European corn borer wreaked havoc for decades in cornfields across North America before the adoption of transgenic traits (Bt) in the late 1990s effectively punched out the pest. Earlier this year at Southwest Crop Diagnostic Days at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus, Ontario ministry of agriculture entomologist Tracey Baute noted that the yield-robbing insect… Read More
Tag: University of Guelph
The Ontario Agriculture College (OAC), at the University of Guelph (U of G) has announced a new master’s program, focused on plant agriculture. Scheduled to start in Fall of 2024, the program — housed in the Department of Plant Agriculture — will address the demands of employers in the private and public sectors who are… Read More
The University of Guelph’s weeds team were big winners at the Weed Science Society of America’s National Weed Science Contest in Union City, Tennessee this past week The 17-member team of graduate and undergraduate students have been preparing for months to test their weed ID, herbicide symptomology, sprayer calibration and farmer problem solving against students… Read More
Common ragweed’s ability to resist the control efforts of different herbicide groups continues to grow across Ontario. Last winter, University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema confirmed the presence of Group 14 resistance in common ragweed, making the broadleaf pest resistant to enzyme inhibitors, including branded weed control products such as Reflex and Blazer,… Read More
Saving honey bees from ongoing population declines will be the focus of the new Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre, set to open at the University of Guelph in 2025. A groundbreaking ceremony was held this week to kick off construction of the $16-million centre. The new facility is billed as an upgrade to the… Read More
The Ontario government has revealed its plans to help address veterinary shortages in the province, with a focus on large-animal practice in northern and remote communities. A $15 million spend will establish a new Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University, at Thunder Bay, to train more veterinarians…. Read More
The popularity of robot milkers continues to grow dramatically across Canada. Today, between 15 and 20 per cent of Canadian farms milk cows using robot technology. Ten years ago, that number hovered near five per cent. Western Canadian dairy farmers are the biggest adopters with between 25 and 50 per cent of farms in different… Read More
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has committed $343 million over five years to continue the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration of the University of Guelph, OMAFRA, and the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO). The Alliance brings together academia, government, and industry to support Ontario’s agri-food sector through research and… Read More
In order for dairy farms to produce milk, the cows first have to produce calves, many of which are classified as surplus calves that are destined for the beef industry or veal operations, rather than being raised as dairy cow replacements. Across North America more than five million surplus dairy calves are produced each year…. Read More
Waterhemp that’s resistant to multiple herbicide groups continues to march across Ontario, but growers still have options to control the weed. There’s also emerging proof that integrated management could help growers take the fight to the spreading yield robber, says University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema. At the Ontario Agricultural Conference earlier this… Read More
Protecting grain crops from costly plant diseases and making crop production more resilient to climate change are two goals a new $2-million gift to the University of Guelph from Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO). Announced at the close of the Ontario Agricultural Conference, the funding will support a new GFO professorship in field crop pathology… Read More
What’s the number one disease problem in edible beans in Ontario? That’s a question University of Guelph associate professor Chris Gillard asked in a recent grower survey and the answer wasn’t surprising, says the edible bean researcher. Sixty-seven percent of growers named white mould as their biggest disease problem, and an even higher 75 percent… Read More
How much fertilizer do farmers lose when they apply nitrogen in season? Is volatilization a significant problem? Could 4R nutrient management and urease inhibitors help? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, University of Guelph researcher Josh Nasielski shares what he and his collaborators are learning about the best way to minimize in-season losses using… Read More
Mental health in Canadian agriculture is no longer a foreign term, however, there is still plenty of work to be done. A new study out of the University of Guelph has made that even more clear. Prior to this study, there was a study conducted in 2015-2016, says Andria Jones-Bitton, of the University of Guelph…. Read More
Glyphosate supply has been a hot topic this winter as growers look for ways to navigate through short supplies of this critical weed control tool. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soybean School, University of Guelph weed scientist Dr. Peter Sikkema joins Bernard Tobin to discuss best practices and strategies to help growers make the most of… Read More