Canada - Fall Rye as a Management Tool

Description

VGN Resources Group Inc. (VGN) will be the Program Administrator for projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food's (Ministry) extension programming for environment and climate change.  This RFP and project is administered by VGN on behalf of the Ministry.The agriculture industry has identified a knowledge gap and extension need, to address climate challenges in agriculture and facilitate climate adaptation, mitigation, and environmental sustainability.  This project arose through the Highway 16 / North Cariboo Region, Regional Extension Committee (REC) open houses in November 2023. Producers voiced concerns about affordable inputs, maintaining soil health, alternative grazing opportunities, and managing invasive weed pressures in their forage fields. The Ministry is seeking professional services to plan, coordinate, and deliver on-farm research activities to demonstrate and evaluate fall rye (Secale cereale) as a cover crop to improve overall soil health characteristics and also demonstrate and evaluate fall rye’s ability to compete with and/or displace Hawkweed (Hieracium spp) populations. On-farm demonstration activities (project results) will require delivery of field days with producers. The purpose of this contract is to:  ​Increase farmer-led research projects and activities occurring in the Central  Interior Region; comprised of Skeena, Omineca, North Cariboo  ​Increase farmer knowledge and access to information to support informed decision making when considering on-farm soil-building practices by integrating the use of fall rye.  Increase farmer knowledge for the management of Hawkweed spp. invasive weeds including use of cover crops that have demonstrated an ability to compete and suppress.  Integrate this projects’ on-farm demonstration activities and research with mutually compatible agriculture research and extension initiatives across Northern BC.

Opportunity closing date

12 October 2024

Value of contract

to be confirmed