Keep it going

The future of the Emo Agricultural Research Station has been on shaky ground for some time over fears the University of Guelph will cut its funding as a cost-saving measure.
Given the important role EARS plays in the district, however, all efforts must be made to prevent that from happening—or to find other funding sources to keep this vital research going.
District farmers certainly benefit from the trials the station conducts each year to test various hybrids, soil mixtures, fertilizers, and pesticides for their suitability to this area. For instance, as was noted during the station’s annual open house last Thursday, a soybean plot is looking at the whether this potentially-lucrative crop can be grown successfully in Northwestern Ontario.
Companies, too, realize the importance of facilities like EARS. EMF Nutrition, for one, is involved with research here while New Gold is working with EARS on which plant species will thrive when it comes time to close and rehabilitate its impending gold mine site in Richardson Township north of Barwick.
Research also has been done there on hybrid trees that grow faster than native species—a sure boon to forest industry companies and operations locally.
The ag industry is a key cog in the district’s economy and EARS has proven to be a valuable asset over the years.
Local farmers and municipal leaders need to make their voices heard to ensure it continues to be, particularly in the wake of climate change and other factors that no doubt will impact agriculture here down the road.