Last week I attended the Lacombe Research Station Field Day in Lacombe Alberta. I thought that it was a great time and I picked up some things about a couple varieties that I was unaware of. This is the first time that I have attended this event but based on my experience I will definitely be attending again in the future.
Dr. Jim Helm, Plant Breeder/Head of Research, Field Crop Development Centre, has been contributing to the advancement of feed grains in Canada for 36 years. In the above photo Dr. Helm was commenting on how you breed for drought and fertilizer efficiency. Dr. Helm commented that you simply breed for yield based on the given conditions experienced by the plant. Dr. Helm is great for getting seedsmen, industry and farmers to reconsider the way we are doing something. One of his famous talks is regarding why most feedyards pay for barley based on bushel weight instead of feed value.
See the photo slide show from my trip the Lacombe Field Day
Dr. Helm is responsible for barley varieties like Vivar, Lacombe, Harper, Falcon and Mahigan.
