“The Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network“
Dr. Joy Agnew, Olds College Centre for Innovation
The overall goal of the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network is to build a collaborative framework among Canada’s Smart Farm initiatives for sharing of data and expertise to help farmers, industry and technology developers better understand, utilize, and develop smart agriculture technologies and systems. This session will provide an update on the development and launch of the Smart Farm Network and include key participants from the three initial sites: Olds College, Lakeland College, and Glacier Discovery Farm.
“Opportunities and challenges in agriculture as we transition to a low carbon economy”
Dr. Joy Agnew, Olds College Centre for Innovation
This session will be a high level overview covering topics such as the carbon footprint of agriculture, soil carbon sequestration, emission reduction targets, and the role of technology and smart farms in the development of a carbon offset program for agriculture.
As Associate VP Applied Research, Joy oversees the applied research activities in crop production, livestock production, turfgrass production, environmental stewardship, and technology integration while supporting the College’s innovation and entrepreneurship activities, smart farm operations, and the barley and triticale breeding program at Lacombe. Joy also holds a leadership role in the development of the College’s Smart Ag Ecosystem, bringing together the academic programming, applied research, strategic partnerships, smart farm operations, and extension & communication activities to help the College meet its goal to be a leader in Smart Agriculture.
“Triticale, the man-made crop: potential and prospects for western Canada”
Mazen Aljarrah – Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
The triticale breeding program at Olds College – Field Crop Development Centre is mainly focusing on developing dual purpose promising lines suitable for forage and feed grain.
In western Canada both spring and winter triticale types have the potential to be used in multiple farming systems as annual forages for ruminant animals and biofuel production.
The genetic base of triticale in narrow, widening the germplasm is important, we conduct a wild hybridization between wheat and triticale with the hope of incorporating useful genes from both species.
Mazen Aljarrah has been the triticale breeder at Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Olds College since 2008. He holds a M.Sc. in Plant breeding, B.Sc. in Agriculture, and certificates in Applied Plant Breeding, Doubled Haploid technique in Wheat, and DNA and Molecular Marker Techniques for Improving Field Crops.
Mazen has Plant Breeder Status from the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) and is a member of the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye and Triticale (PRCWRT). He is Coordinator of the pre-registration Western Spring and Winter Triticale Coop Trials in western Canada. Mazen spent over 20 years as a Research Associate at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria. ICARDA is one of 15 centers supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
The Field Crop Development Centre has been developing new barley and triticale varieties for malting, feed, and forage uses since 1972. The breeding programs are supported by quality, pathology, and biotechnology laboratories. FCDC transitioned to Olds College from the Alberta Government in January 2021.
“The True Cost of Operational and Agronomical Inefficiencies“
Lander Anderson – Vantage Canada
To know improvement first one must know the baseline in which they are comparing too. We will guide you through a better understanding of how to calculate your baseline, the tools to improve your baseline and a better way of understanding the true cost.
Lander Anderson has been involved in Agriculture his whole life, after completing his degree at the University of Saskatchewan he began working for equipment dealers on delivering Precision Agriculture advise where he focused on Machine and Technology optimization. Most recently Lander has began working with Vantage Canada as their Digital Ag Lead. Lander and his family live and help work on the family farm in Northern Saskatchewan.
“Agronomy at a High Resolution“
Wes Anderson – Croptimistic Technology Inc.
Precision agronomy tools have come a long way in the past decade, and the future of sensors and various agronomy tools and technology looks bright. This session will dive into some of the tools being used in North America today for successful allocation of crop inputs for better ROI and environmental benefits, and why they should be considered on your farm.
Wes is the VP of Agronomy for Croptimistic Technology Inc. based out of Beaumont, AB. He currently works with farm clients to enhance their fertility program using SWAT MAP variable rate technology, as well as supports the rest of the CropPro staff and third-party agronomists around the world that are using SWAT MAPS. Wes grew up on a mixed farm near Theodore, SK and obtained his degree in Agriculture from U of S in 2001. Since then he’s worked in various agronomy roles in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and more recently in southern NSW, Australia. As a member of the Alberta institute of Agrologists, Wes is passionate about using technology in agriculture to improve the economic viability and environmental sustainability of farms. He has a wife and three kids that keep him busy in his spare time and graciously put up with his infatuation for agronomy.
“Use of genomic tools to improve production efficiency, health resilience and carbon footprint of beef production.”
Dr. John Basarab, Livestock Gentec
The aim is to present independent validation studies that demonstrate the benefits of innovative genomic tools such as genomic breed composition, genomic retained heterozygosity, genomic enhanced expected progeny differences (gEPDs) for feed efficiency and carcass traits. Other innovations such as DNA pooling show potential for cheaper genotyping while providing important information on pooled records related to sire contribution, heterosis, performance and health as influenced by genetics and management. The application of these genomic tools has potential to improve calf crop percentage, general health resilience, and retail yield of slaughter cattle while decreasing the carbon footprint of beef production.
John has over 30 years experience in beef cattle production and management. His current areas of work include improving feed efficiency, delivering genomic and production technologies to the beef industry, and greenhouse gas mitigation in beef cattle. Work completed has included the development of one of the largest genotype-phenotype databases for beef cattle in Canada, and for genetic marker discovery, global collaborations, and validation of the genomic tools like EnVigour HXTM. He is a Research Scientist at the University of Alberta, Head of Beef Operations for Livestock Gentec, and past Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Animal Science. He is also the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific and extension articles and is the winner of the 2010 Canadian Animal Industries Award in Extension and Public Service. John received his Ph.D. degree in Animal Genetics and Biochemistry in 1981 from the University of Alberta.
Dr. Shabeg Briar
Research Agronomist, Olds College
“Performance and Cost Benefit of Optical Spot Spraying Technologies in Conventional, Dryland farming in Western Canada”
Dr. Shabeg Briar & Daniel Stefner, Olds College
Session Description Coming Soon!
Shabeg Briar earned his B.Sc. degree in Agronomy and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology and Nematology from Ohio State University, USA. Currently in his role as a Research Agronomist, he is responsible for conducting small plot crop trials related to herbicide efficacy, crop variety evaluation and pest management studies. He is a certified professional agronomist and possesses a pesticide applicator license. Prior to this, he was working as a Research Scientist with Montana Ag. Exp. Station. During his Ph.D. work at the Ohio State University, he focused on soil health of farming systems and studied bio-indicators and their role in the soil food web. He has published several peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and extension articles.
Dr. Flavio Capettini
Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
“Superior malting barley varieties by design at Olds College ”
Dr. Flavio Capettini, Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
In this session Dr. Flavio Capettini will give a glimpse of what it takes to create a malting barley variety at the Field Crop Development Centre at Olds College. The technologies and activities used to obtain enhanced varieties with better yield, agronomics, disease resistance, quality, and even flavor, will be presented. Classic and contemporary techniques for creating varieties that work for farmers and the malting, brewing, and distilling companies in Canada and worldwide will be discussed.
Dr. Flavio Capettini is a Two-row Barley Breeder focusing on malting barley at the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Olds College. Flavio specializes in finding novel traits in worldwide germplasm and introgressing it into locally adapted cultivars. Flavio has been breeding cereals since 1988, releasing over 65 varieties in 12 countries, and developing superior germplasm that’s been shared with over 75 countries.
Before joining FCDC in 2013, Flavio led the Global Barley Enhancement Program of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria, and the Latin American Regional Program carried out jointly between ICARDA and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Flavio was previously an adjunct professor at North Dakota State University, and Head of Barley Breeding at the National Agricultural Research Institute of Uruguay (INIA). He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. from the University of Minnesota and his B.Sc. from the University of the Republic of Uruguay.
The Field Crop Development Centre has been developing new barley and triticale varieties for malting, feed, and forage uses since 1972. The breeding programs are supported by quality, pathology, and biotechnology laboratories. FCDC transitioned to Olds College from the Alberta Government in January 2021.
“Are you a good or a great farmer? And do you know the difference?”
Shea Ferster, MNP
This is around the Ag analytics program MNP is running.
• It is relevant because it is trying to drive engagement.
• It is completely educational, we have nothing to sell.
• Our team talks about the facts – what is causing this difference. This is what we are seeing.
A conversation that will catch everyone off guard because it is not what you would expect to hear from an accounting firm.
Shea Ferster, CPA, CA, is a Business Advisor with MNP’s Agricultural Services team. Based in Saskatoon, Shea has 12 years of public practice experience and is actively involved in the operations of his family farm. He works primarily with owner-operated agriculture businesses, including the Hutterian Brethren. In addition, he is the coordinator of MNP’s Farm Income Support Programs group for the Saskatchewan region.
Drawing on his extensive knowledge of agriculture and the various farm income programs available, Shea helps clients manage their risk and identify unique opportunities for increased success. His aim is to help create customized solutions for Ag producers so that they can positively impact profitability and achieve their business and personal goals.
Shea was designated a Chartered Accountant (CA) in 2002 after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. A proud community supporter, he sits on the board of directors for the Saskatoon Partnership, the Downtown Business Improvement District, and the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club.
“How technology changed the way we look at seed testing results.”
Sarah Foster – 20/20 Seed Labs
Using seed and disease testing data to assist in best farm management practices. Learn how mapping sample results can provide useful information for crop rotation, disease management and seed selection.
Sarah studied and qualified as an accredited seed analyst at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany in Cambridge, England prior to immigrating to Canada in 1984. Sarah established 20/20 Seed Labs Inc, over 30 years ago. The company has grown to provide testing services for all crop kinds, including extensive quality and seed health analysis, molecular testing and accredited crop inspection. 20/20 Seed Labs Inc, is proud to work with all facets of the agricultural industry including individual growers, seed cleaning facilities, crop protection companies and multinational seed companies, both in Canada and abroad. Sarah was the recipient of the Canadian Seed Trade Association 2013 Seed Achievement award and in 2017 received an Outstanding Service Achievement award from the Association of Alberta Seed Plants. In 2018 Sarah was a winner of the Business Edmonton and Business Calgary entrepreneur of the year. Sarah has held various executive positions with the Commercial Seed Analysts Association of Canada, including National President. Sarah is also involved with various committees currently working on the Canadian Methods and Procedures with the (CFIA) Canadian Food Inspection Agency and is an (ISTA) International Seed Testing Seed Testing Association laboratory auditor. 20/20 Seed Labs Inc, is now Canada’s only independent ISTA accredited laboratory.
“LiDAR for Agriculture Automation”
Giorgio Furlanetto – SICK Ltd.
The world population is growing, but productive areas on the planet are not. To satisfy the increasing need for food, we need to increase the yield of a given productive area, at the same time using more environmentally friendly methods. This can be achieved with automation; the session will show examples of automation in agriculture and how LiDAR is at the center of the sensor suite of automated or autonomous agricultural vehicles.
SICK is a technology and market leader which provides sensor intelligence and application solutions, creating the perfect basis for controlling processes securely and efficiently, protecting individuals from accidents, and preventing damage to the environment. SICK is a global presence, with over 50 subsidiaries and numerous agencies around the world. In 2019 SICK had more than 10,000 employees worldwide and a group revenue of around 1.8 billion Euros. Giorgio is the Mobile Applications Sales Specialist for SICK Canada, with more than two decades of experience in the sectors of Industrial Automation and Sensors. His role within SICK is to promote the use of SICK solutions on mobile equipment such as tractors, harvesters, AGVs, trucks, etc.
“AgSmart Upstream/WS Farm Forward Event: A Real Conversation about the Reality of AgTech”
Shane Thomas, UpStream, Susan Groeneveld, WS & Steve Larocque, Beyond Agronomy
There’s a great deal of attention these days in the AgTech space on Farm Technology. GPS-controlled tractors, soil sensors and satellite imagery are no longer a vision of the future but a practice of today. Technology is rapidly transforming the farm landscape.
But, as we read about, watch demonstrations and research options in the Agriculture Technology space, how do we balance practicality versus flash? With so much new information coming at us daily, what makes sense and what is most practical to those that are literally in the field and on the ground?
Join Shane Thomas, a cultivator of strategic insights for agribusiness leaders and Author of Upstream Ag Insights and Steve Larocque of The Spark & Beyond Agronomy along with Susan Groeneveld, Chief Intelligence Officer and co-creator of WS, a Marketing Practice that Specializes in Agriculture, as they engage in a discussion on the reality of AgTech from the Farmers and Growers position. This panel will share their expertise and exchange bold ideas with those on the farms and in the business.
Growing up on a ranch and experiencing the natural circle of life from an early age, armed Susan with a fearless and curious determination to create significant positive contributions for others. Her 25 plus career in marketing has contributed significantly to economies in North America and Japan. Susan co-created WS (simplyws.com) 18 years ago, with the goal to create measurable marketing success for WS clients located across North America. A co-creator of multiple, globally recognized, award winning companies; she is an expert in marketing consultancy, business model development and marketing outcome approaches. Susan has worked with Bayer, Vive, Roche, Elanco, Canadian Lentils, Royal Canin, General Mills, Federated Co-operatives, UPL and Anuvia to name a few. Susan wonders about the problems we can solve and is inspired by the power of humanity to do good.
Abby Hodder
Graduate Student, U of C
“Health impacts of optimized pre-conditioning in beef cattle”
Abby Hodder & Morgan Louden, U of C
Session Description Coming Soon!
Abby Hodder was born and raised in Newfoundland and moved to Truro in 2013 to study animal science at Dalhousie University. After graduating with her agriculture degree, she moved East to study animal welfare and behaviour at the University of Guelph, where she discovered her passion for research. With a background in companion animals and horses, Abby decided that she wanted to broaden her knowledge and experience in production systems, which lead to pursing a graduate degree at the University of Calgary in Veterinary Medical Sciences, under the supervision of Dr. Karin Orsel. Her current project focuses on the impact of early feed bunk exposure at the ranch, on the activity and behaviour of preconditioned beef calves at the feedlot.
Dr. Yadeta Kabeta
Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
“Breeding better barley for feed: playing the old game with new tricks”
Dr. Yadeta Kabeta, Field Crop Development Centre
Through innovative plant breeding work, new barley genetics with clear yield advantages have hit the western Canadian market in recent years. These varieties also have enhanced quality, disease resistance, nitrogen use efficiency, and better drought tolerance in the brown soil zone. Applying genomic and phenomic technologies and constantly refining the process has allowed breeders to reduce costs and improve efficiency and precision to breed better varieties. Some of the recent achievements in feed barley breeding in western Canada and the application of technologies to accelerate breeding progress will be discussed.
Dr. Yadeta Kabeta leads the Feed and Forage Barley Program at the Field Crop Development Center (FCDC) at Olds College, developing germplasm and barley varieties for feed and forage utilization. Yadeta collaborates with other public and private breeding programs here in Canada and around the world, working closely with industry stakeholders such as producer commissions and seed growers. Yadeta sits on the Prairie Recommending Committee for Oat and Barley and is Coordinator of the Western Canadian Feed and Forage Barley Cooperative Trials.
Yadeta has been with FCDC since 2008. Earlier in his career, he was a pulse breeder and program lead for the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization, Ethiopia. Yadeta has been a senior author on many pre-reviewed articles, authoring or co-authoring 50+ journal articles and conference proceedings on cereals and pulses. Yadeta obtained Ph.D. in plant breeding/genetics from the University of Saskatchewan, and M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Plant Sciences from Almaya University of Agriculture, Ethiopia.
The Field Crop Development Centre has been developing new barley and triticale varieties for malting, feed, and forage uses since 1972. The breeding programs are supported by quality, pathology, and biotechnology laboratories. FCDC transitioned to Olds College from the Alberta Government in January 2021.
“When Stress is More Than a Season”
Lesley Kelly – High Heels & Canola Fields
Presented by AFSC
Farming can be both a rewarding and demanding occupation where farmers experience highs and lows and mounting stress. Everyone feels stress and there can be lots of negative stress on the farm. As farmers, we know how to recognize stress in our livestock, crops, and equipment. But do we know how to recognize when stress is too much for us and what we can do to help get through those stressful times?
Lesley Kelly actively farms with her family at Watrous, Saskatchewan.
Lesley is the head and heart behind the alias High Heels & Canola Fields where she dispels myths about agriculture and brings consumers and farmers together. Lesley’s goal in being involved in agriculture beyond the farm is to build community and bring people together, create conversation, collaborate and identify solutions that help both the industry and consumers.
Lesley has been a leader in advocating for mental health in agriculture. She’s been a part of the national Bell Let’s Talk campaign and co-founded the Do More Agriculture Foundation whose mission is to break barriers and support all farmers and ranchers in taking care of their mental well-being. She was recognized by the Regina YWCA with the Women of Distinction award for this work.
When Lesley isn’t in the field, she is also is a Director for Sask Wheat and Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan and you can find her running to the hockey rink with her boys, taking pictures, going for a run on country roads, learning how to cook for a harvest crew and spending time with her husband.
“Precision Harvest – Why measuring harvest loss is your biggest advantage yet”
Marcel Kringe – Bushel Plus
Overview of harvest loss research. What to look for, how to measure and tips form the field.
A Passion for Farming and Technology Marcel is the founder and co owner of Bushel Plus based in Brandon, MB. Born and raised on a mixed farm in Germany, Marcel has spent a large amount of time in and around farm equipment. His background in Ag Engineering and Agronomy means he is always thinking about agriculture and how to solve the challenges ahead. While working as an Agronomist around the world, Marcel kept seeing large amounts of wasted grain; grain that farmers worked so hard to grow. But this waste wasn’t from poor storage or excess moisture, it was from the very equipment meant to capture it: the combine. He began thinking about ways to make harvesting more efficient. He joined forces with some of the top harvest specialists in the world and kept refining his designs. After building his early prototypes in the evenings and weekends, Marcel left his job, jumping headlong into his creations and founding Bushel Plus.
Dr. Natasha Kutryk
Professional Services Veterinarian, Feedlot Health Management Services by Telus Agriculture
“Applications of technology in beef production: past, present, and future.”
Dr. Natasha Kutryk – Feedlot Health Management Services by Telus Agriculture
The presentation will explore where technology has been used in beef production in the past, where it is currently being implemented, and opportunities for the future.
Dr. Natasha Kutryk grew up on a farm near Beauvallon, Alberta. The youngest of four children, she was always highly competitive with her older siblings, and it was no surprise when she started her post-secondary career at the University of Alberta in the College of Agriculture. Natasha obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in 2014. Since graduating, she has worked in beef and dairy practices in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada. She is currently a Professional Services Veterinarian at Feedlot Health Management Services by Telus Agriculture in Okotoks, Alberta. Outside of work, Natasha farms with her husband in North Eastern Alberta and enjoys pursuing her passion for travel. She is a member of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association’s Council and Lakeland College’s Agriculture Technology Degree Advisory Committee.
Steve Larocque
Owner, Beyond Agronomy
“AgSmart Upstream/WS Farm Forward Event: A Real Conversation about the Reality of AgTech”
Shane Thomas, UpStream, Susan Groeneveld, WS & Steve Larocque, Beyond Agronomy
There’s a great deal of attention these days in the AgTech space on Farm Technology. GPS-controlled tractors, soil sensors and satellite imagery are no longer a vision of the future but a practice of today. Technology is rapidly transforming the farm landscape.
But, as we read about, watch demonstrations and research options in the Agriculture Technology space, how do we balance practicality versus flash? With so much new information coming at us daily, what makes sense and what is most practical to those that are literally in the field and on the ground?
Join Shane Thomas, a cultivator of strategic insights for agribusiness leaders and Author of Upstream Ag Insights and Steve Larocque of The Spark & Beyond Agronomy along with Susan Groeneveld, Chief Intelligence Officer and co-creator of WS, a Marketing Practice that Specializes in Agriculture, as they engage in a discussion on the reality of AgTech from the Farmers and Growers position. This panel will share their expertise and exchange bold ideas with those on the farms and in the business.
Steve is an independent crop advisor based out of Three Hills, Alberta. As owner of Beyond Agronomy, he manages over 30,000 acres of cropland and publishes The Spark, a weekly e-newsletter that focuses on innovations and new ideas gleaned from around the world. He is also a first generation grain farmer who farms north of Drumheller and one of the first to implement a full controlled traffic farming and inter-row seeding system in Western Canada.
Steve has been working with producers for over fifteen years. He is a Certified Crop Advisor, has a diploma in Crop Advisory from Olds College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Lethbridge. Steve is a 2007 Canadian Nuffield Scholar and spends much of the off season travelling internationally to speak to farm groups and scouring the globe for innovative crop production techniques to bring home to Western Canada.
Morgan Louden
Graduate Student, U of C
“Health impacts of optimized pre-conditioning in beef cattle”
Abby Hodder & Morgan Louden, U of C
Session Description Coming Soon!
J. Morgan Louden was born and raised in Calgary before leaving briefly to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia’s Okanogan campus. Once in Kelowna, she obtained her undergraduate in anthropology and biology with a specialization in microbiology. After graduating, Morgan moved back to Calgary and started her graduate degree in September of 2019 at the University of Calgary with Dr. Frank van der Meer. Currently, she is pursuing her MSc in veterinary medicine by working on a preconditioning study in beef calves. Morgan’s role in this study is to analyze the antibody response to vaccination starting at spring processing until day 40 on feed in order to determine if preconditioning leads to a higher proportion of calves with detectable antibodies compared to auction-bought calves.
Roy Maki
Olds College
“Path to Autonomy”
Roy Maki – Olds College
Roy Maki – Olds College
Overview of the “Evaluation and improvement of economic, environmental, and logistical benefits of autonomous agricultural equipment for broad acre crop production” project.
Roy Maki shares Olds College’s passion for using technology to improve Canadian Agriculture. Roy attained his experience and knowledge in the agricultural industry through first, being raised on a mixed family farm in SE Saskatchewan and second, being employed in the Agricultrual Research and Testing community where he led or contributed to 100+ agriculturally based projects ranging from spray deposition studies to combine harvester testing, air seeder performance, grain drying, cattle RFID ear tag retention and Anaerobic digestion/methane gas production. Roy holds an B.Sc Agricultural Engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a MSc degree from the University of Alberta specializing in embedded computer systems and controls.
“OC’s digital Ag strategy and the HyperLayer data concept”
Alex Melnitchouck – Olds College
Data is an important component of contemporary agriculture and a tool empowering agronomists and helping them to make better decisions. This presentation will outline the digital Ag strategy at Olds College, and cover practical examples of implementing that strategy on the Olds College Smart Farm though the HyperLayer data concept.
“Yield and green biomass prediction using satellite imagery, drone imagery, and ground samples”
Alex Melnitchouck – Olds College
Using remote sensing data, such as satellite and UAV imagery, in combination with ground truthing data for site-specific yield prediction in small grain crops and for yield estimation of green biomass will be discussed.
Alex Melnitchouck, is the Chief Technology Officer, Digital Agriculture at Olds College. He holds his Ph.D. in Agricultural Sciences, and second Master’s Degree in Soils and Environmental Sciences, backed up by 25 years of work experience at the international level, including precision Ag projects in Canada, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Australia, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. He is a member of Alberta Institute of Agrologists in Canada (P.Ag.) and an author of more than 50 publications in scientific journals and proceedings of conferences. In 2012, Alex founded IntelMax Corp. and created Zoner.Ag – a web platform for managing and analyzing geospatial data. In 2015, Zoner.Ag was acquired by Bayer CropScience to become a geospatial engine for the new Digital Farming Platform (currently known as Xarvio and owned by BASF). Alex leads Olds College’s Digital Ag strategy and the development of the Digital Ag Platform at the Olds College Smart Farm – a 2,800 acre, technology enabled applied research and learning environment.
Lance & Karen Neilson
Neilson Cattle Development
“Effects of handling acclimation procedures prior to breeding on reproductive performance, handling reactivity and stress in beef heifers”
Laio Silva Sobrinho – Olds College and Lance & Karen Neilson, Neilson Cattle Development
Neilson Cattle Development (Neilson) approached the Olds College Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) seeking to optimize their management practices and ultimately improve the reproduction efficiency, health and welfare of their herd. TACLP proposed to conduct an applied research project on the effect of acclimation to handling as a form of achieving Neilson’s goals. Acclimation to handling is a low-cost, easy-to-adopt, and scientifically proven approach that has been reported to reduce the stress levels of beef cows at handling while increasing their pregnancy rate. TACLP conducted the study in 2020/2021, with the variables measured being (1) pregnancy rate, (2) salivary cortisol (physiological indicator of acute stress), and (3) reactivity parameters. The results from this study will be presented by Laio Sobrinho (TACLP Research Associate) at AgSmart. Lance and Karyn Neilson (owners of Neilson Cattle Development) will talk about their experience when working with the TACLP, including what were the benefits and challenges found from the research trial that took place at their ranch.
Lance Neilson: owner of Neilson Cattle Development, he holds a certificate in Agriculture Business and an AI training certificate, and has 25 years’ experience in cattle production by selecting cattle for superior genetics.
Karyn Neilson: owner of Neilson Cattle Development, she holds a certificate in Agriculture Finance and has 20 years’ experience in cattle production.
Lori Oatway
Research Scientist, Field Crop Development Centre
“NIRS: Hitting the easy button on grain quality “
Lori Oatway – Field Crop Development Centre
Have you heard about Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and want to know how it plays an important part in our industry? NIRS can support the changing agricultural landscape offering new solutions to industry concerns. Lori Oatway has over 28 years of experience developing NIRS technology to support the agriculture industry. We will discuss the basis of NIRS, looking at how it has been an integral part of new variety development at FCDC. We will go even further and look at the potential for this technology in agriculture and other industries.
Lori Oatway is a Research Scientist at the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Olds College in Lacombe where she focuses on Grain Quality for the plant breeding programs. Lori started with the FCDC in 1993 after graduating with a B.Sc. in Animal Nutrition. She later obtained her M.Sc. in Animal Nutrition working on the detection of mycotoxins in grain using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).
Over the last 28 years, Lori has developed NIRS to expand the quality program to include feed, forage, food and malting characteristics. She screens all of the new varieties and lines from FCDC for grain quality potential, and works with industry to determine traits for new markets and applications. In addition to her work at Olds College, Lori, her husband Ward and their two daughters farm just south of Clive, producing and selling pedigree seed. This provides a practical application to the research that Lori works on daily.
The Field Crop Development Centre has been developing new barley and triticale varieties for malting, feed, and forage uses since 1972. The breeding programs are supported by quality, pathology, and biotechnology laboratories. FCDC transitioned to Olds College from the Alberta Government in January 2021.
“Until We Have Star Trek Transporters”
Robert Saik – AGvisorPRO
How can we take the knowledge and wisdom of an Agrologist and stretch it thousands of miles or over millions of acres? Well, all you need is a transporter…but wait, one does not exist … yet. However, the one thing that COVID-19 has taught us is that we can use technology to shrink time and space in brand new ways. The world has profoundly and forever changed. This will affect how PAg’s interact with society and their clients. Rob will take us on a journey of what this technology “convergence” means for our industry; We are going to look at how you can be on the farm, in the barn or in the greenhouse without leaving your home…and he will share a new way to monetize your brain.
All this while we wait for the magic words “Beam me up Scotty”.
Robert Saik, an Agrologist, Certified Agriculture Consultant and agriculture entrepreneur, is founder & CEO of AGvisorPRO, a global connectivity platform providing instantaneous linkage between farmers and experts effectively putting advisors on the farm without being on the farm. Rob has international experience working globally in the farming and agriculture technology sector. He has authored two books, the latest being “FOOD 5.0 – How We Feed The Future” which tackles the question “how do we ensure agriculture is infinitely sustainable?” Rob has founded/partnered in many ventures including Agri-Trend/Agri-Data (a consulting and data management network; now Trimble Ag) as well as partnering in a farming operation in Uganda. He has been involved in agricultural projects in Kenya, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Australia, South America and Europe. An agriculture thought leader, he has been sought as a keynote speaker on issues surrounding agronomy, sustainability, precision agriculture, robotics, data management, remote sensing and technology integration. His TEDx talk “Will Agriculture Be ALLOWED To Feed 9 Billion People” has been viewed over 162,000 times. He is also the founder and leader of the PowerFarm peer group providing business leadership to leading edge growers. Residing in Olds, Alberta, Canada he has 4 children and 7 grandchildren.
Laio Silva Sobrinho
Research Associate, Olds College
“Effects of handling acclimation procedures prior to breeding on reproductive performance, handling reactivity and stress in beef heifers”
Laio Silva Sobrinho – Olds College and Lance & Karen Neilson, Neilson Cattle Development
Neilson Cattle Development (Neilson) approached the Olds College Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) seeking to optimize their management practices and ultimately improve the reproduction efficiency, health and welfare of their herd. TACLP proposed to conduct an applied research project on the effect of acclimation to handling as a form of achieving Neilson’s goals. Acclimation to handling is a low-cost, easy-to-adopt, and scientifically proven approach that has been reported to reduce the stress levels of beef cows at handling while increasing their pregnancy rate. TACLP conducted the study in 2020/2021, with the variables measured being (1) pregnancy rate, (2) salivary cortisol (physiological indicator of acute stress), and (3) reactivity parameters. The results from this study will be presented by Laio Sobrinho (TACLP Research Associate) at AgSmart. Lance and Karyn Neilson (owners of Neilson Cattle Development) will talk about their experience when working with the TACLP, including what were the benefits and challenges found from the research trial that took place at their ranch.
Laio Silva Sobrinho: Researcher associate Laio Silva Sobrinho is about to defend his MSc degree at the University of Alberta. In his thesis, Laio studied the ecological benefits rotational grazing systems can bring to the Canadian grasslands; In the study conducted at Neilson Cattle Development, Laio assisted with data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results.
Rav Singh
Olds College
“Cloud Integration to Learning and Research”
Rav Singh – Olds College
Session Description Coming Soon!
Rav is a Mechanical Engineer with over 14 years of experience in the industry, in various system engineering & Lead Engineering roles.
A Few roles Rav has had over the years :
Lead Engineer – System Integration ( Applied Industrial Technologies) Engineering Specialist – Parker Hannifin Canada. Subject Matter Expert, Embedded Control Systems, Cloud Integration – Olds College, Alberta Instructor – Werklund school of Agriculture Technology, Olds College, Alberta Chief Technology Officer – TRS Systems
Rav is a Professional Engineer (ME), and has a Advanced diploma in Electro-Mechanical Engineering (Robotics and Automation). He is also a IEC61131-3 (Pro-FX) Certified Programmer ( Eaton Corporation). In past he was the Application Engineer and Trainer in Parker IQAN™ with Parker Hannifin, Canada. He is also a Certified Fluid Power Hydraulic Specialist ( CFPHS), Electronic Control Specialist ( CFPECS), and System Designer ( CFPSD). He is also a Co-Founder, and Chief Technology officer at TRS systems, (www.trs-systems.com), a CODESYS System Partner company in Canada.
Daniel Stefner
Research Technician, Olds College Centre for Innovation
“Performance and Cost Benefit of Optical Spot Spraying Technologies in Conventional, Dryland farming in Western Canada”
Dr. Shabeg Briar & Daniel Stefner, Olds College
Session Description Coming Soon!
As a Research Technician within the Smart Ag Applied Research department of the OCCI, Daniel is very involved in numerous projects including: optical spot spraying trials, autonomous ag equipment research, in-field sensor assessments, and farm management platform evaluations. He started as an Agriculture Management student at Olds College, and then completed the Bachelor of Applied Science program with a major in Agribusiness, he also has a diploma in Digital Media and IT specializing in Business Analysis at NAIT. Daniel brings to the research team many seasons of farm experience from not only his family’s farm, but he also worked for a large farm operation northeast of Edmonton as an equipment operator and assistant manager.
“AgSmart Upstream/WS Farm Forward Event: A Real Conversation about the Reality of AgTech”
Shane Thomas, UpStream, Susan Groeneveld, WS & Steve Larocque, Beyond Agronomy
There’s a great deal of attention these days in the AgTech space on Farm Technology. GPS-controlled tractors, soil sensors and satellite imagery are no longer a vision of the future but a practice of today. Technology is rapidly transforming the farm landscape.
But, as we read about, watch demonstrations and research options in the Agriculture Technology space, how do we balance practicality versus flash? With so much new information coming at us daily, what makes sense and what is most practical to those that are literally in the field and on the ground?
Join Shane Thomas, a cultivator of strategic insights for agribusiness leaders and Author of Upstream Ag Insights and Steve Larocque of The Spark & Beyond Agronomy along with Susan Groeneveld, Chief Intelligence Officer and co-creator of WS, a Marketing Practice that Specializes in Agriculture, as they engage in a discussion on the reality of AgTech from the Farmers and Growers position. This panel will share their expertise and exchange bold ideas with those on the farms and in the business.
Shane brings a decade of agribusiness experience with a diverse skillset across numerous areas of the agriculture landscape. After graduating from the University of Lethbridge with a degree in Agriculture, Shane started out as an agronomist in Saskatchewan and Alberta optimizing farmers decisions to achieve higher yields and profits. He then advanced to become a senior agronomist, training agronomists and ag retail sales staff on the fundamentals of crop production and progressive agronomic practices. With a drive to take on new challenges, Shane seized the opportunity to oversee marketing and distribution functions for a large ag-retail across the prairies that involved developing go-to-market strategies, streamlining logistical processes and championing ag-tech initiatives. Shane currently publishes Upstream Ag Insights, a newsletter read globally by leaders in agriculture that includes agtech and agribusiness news and analysis.
Shane is passionate about approaching different areas of agriculture with an open mind and a dynamic ability to integrate them all together. Taking concepts from science, psychology, economics and more, he endeavours to enhance the way we approach agribusiness and contribute positively to the rapidly changing industry.
Sean Thompson
Manager, Technology Access Center for Livestock Production (TACLP)
“Smart Ranch Innovations – the Pitstra Regenerative Agriculture Demonstration”
Sean Thompson – Technology Access Center for Livestock Production (TACLP)
Session Description Coming Soon!
Sean Thompson is the Manager of the Technology Access Center for Livestock Production (TACLP). In his current role, Sean provides oversight to the TACLP, with emphasis on technical advisory, project management and maintaining client relationships. Sean has significant expertise in beef cattle management, nutrition and genetics. Further, he has extensive experience managing research projects at post-secondary institutions. Sean holds an MSc in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Manitoba. Prior to joining Olds College, Sean served as Feed Industry Liaison at the University of Saskatchewan, as well as a livestock extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture. The TACLP offers resources and services required to move the livestock industries technology needs forward, focusing specifically on issues related to production efficiency, animal health and welfare, and environmental sustainability. These issues are addressed by giving livestock producers, technology developers, and SMEs access to expertise, facilities, testing services, training, and emerging smart agriculture technologies. To facilitate and accelerate the Canadian livestock industry’s adoption of new technology, The TACLP provides field-testing and improvement of emerging technologies in farm-like conditions, assisting companies with the testing of feed, genetics, and precision livestock farming technology.
Jessica Watson
Conservation Agriculture & Extension Program Coordinator, West-Central Forage Association
“Evaluating Sire-Progeny Links, Breeding Plans and Information Management in Multi-Sire Breeding Scenarios on Commercial Herds”
Jessica Watson – West-Central Forage Association
West-Central Forage Association, Lakeland College & Olds College have been collaborating on a multi-year project evaluating the use of DNA testing to link sires with their offspring in commercial beef herds utilizing multi-sire breeding groups. This session will discuss some of the early results, and the potential benefits of using herd performance information, including sire-progeny links, to inform breeding decisions to generate measurable productivity & profitability improvements.
Jessica graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, in 2015. Having grown up on a cow-calf operation, pursuing a degree in Agriculture was a natural fit, and she has been lucky enough to get the opportunity to remain actively involved in this industry both personally and professionally. She has been a member of the West-Central Forage Association team as the Conservation Agriculture & Extension Program Coordinator for nearly four years and is privileged to work alongside some incredible people. Her role has given her many amazing opportunities, including working on the Sire-Progeny Links in Multi-Sire Commercial Herds project. Her and her soon-to-be husband reside in Barrhead, AB and have started to grow their cattle herd, alongside her in-laws. She has a passion for all things Ag, but if you ask her to choose between plants and cows, cows win every time.
Felix Weber
Technical Agriculture Specialist, Ag Business & Crop Inc.
“Your Data: Who, What , Where, When, Why – A different Perspective”
Felix Weber, Ag Business & Crop Inc.
Session Description Coming Soon!
Bio Coming Soon!
“Subsurface Drip Irrigation: Irrigate, Fertigate, Conserve “
Matt Wirzba – Southern Irrigation
Subsurface drip irrigation is a variation on traditional drip irrigation where the dripline is buried beneath the soil surface, rather than laid on the ground, supplying water directly to the roots of your crop. SDI is more than an irrigation system; it is a root zone management tool. Fertilizer can be applied to the root zone as required when it will be most beneficial to your crop – resulting in greater use efficiencies and better crop performance.
Southern Irrigation is Western Canada’s leader of irrigation solutions with almost 35 years of experience. Southern Irrigation pioneered drip irrigation in Canada and is now currently leading the introduction of subsurface drip irrigation, which will revolutionize the industry once again.
Southern Irrigation has prided itself on supplying and installing superior products that are designed for high performance and reliability, year after year. Their extensive irrigation experience also allows them to serve their customers with more than just the supply of quality products. Their team is fully equipped with certified designers, tools, and the manpower needed to provide complete solutions for any size irrigation job.
Southern Irrigation has 6 fully-stocked locations across BC and Alberta, with a seventh Saskatchewan location opening in 2022. Their convenient locations make it easy to get everything their customers need for their projects.
Southern Irrigation has expanded their portfolio to include all products related to the transportation of water, including:
• Agriculture irrigation
• Dust suppression
• Fire suppression
• Pump systems
• Residential irrigation
• Water treatment
• Septic
• Drainage
• Waterworks
“Adopting Digital Technologies in an Digital App Overloaded World”
Mike Witkowicz, Ag Exchange Group
Adopting digital technologies can be fun and can be daunting. You have the best of intentions, you go and download another app, things work but then the inevitable happens and something goes astray. It happens with all the apps. You also end up with many screens of apps and you go back and try and figure them out or have forgotten your password, or it just doesn’t work anymore. How do we adopt digital technologies in a digital app overloaded world? Mike will go into strategies for technology adoption, some tips on making the decisions to narrow down what you keep, what you sign up and what you drop. As he likes to say “Technology should enable us to be efficient, but not govern our life, so we need to make decisions.” Join Mike for a fun and interactive session to cause you to think and do something different with technologies.
Mike was born and raised in a small town outside of Saskatoon and has been involved in agriculture all his life. Mike was part of many technological changes that have happened in the last two decades and sees the need for evolutionary change in the way grain is bought and sold. After 22 years with multi-national corporations Mike joined Ag Exchange Group because of the CXN360 service they were bringing to market. The CXN360 service brings more connections to grain buyers and growers in a transparent commission free environment. Using a membership model CXN360 allows both parties to know who they are interacting with through the whole process. CXN360 connects buyer and growers online to buy/sell grain quickly and efficiently, it is the place where business is done! It is Canada’s largest online grain marketplace. Mike is very active in his local community coaching baseball and hockey as well as leading fundraising efforts for the minor baseball club and being a convenor for the minor hockey club. He also very much enjoys camping, boating and traveling this great nation with his family.
“Simple is best when working with tech”
Tom Wolf – Agrimetrix Research & Training
Presented By Alberta Wheat Commission
Navigating the wide array of digital applications can be a rough road for farmers. During this session, technology expert Tom Wolf will guide your way and provide an insider view on which applications are best for daily farming tasks.
Tom Wolf grew up on a grain farm in southern Manitoba and has spent his whole life farming or working for farmers. He obtained his BSA (1987) and M.Sc. (1991, Plant Science) at the U of M, and his Ph.D. (1996, Agronomy) at the Ohio State University, where he specialized in spray application technology. He is a professional agrologist, a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and a member and past president of the Canadian Weed Science Society. Tom’s expertise is spray drift, pesticide efficacy, and sprayer tank cleanout, and he has published and spoken extensively on national and international stages on these topics.
Dr. Jennifer Zantinge
Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
“Cracking the genetic code for better barley ”
Dr. Jennifer Zantinge – Field Crop Development Centre, Olds College
Molecular biology and genetics can be used to improve the efficiency of developing better varieties. By looking at the DNA, we can identify regions in the plant’s genome that contribute to how the plant looks in the field or reacts to a pest. With the explosion of new technologies involving genetics and molecular biology, the Field Crop Development Centre breeding program uses many of these to enhance the both the quality of trait selection and speed of variety development.
Dr. Jennifer Zantinge comes from a diverse background. She grew up on a dairy farm and then attended the University of Guelph graduating with degrees in molecular biology, microbiology, and pathobiology. Jennifer has 20 years of experience leading the molecular genetics/biotechnology laboratory within the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) at Olds College. Her research has included the application of molecular/lab-based techniques to enhance variety development and supporting the cereal pathology lab by utilizing molecular genetics to improve pathogen surveillance.
The Field Crop Development Centre has been developing new barley and triticale varieties for malting, feed, and forage uses since 1972. The breeding programs are supported by quality, pathology, and biotechnology laboratories. FCDC transitioned to Olds College from the Alberta Government in January 2021.