Agronomy Update Agenda 2026

 

Please note that the agenda is still being updated and is subject to change, and that the most current agenda is posted here. (last update on Jan. 12, 2026)

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Welcome and introductions
 
 
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
Summary of 2025 Crop Diseases
Michael Harding
Dr. Michael Harding - Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
It’s Back…, Managing Stripe Rust on the Prairies
Randy Kutcher
Dr. Randy Kutcher - University of Saskatchewan
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
Stripe Alert: Unmasking Verticillium in Canola Fields
Justine Cornelsen Nicolea Dow Megan Broberg Tom Ernst
Justine Cornelsen - BrettYoung Seeds
Nicolea Dow - Ronald Farms Inc & MCGA
Megan Broberg - BASF
Tom Ernst - Corteva Agriscience
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Bio-break
 
 
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
The Resistance Report: Tracking Alberta’s Hardiest Herbicide Hinderances
Charles Geddes
Dr. Charles Geddes - AAFC - Lethbridge
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Wild oats: Managing A Decades Old Problem With A Shrinking List of Solutions
Maury Micklich
Maury Micklich - Progro Agriculture
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Movement of kochia north in Alberta
Breanne Tidemann
Dr. Breanne Tidemann - AAFC - Lacombe
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch
 
 
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
How is Australia managing heat and drought stress in the cropping system?
James Hunt (CSIRO)
James Hunt (CSIRO) - University of Melbourne
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
How to use the information collected on-farm to improve production, agronomics and economics
Steve Shirtliffe
Dr. Steve Shirtliffe - University of Saskatchewan
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Bio-break 
 
 
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Optimizing Profit & Sustainability: Choosing and evaluating products on-farm
Emily Ford
Emily Ford - Quattro Farms
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Soil Sampling and Analysis Interpretation
Jeff Schoenau
Dr. Jeff Schoenau - University of Saskatchewan
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
The impact of different crop types and rotations on the soil microbial community.
Bobbi Helgason
Dr. Bobbi Helgason - University of Saskatchewan
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Management of low and high pH soils (soil amendments, nutrient availabilities, dynamics of soil health)
Miles Dyck Rob Dunn Karen Skarberg Quinn Devine (Panel Host)
Dr. Miles Dyck - University of Alberta
Rob Dunn - FarmWise Inc.
Karen Skarberg - Stellar Ag Crop Strategies
Quinn Devine (Panel Host) - RDAR
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Bio-break 
 
 
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Summary of the 2025 Insect Pests
Amanda Jorgensen
Amanda Jorgensen - Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Staying ahead of the curve: Monitoring insecticide effectiveness and developing resources for flea beetle management in canola
Boyd Mori
Dr. Boyd Mori - University of Alberta
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Blue Book App Update
Craig Lester
Craig Lester - Blue Book
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
 
 
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
The importance of a farm team to help with complicated risk management decisions.
Jesse Cole Karen Murray
Jesse Cole - AFSC
Karen Murray - Karen Murray Ag Services Ltd
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Harvest challenges and what you can do differently
Kevin Auch Kevin Bender
Kevin Auch - Auch Farms Ltd.
Kevin Bender - Bender Farms Ltd.
Daryl Tuck
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM
Wireworm management
Wim van Herk
Dr. Wim van Herk - AAFC - Agassiz
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Pea-king” at Aphid Thresholds: When Enough is Enough
Tyler Wist
Dr. Tyler Wist - AAFC - Saskatoon
3:15 PM - 3:20 PM
3:15 PM - 3:20 PM
Closing Remarks