Crop Research
Research > OMAFRA Research Programs > OMAFRA Research Stations and Campus Animal Facilities > Crop Research
- Arkell Research Station
- Field Crops
- Bradford Muck Research Station
- Muck vegetable crops
- Elora Research Station
- Field Crops
- Emo Agricultural Research Station
- Field Crops
- Guelph Research Station
- Guelph Turfgrass Institute and Environmental Research Centre
- Victoria Road Agroforestry
- Kemptville Campus
- Field Crops
- Winchester Research Station, Field Crops
- New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station
- Field Crops, Horticulture
- Emo Station, Field Crops
- Verner Station, Field Crops
- Agronomy Unit
- SPUD Unit
- Ridgetown Campus
- Crop Production – Horticulture, Pest Management
- Cedar Springs Research Station, Fruit and Vegetable Production
- Huron Research Station, Field Crops
- Simcoe Horticultural Research Centre
- Horticulture
- Vineland Horticultural Research Centre
- Tender Fruit
- Woodstock Research Station
- Field Crops
Arkell Research Station
The Arkell Research Station is located south of Guelph just outside the city limits in Puslinch township. This 243 hectare site is home of the poultry,swine and equine research facilities.
As well there are 157 hectares of crop land (sandy loam, gravel base) to supply feed for the research animals as well as manure disposal. Presently our crop rotation is corn, wheat, soybeans and barley that at harvest is stored on site in our own feedmill. There is also 49 hectares of pasture land for equine and dairy cattle used from May to October. The Department of Plant Agriculture has 2 hectares of specialized plot research on site in isolated areas.
Contact:
Manager: Pete Milton 519-826-1538
Foreman: Jim Hasson 519-846-5621
Bradford Muck Crops Research Station
The Muck Crops Research Station (MCRS) is located in central Ontario in the Holland Marsh which is approximately 45 minutes drive north of Toronto. The Holland Marsh is the largest of Ontario’s unique pockets of organic soil (60 to 70% organic matter). The Ontario Agricultural College opened the Muck Station in 1947 and it consists of 9.65 acres (3.9 hectares). The MCRS is devoted to research on vegetable crops grown on organic soils. Included is research on varieties or cultivars, bio-controls, weed control, insect control, disease control, nutrient management, and other production practices. Post harvest physiology and storage research is conducted during the fall and winter period.
Contacts:
Research Programs Coordinator : Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald 905-775-3783
Research Station Manager : Shawn Janse 905-775-3783
Elora Research Station
The Elora Research Station is located in South Central Ontario in Wellington County. The station is one of the largest agricultural research farms in Canada (1600 acres) and supports intensive research in crops, soils, beef and dairy.
A wide variety of research programs utilize the 400 acre crops research portion of this facility. Breeding programs in cereals (wheat, barley, oats), corn, edible beans, soybeans, canola and forages have been present since the station's establishment in 1969. Herbicide evaluation and development trials, forage and pasture management, potato, native flower and cole crop development plus support for a variety of graduate student projects occur on an ongoing basis. As well, research programs evaluate cropping rotations and their effects on soil structure, crop performance and manure management.
Contact:
Station Manager: Dave Kells 519-846-5521
Guelph Research Station
The Guelph Research Station is a 120 hectare (300 acre) multidisciplinary research facility located within the City of Guelph. Research trials are conducted on site by numerous departments and organizations including: Agro-forestry; the Canadian Centre for Toxicology; the School of Engineering; Environmental Biology; the Guelph Turfgrass Institute; Land Resource Science; OMAFRA; Plant Agriculture; and the University of Guelph Trial Gardens. The Guelph Research Station is dedicated to conducting quality research and providing accurate and timely information and education services, specializing in Turfgrass science with a special emphasis on environmental sustainability and enhancement.
Contact:
Crops Coordinator: 519-674-1630
Manager: Peter Purvis 519-824-4120 x 58585
Director, Guelph Turfgrass Institute: Rob Witherspoon 519-824-4120 x 56886
Kemptville Campus
Field crop research takes place at the Kemptville campus, the Winchester Research Station and a number of off-station sites. The campus, located on Grenville sandy loam, represents much of the Precambrian-based soils west of the College. For many years it’s been used for perennial forage variety and management studies and for cereal, corn and soybeans grown on lighter soil.
The Winchester research station comprises 150 acres located on North Gower clay loam, and represents approximately one million acres in the Ottawa and South Nation river valleys. Once drained, this clay loam is well suited to the annual field crops, corn, cereals and soybeans. Most of the variety trials and weed control management studies for these crops are done at this station.
To gain additional sites on different soils and crop heat unit ratings, corn is also tested at Richmond, Cobden and Pakenham. A variety of research procedures are available for contract to the private sector.
Contact:
Crops Coordinator: Renee Bergeron 519-674-1630
Nick Bray 613-258-8336 x463 or
Pat Remillard 613-258-8336 x418
New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station
The New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station (NLARS) operates two stations in northern Ontario. NLARS manages approximately 680 acres along with an additional 120 rented acres in and near New Liskeard. Research programs focusing on agronomy, beef, and horticulture are all carried out this central station.
NLARS also operates the Verner Test Site, situated on land rented by the West Nipissing Soil and Crop Improvement Association. Located 160 km south of New Liskeard in Caldwell Township, Nipissing District, the Verner Test Site has facilitated various field crop projects since 1988.
The Emo Agricultural Research Station (EARS) is based on 133 acres of clay loam soil and is located in Chapple Township, Rainy River District. This station is operated from the beginning of April until the end of November.
The Agronomy unit focuses on adapted crop species including spring wheat, barley and oats, canola, and perennial forages such as alfalfa, clovers and grasses. Research areas include cultivar evaluation, crop nutrition and new species evaluation. In addition, research on renewable fuel and fiber crops, such as hybrid poplar and hemp, is underway.
The Horticultural Unit has five 30 by 44 meter ranges dedicated to horticultural research. These research plots are located on a clay loam soil with tile drainage and equipment for both drip and overhead irrigation.
Berry cultivar research evaluates strawberry and raspberry cultivars for yield, quality and winter hardiness as part of the Ontario Coordinated Berry Crops Trials. Vegetable research currently focuses on cultivar evaluation and plasticulture techniques for warm-season vegetables.
The SPUD unit consists of a tissue culture laboratory, greenhouses and cold storage facilities. It produces ‘nuclear’ potato plantlets and minitubers for Ontario seed potato producers. Strawberry and Raspberry plantlets are also produced for the Ontario Plant Propagation Program. Other berry crop tissue culturing involves the establishment in vitro, heat treatment and production of plantlets for berry crop breeders.
Research involves evaluating in vitro and in vivo production techniques for nuclear potato, raspberry and strawberry propagules. Tissue culture methodologies for other crops, such as garlic and asparagus, is underway.
Contact:
Verner/Emo/Agronomy Unit: John Rowsell 705-647-8525 x 221 ()
Horticulture and SPUD Units: Becky Hughes 705-647-8525 x 222
Ridgetown Campus
Ridgetown Campus is situated on 450 acres of land in the heart of the most intensive agricultural region of the province. The site houses many multi-functional facilities that serve the research programs including Field Crops, Horticultural Crops, Soil Management, Water Quality, Disease Control, Weed Control and Pesticide Application Studies.
In addition to the facilities in Ridgetown, research programs are also conducted at two satellite stations: the Cedar Springs Research Station (20 acres – Horticultural Crops) and the Huron Research Station (125 acres – Field Crops) at Centralia.
Contact:
Executive Officer: John Brooks 519-674-1510
Research Program Coordinator: Ken McEwan 519-674-1531
Simcoe Horticultural Research Centre
The Simcoe Research Centre, located adjacent to the town of Simcoe, has 86.8 hectares of land on the edge of the highly productive Norfolk sand plain in the central Erie region. Its mission is to help strengthen the fruit and vegetable industries in the potentially highly productive zone along the north shore of Lake Erie.
Simcoe operates research programs covering vegetables, fruits, and various alternative crops for the sandy tobacco soils of the area. The ratio of research input is about 70 % vegetables and 30 % fruit, which reflects the approximate distribution of horticultural production in the Lake Erie counties.
Contact:
Manager: Wally Andres 519-426-7127 x 344
Vineland Horticultural Research Centre
The Vineland Campus, located in Vineland, includes approximately 90 hectares of experimental tender fruit and other orchards, vineyards, rotation crop areas, ornamental plantings, greenhouses and a mushroom production unit.
Contact:
Manager: Ray Kaczmarski 905-562-4141 x 167
Woodstock Research Station
The Woodstock Research Station comprises 150 ha. of which only 60 ha. are level and uniform enough for research use and about 30 ha. are systematically tile drained. This station is used for field crops and is the largest area for soybean breeding in Oxford County. Also located on the station is Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show.
Contact:
Manager: Don Kitchen 519-537-2603