It seemed like a rare opportunity to bring agriculture to the fore when, in 2014, the United Nations’ General Assembly declared it to be the International Year of Family Farming. At the time, it said the declaration was to “raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in eradicating hunger… Read More
Glenna Banda has been on the job for just one month, but she has a clear vision of agricultural education in Ontario’s classrooms. Banda is the new executive director of AgScape, Ontario’s ag in the classroom organization, which has worked with Ontario educators since 1991 to build awareness and understanding of the importance of our… Read More
Seventy-plus years ago there was no Take Your Pet to Work Day or National Milkshake Month, but there was a Farmer’s Day. First declared by the United Farmers of Alberta Co-operative Ltd. in 1945, the second Friday in June has been a day to celebrate and recognize all that farmers do and contribute to our… Read More
Public speaking. For you 4-H-ers out there, you’ve probably competed in an agricultural-based public speaking competition before, whether it was to your excitement, or you were doing it because it was mandatory in your district. Growing up outside of the 4-H sphere, and not living in a big centre, these were skills I didn’t really… Read More
Throughout her professional life, JoAnne Buth has seen change; forged relationships; and said ‘yes’ to opportunity. Born in Vernon, B.C. and later residing in Winnipeg, Man., Buth served as a senator for more than two years, representing Manitoba. Before becoming a senator, she spent roughly 13 years with the Canola Council of Canada, first as… Read More
Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit has announced the winners for this year’s Agriculture Student Scholarship Program. The top prize winner receives a $4,000 scholarship towards agriculture-related post-secondary studies, while three runners up receive a $2,000 scholarship. This year’s grand prize winner is Caylee Dorval of Glaslyn. Dorval created a three-minute long video describing and showing… Read More
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture and its members are calling on farmers and allies to contact their government representative over the increase in animal rights activists’ activities and the lack of prosecution of charges. There has been a marked increase in activist activity on farms and roadsides in Ontario over the past few months. At… Read More
Several Ontario producer groups and at least one lawyer are sounding the alarm on animal rights activists getting off scot-free in the province. Livestock producer groups are speaking out after a court decision this week to drop charges against an animal rights activist who recorded her trespassing on a Lucan-area hog farm multiple times in… Read More
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced 4-H Canada will receive up to $3 million over three years for the development and delivery of innovative programs and initiatives across Canada. The funding comes from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) AgriCompetitiveness program. Minister Bibeau made the announcement to a group of 70 4-H youth… Read More
A shortage of butchers and issues with the current Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program has been a struggle for Canadian processors, says the Canadian Meat Council (CMC). To address the issue, the Canadian government has announced a three-year agri-food immigration pilot project to bring full-time, non-seasonal agriculture workers to Canada. The pilot will include policy… Read More
The Canadian dairy industry has made great strides in cow comfort over the past 20 years. It’s a story EastGen genetics veterinarian Dr. Tim Henshaw feels all dairy farmers should be actively telling all friends, neighbours ,and consumers within earshot. From mats and bedding for cows to lie on, to adequate stall space and better… Read More
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced more than $6 million for the Canadian pork industry under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). The money will be split in three ways. More than $3.8 million will go towards AgriAssurance to help launch on-farm programs food safety, traceability, and animal care. Part of that money will also… Read More
Trucks from across the Prairies rallied in support of getting rid of the carbon tax on Thursday. More than 860 trucks converged on Regina and came from all corners of Saskatchewan as well as from Alberta and Manitoba. The purpose of the event was to let Ottawa know farmers and those in the oil industry… Read More
Public speaking makes many people very nervous, but for others it’s very natural. For Kaitlyn Kitzan its a talent she put to good use in the House of Commons this week as she represented Daughters of the Vote. The program is the brainchild of Equal Voice, a non-partisan group working to increase the number of… Read More
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Winnipeg, Man,. on Tuesday and took questions from reporters about what’s happening with Canada’s trade relations with China. Questions centred on canola, as earlier that morning it was announced China banned Viterra from exporting canola seed due to “hazardous pests.” Trudeau said, “We’re continuing to work very hard to try… Read More