Grainswest - Tech 2025

Tech 2025 grainswest.com 13 BY MELANIE EPP • PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIANNE WESTERLUND and get help with [succession planning], I’d have to drive six to eight hours,” said Newman. “MARA brings that expertise here, five minutes from home.” Newman described MARA’s research as independent, with trials that respond to the needs of the farmer rather than commercial priorities. “It’s not com- pany-led research. It’s not driven by a salesperson. It’s not done by somebody who’s selling the product or trying to get a paper published.” MARA conducts multiple research projects that include soil health bench- marking and regional variety trials (RVTs). Alberta Grains partnered with MARA and additional applied research associations to evaluate the effect of var- ious nitrogen fertilizers on wheat yield and protein. On a MARA research plot, enhanced efficiency fertilizers such as ESN and SuperU are being side-banded at seeding at 70 per cent and 100 per cent of recommended rates. This is being com- pared directly to conventional urea to de- termine the impact of rate and timing. In some cases, farmers are directly behind the innovations being tested. “Some of the equipment we’ve designed ourselves,” said Newman. “And we’re asking, ‘Does this work? Can we prove it works?’” TRIALS AND TRUST In east central Alberta, encompassing the province’s arid Special Areas and the MD of Acadia, CARA works under a similar principle: until it’s tested locally, it hasn’t been proven. Founded by farmers more than 45 years ago, the organization’s mandate is to tailor research to dryland conditions and deliver results in a usable form. “Our role on the local or regional level is to connect that research to the producers and then adapt it and maybe fine tune it to the local conditions,” said Dianne Westerlund, CARA manager and forage agronomist. She added that farmers are increasingly interested in holistic management, especially when it comes to soil. To support this demand, the association established the first soil health lab of its kind in Western Canada. The lab helps farmers look beyond N-P-K to assess micronutrients and biological function, and to evaluate the growing number of soil health products on the market. CARA works with progressive farmers who wish to refine their production prac- tices and sustainably reduce input costs, although everyone benefits from inde- pendent and unbiased evaluation of new agricultural products, said Westerlund. Farmers also rely on CARA’s extension work. This includes farm information initiatives such as hands-on field days, newsletters and webinars. The organiza- tion examines all aspects of the produc- tion puzzle, said Westerlund. It then shares information in a way that assists grain farmers to make better decisions. Farmers in the CARA region contend with salinity, compaction and limited water retention. The ability to draw on locally tested farm practices can narrow the margin of risk under these challenging conditions. CARA provides informational tools to support good deci- sion-making in a dryland system. TRIALS GROUNDED IN LOCAL RISK Further north, GRO serves farmers in Athabasca, Barrhead and Westlock ALBERTA ENVIRONMENTAL FARM PLAN (AEFP) With this free, voluntary self- assessment tool, farmers can identify environmental risks and strengthen stewardship practices. Used by more than 5,000 farmers, the AEFP is increasingly required for grant eligibility and is supported by supply chains that seek proof of responsible land management. AgKnow Through AgKnow, Alberta farmers can connect with therapists who possess an agriculture background. Built to support mental health and succession planning, the program delivered more than 250 sessions in 2024. Backed by ATB Financial, it helps farmers navigate stress, conflict and farm transitions. ON-FARM CLIMATE ACTION FUND (OFCAF) OFCAF supports climate- smart grazing practices across Canada. In Alberta, ARECA delivers the program in partnership with the Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association. While directed toward livestock farmers, it is focused on the growing federal interest in ag-based climate solutions. Crop farms remain largely outside its scope. “What they are trying to do is take technology, products and practices, to see how we can best adapt them to the local situation.” —Allan Hall