Crop Research

Olds College is located on 2,000 acres of prime farmland in central Alberta, and the Olds College Centre for Innovation’s Crops division has dedicated fields for applied research purposes. Crops research – as small plot trials or full field investigations – is a key part of our research portfolio. With a 1,600 acre farm, greenhouses, labs, and a microbrewery, Olds College is an ideally situated partner with you to address your applied research requirements.

Crops Research Goals

• To develop and test ways to improve agronomic practices, and helping clients do the same.

• To help producers and agriculture companies enhance their yield, while consuming fewer resources.

• To assist producers transition to a climate-resilient agriculture economy.

Crops Research Services

• Variety trials
  Typically wheat, barley, canola, flax, oats, peas, faba and lentils. Other crops types include quinoa, camelina and triticale.

• Fertilizer trials
  Replicated small plot or large strip trials. Broadcast, in-row and foliar application.

• Herbicide and fungicide trials
  Disease, phytotoxicity and efficacy ratings for in-house or PMRA audience.

• Insecticide trials
  Primarily label extension for commercial products, but including biorationale products and entomopathogenic nematodes.

• Use of our specialized small plot combine
  Yield response trials, Zurn 150 features on-board weighing and moisture-adjusted yields

Primary Equipment

Crops Research Projects

• Small plot experiments for inputs such as foliar fertilizers, new desiccants, organic inputs, soil health improvers and conditioners.

• Spearheading the program to complete PMRA value package assessments for new pesticide use patterns to control the increased resistance of specific pests in Southern Alberta

• Small plot experiments for new crops (regionally) such as quinoa, hemp and hop

• Large strip trials for crop interventions such as air-spraying comparisons

• Greenhouse trials on planting tray or pot scale (usually to test efficacy of fertilizer or soil conditioners)

• Lab to field studies such as non-labelled pesticide efficacy on target pests for possible label expansion.

• Supporting Alfalfa growers toolbox to deal with increasing rates of resistant insects and weeds by multi-year, multi-layered approach

Partners