Amid the unpredictable weather this season, Manitoba farmers convened in Grosse Isle to explore the potential of new technologies in safeguarding their harvests and adapting to extreme weather conditions. Jacqueline Keena, CEO of the Manitoba-based non-profit EMILI, highlighted the escalating variability and severity of weather patterns this year.
The organization hosted Agronomy Day at EMILI’s Innovation Farms Grosse Isle site, uniting industry experts, entrepreneurs, farmers, and agronomists to delve into digital agricultural tools. The event aimed to showcase the practical application of these technologies on a real farm, utilizing data and feedback to assist farmers in integrating these innovations on their own farms.
The central theme of this year’s event was “weathering change,” focusing on the implications of the unusually wet weather on crop health and future harvests. Keena shared how their farming plans had to swiftly adapt during a sudden deluge in June, causing significant damage to fields at the 5,500-acre Rutherford Farms site.
A key highlight of the event was the discussion around Crop Intelligence, a data-driven agronomic tool resembling a weather station that collects crucial information on precipitation, temperature, and environmental conditions. Leanne Koroscil, Innovation Farms manager at EMILI, explained how this tool, coupled with a soil probe, aids in predicting crop yield and making informed management decisions earlier in the season.
Charles Fossay, a veteran farmer near Starbuck and director at Keystone Agricultural Producers, emphasized the practicality of tools like the soil probe, particularly for irrigation farmers. Despite the abundance of data available, Fossay underscored the value of such innovations in optimizing crop management and yield estimation.
Reflecting on EMILI’s evolution over the past decade, Keena noted a significant shift towards recognizing the pivotal role of artificial intelligence and new technologies in agriculture. The focus now lies in showcasing the tangible benefits of these technologies for farmers like Fossay and encouraging their adoption in farming practices.
Keena emphasized the importance of validating these technologies at a full scale before farmers make adoption decisions, acknowledging the multitude of tasks farmers juggle and the need for proven utility in integrating new technologies on their farms.