As the dawn of a new year reaches across the Prairies, our teams are ready to tackle another year of research.
The weather may be a bit unusual, but the research wrap-up and spring prep is a familiar routine. Our team leads are scouring last year’s data to finish reports and gather insight for this upcoming season while completing equipment maintenance and planning maps. We’re eager to undertake new opportunities this year and overcome the challenges that they bring.
Our Knowledge & Network team is excited to bring you bigger and better opportunities than before! You can look forward to a more engaging and exciting field experience this summer at our two-day Field School. We’ll have more information to share with you at the Farming Smarter Conference & Tradeshow, February 14 & 15, so make sure you register to catch the update!
In the meantime, we’re gearing up to announce the new Smart Partners in 2024 and the great discounts they’ll be offering. Remember to keep an eye out for our Spring magazine as stories are starting soon!
What’s new in our fields.
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Lewis Baarda always enjoys seeding! This year, he's extra eager because he gets to tackle potatoes for the first time. |
One of the biggest research opportunities we’re fielding this year is field scale potato research. Our Field Tested team led by Lewis Baarda is patiently waiting for the new equipment to arrive so training can begin. Not only are there operations to learn but potato production itself will be a new challenge to tackle! Meanwhile, Baarda is busy organizing data for more familiar projects in 2024.
Mike Gretzinger and Dr. Gurbir Dhillon work to complete interim reports for all four sections of the Agronomy Research team’s Saving Soils project while Carlo Van Herk wraps up his Applied Research & Development (ARD) Strip Till Canola final report.
After the reports are concluded, they’ll dive into data and prepare for multiple conferences before seeding preparation in anticipation for spring’s eventual arrival!
Catch Farming Smarter team members presentations at the Irrigated Crop Production Update next week and the Farming Smarter Conference & Trade Show later this spring!
Trevor Deering is busy locking down new trials for his Commercial Innovation team with new and old clients this winter. In between dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, he’s organizing, strategizing, and preparing trials for another large workload this year. He’s got a lot on his plate but he’s more than ready to dig into his Replenish Nutrients, Huma Terra, and Rolling Cereals trials among many others! (You can see updates to his Rolling Cereals trials Feb. 15 at the Farming Smarter Conference)
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Dr. Gurbir Dhillon - leaving a big hole at Farming Smarter |
He's not the only one organizing, strategizing, and preparing – our newly named Field Ops team consisting of our shop team is spearheading the majority of our required maintenance and mapping. Everything from our combines to the push mowers are getting work done to ensure we can hit the ground running and all teams are clear to operate with minimal (hopefully zero) overlap. As winter passes and the snow begins to melt, they’ll be watching soil temperatures every day for our Ultra Early Durum trials.
Planning for success
At the top of the organization, Ken Coles is working to enhance the Farming Smarter team and help everyone prepare for 2024. One of the first objectives of the year was to hire a Conservation Agronomist to work with local farmers to implement innovative research. Stay tuned for our announcement of this latest hire at the end of January!
Next up, he’s searching for a replacement for our Soil Scientist Dr. Gurbir Dhillon who is leaving at the end of the month for new pastures. While he scours for a suitable replacement, Coles is working with team leads to ensure they have what they need to succeed.
As an organization, Farming Smarter aims to elevate and excel this year as we tackle new ideas and bring you fantastic research updates. Just like the year is off to an interesting start, we hope you’re ready to follow along with our work as we promise it will be interesting too!
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Carlo Van Herk (left) and Mike Gretzinger coordinate and execute ultra early seeding in April, 2023. Hopefully we can get in just as early this year! |
Other Articles
Friday, November 22, 2024
The first year of an innovative irrigation system has wrapped and data analysis is underway. This project aims to support decision-making in irrigated fields with an easy-to-use app that connects your phone to your soil.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Renowned soil scientist, Dr. Rigas Karamanos, joins the ranks of Farming Smarter as a research consultant. He brings his passion, expertise, an irreplaceable personality and much more to the team!
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Opportunities to enhance your skills and upgrade your fieldwork to the next level are on the horizon! Join an innovative ag community across southern Alberta and bring your operation to the cutting-edge.