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Grow With Us 2016, Issue 5 Lakeland Agricultural Research Association In order to have an effective Nutrient Management Plan on farms, which is highly recommended to opti- mize yields, soils should be regularly sampled to de- termine how much nutrients are available in order to know how much to add. Fall has been suggested by some as the best time to do soil sampling. Among the reasons advanced for this are In case the soil sample analysis does not look right, there is ample time to re-test. Some growers testify they get a discount on ferti- lizer if they order early. Soil and weather conditions may often be better for sampling in the fall. Producers will have time to really think about the results and make plans for next year, which might include early ordering of fertilizer, deciding where manure might be most beneficial, etc. Fall soil samples can be taken when soil temperatures drop below 7°C. Because microbial processes in the soil slow down as tempera- tures cool, sampling late in the fall will provide a close representation of nutrient levels at seeding next spring. The cooler the better when sampling, but you want to make sure you can still get the probe down 24”. Submit samples for 0-6” and 6-24”. If a sampling plan is not al- ready in place, work closely with your local agronomist or fertilizer dealer to draw one up. This plan will en- sure soil samples are taken in sufficient quantity in enough areas of the field to produce a representative sample. Its very important the person most familiar with field topography have input into the sampling plan to ensure the most appropriate locations are sam- pled. An effective soil management strategy that re- quires samples are collected so as to a representative sample. Continued on next page... September/October 2016 In This Issue: Pasture Events CBIC 2016 Growing Forward II Nutrient Management Fall Seeding Forages Fall Weed Control Tall Buttercup 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 Fall Soil Sampling David Simbo, LARA

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Grow With Us

2016, Issue 5

Lakeland Agricultural Research Association

In order to have an effective Nutrient Management Plan on farms, which is highly recommended to opti-mize yields, soils should be regularly sampled to de-termine how much nutrients are available in order to know how much to add. Fall has been suggested by some as the best time to do soil sampling. Among the reasons advanced for this are In case the soil sample analysis does not look

right, there is ample time to re-test. Some growers testify they get a discount on ferti-

lizer if they order early. Soil and weather conditions may often be better

for sampling in the fall. Producers will have time to really think about the

results and make plans for next year, which might include early ordering of fertilizer, deciding where manure might be most beneficial, etc.

Fall soil samples can be taken when soil temperatures

drop below 7°C. Because microbial processes in the soil slow down as tempera-tures cool, sampling late in the fall will provide a close representation of nutrient levels at seeding next spring. The cooler the better when sampling, but you want to make sure you can still get the probe down 24”. Submit samples for 0-6” and 6-24”. If a sampling plan is not al-ready in place, work closely with your local agronomist

or fertilizer dealer to draw one up. This plan will en-sure soil samples are taken in sufficient quantity in enough areas of the field to produce a representative sample. It’s very important the person most familiar with field topography have input into the sampling plan to ensure the most appropriate locations are sam-pled. An effective soil management strategy that re-quires samples are collected so as to a representative sample. Continued on next page...

September/October 2016

In This Issue:

Pasture Events CBIC 2016 Growing Forward II Nutrient Management Fall Seeding Forages Fall Weed Control Tall Buttercup

4 5 6

8 9 10 11

Fall Soil Sampling David Simbo, LARA

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All rural mailboxes in the MD of Bonnyville, County of St. Paul, Lac La Biche

County and Smoky Lake County receive a copy of Grow With Us. Request

that your mailbox be classified as Farm by talking to your local Post Mistress

to ensure you receive your copy.

Fall Soil Sampling Continued from front cover...

To achieve this is, it is important to sample between the rows and avoid any fertilizer bands as much as possible. Also, many fields have known atypical areas such as dead furrows, old fence rows, lime or manure stacking areas, wet spots, etc. If the areas are too small to manage separately, do not sample them. Taking one or two cores from these odd areas just contaminates the sample for the rest of the field. If the areas are large enough that you are able and willing to manage them separately, then take a separate sample from these areas. The samples then need to be handled correctly to pre-serve them in the same state they were taken until they are tested. The labora-tory conducting the soil testing will provide infor-mation about packaging the sample and shipping. If samples are not air dried before shipping, they should be delivered to the laboratory the same day they are taken, or if that is not feasible, they can be refrigerated for a few days or even frozen. The labora-tory will conduct a soil test based on your instructions. Generally, a typical soil test package will include tests for nitrate-nitrogen, available phosphorus and potassium, and extractable sulphur, as well as pH and salinity. Additionally, a micronutrient scan can be requested to determine levels of elements such as cop-per, zinc or boron, amongst others. Once the soil test report is back, understanding and interpreting the results help fine tune the fertilizer

management plan for your farm. The recommenda-tions in the report are a guideline, or a starting point upon which to build your plan. You alone know your farm and your operation, the moisture conditions and the historic performance you’ve come to expect. This input, together with that of your agronomist and ferti-lizer dealer builds out the plan. A comprehensive program of soil testing will help identify if macro or micronutrients are being depleted and prevents the environmental and economic penal-ties of putting on too much, too little or the wrong mix of fertilizer.

Miller, J.O. 2016. Soil pH affects Nutrient Availability FS 1054. University of Maryland Alberta Nutrient Management Planning Guide. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta.

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St. Paul Summer Field Day July 28th, 2016

Smoky Lake Summer Field Day August 2nd, 2016

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In August, the Lakeland Agricultural Research Asso-ciation (LARA) hosted two local bus tours that pro-vided producers with the opportunity to see hands-on demonstrations of new ideas and innovations in pas-ture management. Higher Legume Pastures The first event, hosted on August 17th, 2016, focused on establishing, maintaining and grazing high legume pastures (pastures 60% plus legumes). In the past, grazing high legume pastures has typically been a source of “fear” for many producers due to the risk of bloat. However, bloat-safe or reduced-bloat legumes can be help to mitigate those fears as Sean McGrath of Round Rock Ranching quoted that “more money is lost through the fear of bloat than from actual bloat.” McGrath and his family have grazed high legume pas-tures for years with great success, which has all hinged on proper management. Attendees had the opportunity to view LARA’s leg-ume research plots that included a sainfoin/alfalfa mixture trial established in 2013 to assess establish-ment and longevity of the legumes. Also viewed was a perennial forage legume trial seeded on June 9th, 2016 that included many alfalfa, sainfoin and cicer milkvetch varieties. As part of a province-wide pro-ject, participants also toured a high legume pasture north of Iron River established to a mix of 60% Sain-foin/Alfalfa and 40% Hybrid Bromegrass in June of 2016. The mixture included AC Mountainview, a new sainfoin variety recently released. The pasture will be monitored for the next two years and grazed in 2017.

Brush Control and Pasture Management One week later, on August 24th, 2016, we hosted a bus tour from the LARA Fort Kent Research Farm to Lac La Biche County and Smoky Lake County to view hands-on fencing and brushing demonstrations. The first stop was a pasture sprayed on July 6th, 2016 with Reclaim to assess the efficacy of the application. Our next stop was at Olympic Lake pasture where at-tendees viewed a brushing and fencing demonstration from Greenedge Precision Fence. The company, locat-ed in Olds, does custom brushing and fencing with equipment of their own design.

The final tour stop was in Smoky Lake County to view a demonstration of a Ranchworx Pasture Aera-tor. Pasture aeration can increase pasture productivity by breaking thatch build-up, reducing compaction, controlling brush encroachment and increasing water retention. More pictures from the tour are on page 3. For more information on these events and future

events contact the LARA office at 780.826.7260.

Pasture Management Events Showcase New Ideas and Innovations Alyssa Krone, LARA

Brushing with Greenedge Precision Fence.

Aerated pasture.

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From interesting and influential keynote speakers to humble apologies, the 2016 Canadian Beef Industry Conference was thought provoking and refreshing. It began with a showing of the national beef strategy video that cov-ered the four pillars of what the industry wants to accom-plish within the next five years. Next, a panel of speakers came to expand on why industry needs to conform to the pillars followed by speakers who covered how the goals of the pillars can be reached.

The first of the four pillars is beef demand; as an

industry, efficiency needs to be increased. First thing on the list to increase efficiency is to increase carcass cut-out val-ue by fifteen percent within the next five years. By achiev-ing high carcass cut-out value producers will be able to benefit from the high quality product, translating into a bet-ter bottom line for them. Second pillar; competitiveness. Within the next five years efficiency of production cost vs. gain must increase by 7%. Some factors that producers must look out for that are predicted to affect the bottom line are fuel and veterinary prices. Pillar number three; productivity. Production efficiency must increase by fifteen percent within the industry during the following five years. There are many methods and options available to improve production efficiency such as forage production, feed pro-duction and animal health. With the help of research, infor-mation can be obtained to build a policy for which produc-ers must be conscious. The end goal is to be able to pro-duce cattle with low input costs and high feed efficiency. The fourth and final pillar; connectivity. Within the indus-try, synergies between consumers, public and government need to be strengthened. The beef industry has reached a point where government looks to industry to drive their agenda. Producers need to ensure that they are in synch with those that require to be communicated with.

A brief insight on the future of Canadian beef mar-

keting taken from the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, speaker Sam Heath (VP Marketing, Tim Hortons, Canada) and Randy White (Sysco, Canada)

The primary and

most important message tak-en from Dr. Heath and Mr. Jessa is that the future of Ca-nadian beef cattle marketing is not going to be what the producers or companies want to market their beef as. In-stead beef must be marketed based on what the consumers want to hear in order to lure them into beef consumption. Dr. Heath gave the brilliant example of the A&W cam-paign. The consumer wants

to hear that the beef that they are eating is free of hormones and anti-biotics. The problem with that is that they are not educated on how industry works such as in regards to regu-lations about withdrawal times etc. It should be impossible to have residue of anti-biotics in any beef processed for consumption. However, no matter how much science backs industry, if the consumer believes opposite that is what in-dustry has to conform to. This is a scary thought as it may decrease many bottom lines and production efficiency. If producers want to keep using products such as ralgro, the industry as a whole needs to start educating the consumer on the truth behind products used and regulations put in place insuring the safety of these products. If this is not done there will be a decreased use in those types of prod-ucts within the next decade.

Innovative Management and herd quality insight

taken from the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, speak-er Kevin Blair (CEO Blairs’. Ag Cattle Company) and Darren Bevans (GM Deseret Ranches of Alberta Ltd.)

The future of Cattle management is going to de-

pend on smart genetic selection within the herd and utiliz-ing research to its’ full potential. “The vision of a modern cow/calf operation should be to have predictable offspring with predictable and desirable mating.” (Kevin Blair). An-other good practice for innovative and effective manage-ment which all producers should have is good crisis man-agement and risk mitigation techniques. Whether it be by diversification or having years worth of stockpiled feed, producers need to be aware and ready for a crisis. Mr. Blair touched on how BSE truly opened some eyes as to how good managerial practices will determine the longevity and productivity of some operations. Mr. Bevans from Deseret Ranches touched on how producers need to be entrepre-neurs as well: always trying new things such as bale graz-ing or swath grazing and truly being innovative. However, at the end of the day you must always do what works best for you, your operation, and your business.

Canadian Beef Industry Conference Dustin Roth, LARA

Canadian Beef Industry Conference 2016 Summary Dustin Roth, LARA

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Growing Forward 2 has now been running since 2013, and the end is starting to come in sight. The program is slated to run until 2018, and they wish to spend all their allocated amounts which is starting to become evident with all the program closures. If you are think-ing about a project, now will be the time to apply. There is discussion of a new Growing Forward pro-gram to follow the end of Growing Forward 2, but what the program looks like and what it will fund may change.

So while you wait for the morning dew to dry up be-fore heading to the combine, perhaps take a moment and think of a project that you have been wanting to do and fill out an application form. The project does not have to be done this year and you would have all of next year to finish it, but having your application in and the funds earmarked for you is critical to a suc-cessful funded project. The funding amounts between projects can vary, and

application approval before starting your project is essen-tial so planning is important. If you have been thinking about fencing off the wetland, creek or lake, putting in an offsite watering system, add-ing solar panels to offset your power bills, creating a new water source, alert monitors for remote watering systems or purchasing a new squeeze chute/weight scale now is the time to apply. Growing For-ward 2 also covers things like training, sectional controls on sprayers, RFID equipment, plastic rollers, a variety of

Continued on next page...

Welcome Dustin!

Hello, my name is Dustin Roth. I am excited to announce that I will be joining the LARA team for this fall through to next fall. I moved to Bonnyville in 2014 to pursue my interests in agri-cultural to then complete my Cow/Calf technician certificate. This past spring, I completed my Agri-business diploma at Lakeland College in Vermilion. I would like to thank LARA for the opportunity they have given me to work with them and fur-ther pursue my interests in agri-culture.

Growing Forward 2 Update Kellie Nichiporik, LARA

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Growing Forward 2 Continued from previous page...

AgriProfit$ Benchmark Analysis

Annually, the Economics Branch works directly with producers to stay informed of crop production costs and returns. The AgriProfit$ Business Analysis and Research Program collects information that is used to generate key cropping benchmarks for the major soil zones of Alberta. Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protec-tion of Privacy Act (FOIP) protects producer information collected for this program. Annual benchmark reports enable producers to compare their productive, economic and financial performance to similar farming operations locally and provincially. Benchmark analysis is the first step in identifying crop-ping strengths and weaknesses. These reports contain cost and return information, and farm level financial performance.

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/econ10237

projects to help producers positively impact water quality and improvements to existing infrastructure to increase energy efficiency.

Agri-Processing Automation and Efficiency - Crop Agri-Processing Automation and Efficiency – Live-stock Agri-Processing Product and Market Development – Crop Agri-Processing Product and Market Development – Livestock Agricultural Watershed Enhancement Animal Health Biosecurity Producer Business Management Skills Development Business Opportunity Confined Feeding Operation Stewardship Food Safety Systems Producer Irrigation Efficiency Livestock Welfare Producer On-Farm Energy Management On-Farm Solar Photovoltaics On-Farm Stewardship On-Farm Water Management Traceability Pilot Traceability Adoption

Projects under the On-Farm Stewardship program re-quires the completion of an Environmental Farm Plan (EFP). Not all programs are currently accepting appli-cations, but that can change with the redistribution of funds in the programs. For more information go to the Growing Forward 2 website at: http://www.growingforward.alberta.ca . For assistance with the forms, completion of an EFP or questions regard-ing the program please contact Kellie at the LARA office.

Programs available for producers include:

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Nutrient management planning is a best management procedure which aims to optimize crop yield and qual-ity while at the same time minimizing cost of fertilizer inputs and protect water and soil quality. The overall goal of a nutrient management plan is to limit fertilizer application only to make up the difference between what is in the soil and what is required to achieve opti-mum production, ensuring that the added nutrients are available to the crop. In Alberta, a NMP in Alberta comprise a field assessment, manure inventory, nutri-ent application plan, land management plan and record-keeping system. Mineral nutrients are classified either as classified as macro- or micronutrients and are usually obtained from the soil. The macronutrients which account for about 3.5% plant dry weight include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potas-sium (K), sulphur (S), cal-cium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg). Micronutrient ac-count for about 0.04% of plant dry weight and in-clude chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo). The non-mineral nu-trients such as carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) make up approximately 96% of dry plant weight, mostly in the form of carbohydrates. The sources of C, H, and O in plant materials are carbon dioxide (CO2) in air and water (H2O). The energy that drives their conversion into plant material is derived from sun-light. While this is widely regarded as the traditional list of essential micronutrients, some experts argue that elements such as nickel (Ni), silicon (Si) and co-

balt (Co) should be included. According to Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, which states that crop pro-duction is

limited by the nutrient in shorted supply. When nutrients are added to the soil, they dissolve in surrounding soil solution. Through the process of mass flow, dissolved nutrients in soil solution flow to the roots of plants where they are taken up by the plant. Under drought and frost, this process is reduced. Diffusion is the process by which nutrients move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower con-centration. When plants absorb nutrients around their roots, their concentration decreases, causing more nu-trients to flow toward the plant where they are further absorbed by the roots. Diffusion is very important for the uptake of P and K by plants. Several soil characteristics are known to influence the

absorption of nutrients from the soil into plants. Formed from de-cayed plants residues and animal matter, soil organic matter is an important component of healthy soils which helps to maintain and improve soil’s physical condition. Organic matter is beneficial to the soil by increasing the nutrient and water holding capacity of soils, improve soil drainage and serves as a stabilizing structure. Soil or-ganic matter is in a constant state of transition, continually breaking down and releasing finer, more

decomposed particles. As long as there are fresh sources of plant residues and animal remains in the soil, the cycle can continue and organic matter levels will stay constant. However, if fresh material is not added to the soil, organic matter will slowly be lost. Soil management interventions which can build organ-ic matter include leaving crop residues on fields to de-compose, the addition of composted or solid livestock manure, direct seeding, no or reduced tillage, perenni-al forage production and green manuring. Increased soil organic matter in the soil improves soil properties by lowering bulk density, increasing pore space for outflow of excess water and improves aggregate sta-bility. Another important factor which influences nutrient uptake by plants is soil pH. The pH scale (0-14) measures hydrogen (H) concentration, which causes Continued on page 11...

Follow us on Twitter LakelandARA LARAlivestock LARAcropping

Find us on Facebook

Managing Nutrients on Farm David Simbo, LARA

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Late Fall or Dormant Seeding—Frequently Asked Questions Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

Can you fall seed forages? Seeding forages in the fall can be a viable option in successfully establishing a forage stand if proper tim-ing and management is practiced. However, spring seeding is the preferred option as soil tillage creates an earlier and more uniform soil temperature throughout the field. This results in more uniform germination throughout the field and amongst the species that have been seeded. When should dormant seeding occur? Late fall forages should be planted from October 15 until freeze-up when night temperatures are consist-ently below zero. Why is timing of seeding so important? The soil temperature must be below 2 degrees Celsius so that the seed will not germinate. The soil is basical-ly storing the dormant seeds until spring, at which time, the soil will warm up signaling the seed to ger-minate. What are the advantages of fall seeding? This timely seeding is advantageous to areas suscepti-ble to spring flooding or peaty areas that remain wet during the summer. This process will allow the seed-lings to use good moisture from winter snow. What are some other factors affecting the success of dormant seeding of forages?

Other things con-siderations when successfully estab-lishing a healthy forage stand are the use of quality seed, use proper seeding rates and depths, and manage for weeds. A firm seed-bed will allow good seed to soil contact and result in good germination and emergence. Seeding into stubble will reduce the chance

of seed movement from wind and water erosion. Be-cause some of the seeds will die over the winter, in-crease your seeding rates by 20 – 30%. What risks are involved with dormant seeding? Seeds will start to germinate as soil warms in the spring and they could be susceptible to damaging

spring frosts. Grass crops are planted the most suc-cessfully with alfalfa having variable success and sweet clover not working at all. Sweet clover seed is scarified to improve germination allowing easy up-take of water causing it to die during winter. What happens if I seed to early? If you seed before the soil temperatures are low enough, germination can begin and as decreasing win-ter temperatures take over the seedlings will die and you will have a poor forage establishment if any next spring.

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Winter Annual and Perennial Weed Control—Frequently Asked Questions Alberta Agriculture and Forestry

When is the best time to control winter annual weeds? Winter annual weeds can be controlled in the spring or in the fall. Late September to mid October may be the best time to control them, as the plants are young, small and susceptible to herbicide. Winter annuals may continue to germinate and grow after the first fall frost so a late fall application of herbicide maybe more effective. Some common winter annuals include nar-row-leaved hawk's-beard, stinkweed, and shepherds purse. When is the best time to control perennial weeds?

Perennials are best controlled in early fall when they are still actively growing. This generally happens be-fore harvest. Post-harvest glyphosate has had incon-sistent results with perennials such as Canada thistle, as there is usually poor re-growth after harvest. How-

ever, dandelions may be more active in the cool fall conditions than in hot dry conditions. As a general rule of thumb, perennials are best controlled with pre-harvest herbicide, but can also be controlled with a post-harvest application if there is enough re-growth. A few common perennial weeds include Canada this-tle, quackgrass, dandelion, and foxtail barley. Can I control winter annuals and perennials in the same application?

Winter annuals may be present at the time you are

controlling perennials, but may still germinate after perennial weeds need to be controlled. Similarly, spraying late for winter annuals is spraying past the time that the chemical will be effective on the perenni-als.

Walk your field and see which weeds need to be con-trolled more. Remember that winter annuals may also be controlled in the spring with a pre-seed burn down. What are the effects of frost on controlling these weeds and how long do I have to wait after a frost to spray?

Frost is a stress to the plant and can cause it to shut down. This means that the chemical will not be taken up by the plants. Check the plants a day or two after the frost to see how much they were damaged by the frost. If they are still green with little damage, wait about three days after the frost, until the plants start growing again, to apply any chemical. If the plants are brown to black and very damaged, you will have to wait for new growth to apply the chemical. What are the effects of dry conditions on weed con-trol?

Drought also stresses the plant, and reduces control by reducing uptake of the chemical. If plants are not ac-tively growing they may produce a waxy barrier de-signed to keep moisture in, and may also keep the chemical out.

Canada Thistle

White Cockle

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acidity. A pH of 7 is considered neutral while any-thing lower is acidic. Any pH greater than 7 (alkaline) will have more base (OH) than H. Pure water is a combination of H and OH (H2O). Crops differ in their tolerance to pH conditions, but most crops grown in Alberta prefer a pH in the range of pH 6.5 to 7. Soil pH can affect nutrient solubility and availability of nutrient. For example, phosphorous could change its chemical structure under low pH becoming less avail-able to plants. The population of pH-sensitive mi-crobes which are involved in nutrient cycling could be affected by changes in pH, reducing or stopping nutri-ent cycling. Low pH conditions reduce soil base satu-ration by displacing plant nutrients (e.g., Ca2+ and K+) from exchange sites with H+ and soluble aluminum (Al3+) ions. Nutrients displaced from exchange sites can be lost or leached from the system and are no longer available to plants. Soil acidification can be beneficial on alkaline soils, but detrimental on acidic soils. It is important to select an appropriate form and rate of fertilizer based on the soil pH conditions. Another important factor which influences nutrient uptake in soils is salinity. Saline soils have high con-centrations of soluble salts in the surface soil layers.

Excess salt impairs the ability of plants to efficiently absorb water and nutrients from the soil. By keeping the ion concentration in the root sap higher than in the soil water, plants can maintain an inward flow of wa-ter into their roots. However, higher concentrations of salt ions in soil solution shift the concentration gradi-ent creating osmotic stress. Plants in osmotic stress use more energy to maintain an inward flow of water into their roots. As a result, less energy is available for tissue growth and crop yields are reduced. Adequate fertilizer or manure added to farms as well as managing the factors which could limit nutrient up-take will result in higher crop yields. The importance of manure and fertilizer in increasing crop yield has been recognized. However, inappropriate management of these resources could harm human health and the environment. References Miller, J.O. 2016. Soil pH affects Nutrient Availability FS 1054. University of Maryland Alberta Nutrient Management Planning Guide. Minis-try of Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta Poole, T.E. 2016. Organic Matter is an Essential Com-ponent of Soils FS 1045. University of Maryland

Nutrient Management Continued from page 8...

Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) Poisonous A perennial plant, with a thick rootstalk with numerous, spreading, coarse, fibrous roots. Stems are erect to 1 m, smooth, hollow, leafy below, and branched above. Basal and lower leaves are long-stalked, the blade deep-ly divided into 3-5 main lobes palmately arranged (like fingers from the palm of the hand), each of the lobes irregularly jagged or coarsely toothed. Middle leaves with similar shape but nearly stalkless. Upper leaves progressively smaller with fewer and smoother lobes. The base of each leafstalk flattened and partly surround-ing the stem at each node. Flowers bright yellow, about 2-3cm in diameter, with 5 petals, grouped on long stalks in a much-branched inflorescence. Sepals are 5, green and small. After the petals fall, the cluster of seeds is nearly spherical with each seed about 3mm long, flattened, egg-shaped in outline with a short hooked tip. CAUTION: Buttercups have an unpleasantly sharp, pungent, or bitter juice which causes severe pain and inflammation when grazed by livestock. Key Identifiers

Grows erect, 30-100 cm

Lower and middle leaves are similar in appearance

Leaf blades deeply lobed but not completely divided into 3-5 sections

Distinct leaf stalks, flattened and partly surrounding stem

More information can be found at www.agric.gov.ab.ca

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Box 7068 Bonnyville, Alberta

T9N 2H4

Phone: 780-826-7260 Fax: 780-826-7099

E-mail:

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter:

@Lakeland ARA @LARAlivestock @LARAcropping

www.laraonline.ca

LAKELAND

AGRICULTURAL

RESEARCH

ASSOCIATION

Upcoming Events

Lakeland Agricultural Research Association

LARA Staff

Alyssa Krone [email protected]

Forage and Livestock Program

Kellie Nichiporik [email protected]

Environmental Program

LARA Board

M.D. of Bonnyville Murray Scott Harold Ross

Don Sinclair (ASB rep) David Fox (ASB alt)

Lac La Biche County Roger Harbord

Richard Creelman Wanda Austin (ASB rep)

MJ Siebold (ASB alt)

County of St. Paul Carl Agnemark

Louis Dechaine (Chair) Cliff Martin (ASB rep) Frank Sloan (ASB alt)

Luc Tellier (LFA Rep)

Smoky Lake County Barb Shapka

Charlie Leskiw Ron Bobocel (ASB rep)

Randy Orichowski (ASB alt)

David Simbo [email protected]

Cropping Program

Mission Statement:

The Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA) conducts innovative unbiased applied research and extension

supporting sustainable agriculture.

Coming this November!

Holistic Management Workshops

Cow-Calfenomics

This farmer went to see his family doctor and was waiting word on his recent tests. The doctor was very sorry to tell the farmer he only had one month to live. The famer asked the doctor if there was anything he could do. The doc-tor told the farmer to go to his nearest John Deere dealer and get himself the latest, biggest, most technologically advanced combine they had to offer and hire himself out to custom harvest a 1000 acres of grain. The farmer replied back, “is that going to help me.” The doctor said, “probably not, but one this

is for sure, its going to be the lognest month of your life.”