The federal government will continue to work for an improved export transportation system, federal Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz pledged during opening remarks made to the 23rd annual Canadian Special Crops Association (CSCA) meeting in Winnipeg. “All too often top-quality Canadian products hit snags in our Canadian transportation system before we can get them to market,”
Investing In Containers
Talks Continue On How To Help Hog Sector: Ritz
“They know what they have to do. We’ll work with them towards that end.” – GERRY RITZ Federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz said the federal government is close to disclosing how much help the hog sector will get with its transition plan. Federal officials were having day-by-day discussions with the Canadian Pork Council, Ritz
Fairs Key Contributors To Local Economies
“They’re still a good attraction.” – DORIS FLETCHER, PRESIDENT, MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES CAFE study highlights Source: Canadian Fairs and Exhibitions Economic Impact Study 2009 Combined impact of all Canadian fairs estimated at $1 billion annually. – Large fairs contribute $386 million to local economies; medium fairs $51 million; small fairs $569 million Average
Province Helps Fund Fairground Upgrades
“There needs to be upgrading.” – DORIS FLETCHER, MAAS PRESIDENT Agricultural socie-ties will share $94,500 in provincial grants in 2009-10 to help cover costs of much-needed upgrades such as paint and repairs to barns, grandstands, bleachers and signage. The provincial government announced the grant last week. “These organizations support and encourage the exhibitions and fairs
Carman Grape Growers’ Vineyards Flourish
Aconventional grain farm on the harsh Canadian Prairies, where temperatures readily plunge to -40C, isn’t exactly ideal for grape production. Unless, of course, it’s in your blood. “Grapes have been part of the family for the last 500 years or so. So, yes, you could say it’s in our blood,” Tom Menold told visiting farm
Alternate Revenue Source No. 1 Issue For AMM
“Sure we get transfers and grants, but we need long-term sustainable funding to really tackle the issues facing our communities.” – AMM PRESIDENT DOUG DOBROWOLSKI The Association of Manitoba Municipalities will continue pushing for a one per cent share of provincial sales tax as a source of alternative revenue, AMM president Doug Dobrowolski said in
Taking Care Of Business And Social Needs Too
“A lot of times social enterprise comes out of a community looking at how to meet its business needs that can’t be met with a private-market business model.” – DAVID LEPAGE, PROGRAM MANAGER OF ENTERPRISING NON-PROFITS (ENP) IN B. C. When women in Altona proposed selling second-hand clothing back in the early 1970s, they only
AMM’s Leaders Want Rural Medical School
Manitoba’s budget for recruiting foreign doctors would be better spent providing medical training to people from rural and remote communities, a Brandon physican who is proposing a 25-seat medical school for Brandon University says. Dr. Derry Decter gained more support for the idea at a meeting of southwestern municipal leaders last week. They gave him
Canadian Programs Supported By U. S. Charitable Group
WHAT IS HEIFER INTERNATIONAL AND WHO STARTED IT? Heifer International was founded in the U. S. in 1944 by a Midwestern farmer and Church of the Brethren Christian member named Dan West. West returned from duty as an aid relief worker during the Spanish Civil War, convinced that restoring food security among impoverished families was
Canada And U. S. Agree On Organic Standards
Canada can now export certified organic products to U. S. markets without getting American certification, now that both countries have agreed to accept each other’s national standards for organic food. The long-awaited equivalency agreement, announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) June 17, means organic farmers
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
