Prairie Pothole Region

Restored wet areas show strong forage potential on marginal farmland

Pilot study suggests low-lying, flood-prone areas can generate forage value while reducing risk

By Rob Cornforth and Linda Browne June 18, 2026

Across the Canadian Prairies, many farms include low-lying or flood-prone areas that are difficult to crop. These patches often suffer from poor crop establishment, high weed pressure and inconsistent yields, resulting in low or even negative returns when planted to annual crops.

A pilot study led by Olds College, with support from Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and Farm Credit Canada, suggests a better alternative for wet marginal areas: when restored and seeded to forage, they can produce meaningful yields and contribute economic value to farm operations.

Study overview and key results

The study focused on low-lying sites in southern Alberta that are prone to periodic flooding and salinity. These areas were seeded to forage in spring 2024, and forage production was measured during the 2025 growing season under near-average weather conditions.

Across all sites, forage yields averaged about 3.2 tonnes per acre, with a range of two to five tonnes depending on conditions.

“I was surprised at how much forage these areas can produce,” says Samuel Robinson, researcher with DUC’s Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research. “Other restored sites, particularly dry or eroded ones, tend to produce much less. These wet, low-lying areas performed much closer to provincial averages.”

What researchers observed

Strong production in wet areas
Yields were highest on wetter sites and, in some cases, comparable to typical forage production in Alberta.
Moderate to high forage quality
Forage quality was suitable for beef cattle production across most sites.
Distinct soil conditions
Soils often showed higher carbon levels and good nutrient holding capacity. Researchers note this likely reflects wet, low-oxygen conditions that slow decomposition, not only the restoration practice.
Lower phosphorus levels
Some sites had lower phosphorus, which may influence long-term management decisions.
Flexible harvest timing
Forage retained value even when harvested later in the season.

Forage trial site near Olds, Alta., examining the production of different forage varieties in wet/saline areas. © Daniel Steffner

Important considerations

This was a one-year pilot focused specifically on wet, low-lying marginal areas. Results should not be generalized to all marginal farmland, particularly dry or eroded sites, which typically yield less. Weather conditions in 2025 were close to average, suggesting yields were not driven by unusually good weather.

Farmers know their land best, but restoring poorly performing wet areas to forage may offer a practical way to reduce risk, manage weeds and recover some economic return.

Why it matters

Marginal areas are common across Prairie farms and often reduce overall field efficiency. Converting these areas to forage can help improve whole-field performance while making use of land that consistently underperforms in annual cropping systems.

This study helps quantify the forage potential of wet marginal areas and suggests that, in the right conditions, they can contribute both economically and operationally.

Looking ahead

Further research across multiple seasons and site types will help determine how consistent these results are, particularly under more variable weather conditions. Future work will also explore how forage production performs on other types of marginal land, including dry and eroded areas, which were not included in this study.

Additional research may examine broader benefits such as biodiversity and carbon storage.

Help your best acres deliver more with MAP.

Learn about our Marginal Area Programs in Canada

Learn more

Read These Stories Next

Landowners, Prairie Pothole Region, Wetlands