A new report prepared by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities cites the key role rural communities continue to play in nation building but the considerable limitations and challenges they also face.

Rural reality — new report cites ways to tackle the challenges

FCM report details the challenges of thinning populations and what’s needed for small-town Canada to grow and prosper

A new report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities hopes to convince Ottawa to revive the Rural Secretariat. The chair of the national municipal lobby group’s rural forum says they hope the federal government can come to better understand the challenges and opportunities of rural Canada. The FCM’s 28-page report Rural Challenges — National Opportunity:

Editorial: Bonanza bind

Over 100 years ago there was a land rush on the northern plains of North America. The arrival of railways suddenly opened vast tracts of land to settlement and agriculture. The world responded with a flood of humanity. These days we think of the romantic image of homesteading families from all corners of the world,


Rural populations rise — near cities

Rural populations rise — near cities

Overall growth occurs around core urban areas, in cottage country and other desirable retirement regions

With every passing year more Canadians live in urban areas but that doesn’t automatically mean rural populations are declining. Rural Canada’s population is growing too — just not as fast as urban Canada. And when a rural region becomes more populated, it’s sometimes not classified by Statistics Canada as rural anymore. The recent 2016 census

Emery Huszka, NFU president.

Changing landownership driving rural depopulation: NFU

More non-farmer landowners spells trouble for rural Canada, the organization says

Rural Canada is losing population and communities are suffering because of changing farmland ownership patterns and it’s time for governments to correct the situation, says Emery Huszka, president of the National Farmers Union of Ontario. “Landownership in addition to consolidation now sees pension funds, investment professionals and non-farm investors gobbling up ground as if it

farmer standing in a field with bales

The changing face of Canadian farms

A close look at the current census will give us a chance to examine the evolution of Canadian agriculture

Every five years, Canada’s federal government asks us to provide details on who lives in our household. The demographic information is used to guide decisions ranging from school planning to transportation infrastructure to government transfers. Among the census questions is one that asks if you intend to sell agricultural produce. This may strike most as


Editorial: Future non-farmers

The agriculture community spends a lot of time and energy worrying about the future of the next generation of farmers. Succession planning has become a cottage industry, governments and agencies fall over backward creating young farmer programs, and there’s constant fretting over how we might smooth their way. But the fact is most of your

Aerial view of farmland, Canada

Rural Canada is in a state of neglect, report says

Federal policy vacuum resulting in erosion of rural communities in Canada

A newly released report paints a bleak picture of rural Canada — a rundown place that is neglected by governments and running out of people, despite its vital role and partnership with urban Canada. The State of Rural Canada 2015, details the multiple and serious challenges facing rural regions including depopulation, aging infrastructure, lack of

Editorial: Let’s face it

Editorial: Let’s face it

It was a hot, humid day near Saskatoon last summer when I noticed a man helping out at the ticket booth at the inaugural Ag in Motion outdoor farm show. This man was sporting a big, bushy white beard and wearing bib overalls, thrusting his hands deep into those pockets as he rocked back and


Winter Derange (r) and Maeve Partyka (l) show off goats to visitors at Aurora Farm. Nearly 40 farms participated in the annual event, which is in its sixth year.

Open Farm Day a success

Warm weather and sunny skies drew droves of urbanites to Manitoba farms

Gravel roads and farm lanes were packed with vehicles last Sunday, as Open Farm Day brought out what might be a record number of visitors in its sixth year. Just south of Winnipeg, Aurora Farm was literally crawling with visitors of all ages, eager for the opportunity to feed a goat, touch a chicken or

Chantelle Genkow walks with daughter Chyler and son Conner at Grenkow Holsteins during Open Farm Day 2011.

Ag societies take the lead on Open Farm Day

The Manitoba Association of Agricultural Societies can help widen scope of farms involved

Open Farm Day Sept. 20 marks the last time Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development will be directly involved co-ordinating the event. The association representing this province’s 59 agricultural societies will take the helm for future events, and will look after finding host farm families, co-ordinating and promoting what has become a popular one-day trip