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Farming Smarter

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Check Out All the Things We Do!

Agronomy Research Program

We change the way people farm through experimentation and collaboration

Field Tested Program

We change the way people farm through grounded on-farm innovation

Commercial Innovation Program

We change the way people farm by delivering unbiased trusted results

Knowledge & Network Program

We change the way people farm with enriching and interactive learning experiences

Strategic Plan

We apply, adapt, and encourage adoption of innovative crop technologies and management practices that make farming successful while sustaining environmental, social and economic health.

Each year, we dedicate a day to our strategic plan with all our board and staff members present to discuss the outlined goals and actions to achieve. 

We always keep an eye on the short, medium, and long-term goal of the organization while reviewing its immediate past. This keeps our strategic plan on course and allows for leaps forward or direction changes if necessary. 

View the Full Strategic Plan



A trusted driver of innovation

To keep farmers competitive in a complex and dynamic environment

Innovation drives us, not profit. This makes us a trusted source for regional adaptation of profitable and resilient crops, cropping systems and agronomic practices. Farming Smarter instills a culture of innovation and takes a bottom-up approach that is gritty, practical, and achievable. As a flexible and responsive organization, we take chances, break the rules, and encourage failure so we can learn. We adapt and excel at innovation development and adoption.  This is crucial to keep farmers competitive and viable in a complex and dynamic environment.

Innovators can rest easy knowing we scan the world for new and old ideas that may apply locally. When they turn to us, they are confident our information is grounded and relevant. We love agriculture and offer our community informative, safe, and enjoyable experiences. They feel part of a diverse community who enjoy learning, networking, and bouncing ideas off each other. 

Innovation is hard and about long-term results. We invite anyone interested in agriculture innovation to work with us and together we can change the way people farm.



A Canadian Charity

Created by farmers for farmers

Farming smarter charity staff


Farming Smarter is a policy governed, non-profit organization with by-laws under the Alberta Societies Act. It is also a Canadian Charity registered under Canada Revenue Agency. Our projects and programs access funds from numerous sources including research grants, foundations, industry, partners, and all levels of government.

The Farming Smarter Board of Directors operate under the Carver method of policy governance and take fiscal responsibility for the organization. The Farming Smarter by-laws state we must have, “no less than half of the Board being primary producers.” Currently, our board is more than 50% farmers.


DonateBOARD OF DIRECTORS


Long-term
and dedicated staff

Professional team with extensive skills

Farming Smarter succeeds because our people bring knowledge, skills, and personality to all we do! A team of full-time staff with diverse educations and backgrounds push the organization forward.

They supervise and train the next generation as we hire 10-15 summer, practicum, and intern students each year. Seven of our staff members have an average of 10 years with us. We’re a tight knit group that enjoys working together, solving problems, and sharing laughs.

Get to know us!

Dedicated staff


Founded in Southern Alberta

A family learning tradition for some

A family learning tradition


Farming Smarter is a grassroots, farm focused, agriculture innovation driver. Founded in 2012 from the amalgamation of the Southern Applied Research Association (SARA, 1994) and the Southern Alberta Conservation Association (SACA, 1990). 

Farming Smarter and its parent organizations played a pivotal role in shaping the agricultural landscape in southern Alberta and beyond.  Its early efforts focused on soil conservation including the development and widespread adoption of zero tillage. Projects like the pea-wheat rotation accelerated the adoption of pulse crops, continuous cropping, and the reduction of fallow. 

We help bridge knowledge from other researchers and facilitated the adoption of integrated pest management techniques including weed and insect identification, determining economic thresholds, managing resistance, and protecting beneficial insects. Farmers learned how to soil test and implement nutrient management plans objectively. They learned about novel crops including canola, pulses, hemp and more.

More recently they learned how to use precision tools for on farm research, the impacts of spraying at different times throughout the day and how to manage hail damaged crops.  They’re upping their game with precision vacuum planters and learning to manage glyphosate resistant weeds.

Whether it’s a new practice, a new crop or a new system, Farming Smarter is always there to help farmers learn, adapt and change the way they farm.


Innovative Projects