25 Nov Agronomy Update – Nov 25th

Posted at 16:01h in Recent News by

Hi everyone,

It’s “been a minute” since I had a full agronomy update out to everyone.  I don’t tend to send much out during harvest and immediately afterward, as no one has time to read their emails anyway!  Now that I’m getting a handle on this year’s trial data and we’re already getting into “meeting season,” it’s time to connect with all of you.

Early next month, I will have a link to share with you for our annual PEI Potato Board Sustainability Survey, where we ask producers about their use of cover crops, crops in rotation with potatoes, and other relevant questions.  Please watch for this survey and participate…your responses as a whole help to direct our research and agronomy projects and also help demonstrate the adoption of beneficial BMPs on Island farms.

 

Irrigation Information Workshop – December 15th

At this link, you will find a flyer for an Irrigation Information Workshop that the Board and the Dept of Agriculture are partnering on for December 15th.  This workshop is targeted at farmers across all commodities who are interested in irrigation.  In the morning, local experts will delve into how well permits are regulated and decided upon, how to apply for a permit, and how to access expertise and resources to assist with this process.  In the afternoon, we’ve invited some irrigation experts to expand more of the details around siting and setting up irrigation in the field, including equipment types, pumping and transporting water, water use efficiency, and more.  These sessions will then be followed by a producer panel, where you can hear from your peers about how they have incorporated irrigation on their farms, including both new and long-time irrigators.

If you are at all interested in irrigation and have questions who would like to have answered, I strongly encourage you to attend this workshop.  To register, email afreception@gov.pe.ca or call (902) 368-4880.  Cost is only $30 (payable at the door) and includes lunch.

 

Invite from the EPAA:  Grower Event in Emerald – December 5th

The East Prince Agri-Environmental Assoc. are pleased to invite you to our upcoming farmer event at the Emerald Community Centre (Boxcar Pub & Grill, 1910 Nodd Rd, Emerald Junction, PE C0B 1M0) on Friday, December 5 from 1-3 PM.

Join us as we chat with Ryan Barrett (Research and Agronomy Specialist with the PEI Potato Board) and Chad Mooney (Arthur Mooney & Sons Farm, AgronomAI), about on-farm research and drone technology. Light refreshments will be provided by Ruby’s Counter in Kensington.

The goal of this event is to provide a space for open and informative discussions about things we’ve tried this year and things we may be looking to try. It’s an opportunity to chat with your peers, ask questions, digress from the challenges of 2025 and plan for 2026.

Sincerely,

The EPAA Team

 

Results:  2025 PEIPB Variety Trial

This year, we conducted a variety trial primarily for fresh market varieties, supported by the PEI Dept of Agriculture’s Applied Research and Innovation Program (ARIP).  We engaged Genesis Crop Systems to assist us with a trial comparing 10 varieties.  Five of these varieties are commercially available, yellow-fleshed varieties, which we are evaluating to see what might be of value to Island farms to start multiplying at Fox Island. We were also evaluating a couple of wart-resistant varieties that we have started to multiply at Fox Island alongside standard varieties.

A full report is available here.  We intend to conduct the trial again in 2026.  Thanks to everyone that assisted with funding and implementing the trial this year.

 

Share Fertilizer Use Practices; Earn $50

 Fertilizer Canada would like to connect with you to learn about fertilizer use on your farm.   This is a great way for you to influence the fertilizer industry by telling us about fertilizer practices on your farm.

We will ask you about:

  • Your fertilizer program in 2025.
  • How you make decisions about application rates.
  • Your views about 4R nutrient stewardship practices.

When you complete this survey on behalf of Fertilizer Canada and the PEI Potato Board, you will be sent a cheque for $50. The survey usually takes about 25 to 30 minutes to complete.

Your feedback will be used by the industry to improve fertilizer application practices. The information you provide is completely confidential.

To qualify you must be one of the main decision makers for the fertilizer program on your farm and you must have planted at least 20 acres of potatoes in 2025.

Please click on the link below to begin the survey now:

https://survey.us.confirmit.com/wix/p152521582015.aspx

If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to Sarah Healy (sarahhealy@stratusresearch.com)