Animal Welfare Measure Comes into Law in Michigan
MICHIGAN, US - The state has passed a bill that will phase out gestation crates for breeding sows within 10 years. The move has been welcomed by animal welfare groups.

Full Restoration of Pork Exports to Russia Expected
CANADA - Canada's Agriculture Minister is hopeful the flow of Canadian pork into Russia will be fully restored following inspections of Canadian processing plants by Russian officials next month, writes...

Effectiveness of Pork Industry Restructuring Program
CANADA - Officials within Canada's pork industry will be closely monitoring the ability of producers to access loans under a new federal Loan Loss Reserve Program being offered through Canada's chartered...

Villagers Want Ban on Pig Rearing
TAMIL NADU, INDIA - The residents of Sadayamangalam Panchayat in Thuckalay Panchayat Union have urged the district administration to ban pig rearing in and around their village.

Canadian Pork Gets Support in Global Markets
GERMANY - "Canadian pork is the best in the world!" That’s the message sent by Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn throughout his visit to the ANUGA trade...

African Swine Fever Pressing on in Russia
RUSSIA - Russian veterinary authorities continue to report the persistence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the country.

NPPC Supports New USDA Research Agency
US - The National Pork Producers Council yesterday applauded the launch of a new research and education arm within the US Department of Agriculture.

PiGIS Awarded Prize for 'Next Big Thing'
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - The Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP) CONNECT’s search for ‘the next big thing’ has concluded with the innovative software, PiGIS™, coming away with a £3,000 prize for best product...

Early Registration for Hog Farm Transition Program
CANADA - The Saskatchewan Pork Development Board is advising pork producers planning on participating in the new Hog Farm Transition Program to register early in order to qualify for the first round of...

WTO Panel to Be Requested to Address US M-COOL
CANADA - The federal government has announced it will ask the World Trade Organization for a panel to resolve Canada's dispute with the United States over US Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labelling, writes...

Lawmakers Ask USDA to Help Pork Producers
US - Members of the US Senate and House have urged the US Department of Agriculture to lend assistance to US pork producers to help them out of a 2-year-old economic crisis. The National Pork Producers...

CME: M-COOL a Legitimate Policy?
US - This week’s Daily Livestock Reports feel like “All Canada all the time” but there was more market-impacting news from north of the border yesterday, write Steve Meyer and Len Steiner in their Daily...

Canada Requests WTO Panel on US M-COOL
CANADA - The Canadian government has announced its intention to file for a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process over the US mandatory country-of-origin labeling (M-COOL) law that went...

First Round on Agriculture ‘Templates’ Completed
GLOBAL - World Trade Organisation farm talks’ chairperson David Walker described as “a good start” two days of technical discussion on the blank forms members will use for making commitments on agriculture...

Quick Application for New Debt Consolidation Loans
CANADA - Farm Credit Canada is advising pork producers planning to apply for loans under a just launched federal pork industry restructuring plan to do so quickly, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Pork Producers to be Eligible for Restructuring Loans
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is confident most Canadian pork producers will be eligible for loans being made available under a new restructuring plan being offered by the federal government for the...

Compensation over Pork Contamination Paid Out
IRELAND - More than €100 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent by the Government on compensation to farmers and processors following last December’s pork contamination scandal.

Canadian Govt Invests in Farm Animal Care in BC
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA - The Government of Canada is investing more than $500,000 to help British Columbia livestock and poultry producers share information and raise industry awareness of farm animal...

Pork Industry Restructuring Plan Details Announced
CANADA - Canada's agriculture minister says there is a future for hog production in this country but the industry needs to right sized, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Program Available for Canadian Pork Producers
CANADA - Canadian pork producers can start applying for government-backed loans on Monday. Applications will also be available for the Hog Farm Transition Program starting this week.

Warning from MEPs Regarding EU Transport Rules
SCOTLAND, UK - An NFU Scotland delegation visiting Brussels has received warning that damaging EU proposals to introduce new restrictions on animal transport could be put back on the European agenda within...

Pork Producers Call on Manitoba Govt for Assistance
CANADA - Manitoba Pork Council is urging the Manitoba government to follow the lead of other provinces and provide much needed financial support for the province's pork producers, writes Bruce Cochran...

Farmers Urged to Follow Product Label Instructions
NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) is reminding farmers that off-label use of veterinary medicines may land them a day in court and a significant fine.

Former Minister Defends Hog Plant Grants
CANADA - PEI's agriculture minister under the Pat Binns administration was called before a legislative committee to explain why that government gave $2 million in grants to the provincial hog plant.

NASDA Plans to Help Producers
US - The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has put forward a plan to take extra dairy, pork and poultry supplies off the market to help producers.