december_web

Year of No Water

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

season rainfall, we saw the quality of our plots go down. This was evidenced in our plots as plant counts completed in June showed fewer plants than expected. While this is not catastrophic as many crops have the ability to stool out and produce great crops, moisture is required. By the time we received a substantial 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.

Actual precipitation reported at Ballater Weather Station from May 1 to Sept. 30, 2021 was 179.3 mm (7.06 inches) Just 64% of the long term average 278.8 mm (11.0 inches) Actual precipitation reported at Teepee Creek Weather Station from May 1 to Sept. 30, 2021 was 128.8 mm (5.07 inches) Just 45% of the long term average 285.7 mm (11.24 inches)

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).

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.

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 theMD 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 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.

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.