Home 99.1 News Province Investing $6.5 Million For New Field Crop Services Building in Ridgetown

Province Investing $6.5 Million For New Field Crop Services Building in Ridgetown

L-R: Darrin Caniff, Mayor, Municipality of Chatham-Kent; Crosby Devitt, CEO, Grain Farmers of Ontario; Lorne Hepworth, Chair, Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO); Rick Nicholls, MPP, Chatham-Kent-Leamington; Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington and Parliamentary Assistant, OMAFRA; Dr. Malcolm Campbell, Vice-President Research, University of Guelph; Dr. Rene Van Acker, Dean, Ontario Agriculture College (OAC), University of Guelph; Ken McEwan, Director, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus
The provincial government is working with the University of Guelph to invest $6.5 million into the construction of a new Field Crop Services building on the local Ridgetown campus.
The investment comes through the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO) and will centralize agronomy research services, reduce operating costs and significantly modernize the field crops research operations on campus.
Randy Pettapiece, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs made the announcement today on behalf of Minister Ernie Hardeman at the site of the new Field Crop Services building.
The province says the new building will support the study of crop production, including best management strategies in crop genetics, nutrient inputs, and integrated pest management. Ontario-based agri-food research produces new products and practices which help Ontario farmers be more competitive and efficient.
“Building a new home for agronomy at the Ridgetown Campus of the University of Guelph is part of our strategy to modernize our current research network,” said Minister Hardeman. “Investments in agri-food research infrastructure contribute greatly to the sustainability, protection and viability of the Ontario food supply.”
“This is a significant long-term investment in field crop research infrastructure, and I want to thank the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and University of Guelph administration for their tremendous support,” said Ken McEwan, Ridgetown Campus Director, University of Guelph. “The Ridgetown Campus fills an important need for applied agricultural research, education and outreach that is not duplicated within the province.”
Construction is underway at the new Field Crop Services Building with an expected completion targeted for spring 2022.
“As Canada’s food university, the University of Guelph is committed to providing Ontario’s farmers with world-class research and on-farm solutions that promote crop health and productivity,” said Malcolm Campbell, Vice-President (Research), University of Guelph. “Investments in infrastructure ensure researchers have the tools they need to make profoundly important discoveries that fuel innovation and ensure crop production remains economically competitive and a mainstay of safe, dependable, sustainable, and nutritious food.”
“We are proud to work with the UofG to modernize field crops research infrastructure at Ridgetown campus to enhance the competitiveness, prosperity and sustainability of Ontario’s agricultural and food sectors and rural communities,” said Dr. Lorne Hepworth, Chair of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario.