cover story
GRANT ULLYOT A section of test plots at the Cranberry Research Farm in Delta
Research farm seen as huge step forward
Cranberry growers now have access to field trial results that can help themproduce top-end crops.
By Grant Ullyot I
t’s only been three years since work began on development of the Cranberry Research farm in Delta, but thanks mainly to the efforts of producers Todd May, Grant Keefer and others, the farm is now a state-of-the-art facility ready to provide growers with new varieties and provide answers to industry problems. It is one of only three such research farms in North America. Keefer, who has been in the cranberry business since he graduated from high school 20 years ago, says the research farm is a huge step forward for the industry and we are lucky to have it. Keefer feels the industry has been somewhat stagnant during the last few years.
“There are new varieties out there from universities like Rutgers and we need to see how well they will grow and produce in B.C.”
The farm was opened officially in September of 2014. In 2013, the irrigation system was completed, a sump pump was connected to the farm drainage system and infrastructure completed for water containment, recirculation and irrigation, using the pumping station constructed on-site.
“Cranberry fields are all solid-set irrigation and we need to maximize uniformity and efficiency for maximum coverage”, explained Keefer. “We don’t want to be watering all the time, but when we do we want to make sure all the ground is covered as perfectly as you can.”
Four of the farm’s research bogs are now almost fully planted with varietal trials overseen by Nick Vorsa and Kim Patten. The monitoring and data collection includes insect and disease occurrence and is compared between cultivar selections, observing crop establishment and development, and the different stages of bud and flower growth. Current plantings at the farm are from Rutgers University, which has 10 quarter-acre new releases. These will provide results to be compared to other Rutgers trials. Universities from Wisconsin and Washington State have also planted test trials.
Another bog is planted with the Stevens variety — the industry standard in B.C. (Growers have indicated a number of concerns, ranging from yield to insect and disease occurrences.) Still another is planted with Demoranville and Mulica Queen. At the annual field day well over a hundred visitors toured the expanded facilities which now comprise the site of the original five bogs with the full-service water plant. The service building has been enlarged to provide space for a number of indoor information displays, and another room for industry seminars. Outdoors, there is parking for more than 50 vehicles, plus ample space for displays of machinery and other activities. The field day included several displays, presentations and a demonstration of a sprayer built by Riverside Welding and Fabrication. The sprayer is designed for low impact on the
British Columbia Berry Grower • Spring 2016 5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24