Parkland College and East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) held their third annual research farm field day Thursday near Yorkton, with more than 60 farmers and agriculture industry representatives in attendance. The event highlighted the partnership between the College and ECRF, which officially began with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2013 leading to collaborative work on agricultural applied research projects. This year there are 26 projects underway at two locations: the joint research farm one-kilometre south of Yorkton, and a site along Highway 10 next to the trucking weigh scale three-kms southwest of the city. Researchers are conducting various wheat fungicide and plant growth regulator trials, canola fungicide and seed treatments, flax fungicide trials, and fertility trials for oats and canary seed. The information developed and gathered on site will be shared with the research community, agricultural industry, and local producers. More information is available at www.ecrf.ca. The College and ECRF plan to continue agriculture research trial programs in the Yorkton area into the future. Since its inception in 1973, Parkland College has worked to expand the philosophy of life-long learning in East Central Saskatchewan. The ECRF is a non-profit organization established in 1996. Based in Yorkton, it undertakes applied research projects and demonstrates specialized crop protection technologies to local producers. Funding from government agencies allows ECRF to conduct trials on everything from seed treatments and crop residues to fertilizer application rates and weed and pest control. ECRF is one of eight producer-directed research and demonstration groups in Saskatchewan.
