Gateway Research Organization 2024 project highlights

WOODLANDS COUNTY – The Gateway Research Organization tested a series of innovative agricultural projects in 2024 — ranging from pasture rejuvenation methods and livestock breeding strategies to exploring solutions for soil-borne diseases — all aimed at helping local farmers optimize their operations. 

The Gateway Research Organization (GRO) presented a review of their 2024 projects on Jan. 14 at the Agriculture Services Board Meeting.

“We want to take farmers ideas, try them out in our fields and figure out how farmers can be successful implementing them on their farms,” said Andria Carlyon, manager of GRO.

“Or maybe don't implement it because it's not suited for your area, but we could try it without a farmer taking the risk.”

Four of the GRO projects were reviewed in detail.

The Pasture Rejuvenation Pilot project targeted 14 different types of rejuvenation methods and compared results to a control plot where no action was taken.

They used a custom seed blend from Steve Kenyon from Greener Pastures Ranching. The mix included Hairy Vetch, Cicer milkvetch, Alfalfa, Red clover, Plantain, Yellow Blossom sweet clover, white clover, chicory, Balansa clover and Birdsfoot trefoil.

Their initial observation is that seeding by drones seemed to be slow to germinate.

There was a higher flush of weeds with rototilled plots, with creeping thistle being most prevalent.

A slow start was seen with the blended rejuvenation blend but there was a grass growth increase in the fertility plots.

The second project discussed was the Livestock Gentec project in partnership with the University of Alberta.

GRO has collected samples from the 100 head at the heifer pasture as well as a couple other local producers and are still looking for producers to be part of this project.

They are looking at breed composition, hybrid vigour, feeder profile index, replacement heifer profit index and expected progeny differences. Some local producers are part of the project, and their herds are primarily Angus, but their breed composition shows they still had like 1 per cent Holstein in their genetics according to Carlyon.

The third project reviewed was Aphanomyces in Peas. There's no genetic resistance to it.

Growers wanted GRO to try testing out different tillage methods and other easy to apply agronomic methods and see if it can change the presence of Aphanomyces in the soil as per Carlyon. They tested out a couple of different methods and then collected data points throughout the year.

Initially, at the beginning of the year, they did a soil test where the results were all positive or negative.

At the end of the year, a new test was available that could quantify how much Aphanomyces was present in the soil.

This new measure will continue to be used in 2025 testing.

Corn trials was the fourth project reviewed by Carlyon. GRO launched the corn trials in 2024 to test 14 different corn hybrids for Grain, Silage, and for feedstock/grazing.

They were addressing a shorter growing season, various weather patterns and diverse soil types.

There was a severe hailstorm in July 2024 and GRO left the corn to develop from there to evaluate the performance after the significant weather interruption.

This project continues in 2025.

In 2024 GRO had over 3,000 small plots spread out over several different fields.

They planted over 150 different varieties. Having replicated plots provides better data for the projects.

At the GRO heifer pasture there are 100 heifers that were managed through rotational grazing in a quarter section.

In the last year, GRO’s pasture manager switched rotation to daily moves and decreased the paddock size to see what that would do for grass growth.

GRO is hoping to turn this activity into a research project.

GRO has also been growing wheat and canola varieties that are outside of the regional variety trials.

“It's something that farmers are looking for but maybe have not tested themselves and they want to see how things perform locally,” remarked Carlyon.

The Gateway Research Organization is celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2025 and will be hosting a Gala on June 6 at Hazel Bluff Hall.