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IFAJ 2011

Discussing agriculture’s future at AgendaCamp

Discussions on the future of the agricultural economy in Ontario are well underway as about 100 participants are gathered here in Kingston today for AgendaCamp.
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Processing the experience

When attending an agenda-packed international event like the recent IFAJ Congress, it’s all you can do to focus on the moment. Day after day we were kept scurrying from one event to another and from one farm visit to the next. We often left our hotels by 7 a.m. and didn’t return until late in the night.

Given this pace, there was only time to superficially process our newly-gained experiences on a very fragmented basis as we frantically wrote notes and snapped photos that would help to jog our memories at a later date. Continue reading Processing the experience

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Threats from bears and lynx

Canadian sheep farmers who deal with threats from predators on a daily basis should take a little solace in the comfort that they´re not alone. Slovenian sheep and goat producers face the same challenges and, like in so many other sectors of European Union agriculture, rely heavily on subsidies to help them deal with these challenges. Continue reading Threats from bears and lynx

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From Austria to Australia; IFAJ delegates come together

I sat through my first delegates’ assembly yesterday at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ (IFAJ) in Graz, Austria.

The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) is a non-political, professional association for agricultural journalists in 29 countries. Continue reading From Austria to Australia; IFAJ delegates come together

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English – and music – are the common denominators

When I was planning my visit to Europe, I mistakenly anticipated the fact that I’d understand very little of the language. I’ve been taking French lessons for years, so hoped that I’d comprehend at least a little of the language in Paris. I’m also travelling with my friend Lilian who is fluent in German so I had jokingly told friends I was taking my own personal translator to Austria. Continue reading English – and music – are the common denominators

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Slovakian agriculture after communism

Twenty years ago, a visit like ours to Slovakia would not have been possible. Under communist rule, our tour guide, Miroslav, today told delegates to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ (IFAJ) pretour that the requirements would have been so stringent that it would have been difficult – if not impossible – for delegates from 16 countries to come together to tour farms and talk shop. But that is exactly what our tour today was all about. Continue reading Slovakian agriculture after communism

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16 countries converge on Slovakia

The official congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists kicked off today when the farm journalists from 16 countries converged on the Hotel Tatra in Bratislava, Slovakia for three days of tours organized by the Slovakian farm writers’ association. The program is the launch to the annual International Federation of Agricultural Journalists’ congress, held in a different country every year.

Continue reading 16 countries converge on Slovakia

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