2023 Trials
This is another busy year for the GRO crew with 3000+ plots and several field scale trials. Thank you to all of our cooperating producers and seed companies, and our many supporters! Without you, this work would not be possible.
This is an overview of what we’re up to this year, and may not include everything. Watch this page for more information as the year progresses. Results of the trials conducted by GRO can be obtained at the end of each year by becoming a member.
- Producer run field scale trial
- Intercropping – Hemp-Legumes, Corn-Soybean
- Lupin agronomics
- Small ruminant grazing in brush pasture
- Regional Variety Trials (Cereal and Pulse)
- 150+ varieties of Wheat, Barley, Oats, Triticale, Winter Wheat, Winter Triticale, Fall Rye, Flax, Corn
- 100+ Yellow and Green Peas, Fababean, Lupin, Lentil, Soybean
- Demo plots for Winter Oats, Winter Peas, Winter Lentils and Winter Camelina (Fall 2022)
- GRO Regional Canola Variety Trials
- Yield and Agronomic information for various canola varieties
- Wheat and Barley Agronomic Demonstration Trials
- protecting yield from weeds
- varietal mixtures to discourage pests and stabilize yield across environments
- advanced agronomics for barley production
- Prairie Oat Growers Assoc. Milling Oats Trials
- yield and beta-glucan attributes of various varieties
- Local Wheat Variety Comparison Trial
- yield and agronomic information on varieties not included in regional variety trials
- Cereal breeding nursery for seed companies & researcher for local advanced breeding lines
- Innovative Intercropping of Oilseed-Legume combinations
- yield and quality data for mono-crop vs intercrop production
- proof of local viability of Yellow and Brown Mustard, Camelina, Lentil, Quinoa
- benefits and downfalls of inter-cropping
- observations of potential new crops for area
- Compost/Humate Trial
- Compost, Wood Ash, Gypsum & Humate as soil amendments – yield, soil sustainability and farm economics
- collaboration with University of Alberta
- Small scale Hemp Trial
- yield and quality information for different varieties
- evaluation of various seed treatments
- Lupins – various trials and demonstrations
- variety viability information
- disease and insect variability compared with fababeans and peas
- pest observations
- pod sealant demonstration
- Innovative use of deep-rooted cover crops (13 mixes) to improve soil infiltration and water holding capacity and affects on subsequent annual crops
- Perennial cereal grain adaptability and utilization for Alberta conditions
- partnership with AAFC, U of A, and ARAs to examine effects of various nutrient amendments
- Thistle control in pasture
- comparing use of molasses at bud stage, bale grazing on thistle patches, mowing at bud stage vs control
- Pasture soil amendment trial
- measuring yield differences with various amendments such as biochar and wood ash
- measuring soil microbial changes
- Bale Grazing Trials
- effects on weed control and soil health
- perennial forage variety evaluation and demonstration
- Grazing management alternatives soil testing
- Regional Silage Trials
- yield and nutritional value measurements for new and commonly used barley, oat, and triticale varieties
- Alternative Silage Options Trial
- evaluation of alternation planting options for use as silage: winter/spring cereal silage and cereal/legume silage
- National Grasslands Inventory Survey