News

The Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) mourns the passing of Donald Pestell (RCAT ’62), a visionary entrepreneur and generous supporter of U of G and its Ridgetown Campus, whose legacy will continue to shape the campus for generations to come.

Born and raised on a small farm in Ethel, Ontario, Don’s life reflected the values of hard work, determination and curiosity. From his rural beginnings, he built an extraordinary career as an entrepreneur, achieving global business success while remaining deeply connected to his agricultural roots and committed to giving back.

Dairy producers, veterinarians and calf industry professionals will gather at the University of Guelph this month for Producer Day 2026, a one-day event focused on calf health, colostrum management and practical on-farm strategies.

Taking place on May 23rd at the U of G campus, the event is part of the Second International Scientific Meeting on Colostrum, an international conference bringing together experts in lactation biology and animal health. 

Two new faculty members are joining the University of Guelph’s Department of Food Science in the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC). 

The Ontario Farmland Value and Rental Value Survey was launched in 2016 to address the lack of publicly available county-level data on farmland values and rental rates across Ontario. The initiative is a collaboration between the University of Guelph, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, and provincial farm organizations.

The Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics Professor Brady Deaton shared insights from the 2025 Farmland Price and Rental Survey and discuss related issues in farmland markets. The Ontario Farmland Value and Rental Value Survey is designed to generate public information on farmland values and rental rates in Ontario. Results are reported at the census division level to support farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders. Survey reports and updates are available through the project website.

In a recent appearance on TVO Today, FARE faculty and OAC Dean John Cranfield shared a compelling and optimistic message: there has never been a better time to be in agriculture. Cranfield highlighted agriculture as a future‑focused, innovation‑driven sector where economics, technology, sustainability, and food security intersect.

In U of G’s Food and Agricultural Business (BComm-FAB) major, students gain a unique blend of business training from the Lang School of Business and Economics as well as agri-food expertise from the Ontario Agricultural College - brought to life through hands-on learning experiences. For FAB student, Sophia Trothen, one of those experiences came through her involvement with the Canadian Agri-Marketing Association (CAMA), a student competition that challenges teams to develop and pitch innovative agri-food products.

FARE Prof. Brady Deaton gave remarks to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in Ottawa, on April 30th 2026