Wednesday, June 25

Time

Speaker

Session Topic

Thursday, June 26

Time

Speaker

Session Topic

Dr. Monika Gorzelak, Mycorrhizal Ecology 

Lethbridge Research and Development Centre

Dr. Monika Gorzelak brings a lesson on all things mycorrhizas to Field School, eager to share her knowledge on the symbiotic relationship these fungi share with your crop's roots. Come find out out how you can cultivate a better soil for your crop!

Dr. Gorzelak is a soil microbial ecologist and Research Scientist at Lethbridge RDC. She completed her PhD at University of British Columbia where she studied the communication through mycorrhizal networks. Now, she conducts research on soil microbial communities and mycorrhizas contribution to nutrient cycling, soil carbon sequestration, and plant health. Her research combines next generation sequencing approaches with classical microbiology and soil science to address question in both pasture and annual cropping systems. 

She is interested in the microbiome’s role in sustainable agriculture practices. Her current projects include investigations on the impacts of grazing on pasture microbiomes, intercropping and nutrient cycling, and the impacts of regenerative management practices on soil health. 

Ken Wall, Salinity Management & Drainage

Federated Co-operatives LTD

Ready to learn how you can improve the management of your saline land and reduce excess water and salts? Ken Wall is ready to share his expertise on salinity in the Canadian Prairies with you at the Farming Smarter Field School!

Ken Wall currently works with Federated Co-operatives LTD as a Grow Team Advisor for the South Saskatchewan and Southern Alberta Region, as well as a Forage Specialist for the Prairie Region. 

He began his career at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in 1983 following the completion of his B.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. There, he researched everything related to salinity over the next 33 years. 

His primary focuses during this time were on forages, due to their elevated tolerance to salinity, and conducting salinity tolerances tests on many annual crops and forages grown on the Canadian Prairies – completed in AAFC’s Salt Tolerance Testing Lab working alongside Dr. Harold Steppuhn. 

Throughout his career he has operated a small ranch south of Swift Current, SK. The majority of his land holdings consist of native prairie. 

Robyne Davidson, Considering Lupins for Southern Alberta

Lakeland College

With all the buzz around lupin production possibly becoming a reality in the region, will it live up to the hype? Robyne Davidson is excited to join us at Field School to discuss the challenges and opportunities producers could face growing this pulse crop. Come find out if it's a fit for your farm!

Robyne Davidson is the Pulse and Special Crops Research Scientist with Lakeland College in Lacombe, Alberta. She has led and conducted pulse research trials across Alberta for the past 20 years, as well as on a wide variety of other field crops. This involvement has contributed to the introduction of new pulse crops, advancing the sustainability of current pulse management strategies, and the overall expansion of pulse crops across the Canadian Prairies. 

She enjoys the extension piece of her research role and highly values the work she does with industry and farmers to support the industry’s growth. In her spare time, she operates a 4000-acre grain farm near Red Deer, Alberta with her husband. 

A Big Thank You to Our Great Sponsors!