A massive turnover in the agricultural workforce caused by retiring baby boomers means the employment pipeline needs to be flowing more freely than ever. That’s the word from Scott MacDonald, insecticide marketing manager and horticulture lead for BASF. He says universities will be the key source for providing agriculture with new talent. “They’ll make a… Read more »
Tag: University of Guelph
Ontario government marks Canada’s Ag Day with $713 million commitment to University of Guelph
The Ontario government has made a 10-year, $713 million commitment to fund agriculture research at the University of Guelph. Jeff Leal, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, was joined by University of Guelph President Dr. Franco Vaccarino, in Guelph today to sign the agreement and mark Canada’s Agriculture Day. “We look forward to… Read more »
Nominations wrapping up for $100,000 ag and food prizes
Nominations are closing this week for two unique global food innovation awards — and there’s every reason to believe Canadian agriculture could produce a winner. The awards are the first Arrell Global Food Innovation Awards, from the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. The institute was created from a $20-million donation from the… Read more »
Determining where to cut antimicrobial use for dairy calves
All livestock producers have been urged to cut unnecessary antibiotic use, to try to prevent resistant bacteria from developing in their herds and flocks. But on the farm, the question is where, and how? Consider dairy calves, for example. More than half of the deaths of dairy calves are from diarrhea. Producers often treat that… Read more »
Mental health advocate gets the picture
Canada’s leading advocate for mental health awareness in agriculture, University of Guelph veterinary medicine professor Andria Jones-Bitton, is in high demand at farm meetings to speak about her ground-breaking research results. Through her studies over the past three years, she’s discovered an abnormally high rate of depression and other mental illnesses among farmers (and veterinarians)…. Read more »
Blood test can identify litter-limiting genetic problem in pigs
A lab has been established in Guelph to screen boars with a genetic abnormality that results in smaller litters. The abnormality happens naturally, when cells divide. “Sometimes, the genes just don’t line up the way they should when cells are developing,” says University of Guelph Prof. Allan King, who established the lab. That results in… Read more »
$15.5 million beef research centre to be built at Elora, Ont.
Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal, his federal counterpart Lawrence MacAulay and representatives from the University of Guelph and Beef Farmers of Ontario broke ground on Thursday for a $15.5 million Livestock Research and Innovation Centre for beef to be built at the Elora Research Station. The province has committed $12.4 million to the project, with… Read more »
Growing agri-food industry shaping Guelph’s OAC programs
The agri-food industry needs more highly qualified people, and the University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) is looking for ways to help meet the demand. Producing more graduates is both a challenge and tremendous opportunity, says OAC dean Dr. Rene Van Acker. A study released five years ago indicated that there were three jobs… Read more »
University of Guelph Receives Largest-Ever Gift to Create Arrell Food Institute
The University of Guelph has received its single largest-ever gift — $20 million from the Arrell Family Foundation — to establish the Arrell Food Institute at U of G. “This landmark gift will allow our University to address the defining challenge of our time: food security, safety and sustainability,” said U of G president Franco… Read more »
Equine Infertility Answers Could Help Humans
When it comes to mating horses, there’s a lot at stake. Stud fees can soar into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And likewise, offspring from a particularly promising pairing can be extremely valuable. These animals could be the start of a new line, and lead to generations of prime performers. But… Read more »
If You Give a Seed An Aspirin…
Clarence Swanton has worked for 16 years on a super cool project that takes about 40 minutes to explain properly, as he did at the recent Southwest Agricultural Conference. Perhaps more impactful, however, is the time-lapse video he showed whereby the mere presence of weedy surroundings actually killed a tobacco seedling. Perhaps this makes sense —… Read more »
Enhanced Databank Gives Veterinarians Better Access to Extra-Label Advice
Livestock and poultry veterinarians involved with extra-label use of drugs for food animals now have an improved – and vitally important – e-resource available to them. Directors of the web-based Canadian food animal residue avoidance databank (which goes by the acronym CgFARAD) have unveiled a new user-friendly and effective database and website for licensed veterinarians… Read more »
Talking Dirt: New Soil Health Centre Backs Intuition With Science
Soil preservation is gaining seatbelt and sugarless gum status in our society. It’s simply no longer optional. Some soil advocates are now calling for every agricultural grant application to have a tick box explaining how the proposed project exercises best soil management practices. No doubt, pressure is mounting to acknowledge the unparalleled role those first… Read more »
The Next Revolution In The Farm And Food Sector Has Arrived
Pundits have said the leaders of the next agricultural revolution – the digital revolution — will be big data-powered researchers, with a universe of information in hand to help make farming more efficient than ever. But no one said those researchers would be found in the labs, fields, and classrooms of some of Canada’s main… Read more »
New Director Named for U of G’s Food Institute
The University of Guelph’s Food Institute has a new director. Evan Fraser, a geography professor and Canada Research Chair who examines global food security issues, was named to the position earlier this week. The institute includes all seven colleges at the U of G, supporting Guelph’s 150 year tradition as Canada’s “food university” by connecting researchers… Read more »