National Farm Radio Forum

Home · Programs · National Farm Radio Forum

On air from 1941-01-28 to 1965-03-29

It was radio that got farmers talking. From 1941 to 1965, National Farm Radio Forum brought together groups of neighbours across rural Canada to listen to a weekly half-hour program on a single farm issue. Using accompanying printed study guides, the groups then discussed the broadcast and sent in a summary for follow-up on a subsequent show. Launched as an educational experiment by the CBC, along with the Canadian Association for Adult Education and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the show's motto was: "Read. Listen. Discuss. Act."

13 radio clips

You must sign in to leave a comment on this clip.

No comments

Farm Forum: Farm incomes in flux

Broadcast Date: Nov. 24, 1941

In 1931, just 11 per cent of farmhouses in Canada had running water in the kitchen – an indication of the lower income of farmers compared with city-dwellers. That may be one factor driving people off the farm, according to a drama on CBC Radio's National Farm Radio Forum. This episode from 1941 compares prices for farm products since the beginning of the Second World War with prewar earnings.

Farm Forum: Farm incomes in flux

• National Farm Radio Forum was the brainchild of Orville Shugg, a young farmer from southern Ontario. His career in radio had begun in 1939 with the daily 15-minute CBC Farm Broadcast.
• Shugg described Farm Forum as "a sophisticated extension of the old 'New Canada Movement.'" Started in 1933, the New Canada Movement aimed to make young farmers into activists and achieve a "new deal" for rural Canadians.
• Three objectives drove Shugg and his writing partner, Neil Morrison, in producing the Farm Forum broadcast. The CBC Program Schedule for the week of Nov. 23, 1941, outlined the objectives:
- To present authentic social and economic background material for discussion
- To translate such material into terms that will appeal to the imagination and interest of farm listeners
- To serve as a link between listening groups spread over a wide area.

Farm Forum: Farm incomes in flux

Medium: Radio

Program: National Farm Radio Forum

Broadcast Date: Nov. 24, 1941

Duration: 24:42

Photo: Library and Archives Canada

Last updated:
Oct. 14, 2008

End of list

Activez le Javascript sur votre navigateur...

12 clips in this topic . page

All clips from this program

Show

13 results available

Media	Title and date	Description
Radio 29:32	March 29, 1965 Farm Forum: The final forum (1965)	Farm Forum comes to an end, but the forums say they'll keep on learning.
Radio 29:00	Nov. 2, 1964 Farm Forum: A national health plan	Justice Emmett Hall makes the case for national health care to Farm Forum listeners.
Radio 1:06	Nov. 2, 1964 The Royal Commission on Health Services	Supreme Court Justice Emmett Hall describes the reasons why Canada needs universal health care.
Radio 28:53	Jan. 13, 1964 Farm Forum: Careers for rural teens	Rural youth respond to last week's show by discussing what they need from schools and parents to plan their careers.
Radio 29:14	Jan. 6, 1964 Farm Forum: The future of farm youth	As more young people leave the farm, a panel probes their prospects for future employment.
Radio 28:18	Nov. 25, 1963 Farm Forum: A woman's place, 1963	An extra income can buy modern conveniences, but is it proper for women to work off the farm to get them?
Radio 28:50	Nov. 4, 1963 Farm Forum: The country church in the '60s	Farm Forum participants debate whether small rural churches should amalgamate.
Radio 28:52	Dec. 17, 1962 Farm Forum: The dairy industry in 1962	Dairy industry experts address farmers' questions about high-quality cheese production, protein content in milk and dairy co-ops.
Radio 29:19	March 1, 1943 Farm Forum: Is rationing rational?	A Farm Forum panel tackles the problem of food shortages and high prices during the war.
Radio 29:35	Nov. 9, 1942 Farm Forum: Feeding an army	As overseas demand grows, the federal Minister of Agriculture tells Farm Forum listeners what they should produce for the war effort.
Radio 29:53	Nov. 2, 1942 Farm Forum: Fighting fascism overseas	A son on leave from the war explains fascism to his father back on the homestead.
Radio 24:42	Nov. 24, 1941 Farm Forum: Farm incomes in flux	A radio play dramatizes the trend of people leaving the farm for the city and changes in farm income during the war.
Radio 29:32	Jan. 28, 1941 Farm Forum: Too many farmers?	A new radio program aiming to stimulate discussion in farm groups asks: "Are there too many farmers?"

13 results available

CBC Archives