Wet weather slows research

So far, it’s been a tough year for the Emo Research Station as the growing season has gotten off to a slow start.
“We’re so far behind because of the wet, our stuff is late,” station manager Kim-Jo Calder noted.
With several crops just beginning to take hold, weeks later than usual, the station’s results likely are an indicator of crop success across the district.
“It’s been too cold and too wet,” said Calder. “Germination was really slow but it’s because of the lack of warm weather.
“It’s just not a real awesome year,” she added. “There’s no sense in planting grain. Some would wait now and do some forage seeding in the fall.”
While some crops, like pasture trials, have grown enough to be harvested, it remains a waiting game for many plants this spring.
While the weather has affected trials, including grains and soybeans, and fewer hemp trials were scheduled for this year, other projects have picked up at the station, including hybrid poplars.
“I think that’s going to be a very big project, which is good because we have to create work,” said Calder.
To cater to area farmers, the research station also will establish large, 20’x100’ permanent forage displays that visitors can examine for their own reference.
“We’re putting in large blocks and they’re demonstration blocks, not necessarily just the ones we like, and they’ll be there for about five years,” noted Calder.
“A lot of people call but they’ll be able to come out and look at it.”