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Kemptville College to Remain Open for Another Year

Province Intervenes in Ag College Closure, Provides $2M for 2014 Academic Year

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

One more year.

That’s the news that the Kemptville College agricultural community received from the province today.

The Ontario government pledged $2 million to the University of Guelph to continue to offer agricultural programing at the college for the 2014 academic year.

Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Grant Crack, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Food and MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, made the announcement today at the Kemptvillge Campus.

In March the University of Guelph said that it would close its Kemptville and Alfred agricultural campuses in 2015 citing budgetary restraints. Both colleges are located in Eastern Ontario.

Following the university’s decision to close the campuses, a number of people spoke out about how the closure would have a negative impact on the province’s farming community.

Member of Provincial Parliament Steve Clark, whose riding is home to Kemptville College, asked Premier Kathleen Wynne for a two-year moratorium on the closures to allow an intake of new students. Clark has long advocated for a community-based solution for the college’s future.

While the provincial government choose not to go the moratorium route, it has bought the agricultural community some time to put in place a solution for the future, but no details on a framework going forward was outlined in the release.

“Our government understands and appreciates the importance of students in eastern Ontario having access to high quality agricultural programs and services,” Brad Duguid, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities said in a release. Duguid adds that he plans to work with community stakeholders to find a long-term solution for the college.

Funds are earmarked for the following programs:

  • Agricultural equipment technician
  • Heavy duty equipment technician
  • Truck and coach technician
  • Welder
  • Horticultural technician
  • Dairy herdsperson

Given the nature of the announcement, only one year programs are included in the package. The two year agriculture diploma program was not salvaged. However, students already enrolled in the campus’s various associate diploma programs will be able to complete their programs before the university ceases control over the college.


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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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