The Discovery Farm near Langham has released its 2021 Field Report—which contains data gathered from over 20 research and demonstrations projects on the Ag in Motion site.
It was a very dry growing season at Langham, 35 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. Total precipitation between the beginning of April and end of August was just 126 millimetres, or slightly more than five inches. As a comparison, there was 286 millimetres over the same period in 2020, which was by no means a wet year.
Even though it was very dry, the research will help adapt agronomic practices to achieve better outcomes for producers.
“In the midst of drought conditions, there is still good information and lessons we can learn,” said Blake Weiseth, applied research lead at the Discovery Farm. “In reality, in Saskatchewan I think we rarely have perfect moisture conditions.”
Wheat and flax were grown last year in the Discovery Farm’s Field of Excellence and the final results were variable. On low areas, flax yielded nearly 14 bushels an acre, while the hilltops which averaged 3.5 bushels an acre.
All of the projects will continue next year. Weiseth is hoping for much better moisture conditions, adding the recent snowfalls were more than welcome.
“I think with these last couple of shots, we have some decent snowcover. After the very dry year, I was getting a little nervous, but I think we might be in pretty good shape.”
You can get a copy of the Discovery Farm 2021 Field Report by going to discoveryfarm.ca/Langham.