane Society of the United States sees it as a victory; the Animal Agriculture Alliance, which writes and speaks out against animal rights legislation, is not pleased. BP A Chinese takeover of Smithfields? The battle of the polls over gestation stalls
Gearing up for Parliament’s return Friday, September 12, 2025 With Parliament scheduled to resume on Monday, Sept. 15, Farms.com spoke with Tyler McCann, managing director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, about current issues affecting ag and how those could translate into the House of Commons. Overall, McCann expects the fall session to... Read this article online
Canadian Invasive Wild Pig Report 2023 Thursday, September 11, 2025 The 2023 Canadian Invasive Wild Pig Report was recently released by Animal Health Canada, providing a clear picture of how provinces and territories are tackling the spread of invasive wild pigs. This first-of-its-kind national collaboration shares location data, control activities, and... Read this article online
Princess Auto Plans New Guelph Store Thursday, September 11, 2025 Princess Auto is expanding its Ontario presence with a brand-new store planned for Guelph. Scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2026, this 30,000-square-foot location will bring a full selection of tools, equipment, and farm supplies closer to customers in southwestern Ontario. Built... Read this article online
CGC issues three licenses in early September Thursday, September 11, 2025 The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has issued three licenses to grain companies in the first half of the month. On Sept. 1, Western Harvest Bean ULC in Morden, Man., received a grain dealer license. This type of license is for “a person who, for reward, on his own behalf or the behalf... Read this article online
York Region launching new Agri-Food Startup Program Thursday, September 11, 2025 A new program in York Region is designed to help entrepreneurs find their footing in the food space. The 14-week hybrid Agri-Food Start-up Program partners entrepreneurs with local organizations like the Foodpreneur Lab, Syzl, York Region Food Network, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island... Read this article online