R&D Project:

Interseeding To Improve Forage Quality & Quantity

Overview

Status: Completed

Project Timeline: April 2019 – March 2022

Objectives

  1. Demonstrate if forage quality can be improved by seeding into existing stands & by exploring which species of legumes & grasses have the greatest potential for success in interseeding.
  2. Demonstrate if forage yield or carrying capacity can be increased by improved management practices such as intensive grazing or herbicide use.
  3. Determine if the new Vredo drill can seed into existing forage stands & if the success can be increased by improved management practices such as intensive grazing or herbicide use.
  4. Develop extension material, knowledge & resource people to provide strategic support to delivering on farm climate adaptation practices.
  5. Improve & enhance forage networks to enable a more resilient forage industry into the future.

Progress

2019 Season:

  • Set up demo plot with Mickey Zunti in Murdale showing 10 conventional rejuvenation plots compared to interseeding 15 species which included smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass, festulolium, alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, cicer milkvetch and sainfoin.
  • Organized plot seeding of 5 different mixes in cooperation with Shell Canada on crown grazing 11 km off the Braden Road on the Sanataa.

2020 Season:

  • Seeded / monitored plots with Dave Armstong, Rolla with an alfalfa/ bromegrass blend into bare areas. (minimal success identified in fall 2020.
  • Seeded grazing forage blends with Trevor O’Dwyer into a thin stand that had been overgrazed at time of seeding, then grazed in the fall, 2020.
  • Set up plots with Bill Wilson with species mixes interseeded intothin stand greater than 15 years old. (minimal plants in fall 2020).
  • Fall seeded plots with Fossum/ Frost of legume and grass species into an old hayfield.
  • Hosted 3 field days in Aug, Sept & Oct, 2020 in Baytree, Montney & Sunset Community Pasture

See This Project on the Project Map

The Vredo interseeding drill at work
Note the removable calibration tray directly below the seed box. Also note the yellow metering wheel at bottom left. This wheel needs firm ground in order to drive the seed meter consistently, so this drill will not work on tilled land.Drill from the front, note the 3 point hitch.Electrical plug in that connects for transport lightsCourse calibration adjusted on seed size and seeding rate, there are four different settings.Image of the fine calibration, the two wing nuts loosen and the black handle can be moved to adjust the metering.The tank agitator in the seed box, that turns as the drill meter turns helping with seeding of larger seeds like brome.

Videos & Webinars

Project Cooperators

  • Mickey Zunti
    Murdale, BC
  • Shell Canada
    Sanataa Road, Sunset Prairie, BC
  • Bill Wilson
    Silver Valley, AB
  • Trevor O'Dwyer
    Rolla, BC
  • Dave Armstong
    Rolla, BC

Project Contacts

Funding & Industry Partners

  • Dr. Nitya Khanal, AAFC Beaverlodge Research Farm
  • Agroworks
  • Shell Canada
  • Peace Region Forage Seed Association
  • South Peace Grain Cleaning Co-op (SPG)
  • DLF Pickseed
  • Farm Adaptation Innovators Fund
  • Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC

Factsheets & Documents