These trials differ from regular strip trials as they are both replicated and randomized to account for any field variability and ensure confidence in the results. This makes the trials quite large, but having adequate data to properly analyze after harvest is crucial to providing you with results you can be confident in.
Customized Research: You get to trial a practice on your farm using your equipment, in your region and in your soil, and you’ll have access to a research specialist the entire time. This means that the analyzed data will be specific to your farm and farming operation — not adapted from a farm or research station miles away.
Networking Opportunities: Join a network of like-minded farmers interested in on-farm, field-scale research. We partner with other crop commissions to host a field tour during the summer and a winter wrap-up results banquet. At this banquet, you will get first access to all the trial results. This means you’ll not only see your trial results and the combined results from all farms with the same trial, but you’ll also see the results from all other crop trials. These results will also be packaged in a booklet for you to take home.
All registered barley farmers are eligible to participate. If you have not requested a return of your SaskBarley levy in the past two years you qualify. SaskBarley is investing those levy dollars into this research.
You don’t need any special equipment for most projects apart from a grain cart with a scale, a weigh wagon and/or a calibrated combine yield monitor. Each project has an assigned agronomist to assist and they may have accessto a weigh wagon. If you lack this equipment, we can discuss possible solutions.
We’ll be honest—it takes a bit of time, mainly during harvest, as each treatment plot needs to be harvested separately and weighed. Feedback we’ve received from past and current cooperators is that seeding and spraying are usually easy. We write the protocol in a way that will allow for that; however, we still need to take a bit of extra time at harvest to make sure that all your hard work and effort during the growing season are worth it when the final samples are collected.
We also partner with other crop commissions to host a field tour in June or July including at least one field trial from each commission – if yours is chosen there may be some time commitment involved from you for this tour.
Signing up is easy! Registration opens in January each year when the sign-up form is posted to our website.
You’ll need to provide a few things to us throughout the registration process, including field history, equipment, soil test results (if you have them) and your agronomist’s information.
To ensure implementing the trial is as easy as possible for you, we will contract your agronomist to help with flagging during seeding, data collection, and taking samples during harvest. Our intent is that the entire research process is smooth for you.
If you don’t have an agronomist, we can connect you with one!
In January each year, a registration form will be available on our website (BarleyBin Field Lab On-Farm Research Trials — SaskBarley). This form ensures we have all of the correct information for you and gives you a chance to tell us what protocol(s)you’re interested in. Keep an eye on our monthly e-newsletter or sign up to ourBarleyBin Field Lab mailing listto receive an invite. You can call us at any time if you have any questions!
Results are shared at the winter wrap-up banquet, through our newsletter, on our website, at field days and winter meetings, and in a detailed booklet. Participants get first access to the results.
Yes, you can express your interest in specific practices during the registration process. We will consider your preferences when designing the protocols, as long as they match the overall goals of the program.
There are no fees to participate in the BarleyBin Field Lab trials. Depending on the protocol, additional costs may include additional fertility or seed, or the purchase of a product, such as a fungicide or plant growth regulator. You may also incur some minor costs for equipment use or additional labor.
We require fields to be large enough to accommodate at least eight passes of the seeder or sprayer for proper replication of treatments and at least 1000’ long treatments to ensure the trials are effective. We can discuss your field’s suitability during the initial consultation.
We can create protocols for most new practices. We don’ttrial specific products, though if there is interest, we can provide a protocol for it. So far, we’ve had protocols looking atseeding rate, fertility, plant growth regulators (PGRs) and harvest weed seed control. These focus specifically on the practice while allowing the farmer cooperator to choose whatever product they’d like to use. Some protocols will require a specific product to ensure they are comparable with other trials.
Contact Mitchell by email, or call us. You don’t have to wait for the intake to open for next year; we accept ideas year-round. If we receive them throughout the growing season or fall, we’re able to get feedback from other farmers about these specific ideas. If we have enough interest (and funding), we’ll write a protocol.
We also collaborate with other crop commissions in Saskatchewan to write joint protocols, as some farmers may want to trial a practice on multiple crops.
Your agronomist will take the lead on data collection. They will need to collect data on crop growth, yield, weather, and other relevant factors as specified in the protocol. We will provide detailed instructions and support throughout the data collection process or work with your agronomist directly.
The trials are designed to integrate smoothly with your regular farming activities. While some additional effort is required, especially during harvest, we aim to minimize disruption to your routine operations.
If any issues arise, you will have direct access to our research specialists and agronomists who can provide guidance and support to address and resolve any problems.
Yes, if your field conditions and schedule allow and sufficient resources are available, you can participate in multiple trials. This can provide valuable comparative data and insights for your farm.
Preliminary results will be shared after harvest, with comprehensive analysis and final individual and combined results presented at the winter wrap-up banquet and through a detailed booklet you get to keep.
We aim to include as many farmers as possible, but there may be a limit based on available funding, resources and support capacity. Early registration is encouraged.
SaskBarley’s selection process will give preference to growers with trials in contrasting regions, that contribute to the overall database of trials and to include as many farmers as possible.
Your participation helps generate valuable data that can improve barley farming practices for the entire community. The insights gained from these trials can lead to better yields, more efficient practices, and improved industry standards.
Contact Mitchell Japp, our Research & Extension Manager! If you work with a farmer who would like to do a trial, you can fill out the registration form on their behalf or have them fill it out. If you do not have a farmer that wants to participate but you’re interested in being a contracted agronomist we will connect you to the trial coordinator, who will be your main contact.
