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Is Agriculture Outreach Happening at Queen’s Park?

Ontario NDP Ag Critic Identifies Lack of Outreach as a Real Concern

By , Farms.com

When it comes to politics, sometimes it’s hard to get a real sense of what’s really going on behind the scenes. This has been especially true with it comes to Ontario agricultural politics lately, with the splitting of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs into two separate Ministries and the more recent revelation of Kathleen Wynne’s second swearing-in ceremony after “Food” was omitted from her first oath.

With all these unusual changes occurring, it would be expected that a lot of things are also happening behind the scenes. In an exclusive interview with Ontario NDP Agriculture Critic John Vanthof, Farms.com was able to get a glimpse of the real interworking of what’s going on at Queen’s Park when it comes to agriculture.

When asked about Premier Wynne’s secret second swearing-in ceremony, Vanthof chuckled and said that “it’s an unfortunate incident but in the big picture it isn’t going to make a difference….I am hoping that it’s not an example of how things are going to work in the future”. Vanthof gives Wynne the benefit of the doubt that missing “Food” from the ministerial portfolio was an honest mistake, but also says that he has a hard time believing that the Liberals could make that big of an administrative error.

Vanthof goes on to say “she [Wynne] has taken on the task and  I think that most farmers on the ground are still very skeptical of whether or not she is going to be able to accomplish something…the leaders of the farm groups are also being cautious and optimistic.”

Perhaps the biggest revelation in Vanthof’s interview is his concern over the lack of outreach and discussion on the issues that matter to farm families. In addition to being the critic of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, Vanthof is also the NDP critic for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and said that he has already received a call from the MNR minister.

Vanthof says that neither “the minister of agriculture or the minister of rural affairs has made any attempt to reach out to talk about [agriculture or rural] issues.”

Vanthof is anxiously waiting for someone from either of the two ministerial portfolios to reach out and begin the discussion on agricultural issues. Vanthof says that some of the key issues that are important right now are families affected by the decisions made by the government about the horseracing industry and the long-term strategy for farm risk management programs.
 


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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