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…

Perennial Forage Trial (PFT) was initiated in 2016 by the Applied Research Associations in Alberta to fill the knowledge gap of perennial forage data available for producers in the region. This study was completed in 2018 and 2nd phase of the project to study long term survival of PFTs was initiated in 2019 and implemented in 2020 which is funded through Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP).

As with many things in the past year we are all in unfamiliar territory. This is the first for that we have held an AGM virtually, and hopefully the last. The past year has been a year of highs and lows for MARA as well as the farming community in Mackenzie County. After many years of prolonged drought, we finally got some very timely rains and most of the crops in the region turned out good to excellent. Then came the fall and we got to experience what the rest of the province has been going through with a very wet and prolonged harvest. Though in the end with high parts bills and much extra work most of the crops made it to the bin…

The past year has been a difficult year for Agriculture in Mackenzie County and the province of Alberta. Starting with the boycotts in China that resulted in depressed prices of major crops and progressing to major weather extremes in the province the past season will be remembered. Our region was effected dramatically. Early and late frosts resulted in delayed maturity, loss of yield, (dramatic in some cases) and lower grades in others. Another summer of low rainfall resulted in low yields while rainfall in September downgraded many crops and made for a difficult harvest. Though we were more fortunate than many regions of the Province in that in the end the majority of the crops were harvested…

The year 2017 proved to be another positive year for our organization. With the quality of work that has been done, we are now in the enviable position that we have companies and organizations approaching us to do work or collaborate with them. We are also always looking for input from the local producers for new ideas on the type of research and the direction we should be heading.

The Innovative Farmers Project, where we have been farming the land at the site that isn’t being used for research, was an outstanding success this year. We raised a record of close to $130,000, which will go directly back in the program or is being used on new capital projects. I would once again like to thank all the farm input suppliers and the local farmers who make this possible. This is a valuable part of our funding structure…

The MARA board once again welcomes the opportunity to share the success of our efforts over the past year. With the diversity of agriculture enterprises in the region we have tried to develop a program that will continue to benefit as many producers as possible. The continuation of the RVT’s, the fertility trials, the ongoing field scale fungicide testing, are a portion of our work that hopefully is a benefit to the traditional grain sector. We continue to support the growing organic industry with the ongoing variety testing, the oat breeding, and cover crop trials. We have also started the agronomic hemp trials with support from REDI.

The livestock portion of the program is being addressed with grazing trials and work in forage production.

The extension side of our program continues to expand with crop-pasture walks and workshops covering numerous topics hosting knowledgeable speakers. We also continue to facilitate Environment Farm Plans within the County…

MARA had a busy but progressive 2015. Our agronomic field work was adversely impacted by the record 50-year low precipitation levels received during the growing season, to the extent that some plots were not harvested. However, I will not be focusing on the drought, but on the good people of Mackenzie County: the local producers who volunteered 100 of hours of their time to plan, seed, manage, harvest and market MARA’s field scale projects. On behalf of all MARA staff, I would like to thank you for not just your hard work in feeding the world, but for keeping MARA’s research and extension programs alive. MARA’s relationship with Mackenzie County is excellent. And the support the County provides to us, deserves mention and appreciation…

2013 was a challenging year for MARA with the abrupt resignation of Ravinder Pannu, the former Research Coordinator at the height of the planting season for RVTs and other varietal research plots. Regardless, MARA’s board members stepped forward to oversee the planting season, developing the research plantings and plots successfully by mid-June. The summer months provided generally good growing conditions and the plots matured nicely by mid- September. 950 small plots were harvested successfully in 2013 research trial programs for three government agencies and five private clients under the leadership of the Assistant Manager/Coordinator, Jacob Marfo Ph. D., hired on August 15, followed by James P. Ludwig Ph.D., Coordinator/Manager on September 9. Limited water quality research on the nutritional and bacterial status of farm dugouts was completed in the spring and fall…

Table of Contents

2011 MARA Mission and Staff, Page 4
2011 Board of Directors, Page 5
MARA Membership, Page 6
President’s Message, Page 7
Research Coordinator’s Message, Page 8
ARECA , A Year in Review, Page 9
Regional Variety Trials: Cereals, Field Peas and Flax, Page 11
Demonstration of Integrated Control of Ascochyta Blight in Field Peas, Page 22
Comparative Advantage of Different Inoculants in Yellow Peas, Page 29
Pea Internode Length Trial, Page 31
Canola –Pea Intercropping Trial, Page 32
Precision Tools for on Farm Research, Page 34
Effect of Different Sources of Nitrogen on Wheat and Canola, Page 36
Conventional Vs Organic Management Trial, Page 38
Swathing Vs Straight Cutting Canola, Page 40
Effect of Harrowing on Organic Oat Yield, Page 41
Alberta Pest Monitoring Network, Page 42
Biennial Wormwood Post Emergence Control, Page 44
Manure Management trial, Page 46
Extension Events 2011, Page 49
AOF Dugout Water Quality, Page 52
Acknowledgements, Page 79

Table of Contents

2010 MARA Mission and Staff, Page 4
2010 Board of Directors, Page 5
MARA Membership, Page 6
Presidents Message, Page 7
Research Coordinator’s Message, Page 8
ARECA, A Year in Review, Page 9
Regional Variety Trials: Cereals and Field Peas, Page 11
Comparison of Lentils & Other Pulse Crops, Page 22
Pea Internode Length Trial & Advantage of Different Inoculants, Page 27
Precision tools for on Farm Research, Page 28
Effect of Different Sources of Nitrogen on Wheat and Canola, Page 30
Conventional Vs Organic Management Trial, Page 32
Different Weed Management Practices, Page 34
Effect of Headline on Flax, Page 37
Advantage of Spraying Fungicide on Field Peas, Page 38
Effect of Different Pulse Stubbles, Page 39
Alberta Pest Monitoring Network, Page 40
Biennial Wormwood Post Emergence Control, Page 42
Manure Management trial, Page 44
Extension Events 2010, Page 47
AESA Dugout Water Quality, Page 50
Acknowledgements, Page 65
ARECA, Page 67

Table of Contents

2008 MARA Staff, Page 2
2008 Board of Directors, Page 3
Acknowledgements, Page 4
ARECA, Page 7
Presidents Report,Page 8

Crops Program

Regional Variety Trials: Cereals, Flax and Field Peas, Page 9
Prairie Canola Variety Trials: Fort Vermilion, Page 15
Brown Bag vs. Certified Seed Canola, Page 19
Alberta Pest Survey, Page 21
AOPA Trial, Page 23

Table of Contents

2007 MARA Staff, Page 2
2007 Board of Directors, Page 3
Acknowledgements, Page 4
President’s Message, Page 7
Research Coordinator’s Message, Page 8
Former Research Coordinator’s Message,Page 9
ARECA, Page 10
2007 ARECA Executive & Board of Directors, Page 11

Extension

Farming North Of 58° Newsletter & Radio Show, Page 12
2007 Events Summary, Page 13
Pasture School Grazing Demonstration, Page 19
Direct Seeding Into Forage Crops, Page 20
Diagnostic Field School: Growing Successful Pulses, Page 23

Crops Program

Regional Variety Trials: Cereals, Flax and Field Peas, Page 28
Prairie Canola Variety Trials: Fort Vermilion, Page 35
Barley Seed Treatment Evaluation, Page 38
Alberta Pest Survey, Page 42
Alternative Crop Choices: Camelina, Page 43
Heritage Wheat Display, Page 45
The Economic Benefits of Using Compost as a Fertilizer Source, Page 48
Glyphosate Resistance Study, Page 49
Integrated Crop Management, Page 50
Organic Trial, Page 54
Stabilized Nitrogen Trial, Page 58
Forage & Livestock Program
Extending the Grazing Season, Page 60
Local Notes on Corn Grazing, Page 63
Alternative Crops for Grazing, Page 64
Best Management Practices (BMP) Verification for Riparian, Page 65
AESA Farm Based Program Summary, Page 67
Ag-Fibre Biomass Plots, Page 68
Mercury Deposition Sampling, Page 69
2007 Precipitation, Page 70

The 2006 Annual Report is dedicated to the memory of Andrea Vavrek.

Andrea was the former NPARA Research Coordinator / AESA Rural Extension Staff (MD 22). She was a collaborative partner with MARA on the 2006 Diagnostic Field School, Farm Safety Day, Rancher Days, Nutrient Management workshops and AESA program.

Andrea was fatally injured while on the job on January 3, 2007 and passed away on January 8, 2007. Her gift of organ donation has helped more than 80 people have a better quality of life.

Andrea’s enthusiasm, sense of humor and expertise will be missed.

On February 21, 2006 the Fort Vermilion division of the North Peace Applied Research Association became officially incorporated as the: MACKENZIE APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Although our name has changed, we will continue to work with producers, research groups, funding organizations and industry to provide applied research and extension to the Municipal District of Mackenzie #23.