Alberta (Rural Roots Canada) – The best agricultural research doesn’t stay in the lab; it makes its way to the field.
That’s the idea behind Alberta Crop Diagnostic Day, where producers connect directly with researchers to learn practical solutions to the challenges they’re facing, from weed control and insect pests to crop nutrition and agronomy.
This year, Crop Diagnostic Day events were held at Lethbridge Polytechnic in Lethbridge, Lakeland College in Vermillion, and Western Crop Innovations (WCI) in Lacombe in partnership with Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains and Alberta Pulse Growers. The event focuses on applied research that farmers can put to work right away.
Lakeland College Dean of Applied Research François Paradis says that’s the difference.
“We’re really focused on those hands-on, practical strategies or management practices for the producers,” he said.
Read more: Alberta invests $7M to expand hands-on agriculture training at Lakeland College
Paradis says researchers want producers to see the impact of different management practices firsthand so they can recognize problems and make informed decisions in their own fields.
He adds collaboration between researchers, industry and farmers is helping solve the day-to-day challenges facing agriculture.
“Alberta is a great place to do work in agriculture. And so we’re really happy to continue to help solve problems that producers, both on the livestock and crop side, encounter every day on their farm.”
Trevor Sears, Executive Director of Western Crop Innovations, says attendance was about 50% higher than last year.
“It’s just really a good opportunity to bring producers in and show them how we take science from the lab and turn it into practical use on the farm to help them improve their profitability,” says Sears.
