This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Greg Cherewyk, Pulse Canada

Politics 101: Identify a practical and reasonable solution. Build a critical mass of support from a range of stakeholders with an interest in the issue. Clearly and consistently communicate the problem, the impact and the solution to all those who have the ability to influence change. Sounds simple, but the reality is that it almost never works out this way. Why? For the most part, it’s because people rarely get past step one. As a result, Government hears from dozens if not more interested stakeholders on an issue and each stakeholder presents five to ten of their own ‘practical and reasonable solutions’.

What does Government do when their constituents present nearly a hundred wide ranging and often competing solutions? More often than not, it’s forced to go with the lowest common denominator…and why would that surprise anyone? There’s no consensus on the approach, no consensus on the desired outcome and any decision will result in a good portion of constituents being unhappy at the end of the day.

The agriculture industry’s response to the unprecedented grain backlog is a prime example of how this scenario continues to play out each and every time there’s an opportunity to make meaningful progress on an issue. Nearly every ag industry association made transportation a top priority this season and as a result nearly every group became active on the transportation file. This is good – this needs to happen. Everyone with a stake in moving grain from the farm to the customer needs to know that failure is not an option and farmers, processors and exporters expect more.

When is it ‘good enough’? It’s never good enough and that message came through loud and clear. But the inevitable response to the demand for Government to ‘do something’ is a very legitimate question; ‘what would you propose Government do to resolve the problem?’

Everyone with a stake in the ag industry voiced their opinion and put forward recommendations in February and March. Solutions ranged from finding ways to pay the railways more to granting joint running rights and everything in between. The Government’s first response was to establish targets that essentially require the railways to move what they say they are capable of moving week in and week out and threatening to penalize them if they fall short. It followed by committing to introduce additional amendments to the Canada Transportation Act to enhance the Fair Rail Freight Service Act that was passed in June of 2013.

At the time of writing this article, it remains to be seen how Government will respond to the extremely wide range of views that the agriculture industry has put forward, but if history repeats itself, we can expect a lowest common denominator approach in the short term and deferral of more comprehensive change to some point in the future.

The ag industry has had its opportunity to influence the Government’s actions in the short term. The ‘some point in the future’ is the Canada Transportation Act Review which is currently set for 2015. One option that should be given consideration by all ag industry stakeholders is an approach whereby groups come together and put all of their great ideas on the table and together, prioritize and short list the range of solutions that will advance to the next round.

From there, stakeholders have to be prepared to critically assess each solution and understand the implications of each from a commercial and political perspective. Once the short list has been confirmed, the industry will have to be prepared to start the conversation with representatives from all shipping sectors in Canada. Agriculture is but one stakeholder when it comes to rail freight movement and the solutions that will get traction in Ottawa are those that are supported by the broadest range of stakeholders. Messaging will have to be clear, concise and consistent and will have to be sustained over a long period of time.

Admittedly, the process outlined here has been oversimplified, but in reality the agriculture industry must agree on the destination, must be prepared to work together to map out the best possible route and must be able to convince a wide range of others to join them on the journey. If not this, then what? If not us, then who? If not now, then when?

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Allison Ammeter, APG Vice-President

As a farmer, I’m a firm believer in being ready and able to answer questions about agriculture whenever they are asked, whether it is from a friend, a consumer or an activist. This requires being informed and being available. Most of my life, I’ve been called upon to do this at the kitchen table, in the local coffee shop, or on social media.

When I stepped onto the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission (APG), I knew that I was agreeing to do this on a greater, more provincial scale, sitting on a board of farmer directors, advocating for pulses in particular. This has required me looking at research projects that will benefit producers, planning ways of communicating with producers and consumers, and trying to be forward thinking in how to help producers in the future.

When I agreed to be the APG representative on the Grain Growers of Canada (GGC), I knew I was agreeing to step up on a more national scale, sitting on a board of farmer directors, advocating for crop producers in Canada. The committees there are dealing with issues of transportation, sustainability and sound science, trade and marketing, research, and safety-nets.

Having said all that, when I received a phone call first thing in the morning on Friday, February 7, asking if I would be willing to travel to Ottawa for Monday, February 10 to testify before the House of Commons Ag Committee on Transportation, my reaction was similar to most peoples. “No, I don’t want to go, I’m not informed enough, ask someone else”. Okay, I didn’t say that, I thought that. I told GGC I would call back shortly. Then I talked to my husband, talked to APG’s Executive Director, and I talked to myself. All three told me this is what it means to step up and be an advocate for my industry.

I agreed to fly to Ottawa, and then I proceeded to read everything I could get my hands on to be sure I was representing producers accurately and putting their best interests forward. There are some fabulous resource people in our industry, and I was very grateful for the policy papers sent to me by APG, GGC, and Alberta Barley Commission staff who were all working together on behalf of GGC.

I worked over the weekend with several of the other GGC members to produce a nine minute statement to read before the committee on Monday afternoon. We had been given a time limit by the clerk, and were informed that there would be approximately 40 minutes afterward for questions from the committee. I knew the best way for me to prepare for those questions was to know the issues, to be honest, and to speak from a farmer’s perspective.

“Farm advocacy means stepping out of your comfort zone.”

Of course, I was only one of many cogs in the squeaky wheel that has been trying to get the transportation issue dealt with by government. The week before I went to Ottawa, several farmers were there with the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Convention, and while there many of them talked to their Members of Parliament (MP). The crisis that had developed with the grain not moving across the prairies was being spoken of in every circle. The House of Commons had called for a four hour emergency debate on the issue. Because of all this, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture had called for presentations on the issue, which is why I was there.

Before committee, the GGC Public Affairs Manager and I had made appointments to visit my MP (Earl Dreeshen, who is also on the Ag Committee) as well as Ruth-Ellen Brosseau, the NDP vice-chair of the Ag Committee. Both were extremely good connections. I particularly appreciated the 30 minutes I sat down with Ms. Brosseau, a city girl from Quebec with an Ag portfolio. With her, I was freely able to offer myself as a farm woman resource; I hope that this relationship will continue to strengthen in the future. This is farm advocacy.

Media discovered that Rick White, General Manager of the Canadian Canola Growers Association, and I were in Ottawa to appear before the committee, and we received a request for an interview with Martin Stringer of CPAC and Prime Time Politics. Again, the first response is “uh. no.”, while the reasoned response is “Of course we’ll do that”. So Rick and I gave a quick and snappy interview on the transportation issue which was then aired for the federal political junkies viewing pleasure.

The committee really impressed me, as it was made up primarily of MP’s with experience in agriculture, and seemed to be very close to non-partisan on this issue. Getting the grain moving is not a Conservative issue, a Liberal issue, nor an NDP issue. It is a “good of the country” issue, and the committee seemed determined to achieve results.

The hearing itself was two hours long. Appearing in the hour before me, all by video conference were Greg Cherewyk, Chief Operating Officer, Pulse Canada, Wade Sobkowich, Executive Director, Western Grain Elevator Association, John Heimbecker, Director, Western Grain Elevator Association and Levi Wood, President of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. They were well-spoken, well-informed, and gave excellent presentations and answered questions in a knowledgeable and professional manner.

The hour I appeared before the committee included Rick White, who spoke on the cash advance program, and Stuart Person, Business Advisor Agriculture, MNP LLP, a farmer and accountant, who spoke about cash flow via video conference. I really noticed that as professional as all of the witnesses who appeared by video conference, the committee was far more engaged with the two of us who were there in person. When I spoke up as a farmer, they sat forward, leaned in, obviously wanting a “boots on the ground” perspective. This is farm advocacy.

In addition to appearing at committee, I had been offered an invitation for the next day to the pre-budget reception, the budget tabling in the House, and the post-budget reception; all because I was “in the right place at the right time”. By accepting these invitations I was also able to speak to Honourable Ministers: Lisa Raitt (Transportation), Peter Mackay (Defence), Rob Nicholson (Justice), Jason Kenney (Employment, Social Development and Multiculturalism), Kevin Sorenson (Minister of State Finance), and Candice Bergen (Minister of State Social Development); as well as having a photo taken with the Right Honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper. None of those opportunities would have happened if I had not said yes and stepped up. This is farm advocacy.

When I returned home, my local newspaper, the Red Deer Advocate, called and asked if they could do an article on my experience and on the transportation issue. To his credit, Harper Richards, Red Deer Advocate Editor, did a very comprehensive article and addressed the issues very well, for which I was grateful. Our entire reading area was appraised of the grain crisis. This is farm advocacy.

The lesson I have learned? Farm advocacy often means stepping up. Farm advocacy often means stepping out of your comfort zone. The good news is that there are a lot of great resource people to help you when you are called upon, to ensure that it will be worthwhile and beneficial. The rewards are multiple – not the least of which being the knowledge that you were able to stand up and speak knowledgably and passionately for a cause that you strongly believe in. This is farm advocacy.

Gratefully,
Allison Ammeter

To follow Allison’s farm advocacy journey visit:

• Prime Time Politics
• Red Deer Advocate

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Dr. Ron Howard started his agricultural career by taking an active part in helping run his family’s 1440 acre mixed farm in Saskatchewan. He began his formal education in agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan where he received a B.S.A. with Honours in Crop Science (1969) and a M.Sc. in Plant Pathology (1971). Dr. Howard traveled to the University of Wisconsin, Madison for his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (1975). With his doctorate in hand, Dr. Howard began his career with Alberta Agriculture and Food at the Crop Diversification Centre South (CDCS) that same year. During his stellar career, he has been key to the development of viable crop options for not just Albertan but Canadian Farmers.

A life-time of learning

Over the span of his professional life, Dr. Howard has worked on over 50 types of crops and plants including wheat, rye, alfalfa, sainfoin, dry beans, dry peas, soybeans, lentils, faba beans, chickpeas, potatoes, greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals, turf and forage grasses, field vegetables, shade and shelter belt trees, black currants, saskatoons, interiorscape plants, chicory, turfgrass, monarda, corn, mint, safflower, essential oil crops, medicinal plants and several minor speciality crops.

Because of this extensive crop list, Dr. Howard has been a life-long learner, studying the biology and optimal growing conditions for these plants, naturally occurring disease and pest problems in their countries/areas of origin, and the existence of pest management programs.

Focus on extension – truly a friend to farmers

Sharing the information has been vital in Ron’s career. Not only has he published over 1000 articles, Dr.. Howard initiated the Crop Protection newsletter which was the first of its kind in Alberta, was the senior editor and contributor Diseases and Pests of Vegetable Crops in Canada, a 554- page color-illustrated book describing the major diseases and insect pests of the major vegetable crops grown in Canada. Published in 1994, it has sold thousands of copies in Canada and worldwide.

Dr. Howard has an approachability and a humility despite numerous and prestigious awards amongst the scientific community. His presentations at crop walks, field schools, and producer conferences have built a reputation such that he is the “go-to” person for help when it comes to plant diseases that threaten the livelihood of Alberta producers. His work has raised the profile of agriculture in the province. Dr. Howard’s writing, speaking, research and extension skills have resulted in a rich legacy of enriching the agriculture sector.

“Ron is an authority on many topics and keeps a work pace that few could match. But [I} soon found that these attributes were also balanced with patience, humility and compassion. In spite of his busy schedule, Ron always appears eager to help an employee with details of a protocol, or a student working on a research project or manuscript, or a producer or industry contact needing a diagnosis. He is a meticulous and ethical researcher, a skilled leader, and a true ambassador of Alberta producers.” —Dr. Michael Harding

Congratulations to you, Dr. Howard, the Alberta Pulse Growers celebrate with you and wish you the very best. The pulse industry in Alberta has benefited greatly from your passion for agriculture, your contributions are rooted deep in our successes and in the knowledge we have gained. For all of this please accept our heartfelt thanks.

With thanks to Dr. Michael Harding for his contributions

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

To celebrate 25 years as an industry organization, the Alberta Pulse Growers are pleased to announce the Alberta Pulse Growers Industry Innovator Award. The award, which will be given out annually is to recognize the efforts of a person that has contributed to the pulse industry in a unique or innovative way.

“I am proud to announce this award, there are so many individuals that have done so much for this industry, and we feel that their contributions should be recognised”, said Richard Krikke, APG President and pulse farmer from Neerlandia. “This award will start a yearly process of celebrating the contribution of individuals, organizations and others to the pulse industry in Alberta”.

Criteria for nomination include contributions to research, marketing, extension, production, promotion, processing, and management. Detailed information on the criteria for nomination and nomination forms can be found at https://www.pulse.ab.ca/news/article/pulse-industry-innovator-award.

The first award will be given out at the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Every year in February, I make the trek first to Burdett, and then to Taber to attend the Viterra bean grower meetings. Viterra staff provide an overview of the year from a business perspective which includes a detailed operations update, with planned equipment upgrade, expansions and expenditures.

This year growers have indicated their intention to grow just over 50,000 acres of dry beans in the 2014 season. Of note is Viterra’s intention to fine tune the dockage assessment by market class to more closely mirror what the marketplace is demanding in terms of seed sizing and which the CGC assessment does not take in to account. For the upcoming season SGS will be used for third party arbitrations of dockage if required.

Kevin Sawchuk, a Viterra bean merchant, provided a market outlook which included the information on pricing and percentage of 2013 crop that has been sold. North American bean yields were above average for the 2013 season, similar to all other crops, however the logistical constraints associated with transport haven’t affected the bean crop as greatly as some other crops. The low inventory carry over from the previous has resulted in excellent ability to move beans early with lots of forward contracting. The pooling system used by the Bean Division allows for marketing flexibility and access to premium pricing options, it is a very unique relationship between Viterra and the bean producers that makes Alberta very competitive from a global perspective.

Viterra works closely with Dr. Parthiba Balasubramanian, (AAFC Lethbridge) in the development of new bean varieties specifically adapted for Alberta. They collaborate on the selection of lines that will be moved through the registration process. Dr. Mike Harding (ARD Brooks), Doon Pauly (ARD Lethbridge), Pat Pfiffner (ARD Lethbridge) and Brian Storozynsky along with Dr. Balasubramanian provided updates on the ongoing agronomic research in the area of dry bean production.

A highlight of the bean meetings are the growers production awards. Two awards, one for top yield and one for best quality are given out on an annual basis. Samples are taken based on off-the-truck delivery and rated for merit. Larry Doherty, provided some insight into the parameters of the two awards. The highest yields of each market class are determined after dockage as they arrive at either the Taber or Bow Island plants. The average yields for 2013 were up 10% over 2012 and up over 18% over the last 5 year average.

To determine the grower with the highest quality, 5 – 10 samples from each of the market classes are selected first based on dockage. Those samples are then visually assessed for color by Doherty and Jim Rex, another Viterra field rep. This reduces the selection to three samples from each of the market classes. The final determination is based on seed weight and size. The producer with the top yield and the producer with the best quality are recognized at these meetings in front of their peers.

Doherty stated that the presentation of these awards is “good for the morale of growers”. Celebrating success is not done often enough, it provides growers with the opportunity to see how other growers management decisions impact the ability to produce high yielding, high quality dry beans. This year Viterra is taking it one step further. The top growers will be a part of a panel talking about the intricacies of combining dry beans, and the methods that they have found to best reduce harvest losses and damage.

The relationship between the Southern Alberta bean growers and the Alberta Bean division of Viterra is completely unique. A pooling system with full support of the growers who contract with the company coupled with an openness regarding the business and management decisions on the part of Viterra has resulted in a long history of success.

Congratulations to this year’s winners! Quality Winner was Muller Ventures Inc., who had the top quality beans in both Pinto and Great Northern classes. Overall Yield winner was Lohues Farms Ltd., Coaldale who produced 3812 lbs/ac of Myacoba beans.

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Pulse crops are great to have in a rotation but for producers who generally grow few pulse acres, here’s a quick refresher on best seeding practices. This guide will provide a quick overview on land preparation, varieties, inoculants, fertility and seeding management.

Choosing your pulse crop

Choosing the right crop and variety for your operation is the most important decision you will make, as that seed will have the potential to impact every step of the growing season. This decision will be mostly impacted by what market is available for your crop, rather than the agronomics of how it will grow on your farm. Look at what marketing options are available BEFORE choosing a crop and variety. Check the Alberta Pulse Growers website for a list of buyers.

After determining what pulse crop to grow, you’ll need to find the right seed. The Alberta Seed Guide is a good place to start looking for varieties and growers. Growing certified seed guarantees that the seed you buy has gone through all proper multiplication, inspection and cleaning processes to ensure a pure product.

The Alberta Seed Guide, the Alberta Pulse Growers website, Ropin the Web and the winter edition of Pulse Crop News also has varietal information from the pulse Regional Variety Trials that are funded by the commission each year. These trials include data on standability, maturity rating and disease resistance. Standability scores are rated from 1-9, the scores closer to 1 are more erect. Lodging of a pulse crop can be worsened by disease and make harvest difficult so look for varieties with scores from 2-4.

Preparing your land

Rolling your land can be beneficial for pushing down rocks to make harvesting a shorter or lodged crop easier on equipment. Rolling land is common, however timing is important. According to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development “pre-emergence rolling for pulse crops is the preferred approach, as opposed to post-emergence, with certain exceptions. Pre-emergence rolling is not recommended under the following conditions: extremely wet conditions on clay soils prone to crusting, sandy soils prone to erosion, dry soils prone to erosion or pea soils.” Pots-emergence rolling can be done on peas or lentils but pre-emergent rolling is preferred.

Some suggestions for rolling your field

• Roll the field soon after seeding if possible as late seeding may cause bruising of the stem and increase risk of disease spreading.
• Roll the field when the soil surface is dry, not in the morning. Rolling wet leaves can also cause disease to spread.
• Rolling headlands is not necessary as it can result in double rolling and can thin out a crop.

Pre-emergent Herbicides

Pulse crops require planned disease and pest management strategies throughout the season, but applying an early spring burn-down and pre-emergent herbicide can ensure your crop gets a head start on weeds.

Inoculant

One of the most important inputs for any pulse crop is inoculant. Inoculant is comprised of bacteria called rhizobia that cause root nodule formation on legume crops. Good nodulation is key for nitrogen fixation by these crops. Soil already contains some rhizobium bacteria but adding inoculant at seeding ensures your crop has enough of the rhizobia when seed germination and root formation occurs. It is important to choose an inoculant that has a strain of rhizobia specific to the pulse crop that you are growing.

It is advised to inoculate your seed the day that you seed, depending on the type of inoculant you use and some inoculants can be mixed with pesticides or fertilizer. To choose a proper inoculant, ensure you talk to your input supplier and read all labels carefully.

Inoculants come in three formulations

1. Peat powder inoculant: Applied directly to the seed with a nontoxic sticking agent, this formulation is a finely ground peat that contains over a billion rhizobia per gram. Peat powder inoculant is one of the most common types used in Canada.
2. Liquid inoculant: This formulation, which also contains over a billion rhizobia per gram, is applied directly to the seed, and because it comes in liquid form, a sticking agent is typically included in the fluid. Liquid inoculant comes in bags that make it easy to distribute evenly onto the seed while it is being augered into a truck box or through a drill fill.
3. Granular soil inoculant: Unlike peat powder or liquid inoculants, granular soil inoculant is not applied directly to the seed but, rather, with the seed in the seed row. This formulation does, however, contain the same amount of rhizobia as both the powder and liquid inoculants and is gaining in popularity because it works well over a range of environmental conditions (i.e. lower pH, dry).

Seed Treatment

Treating seed will help ensure your pulse crop gets off to a healthy start as disease can cause yield loss, harvest problems and poor seed quality. These diseases can be controlled in-part, through sound agronomic and chemical controls. Use Alberta Agriculture’s Blue Book for an up-to-date resource and talk with your agronomist or input supplier about pulse seed treatments.

Each crop is susceptible to different types of seedling diseases such as seedling blight, root rot, damping off and foot rot caused by soil-borne pathogens; Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Pythium.

Fertility

Pulse crops remove nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulphur) from the soil. Soil testing is the best way to determine fertility requirements of your land. Added nitrogen is not required by pulse crops as these crops fix nitrogen from the air for their own use. Phosphorous is the most common macronutrient required, but crop response to potassium, sulphur and micronutrients is less common. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development has more information on pulse crop nutrient requirements on their website, Ropin the Web, under the Crop Information section.

Seeding Best Management Practices

The following chart will provide you with a good overview of generally recommended seeding practices for pulses in Alberta. While these practices are advisable, actual practices may vary from operation to operation.

Seeding Rate Calculation

This calculation is used to determine the seeding rate which will achieve recommended viable plants/ft².

Seeding rate (lbs/ac) = (desired plant population/ft² X 1,000 kernel weight [g]) / expected seed survival (ie: 0.9=90%)

For further information contact Sydney Vos, Member Relations Coordinator (svos@pulse.ab.ca) or call 780-983-6307.

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

The Prairie Recommending Committee for Pulse and Special Crops (PRCPSC) is responsible for the testing and evaluation of pulse and special crop candidate cultivars for registration in western Canada. This year the committee met the February 25-27 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There currently are 51 voting members on the PRCPSC.

Over the three days of meetings, 26 bean, pea and lentil lines were assessed by the quality, disease and agronomy committees and voted on by the larger membership to support or object to the request for support for registration. Once a breeder has received support from the committee they then submit an application to the CFIA requesting that the line be registered. This generally does not occur until the line is picked up by a commercial seed company for release to seed growers.

Of the 26 applications, 22 received the support of the committee. The four lines that were not supported due to insufficient data and it was recommended that they enter into the co-op trials prior to applying for support again. The following table summarizes the lines that were supported for registration.

This process by which varieties are assessed for merit falls under the Tier 1 which requires support by committee in order to apply to the CFIA for classification as a registered variety. There has been discussion at the last two PRCPSC meetings regarding the possibility of moving to Tier 3, which sets minimum requirements that must be met in order to apply for registered variety.

Pulse crops may choose to move to a Tier 3 classification with the agreement of the voting membership and the industry stakeholders. Should this move forward, the transfer would not take place until 2017 or 2018. A move to Tier 3 would allow for more varieties to undergo testing through coop and private trials, and more clearly outlined parameters that registered varieties would need to meet in order to apply for registration.

For more information regarding the variety registration process and a more detailed explanation of Tier 1 and Tier 3 check out the CFIA website www.inspection.gc.ca.

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Pulse growers in Alberta who pay service fees (or levy) to their provincial organization, the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission, are eligible to apply for a tax credit from the Government of Canada.

The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) program is a federal tax incentive program to encourage Canadian business of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada that will lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes. The SR&ED program is the single largest federal tax incentive program that supports business research and development. In 2012, the SR&ED program provided over $3.6 billion in tax assistance to over 23,000 claimants. Pulse growers are advised that investment in research through payment of pulse service fees is eligible for this tax credit.

• Fiscal Year Ended 2012-13: 9.20%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2011-12: 14.00%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2010-11: 21.20%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2009-10: 30.30%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2008-09: 15.00%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2007-08: 13.33%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2006-07: 17.00%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2005-06: 20.00%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2004-05: 25.00%
• Fiscal Year Ended 2003-04: 13.00%

The SR&ED tax credit can be earned on the portion of a producer’s service fee contribution that was paid to an approved research entity, as determined by the Canada Revenue Agency. For the 2012-13 fiscal year 9.20% percent of pulse service fees that were deducted from a producer’s cash ticket are eligible for the tax credit. Producers are eligible to claim up to a maximum of 20 per cent for non-incorporated farm operations and up to a maximum of 35 per cent for incorporated operations of the determined percentage.

The SR&ED tax credit application form can be downloaded directly from the Canada Revenue Agency website at https://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/txcrdt/sredrsde/menu-eng.html. Individual producers need to apply using the form T2038 (IND) and Canadian controlled private corporations should utilize the form T2SCH31. Individuals have 17.5 months from the end of their fiscal year to apply retroactively. If you have questions related to the SR&ED tax credit please consult an accountant or contact the Canada Revenue Agency.

 

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Competitive ability for field peas using genotypic mixtures sets stage for additional research.

Genotypic mixtures of pulse crops may provide opportunities for growers as the strength in the mixture may be able to reduce disease, increase yields or even suppress weeds. A successful mixture is one where components show compatibility and interact positively with each other. While the use of this theory in agriculture is not common, one scientist is looking into how it might work for improvements to field pea production.

Understanding current production challenges such as the emergence of herbicide resistant weeds and poor competitive ability of pulses when facing weed pressure, Dr. Chris Willenborg, University of Saskatchewan researcher (formerly with the University of Alberta), was successful in accessing Alberta Pulse Grower Commission funding and Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program funding through Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta to support work on improving field pea production and competitive ability using genotypic mixtures.

Mixtures for the study were chosen based on genetic relatedness. Genetic relatedness can express itself in people by eye and hair colour and other attributes but it really means that you’ve come from the same gene pool and you have shared ancestry like a mother and daughter or father and son. For the study, four semi-leafless field pea cultivars were chosen based upon relatedness – two sister lines, one common parent and one distantly related genotype.

Dr. Willenborg looked at how mixtures improve growth, production and competitiveness of field pea in the presence and absence of weeds and also explored if genetic relatedness is a consideration on the choice of genotypic mixtures with and without weed pressure. Weed pressure for the study was introduced using barley as the ‘pseudo weed’ in the plot research. Barley was chosen because is a common volunteer in field pea crops in Alberta. Plots were chosen in two Alberta research locations at Lethbridge and St. Albert.

Over the time of the study, the research team saw differences between monocultures and mixtures. If growers are using poor competitive pea genotypes weeds can take over and the results are that pea yields are reduced. Dr. Willenborg observed that competitive ability improved by combining the poor competitor types with more vigorous ones. In addition, he hypothesizes that adding more related lines to the mixture may make for better competition against weeds.

How does this translate for farmers? It is a challenge because producers are continually looking for varieties with greater vigor and competitive ability. In addition, if markets move to demanding more definitive attributes for field pea, for example in value added ingredient uses, it may become a requirement for monocultures for consistency of product. This certainly says more work is needed in this area to counterbalance production solutions for weed competition issues with potential market demands.

Dr. Willenborg and his colleagues believe there is potential for improved competitiveness but further research is needed. To that end, Dr. Willenborg was successful in securing a second round of funding to support his continued work on this project. More results will be shared with growers as the project continues.

This article appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

This winter Alberta Pulse Grower staff has been making the rounds at tradeshows and conferences to put a finger on the ‘pulse’ of the industry. The issues facing the pulse industry have been evolving over the last number of years but we heard some of the same topics province wide. Standability of peas, potential for soybeans and marketing faba beans are all at the front of pulse producer’s minds.

We also heard from growers collectively across Alberta about the unique and often frustrating challenges with movement of grain this year. Coming into the spring with extra crop in the bin and uncertainty around commodity prices has prompted farmers to look at altering their rotations. Despite some reports of potentially more canola and less wheat around the province, APG has had many inquiries from farmers who are increasingly interested in growing pulses this year.

Ag Expo- Lethbridge

Ag Expo offered producers a chance to check out specialized crop and livestock equipment, as well as attend various sessions. Producer information sessions included topics such as faba beans, soybeans and general market outlooks. APG got plenty of questions surrounding these ‘up and coming’ pulse crops and what new varieties are available for lentils and peas. The show was well attended and it was valuable to hear growers concerns from southern Alberta.

Faba beans and soybeans were the hot crop topics but there were some growers expressing interest in trying pulses for the first time. They were looking for information on peas as an alternative in their rotation. Pricing opportunities were the main consideration for these producers who were considering growing pulse crops.

Peace Country Classic- Grande Prairie

At the 29th Peace Country Classic Agri-Show in Grande Prairie, producers also showed great interest in soybeans and Faba beans. Others who hadn’t grown pulses in the past were interested in what could be grown in their area and frost tolerance of various pulses and varieties. In general, Peace Country growers are very concerned with marketing options and movement of their grain because of their location. A number of northern growers asked about forage varieties for cattle and pulse mixes for silage. We even fielded a few questions about cooking pulses and genetic modification.

Despite the variety of questions and comments we got from all over Alberta, there was an underlying theme. Producers always want to hear about anything new and how it can improve their business. There seems to be some “thinking outside the box” for crop rotations in 2014 that will provide alternative marketing opportunities and risk management for the farm. However, we will have to wait until the crop is in the ground to know the final decision.

For more information on pulse extension or production please contact Sydney Vos, Member Relations Coordinator svos@pulse.ab.ca.