Catch the latest issue of Accelerate Weekly!

Join our AgSmart bus tour, dig into the “Story of the Weeds,” and get carbon market updates from BCC’s Graham Gilchrist, plus wildfire evacuation resources and community news.

Story of the Weeds: Ox-eye Daisy

Ox-eye Daisy might look like a harmless wildflower, but in your pasture, it's telling a deeper story. This persistent weed thrives in acidic, low-fertility, and compacted soils — often where grazing pressure is high and plant competition is low. In this first post of our Story of the Weeds series, discover what Ox-eye Daisy reveals about your land, how it affects your livestock, and what you can do to manage or outcompete it.

Join Farming Forward’s province-wide effort to scout for thistle rust fungus—an eco-friendly tool in the fight against Canada thistle. Learn how to identify it and be part of the solution.

In This Issue: We recap a hands-on Water Works Day in Barrhead, welcome a new team member, share forage pricing updates, and explore the surprising benefits of thistle rust fungus in weed control—plus insect updates, grant tips, and more!

Dini recently joined Farming Forward as our new Extension & Communications Coordinator. With a background in ag-tech, global farming adventures, and a new sheep farm in Lac Ste. Anne, she’s bringing fresh energy to our team. Get to know her story, her plans for upcoming events, and how to reach out!

Grade 4 students got hands-on with soil and water at Barrhead Water Works Day, learning how nature works beneath their feet, just as rain began to fall from above.

In this week’s Accelerate Newsletter, we recap an exciting day at Chip Lake with 80 kids exploring soil and water conservation during Pond Days. Plus, meet Maya Baldwin, a University of Alberta student passionate about sustainable agriculture, and catch up on the latest UFA podcast episode discussing how tariffs impact the ag industry. Also featured: DIY bee box instructions, community shoutouts, and timely news updates.

This edition features the launch of a new soil health trial in Wildwood, hands-on learning at local Pond Days, and a recap of the Inventures Conference. Plus: a call to action for the AquaHacking Prairies Challenge, upcoming workshops, and community events in regenerative agriculture and livestock health.

This edition highlights a new project on drought-tolerant forages, a practical fact sheet on cattle bloat, pasture nutrition insights, and opportunities for young ranchers to connect. Plus: community events, research shares, and ag updates across West-Central Alberta.

This week spotlights a 2025 weed suppression trial in Lac Ste. Anne, celebrates Sheri Strydhorst as a Women in Ag award recipient, shares a new UFA podcast on GMOs, and highlights youth ag events and notable reads from Alberta producers.

Discover insights from the 2024 producer-led corn nitrogen trial, upcoming youth-focused agricultural events, and expert discussions on root senescence and chicory's antiparasitic properties.

Explore the latest in sustainable agriculture: insights from the 2024 Aeration Project in Yellowhead County, expert analysis on greenhouse gas emissions by Graham Gilchrist, and an invitation to participate in the Q2 Forage Survey.

Features updates on the PolyCrop Soil Health Project, introduces new board member Tamara Salmon, and invites producers to share input in the Q2 Forage Cost Survey. Plus, explore insights on chicory for parasite control and heifer selection strategies.

Accelerate Weekly- Week 69:
2024 Corn Evaluation Trail Reports, New Board members, and Current Drought Conditions

The project compares different nitrogen rates applied at different times in the growing season on corn yield and quality. This project was set up on a local producer’s land, southeast of Barrhead.

Corn is becoming a more popular silage option in the west central area, it is a high energy, digestible feed source. There are many corn hybrids out there that work well in our region. For this trial, PS 2320 RR was the variety used. It’s a roundup ready, dual-purpose corn, with good disease resistance. Producing optimal corn silage requires careful attention to soil fertility.  Corn harvested for silage removes more nutrients compared to grain harvest. Understanding the crop’s nutrient requirements is paramount in successful corn silage production.

This year we worked with a producer in Yellowhead County looking at the use of an aerator on pastureland. The implement used was a 2022 Ranch Worx SL Series single drum pull-type aerator. We wanted to look at the efficiency of an aerator in hopes of eliminating the need for completely reworking the land. Aeration is all about improving soil structure, enhancing water infiltration and increasing oxygen availability. Soil aeration is also necessary for aerobic microorganisms. Given that this land is located in the gray luvisol soil zone, compaction may be a concern as it does have a higher clay content and poor drainage. There are several methods of aeration, mechanical, which are spike aerators and subsoilers/rippers. Rippers and subsoilers  are used for deep tillage to break up hardpan layers. There is also biological and natural aeration, biological uses deep rooted cover crops to get through the compacted soil. Natural aeration is using grazing management, rotating the livestock preventing over compaction. Another natural aeration option is controlled traffic farming, it is designed to keep machinery in designated lanes on the field.

Analysis of soil reports from the spring and fall of 2024 reveals a notable increase in organic matter content, rising from 4.6% in the spring to 6.2% in the fall. This increase may be attributed to the specific blend of plant species established, as well as the cumulative effects of multiple years of perennial forage cultivation. Located in the dark gray chernozemic soil zone, this zone historically has lower natural fertility so adding those species and management techniques to increase organic matter is key. This zone also can have higher clay content in areas, leading to compaction concerns and drainage issues. These concerns should be considered when formulating an operational plan.

The objective of this trial is to evaluate the impact of a polycrop blend on soil health. Soil health is important because it directly impacts plant growth, crop productivity and quality. By understanding and applying some of the soil health principles such as optimizing crop blends and adjusting management strategies productivity can be improved while maintaining soil health. This site has historically had soil compaction issues, so when deciding on the blend, deep rooted species and species that aid in soil structure were chosen. Other factors in creating a blend were weed suppression species and species that adds organic matter. Each species was chosen for its ability to improve different soil characteristics. For example, clover is a nitrogen-fixer and adds organic matter. Japanese millet reduces soil degradation and is a drought-resistant species. Flax helps fight soil compaction and performs well in drought conditions. Sunflowers alleviate soil compaction and can absorb chemicals from the soil.