Forage Starting Over Do’s & Dont’s

2017 Season:

• Completed reclamation evaluations on over 10 sites for longer term effectiveness evaluation.
• Compiled biomass clippings on selected sites to compare production rates from seedings.
• Observed in spring 2017: some species are less competitive & allow natural reclamation to slowly take place over time, while bromegrasses & alfalfa prevent weed encroachment.
• Established winter seeding site in cooperation with Progress Energy, north of Hudson Hope.
• Established species plots in cooperation with Fred & Liz Schneider near Pouce Coupe.

2018 Season:

• Established forage mix/ % legume plots with Greg Hanson (Peace River Ranch) & Kendrews.
• Established 2 sets of cover crop demonstrations & research plots with Kendrews and Schneiders.
• Compared native grass to agronomic mixes with regards to establishment & production.
• Established demonstrations of fall and winter seeding.
• Worked with Shell Canada & community pasture producers to manage weed issues beyond the regulatory requirements including foxtail barley. This included interseeding as well as herbicide treatments.
• Worked with South Peace Grain to demonstrate eco-tea applications at multiple rates with Ed McCullough, Rod Strasky and Jodi Kendrew.

2020 Season:

• An update was compiled in the Spring 2020 issue of Forage First newsletter. See link under Factsheets & Documents section.

Other Resources

• This project explored alternative methods of sharing results.
• A set of 28 forage identification cards in a weather proof, field friendly format on a carbiner were produced.
• The interactive webtool, i.e. Peace Forage Seeding Tool was upgraded as part of this project. See link on home page.