December Issue, 2021
SARDA Ag Research News
Table of Contents Message From The Chair
Page 3
“Year of No Water
Page 5
Water Quality Sampling Program
Page 7
Review of 2021
Research and Summer Activities Water sampling results of 2021 and changes since 2011
SARDA Ag Research Industrial Hemp Harvest Update
Page 10
Interview with Norm Boulet, Agricultural Fieldman for the MD of Smoky River #130, on harvesting hemp
Page 12
2021 Published Scientific Papers
Page 14
Minor Use Registration For The Use Of Stellar™ XL on Grass Seed Crops in Western Canada
Page 15
Contact Information For Board And Staff
Page 16
Working with industrial hemp in small plot trials and crop rotation trials
We tried a stripper header on hemp and this is how it worked An overview of the papers published in 2021.
This project began in 2019 and has proven effective weed control in grass seed crops.
ON THE COVER A Stripper on the cover? This is a photo of the stripper header that was tried on the hemp. Interview with the owner on page 12 Photo credit: Darcy Boisvert
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SARDA Ag Research News
Summer students (left to right) - Nadia, Sami, Emilie, Catherin, Victor (field technician)and bottom Blake, Missing - Mai Noosri-Berube (photographer)
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Message from the Chair
t has been an eventful year at SARDA Ag Research. We are very proud of the applied research we continued and completed.
Some of the highlights of the year have included hosting a well-attended WheatStalk and having successful field tours despite the challenges of COVID-19. We have stayed safe and followed all regulations while accomplishing our mission to share our research with producers and industry.
In our research trials, we continued some very important partnerships and delved into areas of research that are in their infancy in Northern Alberta. For example, SARDA Ag Research continued pest monitoring with the Alberta Insect Pest Monitoring Network for the North West region of Alberta. This partnership has provided valuable information to our shareholders. We continued to conduct water quality monitoring for any chemical runoff from crops. We have been part of this program for 10 years now and remain committed to the continuation of this program. The annual report outlining the results of the monitoring is included in this newsletter.
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SARDA Ag Research is currently looking at contemporary types of research that include intercropping, cover cropping and working with producers moving towards adopting the latest practices. In addition, SARDA Ag Research has been involved in hemp trials for the past 7 years
SARDA Ag Research News in partnership with Smoky River Economic Development. As a result, local hemp producers have been able to apply our data to further experiment. Currently, we are looking to expand the industrial hemp research to focus further on the fiber market. For example, we are investigating the fiber market in order to provide research to support a decorticator plant. Such a facility separates the hemp straw and prepares the plant components for market. We have also included an article on the work we have done so far with industrial hemp in this issue of our newsletter.
all the event planning, seeding, taking care of the test plots, collecting and entering data.
This summer, we had 6 summer students working with our Research Team. They were involved with
Sincerely, Simon Lavoie, Chair
The programs on the horizon for the New Year include hemp, regenerative agriculture such as intercropping as well as cover crops, regional variety testing, continuing the success of the forage seed program, pest surveillance, water monitoring and general agronomy which includes chemical product demonstrations. I am looking forward to sharing all the progress we make in the New Year.
SARDA Ag Research’s Office closed between December 23 and January 3 4
SARDA Ag Research News
Year of No Water season rainfall, we Actual precipitation saw the quality of reported at Ballater Weather our plots go down. Station from May 1 to Sept. This was evidenced in our plots as plant 30, 2021 was 179.3 mm counts completed in (7.06 inches) Just 64% June showed fewer of the long term average plants than expected. 278.8 mm (11.0 inches) While this is not catastrophic as many Actual precipitation reported crops have the ability at Teepee Creek Weather to stool out and Station from May 1 to Sept. produce great crops, 30, 2021 was 128.8 mm moisture is required. (5.07 inches) Just 45% By the time we of the long term average received a substantial 285.7 mm (11.24 inches) rain it was too late. The result of this late rain was that many crops stooled which meant second and third flushes of growth. When this happens, it becomes challenging to manage the crops for harvest and the quality of the crop decreases. Our plot management faced the same challenges.
By Shelleen Gerbig, Extension Coordinator, SARDA Ag Research
2021 can be labeled the “Year of No Water”. Drought affected all our plots this year. As a result, trials did not show the expected results. While moisture was good during seeding, we found that the drought reduced plant stands throughout the season. Some trials were cancelled and others were taken to completion on the off chance that the data collected would be useable. It’s no wonder, crops were so poor. The Ballater Weather Station (nearest weather station to our plots in Smoky River) reported that we received 64% of our average growing season precipitation. The Teepee Creek weather station (nearest weather station to the plots in Greenview) was worse, reporting only 45% of the average growing season precipitation. In addition to the lack of precipitation, both stations reported a week straight of temperatures above 300C with a high of 400C, a heat extreme that is nearly unheard of in the Peace Region. Drought affects many aspects of crop production and our research plots are no different. In 2021, emergence of most crops was great but with the lack of growing
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SARDA Ag Research News Another effect of the drought was that many of the herbicide applications were not as effective as normal. The main reasons for this is that crops and weeds stagnated and were not actively growing at the time of herbicide application. In addition, crops did not provide the anticipated ground cover and competition for the weeds. This poor chemical and cultural weed control resulted in too many days of hand rogueing the plots. Of course the plots needed to be weeded during the hottest time of the season (+400C).
Protein fertility trial, the regional cereal variety trials, the pea leaf weevil, β-glucan Oat trial and the SARVT trials. Our final field day of the season was a combined event hosted by Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission and SARDA Ag Research named WheatStalk. Presenters talked about PGR’s in wheat, oats and barley, ultra early seeding dates for wheat in the Peace Region, wheat varietal class differences, seed treatments on pulse crops, bio-stimulants, novelty crop sequencing, the industrial hemp industry in the Peace Region and the SARVT.
SARDA staff is currently processing samples and analyzing the data. It is expected that many of the results will be available for publishing soon. Watch our website (www.sarda.ca) for the reports as they become available. Also sign up for our current events emails which will provide links to the results of SARDA Ag Research trials as they become available.
Presenters at all our field days included: Kristina Ploziehn. Axion Agronomy; Calvin Yoder, Forage Specialist; Lance Ouelette, NPARA (North Peace Applied Research Association); Megan Allard, SARDA Ag Research; Darcy Boisvert, Smoky River Economic Development; Shelleen Gerbig, SARDA Ag Research; Nick Sekulic, Prestville Farms; Shelley Barkley, Provincial Entomology team; Sandeep Nain, GRO (Gateway Research Organization); Sheri Strydhorst, Alberta Wheat and Barley Commisions; Jennifer Otani, AAFC (Agriculture and Agri-food Canada); Mike Gretzinger, Farming Smarter; and Jan Slaski, Alberta Innovates. SARDA Ag Research thanks all the presenters and participants that came to the field days and made them a success.
While the research activities may not have been as successful as we would like, SARDA Ag Research held a number of field days in 2021. The first field day on July 20th was held in the MD of Smoky River. It included presentations on a Wild Oat resistance Demonstration, a Flea Beetle Cultural Control Trial, micro mix industrial trial, Industrial Hemp and SARVT trials (SARDA Ag Research Variety Trials). The second event on July 22nd was held in the MD of Greenview. It included presentations on the Wheat
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SARDA Ag Research News
Water Quality Sampling Program – 2021 By Shelleen Gerbig, P.Ag. SARDA AG Research
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ARDA Ag Research began a water quality monitoring program in 2011 with Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd (Aquality). SARDA Ag Research chose sample locations based on their proximity to agricultural lands, use as drinking water intakes, and their likelihood of exposure to terrestrial inputs. One site is more pristine with little upstream agricultural activity (Little Smoky River), one primarily drains areas dominated by livestockbased agricultural activities (New Fish Creek), and one primarily drains areas dominated by cropland (Peavine Creek). Surface water samples were taken from Peavine Creek, New Fish Creek, and the Little Smoky River. 2021 sampling occurred in the early summer (June 21) after the spraying of pre-emergent herbicides on croplands and again in the fall (October 21) following crop harvest. All samples were analyzed for nutrients, bacteria, herbicides and pesticides, and metals.
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Figure 1. Water sampling locations in the MD of Smoky River and MD of Greenview
SARDA Ag Research News All sampling locations fall within the Smoky River watershed, part of the Peace River Basin. The area is located within the northern portion of the dry mixed-wood natural sub-region associated with the Peace River. This natural sub-region generally consists of undulating terrain underlain by glacial till, over which a mosaic of coniferous and deciduous forests have developed (Natural Regions Committee, 2006). The region has extensive wetland development, predominantly bog and fen habitats associated with wooded Figure 2. Flows and water levels for the Little Smoky River in 2021 (Alberta areas, and graminoid marshes in Environment and Parks, 2021). areas cleared of woody vegetation cover, especially in agriculturally below normal except during extreme storm events. developed areas. The dry mixedThere were two observed storm events in 2021. wood natural sub-region tends to have warmer summers and milder winters than regionally adjacent sub-regions River Water Quality Index Site Ranking within the Boreal Natural Region, which has led to extensive agricultural development. Aquality developed a modified version of the Alberta Environment and Parks’ (AEP) River Water Quality Climate conditions in the current sampling year were Index in 2013. The index included all parameters sampled generally hotter and drier than the 30-year norm. Flows by SARDA Ag Research; however, the methodology and within the Little Smoky River (the only watercourse in statistical formula used to analyze the data remained the study with a gauging station present) were generally the same. The index considers the number of times a parameter exceeded guidelines and the magnitude of those exceedances, broken down across four categories of parameters: • Bacteria, • Metals, • Nutrients and Related • Variables, Pesticides
Figure 3. Sample bottles for one site
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The results from the sub-indices are averaged to provide an overall water quality index score for each site, with 100 being the best water quality and 0 being the poorest. From these percentages, we can obtain a water quality rating for each location from excellent to poor. The index has been updated
SARDA Ag Research News Percent Score
Rating
96-100
Excellent (A) - Guidelines are always met, best quality
81-95
Good (B) - Guidelines are occasionally exceeded, but usually by small amounts
66-80
Fair (C) - Guidelines are sometimes exxceeded by moderate amounts; occasionally water quality is undesireable
45-65
Marginal (D) - Guidelines are often exceeded, sometimes by large amounts
0-45
Poor (F) - Guidelines are always exceeded by large amounts, water quality is below desireable levels, worst quality
Figure 4. River water quality rating categories.
What can we do to protect water quality?
over time to reflect changes in provincial guidelines. Results of sampling periods were edited with the new guidelines, facilitating comparisons between current and past years.
1. Develop and respect buffer zones when applying nutrients and pesticides. Buffer zones provide numerous ecological benefits. Some of these include filtering and immobilizing particulates, slowing soil erosion, providing habitat for beneficial organisms that protect against crop pests, protecting pollinators for crops, prevents pesticides from entering the waterways. 2. Follow the 4R’s of nutrient applications (Right place, Right time, Right rate and Right form) and all pesticides’ recommended rates and timings. Follow economic thresholds when considering applications of insecticides and fungicides. 3. Keep your soil covered. Zero-till and minimumtill have significantly reduced the amount of soil erosion on grain production operations. However, you may want to explore regenerative ag operations that are expected to reduce soil erosion further and create healthier soil with more soil organisms and larger soil aggregates that are more resistant to erosion. 4. Seed a permanent forage or grass in drainage ditches to help prevent soil erosion and inflow of particulates into watercourses. Many nutrients and metals are bound to those soil particles. 5. Allow watercourses to follow the natural serpentine form that slows water allowing for particles holding nutrients and metals on the land. This also will enable plants and bacteria to capture and break down these substances. 6. In some instances, it may be beneficial to restore some wetlands and watercourses as they provide more benefits than disadvantages. They are a source of moisture in years of drought and provide more habitat for beneficial organisms.
The water quality index was calculated by season for all sample sites. In 2021, the poorest water quality index value (50%) was observed at New Fish Creek in the spring, while the best values (100%) observed were at the Little Smoky River in the spring and fall and New Fish Creek in the fall. Average values in 2021 were the lowest of the historical period at Peavine Creek and New Fish Creek. Water quality sub-indices for each of the four-parameter groups (Bacteria, Metals, Nutrients & Related Variables, and Pesticides) show a similar pattern. Pesticides were not a problem at any of the sites, while Metals and Nutrients & Related Variables have had the most significant detrimental impact to overall water quality. Bacteria have generally not been as great of a problem, though strong exceedances at Peavine Creek and New Fish Creek did contribute substantially to reduced water quality in 2021.
Figure 5. Peavine Creek Sample Site - MD of Smoky River 9
SARDA Ag Research News
SARDA Ag Research Industrial Hemp Harvest Update By Megan Allard, Research Coordinator at SARDA Ag Research Photos taken by Megan Allard, SARDA Ag Research; Research Coordinator.
The trials we have continued are outlined as follows:
Hemp Date & Rate Trial
Background
This trial was to observe three different seeding dates: early, mid and late timings. In this trial, we used two industrial hemp varieties which were Finola, a fiber variety, and 2 Silesia which is a dual-purpose industrial hemp variety. The three different seeding rates were: 1 = low rate at 100 seeds/m2 2 = mid-rate at 250 seeds/m2 3 = high rate at 400 seeds/m2
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ARDA Ag Research has a few years of experience in hemp research. As an organization, we first started harvesting hemp back in 2014. Our first trial was on hemp fiber variety with the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA). Following this initial trial, the hemp variety trials have expanded into seed, fiber, and dual-purpose hemp varieties. This is our third and last year conducting the hemp data & rate and fertility trial. Meanwhile, hemp variety trials are to be continued into 2022 through the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance.
Hemp Fertility Trial 10
For this trial, we observed multiple different rates of nitrogen and phosphorus. This trial also included
SARDA Ag Research News testing for different nitrogen applications such as ESN (slow releasing form of nitrogen) and UAN (foliar application of nitrogen). The UAN was applied at 4 and 8 weeks after seeding, while boron was used as a soil foliar application.
Novelty Crop Sequencing Trial
In this instance, testing multiple different crops in a crop rotation was at the heart of the trial. Included in the variety of crops was industrial hemp.
Harvest Process
At SARDA Ag Research, all the hemp trials are harvested by hand since industrial hemp fiber and seed is being tested. The process is intensive as we use both a hemp sickle cutter and bundler. Harvest time is extensive and usually takes at least a week to take off the field, and another 1-1.5 months to separate the seed buds from the stem fiber. This year, we experimented with something new and Norm Boulet, Agricultural Fieldman for the M.D. of Smoky River, came out with his combine to try out his new stripper header on leftover SARDA Ag Research industrial hemp plots. We have provided an interview with Norm following this article to discuss the process.
Figure 1 - The sickle cutter can cut and bundle the industrial hemp samples at the same time, which makes it easier when having to put the samples into bags.
Figure 2- 2019 Hemp Harvest – in this photo the SARDA staff is separating the fiber from the seed in the field. This had turned out to be a very time-consuming way of processing the industrial hemp. Now the staff bring the industrial hemp samples back to the shop to separate and process. 11
SARDA Ag Research News
Interview with Norm Boulet, Agricultural Fieldman for the M.D. of Smoky River No. 130, on Harvesting Hemp By Megan Allard, Research Coordinator for SARDA Ag Research
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orm Boulet helped SARDA Ag Research do something a little different with our industrial hemp trials this past year. Harvest has traditionally been by hand, using two tools: a hemp sickle cutter and bundler. Norm experimented with a stripper header on our leftover industrial hemp plots. Megan Allard, Research Coordinator at SARDA Ag Research, sat down with Norm to explore the results.
“Is this a piece of equipment that you would use on your own hemp fields in the near future?” “No, due to the circumstances in questions #2. I would like to have tried it on a more uniform standsince the SARDA Ag Research plots had both fiber and seed varieties the crop stand was not uniform. And I would also like to try and combine the hemp when it is green. This could potentially improve seed loss while using the stripper header to combine.”
Megan began the interview by asking “where did you get the idea to use the stripper header from? Where did you get it from? How old is this piece of equipment?”
“What’s something that you would change about it?” “I would like to see a height control system for it when going into a short crop stand. To keep it at the proper height throughout, because it is difficult to judge whether you are at the proper height to combine the crop.”
“I purchased the stripper header at my close friend’s sales auction. My friend had passed away from cancer and I wanted to purchase something that would remind me of him. So I chose the stripper header, because my friend believed that stripper header was an important cropping mechanism. Especially for those dry years where the crop was low and difficult to pick up.”
“Thank you so much Norm for going over the results of this test run on the industrial hemp and for the feedback.” SARDA Ag Research would like to thank Norm for his willingness to attempt something new on our industrial hemp plots and for what we have learned from this experiment. We hope you enjoyed the interview and we look forward to having more chats with Norm.
“How well did the stripper header work to you in your opinion?” “This year the stripper header did not work well in the SARDA Ag Research plots. It is an ideal piece of equipment for keeping the industrial hemp straw out of the combine. But due to the unevenness of the crop it was throwing out a lot of seed.”
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SARDA Ag Research News
FOSS Machine that computes moisture, protein and oil contents
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2021 Published Scientific Papers
ARDA Ag Research has had a number of mentions in scientific journals and peer reviewed articles in 2021. Published scientific papers speak to the quality and professionalism of SARDA Ag Research staff. Below is a list of the
articles published, where they were published, who was involved and a brief description of the trials. All papers can be found on www.sarda/peer-reviewedarticles/ .
Name of Paper, Scholars and Description 1
Harvest Time and Fertility Effects on Yield and Quality of Forage from Alfalfa, Hybrid Bromegrass and their Mixture Al Foster, Bill Biligetu, Sukhdev S. Malhi, Kabal S. Gill, Brett Mollison, Darwin Leach
This experiment looked at the timing of harvest on the nutrients of three perennial forage crops under two fertility regimes in the Northeast area of Saskatchewan
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Journal
Years of Study
Agricultural Sciences
2015-2017
SARDA Ag Research News Name of Paper, Scholars and Description 2
Previous and Current Crop Effects on Early-Season Root Growth and Growing Season’s Soil Moisture Under Dryland Agriculture in Temperate Climate
Journal
Years of Study
Journal of Agricultural Sciences
2013-2015
Journal of Applied Animal Research
2018-2019
Agricultural Research Updates Volume 36 Chapter 2
1993-2015
Canadian Journal of Plant Science
2016-2018
Journal of Plant Nutrition
2010-2015
Kabal S. Gill & Surinder K. Jalota
This study was conducted on the early-season root growth of canola (Brassica napus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) in 2015; and changes in soil water content during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 growing seasons under canola, flax, wheat, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.) in the SE Peace Region in Alberta. 3
Alternative forage feeds for beef cattle in Northwestern Alberta, Canada: forage yield and nutritive value of forage brassicas and forbs Akim Omokanye, Guillermo Hernandez, Herbert A. Lardner, Buthaina AlMaqtari, Kabal Singh Gill & Alan Lee
Ten forage brassicas (barkant turnips, bayou kale hybrid, daikon radish, collard, inka brand marrowstem kale, malwira turnip rape, purple top turnips, tillage radish, vivant hybrid cross and winfred) and four forbs (buckwheat, chicory, plantain and phacelia) were seeded on 25 May 2018 and 23 May 2019. This trial was located in Northwestern Alberta near Fairview. 4
Crop Rotation Benefits for Crop Production under Dryland Agriculture in Northwestern Region of the Cold Temperate Canadian Prairies Kabal Singh Gill
This is a research and literature review. Much of the report is based on research done by SARDA Ag Research in the Peace Region of Alberta. 5
Effects of simulated hail damage and foliar-applied recovery treatments on growth and grain yield of wheat, field pea, and dry bean crops
Gurbir Singh Dhillon, Kime Gretzinger, Lewis Baarda, Ralph Lange, Kabal Singh Gill, Vance Yaremko, Micheal W. Harding and Ken Coles
This trial looked the production effects of light and heavy hail damage on wheat, field pea and dry bean, at three different growth stages. In addition, foliar-applied fungicides and nutrient blends recommended as recover products were also evaluated. The trials took place near Falher, Vegreville and Lethbridge in 2016, 2017 & 2018. 6
Early season root growth, soil aggregation and stratification of nutrients and soil properties after six annual treatments of fertilizer rates and seeding systems. Kabal Singh Gill
This paper explores the relationship between fertilizer application and tillage practices on root growth and soil properties. The trials were located south of Donnelly from 2010 to 2015 (6 years).
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SARDA Ag Research News
Minor Use Registration For The Use Of Stellar™ XL on Grass Seed Crops in Western Canada By Calvin Yoder, Forage Seed Specialist, PRFSA/SARDA Ag Research
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fluroxypyr and MCPA ester in Stellar™ XL have satisfactory tolerance when applied to many different seedling or established turf and grass seed crops.
his project started in 2019, and was funded jointly by the Peace Region Forage Seed Growers Association, the Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission, the Manitoba Forage Seed Association, Corteva Agriscience Canada and the Prairie Pesticide Minor Use Consortium. This initiative would not have been successful without the cooperation of, and expertise made available by, the Pest Management Centre through the Canadian Pest Management Priority Setting Workshop, and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
Stellar™ XL has been used on grass seed crops for several years but is now labelled for post-emergent control of annual broadleaf weeds in seedling and established Crop Group 17 forage grasses grown for seed production in the Prairie Provinces and the interior of British Columbia. Crop Group 17 forage grasses include bromegrasses (smooth, meadow and hybrid), fescues (creeping red, tall and meadow), meadow foxtail, orchardgrass, redtop, reed canarygrass, ryegrasses (annual and perennial), timothy and wheatgrasses (crested, slender etc).
In this project, we wanted to focus on the use of a single herbicide. We looked at Stellar™ XL, which is a herbicide sold by Corteva Agriscience Canada that has been available for use in cereal crops in Western Canada for a number of years. Multiple trials were conducted by SARDA Ag Research, AAFC Beaverlodge, Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission and Manitoba Forage Seed Association showed seedling and established grass seed crops had good tolerance to Stellar™ XL. The active ingredients florasulam,
Stellar™ XL has proven to be quite effective on many of the weeds present in grass seed fields. When we first started working with Stellar™ XL it was felt it would mainly be effective for weed control on seedling grass stands. Field experience has shown good results for weed control in established grass seed crops as well, and no tolerance issues have been reported to date.
Thank you to our program sponsors
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2020 Board of Directors
Simon Lavoie -Chair
St. Isidore
Leonard Desharnais - Vice Chair
Falher
Audrey Gall - Secretary
Nampa
Mathieu Bergeron
St. Isidore
Kenny Stewart
High Prairie
Lionel Gauthier
McLennan
Alain Anctil
Girouxville
Jesse Meyer
Grande Prairie
Whitney Boisvert
Girouxville
Luc Levesque
Falher
Dale Smith
MD of Greenview
Neil Maisonneuve
Valleyview
Garret Zahacy
Big Lakes County
Peter Harris
County of Grande Prairie
Paula Guindoin
MD of Smoky River
Art Laurin
Northern Sunrise County
Staff
Vance Yaremko
Executive Director
manager@sarda.ca
Shelleen Gerbig, P.Ag.
Extension Coordinator
extension@sarda.ca
Calvin Yoder, P.Ag.
Forage Seed Specialist
calvinyoder123@gmail.com 780-864-7663
Megan Snell, ATT
Research Coordinator
research2@sarda.ca
Victor Gauthier
Field Technician
field@sarda.ca
Amber Fennell-Drouin
Administrative Assistant
admin@sarda.ca
Contact Us
780-837-2900 or www.sarda.ca
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