CRAMPED CHICKEN CAGES ARE GOING AWAY. WHAT COMES NEXT? . . . SO FAR, SOY GOOD FOR ATLANTIC ROASTED PRODUCTS . . . FARM VEHICLE SINGLE-FEE REGISTRATION NOW OFFERED . . . ONE IN TEN WILD BEES FACE EXTINCTION IN EUROPE . . . OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST...

CRAMPED CHICKEN CAGES ARE GOING AWAY. WHAT COMES NEXT?
Source: NPR For the past two years, at an undisclosed location in the upper Midwest, a large commercial egg farm has been probed with every tool of modern science. Researchers have collected data on feed consumed, eggs produced, rates of chicken death and injury, levels of dust in the air, microbial contamination, and dollars spent. Graduate students have been assigned to watch hours of video of the hens in an effort to rate the animals’ well being. (read more)

SO FAR, SOY GOOD FOR ATLANTIC ROASTED PRODUCTS
Source: Farm Focus
Atlantic Roasted Products is big into soybeans. With the purchase of new equipment through recent government loans, Atlantic Roasted Products will be able to offer commercial scale custom roasting of soybeans. Through this venture, the Montague, Prince Edward Island company plans to sell soybean feed supplements to producers of livestock, dairy, and poultry. Soybean feed supplements have numerous benefits for livestock, says the company, and provide a cost-efficient source of energy and protein. (read more)

FARM VEHICLE SINGLE-FEE REGISTRATION NOW OFFERED
Source: CBC.ca
P.E.I. Farmers will soon have the option of paying a one-time only fee for registering farm trucks and trailers. Starting April 6, farm vehicle owners can choose to pay a one-time only $100 fee for each farm-plated vehicle, rather than the yearly $10 fee. (read more)

ONE IN TEN WILD BEES FACE EXTINCTION IN EUROPE
Almost one in 10 of Europe’s native wild bees face extinction, according to the most comprehensive expert assessment so far. The European Red List, drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, found 9.2 percent of nearly 2,000 species are threatened with extinction. Another 5 percent are likely to be threatened in the near future. Threats include loss of habitat from intensive farming, pesticide use, urban development, and climate change. (read more)