Seeking ways to introduce new crops to Northwestern Ontario, scientists at the Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station are conducting small-plot research on the efficient and economic use of fertilizer nutrients.
In laymen’s terms, the researchers are looking to find better ways to feed their crops to produce higher yields, while minimizing the cost to local farmers.
When all is said and done, the goal is to provide growers with the option of producing crops that a presently shipped in to the region at the local level, ultimately saving consumers money at the cash register.
Tarlok Sahota, director of research and business at TBARS, located off Little Norway Road just outside of Thunder Bay, said Tuesday’s open house and barbecue was an opportunity for farmers to check out the latest research and see just exactly what is and isn’t working in the region.
The project, funded largely through a Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation grant, could help farmers hard hit by the recession cut costs drastically.
“Fertilizer is one of the bigger costs in crop production,” Sahota said, before taking about two dozen farmers and their families on a tour of the research station, a series of plots growing mainly spring and winter cereals, alfalfa, forage grasses, soybeans and canola.
“Also, sometimes fertilizer nutrients can impact the environment as well, if they’re not used well and not applied at the proper time and in the proper method. So our focus is to help us do more with less. We can utilize fertilizer nutrients in much better ways.”
Sahota said by researching which crops make the best use of fertilizers, Thunder Bay and area farmers can better produce economically and environmentally rewarding food, hay and other products, which can be brought to market locally.
It will also involve thinking a bit outside the agricultural box, he said.
“Evaluation of heart healthy pulse crops, such as chickpeas, lentils, peas and beans is aimed to produce healthy food, reduce dependence and cost on nitrogen fertilizers and improve yields of succeeding crops in rotation,” Sahota said.
Some of the new products being tested this year include environmentally smart nitrogen, coated mono ammonium phosphate and readily available sulfur.
