Southern Alberta Agriculture Community Gathers for Two Days of Knowledge Sharing & Networking

Feb. 25 & 26 saw the southern Alberta ag community gathered to celebrate innovations across the industry at the 2025 Farming Smarter Conference & Trade Show. 

Two days of great speakers and cutting edge topics ensured everyone left with new ideas to tackle this year’s challenges. Amidst the engaging and educational presentations, Farming Smarter celebrated the soil conservation efforts of Kevin Auch, awarding him with the 2025 Orville Yanke Award.

Topic Review - Feb. 12

Wednesday kicked off with a focus on the industry and policies for success. Helmed by Canada West Foundation’s Hon. Gary Mar, the conversation began with knowledge and advice on the tumultuous outcry of tariffs from the south. Drawing from his experience in politics, and recent journey to the inauguration, he provided the audience with insight to navigate this looming threat and how to position themselves to be leaders in Canada’s road to success!

Mar was followed by Farming Smarter’s Executive Director, Ken Coles, who gave his outlook on agriculture’s paths to future success and what the trailblazers in the room must do to achieve this success. This built off Mar’s talk to include what the industry needed to focus its efforts towards, including advocacy – both for themselves and for the innovations necessary to uphold southern Alberta’s position as one of the world’s best agriculture industries.

The first morning wrapped up with research updates from Farming Smarter’s Mike Gretzinger, Trevor Deering, and BASF’s Mark Oostlander.

Gretzinger showcased the two new hemp projects his Agronomy Research team has underway. This included overcoming challenges and the expected benefits the results from the retting & seed emergence trials completed in 2024.

Meanwhile, Deering presented the results from the recently finished rolling cereals for silage production study. He gave insight to the observations from research completed in the 2022-2024 growing seasons to identify the best timings to roll wheat and barley in irrigated no-till or conventional till fields.

Oostlander shared fall practices and procedures farmers and agronomists could follow to improve their post-harvest weed control. These included strategies to tackle kochia, perennials, and annual weeds while preparing your field for successful weed management come spring.

After brilliant presentations from 4-H guests, the afternoon included Conservation Agronomist Ashley Wagenaar, and Research Scientist Dr. Thierry Fonville sharing updates on exciting research.

Wagenaar presented Farming Smarter’s first foray into potato research, highlighting the multiple on-going projects started in 2024. She encouraged anyone interested in adopting this specialty crop to follow the journey online and bring ideas for new projects forward.

Fonville gave the mid-way update on one of Farming Smarter’s most extensive projects – the Saving Soils study. Comprised of more than five individual projects, the RBC & Weston Family Foundation funded study investigates multiple strategies for producers to improve sustainability, soil quality, and productivity on their farm. This includes typical cash crops for southern Alberta as well as specialty crops like potatoes and sugar beets.

Keeping up with updates on extensive projects, Dr. Kristin Simons traveled from North Dakota State University to present agronomic & economic results from a 36-year old study. University of Alberta’s Dr. Miles Dyck shared insight from a 40-year old study on the effects of liming on soil health and soil-nitrogen balance.

Simons’ study has reviewed rotations, tillage systems, and fertility treatments for the effectiveness on crop performance and soil quality. Her presentation concluded with an engaged discussion throughout the audience about the observations of tillage as an effective tool in weed management found in the study.

Dyck shared the in-depth results of how crop rotation and nutrient management can influence your yields, the nutrient use efficiency of your crops, and the overall balance of soil nitrogen throughout your fields. His presentation included insight from the multiple decades this study has been underway at the University of Alberta, and concluded with a focused look on the 2020’s.

Dr. Bill Hamman closed out the day with a look at our backyards. He shared tips, tricks, and tools for how producers can effectively manage the weeds in their farmyard. This included strategies to minimize the risk of resistance and do away with the pesky kochia bordering your yard.

Topic Review - Feb. 13

Thursday started with University of Saskatchewan’s Dr. Stuart Smyth who applauded the producers across the Prairies for their achievements in the last decade. When the eye of every outsiders seems to be scrutinizing the agricultural industry to be more productive and sustainable with less, the many accomplishments already completed have been ignored. Dr. Smyth highlighted these achievements and gave the time necessary to share the efforts to improve the industry.

Meteorologist David Spence joined us to share insight behind the scenes from weather forecasts and the preparation they undertake for broadcast. Weather plays a major role in the performance of crops, the farmers and agronomists in attendance were made privy on how to better interpret the forecast to make a more informed decision.

AAFC Lethbridge’s Dr. Haley Catton shared the pest management toolbox with the Thursday audience. Her presentation emphasized the importance of honing in on the problem and using the right tool for the job to protect beneficial insect populations while managing pests. Every tool has its place, but it’s important to know when you need a hammer and when tweezers will do!

Montana State University Master’s student, Lochlin Ermatinger, brought knowledge from his recently completed project using digital imaging to track wheat stem sawfly infestations throughout a field. He shared the background of this project from his undergrad and the process he used to accomplish this feat. His presentation highlighted the opportunities of digital technology as a tool in pest management systems.

After lunch, Carlo Van Herk shared the final results of the “Mimbee” project at Farming Smarter. Over three years, Van Herk assisted in the investigation of using plant growth regulators to maximizing barley yields while minimizing losses. The project set out to identify the rates and timings to reduce the lodging potential of three barley cultivars without affecting the yield content.

Dr. Steve Shirtliffe used digital technology to connect with the event before the afternoon break and share how remote sensing can improve crop agronomy. The University of Saskatchewan researcher showed a variety of situations where remote sensing was able to enhance in-field agronomic decisions. Before disconnecting, he shared how producers and agronomists can learn more about bringing this technology to their fields.

In October 2024, Farming Smarter took 21 innovative Albertans on a trip through Brazil. The group visited research stations, co-op farms, and met a host of wonderful and ingenious people! Lewis Baarda shared his experience with the crowd, highlighting the grand opportunities of the learning trip and expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to foster so many great relationships.

Last but not least, University of Calgary’s Dr. Peter Facchini closed out the event with an insightful glimpse into opium poppy. He shared its background and history, its importance as an essential component for medicine, and how the illicit biproducts have resulted in heavy policies for the production of the crop. Dr. Facchini’s presentation proved a strong closer as many hung around afterwards to chat with him about his research.

Don't Miss Field School - June 25 & 26

If you missed out on this insightful and educational experience, another opportunity awaits you this summer! Save the dates for the 2025 Farming Smarter Field School, where you’re invited to hear from more innovative researchers and industry leaders in the field! Join us June 25 & 26 for conversations about groundbreaking new practices, herbicide knowledge, with a focus on nutrient management!