4R practices and technology showcased at Innovation Farms

Aug 08, 2024

On August 1, 2024, EMILI welcomed over 120 attendees to Innovation Farms powered by AgExpert for Manitoba 4R Day to learn about the benefits of 4R nutrient practices and the role of digital agriculture in enhancing sustainability across the prairies. This marked EMILI’s second year hosting this event in collaboration with Fertilizer Canada.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in a series of dynamic presentations and demonstrations led by industry leaders, offering valuable insights and practical knowledge on advancing agricultural sustainability.

The day started with opening remarks from Dustin Pike, on behalf of Fertilizer Canada. He emphasized the importance of 4R training and how the efficient use of fertilizers can enhance farmers’ returns.

Field presentations highlight 4R practices and technologies
EMILI’s Innovation Farms Manager Leanne Koroscil and Sarah Boychuk from FCC AgExpert discussed the integration of technology and data to improve 4R stewardship. Their presentation highlighted various digital agriculture technologies, including weather stations from METOS, Ukko Agro, and Arable and their ability to track environmental conditions in the field.

In a collaborative presentation, Steve Barron from Double Diamond Farm Supply, Chris Manchur from the Canola Council of Canada, and Marla Riekman and Mitchell Timmerman from Manitoba Agriculture explored advancements in 4R nutrition and enhanced efficiency fertilizers. They discussed both current practices and future developments.

Dave Ives and T.J. Instance of Enns Brothers, along with John Breker from Agvise Laboratories, provided insights on zone management and soil fertility. Their discussion focused on tools and practices that support effective 4R Nutrient Stewardship.

Kory Van Damme from Fortified Agronomy and Jack Carels from Double Diamond Farm Supply addressed the challenges and opportunities of precision agriculture in 4R management, including the basics of field mapping.

Over lunch, attendees had the chance to connect with representatives from Nutrien, Koch, Taurus, Yara, ATP Nutrition, A&L Labs, FCC AgExpert, Farmer’s Edge, and Fertilizer Canada at our Innovation Farmers Market.

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Border View Farms is a mid-sized family farm that sits on the Ohio-Michigan border. My name is Nathan. I make and edit all of the videos posted here. I farm with my dad, Mark and uncle, Phil. We also have a part-time employee, Brock. My dad started the farm in 1980. Since then we have grown the operation from just a couple hundred acres to over 3,000. Watch my 500th video for a history of our farm I filmed with my dad.

I started making these videos in the fall of 2019 as a way to help show what I do on a daily basis as a farmer. Agriculture is different from any other industry and I believe the more people that are showing their small piece of agriculture, helps to build our story. We face unique challenges and stressful situations but have some of the most rewarding payoffs in the end. I get to spend everyday doing what I love, raising my kids on the farm, and trying to push our farm to be better every year. I hope that I can address questions or concerns that you might have about farms and agriculture.