Pulses Regional Variety Trials

In collaboration with Alberta Pulse Growers, MARA hosts a yearly regional variety trial program to evaluate pulse crops, including field peas (yellow and green), faba beans, and lentils. This year, MARA is testing sixteen yellow pea cultivars, four green Peas cultivars and 11 cultivars of lentils and faba beans, each under conventional and organic systems.  The faba beans and lentils are being tested for the first time under organic systems, and we hope better to understand the performance of different varieties in our region. Plant breeders have suggested that the varieties that perform best on organic farms may not be the same as on conventional farms, and those organic farmers may benefit from using varieties explicitly bred for organic systems. Variety trials can help growers identify alternative varieties with qualities similar to or superior to traditionally used varieties. In addition, variety trials as part of your annual farm plan can help to identify varieties well-suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Mackenzie County.