UPGRADE UNPRODUCTIVE ACRES
BY DANIEL STEFNER • PHOTO COURTESY OF OLDS COLLEGE
Marginal acres unsuitable or less suitable for crop production are common on cultivated farmland. To conduct conventional farming practices on such unproductive acres reduces profitability and increases deterioration of land.
Strategies and practices to segregate and farm the marginal land differently present opportunities to increase profitability, better the soil and promote long-term sustainability of annual production. These strategies can be implemented with the use of precision agriculture. Application of best management practices (BMPs) to targeted areas of marginal farmland with the use of precision agriculture equipment is commonly referred to as precision conservation.
Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) worked with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) to assess BMPs for the removal of marginal cropland from annual production. Based on previous studies and available literature, the 16-month project was completed this spring. The resulting report details how the adjustment of management practices of such areas can impact the profitability and environmental stewardship of a farm operation.
A summary version is available on the Olds College website.
The report highlights a range of BMPs that can be utilized on marginal cropland to increase profitability or support biodiversity. It also details how various types of precision agriculture technologies are used to identify and manage marginal farmland when it is taken out of production. Informed by the initial report, FCC conducted further investigation into the BMPs. This provided additional detailed information and a partial model budget to estimate the financial impacts of implementation. FCC selected three BMPs to be implemented on existing marginal cropland at the Olds College Smart Farm. These included establishment of areas to perennial grass and legume blends, the creation of pollinator habitats and wetland restoration.
OCCI researchers then assessed which of the three BMPs were best suited to each of the marginal areas. This included estimation of financial impact and investment requirements as well as potential impact on operations and logistics. Protocols and assessments were also developed to assess and measure the impact of conversion.
To support informed decision-making in the selection of BMPs and the respective targeted plant species, OCCI conducted soil sampling on each marginal area. This helped determine the main soil issues and to select appropriate plant species.
Using this data, OCCI and FCC converted two areas of marginal land to alternative uses over the 2024 crop season. At the Steckler Farm near Didsbury, a three-acre marginal area was sown to three types of Proven Seed perennial grasses and legume blends supplied through Nutrien’s Proven Seed Perennial Pollinator program. Meanwhile, an eight-acre marginal area within a field east of Olds was converted to a pollinator habitat of perennial flowers. Two types of multi-species blends were used. These included alfalfa, clover, milkvetch, phacelia and more. Blends for the pollinator habitat area were also provided by Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program.
Researchers gathered data on the health, nutrient content and physical properties of the soil. They also noted the pollinators and plant species present, and calculated plant biomass and flower timing. By tracking the cost to establish these BMPs and the cost of production of adjacent crops, the project will determine how farmers may increase their per-acre profitability while bettering their environmental sustainability.
Results will be published by early spring next year, and first-year findings will be presented at AgSmart 2025.
Daniel Stefner is a smart agriculture applied research project lead with OCCI.
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