Amid the unpredictable weather patterns of the current season, Manitoba farmers converged in Grosse Isle on Wednesday to explore the utilization of cutting-edge technologies in managing risks to their crops and adapting to extreme weather conditions.
Jacqueline Keena, the CEO of the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative (EMILI), a Manitoba-based non-profit organization focused on agricultural innovations, highlighted the escalating variability and severity of weather this year. EMILI hosted Agronomy Day at its Innovation Farms Grosse Isle site, Rutherford Farms, bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, farmers, and agronomists to evaluate agricultural technologies in a real farm setting using data and feedback.
The event, held northwest of Winnipeg, aimed to showcase how these technologies can be integrated into farms, with a specific focus on the impacts of the current wet weather on crop health and future harvests. Keena mentioned how their farming plans quickly changed due to heavy rainstorms in June, causing significant damage to fields at Rutherford Farms.
One of the key topics discussed was a data-driven agronomic tool known as “crop intelligence.” This tool functions similarly to a weather station, capturing data on precipitation, temperature, and environmental conditions. It also utilizes a soil probe to monitor soil moisture levels throughout the season and predict crop yield, aiding farmers in making informed decisions early on.
Charles Fossay, a seasoned farmer near Starbuck and director at Keystone Agricultural Producers, emphasized the value of tools like soil probes, particularly for irrigation farmers. Fossay highlighted the importance of understanding soil moisture levels, root growth depth, and nutrient utilization for optimizing crop yields.
Reflecting on EMILI’s evolution over the past decade, Keena noted a significant shift in the industry’s perception of artificial intelligence and new technologies in agriculture. While initially focused on introducing AI as an innovative tool, EMILI now concentrates on demonstrating the practical benefits of these technologies to farmers and industry stakeholders before widespread adoption decisions are made.
