From Letterfrack to Rural Ontario: Sharing Ideas from the 2024 North Atlantic Forum

Oct 09, 2024

Researchers, policymakers and practitioners recently gathered in Letterfrack, Ireland for the 2024 North Atlantic Forum. The Forum focused on sustainable livelihoods and sought to engage new ideas in rural development, policy practice, and the social economy.

To facilitate knowledge mobilization a series of rural research summaries were created by graduate students on innovative approaches to sustainable livelihoods. The summaries provides a snapshot of research presented at the North Atlantic Forum and provide links to online resources. Topics covered in the summaries include economic development, food security, heritage conservation, housing, policy proofing and lenses, and solar power. Take a read of the summaries below:

A Case Study of Community-Led versus State-Led Solar Projects in NunatuKavut summarized by Christine Miller (University of Prince Edward Island)
From Colonial Challenges to Community Solutions: Transforming Food Insecurity in Ktaqmkuk summarized by Avery Velez (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
Heritage Tourism and Local Livelihoods in Inishbofin, Ireland summarized by Eliza MacLauchlan (University of Prince Edward Island)
Navigating Economic Development Challenges in an Island Context summarized by Damilola Oyewale (University of Guelph)
Rural Ireland Plagued by Housing Affordability summarized by Lucas Berek (University of Guelph)
SABRI: Reinvesting in the Region to Expand the Economic Base summarized by Natasha Pennell (Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)
Searching for Entrepreneurialism in Rural Newfoundland summarized by Lucas Berek (University of Guelph)

The rural research summaries from the 2024 North Atlantic Forum were by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, a collaboration between the Government of Ontario and the University of Guelph.

Source : Rural Ontario Institute

Video: Summer Crop Scouting MN Farm!

Crop scouting is a vital part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), helping identify pests, optimize input use, and protect yields. Scouts act as the grower’s field observers, offering timely insights.

In this webinar, Liz Gartman, UW–Madison Extension regional crops educator, provides an introduction to crop scouting, covering everything from pre-field preparation to in-field tools, resources, and best practices.

Preparation includes understanding field history, gathering tools, and setting communication expectations. In the field, scouts assess plant health, pest presence, and environmental stress using systematic patterns. Accurate documentation and clear reporting are essential. Tools like soil surveys, weather data, and pest calendars support decision-making. Ultimately, crop scouting builds trust, supports sustainability, and ensures informed, timely responses to field conditions.