For instance, one study is looking at how much nitrogen to use and when to apply it. Another compares seeding rates with nitrogen top-dressing. And yet another looks at underseeding barley to forage. The reason for the underseeding trials is that farmers have a limited land base and are understandably leery about taking a field out of production for reseeding. By underseeding, say, to timothy, growers can be assured of getting a crop.
Researchers expect to have some answers in another year or two.
Then they will be able to offer management strategies to growers looking to diversify. They caution that these won't be blanket recommendations, but will instead be based on risk factors. A Matching Investment Initiative project at the Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre is looking at the causes of variability and what to do about it. Scientists are looking at 100 ha on five farms across the province. That works out to about 10 fields, a good representative sample of the various growing conditions.