An Organic and Low-Input Field Day at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Swift Current Research and Development Centre was well attended and attracted interest from people across the Prairies.
The event went on despite the fact that many of the organic research plots at the site were wiped out by an intense hail storm on Saturday night.
Producers in attendance heard about the research work being done on cover cropping, durum production in a year following cover crops, the use of living mulch to control weeds, greenhouse gas measuring in organic fields, and grasshopper control measures.
Sherri Roberts a certified organic agrologist talked about disease studies around the world involving fusarium head blight and root rot which came to the same general conclusion that disease was less of a problem in organic systems.
"We got lots of nice little soil microbes because we're feeding that soil and making it real healthy. So then all those little microbes break down that residue better. That gives us .. what? Less fusarium. You guys, you got it all made. You know how this game goes."
Roberts is also a crops extension specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture in Saskatchewan.
More information and copies of the handouts from the event are available through Sask Organics and from Dr Myriam Fernmandez at myriam.fernmandez@agr.gc.ca
Source : Pembinavalley online