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CAI Factsheet - Evaluating the Use of Organic Amendments to Maintain Soil Health and Cherry Production Under Climate Change in British Columbia

CAI Factsheet - Evaluating the Use of Postharvest Deficit Irrigation for Cherry Production Under Climate Change in British Columbia

CAI Report - Expanding Cherry Production in British Columbia under Climate Change

CAI Summary - Evaluating Opportunities to Expand Cherry Production

Growing Organic Small Grains in South Coastal BC: Comparing Protein Concentrations in Wheat and Barley

The Vancouver Island and south coast regions of British Columbia (BC) have mild temperatures suitable for the planting of cereals as a spring crop. The potential of these crops have not been well studied in this area, though in one Canadian study maximum yields were higher on organic farms than…

Good Roots: Understanding the Differences Between Heirloom and Commercial Wheat and Barley Roots

The architecture of a plant’s root system has a strong impact on crop performance, and understanding the root structure is important for both plant breeders and farmers. Root architecture affects drought tolerance, nutrient and water uptake, and tolerance to mineral toxicity. For example, wheat and…

Life Cycle Assessment of Bark Mulch Use On an Okanagan Apple Orchard

Growing Organic Small Grains in South Coastal BC: Comparing Heirloom and Commercial Cultivars

Nearly 65 per cent of Canada’s 3,500 organic farms grow cereal crops, including mainly wheat and barley as well as legumes and oilseed crops. The demand for organic small grains is increasing, but one of the challenges in meeting this demand is attributed to the lower yields in organically managed…

Barley–Pea Intercropping: Growing Crops Together to Improve Land Productivity

Growing barley as the sole crop in a field has impacts on land productivity by decreasing soil carbon and nitrogen. Sustainable nitrogen management is challenging due to the increasing cost of nitrogen fertilizers, the emission of nitrous oxide, and the potential of nitrates contaminating both…

Don’t forget sunscreen: Protecting tree fruits during extreme heat events

As part of developing a “climate resilience toolbox” for Canadian tree fruit, this study evaluated the effect of a locally produced, calcium carbonate-based foliar protectant on apple sunburn and water stress.Canadian tree fruit producers need tools to help improve the resiliency of their crops to…

Preventing and detecting sunburn on ‘Ambrosia’ apples

To help producers adapt to the changing climate, this study examined the impact of rootstock size on sunburn browning and assessed the differences in fruit quality between healthy (marketable) 'Ambrosia' apples and those affected by sunburn browning. The results of this study will help with…

Large-dwarfing rootstocks can protect apples from sunburn

This study investigated if rootstock size selection can contribute to extreme heat resilience in ‘Buckeye Gala’ apple trees, measured through fruit sunburn damage.This research is a step towards developing a comprehensive apple rootstock evaluation that will help tree fruit growers adapt to climate…

Reducing post-harvest irrigation in sweet cherry production

This study investigated whether reducing post-harvest irrigation in 'Sweetheart' cherry orchards would negatively affect fruit quality, yield, the timing of flower bud development, or flower bud cold hardiness. The Okanagan Valley is one of the main production areas for sweet cherry in Canada…

Farmland Hedgerows: Hedgerow Benefits and the Delta, BC Hedgerow Project

Hedgerows are trees, shrubs and grasses bordering the edges of farm fields. These areas provide numerous agricultural and environmental benefits. It is for these benefits that farmers in the lower Fraser River Delta have been planting hedgerows since 1995 with the support of the Delta Farmland…