Rick Mercer Style Rant Brings Awareness to Kemptville College Closure

Mar 17, 2014

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new YouTube video aims to put the spotlight on Kemptville College.

The University of Guelph announced last week that it plans to close two of its Ontario Agricultural College satellite campuses – Kemptville and Alfred for financial reasons.

But the news of the closure has Ontario’s agricultural community upset, including a Guelph graduate – Dr. Tim Henshaw.

In a video that closely resembles a Rick Mercer style rant, Henshaw says he is fighting to save Kemptville College. He adds that closing the college would negatively impact the agricultural industry, the agri-food sector and the provincial economy.

The video was shot at the University of Guelph’s main campus as a backdrop.

Henshaw takes aim at the Premier who doubles as the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Kathleen Wynne, asking why she isn’t fighting to save the college from closing.

To get involved in the fight to save Kemptville College you can share this video, sign the petition, and follow the group’s Facebook page here.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.