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15 Environmentally Safe Nitrogen

16 Conservation Farming has Two Champions in Southern Alberta

17 Fixed Costs Central to Net Realized Farm Income

18 The Making of a Farm CEO

19 Winter Pulse Trials Show Promise

20 Nitrogen Hogs the Stage

21 GPS, GIS and Industrial Sites

22 Opinion: Urban Priorities Could Undermine theFarm

5 SARA Chairman’s Message6 Beat the Heat with Winter Peas & Lentils7 Gold of Pleasure or False Flax: The Camelina Story8 ARECA – An Update10 SARA Maximizing Benefit from Its Research

Station12 Winter Wheat Acres with Winter Peas & Lentils13 A Fit for Winter Wheat on Irrigation14 Altruistic Crop Production Provides Double Social

Benefits

Options for Downy Brome Control in Winter Wheat

Farming Smarter is published annually by the Southern Applied ResearchAssociation with the assistance of the Southern Alberta Conservation Association,

Ducks Unlimited and support from the Agriculture Opportunities Fund and Albertaenvironmentally Sustainable Agriculture program.

Editorial Board: Alex Russell, Ron Svanes, Ron Lamb, Ken Coles

Editor: Claudette Lacombe • Cover Photo: Claudette Lacombe

Photography: Claudette Lacombe, Hector Carcamo, Jamie Rieger, S.A.R.A.

Contact SARA: Ken Coles, M.Sc. B.Sc., Agronomist, Southern Applied Research Association,Agriculture Center, #100, 5401 – 1st. Ave. South, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, T1J 4V6

Tel: 403-381-5118 Fax: 403-382-4526 Email: sara.research@connectcomm.ca

Published by:

Become a Member of the Southern Applied Research AssociationHelp direct farm research in this region. Receive early notice of conferences, workshops, field days. Send your SARA membership fee, $40 per year to Southern Applied Research Association, Agriculture Center, #100, 5401 – 1st. Ave. South, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, T1J 4V6

Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Membership/subscription $ enclosed _____________________________________________________________________________________

Major farm interests_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

3

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4

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This year good crop pricesrenewed optimism forgrain producers, yet live-

stock producers struggle withelevated feed prices. It’s a com-plicated industry and therenever seems to be a shortage ofissues faced by producers.

Along with a growing net-work under the AgriculturalResearch and Extension

Council of Alberta (ARECA)family, SARA continues to improve its capacityand ability to help producers address issues. Astrong partnership with government and industryspecialists helps SARA provide valuable informa-tion through research and extension events.Important research projects this year includedwinter pulses, pea leaf weevil, environmentallysafe nitrogen, regional variety trials, pulse/wheatrotation, insect pest monitoring and glyphosateresistance monitoring.

This information, along with findings from vari-ous sources, we passed on to the community atvarious events such as the Diagnostic Field Schoolin July, conferences, grower meetings and throughconversations with SARA’s agronomist, publica-tions and our Farming Smarter magazine.

SARA’s membership grew by over 500% this yearas people in the industry continue to realize thevalue provided to the industry. This is extremelyimportant in order to secure matched governmentfunds and I encourage you to join this growingorganization.

There also continues to be an opportunity to helpbring issues to the forefront as a SARA director. Pleasejoin us at our annual meeting March 5 in Taber.

Good luck and much success in 2008.

Corny VanDasselaarSARA Board Chair

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SARA Chairman’s Message

If the world hopes to meet growing demand for foodwithout destroying wildlife habitat, it needs to rethink the

relationship between habitat and high yield farming. At thesame time, agriculture needs to reinvent itself in order toregain the trust of the public.

These were two different perspectives presented byleading industry analysts at the 2008 Banff Pork Seminar.

“Over the next 50 years, the world’s producers will facetheir greatest conservation challenge in history: supportinga population of eight billion humans and their pets withoutclearing the rest of the planet’s forests for low yield cropsand pasture,” says Dennis Avery, director of the Centre forGlobal Food Issues, an agricultural and environmentalthink-tank in Churchville, Virginia.

“Additionally, farmers are expected to free the worldfrom its ‘addiction to fossil fuels’ by producing billions ofgallons of biofuel on their ‘spare’ land. Finally, farmers arebeing told they should produce this abundanceorganically, a system of farming which would produce half

the yields of conventional farming. Together, these areimpossible demands based on a touching faith in the pastsuccesses of farm science and technology.”

A growing consumer focus on organic productionsystems threatens to undo the gains agriculture madethrough high yield production practices, says Avery. “Froman environmental perspective, high yield agriculture hassaved the planet 16 million square miles of forest that,based on consumer demand, would otherwise be clearedfor food production. Without it, humanity’s food needswould be pitted against the needs of wildlife. High yieldfarming allows us to have both food and wildlands.”

Held since 1972 in Banff, Alberta, the Banff PorkSeminar is coordinated by the Department of Agricultural,Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, in coop-eration with Alberta Pork, Alberta Agriculture and Food andother pork industry representatives from across Canada.Program and proceedings of the Banff Pork Seminar areavailable on the Seminar Web site, www.banffpork.ca.

Time to protect, reinvent agriculture, say industry leaders

Producers in Alberta contin-ue to realize the benefits ofwinter wheat as a part of their

cropping system. As a result, pro-duction acres are increasing andsuccess stories continue to spread.That said, what are the opportuni-ties for other winter crops inAlberta? Currently, winter pulses,and specifically winter peas andwinter lentils, are the most promis-ing. Preliminary work in southernAlberta conducted by the SouthernApplied Research Association andAlberta Agriculture and Food usingvarieties developed in the PacificNorthwest United States demon-strated good winter survival andhigh yields.

Winter peas and lentils sharemany of the same benefits as winterwheat, such as time managementdue to fall planting, increased weedcompetitiveness, more efficient useof soil moisture and earlier harvest.In addition, we are exploring otheruseful applications for winter puls-es such as producing more nitrogenon farm by growing cover crops,green manures or simply in a rota-tion with cereals. They are also

useful as part of a pest managementstrategy for the control of the pealeaf weevil.

Research and OpportunitiesAlberta is in the preliminary

stages of research. This fall, SARAinitiated small plot experiments tolearn where producers can success-fully grow the available varieties ofwinter peas and winter lentils.There are five sites located inAlberta at Lethbridge, Oyen,Camrose, Falher, and Fort Kent andone at Swift Current, Saskatchewan.Important data to collect includeswinter survival, harvestability, yieldand quality compared to springpeas and lentils. These sites, if thecrops survive, will allow us to studythe notion that winter pulses mayfix more nitrogen than spring puls-es. Successful adoption of winterpulses has the potential to signifi-cantly reduce economic and energyinputs associated with inorganicfertilizers.

Unfortunately, current varietiesof yellow winter peas may beunsuitable for edible markets. Thedevelopment of a Canadian breed-

ing program would likely solve thisproblem and efforts have begun tomake this a reality. Nevertheless,current varieties being tested couldeasily enter feed markets and thenewer winter lentils have goodpotential for edible markets.

Pea Leaf Weevil and WinterPea Trap CropsPea leaf weevils (Sitona lineatus L.)are a new pest threatening pea acresin Alberta. Feeding damage occurs inspring when weevils emerge fromshelterbelts and alfalfa fields. Expertsbelieve egg laying starts immediatelyand most economic damage likelyoccurs from larvae that find theirway to feed on the nitrogen fixingrhizobium nodules of the plant. Thescale of economic damage is current-ly under assessment and ispotentially disastrous to pea andfaba bean acres. Southern Albertaexperienced high infestation levelsduring the 2007 growing season.

A method of controlling the wee-vils while minimizing pesticide useand promoting the establishment ofparasitic insects is to plant a trapstrip of winter peas or early seededspring peas around the field edge.Early emerging trap strips attract ahigh concentration of weevils thatspraying or a seed treatment cancontrol. It could be possible toavoid treating an entire field result-ing in cost savings and reduceddependence on pesticides. Resultsfrom the first of a three-year fieldscale study at Nobleford andLethbridge show promise, despitevery high levels of infestations.

With weather trends leading tohot dry summers and increased pres-sure toward energy conservation andgreenhouse gas mitigation, winterpulses may improve profitability forproducers while reducing negativeenvironmental impacts of drylandcrop production.

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by Ken Coles, SARA Agronomist

Austrian winter peas on the field edge (right) and spring peas in the middle of the field (left).

Beat the Heatwith Winter Peas & Lentils

It‘s funny how people get excited about somethingnew. This year, there’s been a lot of talk about a newlow input crop in Alberta called Camelina. Funny

enough, there’s nothing new about Camelina exceptwhat we know about it. It’s an ancient oil seed crop cul-tivated by our ancestors as far back as 600 B.C. andknown as false flax or Gold of Pleasure.

Camelina SativaPart of the Brassicaceae family, it is an oilseed with an

upright growth habit and small round seed pods suit-able for straight cutting. The seeds produced are caramelcolored and very small (1 gram / 1000 kernels). Theyhave an oil content similar to Canola (30-40%) and areparticularly high in linolenic acids, (30-40%) anomega-3 fatty acid. The oil is low in saturated fats butunusually high in cholesterol. Despite a rather uniqueoil complex possibly well suited as healthy oil, its targetis the bio-fuel industry. Bio-diesel grade methyl esteryields are similar to canola with slightly elevated levelsof iodine. The meal is likely suitable for feed, but thatrequires more study.

Western Canada grew approximately 10,000 acres ofCamelina with varying degrees of success at the produc-er level. Yields in 2007 ranged from 10 to 35 bushels peracre with dockage an issue thanks to the very small seedsize. Despite a natural ability to suppress weeds (alleleo-pathic), several fields had infestations with noregistered in-crop herbicides available. However, thereare currently no known problems with insects or dis-eases. In fact, some studies have shown a naturalresistance to flee beetles.

Perhaps, the most interesting characteristic ofCamelina is that it is a winter hardy bi-ennial. It can befall planted, frost planted or early spring planted. Yieldbenefits and improved weed competition are possiblecompared to spring planting. It grows well under dryand low fertility situations while maturing early. Thismay allow for a good rotational fit with other fall seed-ed crops such as winter wheat.

Camelina shows potential as another croppingoption for producers in Western Canada. Current hur-dles include fine tuning the processes in Camelinabio-diesel production, confirming the feed potential ofthe meal and continuing to determine suitable areasand agronomic practices for successful production.

For more information or seed, check out a companyjointly created by Dan Kusalik and Ryan Mercer calledCamelina Canada (http://www.camelinacanada.com/).

7

Gold of Pleasure or False Flax The Camelina Story

by Ken Coles

(Cruciferous Family)

Camelina is native to southeastern Europeand southwestern Asia. As a cultivated plantit has been known for about 4000 years. InEurope it was used as an oil plant in the timeof the ancient Greeks and Romans, and inthe Middle Ages. In the 21st century thebiggest producers are Germany, Poland, and the USSR.

© Copyright 2007 Mercer Seeds Ltd.

Camelina Sativa (L)

The Agricultural Research and Extension Councilof Alberta (ARECA) is a non-profit, producer-driv-en, province-wide organization that now represents

15 applied research and forage member associations andone associate member. Funded by both government andmembers, ARECA works to enhance and improve agri-cultural operations through increased access to fieldresearch and new technology.

ARECA’s mandate has four main parts that are in turnapplicable to each respective non-profit producer group— fostering communication among members, partnersand producers; achieving sustainability for ARECA and itsmembers through successful partnering; representing itsmembers and the interest of producers at all levels andpromoting extension through coordination of memberassociation activities and hosting of conferences.

Collaborative efforts under ARECA’s umbrella providea vast array of benefits to the combined approximate1,500 producer-association members and to over 50,000other Albertans that attend events, receive newsletters andso on.

Forthcoming conferences and information sessions, asalso outlined on ARECA’s website at http://www.areca.ab.ca/,are extensive and, for example, include the WesternCanadian Grazing Conference, plus the Alberta ForageIndustry Network (AFIN) and the Forage AgronomyUpdate. Farm and field tours, plus numerous workshopswill take place again this year throughout Alberta in thevarious member associations respective regions.

Under the leadership of ARECA, a new western Canada-wide Post-registration Variety Testing (PVT) System is

under development that will ultimately provide importantinformation to producers through a dedicated websitehttp://www.pvttrials.com/ about high-quality crop varietytrials conducted in western Canada. The completed projectaims to replace three separate regional testing systems inthe western Canadian provinces with a more effective andefficient single system that should be partially operationalin 2008 and fully operational by 2009.

Funded through grants from Agriculture and AgriFood Canada’s Advancing Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food (ACAAF) program (administered by the Agricultureand Food Council of Alberta), the Alberta Crop IndustryDevelopment Fund, the Alberta Barley Commission, andAlberta Agriculture and Food, the project aims to coordi-nate variety testing trials of spring wheat, durum wheat,oat, barley, spring triticale, flax and pulse crops, and tocollect the results for use by both industry and individualproducers across western Canada.

Another project underway is the GPS Crop YieldMonitoring Program that involves collecting crop yieldinformation, primarily from reclaimed oil/gas sites inAlberta, to determine their impact on productivity overan extended period of time.

Farmers who have yield monitors on their combineand a reclaimed industrial site on their land are eligibleto participate in this program and will be paid for theircrop yield information. This monitoring program isexpected to conclude in 10 years, so participants will beasked to sign a guideline to provide their crop data over5-years, pending continuation of funding.

A multi-year project, Accelerating the Adoption ofIntegrated Pest Management and Risk ManagementStrategies in Wheat and Other Cereals, in partnershipwith Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will continuethrough 2008. The objective of this project is to acceler-ate the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM)and pesticide risk reduction (PRR) practices by Albertacereal growers.

In November and December 2006, 285 farmers fromfour geographical regions in Alberta were surveyed todetermine baseline adoption rates of IPM/PRR practices.Extension events promoting IPM/PRR practice adoptionundertaken in 2007 will continue in 2008, consideringevaluation of the success and effectiveness of the 2007events. A follow-up survey will take place in late 2008 tomeasure whether the concerted extension effortsincreased the adoption of priority practices and to deter-mine the most effective methods.

The Sustainable Grazing Mentorship Program (SGMP)is a unique consulting/mentoring program administeredby ARECA. For a nominal $ 100 fee, the program provides

8

ARECA – An Updateby Ron Montgomery

ARECA supports events like the SARA Diagnostice Field School heldeach July in Lethbridge. Here, Scott Meers tells producers what he’slearned over the years about Alberta crop pests. PHOTO: C. LACOMBE

clients (farmers/ranchers) with access to qualified men-tors who understand grazing. These consultants workwith the client to explore options and develop a plan fortheir future success.

Greencover Canada Regional Technical AssistanceProgram, administered by the Canadian Cattlemen’sAssociation, also funds the program. This funding paysthe mentor (assigned or chosen by the client), whospends approximately 16 hours creating grazing plans,developing systems, and performing economic analysesof the client’s enterprise.

Although each client’s needs are likely to be site spe-cific, counselling services may provide tangible benefitstoward improved grazing management, getting advicefrom someone with experience, developing a whole farmplan for the future, establishing healthier pastures, deal-ing with environmental issues, getting information onfencing and watering systems and increasing profitability.

The Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture InitiativesProgram (ESAIP) was a one-time program funded by theGovernment of Alberta and administered by ARECA. The

purpose of ESAIP was to fund initiatives that are comple-mentary to the objectives of environmentally sustainableagriculture. Forty-eight projects out of 86 applicationswere funded, and many continue. Project areas include:nutrient management, soil and water management andmonitoring, integrated crop management, riparian andgrazing management, climate change, greenhouse gasesand biodiversity. Funding is used for applied researchprojects, demonstrations, technology transfer initiatives,tours and field days, evaluations of beneficial manage-ment practices, technical resource material development,and related printing and publishing costs. The first call forletters of intent was issued in September 2006. The lastcall for proposal occurred in January 2007. The fund wasfully subscribed.

For further information on ARECA and their memberassociation’s regional activities, projects and events visithttp://www.areca.ab.ca/. You can also contact LauraMcNabb, Communications Program Manager at ARECA’soffice in Sherwood Park Alberta by telephone at (780) 416-6046 or by e-mail mcnabb@areca.ab.ca

9

ARECA

PIONEER HI-BRED SALES AGENTFor Southern Alberta:

BenchMark Seeds (Alberta) Ltd.RR8 – 41 – 3 Lethbridge, AB T1J 4P4 Phone (403) 320-59876311 – 56 Ave. Taber, AB T1G 1X9 Phone (403) 223-9090

Corny Van Dasselaar Adrian Moens Mark HeinCell. (403) 308-3602 Cell. (403) 308-6685 Cell (403) 308-9866

Agrowing number of produc-ers, agronomists, consultantsand agricultural specialists are

taking advantage of the learningopportunities offered by field schoolactivities through the SouthernApplied Research Association (SARA).

In 2005, SARA moved to a 50-acre site for its crop research trials.In 2007, the Diagnostic Field Schoolhad 210 participants in the three-dayevent up from 126 in 2006. SARAalso expanded producer opportuni-ties to learn from researchers andtrial plots by holding several otherevents that opened the site to moreattendees. (see sidebar)

According to SARA agronomistKen Coles, “Researchers also gaininsight from producers that enablesthem to target specific issues farmersmay have and give them the infor-mation they need to address thoseissues. The researchers commentedthat the SARA Field Day is a “fabu-lous venue to share information andreceive feedback from the peoplewho will apply the findings.”

The topics included in theDiagnostic Field School coveredmany aspects of production fromcrop trials; soil studies; pest controloptions; fertilizer products, applica-tions and advancements andirrigation timing.

“It’s an opportunity for our pre-senters to highlight their researchand share their findings with pro-ducers. A lot of their research helpsfarmers improve production, pestcontrol soil management and prof-its,” says Coles.

Participants also take advantageof the opportunity to share theirexperiences, successful practices andobservations during the questionand answer periods and networkingtime scheduled into the day.

Ken Coles says that SARA holdsone of the few remaining Field Daysand benefits greatly when membersshow support by participating. Hethanks the producers who came tothe Field Day proving the value ofthis activity.

He also thanks the organizationsthat supported the Field School in2007 – Reduced Tillage Linkages,Dupont, RTL Agri-services, BayerCropscience, Dow Agrosciences,Lethbridge College, Monsanto

Canada Inc., Ducks Unlimited,Cargill, Agrium, BASF, CanterraSeeds, Viterra, and Pioneer Hi-bred.

Coles says, “with interest andcredibility generated from this year’sfield school, we expect 2008 to beeven better with topics coveringwinter crops such as winter peas,winter lentils and winter barley.Other topics include cover crops,composting, cropping systems,greenhouse gases, precision farm-ing, agronomy/ESN, insects and theindustry update.”

10

SARA Maximizing Benefitfrom Its Research Station

by C. Lacombe

Scott Meers demonstrates the most effectiveway to sweep a crop. PHOTO: C. LACOMBE

2007 Southern Applied Research AssociationDiagnostic Field School

Event AttendanceJune 14 35 attendees – Crop WalkJune 19 25 attendees – Ag Canada Marketing and Policy June 19 7 attendees – CFIA inspector trainingJuly 10-12 210 attendees – all reviews very positiveJuly 15-16 25 attendees – ARECA Tour and BarbecueJuly 19 100 attendees – Agri-Trend TourJuly 23 15 attendees – DuPont Tour Misc 10 attendees – Personal tours with industry reps

Total: 427 through SARA R&D site in 2007

Acre impact131 (31%) producers 552,165 acres167 (39%) industry specialists 41,888,610 acres103 (24%) consultants 4,673,600 acres22 (5%) government –

Total: 47,114,375 acres

99% of participants found the informationvaluable for their business or farm.

2008 SARAField SchoolJuly 8, 9 & 10

Get in on the learning!

11

According to Statistics Canada, winter wheatacres have had another year of exceptionalgrowth. More prairie producers seeded winter

wheat this fall bringing the prairie acreage up to 1.5 mil-lion acres from last year’s reported 1.2 million. Alberta’sacres increased remarkably from 220,000 in 2006 to300,000 in 2007.

Why a continued surge in winter wheat for southernAlberta? An early harvest, brought on by hot summerweather, helped ease the workload for fall seeding. Theheat also emphasized the advantages of winter wheatover spring wheat. Making use of early spring moistureand earlier maturity meant that in most areas, winterwheat far out yielded spring wheat.

The bottom line and marketing options for producershave also improved. This year the price spread betweenNo. 1 CWRW Select 11.5 and No. 1 13.5 CWRS has beenon average less than $0.42 per bushel. Savings also come

from reduced herbicideuse, providing a greaternet income for farmprofitability.

The increase in winterwheat acres is beneficialto spring nesting water-fowl, particularly northern pintails that are a species indecline since the late 1970s. This benefit to waterfowlhas led Ducks Unlimited Canada to invest in excess of$3.5 million in support of variety development, agro-nomic research, producer group support and financialincentives to winter wheat producers over the past sixyears.

Visit www.wintercereals.ca for more information.Statistics Canada website:http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/22-002-XIE/22-002-XIE2007008.pdf (Table on Page 21)

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by Susanne Brummelhuis,Ducks Unlimited Canada

Winter Wheat Acres with Winter Peas & Lentils

Farmers in southern Alberta are growingwinter wheat in irrigated systems under very different circumstances.

“Irrigation is diverse and management of winterwheat varies significantly from farm to farm,” says RobDunn with Alberta Agriculture & Food. “Winter wheat isa good fit to control erosion following crops like pota-toes and beans, where harvest operations leave the soilin a vulnerable condition. The key is getting it seededearly enough for the crop to provide enough vegetativecover by early November or the soil will blow in thewindy season.”

Bryan Corns, a seedgrower from Grassy Lake agrees.“For winter wheat to be successful as a cover crop, weneed to get it seeded by September 18,” he says.

Corns grows winter wheat under irrigation followingcanola, harvest of beans or potatoes with different man-agement. “After potato harvest, we make one pass with alarge double disc,” he explains. “We target 110-120bu/acre and fertilize in stages to allow the nutrients to beavailable to the crop as it grows. This reduces losses andcan also result in higher protein which can be difficult toget under irrigation. We have a floater come in andbroadcast coated fertilizer for part of the nitrogenrequirement for the crop and then we make anothertillage pass. We usually apply about ¾ inch of water andthen seed shallow (3/4-1 inch). We seed a minimum of2 to 3 bu/acre depending on seed size and seeding date.We band a phosphorus blend at seeding, broadcast anon-coated urea or dribble 28-0-0 in the spring, andapply liquid fertilizer through the irrigation up to theflag leaf stage.”

Corns is careful to avoid disease and lodging prob-lems: “Choosing varieties with disease resistance, shorterstature and straw strength is key,” he says. “We managefor diseases by seeding on time, planning for at least onepass of fungicide, using chloride based fertilizers at seed-ing and managing our irrigation to reduce humidconditions in the crop canopy.”

“We basically saturate the soil profile the beginning ofMay and let the field dry down more than we would forsoft white wheat,” Corns explains. “We water winterwheat at a cooler time of the year so there is less evapo-ration. We often irrigate once more before flower andonce after and then we are done for the season. Winterwheat requires as much as 2 inches less water than softwhite wheat. Efficiencies in water and energy use help tomake the crop a competitive choice.”

Edgar Dueck farms heavy clay soils at Coaldale wherehe has grown winter wheat for 15 years under irrigation.“We’re always aiming for a good crop rotation,” says

Dueck who grows barley, alfalfa, canola, winter wheat,spring wheat and timothy in a direct-seeded system.

“Winter wheat is a competitive, low-input crop withhigh yield potential that allows us to spread our seedingand irrigation workload,” Dueck explains. ““We’ve hadwinter wheat yield 110 bu/ac, but we normally average90 to 105 bu/ac grain and 2 tonne/acre of straw. Winterwheat grows huge straw and we straight-cut so we growRadiant; which is a variety that stands well. We seed assoon as we can get our argentine canola off which is usu-ally in the last half of September, or as late as the firstweek of October. We have to get the winter wheat seed-ed before the water shuts off around October 10th. Wehave standing stubble so there is no erosion and weoften get good snow cover. We seed winter wheat shal-low and then put on 1 ½ inches of water. We always getan excellent stand. We place 30-40lbs of N and 25 lbs ofphosphate with the seed and broadcast another 100-110lbs/acre early in the spring.

“We spray with an inexpensive broadleaf herbicide tocontrol the winter annuals before we irrigate. Winterwheat is competitive with weeds and we are able toavoid spraying for wild oats. The efficient use of water bythe crop allows us to irrigate winter wheat about 1/3 lessthan our spring seeded cereals which is another cost sav-ings. We spray a fungicide to control leaf diseases abouthalf the time.”

“Winter wheat gives us lots of marketing options,” saysDueck. “We target the CWB select market but we don’talways get high enough protein for a premium. The feedmarket price here is often as good as the price for selectwith the CWB and there is local demand for winter wheatin feedlot and poultry rations,” says Dueck. “Even at alower price than spring wheat, the benefits of winterwheat make it a good fit on our farm.”

13

A Fit for Winter Wheat on Irrigationby Sandra Taillieu

Timely seeded winter wheat provides vegetative cover to preventsoil erosion. PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED

Two groups of southern Alberta farmers aresinging the praises of winter wheat thanks to a proj-ect that benefits the world’s poor – and the

continent’s waterfowl, says Melissa Stanford, a conserva-tion programs and winter cereals specialist with DucksUnlimited Canada (DUC).

Farmers will donate crops harvested next summerfrom two parcels of land in the Burdett and Medicine Hatareas to the Canadian Food Grains Bank. A federally

incorporated, non-profit association established by agroup of Canadian churches in 1983, the bank providesa practical way for Canadian farmers to share their har-vest with the world’s hungry.

Typically, one producer donates the land and othershelp plant and harvest the crop, with industry often donat-ing agronomic services or product, including fertilizer.

“Ducks Unlimited Canada got involved when theylooked at seeding winter wheat because that crop offerssome significant advantages to waterfowl production,”notes Stanford. “In fields where crops were seeded in thefall, research shows one Northern Pintail nest in every 72acres of seeded crop. Spring seeding drops that statistic toone nest per 1,132 acres since that process disrupts nesting.”

With DUC’s support, participants seeded both parcels(and one in Central Alberta) to winter wheat in 2005.Producers like the crop because they can harvest it weeksbefore spring-seeded crops, it out-yields spring varietiesand they can market it directly to grain companies. Winterwheat that germinates before winter freeze up also pre-vents soil erosion caused by wind, says farmer CharlieRedpath, who coordinates the Medicine Hat project.

Launched several years ago, DUC’s Winter CerealsInitiative provides agronomic support to producers andlinks new growers to a network of experienced producers.

“The link to the Food Grains Bank initiative is abonus, since we secure habitat for spring nesting and getto help these farmers feed the world’s hungry,” addsStanford.

14

Altruistic Crop Production

Fall-seeded crops, like winter wheat, are pintail-friendly generatinga greater number of nests – and from these nests, a greater successin hatching ducks. PHOTO: DUCKS UNLIMITED

Options for Downy Brome Control in Winter Wheat

In southern Alberta, downy brome has become anincreasingly bothersome weed. The increase in densityand distribution of this grassy, winter annual is associ-

ated with fall-seeded crops; which have a similar life cycleto downy brome, as well as minimum tillage systems.

Traditionally, control of downy brome in winterwheat or fall rye has involved leaving an interval of atleast three to four years between fall-seeded crops.Inclusion of an oilseed or pulse crop in the rotation alsoimproves control of downy brome.

Management practices, including banding rather thanbroadcasting nitrogen and monitoring of field edges andfence lines for downy brome infestations, can limit thespread.

By seeding fall cereal crops in a timely fashion andmanaging the crop for maximum health, the crop is bet-

ter able to compete against downy brome. Winter wheatand fall rye crops that germinate prior to downy bromecan significantly reduce yield loss.

Until recently, there were no chemical control optionsfor downy brome in winter wheat.

Simplicity, a cross spectrum grass and broadleaf con-trol product in wheat by Dow AgroSciences, has strongperformance on downy brome and Japanese bromegrass species. It provides superior control of wild oats.Simplicity also offers low use rates, broad tank mixoptions and complete rotational flexibility, with a group2 mode of action.

Winter wheat has been submitted for registration andis anticipated to be added to the Simplicity label for thefall 2008. Product should be available for spring wheatand durum applications in June.

Provides Double Social Benefits

The availability of controlled release nitrogen fer-tilizer offers producers a viable option toconventionally applied nitrogen fertilizer. The

increased costs of a controlled release product may beoffset by more efficientapplication procedurescombined with moreeffective nutrient bene-fits. It may also lessenenvironmental concernsrelative to leaching orgas conversion (denitri-fication and volatization).

ESN (EnvironmentallySmart Nitrogen) by Agriumis rapidly gaining in popu-larity. According toinformation garnered fromtheir highly informativewebsite at http://www.agri-um.com/ a flexible, micro-thin polymer coating encas-es each nitrogen granule.This unique design allowsmoisture (water and lique-fied nitrogen) to move bothinward and outward.

Water will initially moveinward through the mem-brane thereby liquefying theencased nitrogen. The liquefied nitrogen releasesthrough the coating accordingly to soil temperature andmoisture conditions. The polymer coating degrades overtime into carbon dioxide, ammonia and water, all natu-rally occurring substances required for normal plantgrowth and development.

Excerpts from one of many ESN publications on thesite explain, “Conventional application methods applymuch of the fertilizer in advance of crop needs. Nitrogenin the soil is subject to processes that can cause loss toground water or to the atmosphere before the plant canabsorb it. These losses reduce economic efficiency of theapplied N and may pose an environmental risk.

Producers can implement a variety of fertilizationpractices to reduce N losses and increase N efficiency.Most of these require additional field operations thatincrease crop production costs, are inconvenient, orcome at a time when weather prevents timely nutrientapplication. ESN technology allows the grower to main-tain flexibility in field operations while reducing N loss.

Ken Coles, Agronomist with the Southern Applied

Research Association (SARA) is compiling a report fromfield trial research SARA conducted on ESN.

Results from these field trials will address, amongother topics, the effectiveness of using various blends ofboth conventional and controlled release nitrogen.

Ken comments “ESN is proven to provide protectionto seedling damage whenapplying large amounts ofseed placed nitrogen. It mayalso provide season longrelease of nitrogen to plantsas they require it diminish-ing risk of environmentalescape. There may be a bigopportunity to accomplishone pass seeding operationswith all fertilizer placed withthe seed. This could increaseprofits through less machin-ery costs, time savings, fuelsavings and also improvesoil health through minimaldisturbance.”

He adds, “My researchproject is looking at the dif-ference seed openers makewith regard to seedling dam-age. As you increase seedbedutilization, seedling safetyalso increases. Therefore to

maximize efficiency of blends will depend on the open-ers used, seed type, amount of total fertilization in theseed row, including phosphorus, soil type and environ-mental factors such soil moisture and timeliness ofrainfall events after seeding.”

Ross McKenzie, Agronomy Research Scientist withAlberta Agriculture and Food (AAF) is researching theuse of ESN for winter wheat, barley and canola. Giventhe relative newness of ESN technology and withresearch data still pending, he advises producers to sim-ply exercise caution regarding application procedures,rates, blends and handling.

For further information on the topic of ESN, visitAgrium’s website at http://www.agrium.com/ and followthe links under “products and services”. You can alsocontact Ray Dowbenko, Agronomist with Agrium at 800-661-6757 or by e-mail rdowbenk@agrium.com.

Contact Ken Coles, Agronomist with SARA at 403-381-5118 or by e-mail sara.research@connectcomm.caSARA will post its ESN research findings athttp://www.areca.ab.ca/sara/

15

Environmentally Safe Nitrogenby Ron Montgomery

SARA agronomist Ken Coles talks about ESN during the 2007SARA Field Day in Lethbridge PHOTO: C. Lacombe

Zero tillage has helped many farmers avoid theravages of wind erosion, a plague of the early daysof farming that rears its head from time to time

despite the best efforts of researchers and producers. Ken Biemans of Seven Persons

became a believer of conservationfarming years ago and Murray Lewisturned conservation farming into aresearch project designed to helpfarmers gain from the knowledge andexperience of some of the best con-servation farmers in the province.

Biemans is president of theSouthern Alberta ConservationAssociation and Lewis is a federalPrairie Farm RehabilitationAdministration soil specialist.

Row crop production ultimatelymeans soil disturbance to somedegree and that leaves the soil suscep-tible to erosion, especially in thecritical fall, winter and early springwhen freezing and thawing can breakdown the soil to smaller particles.Add drought, with the subsequentreduced plant material and even somestubble fields experience erosion, espe-cially with severe and prolongedwinds. Potatoes are a good example of ultimate manage-ment when it comes to wind erosion abatement.

Lewis embarked on a study of lands prone to erosionin the Grassy Lake-Bow Island area, a heartland of thepotato growing region. Much of his work involves co-operation with a range of potato growers, assessing thework done individually to protect the soil resource anddevelopment of a database to assist more producers inthe fight against erosion.

Conservation farming continues to gain converts andeducation gets full marks for helping. Biemans said themovement that preaches reduced or zero tillage to fightwind erosion and build the soil resource has no age bar-riers. “One of the older producers at this conference is apure direct seeder,” he said.

The movement had its beginning about the time for-mer Sen. Herb Sparrow released the book Soils at Risk.The premise is that cultivation makes soil less productiveand interferes with the soil structure and natural fertility.Finding ways to avoid cultivation meant finding newequipment that could allow farmers to seed crops instubble land and apply fertilizers with the seed to mini-mize soil disturbance.

Biemans said equipment designers and manufactur-ers responded. While some questioned the reliability ofsome of the early machines, quality is good and directseeders find they can reduce costs in several ways.

Gone are the days of recreationalcultivation. Some producers cultivatedfields many times a year in the goal toretain a black surface, not realizingsoil moisture was lost each time.Direct seeding on land with minimumdisturbance allowed soil moistureretention and herbicides became thecultivator to control weeds.

As farmers progressed with directseeding, they found the texture andquality of their soils improved. Soilswith higher organic matter are notonly more fertile, but they retainmuch more soil moisture making itavailable to grow better crops andhelping to purify it in the event someof it leaches away into the groundwater supply.

Visiting several fields, Lewis pointedout soil erosion monitors strategicallylocated in fields managed several ways.The monitor design keeps its openingfacing the prevailing winds. Wind-

borne soil particles get trapped in the unit andcalculations determine the soil movement or erosion.

Lewis said the management usually depends on soiltype. For instance, soils that have more tilth or organicmatter usually are less prone to erosion. Heavier soilscan usually be deep cultivated to bring large lumps orclumps to the surface. Potatoes are planted six inchesdeep and then the harvest process involves extensive dis-turbance in digging the spuds. Virtually the entire surfacearea of the field is disturbed.

Farmers also like to plant potatoes on lighter soils, theones most susceptible to erosion without management. Inall the fields, potatoes vines were evident, mostly on thesurface. They were less evident on the cultivated fields.

In some cases, farmers spread barley on the surface ofthe potato field, and that seed germinated when put incontact with the soil during the potato harvest. It leavesa carpet of small barley plants. While the barley rootstructure is small and the first frost kills the surface mate-rial, it does help protect the soil.

Winter wheat and fall rye are also popular, partlybecause they have extensive root systems that help holdthe soil in place. But it means using a herbicide to kill

16

Conservation Farming has TwoChampions in Southern Alberta

Murry Lewis checks a soil erosion monitorin the field. PHOTO: submitted by SACA

by Ric Swihart

those crops to plant alternate crops the following year.Of course, if the crop progresses well in the fall, thefarmer has the option of leaving it grow to harvest thenext year.

Potato growers also extensively use land ridging in thefall to prepare their land for planting the followingspring. The ridges help break the power of the wind and,especially if the soils are the right type, need little otheraction to protect the soil.

“We are trying to learn from the innovators," saidLewis. “We hope to work with industry and producers.That is why our partnership with Alberta Agriculture andFood is important.”

The next challenge is to expand the knowledge basefor other farming systems - looking at different equip-ment, different soils and different crop rotations.

It will come down to recommendations for beneficialmanagement practices, said Lewis. The idea is to developimpartial recommendations with reasons why somepractices work better than others in certain conditions.

Biemans said innovators in every community alsooffer a major source of information.

“Innovators are powerful communicators,” he said.“They are proof that agricultural fences do not stop theflow of information. When a farmer sees someone tryingsomething, then awareness dawns. And when they seethe fruits of those efforts, it makes an impression.”

Biemans said most farmers maintain a communica-tions open door policy. “They are good at sharinginformation with their neighbours.”

Biemans said every producer at the conference is aconservation farmer, since all farm under different con-ditions and use different equipment, there is no cookiecutter conservation farming policy. Such producers haveto take information available and apply to their ownconditions. When they see changes for the better, theystart looking for other ways to continue to improve.

He said conservation farming is still a philosophy, butthese days, it is supported by economics.

“We have found we can do better financially by reduc-ing tillage and at the same time, reduce spending,” hesaid.

With southern Alberta’s irrigation industry becomingso economically vital – 20 per cent of the province’s farmproduction comes from four per cent of the arable land– intensive agriculture took its place.

17

Conservation Farming

Fixed Costs Central to Net RealizedFarm Income

by Ric SwihartRealized net income was tough for 2007, says Saskatchewan

farm consultant Kevin Hursh of Regina.Ontario farmers could show reductions of $200 million in real-

ized net farm income, he said adding that Alberta is in better shape,but farmer realized net income could be higher. Alberta farmersshould make $310 million in realized net income.

Hursh said that outlook makes management more important.For instance, more farmers should use valuable market informationthese days.

“We have to make sunshine,” he told the 2007 Southern AlbertaConservation Association conference in Lethbridge. “We reallymiss the boat with our fixed costs.”

Farmers should ask if they have too much equipment or debt forthe size of the farming operation. Fixed cost per acre can make amajor difference between farmers who do well and those on theedge of failure he said.

Land value is another major factor in agricultural economics.The average value for farmland and buildings in Ontario is $3,518per acre. In Alberta, it is $870 an acre. Saskatchewan is at the bot-tom at $355 an acre.

Recent changes in land ownership laws in Saskatchewanencourage land purchases by people from outside the province.Usually, they buy and rent the land to Saskatchewan farmers. Inthat case, most purchasers bet on increasing land prices.

Hursh praised the Environmental Farm Plan program, mostlybecause there is some government money at the end to help makeimprovements to protect the environment.

He said the process could benefit from refinement and,although there is some question about funding in the near future,he feels the program likely won’t end March 31.

Farmers can also get help developing a farm plan and, with thatdone, take advantage of other work such as feasibility plans. Heurged farmers to check the list of approved consultants.

Too often, farmers stall such work until they are in real financialtrouble. Perhaps this time of good grain prices might signal pro-ducers to get professional help walking through productionnumbers to set a more stable direction for the farm, he said.

AgriStability, what Hursh called the soon-to-come program toreplace the Canadian Agricultural Income Stability plan, will be asimple concept. It will also involve cost sharing between govern-ments and producers.

He said all producers must learn the rules for the new program.Because many chose not to get involved in CAIS, “a whole pile offree government money was left on the table.”

Hursh added that the future is uncertain in some areas. Forinstance, many dealerships have waiting lists for new equipment. Inthis hot grain economy, dealers tend not to have such large equip-ment inventories. At the same time, farmers see reduced farmmachinery prices, but used equipment for trades also brings lowerprices.

Cash land rental fees will increase, especially on the betterquality land. That is a major shift from a couple of years ago whensome land rent couldn’t cover the taxes.

Management is key to busi-ness success in agricultureand everybody can learn

from the best two key consultantstold the 2007 Southern AlbertaConservation Association confer-ence in Lethbridge.

Danny Klinefelter, a Texas A&MUniversity extensioneconomist, said hisevaluation of the bestmanagers helped himoutline 25 attributesthat set them apart.

“It’s clear thatbeing a top producer,focusing on control-ling costs, keeping

good records and having a soundmarketing program are all essentialto being a good manager,” he said.

Brent VanKoughtnet of Winnipegsaid it takes a chief executive officermentality, different from managers,but becoming a farm CEO is possi-ble. VanKoughtnet, owner of AgriSkills and manager of the familyfarm at Carmen, Man., said the pat-tern of a CEO in the business worldis multi and varied and it is time forfarm managers and owners to beginto think on that bigger scale.

While a farm may be successful,the management skills that got itthere may not serve in the future, hesaid. VanKoughtnet said simplicityisn’t how progressive managers orCEOs can progress. If things arecomplicated, there is opportunity togain, he said.

Kleinfelder said costs, records andmarketing plans are what make thebest managers and set the standardfor those who want to remain com-petitive and successful in the future.

That list could include only oneor two per cent of all U.S. farmers.VanKoughtnet said finding moreinteresting ways to produce andmarket crops will help give farmersan edge in the market.

“Conflict isn’t scary.” He suggest-ed embracing it because strongmanagement can help the managerfind ways to win.

“Such strong management hasnever been more important,” hesaid. That’s because agriculture is nolonger a lifestyle. It is a business andvery much a personal business.

Most farmers realize that theirneighbour is a competitor, but ulti-mately, the processor, dealer, supplier,agronomist and others in the valuechain are also competitors. That does-n’t mean a manager must get meanwhile getting leaner. “They shouldtreat their suppliers and customers likecustomers.” VanKoughtnet set out themap for becoming a CEO manager.

“It is a mindset, including work-ing with a peer group, and requiresproof of performance,” he said.Klinefelter said working harder isn’tthe key to success. He thinks pro-ducers who find balance in theirlives, balancing hard work with fam-ily and outside interests, are amongthe most successful.

Breaks from work allow a manag-er to revitalize and refocus andallows workers to learn to handlemore responsibilities.

“Remember, success is gettingwhat you want,” he said. “Happinessis wanting what you get.”

Klinefelter said there are four pat-terns that consistently emerge withsuccessful managers. “They antici-pate and adapt to the changingneeds of their markets,” he said.“They are open to exploring newideas and considering differentpoints of view. And they operatemore like resource managers thanproduction managers who know theimportance of networking andbuilding alliances across the agricul-tural value chain.”

Klinefelter said there are two mil-lion farms in the United States.About 30,000 produce most of the

food and include most of the bestmanagers. The good managers thinkof everybody as their customer andfind ways to solve their frustrations.“That makes you the preferred sup-plier to those customers.”

He said farmers must also lookbeyond the first step in the market,keeping abreast of changes and chal-lenges in the rest of the value chain.Klinefelter said modern farmers can’tbe married to a commodity. Theymust be ready to move to meet themarkets that offer the most potential.

He said strategic planning is themanagement of the future. It is allabout anticipating, driving and capi-talizing on change. It means doingthe right things.

“You have got to go where themarket is, he said. It won’t come toyou. If you are moving with themasses in marketing, you are too late.The best managers are able to objec-tively assess strengths in everybodythey are associated with, includingthemselves. They build on strengths,compensate for weaknesses, andoften pick the right people for theright position.”

Top managers, said Klinefelter, arein a continuous improvement mode,working hard to keep ahead ofchanges off the farm and then work-ing to keep ahead of the competitionthat can be a neighbour or somebodyacross the country or the world.

18

The Making of a Farm CEOby Ric Swihart

Brent Vankoughnet (left) and DonMcLennan at the SACA conference 2007.

Danny KlinefelterPHOTO: R. Swihart

The best managers are optimistic,people who know when to getinvolved and when to get out.

They also look for things thatcould go wrong and work withplans to cope in the event the badthings happen.

The true measure of the individuallies in how they react and respond toadversity, he said. “While we are fre-quently not responsible for whathappens to us, we are totally respon-sible for how we react and respond.”

He said the biggest challenge tomanaging is communication.Secrecy in a company is one of thebiggest roadblocks to progress.

Kleinfelder said the future haschanged, and that requires man-agers taking a different view of howto deal with the future.

Gone is the traditional view ofgrowing a crop for one specific mar-ket when there may be hundreds ofthousands of growing opportunities.

“As a new farm CEO, you need tothink about farmer customer serv-ice, being a solution provider, planand prepare and be able to executethe plan,” he said. “If a managercan’t do that, he can’t become aplayer in the modern market.”

New rules – where is value createdin a market, what brand possibilitiesexist and how powerful is that brandin the market, what informationmust move with the product to pre-serve the value and who accepts whatrisk at what level and how is that riskmanaged – are all on the table today.

The future will be marketplacebased agricultural marketing withideas retained for strategic advan-tage, he said.

Industry is already starting to seeinnovations with managers realiz-ing that they hadn’t heard about theinnovation in time, he said.

The next step will be specific man-agement protocol to increase the

likelihood of expressing the requiredcharacteristics and management touncover the potential improvementsin final use characteristics of the crop.

“These are important whensomething the manager has donematters,” he said.

“If you watch what is going on inthe industry, the market place isaligning with who they want to betheir suppliers.”

That is part of the evolution ofthe marketplace, he said.

But with more medium players inthe market, companies who can’tcompete with the giants, they arestarting to learn how to innovate sothey can compete.

They are looking at new partnersand that means finding a group ofproducers who do things differentlyto help the company become uniquein the market place.

19

The Making of a Farm CEO

Management in agriculture continues to be a vital part of operationsand winter pulse crops could find a niche in the crop rotation plans

of more producers.Rob Dunn, a land management specialist with Alberta Agriculture

and Food in Lethbridge, said winter pulse crops, especially winter peas,may eventually have a fit for southern Alberta cropping systems.

Having a viable winter broadleaf crop option would be veryattractive for farmers, he said.

Along with all the rotation and nitrogen-fixing benefits associatedwith spring pea, they also widen the planting and harvest window toinclude fall and mid-summer.

They have the potential for higher or at least more reliable yields byflowering well before the onset of mid-summer heat since peas don’ttolerant heat or drought during the flowering stage.

For this reason, most farmers try to plant early to beat the heat andwinter peas will take some of the pressure off the tight spring plantingschedule allowing an earlier start to harvest.

Dunn said Washington State University developed several varietiesof winter pea and winter lentils over the past decade and Montanaresearch in similar climates to southern Alberta has shown good wintersurvival for pea and fair winter survival for lentils.

Southern Applied Research Association and Alberta Agriculturetrials examined winter peas over the past four years as a potential cropfor southern Alberta.

The trials at Lethbridge also included winter lentils in 2006 and 2007

with promising results, but then both winters were mild so it may be tooearly to draw conclusions.

Dunn said winter peas, planted in mid to late September, developabout two to five nodes before freeze-up and then resume growth froma scale node in early spring.

They appear to have very good spring frost tolerance and floweringbegins in late May to early June, reaching maturity by mid-July.

Earlier trials used Austrian winter types that are only suitable asforage but newer yellow and green pea types suitable as food or feedalso looked promising in Lethbridge trials.

Results from 2006 and 2007 showed that the more upright, yellowand green peas yielded in the 80 bushels an acre range compared to30 to 40 bushels for spring-seeded peas.

But then, both years favored winter crop yield potential with cooler,wetter springs followed by hot Julys.

Dunn said winter lentils also showed promise in the past two yearswith good survival and excellent yields (40 bu/acre range).

SARA is co-coordinating research trials across Alberta with supportfrom the Alberta Pulse Commission to further investigate the potentialfor winter pulses as a viable crop option for Alberta.

The agriculture department is working toward a closer workingrelationship with the American plant breeder to help fast track the winterpulse genetics that meet southern Alberta agronomic and end-usemarket needs.

by Ric Swihart

Winter Pulse Trials Show Promise

Aresearcher and extensionist knows a hot topicby the crowd interest. Ross McKenzie planned adetailed report on fine tuning fertilizer input for

optimum yield for the Southern Alberta ConservationAssociation (SACA) annual conference in the LethbridgeLodge Hotel.

When the dust had settled, McKenzie had coveredonly the nitrogen component. Producer questions sim-ply gobbled up the time on center stage thusreconfirming for McKenzie the importance of nitrogenin a strong production regime and the burning desire ofproducers to optimize yields.

McKenzie, an agronomist on leave from AlbertaAgriculture and Food to instruct at Lethbridge College,said optimum fertilizer use stems from proper soil sam-ple collections, something he likes producers to dothemselves “because then they know it is done properly.”

Those tests confirm which soil nutrients are marginalor deficient, which fertilizers the soil really needs andwhat form will work best.

Producers should temper that information withpotential recommendations for calcium or magnesiumand micronutrients boron, copper, manganese and zinc;all products McKenzie said southern Alberta soils sel-dom need.

McKenzie said producers have an excellent manage-ment tool through Alberta Agriculture – Alberta FarmFertilizer Information Record Manager or AFFIRM.

That gets back to soil sample collections, he said.There are three main collection methods – random siteswith 15 to 25 samples a field, site specific (same site orlocation each year) and benchmark sampling thatinvolves uniquely different areas within a field sampledseparately.

When it comes to soil nutrient variability, McKenzierecommends a grid sample, the Cadillac system that ismost time consuming to collect and costly to analyze,“but will give the best sense of nutrient level variation inthe field.”

McKenzie said there are different ways to place fertiliz-er in the soil including placing it with the seed, but froma farm perspective, it could come down to nitrogen cost.

Anhydrous ammonia (82-0-0) and Urea (46-0-0) areusually the least expensive forms, liquid (28-0-0) is usu-ally more expensive and currently, EnvironmentallySmart Nitrogen, a coated Urea, is the most expensive.

“Producers must know the costs of the various forms ofnitrogen before they can make AFFIRM effective,” he said.

How important is that cost?“If Urea N fertilizer is 51.4 cents a pound and you

apply 70 pounds per acre to 5,000 acres, the cost is$179,900,” he said. “If liquid N fertilizer is 62.5 cents apound and you apply 70 pounds an acre to 5,000 acres,the cost is $218,750. The difference is $38,850.”

McKenzie said the important management decisionsfor nitrogen use include reviewing soil N levels and soilmoisture levels, establishing a realistic target yield andthen compare the fertilizer cost and crop value.

“I think producers should work with an agronomistto finalize nitrogen fertilizer rates, forms and time ofapplication for individual fields and crops,” he said.

With SACA participants and other farmers pepperingMcKenzie with questions about nitrogen, they will haveto wait for another opportunity to hear McKenzie's opin-ions on phosphate, potassium and sulphur fertilizers;the other nutrients in the Big 5 of the fertilizer menu.

20

Nitrogen Hogs the Stageby Ric Swihart

Rob Dunn takes a soil sample.

According to Ty Faechner, research program man-ager at Agricultural Research and ExtensionCouncil of Alberta (ARECA) Global positioning

system (GPS) provides a way to determine geographiclocations anywhere on the earth. Consequently, farmerscan use GPS to do auto-steering, precision farming andvariable rate seeding and spraying. A typical set-up forfarm applications includes a GPS receiver, antenna andcables to receive location information and transfer it toother electronic equipment such as a yieldmonitor or a variable rate controller.

Accurate, automated tracking with GPSreceivers allows farmers to record wherethey applied different rates of seed, fertiliz-er or spray. This allows increased accuracyof application for different crop inputs;which is environmentally friendly.Additionally, GPS provides guidance foragricultural equipment in the field reducingoverlap and input costs. Equipment opera-tors also benefit since the job of drivingagricultural field equipment becomes easier.

The management of data using Geographic informa-tion systems (GIS) software is the next step in extractingvalue from data collected with GPS. GIS provides thetools to manage, analyze and interpret the large amountsof accumulated data. GIS helps to organize and managethis data so farmers can use it in making decisions.Finally, GIS software is usually installed on a desktopcomputer and the work done in an office compared toGPS equipment which is on a tractor, combine orsprayer and has a monitor in the cab with a slot for adata card to record the data.

GIS software displays the data recorded with GPS inthe form of maps for visual analysis of the area of inter-est. In fact, mapping is a minor part of the use of GIS.The data sets are powerful tools for organizing, analyz-ing and interpreting data. Statistics, simulations andmodels are additional analytical tools users can applythrough GIS to extract more information from the datato support farm manager decisions.

GPS and GIS technologies on the farm are necessaryfor a new program managed by ARECA and its memberassociations. The new GPS Crop Yield MonitoringProgram, funded by Alberta Environment, is about col-lecting crop yield information from reclaimed industrialsites in Alberta. A previous study, funded by AlbertaEnvironment, explored the effectiveness of GPS yieldmonitoring technology at reclaimed industrial sites. Thestudy demonstrated that GPS yield monitoring technol-ogy is applicable for analyses of crop yield on industrial

disturbances for one or more years. The study also deter-mined that one or even several years of crop yield datamay be insufficient given crop and environmental con-ditions typical for an area.

Farmers who have a yield monitor on their combineand a reclaimed industrial site on their land could par-ticipate in this program by contacting their ARECAAssociation manager. An industrial site includes anyreclaimed areas such as oil/gas well sites, battery sites,pipelines, sand/gravel pits or road borrow pits. Yieldmonitoring equipment could include the John DeereGreenstar/Apex system, Case IH AFS system, Ag Leaderor Trimble. Farmers receive payment for the crop yieldinformation and, with most systems, it takes about 15 to30 minutes to get the data. This monitoring program isexpected to conclude in 10 years, so farmers will beasked to sign a guideline to provide their crop data for 5years providing funding is available.

For more information from your local ARECA mem-ber association, contact Ken Coles, Southern AppliedResearch Association, 403-381-5118, or email:sara.research@connectcomm.ca

You can also visit, http://www.areca.ab.ca/ and usethe guide bar at the top of the page to locate the officeclosest to you or contact Dr. Ty Faechner, ResearchProgram Manager of ARECA, at faechner@areca.ab.ca or(780) 416-6046 Ext. 14.

21

by Ty Faechner

GPS, GIS and Industrial Sites

Working with GIS (Geographic information systems) software at a desktop computer to organize and manage crop data for farm decisions. PHOTOS: Submitted by ARECA

Harvesting grain while a yellow GPS (Global positioning system)receiver atop the combine cabreceives signals from satellitesorbiting the earth.

It’s pretty hard to write an article when no one wantsto go on record to articulate the issue at hand. For sev-eral years now, people involved in agricultural extension

work at all levels and in all organizations have whisperedthat they feel the funding dropping away from primaryproduction research and agricultural extension work.

The trepidation they feel about talking openly aboutthis topic stems from the fact that they all receive moneyfrom the government to do their work. All those expres-sions about biting hands and looking in gift horse’smouths come to mind.

So, I went up the organizational tree and spoke to adeputy minister. He, of course, isn’t hearing the whis-pers. In fairness to this gentleman, he would like to hearfirst hand the concerns whispered elsewhere.

I find this is the challenge with the way we allocatemoney from the government to the people on theground. Our governments, federal and provincial, facepressures by the international community, lobby groupsand citizens to address their concerns. The governmentbureaucracy gets new bosses every few years that cham-pion projects or areas of work based on political pressureby the global, national and provincial priorities of theday. If you want to guess where government funds willfall in the next few years, watch the urban newspaperheadlines for issues. Right now, those issues related toagriculture are climate change, water, bio-fuels, organicproduction and food safety.

Here in Alberta, our government works to align itsprograms with federal programs to maximize availablefunds for research and extension programs. The federal

Agricultural Policy Framework completed a five-yearplan and moved into a new plan called GrowingForward. This put Alberta Environmentally SustainableAgriculture (AESA) into limbo as Alberta Agriculturewaits to see how to fit its programs with the feds’. TheAESA council will become the Agra-EnvironmentalPartnership (AEP). The AEP council will look a lot likethe AESA council. Because the federal Growing Forwardplan isn’t quite ready, Alberta Agriculture extended all itsAESA programs for 2008 while they wait for federal doc-uments that will allow them to fit programs in Albertawith the national initiative.

This all makes perfect sense but doesn’t explain whyprimary production seems to be missing out more andmore as the years go by.

This I think we can explain through the knowledgethat most urban citizens have no direct experience withprimary production and therefore are not clamoring forimprovements in crop varieties, rotational practices, soilmanagement information or pest control. Urbaniteshear about adverse environmental impacts from farmproduction and they hear loud and clear food safetyissues when they crop up in the media. The reason it’simportant what urbanites think is that, for the first timeever, urban populations out-number and out-vote ruralresidents all over the world.

Are we moving away from helping farmers do the bestjob possible with scientific support? I’m not qualified toanswer that question. However, if the whispers are morethan discomfort in the face of changing government pri-orities and programs, then yes we are.

22

Urban Priorities Could Undermineby C. Lacombethe Farm

Only two months after taking off, an airborne search for watercounterparts to Alberta’s subterranean oil reservoirs is on the

trail of gushers.“This is fundamentally going to open our eyes and let us view

the nature of the rocks beneath our feet in a different way,” predict-ed Laurence Andriashek, head of a new groundwater inventorysection at the Alberta Geological Survey.

“It’s like having an MRI of the landscape,” he said, comparingthe new three-dimensional Earth portrait being drawn by his sci-ence arm of the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) toadvanced medical imaging.

Early survey results point, for instance, to a previously unknownaquifer or porous formation full of water clean enough to drinkbeneath Pigeon Lake, 60 kilometres southwest of Edmonton.

The target is nature’s best reservoirs where the water is 99.6-per-cent pure, containing no more than 4,000 parts per million of

dissolved minerals such as salt.The work is beginning with a scheduled four-year survey of the

area between Edmonton and Calgary. It stands out as Canada’sfastest-growing population, traffic, industry and agricultural corridorwith the greatest competition for water and most urgent needs formanagement and conservation, Andriashek said.

New sampling wells will check and confirm outlines of aquiferssketched by the aircraft. The survey will also tap into deep databanks already on hand in the ERCB's earth sciences branch.

“We’re not starting from ground zero,” Andriashek said.The new portrait is intended to answer wider environmental

questions about water use and conservation.Expanded geological maps will serve as guides to the size of

Alberta fresh water pools, their quality, levels of economic activitythey can sustain, how the deposits form, their durability and meas-ures needed to maintain supplies.

High-tech dowsers are mapping out Alberta’s reservoirsof fresh water hidden underground

2008 Southern Applied Research AssociationDiagnostic Field School

Lethbridge, Alberta – July 8, 9, 10

Topics: winter peas, lentils and barley, cover crops for erosion and weed control, compostingand nutrient management, cropping systems and greenhouse gases, GPS and precision farming,agronomy/ESN, insects, industry update

Take advantage of southern Alberta’s premier field school with great interactive learning andnetworking opportunities. See firsthand new and emerging crops, technologies and productionpractices with industry and government experts.

Contact Ken Coles for more information: 403-381-5118 or sara.research@connectcomm.ca

Contact Elizabeth Tokariuk to register: 403-328-0059 or sara-research@platinum.ca

LEASING AND F INANCING AVAILABLE AT COMPET IT IVE RATES

Why Zimmatic®?• High-quality design and construction• Durability• Easy to use• Time, water and energy savings• Intelligent irrigation technology

Designed with innovation. Built for durability.Enhanced by intelligence.

Intelligent irrigationsystems that last.

1-800-561-4608LETHBRIDGE

328-3777Bryan Smith 795-5147 • Don Laturnus 795-5148

Dave Wilkins 795-4198 • Colin Friesen 795-5144 • Eileen Schroeder 363-0731

BROOKS

362-4087TABER

223-3591