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
Sowing Solutions--Guelph’s Agri-Food Research Gets Federal Spotlight Friday, October 3, 2025 The University of Guelph welcomed two prominent federal representatives for a day of engagement and discovery on Friday, October 3rd. Dominique O’Rourke, Member of Parliament for Guelph, hosted the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, for a comprehensive tour... Read this article online
Downtown Diner Delivers a Taste of Canadian Farming to Ottawa Friday, October 3, 2025 This week, the heart of Canada’s capital was filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Canadian agriculture as Sparks Street played host to the Downtown Diner, a pop-up event celebrating Canadian food and the farmers who make it possible. At the center of the conversation was... Read this article online
Poll Reveals Mixed Public Sentiment on BC Ostrich Cull Decision Thursday, October 2, 2025 Farms.com poll shows divided opinions among Canadian farmers on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull. A recent poll conducted on Farms.com's X account @OntAg aimed to capture Canadian farmers' views on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt the ostrich cull in British... Read this article online
Effective Strategies for Corn Soybean and Wheat Thursday, October 2, 2025 As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, effective crop residue management in corn, soybean, and wheat fields is key to profitability and long-term soil health. It begins at harvest, with combines and headers set correctly to size and spread residue evenly across the... Read this article online
New Ontario agrobotics challenge seeking high school submissions Thursday, October 2, 2025 A new competition for Ontario high school students is looking for innovative ways to solve challenges in the ag sector. The AgRobotics Ontario Challenge launched at the end of September. The competition is a collaboration between the Western Fair District, the Ontario Council for... Read this article online