Guy Lafond - 2022 Canola Influencer Award Recipient
For the 25th anniversary of SaskCanola, we created an award to honor outstanding individuals who have been instrumental in the success of the Saskatchewan canola industry over the years. The recipients of this award have made distinguished and exceptional contributions of knowledge, education and ongoing efforts to promote canola.
Dr. Guy Lafond was posthumously named the Canola Influencer Award recipient for 2022.
Guy Lafond grew up in St. Jean Baptiste, Manitoba, and obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Manitoba. He then earned his PhD from the University of Saskatchewan and worked at their Crop Development Centre in 1984 before settling with this family in Indian Head.
Guy was a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for nearly 30 years. He was instrumental in establishing the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation and had a major impact on cropping practices and soil conservation.
Early in his career, Guy became involved in no-till farming and he was a key figure in the no-till revolution - tirelessly working through challenges and promoting the benefits and adoption of this practice. His areas of research at IHARF included no-till cropping systems, precision farming, and soil, fertilizer and land management. Guy changed the face of Western Canadian agriculture with his pioneering research in no-till farming and the adoption of direct seeding.
Guy was one of the most distinguished conservation researchers in Canada and shared his knowledge with researchers and producers around the world. His research in precision ag helped farmers change how they work and learn new information about their land. Today, precision ag means that farmers can tailor their practices to maximize yield and sustainability by applying seed, fertilizer, and pesticides in the right amounts, at the right time, in the right place.
Guy passed away peacefully in 2013 in Regina after battling cancer.
In acknowledgment of Guy's leadership contributions to the canola industry, SaskCanola has made a $1,000 donation to the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation.