MARA Newsletters
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In This Issue:
- WGRF Approves $300,000 for New Agronomy Centre;
- Alberta Farmer Turns Ag Plastic into Fence Posts;
- Weed Control Using New Spot Spray Tech;
- Well Decommissioning;
- Export Support Fund
Soil provides nutrients for plant growth, absorb and hold rain water to use during dryer periods, filter and buffer potential pollutants from farm fields, act as the foundation for agricultural activities and habitat for soil microbes creating symbiotic ecosystem to keep the ecosystem running smoothly.
Soil as an ecosystem; regulate water, sustain plant and animal life, filter and buffer potential pollutants by microbes and minerals, cycling nutrients, medium for plant growth…
In this issue:
- Results Driven Agriculture Research;
- Adding a new crop type to your rotation;
- Can Hemp fit into your rotation?;
- Orphan well association and your land
Key for the Future of Agriculture
Smart farming is a farming concept involves advanced technologies inte- grated into existing agricultural practices to boost production quality and efficiency. Farmers in this century have access to GPS, soil scanning, data management, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. This tech- nology can measure field variations more precisely, allowing producers to use herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers more effectively and selectively to the required areas. Similarly, livestock producers can moni- tor the needs of individual animals and adjust their nutrient requirements correspondingly, thereby preventing disease and enhancing health.
Smart farming requires knowledge , capital (can start from low capital investment smart phone applications) and more knowledge and skills. To- days farmer is not only a farmer with passion for agriculture but also a legal expert, a part-time data analyst, economist and accountant (who is making a living from agriculture produce requires bookkeeping skills, knowledge of market chains and price volatility)
COVID-19 & MARA Extension
We cancelled our extension events scheduled for March and April to compliance with Alberta health recommendations. As an alternative we started virtual meetings/ webinars since last April to make sure producers in the region are up to date with the new information. Producers have the opportunity to directly interact with the expert/speaker during Q & A. Your laptop computer, desktop with a head set and smartphone can be used to join these meetings. We hope everything will be back to normal so that we can do field tours.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- COVID-19: Help to Ag Industry (Pg. 2 & 3);
- Environmental Farm Plan (Pg. 4 & 5);
- Herbicide Resistance (Pg. 6 &7);
- Upcoming Events (Pg. 8-10);
- Acknowledgement (Pg. 11)
WHAT IS A SOIL QUALITY CARD?
- A soil quality card is a simple, non-technical method to assess soil quality in the field.
- It uses sensible, farm level indicators and descriptions that qualitatively measure soil quality.
- It allows soil quality to be assessed without the use of technical or laboratory equipment.
- It is a tool to raise awareness of soil quality and increase the working knowledge of soil.
WHY SHOULD I USE A SOIL QUALITY CARD?
- Assessing soil quality is important to the development, performance and evaluation of sustainable land and soil management systems.
- Regular (every 1 to 5 years) use allows assessment of current soil quality conditions, records changes in soil quality over time, identifies potential problem areas, and provides a measure of soil quality to compare fields and management practices.
- The soil quality card can be used to make informed management decisions.
What are Wetlands?
Quite simply, wetlands are lands that are wet. They are low-lying areas where enough water collects to support water-loving plants. Wetlands include the area covered by water and the adjacent area of lush water-loving plants – the riparian area. Wetlands are generally shallower than lakes, but both include the riparian area that separates them from the surrounding drier uplands. Wetlands are often called sloughs, ponds or potholes, but also include bogs and muskeg areas…
Wetlands are more than sloughs
Sloughs, marshes, ponds, field water. Wetlands are areas that hold water either temporarily or permanently. Some wetlands hold water year-round while others hold water for one or two months…
Published by Ducks Unlimited
DISTINCTLY GREEN AND HEATED SEEDS ARE TWO OF THE MOST COMMON DOWNGRADING FACTORS FOR CANOLA.
Understanding the tools and process used to assess distinctly green and heated seeds can help with harvest timing and storage. With the grading process largely visual, the guides are the appropriate tools to consistently assess these grading factors.
Meeting grade tolerances is key to ensuring canola oil’s high quality. High levels of green seed impact the colour and taste and cause the oil to go rancid faster. Distinctly green is the close proxy for chlorophyll content. Heated seed has a similar effect reducing the seed’s usability…
Highlighting information, projects & resources from the Environmental Stewardship Branch
Spring management options for un-harvested crops is at the top of minds for many farmers. For more information and resources listen to the Call of the Land interviews with Trevor Wallace and Marcos Miller or go to agriculture.alberta.ca/unharvestedcrops to learn what to consider and how to proceed with un-harvested crops.
Upcoming MARA Events:
- MARA-Organic Alberta Organic Transitions Workshop and Organic Grain and Field Crops Conference – April 7th & April 8th, 2017 at the La Crete Heritage Center
- Northern Ag Update, April 19th, 2017 at the Fort Vermilion Community Complex from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm.
Upcoming MARA Events:
- MARA 2016-2017 AGM, Farmers Appreciation Supper & presentation in Maximizing Grain Yield (February 9 2017)
- MARA-Organic Alberta Organic Transitions Workshop and Organic Grain and Field Crops Conference – April 7th & April 8th, 2017 at the La Crete Heritage Center
- Northern Ag Update, Fort Vermilion Community Complex, April 19th, 2017. More details to come!
Upcoming MARA Events:
- Free Environmental Farm Plan & Growing Forward 2 workshop-Fort Vermilion (November 21 2016)
- Livestock Grazing and Pasture Management Workshop-La Crete (December 5 2016)
- MARA 2016-2017 AGM, Farmers Appreciation Supper & presentation in Maximizing Grain Yield (February 9 2017)
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Herbicide resistance (Pg 2-3);
- Environmental Farm Plan (Pg 4-5);
- BSE, the basics (Pg 5)
