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💬 AgSmart 2024

💬 AgSmart 2024

Tech to Compliment Traditional Farming

July 22, 2024

Good Morning. Rain and clouds will move east across northern areas today, with showers developing later. In other areas, after a cloudy morning, skies will clear, bringing warm and sunny spells. Tomorrow and Wednesday will be drier and brighter with more sunshine, making it feel warmer, especially in the south.

In todays email:

AgSmart 2024: Revolutionizing Farming with Technology and Data.
Drones Can Enhance Traditional Farming Methods.
England's farming incomes drops by £1 billion in 2023.

AgSmart 2024: Revolutionizing Farming with Technology and Data

AgSmart takes place this year from July 30-31.

AgSmart 2024 is tailored for today's farmers, offering the tools and knowledge to succeed in a competitive agricultural environment. Join us on July 30 and 31 at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of AgSmart, and it promises to be the biggest and best yet. The event is an excellent opportunity to explore the latest in agricultural technology and data-driven farming.

AgSmart focuses on innovation, demonstration, and education in an outdoor conference-style format. Attendees can look forward to over 100 interactive exhibits, live demos of drones and field-scale equipment, expert-led educational sessions, and various special events.

“We’re excited to welcome producers and industry professionals to our 5th-anniversary event,” says Stacy Felkar, co-manager of AgSmart. “As the industry evolves, AgSmart is the perfect platform to showcase advancements in agricultural technology.”

The expo features more than 40 educational sessions covering topics like genomic tools, controlled environment agriculture, and integrating technology and data into traditional farming. Attendees will also learn about the Smart Farm and its projects through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.

This year, AgSmart is hosting Alberta Crop Diagnostics Day on July 31, in collaboration with Alberta Grains, Alberta Pulse Growers, and Alberta Canola. This event includes informative sessions and demonstration plots showcasing pulses, grains, and canola, providing the latest agronomic information to producers and agronomists.

On July 30 at 11 a.m., Seed World Canada’s Marc Zienkiewicz will moderate a panel discussion titled "A Technological Time Machine: How Modern Techniques Will Bring You New Seed Faster." Experts will discuss genetic research, the rapid development of new seed varieties, and the benefits for producers.

Panellists include:

Jeremy Boychyn, Director of Research Agronomy & Extension, Alberta Grains
Lori Oatway, Research Scientist — Quality, Western Crop Innovations (WCI)
Jennifer Zantinge, Research Scientist — Biotechnology, WCI
Russell Wildeman, Seed Grower and Board Member, Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers

Tickets for AgSmart 2024 start at $45 plus applicable taxes and fees. For a full schedule and more details, visit AgSmartOlds.ca.

Drones Can Enhance Traditional Farming Methods

A company specializing in agricultural drones, AutoSpray Systems, emphasizes that its technology is not meant to compete with traditional farming methods but to complement them.

AutoSpray Systems has been developing drone use in farming for five years, and managing director Rob Pearson says the technology is "starting to take off."

Drones offer benefits such as preserving soil structure and accessing fields during wet weather. However, there are still limitations on using drones to spray pesticides.

Mr. Pearson explained, "Everything grows in the soil, which is the farmer's most valuable asset. Tractors can compact and crush the ground, damaging the soil." AutoSpray Systems begins by mapping the field, and the drone determines the most efficient way to apply seed or spray.

"This isn't here to compete with tractors," Pearson said. "When fields are wet, tractors can't enter without causing compaction and crop damage."

Using drones is a low-carbon and cost-effective alternative to tractors. "Last year, during a very wet harvest period, drones allowed farmers to plant the next crop three weeks before harvest, effectively extending their growing season by a month."

Jeremy Buxton of Eves Hill Farm in Booton, Norfolk, started using drones after seeing AutoSpray Systems featured on the BBC's Countryfile. He found that drones caused minimal soil disturbance and allowed for a "living root" to be established in the soil before harvest.

"We work hard to improve soil structure and biology," Buxton said. "With a drone, there's no soil impact from compaction or movement. I love regenerative farming; we work with nature rather than against it."

While there are benefits, current restrictions prevent drones from spraying pesticides typically used by farmers. However, Mr. Pearson is hopeful that these restrictions will change within the next 18 months.