The 'bacon bubble' that didn't burst Sunday, April 3, 2011 Last October, the Wall Street Journal announced that the "bacon bubble" was set to burst. Pork industry executives braced themselves for the worst, according to MeatingPlace Magazine, and it didn't come. Well, maybe on the "fine dining" side. High end restaurateurs had been putting bacon into everything, including cocktails.Otherwise, sales to middle and working class consumers continued upward, rather than dying off as expected after Labour Day.The Consumer Price Index for bacon was up 32.5 per cent from the previous October.Wendy's quick-serve restaurant ("fast food" is apparently now a pejorative term) expanded the use of smoked bacon from one to all of its sandwiches sold in the United States. Meat industry reports indicate that supermarket sales were up nearly three per cent measured in terms of dollars, while the volume of bacon sold was down by 1.7 per cent. (Wal-Mart does not submit sales figures and was not included.) BP Uncollectible loans and unsustainable agriculture Moving towards a national biosecurity standard
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