Manitoba Bulletin
MCGA launches on-farm research program
In 2022, Manitoba Canola Growers launched a pilot on-farm research program to help farmers across the province fill the gap between traditional research results and the farm level experience. The program aims to provide applied, transferable research results to farmers to allow for the adoption of new and improved production practices by evaluating performance across a wide range of growing regions and farm operations in Manitoba.
Manitoba Canola Growers worked with independent agronomists located in various regions across the province to conduct trials and work with growers to execute scientifically-sound randomized, replicated trials on their farms using field scale equipment. In 2022 we focused on three trial types: seeding rate, nitrogen rate and anti-fungal bioinoculant.
Result reports with individual trials and combined analysis for the complete data sets and all trials were provided directly back to farmers that participated. They are also available for all MCGA members on our website CanolaGrowers.com.
Seeding Rate Trial |
| Research Objective: |
| Identify economic and agronomic optimal seeding rates for Manitoba canola production and the major factors influencing this relationship. |
| Treatments: |
| Farmer’s standard seeding rate compared to reduced rate (75 per cent) and high rate (125 per cent) |
| Data Collected: |
| Spring and fall plant counts, emergence percentage, survival percentage, plant stand uniformity, grain yield |
Nitrogen Rate Trial |
| Research Objective: |
| Identify optimal nitrogen fertilizer rate based on return on investment and nitrogen use efficiency. |
| Treatments: |
| Farmer’s standard nitrogen rate compared to reduced rate (75 per cent) and high rate (125 per cent) |
| Data Collected: |
| Plant counts, nitrogen tissue content at bolting, grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency, protein and oil percentages in harvested seed |
Anti-fungal Bioinoculant Trial |
| Research Objective: |
| Determine the level of disease control and yield response of canola treated with a foliar application of KGS-3 anti-fungal bioinoculant (Paenibacillus sp.) |
| Treatments: |
| Untreated, KGS-3 foliar-applied at approximately the four-leaf stage |
| Data Collected: |
| Blackleg ratings, verticillium stripe ratings, grain yield |
Participants speak out
2022
Agronomists:
Tone Ag Consulting,
St. Pierre, MB
New Era Ag Research,
Swan River, MB
A1 Agronomy,
Melita, MB
Antara Agronomy,
St. Jean, MB
360 Ag Consulting,
Roblin, MB
Scan QR code for full 2022 research results.
If you are interested in participating in MCGA on-farm trials for the 2023 growing season, please contact
Sonia@CanolaGrowers.ca
We asked three participants in our pilot on-farm research program to answer the question, What value do the on-farm research trials bring to your farm?
 | “Trying new products and ideas has allowed me to gather first-hand information. This helps with future decisions on keeping my farm profitable.” Leon Mykula |
 | “In an environment where we are bombarded with information, the on-farm research network has been an extremely valuable tool to help us assess new products or agronomic strategies. The trials are at arms-length, unbiased, and the replication and statistical analysis provides us with tremendous confidence in the results, an aspect that is missing from much of the information presented to us as farmers these days. We not only benefit on our own farm from participating in the on-farm network but also share a great deal of their findings with the farmers we interact with in our seed business.” Mark Sloane |
 | “We love doing the on-farm research trials. We are always trying to learn something new and innovative to try and maximize yield and minimize costs. We have a saying here ‘we are in it to win it’.” Chris Grenier |