Living Lab Central Prairies

08/17/2026

Living Lab – Central Prairies is excited to support the Connecting Farmers conference at the start of September in P.E.I. Our very own Living Lab producer, Arlie LaRoche of Farm One Forty , will be sharing her insights on a producer panel during the event.

Can't attend in person? This is a hybrid conference, with virtual attendance available.

Register here – https://agronome.ai/connectingfarmersconference/register.html

07/15/2026

In partnership with SaskSoil , we hosted a field day at Farm One Forty, owned and operated by Living Lab – Central Prairies participants Brett and Arlie Laroche.

Throughout the day, we heard from Dr. Bart Lardner (University of Saskatchewan), Kiel Drake (Birds Canada ), Sahthi Akhter and Branimir Gjetvaj (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), and Keana Boere (Saskatchewan Agriculture).

We also had the opportunity to head into the field to see polycrops, rotational grazing paddocks, bale grazing sites, and more. Days like these remind us of the importance of knowledge sharing, collaboration, and gaining new perspectives.

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06/25/2026

🌎🌱 Every living thing contains carbon, and everything—including cattle and grasslands—are part of a carbon cycle. Raising cattle can have both positive and negative impacts on the carbon cycle and different management practices can affect the sector’s footprint.

Perennial forages and grasslands—the foundation of the cow-calf sector —can sequester between 50 and 200 tonnes of carbon per hectare below ground (in the root system) and 3 to 12 tonnes of carbon above ground (in plant growth and litter).

Learn more ⬇️
https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/beef-cattle-the-carbon-cycle-a-new-webpage/

06/15/2026

What does a truly integrated livestock-crop operation look like on the ground?

On July 7, we have partnered with SaskSoil to host a field day at Farm One Forty near Vanscoy, SK with hosts Brett and Arlie LaRoche.

You'll walk real land, hear from producers & researchers - including Dr. Bart Lardner (USask) - and come away with practical knowledge on cover crop selection, swath grazing logistics, bale grazing benefits and their impact on the soil.

🎟️ $25/person | Lunch included | Registration closes July 2.



⬇⬇⬇ Click the link to register ⬇⬇⬇

Join SaskSoil and Brett and Arlie LaRoche at Farm One Forty near Vanscoy, SK for a field day centred on the kind of livestock-crop integration that builds soil health from the ground up.

06/10/2026

Join SaskSoil and Brett and Arlie LaRoche at Farm One Forty near Vanscoy, SK for a field day centred on the kind of livestock-crop integration that...

06/10/2026

Mason Plews was a Masters student who worked on a project in collaboration with the Living Lab - Central Prairies focused on sod seeding perennials into existing forage stands to improve production. We asked Mason about his study and this is what he had to say…

06/09/2026

Save the Date!

Join us this December for two days of collaboration, learning, and networking. Registration information and a detailed agenda will be available soon.

We look forward to seeing you there!

06/08/2026

Living Lab – Central Prairies producers overseeded perennials into their existing tame pastures to improve plant species balance within the stand. This rejuvenation method was selected because it minimizes soil disturbance while allowing the land to remain in production. Both producers opted to include legumes for their nitrogen-fixing properties. Living Lab – Central Prairies producers overseeded perennials into their existing tame pastures to improve plant species balance within the stand. This rejuvenation method was selected because it minimizes soil disturbance while allowing the land to remain in production. Both producers opted to include legumes for their nitrogen-fixing properties.

06/03/2026

The primary rejuvenation method explored in Living Lab – Central Prairies was sod-seeding legumes into existing forage stands. Introducing legumes into a low-producing stand can be an effective way to improve pasture productivity and overall forage quality.

However, the success of legume establishment largely depends on the level of competition from existing vegetation. Sod seeding tends to be most effective in stands with low plant density or in pastures that have been overgrazed, where there is more opportunity for new seedlings to establish.

In our project, producers set back existing vegetation with heavy grazing, mowing, and herbicide treatments. Master’s student Mason Plews found that the highest emergence was at sites that were sprayed with herbicide – but this also reduced overall forage production in the first year following the treatment.
Mason found that fall dormant seeding may be a good compromise for getting some successful establishment of the introduced legume, and acceptable forage yields in the first year.

Our project also highlighted that outcomes can vary depending on site conditions and management practices. Producers should carefully consider which rejuvenation method best aligns with the current condition of their stand and their overall production goals.

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06/01/2026

When should you consider pasture rejuvenation?

Conducting a pasture or rangeland health assessment is the first step in determining whether a forage stand requires rejuvenation. The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) recommends that producers carry out an honest evaluation of their current management system and consider how past decisions have influenced present conditions.

Key parameters to consider include soil pH and nutrient levels, soil moisture, stocking rate, rest periods, as well as the timing and frequency of forage harvesting.

While pasture rejuvenation can significantly improve stand productivity, it is important for producers to also evaluate the economic implications before proceeding. In some cases, rejuvenation is not required and a change in grazing management or addition of soil nutrients to the land can be enough to increase productivity.