AUTUMN 2018
Ontario’s Agricultural Research Stations
Muck Crops Research Station PHOTO: ZACHARIAH TELFER
A vital bridge for agri-food innovation
nnovation fuels economic development, of the stations have the capacity for integrated job creation, and trade across the agri-food agronomy and livestock trials, to enable multi- I sector. A world-class network of field stations, disciplinary research. managed by the University of Guelph, powers this Extensive new infrastructure is either complete innovation in the Province of Ontario. or underway in this network. These include a Cutting-edge research is field-tested at a highly $15-million investment in the beef research facility developed network of research stations commit- and a $25-million investment in the dairy research ted to the competitiveness and prosperity of the facility, both part of the Elora Research Station. province’s $37-billion-plus agri-food sector. The poultry facility in the Arkell Research Station These research stations, owned by the has also undergone renovations to improve animal Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and welfare by incorporating non-caged and enriched administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, caging systems. Food and Rural Affairs, are operated and managed The real-world field tests conducted at these by the University of Guelph through the OMAFRA- research stations promote agri-food discoveries, U of G Agreement. validate laboratory findings, stimulate further In total, there are almost two dozen facilities research and provide valuable information for within the research stations, each supporting a Ontario’s agri-food sector. different globally competitive platform. Several Muck Crops Research Station Located in the Bradford/Holland marsh, this station has four hectares of muck soil plots on site containing 60–70 per cent organic matter, and two hectares of mineral soil nearby. Research involves developing new varieties and pest management techniques for onions, carrots, lettuce, celery and Asian vegetables.
New Liskeard Research Station This 295-hectare, multi-unit station focuses on northern agronomy and horticulture, beef research, and includes a clean-plant propagation facility supporting the production of potato and other horticultural crops. A new field crop research service building is to be constructed on site.
Alma Aquaculture Research Station With 10 buildings and training Emo Agriculture programs from high-school Research Station Emo’s clay loam soil is used for to graduate levels, Alma has developing field crops suited for supported more than 200 cultivation in northern Ontario. projects on aquatic livestock, Research projects focus on cultivar water delivery systems, evaluation, renewable fuel, fibre genetics, animal welfare crops, crop nutrition and new and nutrition. PHOTO: ALMA AQUACULTURE RESEARCH STATION species evaluation. Guelph Research Station Cedar Springs Focusing on environmental Research Station sustainability, this 120-hectare At the Cedar Springs station, station focuses on turfgrass, Elora Research Station This multi-purpose station research focuses on fruit crop pesticide impact, non-chemical contains state-of-the-art trials, including apples, grapes and pest control, planting methods beef and dairy facilities, as berry varieties. This 12-hectare and field management programs. well as 130 hectares of tile horticultural crop station has drained land for field crop led the field in studies of apple Huron Research Station research. Novel precision performance under stress. This This field crop station has 50 agriculture tools improve and research station is affiliated with hectares of cultivated land for better utilize housing, grazing, Ridgetown Campus. research in weed management trials, robotic milking systems and and agronomic studies of dry bean automated feeding. and soybean. This research station PHOTO: BEEF FARMERS OF ONTARIO is affiliated with Ridgetown Campus.
2 Ontario’s Agri-Food Research Stations at the University of Guelph Ponsonby Research Station This bio-secure facility contains a flock of specific pathogen-free sheep that provide unique research opportunities. Other livestock on site include swine, beef and dairy cows and research ranging from genetics to environment. Ponsonby provides temporary housing for animals from other research locations when needed.
Ridgetown Campus Research here is conducted on campus and at the associated Arkell Research Station Cedar Springs and Huron The Arkell station features three research units dedicated to equine, Research facilities, on 240 poultry and swine studies. Each unit focuses on research about hectares of land in total. Research housing, reproduction, genetics and behaviour. PHOTO: MIDO MELEBARI focuses on crop production, pest management, production, business and economics. Vineland Research and Innovation Centre At Vineland, research is dedicated to horticultural science and innovation. With a total of 90 hectares, this world-class facility contributes to advancements in applied genomics, consumer insights and production systems.
Winchester Agriculture Research Station The Winchester station supports research that benefits eastern Ontario. Projects investigate soil and water quality, climate change, nutrient availability and weed management. This station is located on clay loam soil. A new field crop research service building is under construction at the site. Simcoe Research Station Woodstock Research Station The Simcoe Research Station consists of nearly 90 hectares With 150 hectares of land, the of land for research into fruits, Woodstock station focuses vegetables and alternative on plant breeding in corn, crops — such as quinoa, hops soybean, white bean and cereal and hazelnut — that thrive in the crops. Research includes plant unique, highly productive sandy breeding, biotechnology, plant soils north of Lake Erie. physiology, weed control and land PHOTO: MIDO MELEBARI management.
Ontario’s Agri-Food Research Stations at the University of Guelph 3 Research-Stations-Map-March2018-cropmarks-new-icon-rev.pdf 1 2018-04-06 4:56 PM
Research-Stations-Map-March2018-cropmarks-rev.pdf 1 2018-03-26 9:16 AM Ontario's Agricultural Research Stations University of Guelph research stations and infrastructure are vital for a wide range of Ontario’sinnovative studies, and agriculturaloffer a platform for extension researchand teaching demonstrations. stations These research facilities, owned by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario and Research stations and the infrastructure that supports them are vital for a wide range ofadministe innovativered studies,by the Ontario and offer Ministry a platform of Agricultu for extensionre, Food and and teaching Rural A fdemonstrations.fairs are operated Theseand managed research by facilities, the University owned of by Guelph the Agricultural through the Research OMAFRA-U Institute of G of Ag Ontarioreement. and administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, are operated and6 managed by theThunder University Bay of Guelph through the OMAFRA-U89 of3 G Agreement. University 1 5 400 6 Thunder Bay of 89Guelph 3 9 University Toronto 1 5 2 400 10 of Guelph 401 Quebec Oakville 9 Guelph 7 Toronto Research Stations 2 10 401 Quebec Guelph OakvilleSudbury 1 Alma 7 Ontario Research Stations Ottawa 2 Arkell Sudbury 14 1 Alma Ontario Guelph KingstonOttawa C 3 Bradford 2 Arkell 14 M Toronto Y 4 Cedar Springs Guelph Kingston C 3 Bradford 8 CM M 15 13 5 Elora Toronto MY London 12 Y 4 Cedar Springs Windsor 8 CY Hamilton CM 6 Emo 15 13 5 Elora CMY London 12 MY 11 Windsor K CY 7 Guelph Research Hamilton 6 Emo 4 Station CMY 11 K 7 Guelph Research 8 Huron 4 Station/Turfgrass Institute 9 New Liskeard Research Station Focus 8 Huron 10 Ponsonby Reseaaquaculturch Stationre Focus horticulture crops 9 New Liskeard beef vegetables 11 Ridgetown aquaculture horticulture crops 10 Ponsonby biomass crops poultry 12 Simcoe beef vegetables 11 Ridgetown dairy sheep 13 Vineland* dairy poultry 12 Simcoe equine swine 14 Winchester equine sheep field crops turfgrass 13 Vineland* field and biomass crops swine 15 Woodstock general animal facility 14 Winchester general animal facility turfgrass * TheThe Vineland Vineland Station Station is operated is operated by Vineland by Research Vineland & Innovation Centre with support from the OMAFRA-U of G Agreement. Research & Innovation Centre with support from the15 OMAFRA-UWoodstock of G Agreement.
* The Vineland Station is operated by the uoguelph.ca/research Compiled by Samantha McReavy Editorial Coordination: For more information, contact Vineland Research and InnovationPublished by Centrethe Office withof Research and Alyssa Logan, Students Rebecca Rebus, [email protected] support from the OMAFRA(Agri-Food-U of G Partnership) Agreement. Promoting Awareness of Owen Roberts and Liz Snyder Electronic version available Research Knowledge (SPARK) Design and Layout: in PDF format at 4 Gareth Lind, Lind Design uoguelph.ca/research