The Gateway Research Organization (GRO) is one of twelve organizations that have received a one-time grant from the provincial government.
Some 12 organizations will be sharing in the of $3.2 million pot of funding. The grant was part of a larger provincial grant initiative for organizations investing in agricultural research to upgrade equipment, facilities and infrastructure.
The GRO has purchased five items with the grant money so far to help with their small plot research and other research trials.
These include a cab tractor to help with spraying and keeping operators safe, a small plot swather, an SUV equipped with a hydraulic soil sampler so soil sampling doesn’t have to be done manually and a gooseneck trailer to haul equipment to multiple sites during the same day. The GRO also did office renovations with the grant money including heating upgrades, new stairs, flooring and paint.
“Our office upgrades were very needed. It was not a comfortable or safe workspace,” said Andria Carlyon, manager of the GRO. “Soil health is also a very high priority for farmers and to be able to do a lot of soil sampling without having one person walking out there and doing it all manually is awesome. We can do so much more much more efficiently and get those samples off to test it and the results back quicker. It's been many, many years since we've gotten any sort of capital grant to purchase capital items, so having this big chunk of money allows us to buy some bigger items that aren't always possible to find, even used or donated because they are just too expensive and in too high of demand. This really will help us execute a lot of our research in the summer during our short growing season.”
The GRO recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in June and continues to look to the future.
“We want to take the risks at a smaller level, smaller scale, and see if it actually works to the local conditions,” said Carlyon. “If it doesn't, we can guide them and say, no, it doesn't work. Or if it does, here are some things to try next time.”
The GRO assists in farming research for various crops including canola, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, lupin beans, peas and lentils. The GRO also conducts pasture research with cattle grazing management and seeding trials. They will be heading into a busy, growing season in the summer.
“Our government is committed to free and unbiased research. Applied research associations play a vital role in supporting farmers and ranchers with top-notch research that helps improve and advance agriculture,” said RJ Sigurdson, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation in a press release announcing the initiative.
The other 11 Alberta organizations which received funding were the Battle River Research Group Society, Central Alberta Forage and Livestock Association, Chinook Applied Research Association, Farming Smarter Association, Foothills Forage and Grazing Association, Lakeland Agricultural Research Association, Mackenzie Applied Research Association, North Peace Applied Research Association, Peace Country Beef and Forage Association, SARDA Ag Research Association and Farming Forward (West-Central Forage Association).
