OLDS — The Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network (PCSFN), led by the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, has another partner.
The college announced last week that Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc. (MBFI) has joined the network.
MBFI is a not-for-profit organization formed to advance the beef and forage industry in Manitoba with the help of various players in the industry and the public while still protecting the environment.
The PCSFN is a network of smart farms committed to sharing data and expertise that will help farmers, industry, and developers better understand, use, and develop smart agricultural technologies.
The goal is to accelerate the development and adoption of agriculture technologies across Canada.
The network was launched in 2021 and also includes Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm located at Langham, Sask., Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alta., and the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) located near Saskatoon, Sask.
Joy Agnew, associate vice-president of applied research at Olds College, says the network’s continued expansion and collaboration across different agricultural zones and land bases brings more depth to the projects and technology evaluations conducted at Canada’s smart farms.
It’s believed that work will benefit farmers and developers.
“We are pleased to announce our second expansion site and welcome the Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives Inc. into the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network,” Agnew said in a news release.
“With additional partners come additional opportunities in applied research and education that will help producers maximize technology and data when they’re making those sometimes tough farm management decisions.
“Independent validation of ag technologies is critical, and so is ensuring that that validation is done using more than a single smart farm and more than one agro-climatic zone. We’re thrilled to continue expanding the network across Canada.”
MBFI general manager Mary-Jane Orr said the group is delighted to join the PCSFN.
“Joining the network is an impactful way to amplify our investment in evaluating livestock and crop monitoring equipment made possible through Canadian Agricultural Partnership grant funding,” she said in the news release.
“We want to both support sustainable production and help producers maximize technology and data.
“We look forward to what we can achieve as the network continues to grow, with more infrastructure, technology, laboratories, facilities and pastures.”
