2014 Annual Report 2

MISSION: Confidently provide applied research and extension to encourage a healthy agriculture industry

VISION: Promote a future in agriculture through improved stewardship

The North Peace Applied Research Association is a non-profit producer driven organization conducting applied agricultural research and extension

CROPS FORAGES LIVESTOCK SHELTERBELTS GARDENING ECOBUFFERS SPECIALTY CROPS ENVIRONMENT NEWSLETTERS SOIL HEALTH FARM SAFETY TOURS WORKSHOPS SEMINARS FIELD DAYS SCHOOL OUTREACH

Please go to our website for details on summer events:

JUNE: Soils Workshop & Solstice Tour JULY: Soil Health Field Day & Crop Tour AUGUST: Morning Coffee Crop Tour

MES Grade 1 Class CONTACT US: PH 780-836-3354; Box 750, Manning, Alberta T0H 2M0

NORA PAULOVICH, MANAGER or TOM FROMME, RESEARCH COORDINATOR [email protected] [email protected]

VISIT OUR RESEARCH FARM: 4 miles S & 1/2 mile W of Manning (or 1/2 mile W of North Star) HARVEST WEBSITE: www.npara.ca

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

2014 NPARA STAFF ...... 4 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ...... 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 5 MESSAGE FROM STAFF & ARECA REPORT ...... 7 2014 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ...... 9 ALBERTA PEST MONITORING PROGAM ...... 15 2014 RESEARCH PLOT RESULTS ...... 16 BARLEY VARIETY TRIAL ...... 16 OAT VARIETY TRIAL ...... 16 PULSE CROP TRIALS ...... 17 REGIONAL PEA VARIETY TRIAL ...... 17 SOYBEAN VARIETY TRIAL ...... 17 LENTIL VARIETY TRIAL ...... 17 REGIONAL SILAGE VARIETY TRIAL ...... 18 SAINFOIN/ALFALFA TRIAL ...... 20 COCKTAIL COVER CROPS ...... 21 SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE ...... 23 CANADA THISTLE STEM MINING WEEVIL PROJECT...... 24 WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM ...... 26

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North Peace Applied Research Association

Mission: Confidently provide applied research and extension to encourage a healthy agriculture industry

Vision: Promote a future in agriculture through improved stewardship

2014 NPARA Staff

Nora Paulovich Riley Kover Manager Tom Fromme Courtney Research Vandemark Summer Email: Staff [email protected] Coordinator Field Research Email: Technician [email protected]

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2014 North Peace Applied Research Association Executive Committee PRESIDENT: VICE PRESIDENT: SECRETARY-TREASURER: Bill Gaugler Trevor Paulovich Mark Kamieniecki Hawk Hills Deadwood Manning 780-836-3652 780-836-2591 780-836-0140

DIRECTORS: Trevor Enders Peter Bigler Al Dumas Manning Hawk Hills Dixonville 780-836-5483 780-836-2131 780-971-3973

Judy Bowcott Odell Raymond Grimshaw Weberville 780-332-1086 780-624-8769

Representatives COUNTY OF NORTHERN LIGHTS: AGRIBUSINESS: Arie Loogman Albert Michaud Chinook Valley Pioneer 780-971-2103 780-626-5010

NPARA would like to acknowledge the dedication of the NPARA Board, contribution of our member- ship, municipal, provincial and federal governments, industry plus local and regional businesses. The success of our programs depends upon the dedication of numerous individuals who contribute their expertise, time, land and equipment to assist our association in achieving its goals. So we take this opportunity to say Thank-you to: PEST MONITORING COOPERATORS: Jarvis Asmussen & Brent Nordstrom & Kover Farms

MAJOR FUNDING AGENCIES Agricultural Opportunity Fund (AOF) Agricultural Research & Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development (AARD) Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) County of Northern Lights M.D. of Peace #135 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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Thank-you to: AGRI-BUSINESSES, CORPORATE SPONSORS, LOCAL INDUSTRY & PRODUCERS

AFSC Kover Farms Albert Michaud Monsanto ATB Financial North Star Genetics Battle River Agricultural Society Novozymes BEST Environmental Peace Country Health Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharis Farms Ltd Brett Young Seeds Pioneer Hybrid Cargill AgHorizons, Manning Richardson Pioneer Engage Agro Salford Farm Machinery Ltd Farm Credit Canada Sam King Greenfield Fertilizer Corporation Secan Hawk Hills Ag Society Stone Insurance Jack Stahl UFA, Grimshaw & Manning Janet Vandemark Accounting Venture Parts & Supplies, Manning Bryan Shields, Leading Edge Woodlot Extension Program Ken Dechant

PRODUCER GROUPS Alberta Barley Commission (ABC) Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) Battle River Research Group (BRRG) Chinook Applied Research Association (CARA) Foothills Forage And Grazing Association (FFA) Gateway Research Organization (GRO) Grey Wooded Forage Association (GWFA) Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA) Mackenzie Applied Research Association (MARA) Peace Country Beef & Forage Association (PCBFA) Peace Agriculture Research and Demonstration Association (PARDA) Peace River Forage Association of British Columbia

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MESSAGE FROM STAFF In 2014 NPARA brought many programs and activities to Alberta, to our members and to the fields in the North Peace. It is a distinct advantage to be associated with the 9 ARECA member associations in the province when bringing world-class speakers, scientists and producers to our region. The network of livestock, forage and crop specialists attracts leading-edge research projects funded by industry and government, and still allows us to respond to our own members requests for information, research and extension events. We are very involved with our provincial umbrella organization, ARECA, with Tom as chair of the Crops Team, Nora as co-chair of the Forage & Livestock Team and Nora & Bill Gaugler as members of the ARECA board.

Field research continues to provide locally relevant trials for variety comparison, input efficacy, and cultural methods of production. Participation with the Green Thumbs project from Paul Rowe High School was quite rewarding, working with a dedicated group of young adults for all the right reasons. Several days in May and June were brightened by visits from Ms. Reinders’ first graders from Manning Elementary.

Visits to the farm have been steadily increasing. With tours scheduled for June, July and August and casual visits almost anytime, the farm is becoming more familiar to the community and the entire Peace region.

We really appreciate the hard work and dedication by the NPARA board and for their support. In 2014, under David Irvine’s guidance, we revised our mission and vision statements of which we are quite proud, plus we worked on a strategic plan. Our future includes increased involvement with the community at large. Please help us share the message.

Thank-you to the NPARA board and all NPARA members for your continued support. We encourage you to bring your research and extension ideas forward - our door is always open - remember this is your association. - Nora & Tom

A year in review...

A Note from ARECA Board Chair Bill Gaugler This past year saw rapid and dynamic change at ARECA. A new Board structure was implemented which was needed, and will help propel ARECA forward in the coming years. Advocacy, transparency, and accountability are the main goals of ARECA. We have made great strides of all of these goals. The funding from AOF has doubled from 1.5 million to 3 million dollars. NOTE: This announcement was made last spring but with the downturn in the oil prices, it is uncertain if the funding will be doubled. ARECA is extremely pleased with this substantial and much needed increase in funding. This is a great opportunity for our member associations to grow, and bring wages and benefits up to industry standards. This will help to retain and attract excellent staff which is key to our member associations’ successes, that ulti- mately leads to a more profitable and sustainable agriculture industry. I would like to thank our partners at the provincial government for seeing the need, and believing that ARECA and our member associations are the best way to deliver applied research and extension to Alberta farmers. The “information age” has presented all of us with opportunities and challenges. In a few seconds, Chair Bill Gaugler with Ag we can access information and ideas from around the world. The challenge becomes, is this rele- Minister Verlyn Olson and vant, and can it be applied successfully on my farm? This is why local, unbiased applied research and extension activities are so vital to farmers past and future successes. Vice-Chair Ian Murray There were many changes at ARECA in 2014. We have a new office in Leduc; we also have a lot of new staff members. Janette McDonald has joined us as our new Executive Director, Colleen Hensel as our new Office Administrator, and Ileana Berezanski has served as our intern Communications Manager. Early in 2015, Paul Watson joined Ashley Steeple to complete our Environmental Farm Plan team. Paul will serve as Director and lead our Environmental Farm Plan. The new ARECA staff along with the Board of Directors and member association managers and their staff have really pulled together to create one harmonious and energetic team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and Directors, and Chairmen, for their dedication and service. It has taken a lot of energy and commitment from everyone involved with ARECA over the years to get us to the present. I do truly believe that ARECA’s great success and challenges lay ahead. All the changes and team building that have occurred in 2014 will help drive ARECA and our member associations’ success in the future. North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 7

A Message from the Minister Agriculture is part of our province’s economic foundation, employing nearly 90,000 people and generating exports valued at approxi- mately $9 billion annually. In today’s competitive global marketplace, innovation is essential to the agriculture industry’s ongoing success. Our producers and agri-businesses must continue to adapt and evolve to ensure we continue to meet the needs of consumers and are in a strong position to make the most of new market opportunities.

The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) is an important partner in building a strong and sustainable agriculture sector. By supporting applied research and advancements in the forage sector, ARECA helps producers improve their operations, explore new crop options, and adopt the latest technology and best management practices that are tailored to the specific needs of different regions in the province.

The Government of Alberta shares ARECA’s commitment to responsible agricultural development. We will continue to position the agriculture industry for growth by accessing new markets, encouraging innovation, and helping ensure consumers are confident that Alberta is a leader in environmental stewardship and the delivery of high quality agricultural products. Through initiatives like the Rural Economic Development Action Plan, we will work with industry and communities to maintain the conditions that allow our producers and rural entrepreneurs to succeed.

Thank you to ARECA and your member organizations for being strong advocates for your regions and for continuing your important work helping the agriculture sector realize its tremendous potential. I look forward to continuing our strong partnership in the years ahead.

Verlyn Olson, Q.C. Minister

A Message from Executive Director Janette McDonald Since I was a little girl on the wind-blown prairie, I have respected and admired farm families and the care and enthusiasm that they apply to their operations. It is an honour for me to work for farmers through ARECA. It is an organization which is positioned to plan and deliver valuable, impartial information to farmers for years into the future. I’d like to recognize the dedication of ARECA Board members and staff. Someone is always ready to pitch in and answer a question or find a solution. ARECA is focused on empowering our member organizations. I want to recognize the work of ARECA’s Teams. These teams plan and implement many of ARECA’s successful projects. I am amazed at their hard work, diligence and commitment to Alberta farmers.

ARECA empowers our member associations to unite, inspire and transform…

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2014 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

PEACE AGRONOMY UPDATE This annual event was held on January 16th in Fairview at the Dunvegan Motor Inn with producers from both the Alberta and B.C. Peace and all points in between attending. The support received from industry, municipalities from across the Peace and the provincial government greatly contributed to the continued success of this event.

The first speaker of the day was Sheri Strydhorst, Agronomic Research Scientist with Alberta Agriculture on “Stacking Agronomic Practises to Maximize Wheat Yields”; followed by Michael Harding, Disease Management Specialist of Alberta Agriculture with a Crop Disease Outlook. In the afternoon Peter Gamache, Project leader with Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta gave an update followed by Dan Heaney with the Canadian Fertilizer Institute on 4R Nutrient Stewardship: The Right Source @ the Right Rate, Time & Place. The day concluded with David Wong, Market Specialist, Alberta Ag giving his Crop Market Update & Forecast. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit with industry sponsors at their displays.

PRECISION AG CONFERENCE The Crops Team of ARECA hosted this conference on February 11 & 12 in Calgary. It was 2 full days with 7 industry-leading speakers & interactive breakout sessions. There was current information on practices and technologies being adopted by progressive farmers in Western Canada and abroad plus 15 tradeshow booths dedicated to precision agriculture . The conference featured two keynote speakers, Dr. Dave Mulla from the University of Minnesota and Dr. Dan Long with USDA, Montana on protein monitoring for wheat. Gregg Carlson from North Dakota and Joseph Berry from Colorado discussed the numbers and new directions in precision agriculture.

THE GREEN THUMBS PROGRAM Our local high school principal approached us about offering a gardening course with a garden at our research farm from which the students could harvest the produce for resale. Prior to spring planting, the students did their research, decided what to plant, made their plan and ordered their seed. These 7 dedicated high school students planted, maintained and harvested a vegetable garden under the guidance of NPARA, parent volunteers and our enthusiastic high school principal, Matt Taylor. They named their group “The Green Thumbs” and they received credit for completing the course. This student group sold the produce they grew at the local market. The proceeds they raised were donated to community groups and their sister school in Kenya through Farmers helping Farmers. The project is ongoing and will continue from year to year. They also constructed a corn maze, but due to an early frost, were unable to conduct any “tours”. Plans are in the works to have “the northern most Corn Maze” in 2015 - stay tuned!!! North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 9

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NPARA’s AGM was held on March 26 at the Battle River Ag Hall. The annual general meeting was held with elections followed by a presentation on NPARA’s 2013 research and extension program. Following supper Kevin Elmy with Friendly Acre Seeds in Saskatchewan gave a presentation on Cocktail Cover Crops & Soybean Production; Greg Sekulic, Agronomist with Canola Council of Canada spoke on `Canola Production in the Peace & in Europe`. Then Mike Hittinger, Growing Forward Extension Specialist with Alberta Ag gave an update on the Growing Forward program. Producers in attendance also had the opportunity to visit the industry booths that were set up.

FORAGES UPDATE Graeme Finn with CPS spoke to a small group of producers about forage varieties available, including perennials and annuals. There was good discussion about different mixes, suitability for grazing vs hay and inoculants.

VERIFIED BEEF PRODUCTION PROGRAM WORKSHOP Twenty producers completed their training on the Verified Beef Production program under the guidance of Amber Moskalyk, Workshop Facilitator. Amber also discussed funding available under the Food Safety Systems Producer program of Growing Forward 2.

NPARA hosted the fifth Annual Farmer Appreciation Evening on Friday, April 4 with great support from the local Ag Societies, the County, and AFSC. Following a delicious meal, David Irvine poke to the crowd about: `Working with the Ones You Love: The Human Side of Agriculture`. Folks were entertained and inspired. The event was once again very successful.

COCKTAIL COVER CROP GROUP A visit from soil health practitioner and producer Gabe Brown in the fall of 2013 sparked a wave of interest across the County. An informal group of farmers and ranchers met during 2014 to exchange ideas. Each of these producers determined their own way to start improving the health of the soils on their own farms, resulting in a 30,000 lb seed order organized by NPARA in 2014. Most importantly, is that the first local steps have been taken in a refreshing agricultural production paradigm led by producers.

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MANNING ELEMENTARY GRADE ONE CLASS Coree Reinders, Grade One teacher (past employee of NPARA) returned in 2014 to the research farm for a visit with her new Grade One class as part of the Plants & Animals Unit of their Science curriculum. They visited the farm twice in the spring and were invited to continue their visits throughout the summer. During their visits they accomplished and learned quite a few things: they toured the Shelterbelt Tree Project, and planted their own garden!! They also toured the various plots and learned about different crops. Their visits were definitely a highlight !!!

SOLSTICE FIELD TOUR This year we added another morning tour to observe emergence and had good response. There was good discussion with the producers and industry reps in attendance.

PASTURE WALK WITH JIM GERRISH This hands-on school provided information to producers to enable them to implement improved grazing management techniques. The day started with a classroom session at the Warrensville Hall followed by a pasture walk at Michael & Lorna Scotts which covered: assessing forage availability and allocation; visually estimating standing forage availability; feed budgeting; using leaf stage as an indicator of grazing readiness

EROSION CONTROL, DRAINAGE & WATERSHED RESTORATION WORKSHOP In collaboration with The Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance & the County of Grande Prairie, Craig Sponholtz of Dryland Solutions Inc was brought back up to the Peace. We hosted a workshop in Manning with a classroom session followed by a tour out to the research farm where Craig addressed existing erosion problems and explained restorative methods that could be implemented.

ALBERTA 4-H’S NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TRIP In late July 4-H members from across the province stopped in to tour the research farm on their way to Yellowknife. They hopped on our ``touring trailer`` to see the plots. They were the first and only ones to take advantage of the corn maze!!

ANNUAL FIELD TOUR The annual NPARA field tour was held on Thursday July 31st. The evening started off with supper and with the overwhelming response, a few folks may have gone a little hungry!! However, it was an awesome social evening with 2 trailer loads of folks touring the plots. Due to severe drought the plots did suffer but there was lots of good discussion and interaction. There were folks from across the Peace in attendance, plus many newcomers for our field day, and all ages - a real family event!! Greg

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Sekulic, CCC agronomist engaged participants in a sweep-net demonstration and answered many questions regarding canola production and pest management. Sydney Vos of Alberta Pulse Growers also interacted with farm tour participants, inspecting the pea and fababean trials and discussing the agronomic and market aspects of pulses. Complete information on each trial is in the Research Results section of this report.

MORNING FIELD TOUR We did another morning coffee tour mid August to observe the plots prior to harvest.

AGROFORESTRY/ECOBUFFER TOUR In October folks from the Woodlot Extension Program and DMI plus local producers joined us for a tour of the Murdoch Lake Agroforesty Project and our Shelterbelt Tree and Eco-buffer projects.

TREES & BEES INFO SESSION Provincial Apiculturist, Medhat Nasr discussed the role of pollinators and stressed the importance of conserving our wild pollinators. Gary Bank, Agroforestry Researcher discussed the benefits of trees to agriculture and then explained how to create and design shelterbelts and ecobuffers.

SOIL HEALTH - TWO EVENTS In the fall of 2013, Gabe Brown from North Dakota visited Manning to share his practical knowledge and expertise on soil health. His visit to the Peace sparked a lot of interest and started a ripple effect across the province. With this keen interest, Gabe was brought back to the Peace this past fall plus he gave presentations at 5 other locations across the province. Gabe discussed how to tie grazing and cropping systems together with cover crops to harvest sunlight and feed the soil.

One week later Christine Jones, renowned Soil Ecologist from Australia, visited the Peace and gave a workshop called: “Building Soil - Creating Land”. Dr. Jones discussed how photosynthesis and the ‘liquid carbon pathway’ are the most important drivers for soil building. explaining that plants build themselves from light and carbon dioxide and in this carbon-fixing process, a portion of the carbon is translocated to the soil microbes in liquid form - hence the driver of soil health. The formation of topsoil is then dependent on photosynthesis and the transport of dissolved carbon, via a microbial bridge, from plants to soil. Dr. Jones also presented at Olds.

Both of these presenters were very well received across the province. With this producer led-interest, together with our ARECA sister associations, we have instigated a Soil Health Initiative for 2015 which will include many workshops, seminars and tours, culminating in a provincial conference in December 2015. Please stay tuned as there will be events at the research farm including a visit by Dr. Christine Jones.

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FARM TAX & SUCCESSION STRATEGIES In November former Provincial Agriculture Tax Specialist, Merle Good travelled up and gave an evening presentation. Merle discussed different farm tax and succession strategies - the benefits and implications. His favorite saying was: “You have worked way too hard for Revenue Canada to become your silent partner”. Merle also did private consultations with a few area producers.

PEACE COUNTRY BEEF CATTLE DAY Together with the Peace Country Beef & Forage Association, we hosted the first annual Peace Country Beef Cattle Day. It was held in Fairview and was well attended by producers from across the Peace. Well known speaker Brenda Schoepp gave a presentation on “Agriculture - From a Global Perspective” plus a Beef Market Outlook. Larry Thomas, National Manager of the Canadian Beef Advantage Infoxchange System with the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association explained BIX - the Beef InfoXchange System and gave an update on the program. Bart Lardner, Research Scientist with the Western Beef Development Centre, discussed alternative feeding systems to background steers or develop replacement heifers. Dr. John Basarab, Beef Research Scientist with Alberta Ag presented research on the Feed Efficient Cow Herd” Dr. Claudia Metz gave an update on the BSE Surveillance Program, encouraging producers to have eligible animals tested.

WESTERN CANADIAN GRAZING CONFERENCE The tenth biennial 2014 Western Canadian Grazing Conference was held in Edmonton on December 9- 11. The theme of “Going Beyond Sustainability” addressed future challenges and opportunities facing the ruminant livestock producer and stewards of the land. The focus for speakers and topics was on creating soil, improving soil health, increasing carbon capture, the integral part played by ruminants and addressing the profitability and quality of life needed for young people to choose to be part of our future beef industry.

The conference was organized and hosted by the ARECA Forage & Livestock Team with assistance from ARECA staff and Grant Lastiwka of Alberta Agriculture. Nora played an integral part on the planning team and as co-chair.

It was a very successful conference with 291 registrants and there were folks from BC, Saskatchewan & Manitoba making this truly a Western Canadian event. On the evaluations 96% of the participants indicated that the conference topics & speakers were relevant and applicable to their operation. Feedback received from participants indicated that there was a good mix of “science” and “practical” topics and speakers.

There were 40 Industry booths which exceeded our goal of 30 booths. Feedback from Industry indicated that there was good interaction with attendees and ample visiting time at the booths. On the evaluations 88% of the participants stated that the Tradeshow was valuable and useful.

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SHELTERBELT TREE DEMONSTRATION One of the most visited projects at NPARA is the shelterbelt. Begun in 2007, the 40+ species of trees and shrubs continues to provide the community with real-life examples of what their own shelter belts can be. Trials conducted by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Shelterbelt Center have found that homes on sites protected by shelterbelts have a reduction in fuel use by 18-25%. Field shelterbelts will reduce wind and soil erosion and increase snow retention resulting in increased soil moisture. Shelterbelts also provide habitat for diversification of wildlife, encouraging nesting sites and hunting habitat for raptors (birds of prey) which will help control agricultural pests. Additional benefits include wood for fuel, and depending on the species of tree, fruits for human consumption. There is new evidence that shelterbelts have significant positive impact for pollinators. For your own project’s success, be sure to inspect the NPARA shelterbelt several times throughout the year so you will know what it will look like in all seasons.

ECO-BUFFER PROJECT As a complement to your shelterbelt or as an alternative, be sure to see the eco-buffer at the NPARA farm. 5-row and 3-row buffers of numerous species of trees and shrubs planted in a narrow, dense arrangement can have an even greater benefit for conservation and as a wildlife habitat. This alternative design, developed from a combination of systems found in Denmark and North Dakota, will function as well as the traditional Prairie shelterbelts to conserve soil and water, manage snow and protect yards, crops and livestock from wind, while providing wildlife habitat. The advantage over the traditional design is that an eco-buffer enhances biodiversity to a greater extent - connected to natural areas, such as a riparian zone, wildlife corridor or wooded area.

PFRA generously donated their tree planter and plastic mulch applicator to NPARA which our members are welcome to use. Please phone ahead to book.

North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 14 ALBERTA PEST MONITORING PROGRAM Funded by Agricultural Opportunities Fund and Alberta Agriculture

Through network surveys and mapping, insect outbreaks across Alberta are identified and provide an early warning for the prevention and control of insect pests. Transfer of information on pests and control measures allow producers to implement effective integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce crop damage and costs to producers. Pest monitoring is a cornerstone for an effective Integrated Pest Management system, enabling us to predict pest outbreaks and historically track their progress. This system results in a well prepared industry that is able to manage risk and reduce crop losses. It also enables us to work toward a more integrated approach to pest management, reducing the impact on the environment.

NPARA participated in the provincial pest surveys of diamondback moths and bertha army worms. Traps were erected on canola fields at North Star on Jarvis Asmussen’s , south on Brent Nordstrom’s and north on Kover Farm’s fields. NPARA also participated in the province wide wheat midge survey by submitting soil samples from 10 fields plus erecting and monitoring traps on one field.

Diamondback moth: Diamondback moth rarely overwinters in western Canada so major outbreaks are often the result of migrations from the United States and warm dry conditions that allow multiple generations to develop. There were 30 traps set up across Alberta in 2014. Very few moths were caught during the 6 week monitoring period of April 27- June 7. Despite this there was a substantial outbreak and many fields needed treatment in the county of Forty Mile around Foremost. It is not clear why the traps didn’t work but perhaps the moths arrived after the traps had been taken down.

Bertha armyworm: There were 315 monitoring sites set up across Alberta. Twenty five of the sites showed an elevated level of risk above the low level. There was a major outbreak in the Minburn-Two Hills area. Fourteen locations had medium risk and there was some spraying. And there were fields above threshold in central Alberta. 2015 will be interesting as the moth catches increased in many new areas, which could be the start of a build-up or just a one year blip. Monitoring will be very important.

Wheat Midge: Soil core surveying was conducted across the entire province with over 300 samples being processed. NPARA sampled 6 fields across the county and no midge larvae were found.

Staff, Courtney Vandemark and Riley Kover managed the Pest Monitoring Program at NPARA from training, trap installation, monitoring and data collection to shipping specimens and reporting. Ag Fieldman, Blake Gaugler assisted with collecting soil samples for the wheat midge survey.

Provincial information supplied by Scott Meers, Insect Management Specialist and Shelley Barkley of the Pest Surveillance Branch, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development, Brooks

Go to Alberta Agriculture's website for full information on insect forecasts and continue to monitor the website for updates and maps as the 2015 growing season progresses. The maps are easy to use and, during the growing season, are updated in real time, giving Alberta producers access to the most current information possible. Forecast maps have been posted to the website and can be viewed and downloaded by visiting: www.agriculture.alberta.ca/bugs-pest

This growing season you can tweet Scott with a question or ask him to ID an insect @ABbugcounter

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2014 RESEARCH PLOT RESULTS

A total of 67 mm of precipitation from June 1 to September 1 at the farm challenged us even more than usual. While that sounds like adequate moisture it was not timely and much of it came in very small showers that evaporated immediately. Extremely warm days exacerbated the situation and caused much stress during pollination for several of the crop trials. BARLEY VARIETY TRIAL Barley varieties suffered through high temperatures and low moisture especially during pollination. Choosing a barley variety for resistance to stress can be aided by this chart. The trial was seeded May 27 and harvested September 15. We are also comparing treated seed with untreated in this trial; that analysis will be available soon at www.npara.ca .

OAT VARIETY TRIAL We feel the oat varieties withstood very difficult conditions to produce the yields shown in the chart. The trial was seeded May 27 and harvested September 18. We are also comparing treated seed with untreated in this trial; that analysis will be available soon at www.npara.ca .

North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 16 PULSE CROP TRIALS Funded by Alberta Pulse Growers

REGIONAL PEA VARIETY TRIAL Pea yields were modest in 2014 but there was low incidence of disease or pests. All varieties stood well for harvest; vine length in all cases was less than 24” (61cm). The trial was seeded May 17 and harvested August 9.

SOYBEAN VARIETY TRIAL Our soybean variety trial failed to break 10 bushel/A in 2014 so we aren’t crowing about that. This crop vegetatively tolerated the heat, but aborted flowers and failed to make much seed. For the long- term, our field studies indicate existing varieties are not adapted for the Peace. A breeding program specific to the region may have more success but this is not a priority for seed companies. We are in- vestigating ways to access public varieties for our own small breeding program, or participating with someone to develop the short-season, long-day materials we need to make soybeans a viable crop alternative for the North Peace.

CHICKPEA VARIETY TRIAL Two Kabuli chickpea varieties from CDCS Brooks were seeded in a replicated trial, and the seed was segregated by size resulting in 4 treatments. This crop really handled drought well, and stood up straight through harvest. Seed size was predictably small but yields were from 865 to 1045 #/A. With better weather this crop has potential in the Peace Region. There is a strong world market for chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, and who doesn’t en- joy hummus?

Chickpeas, conventional soybeans and fababeans are good candidates for value-added markets and/or specialty premiums. Direct foreign marketing of pulses is ongoing, and soybean producers in Manitoba are garnering $2-4 /bu premiums for non-gm beans. Adding value to crops grown in our region makes sense. Transportation costs are elevated for producers here, so it makes sense to ship a higher-value product. Capability for preliminary processing such as color-sorted and gravity-table-cleaned materials can lead to grower contracts and relationship marketing, where the company contracting production can be assured of a quality product processed to their specifications. Products can be shipped in totes and by sealed container to end-users around the world. North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 17

REGIONAL SILAGE VARIETY TRIAL Cooperators: Under the umbrella of the Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta, 8 applied research groups participated at 12 locations throughout the province: Battle River Research Group, Forestburg; Chinook Applied Research Association, Oyen; Gateway Research Organization, Westlock; Lakeland Agricultural Research Association, Bonnyville; Smoky Applied Research and Demonstration Association, Falher; West Central Forage Association, Evansburg; North Peace Applied Research Association, Manning; Peace Country Beef and Forage, Fairview.

Major Sponsors: Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development (Alex Fedko); Agriculture Opportunity Fund; A & L Canada Labs Inc; Association of Alberta Co-op Seed Cleaning Plants; Alberta Seed Growers`Associaiton

Project Objectives: 1. To identify annual crop species/varieties that have superior forage production. 2. To determine if alternative annual forage crops are a viable option when compared to conventional cereal crops (yield, quality, cost of production). 3. To identify nutritional differences between annual crop species and to assess the effect this may have on beef cattle performance and the implementation of feeding systems. 4. To identify regional differences (Alberta) in forage production for annual crop species/varieties.

Trial Information This is the 6th year the groups have conducted forage testing of various varieties. Varieties of barley, oats, triticale and peas commonly used for silage, greenfeed and swath grazing were included in the trial as well as new varieties showing good potential for these uses. The pulse mixture trial looked at increasing the nutritional value of silage as well as decreasing nitrogen costs. Peas were seeded at 75 per cent of their recommended seeding rate and cereals at 50 per cent when in mixtures. The mono- culture cereal comparison crops were seeded at 100 per cent the recommended seeding rate. The other trials (Barley, Oats & Triticale) were seeded at recommended rates and at recommended fertility.

Nutritional Analysis Nutrition was assessed using wet chemistry analysis. Full nutritional analysis was done on each sample, however, we have only reported on six nutritional categories; crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN) which is an estimation of energy, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg).

All yield information was published in the Spring 2014 Alberta Seed Guide which can be found online at www. seed.ab.ca

METHODS, RESULTS & DISCUSSION FROM NPARA SITE Continued collaboration on silage varieties produced locally significant results which were also included in the regional data as presented in the Alberta Seed Guide (www.seed.ab.ca). Included in the table are the 2012 and 2013 Dry Matter yields for comparison. Not only was total production reduced in 2014, protein levels were appreciably lower than the 2 previous years. 2012 and 2014 were both dry seasons but the added heat stress may account for low protein in 2014.

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SAINFOIN/ALFALFA TRIAL The threat of bloat in grazing livestock has stymied efforts by the livestock industry to use higher producing forage crops like alfalfa. The use of higher legume pastures could improve soil health, enhance grazing days per acre, increase individual animal productivity, and in the end hopefully provide a competitive advantage in overall profit to the grazer using these pastures in their summer grazing systems.

New Sainfoin populations have been shown to be more durable in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan climate grazing systems, have comparable yields to alfalfa/grass mixes and are bloat –mitigating. Under many Alberta production circumstances, Sainfoin in grazing systems will provide: 1) Lower bloat risk 2) Added yield and profit opportunities in grazing systems 3) Greater flexibility in the use of grazing acreages

By demonstrating how these new sainfoin lines perform with Alfalfa competition across Alberta, grazers can then better decide if this is a high legume pasture option they would like to try. NPARA and other Forage and Applied Research Associations have agreed to be a partner in applied research, demonstration, and extension delivery looking at the adaptability and profit potential of new non bloating Sainfoin varieties as a key element in integrated grazing systems. This project will provide livestock producers with innovative options to reduce risk, improve productivity and develop grazing systems that deliver sustainable profitability.

Project Outcomes Include: 1) Adoption of new Sainfoin cultivars in grazing systems 2) Lower cost and higher gaining grazing alternatives for cow herds and grass cattle 3) Reduced production costs and economic risk In Alberta in 2013 and 2014 replicated plots of alfalfa/sainfoin lines were seeded in alternate rows by seven ARECA associations. Yield and percentage of yield is determined by clips. Attendance at Lethbridge Research Centre Sainfoin Training workshop in 2013 along with 4 bulletins on sainfoin/ alfalfa use allow for better agronomic understanding of sainfoin and ability to locally extend information on this forage legume for grazing.

METHODOLOGY AT NPARA SITE There were five treatments as depicted in the table to the right. The treatments were replicated 4 times with the alfalfa and sainfoin sown in alternate rows for treatments 4 & 5. The borders were sown to Equinox alfalfa. With the extremely dry year, supplemental water had to be applied to get the seeds to germinate. Treat- Treatment Seeding Date: June 10, 2014 ment Code Treatment Description

1 CHK NOVA Seeding Depth: Sainfoin – 2”; Alfalfa – 1” 2 BULKLINE Plot Size: 2.8 m x 6 m 3 CHK AC GRAZELAND Data has been collected from all sites across the 4 AC GRAZELAND /NOVA province and a summary will be published. 5 AC GRAZELAND /BULKLINE

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DEEP TILLAGE TRIAL This trial was initiated in 2011 to assess the effect of using the AgrowPlow subsoiler. Yield data has been collected every year. Water infiltration rates and soil compaction will be measured in 2015 and a final report written.

PRECISION PLANTING DEMONSTRATION NPARA began work with precision planting equipment in 2014 trials and demonstrations. In-row spac- ing and precision population seeding were demonstrated in several large-seeded crops. In 2015 equipment for canola seeding is expected to be available. The equipment will also allow for interseeding plots as NPARA investigates the use of cocktail cover cropping systems in commodity production.

COCKTAIL COVER CROPS Visitors to the farm would have noticed we seeded the entire east side to a cocktail of cover crops, which struggled all summer. When rain finally came in September the hairy vetch, tillage radish, turnips, and even lentils, sunflowers and soybeans began to grow. There were mature oats with green tillers that set seed into the middle of October. One of the aims of improved soil health is to have live roots as long as possible and that was achieved.

Six acres each of warm season, cool season and full season cocktail cover crop mix- Cool Season Mix tures were seeded on the east side of the farm. Our Seed Hawk  Oats - 45 lbs./ac hoe drill was used to seed the Cool Season mix on June 18. The  Peas - 30 lbs./ac smooth bromegrass was sprayed with glyphosate in the summer  Hairy Vetch - 10 lbs./ac of 2013 and was treated again preparatory to seeding. Emergence  Turnip - 1 lbs./ac was very good but the plot quickly used the available moisture  Radish - 1 lbs./ac causing some mortality, slow growth and stunted plants. Not until  Clover - 1 lb./ac September when a few showers fell on the farm did the plants  Annual alfalfa - 1 lb./ac begin to respond. By mid-October there was good growth of all species except peas and clover. The oats had matured but had set  Forage Brassica - 1 lb./ac seed on the still-growing tillers.  Appin Turnip - 1 lb./ac The other two mixes, Warm Season & Full Season, were seeded with a Salford no-till double disc drill on June 26 and 27. The brome had been sprayed with two liters of glyphosate in early June. In late June soil moisture was al- ready lacking; we depended on some rain for emergence and Full season mix this just didn’t hap- Warm Season Mix pen. The two stands  Field peas - 5 lbs./ac  Field Peas - 7 lbs./ac suffered through the  Soybeans - 5 lbs./ac  Soybeans - 7 lbs./ac summer and revived  Millet - 2 lbs./ac  Golden German Millet - 2 lbs./ac only slightly with fall  Tillage Radish - 1 lbs./ac  Sorghum/Sudan grass - 7 lbs./ac rains.  Crimson clover - 1 lbs./ac  Radish - 1 lbs./ac  Sunflowers- 2 lbs./ac  Turnip - 1 lbs./ac  Lentils- 3 lbs./ac  Sunflowers- 2 lbs./ac  Kale - 1 lbs./ac  Turnip - 1 lbs./ac  Sorghum/Sudan grass - 7 lbs./ac

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Some things we learned:  We waited until the brome was growing well before spraying it out. That early growth used a lot of the moisture we needed for the cover crops. The recommendation would be to seed as early as possible. The old brome stand was a challenge and cocktails we seeded on other places on the farm did appreciably better.  The mixes can be customized as we learn more of the growth habits, nutritional value and other attributes of each species. However, we may not need to distinguish between cool, warm and full season mixes. Our growing season may not warrant any distinction. The idea is to have species of cool and warm season broadleaves and grasses in all mixes to provide for vigorous and varied growth regardless of weather and season.  One of the five things to do for better soil health is to have live roots for as long as possible; through the winter if possible. This was accomplished as several species, hairy vetch in particular, stayed green and growing into late October. Early observation this spring indicates the vetch is still viable. The next few weeks will tell us more. As we ponder this it may be beneficial to look at winter-hardy crops like winter rye and wheat, winter peas and lentils.  Even at this early stage we observed a huge increase in pollinators and insects in general. Pests and preda- tors were in balance with the plant diversity.  A pea/tillage radish plot was seeded in 2013, and again in 2014 to a cocktail mix also seeded in the adjacent 2013 cereal trial site. There was a distinctly more vigorous, healthy growth after the pea/radish. The cereal plot also had very much more growth where the plots had been, compared to the alleys and aisles which had been kept “fallow”. As we go forward we hope to further demonstrate this phenomenon of improved soil health in action.

The following pictures are from cocktail mixes producers in the area grew:

Forage Brassica & Hairy Turnips grew well with fall rains As did the tillage radish Crimson Clover Vetch

Great diversity!!

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SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE The Soil Health Initiative is a 3 – 5 year project where multiple soil management systems will be monitored and measured for attributes including infiltration, water holding capacity, organic matter, total carbon plus an analysis of the soil microbial community. Producers will be able to see the effects of these treatments through hands-on workshops, demonstrations and data which will include the economics: input costs, time requirements and total revenues. The NPARA research farm is a perfect candidate to showcase soil health improvement, as it is a permanent fixture in the community and is known for its lower productivity soil. Annual change to the relative health and productivity of the soil will be measured and recorded. This was started in the fall of 2014 as soil samples were submitted for biological assessment to obtain baseline data.

Soil Health refers to the 3 aspects of soil: chemical, physical and biological. Modern production agriculture is concerned with the chemical (by adding fertilizer) and the physical (tillage) but for the most part it overlooks the biological portion. This includes the incredible quantity and diversity of soil organisms present in healthy soil. The commodity production systems essentially starve and destroy the intricate process of nutrient cycling that could be feeding plant and animal life above ground.

The informal Cocktail Cover Crop Group had the opportunity to meet in a round table session with Gabe Brown, prior to his presentation in Grimshaw in late October. It was an opportunity for these producers to ask Gabe specific questions as they were able to try a few things since his last visit. These days most of Brown’s cover crop mixes contain as many as 20 species. The goal is to keep the soil covered and spider-webbed with roots year-round, and to extend the subsoil’s active biological season as long as possible—the greater variety of species above ground, the greater diversity of species below ground. In a typical year, Brown will do this by planting four crop types: warm season broadleaves such as alfalfa, buckwheat, chick pea, cowpea and sunflower; warm season grasses such as corn, millet, sorghum and Sudan; cool season grasses such as barley, oats and triticale; and cool season broadleaves such as canola, flax, vetch and sweet clover.

This is a producer lead initiative and together with our ARECA sister associations, we are planning many events for 2015 which will include workshops, seminars and tours, culminating in a provincial conference in December 2015. Please stay tuned as there will be events at the research farm including a Soils Workshop with Peter Donovan of Soil Carbon Solutions and a Field Day with Dr. Christine Jones.

5 STEPS TO HEALTHY SOIL

1) Minimal soil disturbance 2) Keep the soil covered 3) Increase plant diversity 4) Keep living roots as long as possible 5) Integrate livestock

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CANADA THISTLE STEM MINING WEEVIL PROJECT

Background Also known as Hadroplontus litura, the stem mining weevil was introduced from Europe to Canada in 1965 and to the USA in 1970 to feed on Canada thistle. It is a biological control agent that attacks Can- ada thistle stems and rosettes. The weevil restricts its feeding to this weed and a few close relatives. It attacks rosettes of Canada Thistle in early spring, before the thistle bolts.

The weevil has a single generation each year. The adults spend the winter in the soil ( generally in the upper 5cm). They emerge in early spring as the first thistle rosettes begin to appear. The adults are present for several weeks, mating and feeding on young foliage of the Canada thistle; unfortunately, adult feeding appears to have little adverse effect on weed vitality. Even at high densities, the adults are difficult to find in the field, as they fall off the host plant when disturbed and remain motionless on the ground where they are well camouflaged. They also spend much of their time on or near the ground. When ready to lay her eggs, a female weevil chews a hole (1/10” in diameter) in a thistle leaf on a young rosette, generally in the main vein. She turns around and lays one to five eggs in the hole. When the larvae hatch a week or so later, they tun- nel through the leaf in the lower stem and root collar; when several larvae are present, the main vein turns black from the tunnelling and, several days later the leaf dies. In the stem and root collar, the larvae mine the pith; they avoid the vascular bun- dles, however, and hence generally do not cause the stem to die during the growing season. In early summer when they have fed fully, the larvae emerge from the thistle shoot through small exit holes that they chew near or just below ground level. They work their way into the soil, and enter the pupal stage in which they transform into adults. After two to three weeks, adults emerge from the soil in late June and July and feed on the thistle foliage until heavy frost occurs in fall. They may feed intensely at high densities, with attacked leaves bearing many small feeding punctures.

The weevils tend to aggregate in dense patches of Canada thistle and upon release at new locations they spread slowly and at the same time, level of infestation at the sites of release slowly increase. Lar- val mining does not prevent vigorous growth of attacked thistle stems under favourable conditions for the weed. Female weevils tend to lay their eggs in early developing stems; and these stems generally grow taller than those developing later in the season. Consequently, under otherwise favourable conditions for thistle growth, stems mined by weevils are generally taller on average at the end of the growing season. When attacked by only one or two weevil larvae, vigorous thistle stems are often able to kill these larvae by surrounding them with gall tissue. But when the weevil attacks a Canada thistle growing under less favourable conditions, the weevil can adversely affect weed vigor during the growing season. Initial field studies in Canada suggested that weevil feeding may also aid in the spread of the thistle rust, but this was not confirmed in subsequent research. However, weevil feeding may allow a variety of other micro-organisms to enter the thistle stem, with adverse consequences for the thistle: field studies in Montana indicated that underground parts of stems are much more subject to winter kill if the aboveground stem is attacked by weevils during the growing season. It is presently unclear how effective the weevil will be in causing decline in thistle densities. Fluctuation in thistle density

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could not be consistently associated with varying levels of weevil attack in field studies performed in Canada. But ranchers in Montana have reported sharp declines in Canada thistle in some instances, apparently associated with release and subsequent population build-up of weevils. Research to date suggests that population reduction of the thistle is unlikely until the weevil reaches high numbers and infest a very high percentage (90-95%).

NPARA is participating in a province wide project with the ARECA member associations.

Objectives a) Determine if the weevils work, and if native populations can be established in Alberta. b) Determine if weevils are a cost effective method of Canada thistle control c) Determine if additional weevils need to be added to a site in consecutive years following initial release. Method In 2012 two sites were selected at the NPARA research farm with a minimum of 5-10 plants/m² with sites 150 feet apart and vegetation mowed around the sites. On September 7 , five dishes of weevils, each containing 105 weevils were released into the one site. The other site is the control site with no application of weevils. On September, 2014 two additional sites were selected with the same parameters and 5 dishes of weevils were again released into one site.

Results Monitoring of the 2012 site was continued and to date no overwintering weevils have been observed. Observations and monitoring of both sites will continue.

The success of Hadropontus litura on suppression of Canada thistle will demonstrate: a) Use of biological control as an alternate means of pest control; b) A possible reduction in chemical use; and c) Weed control in sensitive areas where other traditional methods are not able to be utilized.

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WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROJECT Funding partners - County of Northern Lights & Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Program component of Agriculture Opportunity Fund

Background The County has had a watershed consulting report completed on all the major rivers in the County. The report recommended implementation of a water quality monitoring program and identification of riparian area buffers. This report identified opportunities to instigate a long term water quality monitoring program, the formation of a watershed group, conduct riparian health assessments and collect baseline data to establish benchmarks so a 5 year plan can be made targeting key environmental issues. Objectives  Safe and secure surface water supplies and healthy riparian areas  Education & awareness of best management practices Materials and Methods The County of Northern Lights and NPARA worked with Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd to start a long term water quality monitoring study on the rivers in the County. Samples were collected at four sites from the Notikewin River in October of 2011, followed by sampling 4 times in 2012 and 4 times in 2013: early spring, early summer, late summer and early fall. The Keg River was sampled at one location in 2013 at the same time periods. In 2014 the frequency of sampling times and locations was reduced to twice per year, 2 locations on the Notikewin and one on the Keg River. Samples were submitted to the lab for analysis:

 Routine water chemistry  Nutrients  Bacteria  Pesticides  Total metals  Dissolved metals

Results & Discussion for 2014 Sampling (excerpts from the final report submitted by Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd) Overall, water quality in the Notikewin and Keg Rivers is good with Wa- ter Quality Index scores averaging 84%, falling within the “Good” category meaning guidelines are occasionally exceeded by small amounts. There is less certainty regarding the water quality of the Keg River given the shorter historical sampling record and fewer sampling sites. Water quality exhibits a seasonal pattern in both rivers with poorer quality occurring during spring runoff. a) Routine Analysis Routine water quality parameters provide a general overview of the ionic compounds that dominate water chemistry. They include those compounds that contribute most strongly to salinity, conductivity, water hardness, and can be indicative of certain land-use practices. Generally, the waters of the Notikewin River were fresh, hard, and slightly alkaline. There was no strong evidence of human influ- ences on water quality based on routine parameters, such as increased salinity due to road salting. There wasn’t evidence for a consistent or strong spatial trend in concentrations, though the downstream -most site (Site 4) tended to have higher than average conductivity and concentrations of most ions than

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Site 1, possibly indicating loading from upstream. The Keg River appears to have higher concentrations of most routine ions than those in the Notikewin. The seasonal patterns that have been consistently exhibited for routine water quality parameters appear to primarily reflect dilution during times of increased runoff into the rivers – concentrations of most parameters are lowest in the Spring during snowmelt, and rise over subsequent seasons as flows go down. There were no issues with water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems identified from measurements of routine water quality variables. b) Nutrients Historical data suggests nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients of concern in the Notikewin and Keg Rivers. Due to the number and magnitude of guideline exceedances recorded, nitrogen was a greater concern than phosphorus in 2011. However, the frequency and magnitude of exceedances was domi- nated by phosphorus in 2012 and 2013 and this pattern was repeated in 2014. Exceedances for total nitrogen and phosphorus have mostly been limited to the spring sampling period and appear to be driven by the influx of particulate organic matter from runoff. Concentrations for both total nitrogen and total phosphorus were higher at the sites on the Notikewin River than the Keg River in 2014, however in 2013 concentrations were higher in the Keg River. Additionally, concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen were greater in the spring at all sites in 2014 than historical levels. These levels are expected given the higher than average precipitation received in the region in April and above average flow observed on both rivers from May to July.

Our analysis of nutrients focused on nitrogen and phosphorus as these are generally the most important nutrient pollutants in aquatic systems. Both nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to eutrophication; where elevated nutrient levels result in elevated plant and algal growth. Because of the generally low concentrations of nutrients observed there appears to be little risk of eutrophication of the Notikewin River at the current time. C) Metals A total of 14 metals exceeded their respective guidelines over the course of the monitoring program with two new metals, Cobalt and Mercury, exceeding guidelines in 2014. Metal concentrations followed a strong seasonal pattern with elevated concentrations and frequencies of exceedance occurring in the spring; generally this is the only time that metals other than aluminum, iron, copper, zinc, and mercury have exceeded guidelines. The Metals sub-index of the Water Quality Index indicates that water quality based on metals as a whole generally falls into the “Poor” to “Marginal” categories, with occasionally better classifications occurring outside of the spring runoff period. Metal concentrations appear to represent the greatest impediment to surface water quality in the Notikewin and Keg Rivers. The contribution of metals is likely due to the influx of soil, sediments, and mineral particulates into the rivers during spring runoff given the strong seasonal pattern of metal concentrations and exceedances. Therefore, elevated metal concentrations are likely driven by heavy seasonal sediment loadings into the rivers. d) Bacteria Concentrations of total coliforms and E. coli have generally been low across all sites over the course of the monitoring program. E. coli concentrations have never exceeded the guidelines at any sites while total coliforms have exceeded the guidelines twice, both exceedances occurred in 2013. Total coliform and E. coli concentration were within the same range as historical levels in 2014. The Bacteria subindex of the Water Quality Index indicates that water quality based on bacteria has almost exclusively fallen into the “Excellent” category save for the two noted exceedances of total coliforms in 2013. e) Pesticides

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The general category of pesticides includes herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Pesticide use in Al- berta is widespread and they are frequently encountered in surface waters due to the high intensity of agricultural activities. Pesticides are frequently of concern in water quality monitoring studies because of the high density of water bodies in the province, their method of application, and the ease with which they may enter surface water bodies.

Only three pesticides have been detected over the course of the monitoring program: Malathion and Methidathion in 2012 and glyphosate in 2013 and 2014. Malathion and Methidathion are organophos- phate insecticides (US EPA; 2002, Gervais et al., 2009), used for controlling various insect pests in agricultural settings. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide commonly used for the control of agricultural weeds. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup® and is available under a variety of trade names and preparations. Glyphosate is generally moderately persistent in the environment with a median persistence in soil of 47 days and persistence in aquatic systems of up to 91 days (Henderson et al., 2010). Based on monitoring studies by the Province of Alberta (Alberta Environment, 2005), herbicides are the most commonly detected pesticides in surface water bodies in Alberta, with 2,4-D (53.12 % detection frequency), MCPA (37.56 %), Dicamba (33.53 %), glyphosate (25.45 %), MCPP (23.36 %), Picloram (16.21 %), and Triclopyr (10.62 %) being the most common. Insecticides are detected less frequently, with Lindane (3.18 %) and Diazinon (2.69 %) being the most common. Fungicides are rarely detected in surface water bodies in Alberta.

The Pesticides sub-index of the Water Quality Index indicates water quality based on pesticides generally falls into the “Excellent” category, having fallen to “Good” for only three samples and “Fair” for two samples over the course of the monitoring program. Most pesticides have not been present (or at least below detection limits) during sampling, and when they have been detected, the magnitude of exceedances has generally been low. Overall Water Quality Water quality is generally poorest in the spring with improvements occurring over the course of the year. The Water Quality Index Scores were lowest in the spring, ranking exclusively as fair where guidelines were sometimes exceeded by moderate amounts and water quality was occasionally undesirable. By the fall sampling period, the index score generally improved to an average of good where guidelines were exceeded by small amounts. This seasonal pattern is driven by surface runoff entering the river in the spring, carrying high concentrations of sediments into the watercourses. These sediments are generally higher in particulate sources of nutrients and metals. Ions contributing to water hardness and alkalinity are generally lower during spring runoff, largely because snow melt is usually deficient in these compounds (FAO, 1996).

Conclusions and Recommendations Water quality in the Notikewin and Keg Rivers display strong seasonal patterns; the poorest quality occurs in the spring and the quality improves and stabilizes by fall. The reduced water quality in the early part of the year is driven by metals and nutrients brought into the rivers from increased surface runoff due to snow melt and early season precipitation. These metals and nutrients are largely particulate and likely enter the system as organic matter (nutrients) bound to soil particles (nutrients and metals), or as components of soil and mineral particles (metals). Pesticides and bacteria have not been significant recurring pollutants over the course of the study to date. Although the concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen observed in the spring are a concern these levels are not maintained through the rest of the year. The risk to the aquatic environment is further reduced as these nutrients generally occur in particulate form where they are not biologically available

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for plant growth. As such, eutrophication is unlikely to be a problem on either the Notikewin or Keg River. However, reductions in nutrient loading in both rivers would be better for overall watershed health and protection of the aquatic environment. Nutrient loading to both rivers could be reduced by improving the health and expanding the extent of the riparian areas (buffer zones) around the tributar- ies to the Notikewin and Keg Rivers and along the rivers themselves. The additional year of data from 2014 provides a better picture of the overall health of the Notikewin River and Keg River, especially in combination with the use of the River Water Quality Index to simplify the interpretation of overall water quality information. The seasonal patterns observed from 2012 to 2013 continued to hold for the most part for all parameters, and nutrients and metals continue to be the parameters of greatest concern in the system. Because only a single site has been sampled on the Keg River, great caution should be taken in extrapolating the results of this study to the entire Keg Riv- er system; further sampling on the Keg at other locations should be considered to determine how general the results of the study to date are.

Based on the findings from 2014 and comparisons with previous years, we (Aquality Environmental Consulting Inc) make the following recommendations:  Maintain current sampling frequencies for bacteria and pesticides at twice annually  At a minimum maintain sampling frequency of nutrients, routine water quality variables, and metals at twice , but preferably returning to four times annually if possible  The addition of at least one more sampling location on the Keg River to improve the generality of the results from that system  Examine potential sources of nutrient and metals pollution with the watersheds, as well as the identification of areas where riparian protection could be improved. **For a copy of the full report please contact NPARA or the County of Northern Lights

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North Peace Applied Research Association—2014 Annual Report 31 EVENT DATE TIME LOCATION CONTACT COST Canola Disease Info Manning Legion NPARA Session March 18 7 PM Hall 780-836-3354

Holistic Management March 23- 9 AM - 5 PM Manning Fire NPARA Course 25 Hall 780-836-3354

Ag Hall, NPARA NPARA AGM March 25 5:30 PM Manning 780-836-3354

March 26- 1.888.800.727 Northland Farm & Show 28 Northlands 5 Growing Forward Update/ Dixonville Ag NPARA VBP Workshop April 7 7 PM Society Hall 780-836-3354 Farmer Appreciation Ag Hall, NPARA Evening April 10 5:30 PM Manning 780-836-3354 Manning Regional Trade April 17- Show 18 Manning Arena Week of Manning & NPARA Soil Health 101 April 20 TBA Hawk Hills 780-836-3354 Sprayer Workshop with 9 AM – 12 Manning Legion NPARA Tom Wolfe April 29 PM Hall 780-836-3354 Soils Workshop with Peter NPARA Donovan June 17 10 - 4 PM NPARA Farm 780-836-3354 NPARA Solstice Crop Tour June 23 9 AM NPARA Farm 780-836-3354 NPARA Annual NPARA Field Tour July 28 5:30 PM NPARA Farm 780-836-3354 Soils School with Christine NPARA Jones July 29 10 - 4 PM NPARA Farm 780-836-3354 NPARA Morning Coffee Tour August 13 8:00 AM NPARA Farm 780-836-3354 Brown’s Ranch Soil Health Tour to USA August 17 Dakota Lakes NPARA Research Farm 780-836-3354 2015 Western Canada Radisson Hotel, NPARA Conference on Soil Health Dec 8 - 10 Edmonton 780-836-3354