north peace applied research...

Summer 2011 Volume 5 Issue 2

In general 2015 was a miserable year for traditional crops at the research farm. There are bright spots, though and all 2015 harvest reports will be posted to the npara.ca website as they are completed.

Soil Health We continue to learn about cocktail cover crop mixes (now called polyspecies mixtures) for the Peace Country. This is the 2nd year of polyspecies seeding on the sprayed out brome fields and we used oats, peas or soybeans, several species of brassicca (turnip, radish), hairy vetch, crimson clover and more on about 20 acres. At the July crop tour, penetration was markedly improved on the polyspecies site compared to the untreated and conventional soil areas of the farm. Resistance to penetration is measured and graphed at least yearly at 8 sites on the farm, each under different management. Water infiltration, fertility and microbial populations are also monitored, giving us a fairly clear idea of comparative soil health. NPARA also purchased a hydraulic soil probe that extracts a 2” diameter core up to 4’ deep. The cores are saved in poly tubes. With this we can examine and evaluate soils, and actually save cores each year to track changes as our work goes forward.

Fifty pounds of oats per acre dominated all the other species this summer, indicating we have work to do on developing effective blends and seeding rates for our area. We want more diversity and it is clear that choosing the various plant species in the right proportion will prove to be tricky, as weather conditions can favor plants differently from year to year. However, it is easy to dial in distinct proportions in separate plots for evaluation. From our “crops garden” the past two years we have identified species that do well on their own. Feedback from local producers is invaluable as they seed their own mixes. Some also have the advantage of integrating livestock on their polyspecies acres, which is undoubtedly the fastest way to improved soil health.

Conventional cropping systems continue to be evaluated at the farm. All of the variety, fertility and input product trials will continue at NPARA; we are adding the soil health component to compare efficacy to local, typical production methods. We are looking for ways to reduce dependence on costly inputs while maintaining economic viability of area producers. We will begin comparative cropping trials in 2016.

Soybean Variety Development NPARA again conducted a soybean yield trial with commercially available varieties. These resulted in single-digit yields up to some individual plots of 15 bu/ac. Most certainly the North Peace is not a haven for soybeans yet. We continue to seek varieties that might adapt to our conditions with the help of a soon-to-be-named partner who is providing viable seedstock from around the world. You might have seen 148 soybean varieties growing at the research farm this summer. All were under evaluation for their suitability as stand-alone materials or as parent material for breeding. This work is tedious and time-consuming and we are especially lucky to be working with a partner with capabilities in soybean breeding and variety development.

Commodity soybeans would be an attractive addition to the area; an oilseed that not only provides its own nitrogen but leaves significant N for the next crop, while commanding a per-bushel price comparable to canola, would be of interest to local producers (if we can increase yield, of course). Another possibility is development of a specialty soybean with a specific use (soymilk, edible snacks, natto, miso or tofu); these types of soy might very well work with our climate and at the same time command a premium or value-added price. Anytime we can ship a higher value-per-unit product from here is a win, given the high cost of transport. One soybean that can be grown here successfully right now is the Edamame. This soybean is harvested when the green seed pod is fullest. The pods are salted and steamed, and the beans inside are eaten as a snack. Available now in the frozen food aisle, try some. If you like them, grow some in your garden next summer.

Fall 2015 Volume 9, Issue 3

NEWS from North Peace Applied Research Association

Good soil aggregates & healthy rhizosheath

148 soybean varieties at NPARA Farm


NPARA Library – available to NPARA members

HORTICULTURE

Pruning in Alberta Alberta Yards & Gardens: What to Grow Planning Your Shelterbelt

CROP PRODUCTION

Weeds of the Prairies Weed Seedling Guide Common Plants of Western Rangelands Insect Identification Program CD-ROM Diseases of Pulse Crops in Western Canada Canola Growers Manual Pulse Crops in Alberta Triticale Manual Sod Seeding Brush Management on the Western Canadian Plains Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

Fencing with Electricity Beef Cow/Calf Manual Managing a Cow/Calf Business: An Essential Guide Stock Poisoning Plants of Western Canada Year Round Grazing Manual Pasture Planning Guide Handling and Feeding Sheep – DVD

Meat Goats Silage Manual Alberta Forage Manual Wintering Site Assessment & Design Tool Grass-fed to Finish: A Production Guide to Gourmet Grass-

Finished Beef Comeback Farms: Rejuvenating Soils, Pastures and Profits

with Livestock Grazing Management

SOILS

Soil Fertility Manual

Soil Survey for Hotchkiss/Keg River & Grimshaw/Notikewin Areas

Building Soils for Better Crops

Soil Biology Primer

The Nature and Properties of Soil

Cows Save the Planet

OTHER

Building Added Value through Farm Diversification Quality Farm Dugouts Beekeeping in Western Canada Managing Alternative Pollinators Cover Crops Field Guide Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Society

MARK APRIL 8, 2016 ON YOUR CALENDAR AS NPARA HOSTS

GREG JOHNSON—THE TORNADO HUNTER

A great evening of

family entertainment!!

Everyone Welcome!!

@ the Ag Hall Doors open @ 5:30 pm Supper @ 6 PM


ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN (EFP)

This program is now administered by our umbrella organization ARECA (Agricultural Re-search & Extension Council of Alberta).

What is an EFP: EFP is a whole farm risk management tool for farmers that enhances the understanding of the agricultural and environmental relationship. It is a self assessment process that iden-tifies areas for improvements.

Why an EFP is still important: Environmentally sustainable production of crops and livestock , manag-ing risks, protecting water resources and air quality, preserving soil and biodiversity, providing a healthy land-scape for the next generation and maintaining market access. These are just a few of the reasons for creating an EFP. If you have one, you are ready for whenever the opportunity or need arises. The EFP process helps you identify and address environmental risks and opportunities in your operation. Maintaining a healthy environ-ment is essential to the success of Alberta’s agricultural producers. Also, an EFP is required for application to any of the Stewardship Programs available under Growing Forward. Please contact us if you wish to complete an EFP. We have all of the resource materials to assist you. There is also the option of completing the e-book on-line.

Integrated Weed Management Systems: Neil Harker, Research Scientist, Weed Ecology & Crop Management, Ag Canada, Lacombe

Rail Transportation: CN Rail Representative

Agronomy—It’s a Package Deal Emile deMilliano, Manager, Training, Crop Production Services, Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Grain, Pulse & Oilseed Market Update Neil Blue, Provincial Market Analyst, Alberta Agriculture, Vermilion, AB

DATE: Wednesday, January 13 TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. LOCATION: Dunvegan Motor Inn, Fairview, AB COST: $30 includes lunch

For more information and to register, call Nora - North Peace Applied Research Association @ 780-836-3354 or email [email protected]

NEWS from North Peace Applied Research

Growing Forward 2 is a five year program (2013 - 2018) providing programs & services to the agriculture industry. The following programs are presently NOT open for new applications:

Agri Processing Automation and Efficiency

Agri-Processing Product & Market Development - Crop

Animal Health Biosecurity Producer

Livestock Welfare Producer

For more info refer to the Growing Forward Website and subscribe for automatic updates to be notified when these programs are reopened: http://www.growingforward.alberta.ca/Programs.

The following programs are open and accepting applications: Business Management Skills Development Program -established producers, new producers, agri-

processing industry staff and producer groups will be reimbursed for 75% of tuition fees or the cost to hire an instructor for a group skill training course to improve their business management skills.

Business Opportunity Program - eligible for reimbursement of 50-75% of certain non-capital costs related to researching and planning a new business venture

Food Safety Systems Producer - the purpose is to help producers invest in equipment and tracking systems to improve On-Farm Food Safety practices. Successful applicants will be reimbursed 70% of eligible activities /items which could include cattle squeeze with neck extender, a scale head (indicator), loadbars, scale platform, computer software for tracking animal health records.

On-Farm Energy Management - shares the cost at 50% of eligible projects that install high-efficiency equipment, retrofit projects to improve the operation’s energy usage/unit of production, installation of submeters to monitor on-farm electricity and/or natural gas usage

On-Farm Stewardship - producers will be reimbursed 30-70% depending on the project:

Grazing Management - includes riparian area fencing and management, summer and year-round watering systems, wetland restoration and shelterbelts

Manure & Livestock Facilities Management - includes improvements to manure storage facilities, livestock facilities runoff control and livestock facilities relocation

Crop Input Management - includes new purchases of sprayer cones and shrouds, sectional control operation system, for sprayer & seeding equipment, and pulse modulating sprayer systems.

Agricultural Waste Management - includes purchase of new double-walled fuel tanks or double-walled storage tanks for used oil and plastic rollers for used grain bags

On-Farm Water Management - this program shares the cost related to enhancements of on-farm water supply management., including construction of water sources with reimbursement of up to ⅓ of expenses, to a maximum of $5,000; well decommissioning, well pit conversions, water meters, water well depth measurement equipment, and connections to multi-user water supply pipelines. These projects are eligible for reimbursement of up to 50% of expenses.

Traceability Technology Adoption - eligible producers will be reimbursed for 70% of approved costs for equipment and software that capture animal data for animal management & traceability purposes.

Some of the programs require completion of an Environmental Farm Plan. Contact us if you have any ques-tions or visit the website: www.GrowingForward.Alberta.ca



EVENT DATE TIME LOCATION CONTACT COST

2015 Western Canada Conference on Soil Health Dec 8 - 10 All day Radisson Hotel,

Edmonton NPARA

780-836-3354

Peace Country Beef Congress Jan 8—9 All Day Dakota Center,

Dawson Creek, BC pcbeefcongress

@gmail.com

Peace Agronomy Update Jan 13 9 am —4 pm Dunvegan Motor Inn, Fairview, AB

NPARA 780-836-3354

Farm Tech 2016 Jan 26—28 All Day Edmonton Expo Centre, Northlands

[email protected]

Peace Country Beef Cattle Day Feb 1 9 am —4 pm Dunvegan Motor

Inn, Fairview, AB NPARA

780-836-3354

Dugout Info Session Feb 23 TBA Manning NPARA

780-836-3354 TBA

Solar Micro-generation Options for Alberta

Farmers March 9 TBA TBA NPARA

780-836-3354 TBA

Peace Country Classic Mar 12-14 All Day Evergreen Park, Grande Prairie

NPARA AGM March 16 TBA Manning NPARA 780-836-3354

Farmer Appreciation Evening

April 8 5:30 pm Ag Hall, Manning NPARA

780-836-3354 TBA


The Wheat Midge Forecast for 2016 shows an overall lower level of wheat midge across Alberta. There has been a slight bounce back from the collapse of the extreme populations in the eastern Peace Region. Although wheat midge has not followed our forecasts very well in the Peace region it is important to note that there are likely sufficient populations of midge in the eastern Peace to fuel a resurgence if conditions are in the insects favor (specifically delayed crops and higher than normal rainfall). Central Alberta has some areas of east of Ed-monton with high numbers of wheat midge. The population has remains low in much of southern Alberta with the exception of some irrigated fields. Producers should pay attention to midge downgrading in their wheat samples and use this as a further indication of midge risk in their fields. Over the past several years the field to field variation has been very considerable throughout the province, especially in those areas with higher counts. Individual fields throughout Alberta may still have economic levels of midge. Each producer also needs to assess their risk based on indicators specific to their farm.

2016 Wheat Midge Forecast

Box 750 Manning, Alberta

T0H 2M0 Phone: 780-836-3354

Fax: 780-836-2670

We are on the web: www.npara.ca

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

North Peace Applied Research Association

STAFF

NORA PAULOVICH Manager

Email: [email protected] Cell: 780-836-5230

TOM FROMME Research Coordinator Email: [email protected] Cell: 780-836-0651

Janet Vandemark

Accounting

President Bill Gaugler Vice President Al Dumas Secretary/Treasurer Mark Kamieniecki

Directors

Peter Bigler

Kelly Coulter

Odell Raymond

Trevor Enders

Pete Stahl

Representatives

County of Northern Lights Arie Loogman Agribusiness

Albert Michaud

HAWK HILLS AG SOCIETY

Summer 2015 Volume 9, Issue 2

Check out our website: www.npara.ca

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