It does matter if we’re talking about pinto beans.

“Most beans keep the same look after growers harvest and store them,” said Sangeeta Dhaubhadel, a research scientist at the London Research and Development Centre.

“With pinto beans however, the older they are, the darker they become. This is causing serious economic issues for bean farmers and processors. We needed to find the gene responsible.”

Older, darker beans take about 20 per cent longer to cook, so are less popular with consumers who want convenience. They’re also harder to sell, so their price is discounted. And longer cooking times mean higher energy costs for food processors.

Those problems spurred Dhaubhadel to look for a solution, and she and her team recently discovered the gene that causes pinto beans to darken with age. Their findings are helping bean breeders create new, slow-darkening varieties more quickly.

There are slow-darkening pinto beans but they lack some desirable agronomic traits, such as high yield and improved disease resistance. So they are less popular even though their seed coat darkens more slowly after harvest.

While scientists have known the genetic location of the traits for some time, no one had found the specific gene that controls the slow-darkening trait. Dhaubhadel investigated proanthocyanidins (compounds experts thought were causing the seed coat darkening) and when comparing slow-darkening (SD) beans to regular-darkening (RD) ones, the latter had more of this compound. She and her team then searched for the ‘P’ gene among the 27,433 genes in pinto bean genome.

‘P’ stands for ‘pigment’ and scientists have linked this gene to colour in other plant species. During tests, the ‘P’ gene reacted as the research team expected — it changed the colour of the seed coats.

Still curious why RD pinto beans darken faster than SD varieties, researchers further clarified that a single mismatch in the ‘P’ gene sequence between RD and SD pinto beans may be responsible for the higher protein activity in ‘P’ gene of the RD varieties.

“It took four years to find this gene and solve the puzzle of seed coat darkening,” said Nishat Islam, a PhD student hired for the gene analysis work.

“Cloning this gene for testing was very challenging, but when we found the correct gene, we were thrilled. It was a ‘Wow!’ moment.”

This research helps breeders look at gene sequence earlier which speeds up the breeding process. With more than a third of dry bean acres in Canada being dedicated to pinto beans, bean breeders can now breathe — and breed — a little easier.

The post Successful hunt for ‘P’ gene to pay dividends for bean growers appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

However, the CFIA will take any necessary action to protect the safety of Canada’s plants and animals. (Updates will be posted at inspection.gc.ca)

There have been no reports of COVID-19 infection in livestock species anywhere. As always, producers should follow normal biosecurity measures by continuing to consider the potential risks associated with various people entering their business premises and implement measures to manage these visits.

Producers are encouraged to consult the National Biosecurity Standards and Biosecurity Principles and National Farm-Level Biosecurity Planning Guide. Additional information is available from the World Organization for Animal Health.

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The federal government’s Livestock Tax Deferral Provision program allows producers to defer a portion of their 2018 sale proceeds of breeding livestock until 2019 to help replenish the herd. The cost of replacing the animals in 2019 will offset the deferred income, which lowers the tax bill.

But producers must be in designated areas before they can request the tax deferral when filing their 2018 income tax returns.

The regions on the initial list released by the government are:
— Beaver County
— City of Calgary
— Camrose County
— Cardston County
— Cypress County
— Forty Mile County No. 8
— Kneehill County
— Lacombe County
— Lethbridge County
— Mountain View County
— Newell County
— Pincher Creek No. 9
— Ponoka County
— Red Deer County
— Rocky View County
— Municipal District of Taber
— Vulcan County
— Warner County No. 5
— Wetaskiwin County No. 10
— Wheatland County
— Willow Creek No. 26

For more information on the program, go to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website.

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Researchers from Canada and Australia conducted the three-year study.

“We need to know how feed affects methane production, but we also need to know how it affects other aspects of the farm operation, like daily gains in animals, milk production, and feed efficiency,” said Karen Beauchemin, a beef researcher at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge station.

Part of the study looked at 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NOP), a promising commercial feed supplement that can be given to cattle to inhibit the enzyme methyl coenzyme M reductase, which is responsible for creating methane in the rumen. After blocking the enzyme, 3NOP quickly breaks down to simple compounds already present in nature. Beauchemin studied its short- and long-term impacts.

“We now have clear evidence that 3NOP can have a long-term positive effect on reducing methane emissions and improving animal performance,” she said. “We saw a 30 to 50 per cent reduction in methane over a long period of time and a three to five per cent improvement in feed efficiency.”

When using this supplement, cattle consumed less feed to gain a pound of body weight compared to control animals.

“What is also great is that the inhibitor worked just as effectively no matter what type of feed the cattle were eating,” said Beauchemin. “We don’t know the actual market price of the supplement yet because it is still going through approvals for registration in Canada and the U.S. That will be important for farmers who want to calculate the cost benefit of using 3NOP to reduce methane emissions from their cows and enhance profits.”

Researchers also studied nitrate, a form of non-protein nitrogen similar to that found in urea. When fed to cattle, nitrate is converted to ammonia which is then used by the micro-organisms. During this process, nitrogen in the nitrate works like a powerful magnet that is able to hold on to and attract hydrogen. This leaves less hydrogen available in the rumen to attach to carbon to make methane, thus reducing the amount of methane produced.

Researchers found adding nitrate to the diet of beef cattle reduced methane production by 20 per cent in the short term (up to three weeks). After 16 weeks, it still reduced methane up to 12 per cent. It also improved the gain-to-feed ratio. However, administering the correct dosage is extremely important, as too much nitrate can make an animal ill. So it is recommended this method should be used with care and caution.

A third part of the study found wheat effectively reduced methane production by 35 per cent compared with corn or barley.

But over time cattle adapted to the change in feed and the methane inhibitory effect disappeared after 10 weeks. However, researchers also found genetic variation, with half of the cows fed wheat having lower methane emissions for as long as 16 weeks. The study also found that feeding wheat to dairy cows increased milk yield but decreased fat levels. Because wheat doesn’t lower methane emissions over the long term, it is not recommended as a best practice, researchers said.

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Roseland is a new two-row spring hulless food barley cultivar with excellent bread-making qualities developed at the Brandon Research and Development Centre. It has improved lodging resistance, higher test weight, and better threshability than check cultivar Millhouse and similar flour quality characteristics to Falcon barley. Roseland is resistant to several important barley diseases, including stem rust and surface-borne smuts.

AAC Connect is a two-row spring malting barley cultivar with a desirable combination of agronomic, malting quality, and disease-resistance traits, including lower deoxynivalenol accumulation. It was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-Row Barley Registration Test (2012–13) and the Collaborative Malting Barley Trials (2013–14) conducted by the malting and brewing industry before being registered in 2016.

AAC Synergy is a two-row spring malting barley cultivar widely adapted to Western Canada. It was registered in 2012.

The post Three recent barley varieties to check out appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

The program provides farmers the opportunity to learn detailed financial, marketing and human relations management skills, using their own operation as a case study. One scholarship of $11,500 is available to be applied towards tuition and travel. The successful applicant can choose to attend CTEAM starting in December 2017.

The late Bob Ross was instrumental in guiding the CTEAM program and encouraging farm management excellence across Canada.

For more information and the application form, go to www.agrifoodtraining.com and click on the Executive Management Programs tab. The application deadline is Sept. 15.

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Red-skinned varieties made up half of the total selections that Ag Canada potato breeders released earlier this month during their annual release open house. This includes a multi-purpose variety that shows promise for processing as wedges and as a traditional table potato. Breeders have also developed Russet selections that have a longer shelf life in cold storage while maintaining stable sugars, making them attractive new selections to french fry processors. In all, 15 potato selections were unveiled this year.

The selections were narrowed down from more than 100,000 hybrid seedlings that were grown, tested, and measured over six years in Agriculture Canada greenhouses, laboratories, and fields across the country.

Researchers are increasingly using DNA technology to identify genes and strands linked to favourable traits. This will lead to the development of germplasm with the potential for better yields, nutritional value, and cooking and processing qualities. The selections also feature disease and pest resistance that makes them less demanding on the environment and offers alternative choices for organic growers. With each genetic marker that is identified, researchers are able to more quickly and accurately search through hundreds of different kinds of potatoes (including centuries’ old heritage varieties and wild species) for potential breeding lines that will produce new hybrids with the desired traits.

Alberta is Canada’s third-largest producer of potatoes, trailing only P.E.I. and Manitoba. Production is centred in irrigated areas near Lethbridge, Taber, Vauxhall, and the Bassano-Brooks region, and the Edmonton and Lacombe areas are important seed potato production regions. An average of 52,500 planted acres were reported for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 crop years. The sector generates about $1 billion of economic activity annually.

The post Researchers release 15 new potato varieties appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Projects must offer an environmental benefit, be completed by March 2017, and the jobs must last at least four months. Green Farms will pay up to 50 per cent of hiring costs (up to $10,000 per worker).

For more information on eligibility or to apply, visit canada.ca/agriculture or call 1-866-452-5558.

The post Funding available for green projects appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

But the pest is now a growing problem in Alberta, including Peace River country, and starting to attack Montana’s wheat crops. However, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada researchers know ways to reduce its impact.

• More on the Alberta Farmer: Get the facts on wheat midge

Biological controls: Parasitoids

Parasitoids are organisms that live on or in a host and consume it until it eventually dies. Parasitoids that feed on midge have long been known in Canada, with the most widespread type (Macroglenes penetrans) controlling an average of 31.5 per cent of the wheat midge across Saskatchewan. The estimated value of the parasitoid, due to reduction in insecticide costs in Saskatchewan alone, was estimated to be in excess of $248.3 million in the 1990s. The environmental benefits of using a natural predator are a bonus.

In the 1990s, AAFC researchers worked with their counterparts in Switzerland to bring another midge-attacking parasitoid to the country. Platygaster tuberosula was released in prime wheat midge country in eastern Saskatchewan. Through the 2000s, the population grew and has been cohabiting well with the other wheat midge parasitoid. AAFC researchers also developed a refuge (an interspersing of susceptible plants in resistant wheat) strategy for the parasitoids and released midge-tolerant wheat varieties during this time.

Pass the parasitoids, please

Entomologists at Montana State University have seen Canada’s success with parasitoids and visited the Saskatoon Research Centre this month to collect two species of parasitoid wasps from last year’s wheat fields (also known as emergence sites). The timing of their hunting trip is critical, as the parasitoids are only in their adult wasp phase for less than two weeks, which is dependent on seasonal temperatures.

AAFC entomologists will benefit from a successful collection by the Montana team by receiving more data on how these introduced parasitoid populations are faring, the economic impact, and the preservation of the species into the future.

Vigilance required

While parasitoids may seem like a panacea, they must be carefully managed and considered just one of many ways farmers can control wheat midge. The right environment, including frequent crop rotations, applying chemicals at the right time if economically viable, and following other recommended agronomic practices go a long way in supporting the parasitoid population.

“It is important to chemically control wheat midge only when it is economic to do so and only during the susceptible stage in wheats (between heading and flowering), and to implement the ‘refuge’ approach when growing midge-tolerant wheat varieties,” said Owen Olfert, an AAFC expert on invasive insect pests and biodiversity in Saskatoon.

The post Good bugs save you big bucks when wheat midge arrives appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

In general, stripe rust is well established in winter wheat in the above counties but was not recorded to any extent in spring wheat fields. Even among the winter wheat fields surveyed, its occurrence continues to be patchy. The majority of the winter wheat fields still had trace to light levels, although approximately 30 per cent of the fields had moderate to severe levels. Producers are encouraged to go out and routinely monitor their wheat fields for the presence of the long, bright orange stripes on the upper leaves. Most winter wheat acreage is beyond the developmental stage permissible for spraying.

For individuals considering spraying spring wheat fields with a fungicide, the following is recommended:

1) Only consider spraying if the spring wheat variety is rated intermediate to susceptible. Durum varieties are highly resistant and do not require spraying. AC Carberry, AC Lillian, AC Muchmore, Pasteur, CDC Go, Sadash and AC Andrew are considered moderately resistant to resistant and should not require spraying. Glenn is intermediate and Barrie is susceptible and should be monitored for disease progression. Producers should check with the Varieties of Cereal and Oilseed Crops for Alberta  to verify the stripe rust resistance rating for their seeded spring wheat variety. Those varieties with ratings of intermediate to susceptible should be monitored for stripe rust infection before spraying.

2) Spray wheat when infection levels approach or exceed an average 1 infected plant/square metre.

3) Fungicide applications should be timed to protect the last 2 leaves that emerge (the flag and flag minus 1 leaves) because they contribute most to grain yield and quality.

Producers may now be considering winter wheat options for this fall. Radiant is susceptible to stripe rust and should be replaced with newer, stripe rust resistant varieties. For traditional dryland regions in western Canada, the variety Moats is a good choice. For irrigated production and in parkland regions, Flourish or AAC Gateway are recommended. All three have stripe rust resistance and exhibit similar levels of winter hardiness.

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