Plot2Farm Field Day: Research that meets farmers in the field
On June 22, farmers, agronomists, researchers and industry representatives gathered at Silverwood Ventures Ltd. near Claresholm, AB, for Alberta Grains’ annual Plot2Farm Field Day.
The event gave attendees the opportunity to step into the field, see active research trials up close and discuss agronomic questions that matter on Alberta farms. From wheat seeding rates to phosphorus sources in canola, the day highlighted how on-farm research helps producers build practical knowledge to support future crop management decisions.
Hosted at Alberta Grains delegate Dean Hubbard’s farm, the field day brought together the people behind the trials, including farmers conducting research on their land, agronomists supporting implementation and researchers providing broader agronomic context.
The morning began with welcoming remarks from Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains director of research, agronomy and extension, and Hubbard of Silverwood Ventures Ltd. Participants then travelled by bus to a series of field stops showcasing several trials underway on the farm.
FROM LEFT: Daniel Stefner, Smart Ag project lead at Olds College, Jeremy Boychyn, Alberta Grains’ director of research, agronomy and Dean Hubbard, an Alberta Grains delegate, discuss the importance of on-farm research.
The first stop featured a durum wheat seed and fertilizer rate Digital Intensive Farm Management trial presented by Daniel Stefner of Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. The trial demonstrated how field-scale research and digital tools can help producers better understand crop performance across different areas of a field.
Attendees then visited a winter wheat seeding rate Plot2Farm trial led by Rob Dunn, Plot2Farm contract coordinator, along with Cory Hawk, Grow Team advisor with South Country Co-op, and Hubbard. The trial examined how different seeding rates affected crop establishment and yield potential under real farm conditions.
“Plot2Farm gives producers the opportunity to test important agronomic questions in a way that is practical and meaningful for their own operations,” Dunn said. “When farmers can see the trials in the field and discuss the results with others, it helps turn research into information they can use when making decisions on their own farms.”
The winter wheat stop also included a presentation from Dr. Harwinder Sidhu, an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research scientist in Lethbridge. Sidhu spoke about the winter wheat breeding pipeline and the role winter wheat can play within Alberta crop rotations. In addition to production potential, winter wheat can offer cropping system benefits, including opportunities to spread workload across the growing season.
The next stop demonstrated a phosphate product on canola presented by Jack Payne, agronomy solutions manager with South Country Co-op, and Hawk. Participants learned how different soil phosphate dynamics and the forms that are more available for crop uptake, with the potential role for newer products to help improve availability and crop performance.
The final field stop featured an AAC Oakman VB spring wheat trial presented by Ezri Oatway, marketing representative with SeCan. The trial gave attendees a chance to see the variety in the field and learn more about its agronomic characteristics and market potential.
While each stop focused on a different crop or management question, the trials shared a common purpose: generating locally relevant information producers can use to make decisions on their own farms.
Now in its seventh season, Plot2Farm has supported nearly 60 trials across Alberta. The program has enabled producers to conduct replicated and randomized trials under real farm conditions, helping build a clearer understanding of how management practices perform across varying soils, weather conditions, equipment and cropping systems.
The program’s true value lies in having data that reflects participating farmer’s own operations. On-farm research helps answer questions about crop inputs, timing, rates and varieties while creating opportunities for farmers to compare results and learn from one another.
By connecting farmers, agronomists and researchers around real on-farm trials, Plot2Farm continues to build practical knowledge that supports informed, farm-specific decisions across Alberta.
