News
From the Editor: Top Crop East October 2018

During the span of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to cover several different markets from an editor’s desk. From professional services, like firefighting, to retail bakeries and pizzerias, I’ve seen different Canadian sectors change and grow toward the betterment of the industry. But I’d be willing to argue that the level of research and development in Canadian agriculture is unmatched.

Of course, the research doesn’t come without cost, and over recent months, Canada has made several investments in agriculture (most recently, in early September, the investment made toward supporting the canola sector to focus on growth and profitability). But the real work happens behind closed doors, in the labs and offices, by some of the top researchers in the world.

The quote above, from America’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison, is particularly poignant to open our annual issue highlighting advanced genetic and plant breeding research. Arguably overused, innovation is a buzzword you’ll often hear in many industries, including agriculture. As you flip through this issue, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s hard not to describe these projects as innovative.

One such example is the story on page 16, which highlights new research from the University of Guelph on clubroot management. Spearheaded by Mary Ruth McDonald, the research looks at determining which strains of the disease affect different crops, and explores different management practices.

And on page 20, you’ll read about a project based out of Ottawa’s Carleton University, aiming to develop a quick, low-cost test for detecting mycotoxins. Dr. Maria DeRosa is working on a prototype to test for Ochratoxin A right at the farm or grain elevator, with minimal training or resources. If the project is successful, DeRosa hopes to test the technology in grain elevators to determine how user-friendly it is.

We’ve also included our Eastern Traits and Stewardship Guide in this issue, which highlights new technologies from the seeds and traits industries projected to provide more protection, reduce risk and add value to your bottom line.

Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention the 2019 Soil Management and Sustainability Summit during a discussion about innovation. Our fourth research-focused event, Top Crop Manager’s annual summit gathers producers, agronomists, industry members and the scientific community together to share new research and ideas. We hope you’ll consider joining us on Feb. 26, 2019 in Saskatoon.

There’s constant change and growth happening, and we’re pleased to be able to provide a glimpse of what you can expect to see from the industry in the coming years. Happy reading.