The Ontario Forage Committee and the Canadian Seed
Trade Association says the reduction of forage staff by the University of
Guelph and the ministry of agriculture will significantly limit the
ability of Ontario farmers to continue with a strong forage program. John
Hackney, research and product development manager with Pickseed, says his
company will continue to develop high quality varieties. But a critical
mass of researchers is needed for a strong forage industry. Without the
university and government researchers "our abilities are
diminished," he said.
Only two forage specialists working with farmers remain
across Ontario.
He says the government has underfunded forages. The
ministry of agriculture has contributed to grains and oil seeds but gives
nothing to the forage sector, despite the fact forages provide $800
million annually to the agricultural sector.
While other sectors benefit from a well developed crop
insurance plan, forages by their nature benefit less. "It is
difficult to design a fair, accurate crop insurance system for
forages," he said. "We’re thinning out our resources."
Forages are the cheapest form of animal feed in the
province, and the most widely used, yet publicly funded forage research
has almost disappeared. He lamented the shortage of funding at Elora,
where the only complete forage plan existed.
Contrary to rumours circulating at eastern farm
meetings, forage, cereal and corn research will not continue at the
sub-research stations of Kemptville College. They will all be eliminated.
The Ontario Forage Committee says managing climate
related risks, forage feeding value and variety testing should be the top
priorities of Ontario research. These should be conducted at regional
stations.
Lower research priorities are the environment, corn silage, a forage
grading system and weed control in forages.
