聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Supporters of the Preeceville Skating Arena harvested their first canola crop on September 30 as a fundraiser for the arena. The canola was divided into some test plots with the rest of the field seeded into canola.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淲e are very grateful to have had another successful fundraiser in our area,鈥� said Andrea Tonn, Preeceville recreation director.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淛ohn and Carol Holizki were gracious enough to donate approximately 70 acres of land west of Preeceville which made this fundraising project possible for the Preeceville Skating Arena. The seeding of the canola took place on May 19,鈥� said Tonn.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The participants and other contributors that were involved in the research plots were as follows: Bayer Crop Science (Allana Lewchuk, co-ordinator, and Brittnye Kroker seed treatment specialist co-ordinator); Maple Farm Equipment (Wes Jaeb, general mangager, and Tim Olson integrated solution specialist); Tonn Farms (Corwin Tonn); Yara (Mandy Huska, regional manager); Richardson Pioneer (Tess Strand, agronomist, and Florian Balawyder, area marketing representative), and Preeceville arena board (Andrea Tonn).
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The donations for seed, herbicides, equipment, fertilizer, soil testing, labour and land rent totalled approximately $18,000, she said. These donations made the project possible.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The crop was harvested on September 30. The net average yield of the canola crop was 43.5 bushels per acre which produced a net revenue of approximately $22,000.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淭his is year one of a three-year commitment and this year鈥檚 results surpassed all expectations,鈥� Tonn said. 鈥淭he planning has begun by contacting and setting up meetings with the participants which will be on the beginning of year two of what we hope to be another successful fundraiser. The proposed research is seed treatments on cereals.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This project not only provides much needed revenue for the arena board but provides vital information regarding canola variety performance relevant to this area, she said. With this research Bayer Crop Science is able to provide information to local producers that will aid in decision making for their farms.聽
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Yara provided nitrogen for this demonstration project, which is pivotal for canola production. The company offered several crop nutrient solutions to help supplement the crop. Yara is a global provider of crop nutrition products with local production of nitrogen at Belle Plaine.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The importance of soil testing, correct fertilizer blending, additional micro nutrients and equipment testing, which also includes seed and fertilizer placement, are examples of things that are vital to this research project.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 This project is important to help provide information to producers to show what new varieties should be selected for this area.
聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 鈥淥ur goal for next year is to expand the research and to help provide information and teach local students the value of this research,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e gratefully acknowledge all the participants in their contribution to this fundraising project.鈥�
