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
Wilson Farms Sponsors Ontario Four 2026 Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Wilson Farms Grain has been announced as the Supreme Champion Sponsor of the Ontario Four Horse Hitch Series for the 2026 season. This partnership connects one of Eastern Ontario’s leading grainlogisticsenterprises with one of the province’s most respected draft horse competitions. Known... Read this article online
Hog Markets Strengthen Heading Into Late February Monday, February 23, 2026 As hog producers head into the final stretch of February, North American markets showed modest but broad-based strength according to the latest OMAFA report for the week ending February 20, 2026. The data highlights firmer hog prices, stronger futures, and mixed feed costs, offering... Read this article online
New leadership elected as Beef Farmers of Ontario charts priorities for 2026 Monday, February 23, 2026 The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) has announced new leadership following its , with directors electing Jason Leblond of Chisholm as president and Don Badour of Perth as vice president. The election marks the conclusion of Past President Craig McLaughlin’s nine-year term on the... Read this article online
Why farmers built their own renewable energy association Friday, February 20, 2026 When renewable energy developers come knocking on rural doors, farmers often find themselves staring at 40-page leases, unfamiliar terminology, and long-term commitments that could shape their land for decades. For many, the opportunity is exciting and enticing—but also... Read this article online
Looking for a heritage machine Friday, February 20, 2026 A Brantford, Ontario area heritage organization—the Canadian Industrial Heritage Centre (CIHC)—is putting out a call to the Canadian agricultural community in hopes of locating a rare piece of machinery that helped transform grain harvesting around the world. The CIHC is preparing... Read this article online