Vern Baron, Ph. D.

Image Vern Baron
Research Scientist

Research in forage crop physiology, management and grazing; interests in extending the grazing and growing season, greenhouse gas emission in the forage beef system and adaptation of forage crops and grazing systems to climate change.

Current research and/or projects

  • Determine the impact of managed intensive grazing and crop type on pasture production and environmental sustainability through studies on: 1) nutrient supplies under summer and stockpiled pasture; 2) impact of managed intensive grazing and N-amendments
  • Extending the grazing season through studies on: 1) weathering effects on yield and quality of dormant grasses; 2) winter weathering effects on corn grown for grazing; and 3) swath grazing dynamics of beef cows during winter
  • Reduce the business risk for the feedlot industry found in backgrounding beef cattle by optimizing pasture beef production systems

Key publications

  1. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Baron, V., Thériault, M., Rocher, S., Asselin. S. 2023. Evaluation of alfalfa populations selected for reduced fall dormancy in a frequent cutting trial. 35th EUCARPIA FCAG Section Conference, September 10-14 2023, Brno, Czech Republic.

    2023 - View publication details

  2. Machado, P. V. F., Lemke, R. L., Alemu, A. W., Baron, V. S., Farrell, R. E., Iwaasa, A. D., Liang, B. C., Schoenau, J. Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Grazing Animal Excreta in Pastures under Dry Climate. In: CSSS 2023 – Soils go Digital! June 25 – 30. Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.

    2023 - View publication details

  3. Bertrand, A. 2023. Évaluation au champ de populations de luzerne tolérantes au gel sélectionnées pour un niveau de dormance moins élevé. Journée d'information scientifique sur les bovins laitiers et les plantes fourragères. 8 février 2023, Drummondville, QC. CRAAQ [présentation orale]

    2023 - View publication details

  4. Bertrand, A. Claessens, A., Thériault, M., Lajeunesse, J., Rocher, S., and Baron, V. 2022. Field Assessment of Alfalfa Populations Selected for Low Dormancy Within Winter-Hardy Cultivars. 2022 Joint Conference
    NAAIC, Trifolium, & Grass Breeders, June 7-9, 2022, Lansing, MI, USA.

    2022 - View publication details

  5. Guyader, J., Baron, V.S., Beauchemin, K.A. (2021). Effect of harvesting corn after frost in alberta (Canada) on whole-plant yield, nutritive value, and kernel properties. Agronomy, [online] 11(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11030459

    2021 - View publication details

  6. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Lajeunesse, J. and Baron, V.S. 2020. Risks and opportunities for alfalfa production in northern latitudes. Invited talk, Adaptation of forages to Climate Change. ASA/CSSA/SSSA Annual Meeting Virtual Phoenix.

    2020 - View publication details

  7. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Baron, V., Rocher, S., McCartney, D. Creating cold-tolerant alfalfa. Canadian Cattlemen. April 2020.

    2020 - View publication details

  8. Bertrand, A., Claessens, A., Bourassa, J., Rocher, S., Baron, V.S. (2020). A Whole-Plant Screening Test to Select Freezing-Tolerant and Low-Dormant Genotypes, 2156 53-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0660-5_6

    2020 - View publication details

  9. Aboagye, I.A., Baron, V.S., Oba, M., Guyader, J., Beauchemin, K.A. (2019). In vitro degradation and methane production of short-season corn hybrids harvested before or after a light frost. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, [online] 99(4), 741-753. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2018-0188

    2019 - View publication details

  10. Miorin, R.L., Holtshausen, L., Baron, V., Beauchemin, K.A. (2018). In situ rumen degradation of kernels from short-season corn silage hybrids as affected by processing. Translational Animal Science, [online] 2(4), 428-438. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/tas/txy084

    2018 - View publication details

  11. Guyader, J., Baron, V.S., Beauchemin, K.A. (2018). Corn forage yield and quality for silage in short growing season areas of the canadian prairies. Agronomy, [online] 8(9), http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8090164

    2018 - View publication details

  12. A. Bertrand, A. Claessens, S. Rocher, V. Baron. Breeding alfalfa for cold tolerance and low dormancy. Présentation orale au 11th International Plant Growth Hardiness Conference (IPCHS), Wisconsin, USA

    2018 - View publication details

  13. Lyu, D., Doce, R.R., Juskiw, P., Zhou, G., Baron, V.S. (2018). Diverse grain-filling dynamics affect harvest management of forage barley and triticale cultivars. Agronomy Journal, [online] 110(3), 1017-1027. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/agronj2017.09.0549

    2018 - View publication details

  14. Alemu, A.W., Janzen, H.H., Little, S., Hao, X.Y., Thompson, D.J., Baron, V., Iwaasa, A., Beauchemin, K.A., Kröbel, R., 2017. Assessment of grazing management on farm greenhouse gas intensity of beef production systems in the Canadian Prairies using life cycle assessment. Agricultural Systems 158, 1-13

    2017 - View publication details

  15. Christie, B. C., Baron, V. S., Young, D., Ohama, A. J., Schellenberg, M., Bertrand, A., and Claessens, A. Genetic relationships between winter-hardy alfalfa varieties. Poster presentation. Cow-Forage Gentec Tour. August 22, 2017. Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Lacombe, AB.

    2017 - View publication details

  16. Christie, B. C., Baron, V. S., Young, D., Ohama, A. J., Schellenberg, M., Bertrand, A., and Claessens, A. Relationship between late season plant height and winter hardiness in alfalfa. Poster presentation. Cow-Forage Gentec Tour. August 22, 2017. Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Lacombe, AB.

    2017 - View publication details

  17. Christie, B. C., Baron, V. S., Young, D., Ohama, A. J., Schellenberg, M., Bertrand, A., and Claessens, A. Selection for summer growth and late fall dormancy in different alfalfa varieties. Poster presentation. Cow-Forage Gentec Tour. August 22, 2017. Lacombe Research and Development Centre. Lacombe, AB.

    2017 - View publication details

  18. Claessens, A. Baron, V., Bertrand, A., Lajeunesse, J. Schellenberg, M. 2017.Prolongation de la productivité des pâturages en fin de saison. Tournée plantes fourragères du CRAAQ. Saint Augustin, 31 mai 2017.

    2017 - View publication details

  19. Hu, N., Flesch, T.K., Wilson, J.D., Baron, V.S., Basarab, J.A. (2016). Refining an inverse dispersion method to quantify gas sources on rolling terrain. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, [online] 225 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.05.007

    2016 - View publication details

  20. Thivierge, M.-N., Jégo, G., Bélanger, G., Bertrand, A., Tremblay, G.F., Baron, V., Rotz, C.A., and Qian, B. 2016. Forage crop yield and nutritive value under climate change in Canada. Proceedings of the 26th European Grassland Federation General Meeting, Trondheim, Norway, August 4–8, 2016. In Grassland Science in Europe, vol. 21, pp. 826–828.

    2016 - View publication details

Research facility

6000 C and E Trail
Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1
Canada

Expertise

Language

English