New approach to national hort research would give industry more say Thursday, April 23, 2009 © AgMedia Inc.by SUSAN MANNFruit and vegetable grower groups may soon have a greater say in determining federal research projects through the establishment of a non-government organization to administer national horticulture research.Some people worry this new way to administer research across the country will mean closing regional federal facilities, says Art Smith, CEO of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. He doesn’t think that will happen.Industry representatives are working with the federal government on the four-year pilot of a non-government, non-profit administrative body to administer national horticulture research, he explains.Brenda Lammens, the provincial association’s chair, says farm organizations have asked the federal government for more flexibility so they can decide how money earmarked for agricultural programs is spent. Although the industry does contribute some money towards research, it currently has to apply to government programs if it wants a particular project done.“You have to meet the criteria of that program with your research request,” she says. Creating what the industry and government are calling a “research cluster” approach will allow industry greater say in deciding, “what we feel are the priorities.”Smith says involving industry in setting research priorities may lead to more practical applications. He notes that in horticulture, some research doesn’t get applied because “there was science being done that wasn’t particularly needed or useful to industry.”Canadian Horticultural Council executive vice-president Anne Fowlie says the organization will generate “ideas and science priorities.”The Council received direction from delegates at its annual meeting in March to investigate being the administrative organization for the pilot in collaboration with a research institution. Fowlie says the Council has been successful in administering other government programs, such as the on-farm food safety program for fruits and vegetables.But details, such as which organization will administer the research, aren’t known yet because the federal government hasn’t released information on how the pilot would work. Agriculture Canada officials won’t talk about the pilot project because it hasn’t been announced. Fowlie says details could arrive as soon as May 1.Smith says the new research administrative body would make decisions on the best place and best scientists to do the necessary work identified by industry representatives. Lammens says research projects would be national in scope. That’s why she’s concerned some horticultural commodities may be left out of research dollars. For example, apples, potatoes and blueberries are grown across Canada, while asparagus, grapes and tender fruit are only grown in certain areas. “There’s not a lot of horticultural crops that are grown in every province,” she says.Along with setting priorities, the agricultural industry would contribute some costs towards research, as would the federal government.Industry’s contribution level hasn’t been released. Lammens worries that the money for the cluster proposal, estimated at $20 million over four years for horticulture, won’t be enough. The pilot is being funded under Agriculture Canada’s Growing Forward initiative.Fowlie says they’re not waiting for the federal government’s announcement on details to continue working on horticulture’s proposal. The Council’s science advisory committee developed terms of reference “and we’ve also done some draft modeling around how we would conceptually work together to have the research and innovation priorities further developed by commodity groups.”Smith and Lammens say the government is considering similar clusters to administer research in other sectors, such as grain or beef. BF 'Deemed undertaking' blocks long awaited release of names Chatham-Kent farm group tackles solar 'farm' issue
Cattle Stress Tool May Boost Fertility Friday, June 27, 2025 Kansas State University researchers have developed a cool tool that may help reduce cattle stress and improve artificial insemination (AI) results. The idea came from animal science experts Nicholas Wege Dias and Sandy Johnson, who observed that cattle accustomed to their environment... Read this article online
Ontario pasture lands get $5M boost Friday, June 27, 2025 The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $5 million to strengthen shared community grazing pastures. This funding supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agriculture sector and help cattle farmers improve pasture quality, ensuring long-term sustainability and... Read this article online
Health Canada sets rules for drone spraying Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Health Canada has approved the use of drones, also called Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), for pesticide application under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Drones are considered aircraft by Transport Canada, but Health Canada treats them differently due to their unique... Read this article online
Twelve Ontario Agri-Businesses Receive Funding Support Wednesday, June 25, 2025 Bioenterprise Canada has announced the successful recipients of the second call for proposals under the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) Commercialization Stream. Twelve organizations across Ontario will receive support to bring innovative agri-food solutions to the... Read this article online
Early Career Research Award supports two Guelph research initiatives Tuesday, June 24, 2025 The 2025 Early Career Research Award was presented to two University of Guelph researchers at the recently held Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) symposium. Dr. Kelsey Spence received $40,000 towards her work in on-farm biosecurity research, and Dr. Sam Workenhe was awarded... Read this article online