The problems that plague pulse crops are targets for research funding recently announced by the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission.
It plans to invest $1.06 million toward studies of aphanomyces root rot, wireworm and pea leaf weevil, the commission announced Feb. 18.
The projects focus on objectives in the pulse group’s strategic plan, according to chair Robert Semeniuk.
Eight research projects will be funded: six of them focused on agronomy, one on breeding and one on marketing and health. Most are two or three-year initiatives that will be undertaken with funds from the Western Grains Research Foundation, Agriculture Development Fund and Results Driven Agriculture Research. Some other pulse and wheat commissions are also involved in funding arrangements.
Read Also
Saskatchewan RM declines feedlot application, cites bylaws
Already facing some community pushback, a proposed 2,000-head cattle feedlot south of Swift Current, Sask., has been rejected for a municipal permit, partly over zoning concerns about the minimum distance from a residence.
“The agronomic projects will allow more work to be done with wireworm and pea leaf weevil, which are two challenging pests that impact yields for Alberta farmers,” the APG said in a news release.
“The aphanomyces investment allows research to continue into management practices to allow for control through liming of soils and additional work in root rot detection.”
The breeding research is aimed at disease-resistant pulse varieties and opportunities in lupin agronomy, while the marketing initiative will explore beans as a food important to healthy aging.
