Senior Agri-Coach Advisors
Agri-Trend has been fortunate enough to bring together one of the most experienced, credible, and published advisor teams anywhere in North America.
The Senior Agri-Coach bench works with the Agri-Trend Network to provide technical agronomy training, diagnostic protocols and tools, high caliber keynote speaking, access to industry connections, quick answers to difficult questions, and frequent guidance on agronomy issues.
Their expertise is diverse, and between them they have more than XXX years of experience in the field.
Elston Solberg, M.Sc. Soils
President & Senior Agri-Coach™
Remediation, Manure & Fertility Specialist
Agri-Knowledge Division Manager
Elston brings over 25 years of research expertise to Agri-Trend, through his work as Head Cereal Specialist and Research Agronomist with Alberta Agriculture. In addition to his experience as a researcher at the University of Alberta, Elston also has experience in the waste management industry, including municipal and intensive livestock operations. He has authored, co-authored, and published many research papers in a wide variety of technical and industry journals, and has contributed to numerous articles throughout the ag-media sector.
Elston and his associates have raised the awareness of copper fertilization, and he is one of the world’s foremost authorities on sulphur nutrition. Mr. Solberg was instrumental in the establishment of the Crop Diagnostic Training Centre near Edmonton. He has been involved in agricultural projects throughout North America, Europe, China and Australia, and is an accomplished speaker being well received by farm and industry audiences alike.
As Head of The Agri-Knowledge Division, Elston provides leadership to our retailers (Agri-Trend Associates), consultants (Agri-Coaches) and farm clients by:
• overseeing the agronomic integrity of all Strategic Crop Plan™ recommendations
• providing internal and external training through The Agri-Training Solution™
• managing The Agri-Trend Research Initiative™, and
• developing Agri-Knowledge Tools for Strategic Crop Plan farm clients and Agri-Coaches
Well known plant pathologist, Dr. Ieuan Evans, offers his vast agronomic expertise to the ag industry through Agri-Trend Agrology and its Agri-Coach Network™.
Along with associates such as Elston Solberg, he is probably best know as “Dr. Copper” for studying, documenting and speaking about the relationship of copper nutrition on reducing ergot, frost bran, melanosis and lodging in cereals. His research papers document the early work done on dual purpose seed treatments, sclerotina and alternaria controls in canola, influence of sulphur nutrition on crop health, and he played an instrumental role in resolving the bacterial ring rot issue in seed potato production in Canada.
He is well known nationally and internationally for his love of horticulture and is the developer of the popular “Evans Cherry”.
Ieuan has adopted a strong pro-active approach to solving problems faced by today’s farmers. He incepted, developed and implemented black leg, bacterial ring rot and dutch elm disease control protocols, and most recently is involved in the fusarium head blight program. He is an expert plant disease photographer and is a hard-hitting, yet humorous key note speaker that is extremely well received by farm and industry audiences.
Dr. Evans’ undergraduate work in chemistry and soil science was done at the University of Wales with his graduate and Ph.D. being granted at the University of Florida. He has been involved in projects throughout North America, including a 5 ½ year term as faculty member and assistant professor at the University of Guelph.Agri-Coach
As Senior Agri-Coach™, Dr. Evans provides leadership to the Agri-Coach Network™ and will be available to the industry through contract or special projects. He is actively involved in providing technical expertise for Strategic Crop Plan™ farm clients and plays a role in directing the activities of The Agri-Trend Research Initiative™.
Phil Thomas, is highly recognized in western Canada by agri-businesses, farmers, researchers, oilseed crushers and exporters for his extensive technical knowledge on all aspects of oilseed crop production. An Olds College graduate, Phil went on to receive his B.Sc. in Agriculture as well as his Masters in Plant Breeding from the University of Alberta.
Until August 2001, Mr. Thomas, served as the Provincial Oilseed Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development with responsibilities for oilseed technology transfer. He was responsible for the development, implementation, co-ordination and administration research and technology transfer programs in oilseed production. Mr. Thomas advised the oilseed industry (producers, researchers, processors, commodity groups, government staff, agri-business and individuals) on oilseed production. His experience is internationally recognized. He has served as a consultant for: CIDA projects in India; the North American Trade Express Inc. in Sri Lanka; Mitsubishi in China, and the Rockefeller Foundation & White Eagle Industries in Poland.
As a Senior Agri-Coach, Phil provides leadership to the Agri-Coaches and technical expertise for The Strategic Crop Plan farm clients. As well, he plays a role in directing the activities of The Agri-Trend Research Initiative.Agri-Coach
Along with his personal strengths and experience in strategic planning, research project appraisals, and technology transfer programs, Phil is one of the industry's best diagnosticians. His experience will be a tremendous asset, strengthening the support that Agri-Trend can offer its farm, agronomist and retail clients.
After obtaining his Ph.D. in Plant Biochemistry and Physiology from the University of Alberta, Bill worked for nearly 30 years with Monsanto Canada in a field research position. His experience with Monsanto included travel across Western Canada conducting research work, authoring and co-authoring of 12 peer reviewed scientific papers, and presentation of his reserach results in several countries such as: Australia, The United States of America and the former Soviet Union.
Dr. Hamman demonstrates a thorough understanding of agronomy through these 30 plus years of research experience with Monsanto in herbicides, biotechnology and crop production practices in wheat, barley, canola, and numerous specialty crops. All of this was applied in the field on the technical development of Roundup, Avadex, Fortress and Sundance herbicides, as well as trouble shooting technical performance problems in commercial situations. Bill was project manager for the development of various herbicides, including Fortress and Sundance. In addition, he was a key contributor to registration of Roundup Ready canola and Roundup Ready corn in Canada.
Bill also has 4 years of experience as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge, where he conducted greenhouse and field research studies on specialty crop production.
Dr. Hamman has been recognized for his achievements with Monsanto by being presented the Global Distinguished Development Award, an unprecedented, 3 times. His industrial and academic peers honored him further with the presentation of the Outstanding Industry Member Award for the Canadian Weed Science Society in 2001.
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Bill has an outstanding reputation for his ability to teach, present and discuss topics with an audience of peers, students, farmers or scientists, and as a result, he has instructed the Pesticide Application Course to provincial pesticide applicators numerous times and is now the main instructor for the courses on pesticide application being offered by Agri-Trend Agrology.
Michael Dolinski, M.Sc. Entomology, M.P.M.
Senior Agri-Coach™
Entomology & Organic Agriculture Specialist
Doug brings over 40 years of experience to Agri-Trend through his research and extension work with Alberta Agriculture and International Development Agencies. Since retiring from Alberta Agriculture in 1999, he has continued to work as a soil and crop consultant on nutrient management and environmental issues such as land application of sewage sludge and manure, and soil quality monitoring projects. Doug has authored and co-authored many research papers and extension publications, as well as having presented papers at international symposia. He has worked and been the lead consultant on international development projects in Africa, China and North Korea.
Doug has worked closely with researchers at the University of Alberta, Ag. Canada and colleagues in Alberta Agriculture on many issues related to improving soil productivity and crop nutrition, including:
• Soil acidity and liming
• Improving N, P and K soil tests
• Diagnosis and correction of copper deficiency
• Development and evaluation of nutrient and yield mapping methods and GPS/GIS technology for Precision FarmingAgri-Coach
As a Senior Agri-Coach for Agri-Trend, Doug is looking forward to working with former colleagues, Agri-Trend Associates and farmers. His wide range of experience will add to Agri-Trend's strong technical expertise. Through his recent work in Precision Farming, soil quality and nutrient monitoring projects, Doug has developed important new insights into the special variablility of soil nutrient and other soil properties. This information can lead to improved sampling methods and better interpretation of soil test results.
Mike brings 30 years of expertise in entomology extension and integrated pest management along with 10 years of organic production, marketing, and industry development to Agri-Trend after retiring in mid-July from his roles as Provincial Entomologist and Organic Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development. In addition to his ongoing role as Provincial Entomologist, he was also responsible for, laboratory diagnostics and research services, apiculture, plant pathology and vertebrate pest management programs, including the rat control program keeping Alberta rat free. As the first Provincial Organic Specialist in Canada, he was responsible for developing programs to increase awareness of organic agriculture at the government consumer levels, and expand business opportunities for organic producers and processors. He was also very involved in development of National Organic Standards and national and provincial industry infrastructures.
Mike has a B.Sc. and Master’s in Entomology from the University of Manitoba, and a Master’s in Pest Management from Simon Fraser University. He has been Chairman of both the Expert Committee on Pest Management and Canada Committee on Crops providing leadership in crop and pest management at the National level. In 2000, he Chaired a World Organic Conference in London, U.K.
Mike has a long history of commitment to extension and training of farmers relative to insect pest management and pesticide safety. Michael is a team player and has been involved in development of many field training programs, and written extension articles individually or in collaboration with his provincial and federal colleagues in Western Canada. He was instrumental in developing and co-authoring the Alberta Critical Pest Response Plan which integrates federal and provincial agencies under one plan to deal with future critical pest incidents. Additionally, he has co-authored 10 scientific papers covering stored grain insects, pheromones, grasshoppers, and Lygus bugs.
From a business perspective, Mike owned and operated a custom alfalfa pollination business providing custom pollination in central Alberta and leafcutter bee marketing services into the USA. His personal interest in leafcutter bees has allowed him to assist Alberta alfalfa producers improve both management of pests in alfalfa and leafcutter bees.Agri-Coach
As Senior Agri-Coach, Mike looks forward to working closely with farmers and Agri-Coaches in the field and provides leadership to the Agri-Coach Network in entomology, organic agriculture. He is actively involved in providing technical expertise for Strategic Crop Plan farm clients and development of training programs related to crop health improvement.
Dr. M. Paul Sharma, P.Ag.
Senior Agri-Coach™
Weed Scientist, Herbicide Diagnostic Specialist & Plant Physiologist
Dr. Bailey has over 40 years of experience in agronomic research and management, including – crop nutrition and crop and soil management, fertilizer use technology (N, P, K, S, micronutrients, as well as, the management of heavy metals such as cadmium). He has worked with the nutrition and management of cereals, oilseeds, corn, pulses, forage crops – legumes and grasses and pasture management. Loraine has also worked on the environmental assessment of soils for agricultural use and for disposal of agricultural wastes.
Loraine is credited for the development, or participating in the development, of technology for improved yield and quality of forage legumes, particularly alfalfa. This includes: harvest scheduling; placement of phosphate fertilizer to improve use efficiency with crops such as flax, canola and beans; technology to improve N use efficiency such as the use of N-Serve and Agrotain; potassium nutrition of annual and perennial crops on prairie soils; sulphur nutrition of canola, perennial legumes and pulse crops; rhizobium inoculation of legumes – including peas, beans and soybeans; manure management on pastures, and management of soil and crops to mitigate uptake of the heavy metal cadmium.
Dr. Bailey has authored and co-authored over 100 Scientific & Technical Publications and over 180 extension publications. Through either invitation or of his own accord, Loraine has given presentations at over 200 national and international meetings and conferences, including North America, Australia, Europe, China, India, Scandinavia and South America. In addition, he has authored and co-authored several chapters in a variety of books. Dr. Bailey has served as editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Science and Editor in Chief of the scientific Journals published by the Agricultural Institute of Canada. He has reviewed scientific and technical articles for publication in North American and international agronomic journals, a task he still does.Agri-Coach
Loraine has received several honours and awards from his societies and from other international agencies for his research and extension work. Currently, he is a consulting Agronomist and Research Coordinator for the Manitoba Corn Growers Association in Carman, Manitoba.
Dr. Sharma brings to Agri-Trend over 35 years of research and extension experience in weed management and herbicides in Alberta. He is an expert in the area of chemical damage diagnosis to crops/vegetation including legal cases, and herbicide behavior and residues in plants and soil.
Dr. Sharma worked for 23 years at the Alberta research council (ARC) in Vegreville as a Research Scientist including Senior Research Manager for 15 years. At ARC, he lead a well recognized multi-disciplinary program in Crop and Pest Management with over 50 scientists and technologists in the field of agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, weed science and plant biotechnology. In 1997, he established new capabilities and facilities in Plant biotechnology and pest biocontrol at ARC.
Prior to joining ARC in 1981, Paul worked as a research scientist/associate at the Agriculture Canada Centre, Lethbridge and the University of Alberta for 10 years. He has written and published extensively scientific refereed journal papers, client reports and abstracts in conference proceedings. He has presented his researcAgri-Coachh findings at numerous scientific conferences, extension meetings, training courses and field days.
Dr. Sharma has been an active member of the Alberta Weed Advisory Committee including its Chairman for two years, National Expert Committee on Weeds, and Alberta Standing Committee on Pesticides.
Jeff previously worked at the University of Alberta, managing the Ellerslie Research Station and Breton Plots for 22 years. He taught GIS, GPS, surveying and photogrammetry in the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics.
Currently, Jeff lives in Berlin, Germany where he is the Editor of an international geospatial magazine, in addition to being Senior Agri-Coach. Jeff has a strong understanding of international geospatial technology directions and has interviewed/reported on numerous international leaders in the GIS, GPS and spatial information field. He has reviewed most of the world's leading geospatial products.
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Jeff's expertise and knowledge in the geospatial field are widely recognised and he brings international knowledge and perspectives to Agri-Trend's mapping and spatial information developments. His knowledge in linking geospatial technologies to agriculture practices and decision making systems, provides Agri-Trend with leading edge solutions in the GIS, GPS and mapping areas as they relate to agriculture.
Dr. Hume grew up on a grain, dairy and apple farm in southern Ontario and his 4-H and Junior Farmer background launched him to degrees at Guelph and a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in agronomy. He has over 40 years of experience in management agronomy, particularly in soybeans, canola, corn and cropping systems. He put the system together that allowed soybeans to expand across Ontario in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, including improved varieties, herbicides, inoculants and seeding equipment. He has been a faculty member at the University of Guelph since 1966 and retired as a faculty member on Sept. 1, 2005. His research areas have included the physiology of corn yield, management of corn, soybeans and wheat in rotations, conventional vs. no-till and organic management, effects of compost on soil nutrient levels, weed control in organic systems, soybean inoculants, nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and soybean and white bean seed treatments, growth regulators and varieties. In canola, he has extensive experience with yield, crushing quality, insect and disease control, herbicides, winter survival in winter canola and the effect of canola on subsequent crops in the rotation.
Dave served for 16 years as the secretary of the Ontario Oil and Protein Seed Crop Committee, which supports registration of new varieties of soybeans and canola. He has also been the coordinator of registration testing of spring and winter canola varieties and hybrids for the past 23 years. His other appointments include Chair of the Crop Science Department for 6 years as well as Executive Director of the OMAF contract for the University of Guelph and Acting Associate Vice President of the University for Agri-Food and Partnerships for a total of 6 years.
Dr. Hume has been the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and over 180 extension publications. He and his students have made presentations at over 200 national or international meetings and conferences and co-authored 8 chapters in books. He has consulted on agronomy in Africa, the Caribbean, Russia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and China. Dr. Hume also has served as an Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Plant Science and the Agronomy Journal.
Dave has received several Honours and Awards. He is a Fellow of four different scientific societies, the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, the Agricultural Institute of Canada and the Canadian Society of Agronomy. He has been the recipient of the Outstanding Extension Award from theAgri-Coach Ontario Agricultural College. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Canadian Seed Growers Association and the Ontario Canola Growers Association and holds Plant Breeder status with the Canadian Seed Growers Association. He also currently serves as the Bioproducts Coordinator for the University of Guelph, working on the development of new, non-food markets for agricultural products.
Tracy Preete grew-up on the family farm in the Melfort area before attending the University of Saskatchewan where he obtained a BSc and MSc in Crop Science. Tracy has over 15 years experience in agronomic research, technology transfer and agribusiness.
His experience includes research with pesticide efficacy and crop tolerance, crop genetic variability and legume inoculant application technology. Tracy has teaching experience, has written soil fertility extension materials and provided agronomic training to fertilizer agents and staff.
Tracy has a strong retail agribusiness background. He developed a reputation for making sound agronomic recommendations in cereal, oilseed and pulse crops by applying his education, training, in-field experience and product knowledge. Recommendations and management strategies regarding soil fertility and crop nutrition, pest management, disease diagnostics and control are also some of his related experiences.
In addition to developing crop production strategies, Tracy has investigated performance concerns with various pesticide products and their application, the application of fertilizer products, legume inoculant performance, seed germination and seedling vigor.
Tracy is a Professional Agrologist and a member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. He resides in the Regina area and is currently providing consulting services in Southern Saskatchewan.
Doug is excited to bring his over 25 years of experience in livestock nutrition and management to Agri-Trend. After growing up on a livestock and fruit farm in Ontario’s Niagara Peninsula, he attended the University of Guelph where he obtained B.Sc.(Agr) and Ph.D. degrees. He also obtained an M.S. from Purdue University in Indiana.
After beginning his career in the feed industry as a nutritionist, where he launched the first on farm ration balancing program for dairy cattle, Doug has also worked in the areas of animal health and forage production and utilization. This has lead to his involvement in the launching of several animal health and forage products to Canadian producers. He has also lead development of new technologies such as the use of vitamins to prevent diseases and the use of corn for grazing in western Canada.
Doug has traveled widely in North America and worked with producers across Canada. He has given informative presentations in every province of Canada except Newfoundland, and written extensively for several farm publications.
Involvement in the Ontario Institute of Agrologists (OIA) has reflected Doug’s commitment to the profession of Agrology. Doug served as President of OIA from 2005 to 2007.
Kabal has about 35 years of experience comprised of research, training, consulting, and assessment of research projects in western Canada and other countries. He has worked with a diverse range of soils, crops, climate conditions in regional, national and international organizations. In addition to working in agriculture field, he worked as a Technical Advisor in the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SRED) program of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to review the SRED projects by private industry for grant of tax credits or cash refunds and is currently providing consulting services to a wide range of innovators to claim the SRED tax credits and cash refunds.
Kabal has authored and co-authored research papers, review articles, reports, presentations, and extension publications, adding to more than 100. He has taught soils, crops, environment and waste management courses at post secondary institutions in western Canada and abroad. His consulting clients include researchers and innovators in agriculture and other industries.
He looks forward to assisting Agri-Coaches, through the Agri-Trend Network, in helping their farm clients to succeed by maximizing their production and profits using best scientific techniques in an environmentally friendly manner, and the private industry innovators to realize their full potential by optimizing the tax credits/cash refunds.
Warren Bills was raised on his family grain farm near Marwayne, AB before earning his Bachelors Degree in Agriculture from the University of Alberta. Warren has completed terms with the U of A Crop Research Unit, BASF, and Agricore United and worked as a Territory Manager for John Deere Application Equipment in Southern Alberta. Warren is in the business of assisting Agri-Coaches, producers, and retailers with any leading edge precision technology and data management needs they may have for better on-farm decision making. Warren’s experience and enthusiasm in precision agriculture and spatial data management has proved valuable for today’s agriculture industry. His experience includes spatial data management, variable rate technologies, GIS, agriculture data analyzations, remote sensing in agriculture, and GPS equipment technologies. Warren was involved in the team who developed the Precision Management Process™ and has presented to industry at local and regional events in Western Canada regarding this process and related technologies.
Warren is an active member with the Alberta Institute of Agrology and the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association and currently resides in Calgary, AB.
