Evaluating the Placement of Companion Crops in Forage Seed Production
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.
Demonstrating the Proper Timing and Application of a Desiccant on Red Clover Seed Crops
Project Objectives: Reglone is the only registered desiccant for use on red clover seed production. It typically takes longer than anticipated to dry down the crop enough for harvest.
Evaluating the Placement of Companion Crops in Forage Seed Production 2017-2018
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.
Forage Seed Response to Copper Fertilization
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.
Controlling Noxious Weeds and Improving Seed Quality in Established Forage Grass Seed Crops
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.
Herbicide Screening for Ten Forage Seed Grass and Legume crops grown in their establishment year, 2013
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.
Fertilizing Forage Grasses for Seed Production
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.
Fungicides for Use in Forage Seed Grasses
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.
Bromegrass Seed Midge Control
The bromegrass seed midge (Contarinia bromicola, Figure 1) is a common pest of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) in Saskatchewan, reported to cause seed yield reductions up to 50% (Knowles 1973).
Pod Sealant on Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a non-bloating perennial legume that is used as a pasture legume around the world (Sareen 2004). Seed production of trefoil, especially pedigreed seed is not meeting demand and seed prices have increased substantially in recent years.