Reach

A spring survey to gauge consumer opinions about food pricing, buying habits and values found affordability the top concern

Whether people throw steaks or hot dogs on the barbecue this summer could reflect how they feel about their food spending.

A new report from the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University found increasing anxiety about food affordability compared to last fall.

Congratulations to Lauren Farrow from GP Alliance Church, our latest Date Night on Daniel Winner!

She won a $100 gift card to Mr. Mike's Steakhouse Casual and a Cineplex gift card courtesy of Daniel Cram of Sutton Realty.

Deferred grazing, a practice that involves delaying livestock grazing until after key growing seasons, is a valuable strategy for preserving and enhancing native prairie ecosystems. Unlike continuous or early-season grazing, deferred grazing allows native grasses and forbs the opportunity to complete their life cycles, set seed, and recover from previous disturbances. This approach brings a range of environmental, ecological, and even economic benefits that support both sustainable ranching and grassland conservation. 

Canada needs flexible, farmer-driven standards to guide regenerative agriculture, experts say

With producer and policy interest in regenerative agriculture growing across Canada, policymakers and industry leaders are debating how to standardize the concept without undermining its core principles or grassroots appeal.

Questions around standardization and regulation were front and centre during an April 30 webinar hosted by the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.

Alberta's latest crop report shows seeding of major crops is significantly ahead of historical averages. Manglai, product coordinator with Alberta Financial Services Corporation, who helps compile the report, says seeding is now at 47 per cent, well above the five-year average of 26 per cent and the ten-year average of 29 per cent.

Breaking down the regional analysis, the South region leads with 76 per cent of seeding completed, followed by the Central region at 51 per cent  the Northeast at 37 per cent, the Northwest at 29 per cent, and the Peace region at 27 per cent.

The Manitoba government has announced a $1 million partnership to enhance veterinary care services in northern and remote communities, which will include mobile spay and neuter services. Agriculture Minister Ron Kostitsyn emphasized that this funding is a step in the right direction to ensure every animal receives timely and compassionate care.

Nearly two years after stepping away from her family band, We The Kingdom, Franni Cash is finally sharing the heart behind her decision.

Through her latest single as a solo artist, "Koolaid," Cash opens up about the personal journey that led her to walk away from the chart-topping Christian group.

"I left my band of seven years, not because I was running from something but because I was running toward something," said Cash. "Toward using my voice to tell my story so I could connect on a deeper level."

The latest winner of American Idol is still trying to process the big win. 

On Sunday, the top three contestants, physical education teacher Jamal Roberts, 27, John Foster, 18, and stay-at-home Christian mom Breanna Nix, 25, performed duet songs alongside some big-name artists. 

Breanna Nix sang Daddy's DNA with Christian artist Brandon Lake. Jamal Roberts sang "Liar" and "Unpretty" alongside Jelly Roll, and John Foster performed with one of the judges, Luke Bryan, singing a medley of country songs. 

Brandon Lake and Forrest Frank are making waves as their songs have broken out on Billboard's Hot 100 songs from any genre. 

Within the past year, names such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Kendrick Lamar have often been seen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, two Christian artists have broken through recently, defying music genre boundaries. 

After 11 years without Christian artists on it, other than Christmas music, the chart is showing that Christian music has a place. 

Ryan Straschnitzki's life has been an open book since he was seriously injured in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, and his story is soon to be shown on TV.

The 26-year-old from Airdrie, Alta., was paralyzed from the chest down in 2018, when a semi-trailer ran a stop sign and barrelled into the path of the junior hockey team's bus in rural Saskatchewan. 

Sixteen people died and 13 were hurt.