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Marketing Canadian Oats in Mexico Cultivating Success upon Success

Oat producers have received regular Mexico Mission updates from POGA over the years (through POGA’s newsletter and at event presentations); the March 2019 Oat Scoop issue contains the preceding Mexico-update article and is a good reminder of the intensive work previously done on behalf of Canadian oats and oat producers.

A mission team, consisting of Art Enns, POGA Board Member and Past President; Shawna Mathieson, POGA Executive Director; and Fabio Niespolo, Emerging Ag Policy Analyst, travelled to Mexico City on June 25-28, 2019.

The team met with many Government of Canada officials in Mexico including H.E. Pierre Alarie, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Mexican States; Grace Kim, Counsellor (Agriculture and Food), Embassy of Canada;

and Juan-Carlos Muñoz, Government of Canada Trade Commissioner in Mexico.

The mission team also met with the Mexican Diabetes Association (Federación Mexicana de Diabetes (FMD)) to further the cooperative working relationship, which includes activities at Mexican cooking schools. POGA also met with representatives from the Mexican Cardiologist Association and is working to establish a cooperative relationship with them as well.

Representatives from the Canadian Embassy, the FMD and POGA served on the panel of judges for the 5th Annual Oat Recipe Contest and the awards ceremony was held at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City on June 27. For details and the list of winners, go to poga.ca - News and read the June 28, 2019 article.

They also spent time with Mr. Felipe Gómez Fajardo, Grupo Vida President, and his staff. This year at the June 28, 2019 Canada Day celebration at the Canadian Embassy, Mr. Gómez received the Canada-Mexico 75 Award for, “his great contribution to strengthening commercial ties between Canada and Mexico in the agri-food sector.” Another excerpt from the award speech reads, “Since the early 1990s, Grupo Industrial Vida has begun developing a long-term vision for Canada by importing oats and since then, year after year, this relationship has been growing to allow Canada to be the main importer of oats in Mexico. The evolution of this relationship bears fruit, and by 2012, Grupo Industrial Vida represents the first Mexican productive investment in the agri-food sector in Canada. In 2017, Grupo Industrial Vida made a second investment that results in the company now having a presence in two Canadian provinces. Felipe has already participated in trade missions as a Canadian company in Asia achieving commercial successes in this part of the world. We are optimistic and we want your vision for Canada to generate more opportunities for both countries. Thus, we thank and honor each other by having a friend and business partner who contributes

positively to the mutual economic development of Canada and Mexico.”

The team was pleased and proud to be present and witness this recognition of Mr. Gómez and his hard work.

Left—to—Right, Luis Raúl Ordoñez, Manager Grupo Vida; Shawna Mathieson, POGA Executive Director; Pierre Alarie, Canada’s Ambassador to Mexico; Felipe Gómez Fajardo, Grupo Vida President

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Grupo Vida is the second largest oat miller in the world and represents over 85% of the Mexican oat market. POGA and MOGA are very excited that more Canadians will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Gomez, as he has agreed to speak on the opportunities for Canadian oats at CropConnect in Winnipeg on February 12, 2020.

“The mission to Mexico is always a very good opportunity to connect with the Mexican Oat millers and also the Canadian Embassy in Mexico which continues to be a tremendous help to our Mexican campaign. POGA’s campaign could not have experienced the success that it has in the past 4 years without the incredible support of these individuals and companies,” states Art Enns.

The social media campaign continues to be a successful component of the on-going project. The Emerging Ag communications team has been posting oat recipes on the Avena Canadiense Facebook page. Recipes are being created by partnering food bloggers mentioned in the March 2019 Oat Scoop Mexico article and also promoted on their blog sites. Below are mouth-watering pictures and early, interaction numbers for the recently posted Tacos de Pescado con Avena (fish tacos with oatmeal) and Paletas de Yogurt con Avena (yogurt popsicles with oatmeal). The Facebook campaign continues to do very well; for example, during August, 2019, the campaign reached a total of 2.5 million people and garnered over 101,000 engagements (i.e., shares, likes and comments).

In case you’re interested in recreating some of these fantastic recipes, you can visit avenacanada.com website or Avena Canadiense Facebook page. If you don’t speak Spanish, use your device’s translation service and you’re on your way to making some great recipes that incorporate Canadian oats, created by keen, Mexican cooks.

This project is supported by the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) and funded by the AgriMarketing Program through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

587,894 people reached 18,778 engagements 91.3k video watched 2.5k reactions 2.3k shares 311 comments

286,581 people reached 10,247 engagements 68.6k video watched 1.4k reactions 978 shares 49 comments

Producer Consent Form POGA has received requests from international oat buyers to source

oats directly from producers. If you are an oat producer in Alberta,

Manitoba or Saskatchewan and are interested in being contacted by

these companies for potential direct oat sales, head over to the main page

at poga.ca, click on and fill out the Producer Consent Form.

Your contact info will be included in a list provided to companies inquiring about direct-from-producer sales.

Oat Scoop article titles marked with a (symbol)

indicate articles written by Pam Yule, Right Angle Business Services.

rtangle@sasktel.net

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Up Close and Personal Prairie Oat Breeding Consortium and Retirement of Oat Breeder, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch

POGA members are all familiar with the Prairie Oat Breeding Consortium (POBC) and the program’s lead, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch. This year will be Jennifer’s final year with the program, as she is planning to retire in 2020. So, POGA decided to share some details about the POBC Annual Summer Field tour, as well as to take a walk down memory lane and examine some of the highlights and accomplishments of the POBC Oat Breeding and Testing Program with Mitchell Fetch at the helm.

Field Tour

The POBC’s Annual Summer Field Tour was held August 8, 2019 at the Brandon Research and Development Center (BRDC). Mitchell Fetch explains, “We started the tour at the Disease Nurseries between Veterans Way and the Assiniboine River in Brandon. We all studied disease photos of leaf and stem rust, and fusarium head blight. Then everyone endeavored to find matching diseases in the wheat and oat disease nurseries. We were able to introduce Dr. Kirby Nilsen, who had just arrived that morning to take the Phenomics Scientist position. We travelled to the Quintaines’ site, just northeast of Brandon to take a look at the Sprouting Resistance and Midge Testing Nurseries, and Yield Trials covering several generations of breeding lines from F4 to F12. We also inspected the isolations, which are the purification grow-outs of advanced generation lines, which could become the source for Breeders Seed. Attendees were invited to pick the lines that did not match the others. These lines could be supported for cultivar registration at the Prairie Grain Development Committee meetings in February. Attendees were invited to take a more in-depth look at the yield trials after lunch if they were interested.”

The tour was led by BRDC Research Assistant Kali Stewart, with assistance from the Wheat and Oat Breeding crew. Dr. Santosh Kumar, Wheat Breeder, and Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch, Oat Breeder, spoke about

their breeding programs and all of the filial* (see note below) generations, the screening methods and selections that are involved in developing superior cultivars. BRDC Research Assistant Cheri Babel gave an overview of molecular-marker-assisted selection and how it is used in the breeding programs. Mitchell Fetch shares, “She also showed us a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machine, which is used to make several copies of a specific DNA segment, a molecular marker. The attendees were able to see the small plot equipment we use for seeding and harvest, which is very small compared to the farm equipment they are used to seeing or using in fields.” *Note: filial = any of the generations following the mating of distinctively different parents of (usually) relatively pure genotypes.

Approximately 80 people attended the tour—producers, producer association representatives, industry funding partners, local agri-businesses, the University of Manitoba, and the Province of Manitoba. Says Mitchell Fetch, “Everyone was interested in learning more and asked lots of questions about the breeding programs.”

POBC Program and Highlights

The October, 2018 Oat Scoop article, Field Day at Lacombe, provided readers with details regarding how the oat trials are conducted and the meticulous work involved—from annual trial set-up to data collection and analysis and finally to selection for registration. Breeding lines with favourable trial results are presented to the Prairie Recommending Committee on Oats and Barley (PRCOB) to determine which varieties will be supported for cultivar registration by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Each year, Mitchell Fetch’s team coordinates the Western Cooperative Oat Registration Trial (WCORT), which takes place at up to 14 collaborators’ sites across western Canada, and analyzes the data collected for agronomic, disease-resistance and quality traits: heading date, maturity, height, lodging, yield, test weight, and kernel weight. The following features are also measured (in terms of percentages) plumps, thins, hulls/groat content, protein, and oil. Starting in 2001, measurements were

Looking to find and identify diseases in the Oat Disease Nursery at the POBC Field Tour

Looking at an oat isolation at the POBC Field Tour

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also recorded for: percent total dietary fibre (TDF), insoluble dietary fibre (IDF), and beta-glucan (BG). Disease reactions are also rated for: oat crown rust (OCR), oat stem rust (OSR), smut, and barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV); fusarium head blight (FHB) was also added to the records.

In 1998, when Mitchell Fetch assumed the program lead position, the popular oat cultivars in Manitoba were Riel, Robert and AC Assiniboia and the average yield was about 87 bushels/acre. The Registration Trial (1998 Western Cooperative Oat Test (WCOT)) included the high-yielding Pinnacle, the semi-dwarf and crown-rust-resistant AC Ronald (which also had higher BG, reported in 2001). CDC Dancer was up-and-coming, with its high milling yield and plump kernels. The registration trial testing period was just coming to an end for AC Morgan and none of the oat community could predict it would become one of the most prevalently grown cultivars over the next 15 years.

In 2001, dietary fibre content was added to the reports for the entries in the registration trial. AC Ronald had high BG levels (>5%), as did the hulless line AC Belmont, but its oil content was also on the higher side (>7%). Furlong had mid-range BG at 4.7% with slightly lower oil content, while CDC Dancer had a similar level of BG with much lower oil content. None of the tested lines carried resistance to the newly emerging race of oat stem rust (TJJ or NA67) and the genetic resistance to oat crown rust provided by the gene, Pc68, was already declining.

From 1998 to 2018, over all of the lines being tested in the registration trials, the test weights have increased from 48 kg/hectoliter (hL) up to over 55 kg/hL. The kernel weights have gone from about 36 grams/1000 kernels to over 43 grams/1000 kernels. Groat percentages have improved from about 58% up to 90% in 2018. Protein levels have been increasing steadily, from around 12% up to 16%.

In 2018, AC Morgan was still a high-yielding and lodging-resistant check in the WCORT, CDC Dancer was the quality check with its consistently high plump kernels and groat percentage combined with low oil and moderate BG. Summit had moderate BG content, high groat and protein percentage, but also higher oil. The breeding lines that were supported for registration at the PRCOB meetings in February 2019 all had higher-than-average yield, good groat percentage, BG levels averaging 5% and lower oil content. The protein levels have all increased from an average of about 12% in 1998 to 16.2% in 2018. The rust disease resistance in these lines is declining but the moderate resistance to FHB is promising. More work is needed to identify and incorporate rust-resistant genes into up-and-coming breeding lines.

In 2018, the most widely grown cultivar in Manitoba was CS Camden, followed by Summit, a variety developed by Dr. Mitchell Fetch. The average yields are up to 100 bu/acre according to Statistics Canada, a yield increase of about 15%.

Jennifer Mitchell Fetch’s Career

When asked how she chose her career, Mitchell Fetch shares, “I chose my career path as a plant breeder because of my summer job after my first year at the University of Saskatchewan, working with the wheat-breeding group at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Centre in Swift Current, SK. I truly enjoyed working outside in the crops and discovering the amazing world of plant breeding, and I realized I could help make improvements for the world. I obtained a Master’s in Crop Science and after a short stint as a Triticale Breeder at the University of Manitoba, I headed to North Dakota State University to pursue my PhD in Plant Breeding and Genetics, working in flax breeding. The position as an Oat Breeder with AAFC in Winnipeg was offered to me. My husband, Tom, was offered a position at the Cereal Research Centre as the Stem Rust Pathologist and that cemented our decision to stay in Canada.”

Mitchell Fetch continues, “Over the past 21 years, seeing all the advances has been exciting, especially the increase in information and capacity for biotechnology to be put to good use within the breeding program. The incorporation of new computer technology for printing field-books and labels, replacing handwritten data collection, analyzing data, presenting information, using GPS for planting, and so much more, has been nothing short of amazing. The improvements in plant breeding technology and equipment have been rather swift, although some of the old, reliable techniques remain useful, too.”

“We have worked hard to develop the cultivars that producers need, the processors and end users want, and consumers trust for the great health benefits. The Organic Breeding program has opened additional opportunities to provide sustainably produced end products to meet consumer demand. I think breeders will need to continue to incorporate evolving technologies, including more molecular markers, genomic selection methods, and high throughput phenotyping to make breeding more efficient and effective. There will need to be more disease-resistant genes identified and brought into the germplasm in order to maintain and increase yield. New technologies may be needed to find ways to combat potential emerging pests and for oat plants to grow well under changing environmental conditions. Additional uses will be discovered for oats, increasing the potential markets.”

POGA thanks Jennifer Mitchell Fetch for her years of service to the Oat Breeding Program and wishes her all the best in well-deserved retirement!

This project is funded by AustGrains, Emerson Milling, FP Genetics, General Mills, Grain Millers, POGA, Richardson International, SeCan, and the AgriScience Program, under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

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A New Approach to Marketing Oats in Asia POGA Directs Efforts to Expand Exports to Japan

As members know, in 2018 POGA began a three-year project through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) entitled Expand the Canadian Oat Market. POGA has been keeping members informed, via the Oat Scoop and conference and other event presentations, of the original project activities directed toward China and Mexico markets. Due to current market uncertainties in China, POGA reached out to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) earlier this summer to determine if they would allow alternative uses for the funding allocated to expanding markets in China. In September, AAFC approved a change to this project to redirect the funding toward marketing efforts to increase Japanese imports of Canadian oats. POGA remains committed to seeking a phytosanitary approval for raw oats into China and will continue advancing this file as the opportunity arises.

Japan is the fourth-largest global importer of oats, and Canada and Australia each fill 50% of that demand. The redirection of the funds to the Japanese market is to support 2019-2021 activities with two main goals:

to emphasize the reliability of the Canadian oat supply and Canada’s ability to fill a larger portion of the current Japanese oat market demand; and

to satisfy the increasing Japanese demand for oats—specifically, in healthy diets, cereal breakfast, and healthy products for the senior population—with Canadian oats.

The main objective is to achieve a 6% increase in 2021 oat exports to Japan compared to 2017 exports. Overall results greatly depend upon an increase of Japanese domestic consumption of oats and global weather conditions.

Project efforts will focus on a) building strategic links to Japanese importers, and b) developing a marketing campaign to encourage increased human consumption of oats in Japan (similar to the successful marketing project occurring in Mexico).

Jenneth Johanson, POGA President, is excited for the new opportunity: “It is essential to establish direct contact with the main Japanese importers and remind Japanese companies of the safe, healthy, natural and dependable Canadian oat supply. Canada is recognized as a reliable source of quality oats but there is potential to increase the Canadian market share in Japan by gradually meeting the Japanese oat import demand that currently relies on the Australian supply.

“Building strategic links with Japanese importers and demonstrating Canada’s consistent supply will also put Canadian oat growers in a position to take full advantage of the elimination of the 12% tariff on processed oats in 2024 by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This will allow Canada to be more competitive in the Japanese oat export market.”

Shawna Mathieson, POGA Executive Director, states, “POGA has seen amazing success with a similar campaign in Mexico, demonstrated by nearly 2.5 times the exports of oats to Mexico in 2018 compared to 2015, when the project started. The Japanese market offers another important opportunity for growth in the medium and long term. There are opportunities for a growth in oat demand amongst health- and nutrition-aware seniors (a growing segment of the population) and young consumers (who live busy lives and are seeking time-saving, healthy, nutritious alternatives to traditional, healthy but preparation-intensive meals). Japan will be the host of the 2020 Global Nutrition Summit and Olympic Games, two major global events that can serve as forums for a specific campaign to promote oats consumption. The Nutrition Summit will create a strong focus on the link between diet, food systems and health, while the Tokyo Olympics will be a great platform for all wellness issues—including health and nutrition.”

Over the next several years, POGA will continue to keep producers updated as they continue work on the Mexico project activities and begin work on this new project component: directing efforts toward increasing markets in Japan. The long-term plan is to return POGA’s focus toward obtaining market access for raw Canadian oats into China—once that market is more favorable to allow Canadian product imports.

This project is funded by the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) and by the AgriMarketing Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

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Crown Rust Resistance Pinpointing the Responsible Genes

Development of markers linked to oat crown rust resistance to help breed improved oat varieties for Saskatchewan producers is a new, four-year project led by Dr. Aaron Beattie, University of Saskatchewan - Crop Development Centre (CDC).

Beattie is teaming up with collaborators who possess complementary experience and resources in this research field: Dr. Jennifer Mitchell Fetch, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) - Brandon Research and Development Centre; Dr. Kathy Esvelt Klos, U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services; Dr. Randy Kutcher, University of Saskatchewan - Plant Sciences; Curt McCartney, AAFC - Morden Research and Development Centre; and, Dr. Jim Menzies, AAFC - Morden Research and Development Centre.

Objectives are to:

evaluate crown rust reaction in bi-parental oat populations (in growth chambers and field nursery experiments) (see note in next column on alleles for more information on why two-parent oat varieties are used);

perform Quantitative Trail Loci (QTL) marker mapping of crown rust resistance (using the phenotypic data collected in Objective 1); and

convert the markers identified in Objective 2 to high-throughput marker assays for use in oat breeding programs to produce varieties with improved crown rust resistance at a faster pace.

Interested readers may want to brush up on the technology being used in this project, and POGA has published several Oat Scoop articles on these subjects. Please see Leaf Blotch Research Project, 2017 November for an explanation of QTL mapping and Crown Rust Marker Research, 2018 October for more information on molecular marker identification.

Results from this project have the potential to affect growers due to greater yield per acre and lower cost of production (reduce/eliminate fungicide use), and to affect millers due to increased gains by maintaining grain plumpness and test weight.

According to Beattie, “The largest on-going threat to oat production in Canada (and worldwide) is the fungal pathogen Puccinia coronata which causes oat crown rust.” This disease causes yield losses and stem lodging. Resistant genes may defend a plant from the pathogen at the seedling stage but not be effective at the adult stage, and vice versa. Nearly 100 crown rust resistant genes in oats have been identified and reported—the majority being seedling resistance genes. However, the crown rust pathogen is quick to develop new races that are able to overcome this resistance in seedlings. Beattie states, “As such, gene pyramiding and use of adult plant resistance (APR) are considered viable methods to deal with this issue. For example, the APR present in the Minnesota line MN841801 has been effective since the 1970s. In order to

effectively and efficiently implement these approaches, it is necessary to genetically map the location of both seedling and APR genes within the oat genome and develop markers to these genes.”

The CDC already uses known resistant gene markers to incorporate and select for crown rust resistance in its breeding program as it is a more accurate, cost- and time-efficient method compared to the crown rust nursery method. The use of markers also allows for specific identification of multiple, resistance genes present in lines. Beattie explains, “It is now possible to not only develop markers linked to oat crown rust genes, but also to understand their chromosome locations and more importantly, the allelic (*see note) relationships among the vast number of reported genes. Such information will allow oat breeders to understand which combinations of resistance genes can be pyramided together and test the effectiveness of such pyramids.” *Note: alleles are alternate versions of specific genes (one from each parent: bi-parental) in a chromosome location that are nearly identical (being slightly different, their interaction with the pathogen can vary).

Each of the collaborators have applicable expertise, equipment, facilities and data to bring to this undertaking. The project ends in 2023 at which point research results will be shared with oat researchers and breeders, and the information will be used to develop new, crown-rust-resistant oat varieties. The research report will also be posted on poga.ca under “Research Results” when available.

Beattie concludes, “It is also one of the intended outcomes of this project to eventually release commercially available oat milling varieties with improved yield, quality and crown rust resistance. When breeding lines with these characteristics are identified, they will be registered and made available to oat growers through seed companies active in Western Canada.”

The project is supported by Western Grains Research Foundation (WGRF), the Prairie Oat Growers Association (POGA) and the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) of Saskatchewan under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Does Seed Size Improve Oat Vigour? Project Final Report

Mike Hall, Research Coordinator of East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) and Parkland College has concluded the trial Oat Vigor Improves with Larger Seed Size. POGA introduced the project in the July 2018 Oat Scoop. The objective of the project was to demonstrate how seedling vigor in oats can be improved by screening out smaller, less vigorous seed. Increasing the average seed size of a seed lot should result in greater emergence, improved stand establishment, greater competitiveness against wild oats, earlier maturity and greater yield. Hall states, “In areas where wild oat populations are high, competitiveness is important because there are no herbicides available to control wild oats in tame oats.”

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Field trial plots were established at the ECRF site and the Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF) site. Two factors were studied. Hall explains, “Treatments were replicated 4 times and only the middle rows of each plot were harvested to minimize the influence of edge effects. Different parts of the treatment list were analyzed as two separate factorial experiments. The first factorial analysis evaluated 3 seed sizes of large (42 mg/seed), small (26 mg/seed) and unscreened (41 mg/seed) at 3 seeding rates of 100, 200 and 300 seeds/m2. The 3 seed sizes were obtained from the same seed lot. The second factorial analysis evaluated the 3 seed sizes at shallow and deep seeding at a rate of 200 seeds/m2. Data from the unscreened seed was omitted from the IHARF site due to a seeding error.”

As for the weather, Hall shares, “Mean tempera-tures were above the long-term average and rainfall was well below. However, yields were still respectable at Indian Head and exceptional at Yorkton.”

Emergence and biomass rates differed at each location. Compared to large seed, small seed emergence was 13% lower at Yorkton, and 4% lower at Indian Head. Also, early seedling biomass from small seed was 16% lower at Yorkton and 29% lower at Indian Head. Hall says, “The lower biomass suggests the smaller seed oats were less vigorous compared to large-seed oats.”

The 3” deep-seeding treatments were not part of the factorial design but were added to the treatment list to provide added stress and help accentuate any vigor differences between seed lots. Vigor differences between deep-seeded, small- and large-seed oats was particularly noticeable at Yorkton (Figure 1).

As to comparisons between large and unscreened seeds, Hall reports: “Emergence and early season biomass did not differ between large and unscreened oats, indicating the removal of smaller seed was insufficient to greatly improve the quality of the seed lot. This was likely due to the fact that the seed lot was of very high quality to begin with, as evident in the very similar thousand kernel rate values for the large and unscreened seed.”

In conclusion, Hall summarizes, “The small-seed-size oats were found to be less vigorous and oats grown from this seed produced lower yield at Yorkton. However, removing these seeds from the original seed lot did little to improve overall seed vigor or increase crop yield as they only constituted 8% of the original, unscreened seed lot. The quality of the small seed in this seed lot was still

good and resulted in a vigor-tested germination* (see note) of 98%. Despite the excellent vigor-test results the small seed was clearly less vigorous than large seed based on field results. Increasing seeding rates from 100 to 300 seeds/m2 did not improve yield at either location in this study. However, the high seeding rate is still recommended as it hastened maturity by 4 days and reduced wild oat pressure at Indian Head.” *Note: Vigor-tested germination is germination tested under cold, stressful conditions.

ADOPT and SaskOats signs were posted and the project was highlighted during the annual tours at both locations; ~250 people in total viewed the plots. Please visit 2018 research results on poga.ca for the entire project report and accompanying data tables and charts.

This project was supported by the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats) and funded by the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) initiative under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Integrated Disease Management in Oats Report - Year 1

In 2018, Jessica Pratchler, Research Manager of Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF) completed the first year of the three-year project: Improved Integrated Disease Management for Oats in Saskatchewan. POGA introduced the project in the July 2018 Oat Scoop. Project objectives are:

to understand the effectiveness of fungicide application and genetic resistance to control foliar disease in various oat varieties;

to determine the impact that plant populations have on optimal fungicide application; and

to determine how integrated disease management strategies vary between the soil climatic zones in Saskatchewan.

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A split-plot design with four replicates was established at the four locations (Melfort, Indian Head, Revers and Yorkton). Each of the main plots received the same fungicide applications (untreated, treatment at flag leaf stage and treatment at heading stage). The main plots were then sub-divided to include various combinations of oat varieties (CS Camden and Summit) and seeding rates (300 seeds/m2 and 450 seeds/m2).

Pratchler summarizes the activities and results of the first year’s work: “The oat varieties used differed genetically for yield, lodging and disease resistance. Our first objective was to understand the interaction between varietal resistance and fungicide application. Results indicate that the effectiveness of fungicide application does not significantly differ between the two varieties selected. Therefore, any other treatment benefits were attributed solely to differences in genetic resistance and the location. The second objective was to determine the impact seed rate and plant populations have on optimal application timing. Results indicate that increased seeding rate did increase plant populations. Seeding rate did not, however, significantly reduce tillering as expected. This is likely due to the dry conditions across study locations in early spring. Therefore for the first reporting period, there were no significant interactions between seeding rate and optimal fungicide application timing. The third objective was to determine integrated disease management strategies for oats. After one year of study, there were no discernable treatment effects identified. We hope that in future years of study, discernable integrated disease management strategies can be identified and made applicable for all of Eastern Saskatchewan’s oat-growing regions.”

Various diseases affect oats grown in different Saskatchewan oat-growing regions at different times during the growing season. Crown and Stem rust are common concerns, but leaf blotch strains and Fusarium Head Blight also affect oats. Each region is affected by a disease type to a greater or lesser extent and optimal treatment timing for leaf, stem and head diseases can vary a great deal. Saskatchewan producers do not have definitive information at hand to make sound disease management and treatment timing decisions to ensure these diseases are being adequately controlled, and at the same time, only using fungicides when needed.

Pratchler is examining a multitude of oat diseases, prob-lems, and the conditions they grow in. On top of that, the project will also examine other factors that affect oats. Pratchler states, “Little is known regarding the varietal differences in genetic resistance to, for instance, Septoria leaf blotch complex and Fusarium Head Blight. Although genetic resistance is a highly beneficial trait, selection of other traits (like lodging resistance and test weight) may be of higher priority to growers. Consequently, choosing oat varieties for certain good traits but that have less dis-ease resistance results in an increased reliance on fungi-cide application for disease control.”

Pratchler continues, “Previous studies suggest that increased seeding rate is also effective in reducing tillering in cereals. With reduced tillering, the crop develops approximately at the same rate. This effectively should allow growers to improve application timing and in turn improve fungicide efficacy. Currently, there are no studies combining seeding rate, fungicide use, and genetic resistance for oat disease management.”

“The Oat Grower Commissions are always looking for ways to help producers increase return on their farms. This project could provide some very meaningful information concerning the best seeding rate for newer varieties and help to determine timing of and need for fungicide. All of these factors play a role on the farms of oat growers across Western Canada,” shares Chris Rundel, POGA Vice-President.

So, with Year 1 under their belt, and Year 2 well underway, the team will continue setting up the research plots and working toward collecting data for several more years. Saskatchewan usually delivers different weather each year, so the research plots should see different annual growing conditions—just like all producers experience. Pratchler’s final words on the project: “Overall, oat growers across the province have identified that further information regarding Integrated Disease Management is crucial for high-yielding and quality oats to be continuously produced in the province.”

For more data details, charts and tables, go to 2018 Research at poga.ca. This project is co-funded by SaskOats and the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) of Saskatchewan under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Can Oats and Peas Play Well Together? New Research on InterCropping

Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats) has engaged Lana Shaw, South East Research Farm (SERF) to conduct a trial entitled Oat/Pea Intercrop Demonstra-tion. The objective of the project is to demonstrate a) how to grow oat and pea together as a grain crop; b) how to separate grain components using slotted screens; and c) the effect on yield and agronomic parameters of varying oat seeding rates in intercrop with pea.

Shaw explains, “Mixed grain intercropping is a growing trend in Saskatchewan. While oat and pea have often been grown together for forage to improve the protein and quality of oat silage or greenfeed, mixed grain inter-crops have not been well evaluated. Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development recommends maintaining a high density of peas to ensure good pea competition in a mix. An oat-pea intercrop may be planted as a grain crop and local evaluation of seeding rates is needed to assess crop value, agronomic characteristics, and flexibility for end use. A combination of pea and oat may have higher Land Equivalency Ratio (LER—*see note) and crop value than either monocrop on their own. Also, grain intercrops can improve agronomic characteristics of pea by reducing or

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mitigating lodging, disease, and insect damage.” *Note: LER is a ratio that illustrates the relative land area required to produce, from sole crops, the same yields achieved by intercropping.

Pea and oat are both beneficial to grow in a crop rotation in terms of nitrogen use efficiency and mycorrhizal (**see note) associations. Intercropping oat and pea in a mixed grain crop may result in a more resilient and valuable product with reduced need for herbicides and nitrogen fertilizer. Oats may have beneficial effects on pea disease or reduce weed pressure and may also affect aphano-myces root rot in pea. **Note: mycorrhizal is a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and plant at the root level.

This intercrop combination could improve diversity in the local cropping system, even in Saskatchewan regions that currently do not focus on oat production. Diversity can reduce both production risk due to crop failures and economic risk due to low commodity prices. Intercrop-ping may reduce the need for glyphosate applications by reducing weed competition, which may also reduce weed propagation. Oat intercropping may also improve snow-trapping capacity of pea residue to reduce soil erosion and improve soil aggregate stability.

Plots were established in 2019 at six Saskatchewan research sites: South East Research Farm (SERF) - Redvers; Conservation Learning Centre (CLC) - Prince Albert; Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF) - Melfort; Indian Head Agriculture Research Foundation (IHARF); Wheatland Conservation Area (WCA) - Swift Current; and Irrigation Crop Diversification Corporation (ICDC) - Outlook. Eight treatments (with four replicates) were included: 5 pea and oat intercrop treatments (oat seeding rates/m2 - 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 plants); 1 oat monocrop (200 plants/m2); and 2 pea monocrops (1 weed-free, 1 weedy; this is to determine the differences in weed competition for the intercrop because oats are more competitive with weeds than are peas). Pea seeding rates were consistent for both intercrop and monocrop plots to ensure adequate contribution of peas in the mixes.

Each research site chose a pea type based on regional interest and demand. Camden oats were used at all sites, due to its good lodging resistance and short height.

After harvest, measurements and assessments will be made on: a) plant counts, weed biomass at pea bud stage, crop biomass at oat milk stage, yield, crop height, maturity; b) LER for biomass and yield (including separate partial LER for pea and oat); and c) oat quality.

The project was initiated in May, 2019 and the final report is due February, 2020. Results will be communicated at various winter meetings and agronomy events, and posted in the 2019 Research section on poga.ca. In addition, ADOPT and SaskOats signs were posted and the project was highlighted during the annual tours at many of the plot locations.

This project was supported and funded by: the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats); local producers; General Mills; Sask Pulse Growers (Melfort site); Big Dog Seed (Redvers and Prince Albert sites); and the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) initiative under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Test Weights for Milling Oats A New ADOPT Project

Mike Hall, Research Coordinator for Parkland College and the East Central Research Foundation (ECRF) is conducting a new Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) trial on behalf of SaskOats: Maintaining Acceptable Test Weights for Milling Oats. The trial started April 2019 and will conclude by February 2020. The objective of this project is to demonstrate the following concepts:

Test weights and other quality factors for Milling Oats tend to worsen with delayed seeding and increasing nitrogen rates.

Test weight stability can vary between varieties. Seeding early and managing nitrogen is particularly critical for a low-test-weight variety such as CS Camden compared to Summit.

Hall shares the project’s relevance to local producers: “The Canadian Prairies produce most of North America’s milling oats and Eastern Saskatchewan is one of the major oat growing regions. Since the majority of Saskatchewan’s oats are sold into the milling market, quality is a top priority. Some producers have struggled

Oat-Pea Intercrop trial plot at NARF - Melfort.

Attendees viewing the Oat-Pea Intercrop plot at NARF Melfort Annual Tour.

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with consistently producing milling quality oats. To achieve milling quality, producers need to seed early and manage nitrogen to maintain adequate test weights. This is particularly important for lower test weight varieties. Moreover, early seeding and nitrogen management are crucial for maintaining other quality parameters now that pre-harvest glyphosate is no longer a harvest aid option when selling to certain buyers. Farmers need to be aware that best management practices may differ between varieties of oats.”

Hall created this trial based on results of previous local research projects which examined a) the impact of seeding date, nitrogen rate and cultivar on oat yield and milling quality, and b) weight stability as nitrogen is added to different varieties. One of the results being incorporated into this trial’s demonstration: Are early seeding and nitrogen (N) management more important for maintaining test weights of CS Camden compared to Summit?

Four replicates of three factors were employed: seeding date (early May and early June), variety (CS Camden and Summit), and nitrogen rate (40, 80 and 120 kg N/ha). Plots were established at the East Central Research Foundation (ECRF - Yorkton), Indian Head Agricultural Research Foundation (IHARF) and Northeast Agricultural Research Foundation (NARF - Melfort) locations.

The following data is being measured and recorded: residual soil nutrients; plant density; lodging; grain yield; test weight; kernel size; plump kernels; and thin kernels. In addition, seed quality will be tested by Grain Millers as an in-kind donation. The trials were viewed at research centre annual tours this summer and project results, including a short video produced by ECRF, will be made available online in 2020.

This project was supported through the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats) and funded by the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) initiative under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Oat Breakfasts in Saskatchewan Schools An Ag-in-the-Classroom Project

Saskatchewan Oat Growers Association (SaskOats) funded a pilot project, Oats for Breakfast, with Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC). Each year, classrooms that participate in Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month (CALM) are connected directly with a farmer or agricultural representative who volunteers to go into the classroom to share their personal agriculture stories with students.

Based on SaskOats’ criteria for funding, AITC intro-duced a contest for all 338 Saskatchewan teachers who signed up for this year’s March CALM presen-tation program. The contest invited schools to apply to receive one each of ten $300 bursaries to be used to serve an oat-themed school breakfast. Application questions included: what students learned during the CALM presentation, what each

school would serve at the oat-themed breakfast, who each school would invite to the breakfast, and how students would benefit from the experience.

Several examples of what students learned during CALM presentations:

Teacher Carol Wilkinson, West Central School, Prince Albert: "The fact that farmers grow FOOD!"

Teacher Adria Rault, Allan School, Allan: "The students learn how little land the world has to grow food on and how important, and difficult, it is to grow healthy crops. We also learned how much food is wasted and how we can prevent food waste."

Karen Rilling, Albert Community School: “Our students learned all about farming and how a farmer produces food that we eat. Our class is situated in North Central, and many, almost all, did not know that farmers plant seeds—that turn into plants—that we eat. The world of agriculture is far removed from North Central and it was an amazing, eye opening experience for our students.”

Sara Shymko, AITC-SK Executive Director, explains the impact a program like CALM has: “Students are curious about food and farming. It is a powerful experience for students to meet real farmers and hear their stories and

Yorkton Test Weight Trial - Summer 2019

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ask them questions. We deeply appreciate the time farmers give to this program and are always looking for volunteers. CALM is only one of the many programs AITC-SK offers to schools and as the demand for agriculture-based education grows, we search for new ways to have an impact in the schools. The Oats for Breakfast program is a great example of a new project to achieve this objective.”

AITC provided 100 recipe cards for Oatmeal Muffins to each of the 10 schools, although schools were free to prepare any oat recipes they wished. The following schools were awarded bursaries and several expanded, teacher-feedback details are included:

William Derby School, Strasbourg: Funds supported Oat Muffins for a literacy celebration for students and families. Teacher Lindsay Gay: We had a wonderful meal of hot oatmeal with fruit. The staff and some students helped to prepare the meal and serve it to the whole school. We had 2 assembly lines and the students came down right after attendance and dished up. Two of our high school classes helped the younger kids to get back to their classrooms safely with hot oatmeal. Thank you!

Lampman School: Teacher Kaitlyn Keays: Served oatmeal muffins for the school-wide, year-end breakfast.

Lumsden Elementary: Teachers Jamie Lees, Pam Adames, Tamara Harder: Grade 8 students prepared muffins for the whole school. CALM guest presenters were invited to join.

Vanscoy Elementary: Teacher Kathy Spence: Served muffins at the school for a family literacy event.

Wakaw School: School-wide breakfast for staff and students. Home Ec students baked muffins. Teacher Donna Michayluk: Canadian Agriculture Literacy Awareness month is celebrated every March. The Grade 5 class had Miranda Heidecker, an agronomist employed by Nutrien Ag Solutions, visit their classroom to promote Canadian Agriculture. Her presentation captivated students as they learned how only a little sliver of the earth is suitable for the growth of food. They examined the process of how beef moves from a ranch to a hamburger, and they discovered that each of us could do something to reduce food waste. As a result of this presentation, we were invited to apply for “Oats for Breakfast” Ag in the Classroom Contest. We were very fortunate to be one of the winners, and as a result, we received $300.00 to be used on an oat-based breakfast. The breakfast was served to all students on June 25th, and consisted of blueberry oatmeal muffins and honey oat granola yogurt and fruit parfaits. Students learned that eating oat-based food is not only delicious, but also a great way to start your day. Oats are full of fibre and help to keep our stomachs feeling full. On June 25th, everyone at Wakaw School ate foods from three of the food groups, with most of the ingredients grown in Saskatchewan! Thanks to SaskOats for sponsoring this breakfast!

St. Michael Community School, PA: Students and families had an oat breakfast. Teacher Kristine Dahl shares: We had our "Oats" event and it was so well received by our school! The grade 3 class spent several afternoons baking

in our kitchen (cookies and muffins), then we served each class! We included our baked oatmeal cookies, haystacks, oatmeal muffins, along with fruit cups, yogurt and granola topping, granola bars and recipe cards. Thank you so much to the Oat Commission and AITC for this wonderful grant and opportunity!

Albert School, Regina: Teacher Karen Rilling: Visited Farmers Market to buy local ingredients for breakfast (Oatmeal Smoothies, Apple Pie Oatmeal Bake and Egg Muffins with Oatmeal Vegetable Crust). Invited families and Rough Rider Jon Ryan.

Other school winners served breakfasts of oatmeal muffins, oat pancakes and oatmeal to students at St. Mary’s School in Saskatoon, St. Catherine’s School in Prince Albert and Jack Kemp School in Lloydminster.

Shymko shares her impressions of project: “It was so hard to choose only 10 schools to participate in this project as we received close to 40 applications from excited teachers. In addition to the creative ideas you see in the school list, examples of other wonderful ideas included making oatmeal berry muffins and tying in a First Nations lesson on local berries and having Home Economics and Special Needs students preparing fruit parfaits with honey oats granola.”

Shymko continues, “This project supported healthy eating in schools and created a deeper connection to the food farmers in Saskatchewan grow. We know there are many students in our province who don't always have a healthy breakfast at home, or sometimes any breakfast at all. Nutrition programs in schools are severely underfunded, and we appreciated the opportunity to bring healthy, Saskatchewan-grown meals to students! This was a pilot project in spring, 2019 and we are excited about the possibility of building on this year’s success to improve and enhance the program.”

Due to the success of this project, SaskOats agreed to fund another ‘serving’ of Oats for Breakfast, during AITC October 2019 activities as part of Agriculture Month. Stayed tuned for a future Oat Scoop article detailing selected schools’ oat-filled interactions!

Dishing up the SaskOats-funded oatmeal porridge at AITC ‘Oats for Breakfast’

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What’s Up with the Weather? The Old Farmer’s Almanac at the POGA AGM! –by Jack Burnett, Managing Editor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac

When you get right down to it, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Canadian Edition and oat growers share a number of common missions:

We’re both always trying to be as cutting-edge and up-to-date as possible in what we do, yet at the same time, we’re both proud to be carrying on an important and valuable time-honored tradition.

We both always strive to provide a high-quality product. And we’re both always watching the weather.

These days, as North America’s oldest continually published periodical (since 1792), The Old Farmer’s Almanac is far more than weather and much more than just the special print Canadian Edition (itself celebrating 38 years!), which is available everywhere books and magazines are sold for only $7.99. (We hope you can find it locally, but if not, use Amazon.ca.)

Our massive, user-friendly website, Almanac.ca—like our print version (which is only about 10% weather-related)—is jam-packed with full-color content on everything under the Sun, from food and recipes, gardening and growing, and home remedies and folklore to astronomy, history and humor, nature and husbandry, contests and trivia, and much more.

We have a brand-new edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids. Our new Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook. A number of beautiful calendars. And we’re on social media, too, with 1.5M fans on Facebook alone.

You might say that we’ve come a long way since our founder Robert B. Thomas’s days of getting out “new, useful, and entertaining matter” (his words) by stagecoach, river barge, covered wagon, and peddler’s cart.

“And Now, for the Weather …”

Of course, everyone always wants to know about the weather—and that’s what I’ll be focusing on in my presentation at your annual conference in Winnipeg in December.

Do you know what teleconnections are and how they affect Prairie weather? El Niño is one, but there are more, and I’ll be connecting the dots for you. Or maybe it’s the clouds.

What about Solar Cycle 25? We’re about to start a new round of sunspots, and I’ll be giving you some cool news about these hot phenomena that have been used in Almanac forecasting since 1792.

Climate change? I’ll fill you in on how we’re adjusting our ancient formula to account for it and—most important—how we see it affecting Prairie weather now and in the future.

We’ll be talking about our 2020 forecasts for winter and spring, too. I’ll be sharing what weather impacts oat

producers should be expecting and breaking down the details of where, what, and when.

How accurate are we? How do we do this? (It’s not with woolly bear caterpillars, by the way.) Why do we do this? And, most of all, what can oat growers take away from it all?

I’m honored and delighted to have been asked to join you in Winnipeg on December 5th to pull back the curtain on the Almanac’s weather forecasting ways and means—as well as lots of other ‘almanacky’ lore.

I hope you can make it!

Intensive Agronomy & Oats Project Report Jessica Pratchler, Research Manager of Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation (NARF), has completed the project: Improving Oat Yields with Intensive Agronomy. SaskOats introduced the project in the July 2018 Oat Scoop. Project objectives are to demonstrate the relative contributions the most basic management decisions make to oat yield and quality: seeding date, seeding rate and nitrogen rate.

Pratchler explains the project rationale: “Oats can be a very profitable cereal option for the cooler, wetter regions of Saskatchewan, especially when milling grades can be consistently achieved. Oats are highly responsive to different management techniques and there are a number of basic factors that can impact yield and quality. These basic agronomic factors should be considered be-fore additional input costs are incurred. This demonstra-tion will illustrate to current and new oat growers all the ‘low hanging fruit’ agronomic practices that can be considered for maximizing oat yields and quality.”

This small plot demonstration was set up with 12 treatments in a split-block design with 4 replicates. The main factor was oats seeding date (Camden): early (May 15) or late (June 7). The sub-factors were seeding rate (200, 300, and 400 seeds/m2) and nitrogen (N) Rate (70 and 120 kg N/ha). Measurements and assessments were made on six result sets (below).

During the 2018 growing season, May, June and July were warmer than normal, and August, September and October were cooler than normal. Slightly less-than-normal precipitation occurred during all months except September. Says Pratchler, “Overall, the growing season was near normal, albeit 43 mm less rain on average.”

Plant Density: Plant counts occurred on June 4 for early-seeded oats and on June 26 for late-seeded oats. On average the early-seeded oats had a plant density of 286 plants/m2, which was significantly lower than the late-seeded oats at 312 plants/m2. Higher plant densities with later seeding dates are often associated with warmer soil conditions and seed bed moisture at the time of emergence. There was a consistent trend for plant density to decline with the higher N rate across all seeding rates, although this effect was less evident in the lowest seeding rate treatment. Overall, increased seeding rates increased plant density, as expected.

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Lodging and Wild Oat Ratings: No plots produced lodging significant enough to record, likely due to the environmental conditions in later parts of the growing season. All plots were affected by wild oat populations to varying degrees. The late-seeded plots had an average wild oat rating of 3, which was significantly higher than the 1.4 average of the early plots, but this is expected due to early ground-cover competition.

Grain Yield: Overall, yield was very high, indicating that the growing conditions were favourable for oat production. Seeding rate had minimal effect on yield, but the higher 120 kg N/ha treatment resulted in a 7-9% yield increase compared to the 70 kg N/ha treatment. On average, late-seeded oats yielded more than early-seeded oats. Nitrogen rates affected early-seeded more than late-seeded oats. Seeding rates did not significantly impact yield, however Pratchler advises this may be due to the lack of wild oat and lodging issues.

Test Weights: The only significant difference between treatment test weights was between the late- and early-seeded plots. Early-seeded oats measured significantly lower test weights. Neither seeding nor nitrogen rates had any effect on test weight.

Kernel Size: Thousand kernel weight (TKW) was found to be very consistent across all treatment types.

Plumps and Thins: On average when measured through a 5.5/64 slotted sieve, results were 96% plumps (seed that stays on top of the sieve), 1% thins (seed that falls through the sieve) and 3% dockage. Earlier seeding resulted in a 1% increase in plumps and subsequent 0.5% decrease in thins, which is of little agronomic importance as the rate of plumps was over 96%.

Pratchler’s conclusions and recommendations are: “As expected, seeding date significantly impacted nearly all the measured variables. Early seeding resulted in reduced plant populations, increased wild oat control, reduced yields, lowered test weight, and increased percentage of plumps. Not all these effects were as anticipated, as one would have expected greater plant populations and yields due to access to early season moisture. A higher seeding rate only had a significant impact on plant population, while higher nitrogen rate significantly decreased plant populations and increased yield. The combination of seeding date, seeding rate plus nitrogen rate had a significant effect on only yield. Late-seeded oats had overall greater yield and were not as responsive to seeding plus nitrogen rate compared to the early-seeded oats. The earlier seeded oats were much more impacted by seeding plus nitrogen rate, with increased nitrogen rates resulting in similarly higher yields across seeding rates. Overall, the basic agronomic practices for increasing oat yields were effective, although not always as expected. This likely reflects the growing season conditions, with less moisture in the earlier part of the season and more in the later part, which is not a typical weather pattern.”

Most agronomists and studies recommend planting oats early so, while this study did not demonstrate that as being effective, it is believed to be due to the lack of

moisture in the spring and therefore, the recommenda-tion to plant earlier is still advised. However, under certain conditions, favorable results can transpire when seeding occurs later.

This project was presented to ~50 growers during the field tour arranged by Exceed Grain Marketing and General Mills.

For more data details, charts and tables, go to 2018 Research at poga.ca. This project was supported by the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats) and funded by the Agricultural Demonstration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial, territorial initiative.

Manitoba Oat Growers Association (MOGA) Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 2:40pm Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre

Winnipeg, MB (as part of The CropConnect Conference)

Free admission to the AGM Come Enjoy a Free Oat Beer and hear what the

Oat Growers Commission is doing for you!

Agenda:

2:40pm Welcome from MOGA Vice-Chairman, Doyle Penner

2:45pm MOGA Annual Business Meeting*, Doyle Penner

2:55pm Alternative Uses for Oats and Alternative Kinds of Oats from an “Outside the Box” Farm, Amy Nikkel, Owner of Adagio Acres (Interlake region of Manitoba)

3:20pm Adjourn

Times and topics subject to change; for updates visit poga.ca

*Please note: a 30-day notice for resolutions is required at the Manitoba Oat Growers Association Annual General

Meeting. Please send any resolutions to smathieson@poga.ca no later than 5pm January 12, 2020

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Alberta Oat Growers Commission (AOGC)

Annual General Meeting Monday, January 27, 2020

(Monday before FarmTech 2020)

The Edmonton Westin 10135 100th Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 0N7

Turner Valley room

Agenda:

6:00pm Complementary Drink plus a Light Meal 6:30pm Welcome from the Alberta Oat Growers

Commission 6:35pm AOGC Business Meeting* including director

Elections/Acclamation; Brad Boettger, Chairman from Tofield, AB

7:00pm Aaron Beattie, Oat Breeder, Crop Development Centre, Saskatoon, SK - CDC Oat Varieties: What’s New, on its Way, and Good for Alberta Producers

7:40pm Oat Market Outlook – Randy Strychar, President, Oatinformation.com

8:15pm Adjourn

Times and agenda topics subject to change; check poga.ca for updates

*Please note: a 30-day notice for resolutions is required at the Alberta Oat Growers Association’s

Annual General Meeting. Please send any resolutions to smathieson@poga.ca no later than

5pm December 27, 2019.

For those who stay through the end of the meeting AOGC will provide another complementary drink ticket.

Please RSVP to info@poga.ca to ensure enough food is ordered. There is no charge for this event.

Alberta Oat Growers Commission

Director Nominations Open

Are you interested in becoming a director or do you know someone who is?

Here are just a few of the benefits:

o Identify and direct research for the benefit of the entire industry.

o Increased industry knowledge. o The opportunity to meet a large number of

influential millers, buyers, and government officials across the province, nation and globally.

o Increased information sharing with other growers.

o Professional development. o Reimbursement for all travel, honorariums for

time spent on the commission’s projects and committees.

A registered producer means any producer who has had an Alberta Oat Growers Commission

service fee deducted since August 1, 2017

Deadline for nominations is Thursday, December 12, 2019, 5pm MT

For nomination forms and further information contact:

AOGC Administration Office PO Box 20106

Regina, SK S4P 4J7 Telephone (306) 530-8545;

Fax (866)286-1681 Email smathieson@poga.ca

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POGA’S 22nd ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Thursday, December 5, 2019 Delta Hotel by Marriot 350 St. Mary Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3C 3J2

Beginning at 8:00pm on Wednesday, December 4, please join us for a Meet-and-Greet in Charleswood A in the Winnipeg Delta Hotel

Agenda*

8:00am Registration and Free Hot Breakfast

8:40am Welcome and Introduction — Jenneth Johanson, POGA President

8:45am Secrets of Old Farmer’s Almanac Prairie Forecasts, What’s Predicted for Weather in 2020, and Other Stuff He Probably Shouldn’t Be Telling You — Jack Burnett, Managing Editor, The Old Farmer’s Almanac

9:30am POGA Annual General Meeting — Jenneth Johanson, POGA President

10:00am GHG Emissions and Carbon Capture in Canadian Agriculture — Fraser McPhee, P.Eng. in Bio Systems Engineering and a Manitoba Farmer

10:30am Coffee Break

11:00am Agricultural Trade Opportunities and Challenges in the Current Global Context — Fred Gorrell, ADM International Affairs, Canadian Food Inspection Agency & Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Noon Soup and Sandwich Lunch — Tour the Sponsors’ Displays

1:00pm Regenerative Agriculture: What Does It Really Mean, and Does It Have Real Value for Farmers? — Kris Nichols, PhD, Soil Microbiologist for KRIS Systems Education & Consultation

1:45pm KNOW GMO: Will Agriculture be ALLOWED to Feed 9 Billion People? — Robert Saik, CEO, Saik Management Group/AGVisorPROInc

2:45pm Intensive Agronomy, Intercropping, and Everything in Between to Maximize Profits with Oats — Jessica Pratchler, Research Manager, Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation

3:30pm Coffee Break

4:00pm The Canadian Oats Market: What to Expect in 2020 — Brennan Turner, CEO, Farmlead

5:00pm Wrap-up and Adjourn — Jenneth Johanson, POGA President

5:45pm Social Hour at the Winnipeg Delta Hotel

6:30pm Dinner and Speaker: “If You Can’t Laugh, You Can’t Farm!” — Steve Stubblejumpski

8:00pm Adjourn

Daytime seminars, breakfast and lunch: $20.00 ($25 at door) Optional Evening Banquet $50.00 ($60 at door)

*Times and agenda topics subject to change. For updates, pre-registration and credit card payments - visit poga.ca

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Saskatchewan Oat

Development Commission

(SaskOats)

Annual General Meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2020

TCU Place (as part of CropSphere)

Saskatoon, SK Free admission to the AGM

Agenda:

11:30am Opening remarks from SaskOats Chairman, Alan Butuk

11:35am SaskOats Annual Business Meeting*, Alan Butuk of Insinger, Chairman

11:50am Oat Market Outlook, Randy Strychar, President, Oatinformation.com

12:20pm Adjourn

*Please note: As per prior years, a 30-day notice for resolutions is required at the Saskatchewan Oat Development Commission (SaskOats) General

Meeting. Please send any resolutions to smathieson@poga.ca no later than

5pm December 14, 2019. Times and topics subject to change; for updates visit poga.ca

The Oat Scoop PO Box 20106 Regina, SK S4P 4J7

Cyndee Holdnick, POGA Marketing Coordinator, Jim Dyck, Oat Advantage, Doyle Penner, MOGA Vice-Chairman and Art Enns, Past POGA President - conducting a small comparison between Dyck’s new variety, ORE3542M, and Summit in July 2019.

Jim Dyck, Breeder for Oat Advantage and Lorne Boundy, Oat Merchandiser, Paterson Grain - at Paterson Grain, loading some of the first, commercially grown ORE3542M oats, a new variety from Oat Advantage.