From Letterfrack to Rural Ontario: Sharing Ideas from the 2024 North Atlantic Forum

Oct 09, 2024

Researchers, policymakers and practitioners recently gathered in Letterfrack, Ireland for the 2024 North Atlantic Forum. The Forum focused on sustainable livelihoods and sought to engage new ideas in rural development, policy practice, and the social economy.

To facilitate knowledge mobilization a series of rural research summaries were created by graduate students on innovative approaches to sustainable livelihoods. The summaries provides a snapshot of research presented at the North Atlantic Forum and provide links to online resources. Topics covered in the summaries include economic development, food security, heritage conservation, housing, policy proofing and lenses, and solar power. Take a read of the summaries below:

A Case Study of Community-Led versus State-Led Solar Projects in NunatuKavut summarized by Christine Miller (University of Prince Edward Island)
From Colonial Challenges to Community Solutions: Transforming Food Insecurity in Ktaqmkuk summarized by Avery Velez (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
Heritage Tourism and Local Livelihoods in Inishbofin, Ireland summarized by Eliza MacLauchlan (University of Prince Edward Island)
Navigating Economic Development Challenges in an Island Context summarized by Damilola Oyewale (University of Guelph)
Rural Ireland Plagued by Housing Affordability summarized by Lucas Berek (University of Guelph)
SABRI: Reinvesting in the Region to Expand the Economic Base summarized by Natasha Pennell (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
Searching for Entrepreneurialism in Rural Newfoundland summarized by Lucas Berek (University of Guelph)

The rural research summaries from the 2024 North Atlantic Forum were by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario and the University of Guelph.

Source : Rural Ontario Institute

Video: Supplemental Nitrogen on Soybeans: Can Early Nitrogen Increase Yield?

Can supplemental nitrogen help soybeans reach higher yield potential? Technical Agronomist Tim Sickman walks through an ongoing trial at the Nutrien Innovation Farm in Owensboro, Kentucky, exploring whether a modest amount of nitrogen applied at planting can support higher-yielding soybean environments.

The trial compares 30 pounds of supplemental nitrogen across both 15- and 30-inch rows, along with treatments that include sulfur and micronutrients. Similar trials conducted in 2024 and 2025 delivered a six- to seven-bushel yield response, prompting the team to expand the research this season.

Early observations show that treated soybeans are slightly taller and averaging about two additional nodes on the main stem. These added nodes could create more opportunities for blooms and pods, but the true results will come at harvest when the team evaluates pod development, seed fill and final yield.

In This Video:

Why high-yield soybeans may need supplemental nitrogen

Results from the 2024 and 2025 trials

Nitrogen treatments in 15- and 30-inch rows

Fertilizer placement and application methods

Differences in plant height and node counts

Potential effects on pod development and yield