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Province List> Manitoba
> Manitoba Forage Seed Association
Research Agency: Manitoba Forage Seed Association
8 Project(s)
| Title |
New grass seed crop system development project |
| Objectives |
Population, environmental pressures and competition for higher valued crops are forcing the grass seed industry out of traditional producing areas of the U.S.A and Western Europe. Major world seed production and marketing firms are looking for new seed production areas around the world. Potential production is being assessed in Australia, South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, as well as Western Canada. Manitoba can produce grass seed cheap and reliably due to its climate and economy, making it an attractive location for marketing firms that are looking for new areas. Annual and perennial ryegrass and tall fescue dominate both forage and turf grass world markets. Turf grass production represents a large portion of this lucrative market. World trade is estimated at over 2.5 billion worldwide, with Canada importing over 15 million annually.
Currently, forage seed production has offered Manitoba a sustainable crop alternative for many years. Growing these crops in rotation with traditional field crops has helped to diversify farm economy, protect soil resources, and build a value added production industry. Grass seed production systems exist for other regions, but it is uncertain how these will work in Manitoba’s environment. If production technology can be gained and implemented in Western Canada before other regions, Canadian producers and seed firms will have a major opportunity to take over a significant portion of this lucrative market. It is the object of this project to develop grass seed cropping systems for Manitoba. The project is made up of five smaller projects including: Grass Seed Establishment Trials, Perennial Ryegrass Response to Nitrogen – Nitrogen Rate and Timing for Perennial Ryegrass Seed Production, Forage Grasses in Crop Rotations, Weed Control in Grass Seed Crops, and Grass Seed Crop Variety Evaluation.
I. Grass Seed Establishment Trials
a) Ryegrass Acclimation Field Study Report (Carman 1998-1999)
Bullied, W. J.; Forster, D. A.; and M. H. Entz., Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
The objective of this trial was to determine the effect of various seeding treatments on development and yield of ryegrass. |
| Project Number |
ARDI, # 98.075 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $76,000 |
| Location |
Arborg, MB |
| Status |
Completed December, 2000 |
| Title |
Forage cultivar evaluation - forage and seed |
| Objectives |
Forage crops are a vital component of sustainable agriculture. They offer advantages of improved soil tilth, nitrogen fixation and their perennial cover protects soil resources from erosion and degradation. In a diversified farming economy, forage crops also provide important habitat and cover for wildlife and waterfowl. Economically, forage crops offer benefits by producing quality feed for livestock, and seed as a cash crop.
Forage crops are suitable for production over a wide range of soil and climatic zones, but proper selection of crop and variety is critical in optimizing the benefits of forage crops in a sustainable cropping system. As new forage cultivars are developed and marketed, it is essential to be able to provide Manitoba forage growers, forage seed growers and seed trade with reliable adaptation and performance indicators under Manitoba conditions.
Components of this project include:
1. Forage Dry Matter Yield Analysis
2. Winter Hardiness and Persistence
3. Seed Production Evaluation |
| Project Number |
ARDI 98.076 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $105,000 |
| Location |
Arborg, MB |
| Status |
Completed December, 2000 |
| Title |
Weed control / herbicide option development of legume seed crops |
| Objectives |
Today, Manitoba has become a leader in both legume seed and leafcutter bee production. In the early 1970’s, this industry was virtually non-existent. As development occurred, successful production systems were developed through a cooperative industry approach. Alfalfa and other legume seed growers continue to struggle with perennial weeds. The forage seed industry has repeatedly identified this as a top priority. The yield damaging effects of perennial weeds on these crops is estimated at 20-25%. By reducing this effect by even 50%, both the increased farm gate value and increased productivity would be approximately 2 million dollars. This project looked at increasing effective registered herbicide options to enhance Manitoba’s legume seed production industry. |
| Project Number |
ARDI #98.077 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $8,000 |
| Location |
Arborg, MB |
| Status |
Completed December, 2000 |
| Title |
Impacts of disease and fungicide in legume seed crops |
| Objectives |
Today, Manitoba is a leader in the production of both alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil seed and leafcutter bees in Western Canada. It has come a long way considering it was virtually non-existent in the 1970’s. It has been identified that yields could increase through improved management of critical limitations to legume seed production. Diseases are considered a critical limitation to alfalfa seed production. Previous investigations have shown that alfalfa seed producers experience significant yield loss due to several legume diseases. When fungicides are applied, the average seed yield increased over 25%. However, the question of why such an increase in yield remains, as check plots did not seem affected by disease. This three-year project focused on investigating both the disease complex in legume seed crops and yield response to fungicide applications, and developing a disease-forecasting program. Our goal is to assist producers in developing a disease management program suitable to implement into their present farm practices. |
| Project Number |
ARDI #98.078 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $24,000 |
| Location |
Arborg, MB |
| Status |
Completed December, 2000 |
| Title |
Forage and Grass Seed Industry Development Project |
| Objectives |
Increased acreage of beans and movement of beans into non-traditional heavy soil areas of the province warrants a need for research into the impact of crops in rotation to improve internal drainage of soils. This research will explore the possibility of improving drainage on heavy textured soils due to crop rotation as well as other benefits. |
| Project Number |
ARDI #00.415 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $59,000 |
| Status |
2000 - 2001 |
| Title |
Forage and Forage Seed Crop Herbicide/ Weed Control Evaluation Program |
| Objectives |
This project is part of an ongoing initiative to provide data for minor use registration of herbicides for the development in forage and forage seed crops. This project is a continuation of work originally begun under ARDI #98-077, which is now complete. |
| Project Number |
ARDI #00.416 |
| Project
Team |
Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $30,000 |
| Status |
2000 - 2001 |
| Title |
Management of Leaf Spot Complex in Alfalfa Seed Using Weather Data, Crop Stage and Disease Development for Forecasting Model |
| Objectives |
The objectives of this project are: (1) to determine the relationship between weather conditions, crop stage and disease development; (2) to develop an IPM / disease forecasting program; and (3) to evaluate the efficacy of five fungicides on control of leaf spot in alfalfa seed. |
| Project Number |
ARDI #00.417 |
| Project
Team |
Dr. Gary Platford & Gerald Huebner |
| Agency |
Manitoba Forage Seed Association |
| Funding |
ARDI, $35,520 |
| Status |
2000 - 2001 |
| Title |
Forage and grass seed development project - on-farm documentation of innovative practices |
| Objectives |
Forage and Grass Seed Development Project - On-Farm Documentation of Innovative Practices The MFSA and MB Agriculture and Food will work with producers undertaking innovative approaches to various aspects of growing forage and grasses for seed. The MFSA plans to include a minimum of 20 fields where results of this work will be documented and extended to the industry in the province and beyond. |
| Project
Team |
Michelle Watts |
| Agency |
MB Forage Seed Assoc |
| Funding |
MRAC, $48,332 |
| Status |
Start Date: May 1, 2004 |
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