40THANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION& AGRICULTURALSHOWCASE
We’re excited to be hosting our 40th Anniversary celebration on Aug. 5 and 6 and hoping that people will come out to experience all the great thingswehaveplanned.
“The 40th Anniversary and Agricultural Showcase will be held west of the SARDA Ag Research building on Highway 2 west of Donnelly,” says eventorganizerEmilyPlihal.
“We’re going to have a variety of activities for the whole family and are eager to see people from throughout the province come to help us celebrateour40th.”
The event is going to feature a mini trade show with 30 booths in the SARDA Ag Research cold storage building Plihal says exhibitors are a variety of agricultural, legal, and building businesses,tonameafew “Thetradeshowisasmallerversionoftheexhibits
we have every other spring, but it’s a mix of activities for the whole family,” Plihal explains. “We will also have bouncy castles for the kids, food trucks and farmer’s market for the whole family, and seminars and crop tours for everyone interested.”
Plihal says the seminars will include a discussion on kochia, lupins, herbicide injury, wild oat management,forage,andcanola.
“We have some industry professionals coming to discuss things that are happening in the agriculturalsector,”saysPlihal
“This includes pests or weeds that we should look out for, up and coming products that we are trialing,andnewplantvarietiesthatwehavegrown tostudy.”
AcompletelistoftopicswillbepostedtoSARDAAg Research’sFacebookpageinupcomingweeks. Parking for the event will be at the Guy-Donnelly Sportex and there will be a shuttle provided by Smoky River Transportation to and from the venue. Times and location will be available closer to the date
“We’re hoping that people will come help us celebrateourfourdecadesofagriculturalresearch in the region,” says Executive Director Vance Yaremko. “There are some innovative ideas and products that will be displayed through the two days too, so the event will also be educational for farmersandpeopleinourcommunity.”
Plihal says they are also planning a pancake breakfast on Thursday morning with times to be announced.
“Wearealsoexcitedtoannouncethatwewillhave acateredsupperprovidedbyHinesCreekCatering on Thursday evening,” Plihal he says. “The supper will be $25 and will be inclusive of prime rib, turkey, homemadebuns,desserts,andatonofsides”
If you would like more information on SARDA’s 40th Anniversary & Agricultural Showcase or would like suppertickets,phoneortextEmilyat780-837-0563
SARDAAGRESEARCH SARDA AG RESEARCH
TH
40 40 ANNIVERSARY ANNIVERSARY TH
AUGUST5&6,2026 AUGUST 5 & 6, 2026
SARDAAgResearchisproudtowelcome youandallofourneighbourstohelpus celebrateour40thanniversaryAug.5and 6,2026.
TheSARDAAgResearchAgricultural Showcasewillprovideentertainmentand educationforthewholefamily.All activitieswillbeheldatourofficeon Highway2westofDonnelly. We’rehopingpeoplefromaroundAlberta willcometohelpuscelebrateour anniversaryandjoininallthegreat festivities.
EducationalSeminars
CropTour
AgriculturalTradeshow
Farmer’sMarket&FamilyActivities
CateredSupper
August 5 @ 9am th
August 6 @ 12pm th
August 5 @ 10am th
August 6 @ 11am th
August 5 @ 11am th
August 6 @ 10am th
August 5 @ 1pm th
August 6 @ 1pm th
August 5 @ 3pm th
August 6 @ 2pm th
August 5 @ 12pm th
August 6 @ 9am th
August 5 @ 2pm th
August 6 @ 3pm th
Ikeepcomingbackto SARDAyearafteryear becausethere's somethingrelaxing aboutbeingsurrounded bynature.Iappreciate theflexibilityofthework alongwiththe opportunitytolearnnew things.Asabusymom, it'salsoanicebreak fromtheeverydayhustle andachanceto recharge.
JPshowingDenystheropesandworkingtogether to spray trials with SARDA Ag Research’s truck sprayer.
MEET THE 2026 RESEARCH TEAM
SUMMERSTAFF NuoyCloutier
Summer staff member Dani hard at work dumping the seed packets for a forage trial at the siteinDonnelly,AB
Oursummerstaffhavearrivedand havebeenanintegralpartofthe 2026seedingteam!
SARDA Ag Research is excited to welcome back Dani & Nuoy to our summer staff. Alongside Trista &Simontheteamisreadytogetoutinthefield!
ThisspringwealsowelcomeDenys&Ramchandra to the SARDA Ag Research team as research scientists.
Together the staff and board at SARDA Ag Research are looking forward to the 2026 season and providing small plot agricultural research at the high standards SARDA Ag Research is known for.
WELCOME RAMCHANDRA!
SARDAAgResearchisproudtointroduceournewResearch CoordinatorRamchandraNeupane!
RamchandraNeupanehasjoinedSARDAAgResearchasournewresearchcoordinator.
Originally from Nepal, Neupane says he grew up with a farming background, and he wastryingtopursuehighereducationinagriculture
“Canada is a great agriculture country, and I can pursue my future and advance my career here in that industry," says Neupane. “I studied my bachelor’s in agriculture science in Nepal but there we are small growers for every household; we grow for the householdonly.Thereareacoupleofeconomicgrowers,growingforcommercialscale, butmostpeoplegrowontheirsmallparceloflandintheirbackyardsfortheirownuse”
Neupane says the majority of agriculture done in Nepal is for sustenance, and he was excitedtoworkandlearnagriculturalindustryonalargerscale.
“I applied for my Master’s degree at the University of Alberta,” he says of his move to Alberta.“Afteroneyearintheprogram,Iswitchedtoathesis-basedprogram,andIwas hiredasaresearchstudentatAAFCinBeaverlodge”
COZY ESCAPES FOR THE PERFECT AUTUMN RETREAT
Neupane’s thesis research was on nitrous oxide emissions monitoring on large commercial farms. He also has helped use a model to help producers plan their future crops using a simulation with input regarding agricultural background, soil type, plant typesandothervitalinformation
“Working out of Beaverlodge under Peace Region Living Lab Project, one of SARDA’s partners, when I was finishing my degree, I learned SARDA was hiring research technicians and coordinators,” says Neupane. “I like the region; the agriculture is mostly wheatandcanolaandvariousgrasses.”
Neupane says it was a smooth transition into the new role as he already knew many of theSARDAstafffromhistimewithPeaceRegionLivingLab.
HeisalsojoinedintheregionbyhiswifeBinitaLamichaneBsc Agandhisthree-montholddaughterZianna
“I’mworkingasaresearch coordinatornowandstilllearning allthetrials,”Neupanesays.“I lookforwardtolearningmore andcontributingasmuchasI cantoSARDA.”
ANNUAL CROP UPDATE
2026SeasonOverview
SARDA Ag Research is well into another busy fieldseason.Seedingofallannualcroptrialsis complete, and crops are actively emerging across our research sites near Donnelly and High Prairie. Field crews are out doing emergencecountsandapplyingearly-season herbicideandcropprotectiontreatments.
This year, SARDA is managing nearly 50 trials acrossmorethan1,500smallplots reflecting our ongoing commitment to independent, grower-focused agronomic research for Peace Region producers Our program covers cereals, pulses, oilseeds, lupins, forage seeds, and industrial crops, with support from commodity commissions, provincial and federal funding programs, and a growing list ofindustrypartners.
RegionalVarietyTrials(RVTs)
SARDA leads Regional Variety Trials for the Peace Region, evaluating elite varieties for yield performance and key agronomic traits. In 2026, RVTs are underway in cereals (spring wheat, barley, and oat), pulse crops (field peasandfababeans),andflax.Conductedin collaboration with commodity commissions, these trials give producers unbiased, regionally relevant data to support seeding decisions
LupinResearchProgram
SARDA'slupinprogramkeepsgrowing In2026, we are running several complementary studies in partnership with Lakeland College andLupinInc.:
Adaptability trials evaluating varieties for bothgrainandforageproduction
Fertility trials assessing phosphorus, potassium,andsulfurrateresponses
Seeding rate trials to determine optimal plantpopulationsfortheregion
PeaceRegionLivingLab(PRLL)
SARDA's work in the Peace Region Living Lab continues in 2026, with small-plot intercropping studies and on farm beneficial management practice (BMP) demonstrations. Current work includes pea and lupin intercropping with canola and wheat, generating producer-focused insights on systemperformanceandeconomics.
IndustryCollaboration
A significant portion of our 2026 program involves collaborative trials with industry partners, spanning crop nutrition, soil amendments, variety performance, plant growth regulators, and biological crop protection products. We are pleased to welcome new collaborators Taurus Ag and Annelida to our program this year, alongside ourreturningpartners.
Keyindustrytrialobjectivesin2026include: Varietyperformancetrialsinwheat,canola, barley,andpeas
Soil and foliar fertility amendment trials acrossmultiplecrops
Nitrogen source and rate trials on wheat andcanola
Soil pH amendment and organic matter improvementproducts
Biological and novel crop protection productevaluations
Industry-supported research allows SARDA to expand the scope and depth of our program while maintaining the scientific rigour and independencethatproducerscounton.
FORAGE CROP UPDATE
CalvinYoder
Calvin Yoder works as a Turf and Forage Seed Specialist for the Peace Region Forage Seed Association and SARDA Ag Research The extensionandresearchworkisalsosupportedby RDAR and Agri-Food and Canada Agri-Science Program.
Key trials and studies that are being conducted in2026include:
Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130 and SARDAAgResearchFarm
1.Establishing eight grass species with glufosinatetolerantcanola(year3of3).
2.Evaluation of new red and alsike clover varieties for seed yield potential (just seeded).
3Evaluating seed yield potential of several creeping red fescue seed varieties (just seeded)
4Tolerance of grasses to pre-seed applications of herbicide Prospect and Paradigm-Pre.
5.Toleranceofseedlinggrassesherbicides.
6.Tolerance of established crested wheatgrass toherbicides.
7.Effects of plant growth regulators on establishedcrestedwheatgrass.
8.Managing herbicide resistant wildoats in annualcrops.
MunicipalDistrictofGreenviewNo.16
9.Nitrogen fertilizer timing, rates and urease inhibitorsontimothyseedyields
10Tolerance of established timothy to grassy weedherbicides
11Tolerance of established timothy to the broad-leavedherbicideTalinor
12.Effects of UAN and plant growth regulator Moddusonperennialryegrassseedyields.
13.Tolerance of perennial ryegrass to grassy weedsherbicides.
MunicipalDistrictofSpiritRiverNo.133
14.Nitrogen fertilizer timing, rates and urease inhibitorsontimothyseedyields.
15Effectsofplantgrowthregulatorsonsmooth bromegrassseedyields
16Effectsofgrassyweedherbicidesonsmooth bromegrassseedyields
CountyofGrandePrairie
17.Nitrogen fertilizer timing, rates and urease inhibitors on meadow bromegrass seed yields.
18.Tolerance of established meadow bromegrasstograssyweedherbicides.
19.Effects of plant growth regulators on meadowbromegrassseedcrops.
20.Tolerance of established smooth bromegrasstograssyweedherbicides.
21.Effectsofplantgrowthregulatorsonsmooth bromegrassseedcrops.
22Tolerance of established smooth bromegrasstoherbicideTalinor
23Tolerance of established tall fescue to grassyweedherbicides
24.Foxtail barley control with herbicides in grassseedcrops.
Calvin is available to growers, retailers, agronomist and crop protection companies for questions on growing turf and grass seed crops. In addition to providing extension services the program also conducts a number of applied research trials on grass and legume seedcrops.
