Ontario Agricultural College is seeking approvals to offer a new master’s degree in plant agriculture, which would designate plant science professionals operating at a grad-school level but not on the traditional research-based path. OAC said Wednesday its proposed new “master of plant agriculture” (MPAg) program would allow recent graduates and professionals to “quickly upgrade education […] Read more
OAC to offer new master’s program in plant agriculture
New program would run alongside research-based degrees
UNDER PRESSURE: Group boosts aid for farmers hit by stress
Reading Time: 4 minutes The mental health of farmers is getting more attention these days, but the situation in Alberta isn’t well understood and there are big gaps in support, says a provincial researcher. A landmark study done by the University of Guelph six years ago revealed that many farmers suffer mental-health issues, said Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a research associate […] Read more
Free business training for farmers on offer
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new online business course has been created for farmers who want to “take their agribusiness to the next level.” The course, called Foundations in Agricultural Management, is free and is being offered by the University of Guelph’s ag college. “Getting Ontario Agricultural College’s institutional knowledge into the hands of producers across Canada has always […] Read more
New network aims to fill the gaps in mental health resources for farmers
Many producers suffer from stress, anxiety and depression — but finding help isn’t easy
Reading Time: 3 minutes Navigating — or even finding — mental health supports for farmers can be difficult, but an effort is underway to change that. “This is an ongoing issue that the government has been aware of for some time,” said Linda Hunt, project co-ordinator with a new initiative called the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network. In 2019, […] Read more
Farmers needed for new national mental health survey
Survey closes May 7
Reading Time: < 1 minute Researchers at the University of Guelph are seeking farmers to take part in a new national survey on mental health. The online survey being conducted by the Ontario Veterinary College seeks to understand the impacts of work on the mental health of farmers. Findings from this study will provide further insight into data previously collected […] Read more
Canadian food laureate Anita Stewart, 73
Guelph flags to be lowered for Food Day Canada founder
Flags at the University of Guelph are to be flown at half-mast Tuesday in honour of Canadian food advocate Anita Stewart, who died Thursday in hospital in Hamilton. Stewart, 73, was the first person in the world to be conferred with the title of “food laureate,” as she was named by the University of Guelph […] Read more
Reach out if you need help
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada has developed public service messages to encourage the conversation on mental health in agriculture. The PSAs, bearing the tag Rooted in Strength, encourage producers to “make sure your well-being is a priority” and to check out resources available at domore.ag, the website of the Do More Ag Foundation, a mental health advocacy […] Read more
Where did GM wheat found in Alberta come from?
So far, there seems to be no logical explanation on how the GM wheat came to exist
Reading Time: 3 minutes The mystery over how seven plants of genetically modified wheat wound up growing next to an Alberta field access road will take some time to unravel. This high-tech whodunit has regulators scratching their heads to figure out how a known glyphosate-resistance gene from Monsanto got into an unknown variety of wheat hundreds of kilometres from […] Read more
Community to ‘transform’ Guelph’s Kemptville ag campus
The home municipality for Ontario Agricultural College’s (OAC) former Kemptville campus is set to remake the site as an “education and community hub.” The municipality of North Grenville, which includes Kemptville, about 40 km south of Ottawa, closed a deal in December to purchase the Kemptville ag campus, with the official transfer due to take […] Read more
Ontario, U of Guelph renew ag research partnership
Up to $713 million in agriculture research will be funded at the University of Guelph over the next 10 years through a renewal of the university’s agreement with the provincial ag ministry. The new agreement has been updated to manage digital data and is aimed to provide a base from which to leverage more research […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
