Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station, Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay Agricultural Research
Station, Thunder Bay
Tarlok. S. Sahota Ph.D. CCA
Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station, 435
James St. S, Thunder Bay, Ontario, P7E 6S7
Presentation made at the Rural Agri Innovation Network
Agriculture and Food Symposium, Algoma University, Sault
Ste. Marie, November 4-5, 2011
.
Thunder Bay Agricultural
Research Station (TBARS)
48o 22' N, 89o 22' W
Hwy 61
36 acres
www.tbars.net
‘Am Director of Research and Business
Background/History
 The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs established the TBARS in 1988.
 The first plots were planted in spring 1990.
 In 1997 responsibility for TBARS was
transferred to the University of Guelph (UOG).
 UOG closed TBARS on October 31, 2002.
 TBARA* reopened the station in April 2003.
*Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association
Funding
 Is a big constraint!
 75 % funding used to come from NOHFC;
25 % contributed by us (Community
contributions, collaborative/competitive
research programs)
 First funding term for 5 years; later reduced
to 3 years; current funding up to December
2011. New funding from NOHFC is only ~58 %!
 Our output per dollar invested in research
may be hard to match elsewhere!
Mission Statement
“The Thunder Bay Agricultural Research
Station, Thunder Bay, is committed to the
establishment, operation, promotion and
transfer of agricultural research for the
further development and diversification of
the agricultural industry.”
Structure/Management
 TBARS is managed by TBARA a not for
profit corporation. Members include local
farmers/farm businesses .
 Director of Research and Business reports
to the BOD of TBARA and is supported by 2
contract Technicians (8 months term).
 One year TBARS had an Intern and a
summer student for the past couple of
years.
Main Collaborators
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AAFC-Cynthia Grant, Sukhdev Malhi
Agrium Inc.-Ray Dowbenko
Ceapro Inc.-David Fielder
OMAFRA-Rudy Buitenhuis, Peter Johnson,
Scott Banks
University of Guelph-John Rowsell et al
Lakehead University-Connie Nelson et al
University of Manitoba-Yvonne Lawley
USA: WSU, U of M, CalWest
Staff
Berseem
Diversity at TBARS
Canola
Wheat
Flax
Research on Two Dozen Crops*
Winter Cereals: Wheat, Barley, Rye, Triticale
Winter Pulses: Peas, Lentils
Spring Cereals: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Triticale
Forage Cereals: Wheat, Barley, Oats, Triticale,
Corn
Spring Pulses: Peas, Lentils, Chickpeas (Desi &
Kabuli)
Oilseeds: Canola, Flax, Soybean
Forage Legumes: Alfalfa, Berseem, Galega, Red
and White Clover
*Variety Evaluation and Nutrient Management
Research on Two Dozen Crops
Forage Grasses: Timothy, Bromegrass,
Orchardgrass, Tall and Meadow Fescue,
Reed Canary grass, millets
Bio-energy crops: Switch grass, Miscanthus
Diversity within crops: For example, in Wheat,
we have soft white, hard white, soft red, and
hard red types. In Barley, we have feed,
food, malting, and silage. In Oats, we have
milling oats, white, hulless and brown
oats….
Major Projects
 Long Term Experiments on wood ash, lime,
manure, tillage, crop rotations, persistence
and maximum yield (alfalfa)
 Screening of crop varieties (East to west)
 New Crops including pulses, bioenergy
crops and medicinal plants
 New products such as ESN, coated, slow,
and readily available nutrient sources
 Tree crops and others
TBARS in Summer
2007-’08 winter wheat plots at TBARS Thunder Bay
Winter Wheat Plots at Maturity
Winter wheat on farms in 2006!
Silage Corn
Zinc Deficiency in Corn
Cyane Barley
Diversity in barley
Barley Varieties grown on farms:
AC Klinck
Brucefield
CDC Cowboy
Chapais
Cyane
Conlon
CDC Coalition
Encore
Oceanik
Millhouse (food barley)
CDC Coalition Barley
Alfalfa Forage Masters Program 2010
Sulphur and boron deficiency had to be addressed!
Alfalfa-Maximum Yield (kg/ha) &
Persistence – 5th harvest year
Nutrient Treatments
Yield
% of Best
PK
NPK
NPKS
NPKSB
3320
3593
5126
5672
59*
63
90
100
*Was 90 % in 2006 (1st harvest year)
New Forage Crops
Galega
Berseem
Millets
Teff
Miscanthus
Soil Sampling – a lot of Hard Work!
TBARS Established Lead In
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Natural Resources Management
Secondary and Micro Nutrients
Straw/biomass production
Crop/Variety Diversification
Techniques to minimize cost of production
Techniques to improve both yield and
quality of produce
 Techniques to sustain high yields
Major Achievements
 Stone Grinding Mill in Thunder Bay
 Fertilizer Blending and Soybean Roasting
Plants at TB Co-op are busier than before!
 New crops introduction: Soybean, Hard Red
Spring and Winter Wheat, Hard White
Spring Wheat, Durum Wheat, Canola,
Berseem and Galega (All farmers grew in
Thunder Bay was barley and hay crops)
 A lot of Beneficial Management Practices!
Thunder Bay District Economic
Impact Study (2009)-Main Points
 TBARS locally based applied research has
played a key role in contributing to the
development of improved crop management
practices and higher performing crop species
for the region.
 Locally based research initiatives have also
helped to facilitate the development of value
added activities and increase the awareness
and availability of locally produced foods in
the region..…
Thunder Bay District Economic
Impact Study (2009)-Main Points
 The district had been outperforming other
jurisdictions in northern Ontario and
indeed, the province.
 Thunder Bay District reported 252 farms in
2006, up from 238 farms in 2001. The
District is one of only five in the province
that experienced an increase in farm
numbers during this period.
Thunder Bay District Economic
Impact Study (2009)-Main Points
 In 2005, the average net revenue per farm in
Thunder Bay District was $30,674; the highest in
northern Ontario and also surpassed the
provincial average of $26,186.
 Agriculture in Thunder Bay District directly
supports 605 on-farm jobs. Between 2001 and
2006, employment in agriculture in the District
remained relatively stable while other sectors of
the local economy including forestry/logging and
manufacturing experienced combined losses of
over 2,500 jobs.
Future Projects
 Biochar
 Pellets from wood + Plant Biomass
 Local food/Food security: Pulses
production, extension, packaging and
local/retail sale
 Efficient and Economic use of Fertilizers
 Cover crops/new crop combinations
including Intercropping.
 Thank You! 
Any Questions?