December Harvest Of Canola A First For Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan-Area Farm

Dec 09, 2016

Kenian Skhopich is busy bringing in a crop, undeterred by the fact that the calendar says it is December — weeks past the usual time for end-of-season work.

"This is the first time I've ever combined [this late]," Skhopich said Thursday, adding he's never heard of anyone else bringing in a crop so late in the year. "It would be one of the first."

Skhopich is lending a hand to a couple of cousins harvesting a few fields of canola on their land near Meadow Lake, Sask., which is about 300 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.

"Right now there's barely any snow in the fields and it's better to get it off, before leaving it until spring," Skhopich said. Their work has attracted attention in the area with many people stopping to take pictures and ask questions.

Some are wondering how the cold crop is responding to the harvesting action.

"You have some of it sticking to the ground, frozen. But other than that it's actually going through quite nice, no problems," Skhopich said. "Everything's going nice."

Like most farmers, the original goal was to harvest in the fall but a brief snowfall led to delays. The snow melted and there was an extended dry spell which allowed them to get back onto the land, even as cold weather came.

Machinery performing well

Despite the sub-zero weather, the cab of the combine is warm and comfortable and the equipment is performing as expected.

"So far the machinery is standing up pretty nice, actually. We're having no problems whatsoever with it," he said.

With things progressing smoothly, Skhopich said he expects the work may be completed in the next few days — in time for Christmas.

"We're just about done," he added. "We're finishing up our last few fields. That's all we have left. Trying to get as much done before the snow comes."

Source : CBC

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.