News

Starting your graduate program is exciting but can also feel overwhelming. At the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), you’re not navigating that experience alone. Whether you're in a master's or doctoral program, OAC’s Graduate Student Council (OACGSC) is here to help you connect, grow, and make the most of your time as a graduate student. Run by students, for students, the OACGSC creates opportunities that go far beyond the classroom and lab.

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) at the University of Guelph is saddened to share the passing of Professor Emeritus Dr. John FitzGibbon on April 12, 2026, at the age of 78.

Dr. FitzGibbon was a dedicated member of the University community for more than 40 years, serving as both a professor and the founding Director of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD). In this role, he played a key part in establishing the school’s vision and strengthening its focus on environmental design and rural development.

Collaborative effort to develop new technology brings in academic and private sector input. University of Guelph researchers are collaborating with Corteva Agrisciences and the University of Waterloo to evaluate the feasibility of using drones to broadcast winter wheat into standing soybeans, addressing a key Eastern Ontario challenge where optimal wheat seeding dates often conflict with soybean harvest timing.

When Toronto-based bio-tech company Index Biosystems wanted to expand its BioTags® food safety technology to a new food product, they needed to validate the new use under real processing conditions—beyond the lab bench. 

Their next move? Partnering with the Guelph Food Innovation Centre (GFIC) at the University of Guelph. 

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) community mourns the passing of Christopher Magor (OAC '84 - BSAg, Animal & Poultry Science) who passed away peacefully on March 15, 2026.

Born in Darlington, England, he later made his home in Essex, where he became a familiar and friendly face in the community as the proud owner of Stationery and Stuff. Chris dedicated many years to the store before retiring in 2019.

A Life in Agricultural Economics at the University of Guelph

Professor Emeritus Thomas Francis Funk passed away on March 29, 2026. He served as a cornerstone of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) at the University of Guelph for more than three decades, leaving a lasting legacy of academic excellence, professional leadership, and dedication to students.

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) community mourns the passing of Dr. Tom Funk, a respected educator and leader in agricultural marketing, who passed away on March 29, 2026, at the age of 82.

Funk dedicated more than 35 years to the University of Guelph, teaching agricultural marketing at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Known for his commitment to experiential learning, he helped bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, shaping the careers of students across the agri-food sector.

For more than a decade, Ontario farmers, policymakers, investors, and agricultural professionals have relied on the Ontario Farmland Value and Rental Value Survey for insights into farmland prices, rental rates, and market dynamics across the province. The lack of publicly available information on farmland rental rates was one of the primary drivers behind the first survey in 2016.  

Dr. Kari Dunfield, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences, Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) has received $3,920,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance Advantage program. The governments of Canada and Ontario, as well as industry partners contributed an additional $1,960,000 in funding and $143,695 of in-kind support. 

The University of Guelph has achieved a major milestone in the 2026 QS Subject Rankings, with its agriculture and forestry programs now ranked #1 in Canada (tied with UBC) and 14th in the world. This is the first time U of G has placed in the global top 15.