Annual 2020 Forage Seed Field Tour and BBQ
The annual forage seed field tour and barbecue were held at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) Research Farm near Melfort, SK, on July 25th, 2019. The SFSDC, the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF), and AAFC-Melfort hosted the event.
SFSDC invests a significant portion of the levy funds supporting field research on the grass and legume type forages grown for seed production. In 2019, these activities focused on minor use herbicides, fertility, and plant growth regulators. Eight projects included: Annual ryegrass nitrogen fertility in combination with plant growth regulator application; minor use herbicide screening on annual ryegrass; minor use herbicide screening on established red clover and alsike clover; and additional red and alsike clover planted for fall 2019 or spring 2020 research.
Forage Seed ‘non-field-field Tour’. July 25, 2019. Melfort SK. Source: SFSDC
Researchers with projects funded by SFSDC prepared presentations in anticipation of talking with producers in the field; the field tour route was planned; signs posted in anticipation of the visitors, and the noon meal was arranged by the NARF staff. However, Mother Nature had a different idea and when the clouds started building; the winds came up, and the rains began. Touring the field plots was no longer an option. Fortunately, Jessica and the NARF and AAFC staff adapted quickly and our invited speakers had prepared a slide deck of their research just in case we were not able to get to the fields. The 2019 SFSDC event thus became a non-field-field day.
Forages Researcher, Miss Jessica Pratchler. July 25, 2019. Melfort SK. Source: SFSDC
The researchers presented background information on the methods they use in their research, and the results of their work. Miss Jessica Pratchler is Research Manager at NARF, Melfort, SK. and the forage seed field programme lead. Miss Pratchler described the following projects and summarized preliminary observations for the various trials including:
Winter annual control in red clover using Authority™ (0.18 L/ac), Embutox™ (0.91 L/ac), MCPA Amine (0.19 L/ac), Buctril M™ (0.4 L/ac) and Valterra™ (0.113 L/ac).
Demonstrating Red and Alsike Clover Seed Crops in Rotation. Four objectives of this multi-year trial (2017-2019) include: (i) effect of cover crop (Clearfield™ canola) on red and alsike clover seed production; (ii) effect of Odyssey™ and Viper ADV™ for weed control; (iii) effect of short-term legume seed crops (peas) have on reduced N fertilizer requirements in wheat crop rotations; (iv) effect of direct seeding of wheat into red and alsike clover residue.
Annual Ryegrass Fertility & Plant Growth Regulators (PGR). Four nitrogen fertility treatments (0, 50, 100, & 150 kg N/h) and two PGR products (Parlay™ and Manipulator™) are evaluated in replicated field trials.
Herbicide Screening for Annual Ryegrass Seedlings for Seed Production using: Prestige XL™ (0.85 L/ac), Pixxaro™ (125 mL A + 235 mL B), Paradigm™ (10 g/ac), Cipreme™ (Paradigm 10 g/ac; Lontrel 85 mL/ac; MCPA 280 mL/ac) and Puma Advance™ (413 mL/ac).
Brianne McGinnis team will present results of the 2019 field trials contracted by the Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF) at the SFSDC Grower Information Session, January 14, 2020.
The second researcher was Dr. Bill Biligetu, forages breeder at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Biligetu gave updates on the Forage Galega project and the Sanfoin breeding project.
Dr. Bill Biligetu is the forages breeder, University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Biligetu introduced the audience to Forage Galega. This species is being studied as a new forage legume in pure and grass-legume mixed stands (50-50 forage Galega with meadow bromegrass, hybrid bromegrass, and crested wheatgrass). The project is supported by SFSDC, Sask Cattleman’s Association and the provincial government Agriculture Development Fund (ADF).
Biligetu is the lead researcher working with Dr. Jillian Bainard (AAFC, Swift Current), Alan Foster (Melfort) and Dr. Khanal (AAFC, Beaverlodge). The project will evaluate forage establishment, yield, persistence, and nutritive value. Seed production of forage Galega in different soil zones in western Canada are being evaluated. The forage Galega variety ‘Gale’ is grown under monoculture and compared to ‘Beaver’ alfalfa, ‘Veldt’ cicer milkvetch and ‘AAC Mountainview’ sainfoin.
These monoculture treatments are then compared to 50-50 legume-grass mixtures of ‘Armada’ meadow bromegrass, ‘S9656M’ hybrid brome and ‘Newkirk’ crested wheat. The field plots were established in 2018 and Dr. Biligetu reported establishment in 2018 was ‘relatively easy’ and winter survival was ‘relatively high’, however, with 2019 being the first and dry year, the forage/seed yield was lower than alfalfa.
Forages Breeder, Dr. Bill Biligetu, July 25, 2019. Melfort SK. Source: SFSDC
Breeding new sainfoin lines are also part of the portfolio of breeding projects by Dr. Biligetu and co-researchers, Drs. Bruce Coulman and Yong-Bi Fu (AAFC). This project is co-funded by SFSDC and ADF. Sainfoin is a minor legume in Canada. Saskatchewan forage seed producers delivered approximately 123,000 kg of seed in 2005/6 to 2011/12 and 2015/16. Seed deliveries are worth a total value of $215,545, and levy contributions to date from sanfoin are $1,617.
The varieties Melrose (1969), Nova (1980) and AAC Mountainview (2013) are available, however, Dr. Biligetu reported there is limited germplasm available for breeding and as part of the research done by S. Bhattarai, B. Coulman, Y-Bu Fu, A. Beattie, and B.Biligetu, 38 accessions were sourced from around the world and characterized for winter survival, dry matter yield, regrowth, spring vigor, days to flower, stem number and seed yield. In total, three breeding lines have been identified and seeded in replicated plots in Saskatoon in 2018 and 2019 with additional lines expected in 2019/2021. During a visit to the 2019 sainfoin nursery in Saskatoon, it was easy to see how sainfoin is an attractive pollen source for many honey and bumble bees as well as alfalfa leafcutter bees.
SFSDC and the provincial government are supporting the development of methods to accelerate plant breeding in forage grasses. Dr. Alison Ferrie and her team from the National Research Council (NRC) are considered experts in developing and refining laboratory protocols for microspore culture and doubled haploid production. With success developing DH protocols for over 20 crops, Dr. Ferrie and her team are taking on the challenge of doing the same in forage grasses (crested wheatgrass, hybrid brome, and meadow brome).
Doubled Haploidy by Alison Ferrie
Haploidy techniques are very powerful breeding tools in the improvement of crops. Microspores (immature pollen grains) when cultured under sterile conditions will produce embryos that can be regenerated into plants. Treatment of haploid plants with colchicine will double the chromosome number to produce homozygous, pure breeding lines. The main advantage of using haploid plant production technology in a breeding program is to shorten the breeding cycle by three to four years. Microspore and anther culture are techniques that have been used to generate haploid and double haploid plants in many species. These techniques are being used in many breeding institutions to develop varieties and advanced breeding lines.
Cell Technologies Research Scientist, Dr. Alison Ferrie July 25, 2019. Melfort SK. Source: SFSDC
The current project is building on our previous experience and knowledge of doubled haploidy in a wide range of species. Different species require different microspore culture protocols but there may be similarities between the methods. Our objective is to develop a reliable, efficient microspore culture protocol for generating double haploid plants in selected forage grass species. Doubled haploid plants generated from this project will be evaluated in the forage breeding program, U of S.
Red clover is the dominant species grown and sold by forage seed producers in Saskatchewan. Figure 4 (sidebar) illustrates the production from 2006/7 to 2018/19, particularly the variability in the total value of seed deliveries and the downward trend in the number of registered producers.
SFSDC has invested levy dollars and contracted researchers to improve the productivity of red clover grown for seed. One of the largest projects to date for SFSDC is being done in partnership with the government of Saskatchewan as co-funder, and the University of Saskatchewan team of entomology researchers. Graduate student Dan Malamura, supervised by Dr. Sean Praeger, and Dr. Bill Biligetu, has made several presentations on this research to SFSDC at field days and grower information sessions
Red clover is the dominant species grown and sold by forage seed producers in Saskatchewan and SFSDC has invested levy dollars and contracted researchers to improve the productivity of red clover grown for seed. One of the largest projects to date for SFSDC is being done in partnership with the government of Saskatchewan as co-funder, and the University of Saskatchewan team of entomology researchers. Graduate student Dan Malamura, supervised by Dr. Sean Praeger, and Dr. Bill Biligetu, has made several presentations on this research to SFSDC at field days and grower information sessions.
Lesser clover weevil (LCLW) was first reported in Saskatchewan in 1985. The larva and adult forms both cause damage to red clover, reducing seed yield up to 80% and estimates of economic losses in 1986 were approximately $2M. Egg laying begins in May with larvae appearing in early June, the adult stage occurs near the end of June and overwinters. The number of LCLW reaches its peak when the crop starts flowering, therefore spraying coincides with the highest level of bee activity. Mr. Malmura reported, ‘the pest is extremely difficult to control’.
The project is evaluating three weevil control strategies: Decis™, Exirel™, and untreated control. Data is gathered on larva reared in the laboratory from collected stems, field scouting, and sweep netting and yellow sticky cards. The research encompasses studies on red clover field trials at six locations including: Clavet and Melfort (optimal seeding rates for nitrogen fixation and seed production); Arborfield and Carrot River (bee population studies), Love and Snowden, SK
The effect effect of insecticide treatments on the number and abundance of bees is being evaluated of at the two northern Saskatchewan sites, Arborfield and Carrot River. spraying is being evaluated in this Over 1,000 bees were collected pre-spray and post-spray and seven different genera were identified, plus one group of unidentified bees. Mr. Malmura and Sean Prager will be presenting more results of this four-year project at the SFSDC meeting on January 14th, 2010.
The final speaker of the day was Terry Kowalchuk, Government of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Agriculture Provincial Forage Specialist, presenting information on the Saskatchewan Forage Variety Demonstration.
In 2016 a multi-year multi-site forage variety demonstration project was developed to provide an independent assessment of forage varieties for producers, breeders, and seed companies. The intent is to fill the gap in knowledge about performance information in different regions and provide seeding recommendations on forage crops in head-to-head testing (i.e. same varieties, size of trial at different sites) of new varieties in comparison to industry-standard check varieties.
Several stakeholders worked together to make the project a reality. Collaborations included: SFSDC, Saskatchewan Cattleman’s Association, Ducks Unlimited, Sask Milk, and AAFC provided in-kind support. Seed companies participated including: Ag Vision, SeCan, Brett Young, and Performance Seeds. Saskatchewan Forage Council contracted the Northeast and Western (NARF, WARC), Wheatlands Conservation Area, and the U of S to do the plot work.
The first replicated yield plots were seeded in 2017, demonstrating 40 different varieties of grasses and legumes at Swift Current, Scott, Saskatoon, and Melfort. Seed yield plots were established at Melfort, however, these were discontinued after two unsuccessful attempts to get the plots established.
The species are grouped into legumes and grasses and within each, the species are grouped together (alfalfa with alfalfa).
4 meadow brome, 5 Hybrid Brome with ‘Carelton’ Smooth Brome as a check variety
Intermediate and a pubescent wheatgrass
4 types of Crested Wheatgrass
2 Festulolium
3 Orchard Grass
3 Tall Fescuse
Alfalfa varieties
2 Cicer Milkvetch
2 Sainfoin including ‘AC Mountainview’
Mr. Kowalchuk reported the following:
Festolium which is a combination of perennial rye grass and meadow fescue did not survive well at any of our sites.
Some of the varieties of alfalfa that came from outside our climatic region don’t do well here.
Further conclusions will require data analysis over multiple sites (4) and multiple years (3). The goal is to have data published on the Saskatchewan Forage Council website.
All in all, the day was a good information exchange event and new project ideas were discussed.
Thank you to Bill Biligetu, Alison Ferrie, Dan Malamura, Jessica Pratchler and Terry Kowalchuk for their support with the research program and having the foresight to prepare a slide deck presentation and adjusting to the indoor format for the research talks.
A big shout out of thanks goes to Jessica Pratchler and the NARF crew for their efforts with the forage seed research program and for hosting the field tour and the noon luncheon – the food was great! And thank you to Brett Mollison and the AAFC crew at Melfort Research Farm for their help and efforts throughout the year with the forage seed research program.
SFSDC relies on the support of industry partners who generously provide products for the research program. The total cost of seed and product supplies of the 2019 research trials are offset by the generous contributions made by DLF Pickseed, NuFarm, and Corteva. Thank you for your support.