Sign up for our free daily newsletter

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday April 6, 2022

Apr 6, 2022 | 10:16 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Four of Alberta’s crop commissions are part of an educational program with a focus on the crop sector.

Project Agriculture will now include new junior high social studies and science topics.

The program is a free online education program for teachers and students offering classroom activities, original videos profiling Alberta farmers and Alberta and agriculture-specific information for students from Grades 7 to 12.

The new additions to the website include Agriculture Histories for Grade 7 Social Studies, Sustainable Practices and Food Diversity for Grades 7 and 8 Science curriculums.

The program allows students and teachers the flexibility to use a project-based approach or implement short and focused activities that bring more attention to the agriculture industry.

The program was originally designed and implemented by Alberta Milk, Egg Farmers of Alberta, Alberta Chicken Producers, Alberta Turkey Producers and Alberta Hatching Eggs Producers. Alberta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growers, and the Alberta Wheat Commission are now participating.

The federal government is providing funding to a company that is focused on the digitization of farming.

Mojow Autonomous Solutions Inc. will receive $419,000 to develop an AI (Artificial Intelligence) Data Recording Kit (Eye-Box).

Eye-Box is a small, rugged, and economical sensor suite that contains multiple cameras, as well as GPS, combined with a compute unit for real-time processing of collected data.

When farm machinery is in use, the Eye-Box will automatically collect images and classify each pixel. This will create or update a digital twin representation of the entire farming entity.

The data from the digital representation will be used in computer algorithms, to help farm operators to make decisions when addressing field-level issues.

Rather than have employees process data, the Eye-Box will work automatically and allow farmers and employees to focus their attention on daily tasks.

The Alberta government has placed a $75 bounty on wild boar in the County of Stettler and the Municipal District of Peace.

Agriculture Minister Nate Horner said the boars are a threat to the environment and could spread dangerous animal diseases.

They have now been reported in 28 rural municipalities in the province.

The boars were imported into Alberta in the 1970s and 1980s as a means of diversifying livestock operations, but some escaped into the wild.

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW