Research

Research Topic: Fertility/Climate/Environment / New

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Mike Hall, East Central Research Foundation - Suncrest College
• Project Dates: April 1/25 - April 1/26
• Abstract/Summary: Trials were established at Yorkton, Indian Head, Swift Current, Scott, Melfort, Prince Albert, and Redvers to determine if delaying the crop’s access to nitrogen could decrease lodging, increase protein, and maintain test weight and yield of milling oat. Applying a portion of the total N as dribble banded UAN (4 leaf vs boot stages) or side banded ESN was compared to side banding all the N as urea. These comparisons were made at total N levels of 110 and 140 lb/ac (soil + fertilizer). Some benefits from managing N were detected, however, they were rare and inconsistent. While yield and protein did not typically differ between levels of N management at most sites, applying a portion of the total N as UAN at the boot stage decreased both yield and grain protein at Indian Head. This highlights the environmental risks associated with split applications. However, there were a couple instances where supplying a portion of the N as ESN or dribble banded UAN did increase grain protein by providing late season N to the crop. Levels of lodging were very low at most locations, making it difficult to detect any differences between N management. However, even at sites where lodging was high, no significant effects were detected. Maintaining oat test weight with UAN at the boot with the use of ESN was detected in a couple of instances at Swift Current. However, these effects were not detected at any of the other locations despite test weight being responsive to added N at 4 of the locations. In conclusion, there was limited evidence that applying a portion of the N requirement as ESN or dribble banded UAN could maintain yield and test weight, increase grain protein, or reduce lodging. Effects were inconsistent between sites and even between levels of total N within a site.

Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Abstract/Summary: Principal Investigator Dr. Randy Kucher led the project, which was undertaken by student Jessa Robb. This oat nursery project entailed two parts:
  
  Evaluation of up to 10 oats cultivars for susceptibility or resistance to bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas translucens. 
  Using one cultivar of oat, the pathogen will be applied to the whole trial. Two treatments will be applied and compared: (1) only water [no bactericide] and (2) CuS04 (formulated as Bordeaux mixture). 
  
  This project was funded by the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats).

Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Brianne McInnes, NARF
• Project Dates: 2024-2025
• Abstract/Summary: Herbicide resistance of tough to control weeds, such as kochia and wild oats, is an ongoing problem on the Canadian Prairies. Herbicide resistance surveys conducted over the last two decades on the Prairies continue to demonstrate the increasing prevalence of herbicide-resistant weeds. With increasing incidence of herbicide resistance, utilization of different herbicide groups for control of resistant types is essential to ensure farmers don’t lose crop yield to weed pressure. Herbicide resistant weeds cost farmers a significant loss in income every year, at an estimated $340 million in Saskatchewan alone.

Research Topic: Fertility/Climate/Environment / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Brianne McInnes, NARF
• Project Dates: 2024-2025
• Abstract/Summary: The main objective for this project was to demonstrate the yield and quality response of new milling oat varieties to enhanced fertility as compared to a commonly grown and accepted variety.

Research Topic: Fertility/Climate/Environment / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Multiple projects/principals
• Project Dates: Spanning 2016 through 2024
• Abstract/Summary: POGA has compiled a handout of all supported nitrogen-related projects completed (as of June/24). This is a quick-reference document to provide producers with a listing and brief description of each project, and links to their reports.

Research Topic: Fertility/Climate/Environment

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Bill May, Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF)
• Project Dates: May 2016 - Febuary 2017
• Abstract/Summary: This project aimed to: 1) validate, under local conditions, research showing that oat requires moderate amounts of N and that test weight declines as N rate is increased; 2) expose growers to new oat cultivars that may be better than cultivars currently grown in the trial area; and, 3) determine if the test weight of current oat cultivars vary in the stability of their test weight as the N rate is increased. Four oat cultivars were chosen specific to each location (two popular and two new cultivars with potential). N rates used (kg N/ha): 40, 60, 80, and 120.

Research Topic: Nutrition/Product Creation / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Dr. Lingyun Chen at the University of Alberta
• Project Dates: July 2016-June 2019
• Abstract/Summary: The project focused on the development of a ready-to-drink oat-based beverage that is fortified with omegas, vitamin D, and other nutritional ingredients that are essential to the diet of cancer patients. The objectives of the project are:
  
  1. Develop a processing to concentrate protein and beta-glucan from oat grains
  2. Develop a ready-to-drink beverage enriched in beta-glucan and protein by combining oat and pulse and determine if this development results in shelf-stable products
  3. Enhance the beverage with nutrients known to be deficient in cancer patients (omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D) and study the acceptability of the beverage with the cancer patients.

Research Topic: Fertility/Climate/Environment

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Mike Hall
• Project Dates: April 1, 2023 – Feb 28, 2024
• Abstract/Summary: This project aims to determine the yield and test weight response of oats to 15% and 30% reductions in optimum rates of N. The specific rates of soil plus fertilizer N tested will be 125 lb/ac, 106 lb/ac, 88 lb/ac and no applied N. Two varieties of oats will be used in this project – CS Camden and CDC Arborg.

Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Abstract/Summary: This survey provides a record of seed-borne pathogen trends in pulse and cereal crops and allows for continued tracking of diseases over time. The interim seed quality data, from the time of harvest until the end of December, provided early insights into seed quality trends and helped to identify potential pathogens of concern and their prevalence across the province.
  
  The survey is intended to provide a benchmark for annual seed-borne pathogen levels across the province. Low disease levels of seed produced during 2021 has been a positive outcome of a challenging growing season.  Largely attributed to extreme drought conditions during the growing season and at the time of harvest, interim data indicates a large proportion of pathogen-free pulse (lentil, field pea, chickpea) and cereal (barley, durum, oat, and spring wheat) seed.
  
  The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture compiled the maps, which show the mean infection levels of the samples as well as the historical trends across all pathogens and crops.
  
  This project was funded by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission (SaskWheat), Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission (SaskBarley), and Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats)

Research Topic: Nutrition/Product Creation / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Dr. Lingyun Chen
• Project Dates: March 2022 - February 2024
• Abstract/Summary: A dietary pattern that provides plant protein, dietary fiber and low fat has been shown to decrease the risks of chronic diseases (obesity, cardiovascular disease). The high-quality milling oats in Canada are good sources of both dietary fiber and plant protein. The long-term goal of this research is to develop high quality protein and fiber ingredients from oats for healthy food development.
  The short-term objectives in the next 2 years are to develop technology innovations to combine protein and dietary fiber from oats and pulse to fabricate:
  1. Fat replacers for low fat dairy/dairy substitute product development; and
  2. Texturized vegetable protein products for meat analogue applications.
  This research will provide opportunities to add value to oats and pulses as two major crops in western Canada. The food products high in both plant protein and dietary fiber will provide consumers with healthy choices, and help control the prevalence of obesity in the society and lower the risks of chronic disease.

Research Topic: Insect/Disease/Weeds / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Principal Investigators: Paul Bullock (University of Manitoba) and Randy Kutcher (University of Saskatchewan)
• Project Dates: April 2018 - March 2023
• Abstract/Summary: Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a fungal disease affecting cereal crops in Canada that reduces productivity and produces mycotoxins in the grain. This fungal disease is caused by a number of Fusarium species of which Fusarium graminearum is considered the most important because of its abundance, its toxin producing ability and its impact on grain quality and yield. Currently the most important practices recommended to cereal growers for FHB management include non-host crops in the rotation, resistant cultivars, and application of fungicides.
  
  Cultural management of FHB of cereals, in particular crop rotation or the sequence of crops grown, can play a major role in an integrated management approach to FHB (Gilbert and Haber 2013), as well as many other pest and agronomic issues. However, there are no studies in Canada that clearly indicate the impact on FHB of various cereals due to the previous crop(s) cultivated.
  
  The goal of this research is to improve yield and quality in Canada through the implementation of effective crop sequences to mitigate FHB.

Research Topic: Intercropping/Other / Popular

• Project Status: Completed
• Abstract/Summary: The Government of Saskatchewan, The Government of Manitoba, The Government of Canada and POGA combined efforts in this report to look at barriers to entry and opportunities for oats in Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries as well as China.