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26 research projects found

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IN PROGRESS

Rejuvenation of saline soils with saline tolerant forages

Boosting production on these marginal acres and reducing soil salinity would have positive impacts on soil quality and economic returns.

Started: 2025

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Improving legume establishment and seedling vigour

This project intends to investigate whether plant growth regulators can improve the establishment and seedling vigour of cicer milkvetch and Birdsfoot trefoil.

Started: 2024

Forage

COMPLETED

Development of forage barley varieties for western Canada

There is no one single barley variety that will excel at every trait in every environment. Each segment of the livestock industry has its own unique requirements, whether it is cow-calf, backgrounding, or feedlot operations.

Completed: 2024

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Breeding more resilient alfalfa

This project has the potential to provide a source of drought and flooding tolerant alfalfa germplasm for the development of new alfalfa cultivars with enhanced productivity under less than ideal growing conditions.

Started: 2024

Forage

COMPLETED

Boosting barley and triticale breeding for feed and forage

This project yielded two new barley varieties – one feed (FB22816) and one malt (TR21665) – as well as one new triticale variety (T301).

Completed: 2024

Feed Grains Forage

COMPLETED

Regional performance of silage crop varieties in Alberta

In each location, up to 28 barley, oat, wheat and/or triticale varieties are grown in plots with three replications.

Completed: 2024

Forage

COMPLETED

Characterizing the rumen microbiome during grazing

This was the first study to compare linkages between plant, rumen, and fecal samples throughout full production cycles under different types of grazed forages as well as winter-fed silage.

Started: 2020 | Completed: 2023

Feed Grains Forage

IN PROGRESS

Long-term cost:benefit of including forages in cropping rotations

Integrating forages into crop rotations can have many benefits such as weed and disease control, increasing productivity, and improvements in soil quality; but the short-term loss of land used to produce more valuable crops can make this management practice seem uneconomical.

Started: 2022

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Swathgrazing polycrops

This project will help to identify beneficial management practices to utilize polycrop mixtures for winter swath grazing.

Started: 2021

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Tailoring forage mixtures for optimal animal performance

This project will investigate if it is possible to provide a “roadmap” for producers to use when choosing forage mixtures that will more closely meet the nutrient requirements of cattle.

Started: 2021

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Digging deeper into forage digestion efficiency

Understanding the mechanisms that cause some animals to digest forages more efficiently than others may help to develop tools to select animals that are more efficient on pasture or other high-forage diets, and lower production costs.

Started: 2021

Forage

IN PROGRESS

Determining the impact of mycorrhizal fungi on forage legumes

This project will explore whether mycorrhizal colonization can predict growth rate, stress tolerance, and forage quality differences, and the impact that mycorrhizal colonization has on these traits in alfalfa and sainfoin.

Started: 2021

Forage

Showing 1-12 of 26

Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab

ABP is pleased to be leading a project that will benefit Alberta’s beef, forage, and cropping sectors through collaboration, innovation, and research.

In July 2022, The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Then Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the expansion of Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program, including an initiative led by ABP.

Producer participants (beef, forage, cropping) in the AALL are working directly with researchers to co-develop beneficial management practices (BMPs) to improve productivity, profitability while having a positive impact on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions.

Information from this project will help to ensure that climate focused policy solutions are practical and provide benefits for producers by providing data from real-world situations.

Key focus areas for BMP development include cropping systems and crop rotations, land use change/transitions, grazing management, livestock feeding, nutrient management, and optimizing carbon storage.
AALL is examining barriers and incentives to adoption, performing cost of production analyses, developing extension materials/events, facilitating peer to peer networking, learning and mentorship opportunities, and creating decision-making tools for producers.

Learn More - Visit agrisystemsll.ca

There’s lots of opportunity for producers if they’ve been thinking about trying something but are not sure where to start. That’s where our researchers and their expertise can really fine-tune that and set them up for success right out of the gate.

Karin Schmid, Beef Production and Extension Lead, Alberta Beef Producers

National Research Strategy

The Five-Year Canadian Beef Research and Technology Transfer Strategy aims to enhance national coordination of beef research priorities, funding, and technology transfer efforts. It focuses on increasing productivity, reducing production costs, and promoting sustainable practices to support industry competitiveness. The strategy also emphasizes improving beef quality and safety, while fostering innovation and environmental stewardship.

National Research Strategy

Beef Cattle Research Council

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is Canada’s national industry-led funding agency for beef, cattle and forage research. The BCRC’s mandate is to determine research and development priorities for the Canadian beef cattle industry and to administer Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off funds allocated to research.

The BCRC hosts an incredible resource library, including free interactive calculators, and the latest in production research.

Visit the BCRC

Agriculture Funding Consortium

Alberta Beef Producers participates in the Agriculture Funding Consortium (AFC), which is a collaborative body of agricultural organizations. AFC provides coordinated funding for research and innovation in Western Canada’s agriculture and food industry. It aims to support sustainability, diversification, and long-term growth by stimulating private and public sector participation. Each member organization within the AFC establishes its own research priorities and investment mandates.

Agriculture Funding Consortium

Research

ABP's Research Committee encourages practical, applied research - enhancing the competitiveness of Alberta beef producers.

Rejuvenation of saline soils with saline tolerant forages

Improving legume establishment and seedling vigour

Development of forage barley varieties for western Canada

Breeding more resilient alfalfa

Boosting barley and triticale breeding for feed and forage

Regional performance of silage crop varieties in Alberta

Characterizing the rumen microbiome during grazing

Long-term cost:benefit of including forages in cropping rotations

Swathgrazing polycrops

Tailoring forage mixtures for optimal animal performance

Digging deeper into forage digestion efficiency

Determining the impact of mycorrhizal fungi on forage legumes

Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab

National Research Strategy

Beef Cattle Research Council

Agriculture Funding Consortium