The following projects are in various stages of completion. Check back for updates on projects in our research section.

Objectives: This project evaluates and demonstrates the use of direct seeding with the use of pre-seeding herbicide applications or pre-seeding cultivation when establishing forage seed crops.

Project Objectives: SFSDC wanted to determine if there are any residual effects of planting meadow bromegrass in alternate rows with wheat on seed yield of the forage in the second year of seed production.

Project Objectives: SFSDC wanted to demonstrate the importance of controlling Noxious and hard to control weeds such as cleavers and wild oats in established forage legume seed crops. The project used registered herbicides, including those registered under the minor use registration program, for weed control.

Project Objectives: The objective of this project was to demonstrate the importance of the control of leaf diseases and their impact on forage seed yield and quality as well as forage quality. The project uses registered fungicides on established timothy and tall fescue crops.

Project Objectives: SFSDC wanted to demonstrate the effectiveness of using alternate row companion crop planting when establishing forage seed crops. The project demonstrated the agronomic and economic advantages of alternate row planting using presently available equipment technology.

Project Objectives: SFSDC wanted to demonstrate the effectiveness of using alternate row companion crop planting when establishing forage seed crops. The project demonstrated the agronomic and economic advantages of alternate row planting using presently available equipment technology.

In June 2013, we applied foliar EDTA chelated copper to established timothy (3 locations) and hybrid bromegrass (1 location) on replicated mini-plots. This was repeated in June of 2014 and June 2015, but we added 2 other liquid Cu foliar treatments; dropped one unresponsive site and added another potentially responsive hybrid bromegrass site.

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) are intended to reduce nutrient losses to the environment, thereby increasing nutrient availability for plant production. One category of EEFs is nitrogen (N) fertilizer that is stabilized using compounds such as urease and nitrification inhibitors, both of which slow the release of N by controlling key microbially mediated processes.

Project Objective: SFSDC wanted to demonstrate the importance of controlling noxious and hard to control weeds in established forage grass seed crops. The project used registered herbicides, including those registered under the minor use registration program, for weed control.

Weed control is critical in the establishment year for forages grown for seed production. With that in mind we initiated a research trial to identify herbicide options that provide adequate weed control while posing acceptable risk of crop damage for selected forage species where suitable weed control treatments do not currently exist.

No studies have been conducted to determine forage seed yield response to N and P fertilizers as affected by the availability of these elements in northeastern Saskatchewan soils.

Project Objectives: The objective of this project was to compare the benefits of using coated fertilizer products to non-coated products on forage grasses grown for seed and to demonstrate if field scale coated fertilizers will increase yields when applied directly after harvest.

Project Objectives: The Saskatchewan Forage Seed Development Commission (SFSDC) wanted to demonstrate the use of registered fungicides, Tilt 250 E (propiconozole) on timothy and Headline EC (pyraclostrobin) on perennial ryegrass, to determine if leaf disease could be controlled and seed yield and quality improved.

Invasive plant species are non-native plants introduced outside of their natural habitats. In this new environment, free from their natural ‘enemies’, they have an advantage that allows them to out-compete native plants and agricultural crops for space, moisture and nutrients.

Become familiar with plant identification and control strategies. Inspect pastures, holding pens, corrals, trails, salting locations, watering sites, and fireguards regularly. Inspect and clean vehicles, including undercarriage, prior to entering or leaving pastures. Ensure that feed sources are weed-free.

Become familiar with plant identification and control strategies. Inspect fields and surrounding areas regularly to identify plants posing potential risk. Inspect and clean equipment and vehicles regularly. Develop a written biosecurity protocol for bringing in new equipment, seed or feed.

In the Canadian Prairie Provinces, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are most commonly deficient nutrients, while potassium (K) and sulphur (S) may also be deficient for certain crop and soil conditions. One or more of these four major nutrients may be limiting for optimum forage seed production.