Bringing the international perspective to Ontario

Nov 19, 2024

LRIC’s International Research Advisory Committee (IRAC) gathered in Guelph for two days of meetings on September 25 and 26. This was my first in-person IRAC meeting and I was struck with the vast experience and breadth of knowledge the committee members brought with them.

A session around understanding changes in Ontario’s livestock innovation landscape and identifying strategic actions to ensure long term value from Ontario’s animal research facilities included representation from government, academia, and industry.

Some of the key takeaways on what’s important:

cross-sector collaboration
practical application of research
continuous investment in people and facilities
the ability to adapt to evolving technologies.

A highlight of the week was a tour the committee took of the University of Waterloo’s Engineering facilities. It was an impressive morning that sparked immediate inspiration for ways to link engineering research with challenges faced by livestock producers.

The tour also brought LRIC’s Engineering a Better Farm Initiative (the focus of our annual symposium last June) full circle.
There are certainly no shortage of on-farm challenges facing livestock producers, but engaging cross-discipline research including engineering has tremendous potential to benefit the sector.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.