New water forecasting platform will benefit producers in the Pembina Valley Watershed

Feb 16, 2023

The Pembina Valley Watershed District and Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association have joined forces on a key project.

The groups receiving funding of up to $152,250 from AAFC's AgriRisk Initiatives Research and Development Stream

They are teaming up with Aquanty an Ontario software firm to develop a water forecasting platform.

PVWD Manager Ryan Sheffield says the Pembina Valley watershed is a vitally important region for Manitoba covering 5000 sq. km.

Once completed the water forecasting platform will have the ability to forecast and detail water resources and water movement in the Pembina River Valley for farmers and land managers.

Sheffield says being able to access this new tool will be a valuable asset to have on so many levels, from farming to wetland conservation to infrastructure decisions.

"From a planning perspective, once we all get up to speed on what the tool can exactly do and tell us, we will have access to a database around water movement and water resources that we have never had before.”

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

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Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.