Lakeland Agricultural Research Association

Lakeland Agricultural Research Association LARA is a local, producer-directed, not-for-profit applied agricultural research association in the Lakeland region.

We conduct agricultural research, demonstration and extension projects to provide regional, unbiased information to local producers.

08/21/2026

Sometimes you just need to step away from the research plots and swap your field boots for golf shoes! ⛳🌱

Before our summer students head off, the LARA team took a morning to hit the links, enjoy some friendly competition, and share a potluck lunch together.

Although, if we’re being honest… there may have been more time spent looking for golf balls than actually hitting them! 😂🏌️‍♀️

A few questionable swings, plenty of laughs, and a whole lot of fun made for a great way to wrap up the summer season with the team. 💚

08/20/2026

TRIAL THURSDAY: Clover undercover!

Can a little clover grow under barley and still make a difference after harvest?

We’re growing low-growing clovers right under feed barley to see if they can:
🌿 survive the crop
🌿 boost fall stubble grazing
🌿 maybe even help the next crop with nitrogen

2025 = dry year ☀️
→ clover didn’t change yield much, but sub clover boosted calcium in the stubble (and didn’t hurt barley yield 👍)

2026 = totally different story 🌧️
→ wet soils = sub clover is thriving, white clover is hanging in there but staying a bit more low-key

We’ll keep following it through harvest, regrowth, and grazing to see what actually works best in real farm conditions.

Municipal District of Bonnyville County of St. Paul No. 19 RDAR

W**d ID Wednesday: Japanese Brome This cool-season annual grass may look like just another grass in the field, but Japan...
08/19/2026

W**d ID Wednesday: Japanese Brome

This cool-season annual grass may look like just another grass in the field, but Japanese brome can quickly take advantage of disturbed areas and compete with desirable perennial plants.

A few things to know:
• Grows up to 90 cm tall
• Leaves and sheaths are often densely hairy
• Seed heads are long, drooping and branched, with noticeable awns
• Reproduces by seed only
• Most seeds fall close to the parent plant, but can also spread through contaminated grain, hay, straw and soil
• Fall seedlings can overwinter and resume growth early in spring

Japanese brome tends to do well when moisture is available, while maintaining a healthy, competitive perennial plant community can help keep it in check. Timely management is important because once it produces seed, those seeds can contribute to the next generation.

Spotted this one in your pasture, hay field or disturbed areas? Add it to your w**d ID list!

County of St. Paul No. 19 Municipal District of Bonnyville

08/18/2026

TRIAL TUESDAY: Two rows, six rows… or a little of both? 👀

For three years, we’ve been putting barley mixtures to the test at Fort Kent — growing two-row and six-row varieties solo and together to see who can deliver the best silage performance.

The plots are harvested, the trial is officially in the books, and now it’s time to crunch the numbers!

Will the mixtures have the edge, or will the solo acts steal the show?

Stay tuned for the results!

Municipal District of Bonnyville County of St. Paul No. 19
RDAR

08/17/2026

A little cleanup, a lot of progress!

We spent the day mulching down deadfall in our shelterbelt, getting it ready for the next phase of this project—and we couldn’t have done it without some amazing community support!

A huge THANK YOU to Great White Mulching Ltd for spending the day with us and donating $5,000 worth of work! 🙌

We’re also incredibly grateful to Cenovus Energy for their $3,500 donation and Strathcona Resources for their $1,000 donation. These contributions are helping cover mulching costs and support the addition of interpretive signs that will be installed later.

But this shelterbelt is more than just a collection of trees—it’s a living classroom.

Through our Living Edge Shelterbelt Education Program, students from across the region can get outdoors, explore the shelterbelt, and discover how thoughtfully designed shelterbelts support farms, wildlife and healthy ecosystems.

And we’re not done yet… 👀

Next up: planting 100 trees from Bonnyville Forest Nursery! 🌲

Stay tuned as we continue growing this space into an outdoor classroom for the next generation.

Want to bring your class to our shelterbelt? Learn more and book your class at laraonline.ca

08/17/2026

🌱🔍 W**d inspections are underway! Agricultural Services staff are conducting annual w**d inspections throughout the County.

Inspectors will be monitoring for species such as burdock, Canada thistle, common tansy, oxeye daisy, scentless chamomile, and other w**ds regulated under Alberta's W**d Control Act.

These inspections help protect our agricultural industry, native landscapes, and local environment by identifying invasive plants and limiting their spread.

Learn more information:
📲Alberta Invasive Species Council: https://abinvasives.ca/
📄County of St. Paul W**d Control Policy: www.county.stpaul.ab.ca/agriculture/ -services-policies
📨Email us at [email protected]
👀 Follow Lakeland Agricultural Research Association for their W**d ID Wednesday posts!

There’s a fine line between “that’s too expensive” and “how did we ever live without it?” So we asked the LARA team whic...
08/17/2026

There’s a fine line between “that’s too expensive” and “how did we ever live without it?”

So we asked the LARA team which farm-and-garden splurges have officially earned their keep.

Some are practical. Some are muddy. And one is currently living rent-free on the LARA wish list.

Swipe through, then tell us: what’s your “buy once, cry once” purchase? 😂👇

08/14/2026

So.. which complaint are we going with this year?

After record rainfall across the region. We think we’ve officially answered that question.

Too. Much. Rain.

We’ll take “just enough” next year, thanks.

🌟Board Spotlight🌟Producer. Dad. Advocate for practical research.Keegan Miller has been part of LARA's Board of Directors...
08/14/2026

🌟Board Spotlight🌟

Producer. Dad. Advocate for practical research.

Keegan Miller has been part of LARA's Board of Directors for the past two years, bringing eight years of farming experience and a producer's perspective from the MD of Bonnyville. One of his favourite parts of serving with LARA is connecting with local producers and exploring innovative ideas that help farms become more successful.

Next year, Keegan will also host LARA's Boosting Fall Forage Production and Grazing Days with Italian Ryegrass in Silage Stubble trial on his farm. The project will explore ways to increase fall grazing opportunities while supporting profitable, practical management decisions for producers.

When he's not in the field, Keegan is a proud dad to six daughters—including a set of twins—keeping life just as busy at home as it is on the farm.

We're grateful to have Keegan's passion, practical experience, and producer perspective helping guide LARA's work.

08/13/2026

A morning in the field, and a whole lot to see.

Our Fort Kent Field Tour took us from the greenhouse to research plots across the farm, giving producers a closer look at the work happening behind the scenes at LARA.

We toured our research, talked through results, asked questions, and saw firsthand how this year’s record rainfall has affected crops and field conditions.

A huge thank you to everyone who woke up early and joined us—we appreciate you spending your morning with us, asking questions, sharing ideas, and being part of the conversation! 💚

From challenging conditions to valuable lessons, there’s always something to learn when the research is happening right in our backyard.

Municipal District of Bonnyville County of St. Paul No. 19

Address

5311/50 Avenue
Fort Kent, AB
T0A1H0

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

7808267260

Website

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