Olds College expands Smart Farm research into Saskatchewan

Olds College of Agriculture and Technology is expanding its Smart Farm research into Saskatchewan. 

Todd Ormann, Associate Vice President of Strategic Partnerships says the expansion into Saskatchewan was made possible with the donation of 800 acres of land west of Craik by Margery and her late husband George Steckler.

"They initially grew up in Saskatchewan, that's where their homestead was, then they moved into Alberta and farmed. They pledged the land to us, so that 800 acres in Saskatchewan is part of that pledge. The intent of that land is to do exactly what we're doing here in Olds, Alberta and make that very strongly focused on applied research."

He notes work at the Smart Farm is primarily focused on five key areas of applied research, autonomous agricultural equipment, sensors, data utilization, technology development and validation, and regenerative agriculture.