The Lakeland Agricultural Research Association (LARA) conducts agricultural research and extension programs in order to achieve a profitable and sustainable future for producers.



Our region includes:   Lac La Biche County       M.D. of Bonnyville     County of St. Paul

LARA serves an area of 24,300 km² with a population of 16, 722 (1991 census), with some contract work being done outside of the M.D. boundaries. Most of the area covered by LARA is very dependent on agriculture and agricultural related activities. The area covered by LARA is within the Sand River soil sheet, with the extreme west end being covered by the Tawatinaw soil sheet. The majority of soils in the area are grey wooded or dark grey wooded.

Mixed farming is the most common type of production and livestock plays a major role in the northeast, with the majority of the farms being first or second generation. Figure 1 shows the average farm of producers who attended our meetings. The average farm size is about 1482 acres with 463 acres of that being bush or unimproved pasture.

Of the land in LARA's region, use is as follows:

Bush Pasture:  31.2%          Cereals:  16.5%                Pulse Crops: 0.4%
Pasture:  22.4%                   Oilseeds:  4.6%                Summerfallow: 2.6%
Hay:  22.2%                        


Number of producers with land in the following:

Hay:  84.9                                Oilseed:  37.3                   Pulse:  7.1
Bush Pasture:  65.1                 Fallow:  34.9                    Pasture 8.1
Cereals:  71.4                         


Main sources of farm income:

Beef:  83.3                               Crops:  38.9                      Hogs:  8.7                      Other:  4.3


When calves are marketed:

Weaning:  83.3                        Backgrounded:  29.7      
Heavy Feeders:  19.5              Breeding stock:  7.8
Finished:  4.7