AAFC research site in Morden houses one of the largest groups of plant pathologists

Aug 29, 2022

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research and Development Centre in Morden is 107 years old.

Early research focused on livestock and has now moved into pulses, oilseeds, and cereals with research being conducted on genetics and breeding.

Associate Director Scott Duguid explained how the data is used.

"The data that's collected is used in a couple of ways. One is that the data that comes out of here is used to recommend varieties for registration of bean varieties across Western Canada. That data gets then utilized by growers to see what particular varieties of beans would fit their area of production, their rotation, their area. The data that's generated for yield, disease resistance and the quality of seed goes into that decision of what the farmer is going to produce and market."

Duguid says one of the largest groups of plant pathologists in any one centre in Canada is located in Morden.

He notes they have a full section of land to grow crops and run trials.

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.