Ag for Life project to continue
Ag for Life founding members will continue to fund agriculture education and rural and farm safety programming in Alberta for three more years.
More than 50,000 Alberta children, youth and adults in 2014 were reached with Ag for Life curriculum-based educational programs.
Funded programs include the Classroom Agriculture Program, Little Green Thumbs, Alberta Open Farm Days, City Slickers On-Farm Education, Growing Minds (Neubauer Farms), Alberta Women’s Institute’s Food and Farmers Project, Rural and Farm Safety Days, the Rollover Simulator Project and the Barnyard and Boots Program.
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The programming is delivered through collaboration with industry, government, farmers, ranchers, community leaders and not-for-profit organizations.
The organization has raised more than $4 million over the past three years and plans to attract more partners to meet program demand.
Ag for Life Founding Members include Agrium Inc., ATB Financial, ATCO Group, Penn West, Rocky Mountain Equipment, TransCanada Corporation, UFA Co-operative Limited along with Contributing Members AdFarm and Glacier FarmMedia.
More information is at agricultureforlife.ca.
Royal plans new features
Organizers of the 93rd annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will introduce new features, farm-focused entertainment and content in Toronto Nov. 6-15.
Upcoming highlights include the supreme championships for beef and dairy, the Royal Horse Show, the Royal Winter Gallery, the Road to the Royal Chef Challenge and the Royal Butter Tart.
There will also be more hands-on educational programming, improved curriculum connections and outreach with educators.
Organizers say the show’s attendance has grown by nine percent over the past two years. There are more than 300,000 visits during the 10 days, and the show generates more than $42 million in economic activity.
Monsanto named one of best workplaces
For the first time, Monsanto Canada has qualified for one of Canada’s best workplaces in the Great Place to Work Institute’s annual ranking of Canadian businesses.
The company placed 25th on the list of large and multinational workplaces. It also received a fifth place ranking for the best places to work for women.
The institute collects data from more than 10 million employees in more than 45 countries. This is the largest international study of workplace excellence and people management practices.
Employees answer questions about credibility, respect, fairness, pride, camaraderie and workplace culture.
For more information, visit www.greatplacetowork.ca.
Grain sector funding to increase exports
The grain industry is receiving $1.4 million in federal funding to help demonstrate its commitment to sustainable management practices and compliance with emerging marketplace requirements, as well as to find ways to boost exports.
The Canada Grains Council is receiving more than $1 million to develop tools that will help grain growers demonstrate that their crops are grown in a sustainable way.
An additional $325,000 will allow the council to continue representing its members’ interests on international bodies to discuss global grain trade issues and opportunities.
The industry generates more than $18 billion in exports, almost half of all of Canada’s agriculture and food exports.
Arctic apple developer appoints business director
Jennifer Armen, a 30-year veteran of the produce industry, has been named director of business development and marketing for Okanagan Specialty Fruits in Summerland, B.C.
She is now an official employee of OSF’s parent company, Intrexon Corp.
Armen has been working as a consultant to the biotechnology company through her own company, the Armen Group, since 2009.
Previous management level positions in the industry included roles with Nunhems, Syngenta, Pace International and Frieda’s with an emphasis on business development and marketing of novel technologies.
In her new role, Armen will oversee all aspects of commercial development for OSF, including marketing the firm’s non-browning Arctic apple.
Armen has a degree in botany and a masters of science in plant pathology.
She currently lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
