Some new "happenings" are in the works for the CLC this year. We have rented an extra 80 acres - 20 acres will be used for canola variety trials, 20 acres for all other demonstrations and the remaining 40 "idled" with a cereal crop (wheat in 2003) and then the "plots" rotated yearly. Through this, we hope to expand the scope of the CLC as well as increase the visibility of its other programs. Having the extra 80 acres will enable us to leave our four other fields as entire fields without any plots on the sides or in the middle as in the past.
Just as exciting is the hiring of a full-time technician, made possible through partial funding from CARDS for our riparian barrier project. Ryan Malmgren from Melfort is currently helping us on a contractual basis with our precision farming project and will join our staff full-time April 1. He has worked at the Melfort Research Farm for seven summers. The knowledge gained at Ag Canada as well as his experience as a producer will be a great asset to the CLC. We are looking forward to the continuity that having a full-time permanent technician will bring to the CLC's operations.
We will continue with our precision agriculture project - this year looking at flax. In the past, liquid nitrogen and granular phosphate have been used and the rate of both varied. With flax, this will be a challenge, given the small amount of 11-52-0 that can be put down with the seed without damage. We will be working again with Doug Schmuland (Moker & Thompson) to ensure that our project runs smoothly.
The other fields at the CLC are committed to 2533 InVigor canola, Osprey winter wheat (seeded September 2002) and Stratus malting barley.
The quality of our school program has once again been recognized - this time nationally. We have been awarded a three-year grant through a national organization. I would love to give more details but they have requested that particulars not be released until there has been a press release coinciding with the visit of a federal minister to Saskatchewan. Together with partial funding from CARDS and the continued support of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, we will continue to offer a quality learning experience for our youth.
We will also be dabbling a bit with fruit - we will be working with Karen Tanino (University of Saskatchewan) on a project with strawberry crowns. Saskatchewan-developed strawberries exhibit northern vigour and out-produce other strawberries, particularly in California where the market for plants is.
We will also be demonstrating many varieties of forage corn, beans (with an 80-day growing season), peas, fababeans, sunflowers and possibly high fibre flax. We will be showcasing some new products - Prosper seed treatment and Headline fungicide for peas and wheat. We are going to try to establish our "maize maze" again. We anticipate that there will also be other demonstrations generated through the Agri-ARM system. But it is early yet and there are always many projects that "pop up" later - usually right around seeding time!!
As this fiscal year comes to an end, we would like to acknowledge our 2002-2003 partners Ducks Unlimited and Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission and our Silver Sponsors Simplot, BASF and Farm World.
We sincerely thank our contributors: Monsanto / Dekalb, Aventis / Bayer CropScience, Syngenta, Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, Gates Fertilizers, SeCan, Proven Seeds (Agricore United), Dow AgroSciences, CropMate (ConAgra), Moker & Thompson Implements, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Gustafson, K & K Seeds and Canamaize.
We appreciate the donations received from CanAmera, the Crop Development Centre, Crop Life Canada, Dupont, Hugh Skotheim Trucking, Nufarm, Quality Assured Seeds, Terramax, Trawin Seeds and Wheat Belt Industries.
We are grateful for the project funding received from Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Program in Saskatchewan (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), the Technology Adoption and Demonstration Program (Government of Saskatchewan) and the Centennial Student Employment Program (Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation). As well, a sincere thank you to our neighbours.
Special thanks to our board and the agencies they represent for their continued input, guidance and support:
Brent Serviss (Chair), Kinistino
Tom Boyle, Sask Ag & Food
Clarence Brulé (Vice-chair), Albertville
Bob Evans, Gates Fertilizers, Nipawin
Grant Martin, Shellbrook
Jason Fradette, PFRA
David Newhouse, Hagen
Duane Hill, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Robin Perreault, Hoey
Diane Knight, University of Saskatchewan
Garry Podbielski, Meath Park
Randy Kutcher, Ag Canada
Don't forget our annual General Field day: Tuesday, July 22, 2003and watch for announcements of our Canola Field Day. If you would like to bring a group to tour the CLC, just give us a call at 306-953-2796. Here's hoping we all have a good year in 2003.