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Ontario ag-gag appeal concludes, court ruling pending

Animal advocates argue law violates free expression; province defends focus on trespass, not speech

Reading Time: 3 minutes Animal rights advocates challenge the constitutionality of Ontario’s Security from Trespass Act, arguing it stifles undercover exposés and infringes on Charter freedoms; government defends the law as targeting trespass, not speech.

Diseases like African swine fever have increased the need for biosecurity preparedness in Canada. PHOTO: CANADIAN PORK COUNCIL

Pork producers slated for $567M in case of African swine fever

African swine fever hasn’t been found in Canada or the U.S. yet; Canadian government says funds will support hog farmers if a case causes markets to close

Reading Time: 2 minutes African swine fever hasn't been found in Canada or the U.S. yet. The Canadian government says funds will support hog farmers if a case causes markets to close.



Federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers met in Whitehorse, Yukon from July 17 to 19. Photo: Supplied

Ag ministers discuss BRM changes 

Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada’s agriculture ministers wrapped up their annual meeting in Whitehorse Friday saying they continue to look at changes to business risk management programs to make them more responsive.






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ASF compartmentalization moves a step forward

Plan not an attempt to download responsibilities, CFIA says

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada is one step closer to a compartmentalizing regime that hog farmers and the rest of the industry hope protects them against market impacts of African swine fever. Practical application can be developed now that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released its National Standards and National Framework for the Canadian ASF Compartment Program. From […] Read more


File photo of a wild boar crossing a road in Sweden. (Ockra/iStock/Getty Images)

Swine fever detected in Sweden for first time

Recent outbreak in Balkans spurred culls

Reading Time: < 1 minute Stockholm | Reuters — A dead wild boar in Sweden has tested positive for African swine fever, Sweden’s Veterinary Institute said on Wednesday, the first such case in the country. African swine fever is harmless to humans but is highly contagious and deadly in domestic pigs and wild boars. It has spread from Africa to […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Anti-ASF funds designated for Manitoba Pork

Three initiatives will be funded through the federal African swine fever preparedness program

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Manitoba Pork Council’s efforts against African swine fever now have almost $1 million in extra financial padding. On Aug. 3, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced $944,340 in funding for Manitoba’s hog farm group. Funds were provided through AAFC’s African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program and were slotted for three initiatives: Squeal on Pigs, increased […] Read more