Well, this summer and fall have certainly passed quickly!! All in all, we had a reasonably good year at the CLC - good moisture when we needed it for the crops and nice weather for harvesting. We were quite dry but then got over 10 inches of rain between the middle of June and the middle of July. It created some problems with our field days but the crops sure prospered!
We had a busy summer with field days. As mentioned in the last newsletter, BASF hosted a Sclerotinia Awareness Day, with guest speakers, including Dr. Robin Morrell. The information was well received by ~65 attendees. We did a quick survey of our canola field at that time and in the following week and found few signs of sclerotinia. However, when harvesting this fall, we found more shredded stems than expected but there appeared to be little effect on yield.
The Royal Bank of Canada and the SSCA brought clients/producers from throughout the Parkland region to the CLC for tours. Most of the visitors were not familiar with the CLC and therefore, these tours presented a welcome opportunity to "spread the word" both about the CLC and the practices of direct seeding. Current and potential herb growers throughout Saskatchewan attended a field day at the CLC, highlighting some of the more popular herbs as well as some of the current production practices. As well, the local Horticulture Club and the Business Men's Club toured the facilities, again widening our audience.
Monsanto again sponsored a Preharvest Field Day at the CLC. Our barley was sprayed with Roundup Fast Forward and harvested 10 days later on the field day. There was a marked difference in the weed populations of the areas sprayed with Roundup Fast Forward, Roundup Transorb and the unsprayed control. It was a good demonstration. As well, the crowd was good (~200), the weather hot and a number of combines, sprayers and harrows were on hand for demonstration.
The CLC hosted a major all-day field day in July focusing on crop choices and management as well as diseases and insects of crops. Guest speakers included Dr. Randy Kutcher, a disease specialist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Scott Hartley, the insect specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. Unfortunately, the producers got to see first-hand the damage of wheat midge in both red spring and prairie spring wheat, septoria in barley, and the onset of aschocyta and powdery mildew in peas. Yield was affected in the red spring wheat and barley but the effect on the prairie spring wheat was less. In the canola, some sclerotinia was identified and we also saw a few lygus bugs, the bane of canola crops in Alberta. The CLC was also involved in the Bertha Army Worm survey. Fortunately, the number of moths found was well below what is considered a threat.
This year, the CLC welcomes the partnership with John Deere. John Deere supplied a 9610 John Deere combine with their GreenStar yield mapping system (their GPS technology), as well as an operator. Dean McPherson, their crop systems specialist, was on hand to run the combine as well as instruct any one interested in learning how to operate the machinery and its computer systems. The resultant yield and weed maps will be integral to our precision farming projects. An added bonus was the presence of PAMI personnel, testing the accuracy of the yield monitors in various makes of combines. The PAMI grain truck has load cells on each corner of the box and the weight of each load was compared with the readings in the combine. They gathered information on canola, wheat (red spring and prairie spring) and flax. It was exciting to be part of this type of research. Of course, we also very much appreciated the help in harvesting.!!!
When harvesting the flax, we left the majority of the straw in rows to be baled. However, we did use the straw chopper and spreader on the John Deere for one section. The flax straw came out in pieces that ranged between one and four inches long and quite fluffy. It will be interesting to see what it will be like in the spring and whether there will be any effects on seeding.
Our school program is growing strong again this fall. We continue to receive more requests than we can handle. Between in-class presentations and tours to the CLC, our coordinator is booked every day, morning and afternoon, between September 1 and October 15. Approximately 500 students (plus teachers and parent volunteers) will visit the CLC this fall, learning about the effects of changes in weather on the flora and fauna, the importance of soil and water conservation and factors affecting air quality. Integrated into these lessons is the relationship between agriculture and the environment and how producers while striving to remain sustainable, are making conscious efforts to improve the environment. We must continue to teach this next generation that we, as stewards of the land, are concerned, not only with providing food for the future, but also with the maintenance and conservation of the environment.
This fall, we are pleased that two First Nations schools are involved in the program. The First Nations peoples are the original wildlife conservationists and were well studied in the use of available plant life for medicinal purposes. It is great to see their interest in the CLC.
Jo Detillieux, our coordinator for the past four years, left the CLC this summer and is devoting more of her time to her herb ventures. She will also be developing and teaching some herb-related courses this winter. The CLC thanks Jo for her significant contributions to the school program and wish her the best in her new endeavours.
I would like to introduce our new School Program Coordinator, Garry Brad, B.Ed., B.A., PGD (Ed. Admin.). Garry has 31 years experience in the education system as a teacher and administrator. He has been instrumental in compiling content for science, geography, geology and social studies curriculums. As a member of Ducks Unlimited, wildlife federations and a landowner, Garry understands the challenges facing agriculture and the importance of conserving Saskatchewan's ecosystems and wildlife habitat. He has attached the school program with great zeal and we look forward to working with him to expand our already-successful school program.
Once again, the CLC thanks its partners and sponsors for their support throughout the year. The contributions through personnel and product are invaluable.
On a personal note, I would like to thank all the parties involved with the CLC for making my first crop and tour year a success. Many of you patiently answered my multitude of questions and volunteered assistance and information when needed. I sincerely appreciate all the help. Thank you.