The past year started with great promises of putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind and reasonable moisture for the spring. Then, through the summer, inadequate precipitation and sustained high temperature created havoc on all crops in the region. The resiliency of MARA staff and the Board enabled the team to continue our work to serve producers, grain crops and livestock commissions, the industry, private and government agencies.

MARA continued Alberta’s first organic regional variety trial for field peas which produced quality data for the organic farmers’ fraternity in the province. In addition, MARA commenced testing breeding lines of the novel crop, camelina. Also, MARA expanded its research base via collaborating with post-secondary institutions in Canada, and other private and government agencies to address issues relating to soil health, variety selection, nutrient management, pest and diseases management, forages, grazing, and carbon sequestration, moisture management, regenerative farming, and precision farming and knowledge transfer to serve a wide range of farmers in the county…