Bee expert joins University of Guelph Wednesday, December 18, 2013 by SUSAN MANN A leading British expert in pollinator conservation and ecology joins the University of Guelph in May. Nigel Raine, who is currently a faculty member in the School of Biological Sciences at Royal Holloway University of London, has been named the inaugural holder of Canada’s first research chair in pollinator conservation, University of Guelph’s Rebanks Family Chair in Pollinator Conservation. The university conducted a year long international search to fill the position. Dan Davidson, president of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, says Raine’s expertise is more in a broad range of pollinators other than honeybees but “it definitely is still positive. He’s going to be a good guy for that chair from what I understand.” Raine studies the impacts of pesticides on bees, insect behavior and pollinator ecology. At the University of Guelph, he will be based in the School of Environmental Studies where he will raise awareness of the importance and plight of pollinators, inform public policy and help train highly qualified conservationists and agriculturalists, according to the university’s Dec. 19 press release. In the U.K., Raine has been an adviser and expert witness for the All Parliamentary Group on Agroecology, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, the Environment Audit Committee, the National Action Plan for Pesticides, and the Pollinator Conservation Delivery Group. He has also advised the European Food Safety Authority. The chair is funded by a $3 million donation from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation in the name of Wendy Rebanks, Garfield Weston’s daughter and one of the foundation’s directors. BF Agricorp adjusts fruit insurance programs It's time for a new approach to farm property assessment says OFA
Updates to Case IH RB566 Round Baler Wednesday, October 29, 2025 The Case IH RB566 round baler has been redesigned with a strong focus on serviceability, dependability, and efficiency, offering farmers a more advanced and reliable baling experience. According to Brian Williams, livestock product specialist with Case IH, the latest improvements... Read this article online
22 young leaders graduate from Rural Ontario Institute’s Change Makers Program Tuesday, October 28, 2025 The Rural Ontario Institute () has marked a milestone in rural leadership development with the graduation of 22 participants from its () program. The private ceremony, held this October, celebrated a year of learning, collaboration, and community impact. “We are excited to... Read this article online
Demco-Welker Farms Collab Delivers Big Buddy Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Demco recently introduced the Big Buddy grain cart, a product of collaboration with Big Equipment, the makers of Big Bud tractors, Titan Tires, and the well-known Montana-based Welker Farms. The project began when the Welker family decided to rebuild and modify their iconic Big Bud... Read this article online
New MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header Monday, October 27, 2025 Case IH continues to expand its innovative harvest equipment lineup with the launch of the MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header, a new series designed to provide farmers with smoother, cleaner, and more efficient harvesting. Available in multiple widths — 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 61... Read this article online
Lots of news from the Ontario Pork Congress Monday, October 27, 2025 The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) took place on October 20, 2020, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 50 attendees. At the event, Arnold Drung, President of Conestoga Meats, was honoured with the . Drung has been a dedicated supporter of the OPC for over 23... Read this article online