Northeast Agriculture Research Foundation
@narf-melfort.bsky.social
Nonprofit AgriARM site located in Melfort, SK doing small plot trials.
We have been serving the agricultural community in Northeast Saskatchewan since 1997 through research and demonstration of agronomic practices and techniques.
Find us at www.neag.ca
We have been serving the agricultural community in Northeast Saskatchewan since 1997 through research and demonstration of agronomic practices and techniques.
Find us at www.neag.ca
SK Agriculture's Tisdale branch is hosting the Northeast Growing Connections event on Tue, December 16th in the Salopian room at the Recplex in Tisdale from 1:30-4pm. It is for ag professionals to build connections and grow your network.
We'll be there, hope to see you!
We'll be there, hope to see you!
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
SK Agriculture's Tisdale branch is hosting the Northeast Growing Connections event on Tue, December 16th in the Salopian room at the Recplex in Tisdale from 1:30-4pm. It is for ag professionals to build connections and grow your network.
We'll be there, hope to see you!
We'll be there, hope to see you!
These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago but WE CAN SWATH OUR PLOTS NOW! This is the Zürn multi-tool carrier and we tried swathing flax, chickpea, and canola with it. It will also be very useful for some of our intercropping trials next year like hairy vetch - fall rye. Video in the next post.
October 17, 2025 at 10:15 PM
These pictures are from a couple of weeks ago but WE CAN SWATH OUR PLOTS NOW! This is the Zürn multi-tool carrier and we tried swathing flax, chickpea, and canola with it. It will also be very useful for some of our intercropping trials next year like hairy vetch - fall rye. Video in the next post.
Today we dug up polymer-coated urea that had been buried for 1 week!
No combining this week thanks to the snow and rain we got last weekend - The field is too wet to get in with equipment. Also the chickpeas have gone down (lodged) so they won't be fun to pick up🥲
No combining this week thanks to the snow and rain we got last weekend - The field is too wet to get in with equipment. Also the chickpeas have gone down (lodged) so they won't be fun to pick up🥲
October 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Today we dug up polymer-coated urea that had been buried for 1 week!
No combining this week thanks to the snow and rain we got last weekend - The field is too wet to get in with equipment. Also the chickpeas have gone down (lodged) so they won't be fun to pick up🥲
No combining this week thanks to the snow and rain we got last weekend - The field is too wet to get in with equipment. Also the chickpeas have gone down (lodged) so they won't be fun to pick up🥲
Today we also banded different enhanced efficiency fertilizers for a trial, combined soybeans, and combined our faba bean-wheat intercrop trial. Thoughts from the combine operator Brianne: "The wheat threshed better than I expected!"
We are now 90% done harvest! 🥳
And we found unidentified larvae 🤔
We are now 90% done harvest! 🥳
And we found unidentified larvae 🤔
October 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Today we also banded different enhanced efficiency fertilizers for a trial, combined soybeans, and combined our faba bean-wheat intercrop trial. Thoughts from the combine operator Brianne: "The wheat threshed better than I expected!"
We are now 90% done harvest! 🥳
And we found unidentified larvae 🤔
We are now 90% done harvest! 🥳
And we found unidentified larvae 🤔
We buried organza bags with polymer-coated urea and biodegradable polymer-coated urea today. The idea is to dig out one bag per week and weigh the prills to assess product loss over time. This project is led by CLC in Prince Albert with expert input from @lecowell.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 11:53 PM
We buried organza bags with polymer-coated urea and biodegradable polymer-coated urea today. The idea is to dig out one bag per week and weigh the prills to assess product loss over time. This project is led by CLC in Prince Albert with expert input from @lecowell.bsky.social
And "that's a wrap" on the flax! (credit to Brianne for the pun!)
We finished flax (brown and yellow) and red clover harvest yesterday. Flax went mostly well (wrapped just a couple of times) but clover plugged the combine in pretty much every plot.
We finished flax (brown and yellow) and red clover harvest yesterday. Flax went mostly well (wrapped just a couple of times) but clover plugged the combine in pretty much every plot.
October 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
And "that's a wrap" on the flax! (credit to Brianne for the pun!)
We finished flax (brown and yellow) and red clover harvest yesterday. Flax went mostly well (wrapped just a couple of times) but clover plugged the combine in pretty much every plot.
We finished flax (brown and yellow) and red clover harvest yesterday. Flax went mostly well (wrapped just a couple of times) but clover plugged the combine in pretty much every plot.
We got funding from @natureunitedcanada.bsky.social for a project to see if leaving oat volunteers to grow as cover crops (instead of terminating them via fall burnoff) has beneficial effects on the soil & the following canola crop. It's both small-plot as well as field-scale. (Thanks NU!)
(1/3)
(1/3)
October 1, 2025 at 11:17 PM
We got funding from @natureunitedcanada.bsky.social for a project to see if leaving oat volunteers to grow as cover crops (instead of terminating them via fall burnoff) has beneficial effects on the soil & the following canola crop. It's both small-plot as well as field-scale. (Thanks NU!)
(1/3)
(1/3)
Two weeks ago we seeded intercrops of fall rye-hairy vetch, and winter camelina-hairy vetch for a demonstration of fall-seeded intercrops. Yesterday we did plant counts on them. They've come up nicely!
This trial is being conducted here at NARF, Melfort (NE Sask) and at SERF, Redvers (SE Sask).
This trial is being conducted here at NARF, Melfort (NE Sask) and at SERF, Redvers (SE Sask).
September 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Two weeks ago we seeded intercrops of fall rye-hairy vetch, and winter camelina-hairy vetch for a demonstration of fall-seeded intercrops. Yesterday we did plant counts on them. They've come up nicely!
This trial is being conducted here at NARF, Melfort (NE Sask) and at SERF, Redvers (SE Sask).
This trial is being conducted here at NARF, Melfort (NE Sask) and at SERF, Redvers (SE Sask).
We are >50% done harvest today! 🥳 Here is our little (combine) trooper.
Dust is in the air, weather has been amazingly cooperative for harvest, and it seems like everybody is tired, overworked & itchy😪😅 Happy and safe harvest, everyone! We all got this! ✊
Dust is in the air, weather has been amazingly cooperative for harvest, and it seems like everybody is tired, overworked & itchy😪😅 Happy and safe harvest, everyone! We all got this! ✊
September 25, 2025 at 1:26 AM
We are >50% done harvest today! 🥳 Here is our little (combine) trooper.
Dust is in the air, weather has been amazingly cooperative for harvest, and it seems like everybody is tired, overworked & itchy😪😅 Happy and safe harvest, everyone! We all got this! ✊
Dust is in the air, weather has been amazingly cooperative for harvest, and it seems like everybody is tired, overworked & itchy😪😅 Happy and safe harvest, everyone! We all got this! ✊
A cat had kittens in one of the old sheds at the farm!
Video in the next post!
Video in the next post!
September 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A cat had kittens in one of the old sheds at the farm!
Video in the next post!
Video in the next post!
Some more fun moments with students this year:
1) Seeding chickling vetch with single-row seeder
2) Lauriche with her (dead) grasshopper she found while cleaning seed, named "Jiminy no hop"
3) Picking haskaps at @info_at_CLC field day
4) Apple-picking in the AAFC orchard on the students' last day
1) Seeding chickling vetch with single-row seeder
2) Lauriche with her (dead) grasshopper she found while cleaning seed, named "Jiminy no hop"
3) Picking haskaps at @info_at_CLC field day
4) Apple-picking in the AAFC orchard on the students' last day
September 2, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Some more fun moments with students this year:
1) Seeding chickling vetch with single-row seeder
2) Lauriche with her (dead) grasshopper she found while cleaning seed, named "Jiminy no hop"
3) Picking haskaps at @info_at_CLC field day
4) Apple-picking in the AAFC orchard on the students' last day
1) Seeding chickling vetch with single-row seeder
2) Lauriche with her (dead) grasshopper she found while cleaning seed, named "Jiminy no hop"
3) Picking haskaps at @info_at_CLC field day
4) Apple-picking in the AAFC orchard on the students' last day
We had an incredible group of summer students this year and last week we said goodbye to them as they headed back to university. It feels quiet around here without them, so here are some pictures from some fun occasions: Melfort parade, field tours, UTVing in the field, and the last morning meeting.
September 2, 2025 at 9:46 PM
We had an incredible group of summer students this year and last week we said goodbye to them as they headed back to university. It feels quiet around here without them, so here are some pictures from some fun occasions: Melfort parade, field tours, UTVing in the field, and the last morning meeting.
You are invited to our field days on July 23 & 24!
July 23rd - Focus on main crops in NE Sask
July 24th - Special crops, regenerative farming trials
Register for July 23:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431611802...
Register for July 24:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431996984...
*Free tour with lunch both days*!
July 23rd - Focus on main crops in NE Sask
July 24th - Special crops, regenerative farming trials
Register for July 23:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431611802...
Register for July 24:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431996984...
*Free tour with lunch both days*!
July 2, 2025 at 12:38 AM
You are invited to our field days on July 23 & 24!
July 23rd - Focus on main crops in NE Sask
July 24th - Special crops, regenerative farming trials
Register for July 23:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431611802...
Register for July 24:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431996984...
*Free tour with lunch both days*!
July 23rd - Focus on main crops in NE Sask
July 24th - Special crops, regenerative farming trials
Register for July 23:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431611802...
Register for July 24:
eventbrite.ca/e/1431996984...
*Free tour with lunch both days*!
And here are some random pics from the field season so far!
- Fire extinguisher training by Lars from AAFC
- (Happenstance) Bucket Hat Day
- Tractor training for summer students
- Teaching students to back up the seeder! (They did very good!)
- Fire extinguisher training by Lars from AAFC
- (Happenstance) Bucket Hat Day
- Tractor training for summer students
- Teaching students to back up the seeder! (They did very good!)
June 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
And here are some random pics from the field season so far!
- Fire extinguisher training by Lars from AAFC
- (Happenstance) Bucket Hat Day
- Tractor training for summer students
- Teaching students to back up the seeder! (They did very good!)
- Fire extinguisher training by Lars from AAFC
- (Happenstance) Bucket Hat Day
- Tractor training for summer students
- Teaching students to back up the seeder! (They did very good!)
#TakeBackTuesday It's been 2 months since we spring seeded our first trial on April 25! We started with early seeding dates for seed date trials. This year we have seed date trials for canola, pea, faba bean, lentil, chickpea, soybean, and flax. Here's Michael, Brianne, and Gayelene in action! (1/2)
June 24, 2025 at 4:04 PM
#TakeBackTuesday It's been 2 months since we spring seeded our first trial on April 25! We started with early seeding dates for seed date trials. This year we have seed date trials for canola, pea, faba bean, lentil, chickpea, soybean, and flax. Here's Michael, Brianne, and Gayelene in action! (1/2)
We started out flagging and soil sampling, I think the students must've soil sampled for 5 whole days as some trials required extensive soil sampling by hand. Safe to say all of them are pros now!
And while sampling a farmer's field that we're doing a trial in, this sweet dog came to say hi!
And while sampling a farmer's field that we're doing a trial in, this sweet dog came to say hi!
June 5, 2025 at 7:25 PM
We started out flagging and soil sampling, I think the students must've soil sampled for 5 whole days as some trials required extensive soil sampling by hand. Safe to say all of them are pros now!
And while sampling a farmer's field that we're doing a trial in, this sweet dog came to say hi!
And while sampling a farmer's field that we're doing a trial in, this sweet dog came to say hi!
An update is long overdue re: ongoings at NARF! Today we seeded our last spring-seeded trial. We have over 15 diff crops this year. Over the next few days I'll post pics and videos of all the things that have happened!
First off, we got a Zürn multi-tool carrier! 1/2
First off, we got a Zürn multi-tool carrier! 1/2
June 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
An update is long overdue re: ongoings at NARF! Today we seeded our last spring-seeded trial. We have over 15 diff crops this year. Over the next few days I'll post pics and videos of all the things that have happened!
First off, we got a Zürn multi-tool carrier! 1/2
First off, we got a Zürn multi-tool carrier! 1/2
Last week was buzzing with activity at NARF as the weather turned and we could finally get out and work in the field!
We've been busy flagging for trials, soil sampling, picking up & distributing seed, and Michael has been getting equipment ready for seeding!
We've been busy flagging for trials, soil sampling, picking up & distributing seed, and Michael has been getting equipment ready for seeding!
April 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Last week was buzzing with activity at NARF as the weather turned and we could finally get out and work in the field!
We've been busy flagging for trials, soil sampling, picking up & distributing seed, and Michael has been getting equipment ready for seeding!
We've been busy flagging for trials, soil sampling, picking up & distributing seed, and Michael has been getting equipment ready for seeding!
We are presenting at two events next week! First up, on March 26th in Melfort, Ishita will be presenting results from regenerative agriculture focused trials from 2024 and give a teaser of upcoming trials on the same theme (intercropping/ companion cropping & more).
Event by Collective Impact 🧵
Event by Collective Impact 🧵
March 19, 2025 at 4:39 AM
We are presenting at two events next week! First up, on March 26th in Melfort, Ishita will be presenting results from regenerative agriculture focused trials from 2024 and give a teaser of upcoming trials on the same theme (intercropping/ companion cropping & more).
Event by Collective Impact 🧵
Event by Collective Impact 🧵
This week we are in Saskatoon participating in Ag shows and forums. Here's Brianne and I at the AgriARM booth at Western Crop Production Show on Tuesday. Today is the last day of CPS so if you are in Saskatoon, stop by and check out all the exhibitors!
January 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This week we are in Saskatoon participating in Ag shows and forums. Here's Brianne and I at the AgriARM booth at Western Crop Production Show on Tuesday. Today is the last day of CPS so if you are in Saskatoon, stop by and check out all the exhibitors!
We finished seed cleaning last week, guess this bean wasn't happy - It won't stop screaming!
(Pic by Gayelene!)
(Pic by Gayelene!)
December 1, 2024 at 3:43 AM
We finished seed cleaning last week, guess this bean wasn't happy - It won't stop screaming!
(Pic by Gayelene!)
(Pic by Gayelene!)
We had a very successful 2024 field season with some of the highest yields in the last few years! (Wheat yielding as high as 106 bu/ac! 🤯) While our super-helper, Gayelene, has been busy cleaning seed, here are some pictures from this year.
P.S. Credit for the drone shot to Brianne!
P.S. Credit for the drone shot to Brianne!
November 8, 2024 at 7:47 PM
We had a very successful 2024 field season with some of the highest yields in the last few years! (Wheat yielding as high as 106 bu/ac! 🤯) While our super-helper, Gayelene, has been busy cleaning seed, here are some pictures from this year.
P.S. Credit for the drone shot to Brianne!
P.S. Credit for the drone shot to Brianne!