Ontario. Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Agriculture and Rural Division

• Agriculture and Rural Division

• Agricultural and Rural Services Division

• Agriculture Division

• Rural Development Division

In 1990, the Agricultural and Rural Services Division was established within the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, assuming the responsibilities of the former Education and Research Division, Field Services Advisory and Technical Services Division, and the Foodland Preservation and Financial Programs Division.

The division consisted of the Plant Industry Branch, Animal Industry Branch, Farm Assistance Branch, Land Use Planning Branch, Resources Management Branch, and Rural Organizations and Services Branch. It was also responsible for the Agricultural Representatives Branch, which oversaw the operations of a network of 54 field offices throughout the province.

In 1994, the Division underwent a few structural changes leading to a short-lived split into two separate divisions in 1995: Agriculture Division and Rural Development Division. Within these two divisions the branches remained relatively stable, however they were somewhat streamlined and linked to operations in specific regions.

The outcome in 1996 was the following breakdown: Business Development and Central Region; Crop Technology and Western Region; Livestock Technology and Eastern Region; Resources and Planning and Southern Region; Rural Development and Northern Region; and Services Delivery - Ministry Field Offices.

Aside from occasional branch name changes the organizational structure within the Division remained the same until 2001, when the branches and their associated regional responsibilities were separated.

In 2006, the Agriculture and Rural Division was dissolved and its primary areas of activity were taken on by three newly-created divisions: Rural Development; Innovation and Competitiveness; and Food Safety and Environment.

The Agricultural and Rural Division was responsible for overseeing the operation of the Ministry's field offices and research stations, as well as the management of programs related to land use planning, resources management, farm business assistance, economic development, rural development, and crop and livestock technology.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

KWIK indexes and Government Telephone Directories.

Authorities for successor bodies (named in admin history) to be created.

Archivist(s):
Prefontaine