Learning in the Field at FCDC’s Lacombe Field Day
Learning in the Field at FCDC’s Lacombe Field Day
The Olds College Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) hosted the annual Lacombe Field Day on Wednesday, July 27 in Lacombe, Alta. Presented by Alberta Barley, over 240 people in attendance learned about the amazing research and industry collaboration that takes place at FCDC. Lacombe Field Day kicked off with welcoming messages by Dr. Kofi Agblor, Program Director, FCDC, and Paul Thiel, Thought Leader, Olds College. Dyck Wymenga, Region 3 Director at Alberta Barley and sponsor of the event, highlighted industry collaboration and welcomed everyone to the field day.
Attendees headed out to the field with FCDC researchers and scientists and the Olds College Centre of Innovation (OCCI) smart ag research team. The morning featured four different stations in the field – malting barley, feed and forage, pathology and triticale – where guests tuned in to researcher presentations and toured various plots.
"We were thrilled to welcome attendees to our Lacombe Field Day, and highlight our researchers and different crop varieties,” says Dr. Kofi Agblor. “It was a great day connecting with both local and out-of-town producers and industry about our work at FCDC."
Lunch was served by Evolution Catering from Ponoka, Alta. Attendees got the first taste of the new “Brew-Ha-Ha” beer produced by the Olds College Brewery which was released at Lacombe Field Day. During lunch, booths from AGVisor Pro, Alliance Seeds, Alberta & British Columbia Seed Growers, Seed Net, Alberta Barley, Olds College Brewery, Continuing Education at Olds College, and Olds College Smart Farm were on display.
The afternoon included various demonstrations:
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Soil Sampling 101: The ChrysaLabs soil nutrient probe was demonstrated and tested in numerous field types by OCCI researchers. Central Alberta Co-op highlighted their data collection program in their sampling truck.
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Crossing Cereals to Breed New Varieties: FCDC research associates provided a hands-on demonstration of traditional crossing methods, crossing the best-of-the-best for yield, resistance to pest and disease, quality and agronomics.
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Weighing Samples: FCDC’s mobile weigh station displayed immediate data collection and integration when crop plots are harvested.
