New projects are continually being added to the farm at Prince Albert. They address issues in direct seeding, trees, and forages. Some are strictly for demonstration purposes and some are research projects which are managed by scientists from various agencies.
New demonstrations for annual cropping include the SSCA Direct Seeding Do's and Don'ts Plot which Regional Conservationist Ken Sapsford put in with a well-travelled Flexi-coil 'mini-drill'. You may have seen similar plots which Ken established at several sites this spring. It shows what happens to peas, wheat and canola seeded at various depths and with seedplaced and sidebanded fertilizers.
We are also pleased to have a demonstration of three herbicide canolas, about 1-2 acres each, which are looking quite good. The Canadian Wheat Board has set up a very educational cereal variety demonstration plot which goes well with the alternative crops plot that the P.A. ADD Board has sponsored here for three years. The University and Sask. Wheat Pool continue to study the notion of applying anhydrous ammonia in a one-pass seeding system; this is the second year of the study.
Our forage grasses, seeded last year had a tough time establishing during that dry summer, but may be ready for seed harvest this year. The forage species garden continues to grab many people's attention. Two brand new alfalfa research plots have been established by Agriculture and Agri-Food scientists. Bill May from Melfort has seeded Roundup-treated alfalfa seed to see how well it will germinate in field conditions and Dr. Hugh Beckie of Saskatoon is looking at single and dual (nitrogen fixers and phosphorus) inoculants for alfalfa seed.
The trees planted in the last 2 years are really starting to
look like something. Of course, it will take longer for the white
spruce to stretch up, but the Scots pine, green ash and poplars
are quite noticeable. This spring, we added a small demonstration
of chokecherries, pincherries and saskatoons. Perhaps we'll have
to learn how to make pie in the next 5 years!
Royal Bank, New Partner
We, at the Conservation Learning Centre, are pleased to
announce that the Royal Bank of Canada is now joining us as a
three year partner in the farm. This partnership allows the farm
to do just that much more in terms of the operation itself,
sprucing up the grounds and paying some of the costs of bussing
out groups such as school classes for their program at the CLC.
Thank-you!
Call for Tools 'N Stuff
The Conservation Learning Centre is in need of some basic shop
equipment and tools, perhaps even field equipment if it is in
excellent shape. If you have an item that you think may be of use
to us and you would like to donate it, give us a call.
Tax-deduction receipts are available. For instance: hammers,
punches, wrenches, other basic hand tools or power tools, liquid
fertilizer bandwagon, liquid fertilizer tank, hay wagons (tour
wagons). Call 953-2797 for more information.
Thanks again!
As always, the staff and steering committee is grateful for
the generous and enthusiastic support of our partners and
sponsors. It is through this cooperation that we are able to do
as much as we are doing at the CLC. Hats off to these
agencies:
Canada's Green Plan
Ducks Unlimited Canada
SSCA
P.A. ADD Board
Agrium
Royal Bank of Canada
PFRA
Monsanto Canada
Canada-Saskatchewan Agriculture Green Plan
Melfort Research Farm Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Simplot
Newfield Seeds
Dupont
University of Saskatchewan
Zeneca Agro
Saskatchewan Forage Council
Saskatoon Research Station
SIAST
National Hydrology Institute
DowElanco
Crop Protection Institute
Gustafson
Zeneca Seeds
Cyanamid
Canadian Forest Service
Glenmor Grain Systems
AgrEvo
Sandoz
Sask. Wheat Pool
Zeneca Seeds
Esso Farm-Tek
Westfield Augers
BASF
MicroBio RhizoGen
Saskatoon Farm and Garden Centre
Flexi-coil
CIBA