Manitoba farmers in Grosse Isle convened to explore the utilization of new technologies amidst this season’s unpredictable weather. Jacqueline Keena, CEO of Manitoba’s Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI), emphasized the escalating variability and severity of weather patterns affecting agriculture.
At EMILI’s Innovation Farms Grosse Isle site, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and agronomists gathered for Agronomy Day to delve into digital agricultural tools. The event aimed to showcase how these technologies operate in real farm settings, utilizing data and feedback to demonstrate their practical application for farmers.
Under the theme “weathering change,” the focus was on the implications of this season’s excessive rainfall on crop health and future harvests. Keena highlighted the swift adjustments made to farming plans at Rutherford Farms due to heavy rainstorms, causing significant field damage.
A key highlight was the Crop Intelligence tool, a data-driven agronomic solution that functions like a weather station capturing crucial environmental data. Leanne Koroscil, EMILI’s Innovation Farms manager, explained its soil moisture monitoring capabilities, aiding farmers in predicting crop yields early in the season.
Charles Fossay, a seasoned farmer near Starbuck and director at Keystone Agricultural Producers, praised the utility of tools like soil probes for irrigation farmers. Fossay emphasized the importance of data-driven insights in optimizing crop management practices.
EMILI’s evolution over the past decade has shifted towards demonstrating the practical benefits of artificial intelligence and new technologies for agriculture. Keena emphasized the importance of proving the value of these technologies to farmers and industry stakeholders before widespread adoption.