Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Research Centre-Charlottetown
Our Mission
The Crops and Livestock Research Centre in Charlottetown, one of
the 19 Agriculture and Agri-Food Research Centres across Canada,
provides scientific knowledge, and develops and transfers
innovative technologies in integrated crop and livestock systems
which protect and enhance natural resources and the environment.
Our Capabilities
The Centre conducts research on a diversified agricultural system
in which:
rotation of arable and pastoral crops sustain livestock
and maintain soil health
by-products are recycled as resources to support crop
growth and soil conservation
potatoes play an important role
Researchers are studying ways of making nature work in the
pursuit of an increasingly self-sustaining production systems by:
enhancing soil quality through management of soil
structure and fertility
seeking environmentally friendly control of insects,
weeds and plant diseases
optimizing feed crop and animal production
developing precision farming tools for monitoring the
effects of cropping practices
Our Human Resources
The Centre has a staff of nearly 100, including over 20
scientists with expertise in:
land and water management
crop science
pest management
livestock sciences
Our Facilities
In addition to the laboratory complex in Charlottetown, the
Centre operates the 330-hectare Harrington Research Farm, where
most field trials are conducted. The Nappan Research Farm, a
240-hectare facility near Amherst in Nova Scotia, is home to
research on beef production. The Centre also has a swine
researcher co-located with university staff at the Atlantic
Veterinary College of the University of Prince Edward Island, as
well as one poultry and two soil researchers at the Nova Scotia
Agricultural College, Truro.
Our Partners
Through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Matching Investment
Initiative, research efforts between the private sector and the
Crops and Livestock Research Centre are providing new
technologies that accurately reflect the sector's needs. By
involving industry research investors directly, the initiative
speeds up the process of transferring new technology to the
private sector.
The Centre is also a member of the Belvedere Avenue science
community that includes the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's
Centre for Animal and Plant Health, the University of Prince
Edward Island, the Atlantic Veterinary College and the Prince
Edward Island Food Technology Centre.
Company Details
Company Information
Christiane Deslauriers
Title:
Director
Area of Responsibility:
Management Executive
Telephone:
(902) 566-6816
Fax:
(902) 566-6821
Email:
Click Here
Products
Non-chemical Methods For Disease, Insect, Nematode, And Weed Control.
Sustainable Potato Production.
The Crops and Livestock Research Centre has on-going applied research into the impacts of potato farming systems on soil and environmental quality. An interdisciplinary team, composed of soil scientists, agronomists, plant pathologists, nematologists, entomologists, and weed scientists have identified and evaluated technologies that reduce soil degradation in potato rotations and reduce the risks of damage to the environment.
The main technologies developed are soil erosion control, minimizing tillage operations and soil disturbance, management of soil organic matter, management of soil nitrate and prevention of nitrate leaching, cover crop management to protect soil and utilize excess nitrogen, use of compost and mulches in potato rotations, and integrated pest management.
In support of the above technologies, several research documents and technology transfer publications have been prepared. The Research Centre has several completed and on-going contracts with industry in the area of sustainable potato production.
Utilization Of Forage Crops In Rotation With Potatoes And Cereals
The Crops and Livestock Research Centre has an on-going research program on the establishment and utilization of forages in crop rotations. This involves establishment of red clover with a barley crop and efficient utilization of the forage by livestock, mostly cattle. Establishment of the red clover with barley is a cooperative research project with the plant breeders, pathologists and soil scientists. Different cultivars, seeding rates and fertility levels are evaluated. The utilization of forages includes studies on pastures to maximize beef production per hectare consistent with sustainable plant development.
In support of the above technologies, research documents and technology transfer publications have been prepared and this effort will be continued.
Development And Identification Of Disease-resistant Cultivars Of Barley.
The Crops and Livestock Research Centre has a continuing program for the development and the identification of disease-resistant and high-yielding cultivars of barley. This program involves plant breeders, pathologists, agronomists and statisticians. New strains of barley are continually being developed in cooperation with the Eastern Cereal and Oilseeds Research Centre, Ottawa, and these are evaluated here; as well as strains and cultivars produced by other plant breeders.
Improved cultivars of barley are continually being identified and these are readily accepted by the farmers in the region. The use of such cultivars improves the yield of cereals without increased use of chemicals and also contributes to yield stability over the region and over the years.
Residue Management.
The Crops and Livestock Research Centre has a continuing program of research on developing systems to prevent and control soil erosion in crop production systems. In collaboration with personnel from the PEI Department of Agriculture and Forestry and potato producers, the practice of residue management in potatoes was developed to reduce the risk of soil erosion in potato fields. This system reduced soil erosion
by over 90% in fields planted to potatoes. Residue management is the practice of retaining dead plant material from the previous crop at or near the soil surface after the potato crop is planted. The target is to use tillage practices that leave surface plant residue levels in excess of 30%. This is accomplished by reducing spring tillage to one pass with conversation tillage equipment and by doing no fall tillage prior to the
potato crop year. If the previous crop is forage, the forage is sprayed with glyphosate in late September or early October and then left untilled.
If the previous crop is grain, the straw is chopped and spread during the harvesting operation. Shortly after harvest, the fields are lightly disced, and if chisel plowed, it is done with chisel plows equipped with sweeps.
In support of the technology, several research documents and technology transfer publications have been prepared.
Services
Agriculture Research And Development