Designing the Olds College and University of Alberta Integrated Crop Management School July 4th and

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Designing the Olds College and University of
Alberta Integrated Crop Management School July
4th and 5th 2007
Objective The objective of the University of
Alberta Capstone Class, Plant Science 499, is to
integrate students knowledge and experience in
agronomy gained from summer employment and their
post secondary education. The project for the
2006 students was to develop an integrated field
school that would be implemented at Olds College
in July 2007. Methods and Process In late
September the class toured the future 2007 Olds
Field School site. The class discussed with Olds
College instructor Jack Payne the fields
previous cropping history, general climate and
local pests, chemical rotations, and its future
intended use. We then scouted the area for weeds,
topography, straw residue levels and general soil
type. Students Joel and Brian in mid November
conducted soil sampling to determine the fields
nutrient status. The students met with the Olds
Field School committee Trevor Hamilton
(OC),Steve Larocque (Cargill), Jim Broatch
(AAFRD), Mary Jane Block (OC), Jack Payne (OC),
Joel Gingrich (OC), Dale Fedoruk (AU), Rick
Taillieu (RTL), Dale Soetaert (DU). The students
determined with their peers the areas of greatest
relevance to the audience agronomists and
leading edge producers. The field school focused
on four areas agronomy, disease and insects,
weeds and herbicides, and soil fertility. Topics
were further refined through biweekly meetings,
the Olds Field School committee, and our team
leaders Dr. Linda Hall and T.A Jody Dexter. The
eight student class divided into the four
sections and developed the educational goals,
plot layout, hypothesis, treatment list,
implementation plan and background information
for each. The team also developed a new crops
section (Stefan) and an Olympic and economic
canola challenge (Stefan), and diagnostic field
tools (Brian). The team also developed an agenda
(Colin), budget (Brian), pamphlets (Melissa) and
signage (Melissa). In mid December the students
met with the Olds Field School Committee and
presented their project recommendations. The
committee will be implementing most of these
ideas.

Detailed layout of
agronomy soil temperature plot
Left to Right Students Stefan Meyer, Erin
Mcleod, Colin Rice, Nahid Mohamed, Brian
Markert, Melissa Nickel, Joel Conrad, and Blake
Gamroth. The students learned about teamwork,
developing and designing a large project, and hot
topics within the cropping industry. For
further information on the Integrated Crop
Management Field School, contact Jack Payne
403-507-7940