Grain Farmers' market development manager awarded scholarship Friday, January 27, 2012 by SUSAN MANNCrosby Devitt, Grain Farmers of Ontario’s manager of market development and research, has been awarded a Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship to investigate grain research partnerships around the world.Devitt was one of three Canadians awarded the scholarship, worth $15,000 each, for this year. The announcement was made Jan. 25 by the Canadian Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust. The other two recipients are from Alberta.Devitt says he’ll be leaving on Feb. 13 and travelling to Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Mexico, the United States and Brazil in South America for six weeks. “It’s going to be awesome.”The project will include an examination of ways private and public entities form partnerships with farmers to better meet the growing demand for increased grain productivity. Devitt says he’ll be writing a report on his findings and make recommendations to help farm organizations partner with government and industry to improve productivity and efficiency.The report goes to the Nuffield Canada organization. The entire project must be completed in two years.“The goal of it is to add value to Canadian agriculture,” says Devitt, who also owns and operates a farm near Ripley on the shores of Lake Huron where he grows corn, soybeans, winter wheat and white beans.Research is the way to improve farmers’ productivity, including the use of new genetics and new ways of farming, he says, noting yields for Ontario corn, soybeans and wheat have been going up “but I think we have room to do even more.”He’ll be sharing his findings with anyone who’s interested and particularly with Grain Farmers of Ontario, which is supporting him. He also plans to write a blog while on his trip. The blog isn’t live yet but it will be linked through the Nuffield Canada website.The Nuffield scholarships are awarded to men and women who are judged to have the greatest potential to create value for themselves, their industries and their communities through the doors that will be opened and the opportunities provided, it says in a press release from Nuffield Canada.Applications for the 2013 scholarships are due April 30. Forms are available on the organization’s website. Milk recall Oxford farmer slapped with huge fine, jail time
Wheat Output Decline Projected for 2025 Wednesday, September 10, 2025 Statistics Canada’s latest modelled estimates suggest that wheat production in Canada will decline slightly in 2025, driven primarily by weaker yields across several regions. National output is expected to edge down 1.1% to 35.5 million tonnes, with yields forecast to fall 1.2% to 49.6... Read this article online
Research Projects and Companies Supported Through OAFRI Tuesday, September 9, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $4.77 million to strengthen the province’s agri-food sector. This funding, delivered through the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable... Read this article online
Two-pass Weed Control Critical in Managing Herbicide-Resistant Waterhemp in Ontario Monday, September 8, 2025 Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph recently shared insights into the growing challenge of multiple herbicide-resistant water hemp at the 2025 Great Ontario Yield Tour final event in Woodstock Ontario. Dr. Sikkema research highlights both the biology of the weed and practical... Read this article online
First Northern Cohort Joins Ontario Vet Program Thursday, September 4, 2025 This September, the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomed its inaugural Northern Cohort of 20 students through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This initiative, created in partnership with Lakehead University, marks a milestone... Read this article online
Manitoba Farmers Defend Their Whisky Roots Amid Ontario Backlash Thursday, September 4, 2025 As most reader will know by now, on August 28, beverage alcohol giant Diageo announced it will be closing its Amherstburg, Ontario bottling plant. Located just 25 kilometres from the nearest U.S. border crossing, the company says the decision is part of a strategy to streamline its supply... Read this article online