Research - Industry Innovation

Research Programs and Trials


Click on a Program or Trial type below to view the additional information and results:

Forage Seed Variety Trials

For many years, Beaverlodge was part of a network of sites across Western Canada. Seed companies enter grass cultivars into the trials for a fee. The main objective of these trials was to determine the seed production potential and adaptability of grass varieties for contract seed production for the domestic and export market. All attempts have been made to ensure the success of these trials. However, at times weather and environmental conditions may adversely affect the yield results regardless of the management practices followed.

Initially in the mid 1990's, Henry Najda (Grass Seed and Forage Specialist, AAF, Brooks, AB) took the lead and compiled all the data and reports from the grass seed trials conducted under the Western Grass Seed Testing Program (WGST) up until 2006. This data is available on this page or through links to the Alberta Agriculture's Ropin the Web site. Then in 2007, the Peace Region Forage Seed Association took on the responsibility of coordinating and reporting on the WGST, and this arrangement continued until 2012.


In 2012, Rahman Azooz (Forage Seed Technician, AAFC, Beaverlodge, AB) took the lead to transition the grass seed testing trials to Peace Region based trials with the Beaverlodge Research Station as the main focus site. Dr. Nitya Khanal now compiles the data and reports for the forage seed variety trials.


For more information contact:
Talon Gauthier, Coordinator, PRFSA by email: coordinator@peaceforageseed.ca or Dr. Nityananda Khanal, Forage Scientist, AAFC by email: Nityananda.Khanal@AGR.GC.CA


To enter varieties into the 2024 Trials please fill out the following protocol and email to the above contacts.


Peace Region Grass Seed Testing Program Report
2022 CAFTS Report

Peace Region (Western Canadian) Grass Seed Testing Program Reports

• PRGST 2021 Report
PRGST 2019 Report
• PRFCT 2018 Report

• PRFCT 2017 Report

• PRGST 2016 Report

• PRGST 2015 Report
• PRGST 2014 Report
• PRGST 2013 Report
• PRGST 2012 Report
• WGST 2011 Report
• WGST 2010 Report

• WGST 2009 Report
• WGST 2008 Repor

• WGST 2007 Report 

• WGST 2006 Report 
• WGST 2005 Report 

• WGST 2004 Report

• WGST 2003 Report 

• WGST 2002 Report 

• WGST 2001 Report 
• WGST 2000 Report 


More Variety Information:
• Alberta Forage Council Annual Report Variety Trials 1996
Cross Canada Comparison of Productivity of Fodder Galega with Traditional Herbage Legumes
• Diversification with Grass Seed Crops
• Evaluation of Annual Legumes for Seed Production (2007 publication)
• Explanation of Diploid and Tetraploid Plants
• Grass Seed Yield Data 1969-1977
Herbage Production in the Peace Region: Summaries of Research Results 1970-1980
 Seed Yield Data from Grass Seed Trials at Beaverlodge Research Station 2014
• Seed Yield Performance of Oracle Creeping Red Fescue December 2006
Western Canadian Grass Seed Testing Program

 

Altaswede Variety Description
Aurora Alsike Clover Variety Description
Boreal Creeping Red Fescue Variety Description
Dawn Alsike Clover Variety Description
Norlac Red Clover Variety Description

Fertility and Crop Establishment Trials


Fertility 
• Comparison of Nitrogen Timing, Rate & Source in Creeping Red Fescue Seed Production
• Effect of fertilizer on seed yield of alfalfa under irrigation in Saskatchewan
• Fertilizer management for seed production of perennial forages in Saskatchewan
• Use of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate for Fertilizing Smooth Bromegrass and Timothy Seed Stands
• Nitrogen Fertility for Seed Production of Creeping Red Fescure
• Nitrogen Fertility for Seed Production of Tall Fescue
• Use of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate for Fertilizing Smooth Bromegrass and Timothy Seed Stands
• Urease Inhibitor Agrotain: Surface Applied Urea for Fescue
• Variety Specific Management for Seed Production of Creeping Red Fescue

Crop Establishment
Cereal Companion Crops and Forage Seed Production
Companion Crops for Forage Seedlings
Effect of Grass Species and Row Spacing on Dandelion Establishment and Growth
Effect of Row Spacing on Seed and Hay Production of 11 Grass Species
Effects of Row Spacing and Seeding Rates on Seed Yield in Clover and Trefoil
Effect of Seeding Date and Companion Crops
Establishment of Cultivated Grasses and Legumes on Burned-Over Land in Northern Canada
Forage Seeding Depths
Legume Seed Establishment
• No-Till Establishment of Forage Crops into Grain Stubble (1995 Report)
• Plant Spacing for Seed Production of Creeping Red Fescure
• Plant Spacing for Seed Production of Tall Fescue
Sensitivity of Several Species of Grasses and Legumes to Soil Acidity
• Sowing Rate for Seed Crops of Perennial Ryegrass
The Selection and Seeding of Grasses and Legumes in Alberta
Timely Hints- Methods of Seeding Grasses and Clovers

Weed Control and Herbicide Tolerance Trials

 
• Forage Seed URMULE Updates 2005 to Nov 2023
ACIDF Final Report- Fall vs. Spring Herbicide on Grass
AgriFax- Weed Control in Forage Crops
Experiments in Control of Weeds in Grass Seed Crops
Experiments in Control of Weeds in Grass Seed Crops 1971-1996
• Fall Herbicide Application for Effective Control of Problem Perennial Weeds in Grass Seed Crops
• Fall Applications of Herbicides on Creeping Red Fescue Seed Fields for Control of Group 2 Resistant Narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard
Guidelines for the Conduct of Chemical Weed Control Trials in Forage Grasses Grown for Seed
• Narrow-leaved Hawks'beard Group 2 Resistance: Greenhouse Trials
• Northern Research Group News Fertilizing Grasses for Seed Production 
• Optimal Weed Management in Timothy, Meadow Bromegrass and Hybrid Bromegrass Grown for Seed and Timothy Export Hay Market
• Spring Applied Herbicides on Creeping Red Fescue (2006)
The Biology of Canadian Weeds
• Tolerance of Established Alsike Clover Seed Crops to Viper and Solo
• Tolerance of Fine Leaved Fescues to Herbicide (1997 - 2000)
• Tolerance of Seedling Creeping Red Fescue Seeded with Canola to Roundup
Weed Control in Forage Seed Crops

Growth Regulators

Insect and Disease Trials


• 2015 CABI Report: Biological Controls of Oxeye Daisy

2016 CABI Report: Biological Controls of Oxeye Daisy
2017 CABI Report: Biological Controls of Oxeye Daisy
Causal Agents of Silver Top and Other Types of Damage to Grass Seed Crops
Cutworms in the Peace Region
Damage to Grasses in the Peace Region by the Spittlebug
Endophyte Content of Turf Grass Seed Stands
• Field Crop and Forage Pests and their Natural Enemies in Western Canada – Identification and Management Field Guide
• Micro-leps causing mega-trouble: The trials, tribulations, challenges of a new pest
Symptoms of Stem Eyespot

Red Clover Casebearer
• Casebearer Larvae SARDA
• Casebearer Life Cycle
• Clover Insect Pests - European Flare for Damage Poster
• Sex pheromone of female red clover casebearer Poster

Prairie Pest Monitoring Network

The Insect Pest Monitory Network is a prairie-wide, coordinated insect monitoring program designed to keep the Canadian agriculture industry informed of the risks to crop production from pest species and to highlight and conserve their natural enemies. The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network also produces the Weekly Update e-bulletins during the growing season that summarize emerging prairie-wide pest issues, and includes monitoring tips, risk warnings, and forecasts in order to support in-field monitoring and sound pest management decisions for growers across the Canadian prairies. Contact Jennifer Otani at 780-354-5132 or via email at Jennifer.Otani@agr.gc.ca. Check out the PPMN blog to stay current!


Archived PPMN and BC Pest Monitoring Updates

2016
• June 15, 2016

2015
 July 3, 2015
• June 5, 2015

2014
 August 27, 2014
• August 20, 2014

• August 13, 2014

• August 5, 2014
• July 30, 2014
• July 16, 2014

• July 9, 2014

• July 2, 2014
• June 25, 2014
• June 18, 2014

• June 4, 2014

2013
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - May 27 -31, 2013

2012
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - July 21 -27, 2012
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - July 7 -14, 2012

• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - June 22 - 29, 2012
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - June 15 - 22, 2012

2011
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - August 29 - September 2, 2011
 Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - August 2 - 5, 2011 
 Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - July 25 - 28, 2011
 Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - July 4 - 8, 2011
 Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - June 1 - 7, 2011
 Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - May 30 - June 3, 2011
• Prairie Pest Monitoring Network Weekly Update - May 24 - 27, 2011

 

Check here on how to identify grasshopper nymphs.
The 2014 Canola Survey is now available.

Harvest and Post Harvest Management

Crop Rotations

Alfalfa Seed Production

Response to Growers’ Issues


Irrigation Potential in the B.C. Peace
Climate Action Overview 2017
Evaluation of Irrigation Potential in the Peace- Report
Evaluation of Irrigation Potential in the Peace- Summary
Irrigation Fact Sheet 1 2017
Irrigation Fact Sheet 2- Site Specifics 2017
Irrigation Fact Sheet 3- Economics 2017

Weather in the B.C. Peace
Peace River Weather Data- Report


Runoff, Drainage & Erosion in the B.C. Peace
Factsheet 1: Project Overview
Factsheet 2: Erosion Risk Mapping
Factsheet 3: Conversations About Runoff, Drainage & Erosion
Factsheet 4: Soil, Water & Residue Management

Grazing and Wildlife Damage
• 
Grass Seed Residues for Beef Cattle
• Literature Review - Effects of Grazing on Grass Seed Production
• Wildlife Damage on Fescue Study

• Wildlife Damage Study Final Report May 2012

Past Research Projects