By Nigel Maxwell

Field Day showcases local crop research projects

Jul 26, 2018 | 5:00 PM

Over 50 agronomists and producers from across the northeast region had an opportunity Thursday to see first-hand the research being done for them at the Conservation Learning Centre (CLC), south of Prince Albert.

Field Day included a full day of demonstrations, guest speakers and tours of the facility’s crops. CLC Manager Robin Brown said the response was very positive.

“I’ve already had some producers who have said ‘You know I am not really interested in that project but I’m interested in that one, can I come back at a later time and look at it,’” she said.

Among the topics covered by the guest speakers were clubroot, how to manage fertilizer to optimize yield, and why soybeans make a great alternative crop. Rob Cay, a crop advisor from Tisdale with Crop Production Services, was invited to speak on the topic.

“The approach [to soybeans] in central and northeast Saskatchewan has been a slow approach which is good. I think we need to learn what we are doing before we go full hog into this,” he said.

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During his presentation, Cay told the crowd Saskatchewan farmers do need another crop in their rotation beyond cereals and canola, and he said there are many advantages to soybeans, which is not a host to clubroot.

“Especially with clubroot in the area now, soybeans is one of those options that perhaps we can look at to break that disease cycle, and extend our exposure to clubroot perhaps,” Cay said.

Cay added if a producer is on a two-year rotation with canola, putting soybeans into the rotation for even one year can extend the life of the crop. He also explained soybeans have become a high value crop and there’s been a lot of work on the genetics side to bring the crop’s maturity date down to be suitable to be grown in an area such as Saskatchewan.

“We’ve got all the equipment we need on the farm already to grow it so it should be an easy fit but one step at a time,” he said.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell