Agronomy may never be the same!

This week, the Agronomy & Crop Adaptation Program's two Student Assistants received some special training!  After learning and helping with seeding, Emma and Carina were instructed on how to operate one of the ConservaPak seeders.  They began with some pathway seeding yesterday!

Training like this is important and it's given according to the skill and maturity of a Staff member.  Research plots seeders like the ConservaPak are major capital investments made within AAFC that have 10-30 years of research use.   The operation and use of these major pieces of equipment are critical to the research we perform BUT they don't move without properly trained operators who possess the technical skills and experience to capably drive them.

Carina and Emma aren't quite ready to seed our field research plots yet - but then again, they are learning and gaining experience to help get them there someday!

Congratulations on a pretty big step in your agronomic careers Carina and Emma!

This Week At the Farm (May 7, 2015)

Ever wondered about our equipment?  Here at the Farm, field plot equipment allows our researchers to replicate and that produces scientifically valid results.  The weather hasn't cooperated this week but the seeders are poised, ready to go....

ConservaPak and CrossSlot seeders preparing for #Plant15 here at the Farm.

And our sprayers are being prepared for pre-seed and in-crop pesticide applications that are part of the typical field crop production systems across the prairies. 

ATV-mounted and tractor-mounted spray equipment being prepared for #Plant15.

Spring 2015

The Beaverlodge Research Farm welcomes our student assistants to their summer positions.  The IPM Program is fortunate to have four returning students.  Watch for Shelby, Jadin, Amanda and Kaitlin doing insect pest monitoring again in 2015.