TransAlta Utilities has always believed that finding solutions to reclamation problems must identify the most economical and technically feasible methods. A range of research related programs have been in effect since the early 1970's at both the Whitewood and Highvale mines. I will briefly describe the scope of these projects and a few notes on the results obtained to date. Trials with alfalfa, barley and various rates of fertilizers have been set up to determine if fertilizer is really essential for the successful growth and production of cereal crops at Whitewood. The results have shown that, although fertilizer can give extremely high yields, the self-sustaining nature of the soil is far greater if alfalfa is rotated with the barley crop , preferably on a seven year basis with five years of alfalfa and two of barley .