General

Reading Time: 3 minutes The federal government has pledged $45.6 million over four years to extend Canada’s Rural Partnership (CRP), which will flow support for rural community development through the ag department’s Rural Secretariat. The support comes in the form of a new CRP funding initiative, titled the “Community Development Program, Building Rural and Northern Partnerships,” and is intended […] Read more

Reading Time: < 1 minute NEW FEATURE — We welcome your comments on any Daily News articles you see here. Every Friday, when applicable, we’ll post the best reader comments of the week. If you’d like to submit comment on any news item you see on this site, click on “Comment on this article” at right. If you’d like your […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Quilters who are or who know fans of the International Harvester, Farmall, McCormick and Case IH equipment brands now have new “retro” fabrics they can source through Case IH dealers. “In addition to eight new designs and five new blender fabrics, we’re thrilled to offer pre-cut fabric packaged for convenience,” Sarah Pickett of Case IH’s […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes Agriculture, agribusiness and other rural-based resource sectors are driving over half of Canada’s exports and fueling economic growth, but much of rural Canada is missing out on that growth, Canada’s municipalities warn. In a report released Tuesday, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Rural Forum urged the federal government to craft a longer-term rural strategy and […] Read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Canadian diet includes less oils, red meats and soft drinks in 2008 compared to the previous year, according to Statistics Canada. The federal statistics agency on Wednesday released its 2008 report on food available for consumption, finding that Canadians’ total daily intake of calories per person is down to 2,382 calories from its peak […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes The organic food market chain that bills itself as Canada’s leading natural products retailer has replaced its chief executive while it looks to negotiate new terms with its lenders. Planet Organic Health Corp. announced Friday that its president and CEO since 2002, Ron Francisco, will step aside, to be replaced by Darren Krissie, the Edmonton […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says the federal government is vigourously pursuing the passage and implementation of trade agreements with the Latin American countries Peru and Colombia. Ritz is leading a Canadian delegation to both countries to “…advance quick implementation of these important free trade agreements.” The agreements were inked in the fall of 2008, […] Read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Olds College is now offering a new major aimed at training the next generation of land-use planning technicians and development officers. These roles involve gathering and researching environmental data to help assess how residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural developments interact with rural landscapes and ecosystems. This new program addresses both an employment shortage and an […] Read more

Reading Time: < 1 minute A worldwide organic certification body is actively encouraging farmers from Canada and elsewhere to apply for “micro-grants” to support organic research and/or education. Lincoln, Neb.-based OCIA (Organic Crop Improvement Association) International offers research and education micro-grants, typically in the range of $300 to $1,500, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Eligible projects “must support organic research, […] Read more