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COUNTRY LIFE IN BC • NOVEMBER 2016 Forage trial in Central Interior considers climate change adaptation Stories by CHRIS YATES
VANDERHOOF – A forage trial project in the Central Interior is wrapping up for two of the participants and will continue until December for two others.
Demonstrating Innovative Forage Production Practices to Increase Climate Change Adaptation was a project designed by the BC Forage Council and BC Ministry of Agriculture and implemented by Dr. Catherine Tarasoff of Agrowest Consulting and Ministry of Agriculture (BCMA) agrologist Lavona Liggins of Prince George.
“In a project like this, you expect to meet around 60% of your objectives but these farmers have done such good work that we will have met all our goals by the end of December,” Dr. Tarasoff says. Butch Ruiter of Vanderhoof planted Winfred kale at two lbs to the acre with oats at 70 lbs to the acre in June 2015 to see how the kale would affect forage quality for swath grazing. Despite a slow start due to drought, the kale responded to fall rains and
Butch Ruiter (L) of Whispering Winds Farm in Vanderhoof takes questions about the Hunter Kale he planted to increase feed value in his swath grazing. The Winfred kale he planted with his oats retained 19% protein into December last year. (Chris Yates photo)
starting in November, Ruiter says he “sampled once a week and there was no change into December.” The feed was providing 19% protein consistently.
This year, Ruiter planted
both Winfred and Hunter kale at two pounds to the acre with his oats.
“I’ll sample the brassicas in the swath this time to see how the values hold in a swath because that is often
how I’d end up feeding it.” Ruiter will have a better idea of the full extent of the brassica benefits once he gets the readings on feed quality into December.
Jon Solecki of Grassy Plains
will also wait for feed quality results in December for a complete picture of his research. He planted two separate plots each of western wheat grass, crested wheat grass, creeping red fescue, meadow brome and Russian wild rye at 20 lbs per acre. Dr. Tarasoff said some of these varieties were a “bit of a stretch” for the areas but “at the same time, this is a climate change adaptation program so he wanted to look at some that wouldn’t be traditionally grown in the area and see if maybe they’ll grow there now; things are changing.” Each side of the divided field had the five varieties. One side had no fertilizer and on the other, he had bale grazed his herd for the five previous winters and was looking to see if the passive fertilization made any difference to the yield and quality of the crops.
Dr. Tarasoff said last year Solecki looked at how many plants established in year one and this spring, he looked at how many plants were still
See FORAGE TRIAL page 23
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