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Team Canada Preparing for the 2017 World Plowing Championship in Kenya

Team Canada, Tom Evans of Tiverton, and Jay Lennox of Ayton and their coach Daryl Hostrauser of Belwood have been organizing for the 2017 World Plowing Championship being held at Egarton  , Njoro, Kenya. The 2 day competition will take place December 1st and 2nd. This is the second time in WPO’s 64 year history that it has taken place in Kenya. Plans are forming for all the logistics of competition.

This is a very unique location for the World Competition. 30 countries with 60 competitors are organizing competitors and equipment to arrive and be available when competitors land on November 19th.  will spend the next 10 days getting set up and practising.

According to Tom, “we are told that the conditions in Kenya are unique and require equipment that is not common in North America. The soil is volcanicash based that will stick to steel. As a result, plastic mouldboards are required to compete. Those are not used in Canada, so I am manufacturing
my own to use.”

Jay notes that “the amount of organizing required to make this happen adds anew dimension to the sport. It is not as simple as loading your equipment on  a trailer and arriving prepared. We understand that everything that we might need, we should plan on taking. ” Jay recently completed his coop term for his degree, and now is focusing on final preparations in his spare time.

In discussions with their coach Daryl Hostrauser, the competitors have a big task ahead of them. Getting used to different equipment is always a nchallenge. The best approach is to be using your spare time in the field here npractising. A couple of hours regularly, experimenting with your equipment will help competitors adjust quicker when they get to the site.

A recent meeting involved Barry and Gregg Timbers of Uxbridge. Barry was one of the Canadian competitors in Kenya in 1995. He discussed his
experiences there, and some insight of what they might expect. Gregg discussed his world competition experience and how it differs from what we are used to in Ontario. Both brought lots of insight and tips for the competitors.

Both Jay and Tom comment that the recent warm weather and snow melt has been motivating them that spring is close and they can’t wait to start practicing. Of note: the Canadian Plowing Championship for 2017 is taking place near Walkerton Ontario, August 2017. The winner of that event will compete in nGermany in September 2018. More information on this event can be gathered from the Bruce County Plowmen’s website noted below

Fundraising events have been organized for Jay and Tom. The details are as follows:

Jay – April 1st, 2017 at Ayton Arena April 1, 2017 at 6:30. Tickets are $15. and available through Jay at 519-374-4055 or Kim Lennox at 519-327-8576. Or GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/jays-world-plowingmatch-fund.

Tom – April 8th, 2017 at Underwood Hall April 8, 2017 at 6pm. Seats can be reserved by messaging Tom through his Facebook page, donation at the door. In addition you can sponsor Tom by contacting the Bruce County Plowmen’s Association through their website at www.brucecountyplowmen.ca .

Canadian Plowing Organization
www.canadianplowing.org

International Plowing Match (Ontario)
www.plowingmatch.org

World Ploughing Organization
www.worldploughing.org

Source:Canadian Plowing Organization


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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.