Farmers and crop advisors in Vermilion and across east-central Alberta will have a chance to sharpen their agronomy skills on July 16, 2026, when the Alberta Crop Diagnostic Day returns to Lakeland College‘s Vermilion Campus. The free, hands-on field event runs from a 7:45 a.m. check-in at crop plots five miles west of town and mixes expert talks with a showcase of current college research.
Now in its third year, the day is a joint effort between Alberta Grains, Alberta Pulse Growers, and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission. Nine presentations are scheduled, covering a mix of pressing topics for local growers. Sessions include weed control in wild oats, managing insect pests, getting pulse crops through tough seasons, the impact of spray water quality on herbicide performance, and practical canola agronomy. One talk digs into the pros and cons of harvesting straw versus leaving it in the field, while another focuses on Richardson’s ground squirrel control with Government of Alberta Assistant Rat and Pest Specialist Garret Girletz.
The event is also a chance for Lakeland’s own applied research team to shine. Scientists Dr. Balwinder Kumar, Dr. Haider Abbas, and Robyne Davidson will walk attendees through the college’s current crop and agronomy projects. Guest speakers Jeff Schoeneau from the University of Saskatchewan and Boyd Mori from the University of Alberta add outside expertise. For farmers needing continuing education credits, the day qualifies for 4.5 units. Registration is required by July 9, and organizers are covering snacks and lunch.
“Alberta Crop Diagnostic Days are an exciting event that we are proud to participate in for a third year,” said Dr. Francois Paradis, dean of applied research at Lakeland. The college manages more than 3,700 pulse, cereal, and oilseed plots near its Vermilion campus and recently ranked 44th among Canada’s top research colleges, according to Research Infosource Inc. A $1 million grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s College Fund, received in late 2025, is helping the college buy modern crop and livestock research equipment over the next two years.
The Cultivate & Connect showcase running alongside the diagnostic day highlights that growing research capacity. For producers wanting to see field-scale ideas before they adopt them, the day offers a rare, local chance to kick tires on the latest agronomy thinking right in familiar Vermilion soil.
