Driving growth in horticulture Tuesday, March 15, 2011 by BETTER FARMING STAFFThe Vineland Research and Innovation Centre will launch a campaign this week to raise funds for its new building complex near St. Catharines in the Niagara Region.The facility, a non-profit organization that is aiming to bring cutting edge research to the Canadian horticultural industry and commercialize it, will present its master plan on Friday during the Canada Blooms gardening show in Toronto.Mark Cullen, a gardening expert and media personality, is the capital campaign’s chair. Toronto-based Diamond + Schmitt Architects designed the plan.Jim Brandle, the centre’s CEO, says the campus needs an update. “Vineland has been around for a long time and it fell on very hard times,” he says. “There’s not been a lot of renewal, certainly in the past 15 years, if not longer.”The plan includes upgrades of existing facilities and building a 28,000 square foot laboratory. Construction is nearly complete on a centre to house start-up companies, Brandle says.The entire project will cost $25 million and provide capacity for the next 25 years. Brandle says they have already received $12.5 million from the province and plan to obtain the rest through fundraising.Between fundraising and developing architectural plans, it will take between a year and two years before construction can begin on the laboratory, he estimates.Brandle says the changes are needed to accommodate the shift in vision for the centre: “We have a national agriculture science cluster around ornamental horticulture that spans from coast to coast that we’re participating in and leading at the same time.” The centre is in the process of hiring a vegetable breeder and includes mushrooms, fruit and flowers under its umbrella.“We’re looking for big things that make a difference,” he says. “We want to drive growth into horticulture.” BF Winery doubling output Justice overturns Anton Piller order in egg grading suit
Ont. farmer Tony McQuail reflects on NDP leadership race Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Huron County farmer Tony McQuail is back at Meeting Place Organic Farm in Lucknow after vying to replace Jagmeet Singh as the leader of the federal NDP. “It was a very hopeful and positive experience for me,” he told Farms.com. “I was very pleased with what we were able to bring to the... Read this article online
Broadband Access is a Defining Issue for Rural Canada’s Future Monday, March 30, 2026 Broadband connectivity took centre stage during the on March 26, as speakers emphasized that reliable, high-speed internet is now foundational to rural economic growth, community well-being, and Canada’s broader ambitions in technology and resource development. The Coalition’s latest... Read this article online
Rural Canada Is an Economic Powerhouse that Policymakers Need to Build Upon Monday, March 30, 2026 Rural Canada is a far bigger driver of the national economy than many policymakers realize, and leaders say the time has come to place a rural lens at the centre of public policy decision-making. That message was front and centre during the Coalition for a Better Future’s Scorecard... Read this article online
Spring Swine Events Across Canada that are Not to be Missed Monday, March 30, 2026 It’s a sure sign of Spring, several swine events will be taking place over the next few months. Between April and June 2026, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario will all host significant swine-focused events, ranging from producer AGMs and pork quality competitions to large-scale... Read this article online
Boosting Wheat Production with Better Nitrogen Use Monday, March 30, 2026 A University of Guelph research team is pioneering new ways to grow wheat more sustainably by improving nitrogen efficiency and supporting soil health. Dr. Kari Dunfield, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at the Ontario Agricultural College, received $3.92 million from the... Read this article online