| Home |
| About |
| Location |
| Judging Guidelines |
| Nominate |
| Media |
| Archive |
| Sponsors |
| Media Activity |
| Contacts |
| 2005 - Archive |
Back To Top FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — November 4, 2005 Seed of the Year winner named at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair ( GUELPH , ON) — An asparagus variety with outstanding performance, sustainability, marketability and industry impact topped entries in the inaugural "Seed of the Year" competition. Guelph Millennium asparagus was recognized as Seed of the Year in the competition's inaugural year, at a ceremony Friday, November 4, 2005 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto . Guelph Millennium asparagus has been on the market for eight years and has proven itself as a high-yielding, high-quality hybrid. Developed by Prof. David Wolyn, University of Guelph , the variety has become a major contributor to the current competitiveness of the asparagus industry and accounts for 70 per cent of all seed sold in Ontario . This asparagus variety is known for its ability to sustain high yields over many years, a trait not typical of other varieties on the market. Two other finalists for Seed of the Year were also recognized at the event. OAC Kent, a soybean variety developed by University of Guelph Prof. Istvan Rajcan , and OAC Rex, a white bean variety developed by University of Guelph Prof. Peter Pauls , former professor Tom Michaels, and technician Tom Smith, were also honoured. Through the Seed of the Year application process, public breeders were encouraged to highlight their research accomplishments in developing a new variety of fruit, vegetables, forages or field crops. In this, its inaugural year, Seed of the Year focused on attracting submissions from public seed breeders in Eastern Canada . The competition has been designed by representatives from SeCan, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , and the University of Guelph . Additional sponsorship has been provided by the Ontario Asparagus Growers` Marketing Board, Ontario Bean Producers ' Marketing Board and the Ontario Soybean Growers. -30- For more information contact: Owen Roberts, Director, Research Communications Kim Waalderbos, Student co-ordinator Back To Top FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 27, 2005 Seed of the Year finalists named ( GUELPH , ON) - Three plant varieties have been named as finalists in the inaugural "Seed of the Year" competition. OAC Kent soybeans, OAC Rex white beans and Guelph Millennium asparagus are being recognized in the competition's inaugural year. These finalists will be recognized at the Seed of the Year awards ceremony, taking place 3 p.m. Friday, November 4, 2005 in the Royal Room at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto . At this time the winner will be announced. This event is open to industry professionals, media, members from the farming community and public and private plant breeders. Through the Seed of the Year application process, public breeders were encouraged to highlight their research accomplishments in developing a new variety of fruit, vegetables or field crops. In its inaugural year, Seed of the Year focused on attracting submissions from public seed breeders in Eastern Canada . Seed varieties were evaluated based on their performance, sustainability, marketability, value chain and end use potential, and overall impact on industry. The competition has been designed by the University of Guelph and industry representatives from SeCan, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada . Additional sponsorship has been provided by the Ontario Asparagus Growers` Marketing Board, Ontario Bean Producers ' Marketing Board and the Ontario Soybean Growers. -30- For more information contact: Owen Roberts, Director, Research Communications Kim Waalderbos, Student co-ordinator Back To Top Seed of the Year is a new initiative recognizing Canadian public seed breeders. Through the program's application process, public breeders are encouraged to highlight their research accomplishments in developing a new variety of fruit, vegetables, forages or field crops. In its inaugural year, Seed of the Year focused on attracting submissions from public seed breeders in Eastern Canada . Seed varieties were evaluated based on their performance, sustainability, marketability, value chain and end use potential, and overall impact on industry. The competition has been designed by representatives from SeCan, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Guelph . Additional sponsorship has been provided by the Ontario Asparagus Growers` Marketing Board, Ontario Bean Producers ' Marketing Board and the Ontario Soybean Growers. OAC Kent OAC Kent is the most popular non-genetically modified yellow hilum full-season soybean in Ontario . Developed by Prof. Istvan Rajcan, University of Guelph, the variety is an excellent food grade bean because of its true yellow hilum and an above average seed size. OAC Kent has been consistently top ranked for yield on Ontario clay and loam soils with stable and high yields in 3100 and 3400 CHU areas. The variety has one of the lowest scores for white mould infection among commercial soybeans.OAC Rex OAC Rex is the first white bean variety in Canada to deliver resistance to bacterial blight, a major disease affecting bean yields and quality. Profs. Peter Pauls, Tom Michaels, and technician Tom Smith, University of Guelph , developed the white bean using international genetic resources and an innovative technique to recover germplasm. In using international resources, this research is helping to broaden the diversity of domestic bean varieties. OAC Rex is consistently out-yielding other varieties. Also, a distinctive plant architecture, which holds pods higher off the ground, makes for enhanced combining. Guelph Millennium Guelph Millennium asparagus is proving itself as a high-yielding, high-quality hybrid. Developed by Prof. David Wolyn, University of Guelph , the variety is performing well in the traditional sandy growth soils, as well as in cold, wet regions around North America . Guelph Millennium has become a major contributor to the current competitiveness of the asparagus industry and accounts for 70 per cent of all seed sold in Ontario . The variety is known for its ability to sustain high yields over many years in the lifetime of a plantation, a trait not typical of other varieties on the market. -30- Back To Top |
