Owen Roberts

Four-day equine expo coming to Guelph

Owen Roberts — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:31:32 +0000

A new trade show called Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo is being launched June 4-7 at the the University of Guelph’s Arkell Research Station. The show, for all breeds and disciplines, will be hosted by Canada’s Outdoor Shows Ltd. in partnership with the research station and Equine Guelph. Read more about it here.

The expo will be a superb addition to Guelph’s incredibly diverse agriculture and food community. Good luck to Lorie and the entire expo team.

Below is the expo logo.

Healthy frogs make lousy headlines

Owen Roberts — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:29:12 +0000

Research from California about atrazine, a popular herbicide used extensively in corn in North America, drew headlines last week because of the chemical’s apparent effect on frogs — the researcher claimed that it changed the gender of many of the animals in his experiment. Critics were skeptical because the researcher has made claims against atrazine before, but no one has been able to substantiate them. I write about this controversy in my Urban Cowboy column (it’s a pdf…scroll down to the bottom of the page) in today’s Guelph Mercury, and I underline the need for research to try to replicate the California study. That way, the farm sector can either make adjustments to its crop protection program, or get on with feeding the world.

I’m also hoping the media will be as interested in the story if and when the California study is disproved, although I doubt that it will, because healthy frogs (or healthy anything, for that matter) make lousy headlines.

The photo below is the North American bullfrog, photographed in B.C. by Don MacKinnon/Sterling News.

Bullfrog

Ontario deserves the gold for agri-food research

Owen Roberts — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:04:26 +0000

If they awarded medals for best supporting role by a Canadian province in agri-food research, Ontario would win the gold, hands down. Despite tough economic times, Ontario continues investing in the sector that feeds us, provides recreation opportunities, keeps the environment healthy, and garners as much respect as medical professionals and emergency response personnel. The biggest commitment — about $75 million a year — is to the University of Guelph, from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. But other provincial ministries invest in agri-food research at Guelph, as well. I cover the latest investment in my Urban Cowboy column is today’s Guelph Mercury.

Speaking of gold medals, how about Sidney Crosby?

Topics, date announced for young speakers’ competition

Owen Roberts — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:49:45 +0000

The 2010 Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition takes place November 6 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. The topics, which are always highly awaited, have now been announced by the competition’s board of directors:

The profile and impact of a Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame member

Who will feed the world in 50 years?

What is the biggest challenge in agriculture today?

Exploring First Nations agriculture in Canada

What are the biggest events in Canadian agricultural history?

My University of Guelph agricultural communications class takes part in the competition. I’ll look forward to seeing how the students respond to these stimulating topics in the fall. Top marks to CYSA board member Pam Emmott for her efforts in compiling the list of topics.

One of the biggest events in Canadian agricultural history was surely the discovery of BSE in Canada. Former federal agriculture and agri-food minister Lyle Vanclief, pictured below, and others worked overtime — and then some — to put the matter in context for Canadians (fact: it was a lone cow, and it didn’t enter the food chain). As a result, beef consumption in post-BSE Canada actually rose, as Canadians showed their support for the sector.

CBC journalist and radio host among Guelph’s “human library”

Owen Roberts — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:14:58 +0000

I had the pleasure of working with CBC’s Jill Dempsey a few years ago when I moderated a reading of the Christmas Carol, at the Dublin Street United Church. Now, Jill’s back in Guelph as the journalist-and-radio-host addition to the University of Guelph’s “human library.” The university says a human library is designed to give people a chance “to meet face to face with individuals who belong to groups that often face challenges due to broad generalizations, stereotyping, misunderstanding and even marginalization.” Certainly journalists fit at least one of those categories.

The human library is open March 4-5. Click here for more details.

Below is a photo of Jill, from the CBC website.