As some of you have probably heard, we have a rookie at the CLC - yup, that's me. In my switch from the animal industry to crops, I have had many basics to learn, new ideas to encompass - and machinery to figure out! So far, due in a large part to Pat's excellent organization, as well as the generous support and advice from many parties involved with the CLC, all operations have been successful. There were no problems getting the crop in, germination has been very good and most of the spraying is complete. Field-scale crops this year are AC Splendor CWRS wheat, AC Karma CPS wheat, CDC Fleet barley, SMART 45A71 canola, NorLin flax and Alfetta peas (edible). Despite a slight touch of frost on the canola and very little rainfall, all crops are looking good. Now that we have had two inches of rain, things should really start hopping!!
We will have a variety to show all of you this summer. The dates for field days have been finalized and planning is actively underway:
Sclerotinia Awareness Day (BASF) July 2 9:30am - 3:00pm
Crop Choices and Management July 7 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Crop Diseases and Insects July 28 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Preharvest/Harvest Day (Monsanto) August 5 1:30pm - 5:00pm
Herb Field Day August 6 1:30pm - 4:00pm
BASF is sponsoring the Sclerotinia Awareness Day on July 2, featuring Dr. Robin Morrall, among other speakers. Topics of discussion will include biology and causes of sclerotinia, when it is most prevalent, bloom staging, petal testing to determine the level of disease in the field, and information on Ronilan EG -- benefits and return on investment.
The Crop Choices and Management tour will focus on the array of crop varieties available as well as different management systems. SeCan has plots demonstrating different varieties of wheat (HRS, CPS and durum), barley (feed, hulless and malting) and Roundup Ready canolas and a field study of SMART 45A71 canola. Each canola is treated with different chemical products, highlighting the diversity available to producers.
SSCA has their very successful Do's and Don'ts plots once again at the CLC. This year they focus on wheat, peas and canola. They examine the effect of tractor speed, seeding depth, fertilizer placement and row spacing, just to mention a few areas. There are an array of herbicide demonstrations on wheat and canola.
Something new for us this year is demonstration plots of dry field beans. In addition, Monsanto has set up a small plot showcasing Roundup Ready corn, Roundup Ready soybeans and Bt potatoes (resistant to the Colorado potato beetle).
A new twist on the management side is the grazing of the dense nesting cover (DNC) area. The DNC is very well established but now needs to be manage. There are a variety of management tools, but grazing was selected as the option for the area within the CLC. Cattle and horses will be grazing the 50 acres of the DNC from the middle of June until the beginning of August and we will watch for the impact next spring. Unfortunately, this means that our Nature Trail will be closed. This is just another good example showing that agriculture and conservation can work in harmony for the mutual benefit of land and wildlife.
The university of Saskatchewan is in the second year of their trail studying the effectiveness of various sulphur fertilizer sources. The collaborative efforts between the University and Agriculture Canada looking at the effect of landscape on response to fertilizer continue this year at the CLC.
Feature speakers for the Crop Diseases and Insects field day are Dr. randy Kutcher with Agriculture Canada, Melfort and Scott Hartley, the new insect specialist with Sask Ag and Food. They will discuss disease and insect problems in a variety of crops. Disease management aspects to be covered include the effect of burning canola stubble on disease carry-over and the impact of precision farming on disease control and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency in both wheat and canola. As well, CPS wheat was seeded based partially on its reported reduced susceptibility to wheat midge so we will be watching it closely. While this promises to be an interesting tour, hopefully, we won't have many examples to show!!
The Preharvest/Harvest Day sponsored by Monsanto will once again feature timing strategies for preharvest Roundup and residue management systems. The major combine manufacturers will be in attendance with their straight-cut headers. Again this year, early maturing barley was seeded fro this purpose.
an increasing interest in herb production has lead to the development of a multi-year AFIF funded herb project at the CLC. Different species of herbs with medicinal properties will be directed seeded or transplanted, irrigated or not, to study establishment and productivity. The project is coordinated through NorSask Botanicals, centered in Tisdale.
As well, throughout the summer, there will be a number of tours tailored for special interest groups.
Of course, all of the other "sites to see" at the CLC will be awaiting visitors throughout the summer -- the different tree lots and shelter/forest belts, the Herb Garden, the forage legume and grass gardens and the water quality study to mention a few. Everyone is welcome to come any time to tour the CLC. Maps are available to help you along your self-guided tour.
We look forward to seeing some of you at these tours or any other time if you just want to drop by. Have a good summer.