Fraser variety testing site looking at alfalfa, grass and cereals. Dave Merz
chaired the session and introduced agronomists Jim Tingle who talked about
the promising varieties and Ray Dowbenko of Agrium, who introduced the
fertilizer program for the trials. Dave also introduced Traugott Klein who
manages all five test sites. Audrey and Art Wiens, test site co-operators,
generously provided refreshments on a beautiful sunny day.
On the morning of June 18 the group toured the Smithers test plots
hosted by Leroy and Matt Taylor and at 3:00 pm toured the grass trials at
Decker Lake hosted by Herb Neville.
The Highway 16 trials are actively supported by many farm organizations
and individuals. BCMAFF last tested cereal varieties in this area in 1991.
Cereal silage harvests are expected to start around the end of July with
cereal grain harvest in September. The perennial forage tests are usually
harvested during the last week of June and again in late August. The tests
will be harvested 2004 to 2006.
Mapes - Monroe Muir, Stump Road
- alfalfa, grass and cereals
Fort Fraser - Art Wiens, Highway 16
- alfalfa, grass and cereals
Francois Lake - Peebles Ranch, Walker Road
- cereal grain, and cereal silage
Decker Lake - Herb Neville, Palling Road E.
- alfalfa and grass
Smithers - Leroy Taylor, Snake Road
- alfalfa, grass and cereals
Beef Cattle Industry Development Fund
BC Investment Agriculture Foundation
Nechako/Kitimaat Development Fund
Glen Dale Agra Services
Sinkut Mountain Cattlemen’s Association
Fort Fraser Cattlemen’s Association
Lakes District Cattlemen’s Association
Smithers Farmer’s Institute
BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
and other producer associations
Alfalfa - Peace
Timothy - Climax
Orchardgrass - Kay
Bromegrass - Carlton
Tall fescue - Courtenay
Oats - Derby
Barley - AC Lacombe
*NOTE: The variety name stake is always on the left side of each plot.
Hybridforce 400
- hybrid with high yield and quality
- quick re-growth; good w.h.
- yields 8-15% higher than conventional
- 2 to 5 days earlier
- superior hardiness and fast re-growth
- sunken crown with improved protection from wheel and animal traffic
Magnum III
- wet – increased tolerance to soils that remain wet for extended periods
- increased rooting system
- tap root with high yields and quick re-growth
AC Grazeland
- bloat reduced; use higher rates in pasture
- multifoliate
- 40% creeping rooted; early dormancy
- multifoliate; quick regrowth
- seedling vigour for zero tillage
Rhino
- medium maturity for hay
- tap root with FD = 3
Promesse
- leafy, higher yielding than Climax
Timpro
- superior feeding quality traits
Express
- intermediate maturity with ex. Regrowth
- only planted at Mapes in 2004
Carnival
- Pickseed’s answer to Courtenay
- top yield, persistence and winter hardiness
- selected out of old pastures
- good palatability
Courtenay
- high yielding pasture grass adapted to wide range of soils from sandy loams to meadows
- most high energy regrowth of any grass
- previously only winter hardy tall fescue for this area
Okay
- very late and leafy
- previously tested equal winterhardiness to Kay and Arctic
Early Arctic
- earlier selection from Arctic which was equal to or better than Kay in Smithers area
Lidacta
- intermediate high yield, excellent disease resistance
Dillon
- 6 Row hooded forage barley
- 3 days later than AC Lacombe
- improved resistance to loose smut > Westford
- yield equal to AC Lacombe
Helgason
- 2 Row feed barley; tall with strong straw
Bold
- 2 Row, rough awns, semi-dwarf feed barley with improved quality, straw strength and scald resistant
Westford
- 6 Row hooded variety for forage
- 112% of CDC Dolly on Prairies
- high test weight; rough awns
Xena
- very high yielding 2 row feed barley
- 112% of CDC Dolly on Prairies
- high test weight; rough awns
Alberta Agriculture Breeding:
Manny - 6 Row feed -high yield in BC Peace
Ponoka - 2 Row feed – high yield in BC Peace
Trochu - 6 R Smooth Awns - good silage yield
Vivar - 6 R Rough Awns - semi-dwarf
Niska - 6 R Smooth Awns - high yield in BC Peace area
Seebee
- 2 Row, rough awns; feed barley
FB 201
- new forage cultivar from Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon
CDC Bell & CDC Baler
- new forage types from the Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon
For further information contact:
Dave Merz: 250 690-7408
Jim Tingle: 250 963-7301
