Horizons Winter Spring 2023: Moving Forward

Moving Forward

New President, Dr. Ben Cecil, Excited to Join Olds College Team

Floating Island Technology in RealWorld Environments

Winter/Spring 2023

Horizons is published by Olds College Marketing & Communications. The magazine is mailed to alumni and friends of Olds College.

Editor: Melissa Zembik Communications Advisor, Applied Research, Marketing & Communications

To Reach Us: Editorial/Advertising/Letters: Horizons, Marketing & Communications, Olds College 4500-50 Street, Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6 Ph: 403.507.7717 Fax: 403.556.4704 communications@oldscollege.ca

Address Change: Olds College, 4500-50 Street Olds, Alberta T4H 1R6 Ph: 403.556.8232 Fax: 403.556.4704 development@oldscollege.ca Toll-free: 1.800.661.6537 Online: oldscollege.ca

Moving Forward with 14th President

New President, Dr. Ben Cecil, Excited to Join Olds College Team

On Nov. 2, 2022, Leona Staples, Chair, Olds College Board of Governors, announced the 14th President of Olds College of Agriculture & Technology – Dr. Ben Cecil. The Board of Governors conducted a nation-wide executive search to find the College’s next President.

Dr. Cecil comes to Olds College from London, Ont., where he most recently served as Vice-President, Academic at triOS/Eastern College. With deep roots tied to the agriculture and horticulture sectors, Dr. Cecil brings a personal connection to agriculture, and a successful career dedicated to post-secondary with him to his new role as President.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down and interview Dr. Cecil to learn more about the College’s next President, who starts at the College on Jan. 16, 2023.

When it comes to career accomplishments, I’m most proud of the teams I have worked with over the years. It has been my honour working with outstanding people and developing incredible teams. Building strong teams that rely on the collective expertise of the group, using that expertise in a genuinely collaborative way, and establishing a “culture of the possible” where the team members really (and I mean REALLY) support each other has been the greatest accomplishment of my career.

inflation, and the need to produce more food with fewer resources to feed an ever-growing global population, comes with increasing demand for a skilled workforce to provide agricultural products and services. Olds College is uniquely positioned to leverage its innovative and entrepreneurial culture to train the next generation of agricultural leaders who will deploy new technologies, optimize agricultural output, and develop transformative practices to create a better world. It is through the personal development of the individual, grounded in applied hands-on student centric and industry-informed practice, where I see unlimited opportunity. In Olds College, I see this opportunity to educate the next generation and advance a sector so critical to the success of not only the province, but our entire world, and I am excited to become part of it.

I grew up in rural Ontario and worked on both my grandparent’s farm in Tweed, and on a dairy farm in Simcoe as a young man. Each weekend on my grandparent’s farm, we had a delivery of 100 to 120 chicks and I worked many hours under the heat bulbs in the poultry brooder sorting chicks. On the dairy farm, I was the summer labourer. I loaded hay bales, mucked the stalls, and made sure the cattle didn’t get hurt or break a leg — meaning I was responsible for ‘tending’ to the groundhog holes in the pastures.

I’ve applied that first-hand work ethic developed on the farm into the support of academic programs I have led such as Hort-Tech, Landscape Technologist, Environmental Science, Wetland Remediation, Ecosystem Restoration, Arboriculture and Greenhouse Operations.

When I was in the private sector, I managed projects for a number of meat packers and processors such as Maple Leaf Foods, Dominion Packers and Mitchell’s Gourmet Foods in Saskatoon. I worked the kill-floor in a processing plant, which allowed me to gain first-hand experience to support clients in the sector.

I continue to take that hands-on, learn-as-you-live-it approach in all that I do. Applying that knowledge, that experience, and now linking it to my experience in the college sector is how I plan to help Olds College advance as the leading agriculture education institution in the country.

Why are you interested in working in the agriculture and agri-food sector?

The pandemic has reinforced in us the importance of food security. With the disruptions to global supply chains, access to safe and affordable food in an era of accelerated

Why do you enjoy working in post-secondary?

The students. I firmly believe that all students arrive at our doors on their first day of college and they see themselves as the agri-business workers, farriers, landscape technicians, or precision agriculture technologists they hope to become upon graduation. We have a sacred trust to help them fulfil those dreams and bring those dreams to life by providing them with the education, experiential learning, and success-supports to achieve those dreams. When we help the students, we advance our mission and we create a better, transformed sector (ag and education) as we transform lives, one student, one graduate at a time. When students cross the stage when they graduate, and we have had a hand in helping them get to that point where they are achieving their dreams – there is simply nothing more fulfilling to me.

What are the core components of your leadership style?

You will all likely hear this a lot in the coming weeks/months/ years from me — and it is the steadfast and unwavering foundation of my leadership style. In everything we do, before we act or undertake anything, ask yourself these three questions: 1) Is it good for the students? 2) Is it good for the College? 3) Is it good for the communities we serve? To those questions, we must get three “yes” answers before we act. Anything less than a three-way “yes” means we need to rethink the approach, the action or even the initiative itself. In all we/I do, the students will always be the first focus, immediately connected to how we (all Olds College employees) benefit from the initiative as we support

What accomplishment in your career are you most proud of, and why?

How did you start out in the agriculture industry, and how has it brought you to where you are today?

our students, and how what we are about to do serves the industries, sectors and communities we touch.

To ensure the “yes” is well informed, I listen. I rely on information from the experts across the College, in the community and in the sector to help make good decisions. I seek people’s opinions, so you will see me asking lots of questions to understand your context about an issue. In meetings, I do far more listening than speaking. I let the experts be the experts, and I count on their expertise to inform decisions. I use healthy and respectful conversations/debates to gather as many viewpoints as possible on issues before decisions are made, and once made, we/I communicate the decision and then act boldly.

What excites you about working at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology?

The fact that everything at the College is singularly focused on agriculture and technology. That focus brings clarity. That focus brings commitment. It brings energy and a sense of community that we are all working towards a singular purpose. That focus allows the three questions above to remain the center of our decision-making without the divisional rivalries over budgets, recognition, or small ‘a’ agendas so typical of many institutions that do not have a focus. Our guiding purpose is clear –“Transforming Agriculture for a better world.” Agriculture — period. Clear. Powerful. Focused. And I’m excited to expand on that century-plus of tradition, double-down on what we are leaders at (ag and tech), continue to fulfill the mission of the College, deliver on our excellent strategic plan, and not change that direction. I’m excited to take that direction into even more focused ag and tech offerings and opportunities that will help Olds become not only the provincial, but national leader in agriculture education and sector thought leadership.

What is your plan for the first three months as President of Olds College?

Lots of listening, asking questions, and getting to know the culture that is uniquely Olds. I want to meet the students and employees in their classrooms, labs, fields, and work sites to hear first-hand their hopes and desires for their future and hear from them about their college experiences. I’ll be doing a lot of walking the halls in the first few months,

listening and learning as I try to meet as many people as I can so I may hear their stories.

I will also be connecting with sector leaders, local businesses, partners, sponsors, donors and local government just to name a few.

Will

you be relocating to Olds?

Absolutely. My wife and I have already found a little place in town, and we are so looking forward to becoming part of the community. It’s important to me to live in the community where I work — to be part of the town, to participate in local events, to shop at and support the local stores, and to get my coffee at the local coffee shop.

Having lived across the country, in big cities and small towns, I prefer community-minded living. Knowing and helping your neighbours, and working to better not just the lives of students who come through the doors of the College, but all lives in the region — because the work we do at the College is immensely rewarding and is what draws me to Olds (College and community).

What is your vision for Olds College of Agriculture & Technology?

I talked about doublingdown on our tradition of agriculture and technology to support both Alberta and the entire ag sector. I’m committed to that tradition. I want to see the existing Strategic Plan and the direction it sets (a plan, by the way, that is superbly done with clear measurable outcomes all connected to the transformation of agriculture) fully achieved. Agriculture is transforming at an ever-increasing pace. I want to make sure our graduates have the skills and knowledge to help Alberta be the leader in agriculture and then help us (Olds College) take that leadership to the world. I know that might sound ambitious, and it is. We have experienced severe weather from droughts to floods on the Prairies, we have introduced advanced technology to improve crop/production yields, and we are finding ever more innovative ways to be effective stewards of the land. These are issues many parts of the world are now facing for the first time as it relates to their traditional agricultural practices. We’ve lived it. We’ve found solutions. We’ve got the experts right here at Olds College. We’re educating the next generation of thought

leaders who can continue their innovative work. Now, let’s bring that knowledge to the world.

What role do you see the College playing going forward to support applied research and industry?

I’ve always found the agriculture community to be very open to sharing knowledge. Helping each other helps everyone. So sharing ideas, innovations, what works and what doesn’t is the “culture” in agriculture. The College has many experts in their respective fields who are exploring leading-edge solutions to some of the challenges the sector is facing. With the resources of the College, the knowledge of our employees, and an eager group of students willing to apply their learning into real-world, hands-on experiences and challenges places the College at the heart of delivering solutions. Working with industry, locally and abroad, to solve real issues so we can then share them with the world is a natural extension of both our mission and our social purpose. As I have done at other colleges across the country, I intend to continue to support our role in applied research, industry support, and knowledge sharing through our employees and through the Olds College Centre for Innovation.

In the time between your hiring and your start date, what have you done to prepare for this role at Olds College?

Reading, reading and more reading. Anything and everything I can get my hands on — from the College’s reports, to the town history, to the PSLA, to reports from the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission, to the Alberta Beef Producers and everything in-between.

I have been meeting weekly with Dr. Ray Block, Interim President of Olds College, who has been so helpful in

“

sharing information about the College and getting me up to speed on matters at the College — from research, to budgets, to community connections. I have also been working closely with Heather Steckly, Chief of Staff, who has helped so much in preparing for my arrival. To both of them, I owe a huge debt of thanks.

From your research of Olds College, what do you think is the most unique quality of the College? What stood out the most to you?

It could be the Brewery. It could be the Equine Massage certificate program. It could be the focus on agriculture for 110 years. It could be that there are horses stabled at the heart of campus. It could be the size of the land holdings of the College at 3,600 acres (making it the largest educational facility in the country). It could have been the autonomous equipment on the Smart Farm. Quite frankly, the list is so long, I could go on for ages.

What really stood out the most was when I spoke with students and members of the faculty, and the passion they have for the College. The faculty spoke of how their program was supporting students; and the students said with passion how personalized their learning was at Olds College because of how the faculty and staff genuinely care about them not just as a learner, but also as a person. That, for me, sealed the deal. I was in. I was immediately invested. To see that passion from the faculty for what we do and to hear it echoed by the students said to me “Olds College lives the three questions with a resounding ‘YES’ in every answer.” That’s an amazing quality to see in an institution — and I can’t wait to be part of it.

-Dr. Ben Cecil

Moving the Brand Forward Introducing Olds College of Agriculture & Technology — New Brand Unveiled

In August 2022, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology introduced its new brand which captivates all of the amazing work the College does to drive innovation in agriculture.

Feedback was gathered from months of consultation with the College’s campus community which built the foundation for the new public facing name and brand: Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. Break New Ground.

“Our new brand captures the institution that we have grown into and represents the incredible work that is being done at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology,” comments Blayne Meek, Director, Marketing & Communications. “When we started talking to members of the College community, strong themes emerged around the purpose and impact of our organization, along with an intense openness to changing the existing brand framework and logo. All of the themes and insights gathered from our campus consultations were used to create the foundation of our new brand.”

The new public facing name is paired with a new visual identity and logo that signals the strength of the College’s positioning within the educational, agricultural and ag-tech sectors. Overtly, the shield form suggests heraldry associated with higher-learning institutions. Within the shield form, one can easily recognize the field and sky symbolism related to agriculture. More subtle is the logo’s precise line forms, its central hexagon form, colour story and font selection — all of which express the College’s technological excellence. The logo also captures the concept of connection which can be seen in the interconnectivity of the forms that create the shield.

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is a technical institution offering industry demand-driven programming with an intensive focus on agriculture and technology. Agriculture is not just a stand-alone program offered by a single faculty of a giant comprehensive institution — it’s part of every school on our campus and it defines our campus environment. Agriculture is how we started; it’s core to who we are today and how we make our mark; and it’s our future because it’s our single greatest opportunity to shape the world in meaningful ways.

It is through applied research that Olds College of Agriculture & Technology finds answers to some of the biggest issues our world faces today, and through experience-based learning that we build the workforce to prepare for tomorrow.

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology provides a unique student experience by creating advanced learning environments where students connect with real-world opportunities and businesses on a destination campus that promotes community.

“The ag sector is poised to undertake a dramatic evolution that will foster innovation and technology, and create economic and employment opportunities at a pace that was hard to imagine just a few short years ago,” comments Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development & Strategy. “Olds College of Agriculture & Technology is positioned to lead at the forefront of this emerging ag revolution. We are shaping the hearts and minds of a new generation of learners, employers and partners; and our new brand beautifully captures the essence of who we are and our promise to Canada’s ag sector.”

Moving Sustainability Forward Floating Island Technology in Real-World Environments

A team of researchers, partners and funders get the floating islands assembled.

Finding natural and sustainable ways to produce high-quality recycled water at Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) has grown from controlled greenhouse trials to real-world environment studies after years of applied research with promising results.

In 2018, researchers at OCCI began examining how native wetland plants and floating island technology could remove excessive nutrients and contaminants from water in a greenhouse study. Years of promising research findings and advancements to floating island technology made OCCI confidently expand the applied research to complex 'real-world' situations — 55 floating islands were recently launched on two feedlot runoff ponds near Linden, Alta.

This applied research project titled Floating Island Technology for Livestock Water Remediation aims to provide producers with sustainable, low-cost management practices that improve runoff water quality for livestock drinking water and irrigation. The project is now in its third phase of research which includes evaluating floating islands on feedlot runoff ponds to study real-world implications.

Dr. Daniel Karran, ecohydrologist and instructor in the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology at Olds College, is the principal investigator responsible for managing the project activities, data analysis and technical reporting. Promising results from the previous phases of floating island research has shown the importance of testing the technology in real-world environments.

“Improving water resource management is crucial, especially in agriculture as the world needs to feed a growing population with fewer resources,” says Dr. Karran. “Being able to recycle water that is typically not useful for anything — and do it in an environmental, sustainable and economical way — is a huge opportunity for the College and we’re thrilled to be moving into the real-world phase of research. The next two years will provide tangible insights into the ability to remediate feedlot runoff water without the need of water treatment plants or unnecessary chemicals.”

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Krista Pick (bottom left), Research Technician, collects plant samples during the deployment with Ruth Elvestad (right), Project Lead (retired), and Steven Tannas (far left).

Fifty-five floating islands were launched between two feedlot ponds at producer sites Klassen Agriventures Ltd. and Penridge Feeders Inc. in September 2022 before freeze-up to get the plants climatized. The floating islands stay in the frozen feedlot ponds throughout winter in order to begin remediating the water in spring, and will be closely monitored for two years of research. The innovative and sustainable floating island technology should also help producers with maintenance, appearance and odour control of the ponds.

Researchers will be evaluating the feedlot runoff ponds with floating islands installed, as well as two control feedlot ponds without islands to provide continual baseline data of how ponds are performing with and without the technology. The monitoring period is predominantly during the summer months, and researchers will be collecting weekly water samples and plant samples late spring, summer and fall.

Krista Pick, Research Technician, Environmental Stewardship with OCCI, has been a key researcher on the project for over four years. She works alongside research technician Emilie Edgar to monitor the ponds and islands, perform water and plant sampling, and check weather parameters, precipitation and contaminant concentrations at the sites on a weekly basis.

Project timeline

Floating island deployment at Klassen Agriventures Ltd. and Penridge Feeders Inc.

Process baseline data results collected between April 2021 and September 2022 (pre-floating island deployment).

Monitor and continue testing all four ponds and floating islands.

“We were all amazed to see how well native wetland plants on floating islands removed excessive nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from contaminated water in the previous greenhouse trials,” says Pick. “We’ve been monitoring and testing four feedlot runoff ponds for the last 18 months to collect baseline data for the project. It was a monumental step to launch the 55 floating islands on the water, and we look forward to collecting and analyzing data over the next two years to see if they can produce highquality recycled water for producers.”

This project continues in close partnership with Steven and Eileen Tannas from Tannas Conservation Services Ltd. who designed and patented the floating island technology, and helped the College select the native wetland plants for this real-world phase of research.

This applied research into natural ways to remove contaminants from water systems evolved thanks to funding from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Highfield Investment Group, Results Driven Agriculture Research and United Farmers of Alberta.

Stay up-to-date with research findings and results of floating island technology at oldscollege.ca/smartfarm.

Harvest plants so they don’t leach what they’ve absorbed back into the water.

Plants are perennials and will re-grow in spring 2024.

Process first year’s results and analysis.

Monitor and continue testing all four ponds and floating islands for a second season.

Harvest plants and potentially remove floating islands.

Process final results and analysis.

Final report.

Krista Pick, Research Technician, collects water samples during the deployment.

Smart Farms Move Forward Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network’s First Expansion Site

In July 2022, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology announced the first expansion site for the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network: the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

The Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network — led by Olds College Smart Farm — is a network of smart farms committed to sharing data and expertise that will help farmers, industry, and creators better understand, use, and develop smart agricultural technologies.

The network was launched in 2021 and is funded by the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN). Its goal is building a collaborative framework among Canada’s smart farm initiatives, and includes Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm located in Langham, Sask. and Lakeland College located in Vermilion, Alta.

For Dr. Joy Agnew, Associate Vice President of Applied Research at Olds College, the network’s expansion and collaboration across different agricultural zones and land bases brings more depth to the projects and technology evaluations conducted at Canada’s smart farms, and that will benefit farmers and developers.

“We are so pleased to have the USask Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence be a part of the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network,” says Dr. Agnew. “With additional partners come additional opportunities in applied research and education that will help producers maximize technology and data when they’re making those sometimes tough farm management decisions. Independent validation of ag technologies is critical, and so is ensuring that validation is done using more than a single smart farm and more than one agro-climatic zone.”

At LFCE, researchers investigate different aspects of beef cattle production “from soil to supper” and test drive new options to enhance animal health and welfare, product quality, and food safety on Canada’s farms.

“We are delighted to bring in the livestock aspect to the PanCanadian Smart Farm Network and collaborate with Olds College, Glacier FarmMedia Discovery Farm Langham and Lakeland College,” says Dr. Scott Wright, Executive Director of LFCE, University of Saskatchewan. “We believe this network of smart farms creates an opportunity to facilitate and support ag tech innovation, development, and demonstration in support of sustainable production and to help producers maximize technology and data. We look forward to the road ahead.”

Visit oldscollege.ca/smartfarmnetwork to learn more about the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network, or contact Olds College Centre for Innovation to inquire about joining the network.

Linking smart farms across the country multiplies the learnings and increases the value of data generated to connect farmers with industry and research partners to find practical solutions to ag challenges.

Moving Livestock Research Forward Exploring Nofence Collars: Virtual Fence Technology

Rotational grazing systems can help maximize soil health and pasture productivity, but are hard to implement due to labour shortages and infrastructure costs. To help farmers overcome these challenges, researchers at the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology performed a test in August 2022 with a virtual fencing system to understand how beef cattle respond to the technology.

The study provided preliminary information on the functionality of the Nofence© collar, an animal-friendly novel virtual fence technology that allows producers to remotely contain and control grazing cattle by using audio cues and electric stimuli from collars instead of physical fences. While Nofence has been tested in some countries, this was one of the first trials using this technology to manage cattle in Alberta conditions.

“We wanted to start testing the collars on cattle in real-world scenarios to see if they could help enhance pasture productivity and soil health,” says Laio Silva Sobrinho, Research Associate with the TACLP at Olds College. “We’ve been conducting great research on the Olds College Smart Farm with rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture practices during the last few years. Virtual fencing systems could make managing herds easier in order to prevent overgrazing and implement rotational grazing — which could increase carbon sequestration for producers.”

During the initial seven-day test in August 2022, the TACLP gathered a total of eight Angus crossbred heifers, aged 18 months, from the College herd with no prior experience of a virtual fencing system. Half of the herd (four heifers) were fit with Nofence collars. Researchers regularly monitored the animals in the field and activities of the animals using the Nofence mobile app.

From performing this initial test, the TACLP researchers observed the heifers were quick to learn how the system works and how to respond to the audio cues and electric stimuli (electrical pulse between one to three kilovolts for

one second). It appeared that by using collars on only half of the herd, the team was still able to manage the whole herd. Researchers also found that the GPS accuracy and cell connectivity works well with the Nofence collars.

Since the College’s cattle herd spends winter in the campus feedlot, researchers will continue preliminary testing of the Nofence collars at Neilson Cattle Development, a producer partner site near Stettler, Alta., during the upcoming months. The TACLP works on numerous applied research and feefor-service projects with Lance and Karyn Neilson, and their farm allows researchers to test products and services in a real-world scenario.

On Neilson’s farm, researchers will be evaluating other cattle wearing the collars while grazing in a corn field to test battery life in Canadian winter conditions, Nofenceapp usability and animal performance. Researchers are also interested to see if the collars work with different sized pastures (especially small pastures) and if animals can learn to avoid the virtual fence boundaries.

The TACLP is planning to conduct more comprehensive trials on virtual fencing once additional collars arrive at the College in 2023. Researchers intend on testing the Nofence collars in larger areas and with a larger group of cattle wearing the collars. Researchers also want to continue observing the collars’ performance in different seasons under a variety of outdoor temperatures.

Visit oldscollege.ca/TACLP to continue learning about virtual fencing on the Olds College Smart Farm as the TACLP continues to move forward with its research.

Benefits of virtual fencing for producers can include:

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Managing herds remotely. ƒ Changing the location of livestock without much effort (less labour intensive) — especially on larger lands.

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Being able to graze cattle in locations that are difficult to fence due to hills and varying geography, including Crown land leased by producers.

ƒ Saving money on fencing since the collars can be less expensive than installing fencing (due to recent increases of lumber and fencing supply prices).

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Eliminating fencing issues for wildlife conservation.

Screenshot from the Nofence© mobile app during the preliminary test in August 2022 on the Smart Farm.

Excluding cattle from areas with management concerns more easily. ƒ Preventing overgrazing, implementing rotational grazing to enhance pasture productivity and soil health, and increasing carbon sequestration — leading to potential carbon credits for producers.

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Moving Forward with Autonomy Applied Research Opportunities Growing with Autonomous Agriculture

Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) is pushing the boundaries of autonomy applied to agricultural operations with its Raven OMNiPOWER™ platform utilizing technology and equipment to farm more efficiently. The team is wrapping up three growing seasons using OMNiPOWER on the Olds College Smart Farm — and the applied research opportunities in autonomy keep coming.

OMNiPOWER operating next to conventional equipment.

OMNiPOWER joined Olds College of Agriculture & Technology initially for a 3½-year applied research project on autonomous agriculture equipment. The College owns the OMNiPOWER autonomous platform with three implements: Seedmaster 30-foot air seeder, Pattison 120foot sprayer and New Leader 90-foot fertilizer spreader.

Roy Maki, Research Project Manager, Smart Ag, is leading the College’s autonomous agriculture equipment initiative for broad acre crop production. Maki and his team are continuing to collect information and observations from OMNiPOWER to understand the benefits and challenges of autonomous agriculture equipment.

“The confidence gained from using OMNiPOWER for three years of back-to-back operations led to the Smart Farm relying on OMNiPOWER to perform significant seeding, spraying and spreading duties in the 2022 growing season,” says Maki.

“Working with OMNiPOWER over the past few years shows us that autonomous technology is available and mature enough for broad acre farming,” says Maki. “We’ve been able to expand our data collection to compare OMNiPOWER to conventional equipment, as well as test a new to Olds College coulter bar. As we gather more and more data throughout the project, we gain more insights into the performance of autonomous equipment on the farm.”

One major project milestone was comparing autonomous equipment operations to conventional equipment in terms of cost, labour and efficiencies. Team members working with OMNiPOWER are performing comparable autonomous data collection with an electronic data

OMNiPOWER demonstration at AgSmart 2022 with the coulter bar implement from Pattison Liquid Systems.

collection system called a Somat-eDAQ. The device electronically collects location specific data (GPS) and equipment data (CAN bus) at a rate of two times a second and includes starts, stops, and field and fuel efficiency.

The College owns two Somat-eDAQ devices: one is installed on OMNiPOWER and the second is housed in a carrying case and used to collect data in conventional equipment. This provides the team with robust datasets tracing the equipment’s progress and any downtime, tracking fuel consumption and field/route efficiencies, identifying temporal/spatial points of interest, and calculating hands-off operational time. The datasets collected are used to evaluate autonomous versus conventional equipment.

Two years of data acquisition with the Somat-eDAQ devices and results show promise that OMNiPOWER performs favourably to conventional farm equipment when measuring field efficiencies; however, work rates will be lower mainly due to engine power limitations and slower operating speeds.

The team is currently gathering and comparing all the datasets collected from the Somat-eDAQ devices from OMNiPOWER and conventional equipment during the 2022 growing season, and are looking forward to making more comparisons.

The team also tested the OMNiPOWER-ready coulter toolbar for liquid sectional control from Pattison Liquid Systems to reduce on-farm input costs. The team was loaned the coulter bar from Pattison to use for field demonstrations during AgSmart 2022, and was able to test the equipment in the field afterwards by fertilizing 66 acres. Learnings from field operations on the Smart Farm of operating this equipment in a new region and soil zone were passed on to Pattison after the trial period.

To increase the number of available acres for testing and operation, Olds College continues to partner with local producers Carlson Ag, Gatez Farms Ltd. and Antler Valley Farm to operate OMNiPOWER on a number of their fields located near Olds. OMNiPOWER completed a total of 64 missions during the 2022 season — mission being the term used when OMNiPOWER is carrying out an operation in a field after it has been programmed.

What’s next in autonomous equipment applied research on the Smart Farm? Stay tuned to oldscollege.ca/smartfarm.

OMNiPOWER with the coulter bar implement from Pattison Liquid Systems.

Roy Maki, Research Project Manager, in Field 2E on the Smart Farm while OMNiPOWER is performing a mission.

Moving the Expo Forward AgSmart: Growing into the Future

AgSmart 2022 welcomed over 2,880 people to the two-day educational expo focused on agriculture technology and data across the sector – how to gather it and how to use it to enhance productivity and profits.

“AgSmart 2022 was a huge success,” comments Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development & Strategy, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. “AgSmart is designed to provide an opportunity for producers and the ag industry to come together to learn, share, network and engage around ag technology, data and practices. The event also provides producers a chance to experience the Olds College Smart Farm, and to see and learn about the many different applied research projects that are taking place at the College.”

The expo featured 50 educational sessions from industry experts, welcomed 110 exhibitors and had several hands-on agriculture technology demonstrations — including OneCup AI’s BETSY livestock monitoring system,

precision spraying from Rocky Mountain Equipment, and Ag Business’ soil sampling and drones.

“As a producer, I find value in attending an expo like AgSmart,” says Kevin Bender, producer and member of AgSmart Industry Advisory Committee. “It is great to see the tech in action and learn from the experts on such a wide range of topics.”

AgSmart is already well into planning for 2023. The outdoor educational expo will continue to evolve with new advancements being planned for next year’s event.

Based on feedback from attendees and stakeholders, the dates for AgSmart 2023 have shifted to Aug. 1 and 2 prior to the August long weekend. Another exciting update is that the Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) will hold their annual FCDC Field Day in conjunction with AgSmart on Aug. 2 at Olds College campus.

Stay tuned for updates and ticket sales launching in the spring by visiting AgSmartOlds.ca.

Student Experience Moves Forward

Official Grand Opening of the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre

Executives and donors at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. From left to right, Dr. Ray Block, Interim President of Olds College of Agriculture & Technology; Ceilia Sutton, President of the Students’ Association of Olds College; Nathan Cooper, MLA for Olds, Didsbury, Three Hills; Susan Norman-Werklund; David Werklund; Bob Collier; Carollyne Collier; and Leona Staples, Chair, Olds College Board of Governors.

On Oct. 5, 2022, over 200 guests gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre. This modern facility was designed for the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology campus to enhance the student experience through high-tech learning spaces.

The Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre is named after David Werklund and Susan Norman-Werklund in recognition of their leadership, investment and support that has transformed the College into one of Canada’s premier agriculture and agri-food learning and research institutions.

“In July 2020, thanks to financial contributions from the Government of Alberta and David Werklund and Susan Norman-Werklund, the construction project for the new Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre began,” comments Patrick Machacek, Vice President, Development & Strategy, Olds College. “Through the support and vision of our partners and internal team, we have created a state-of-the-art facility for our students to experience ag-tech learning.”

In addition, Bob and Carollyne Collier made a generous donation to the College towards enhancing the learning experiences of students within the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology. In recognition of their support, the heart of the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre is named the Bob & Carollyne Collier Student Commons, and is a central gathering space for students to study, meet, relax and socialize.

About the Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre

The new $14 million facility features 3,000 square metres of technology-focused learning space, including a lecture theatre, three large hands-on ag tech labs, collaboration and group areas for students, faculty offices, and the Bob & Carollyne Collier Student Commons.

The new Centre houses the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology programs, including the College’s new Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Degree.

David Werklund and Susan NormanWerklund speaking to guests at the event.

Reproductive Efficiency Moves Forward

Handling Acclimation Practices Increase Pregnancy Rates in Heifers

Researchers at the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production (TACLP) at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology have performed two years of research that shows adopting handling acclimation procedures leads to heifers having a greater pregnancy rate — results showed a 10.84 per cent increase. Reducing animal stress seems to be the key to improving reproductive efficiency.

Dr. Désirée Gellatly, Research Scientist at the TACLP, has gathered two years of data from back-to-back studies in 2020 and 2021 for the Heifer Acclimation project working alongside Neilson Cattle Development, a producer partner site near Stettler, Alta. This applied research confirmed that handling acclimation — a combination of repeated non-aversive handling and positive feed reinforcement prior to breeding — leads to calmer heifers and a greater pregnancy rate.

The TACLP conducted an initial study on handling acclimation prior to the breeding season in 2020 with a replicate study taking place in 2021. The reproductive performance and reactivity at handling were compared between heifers subjected to handling acclimation procedures against non-acclimated heifers, and Dr. Gellatly recently gathered the data in a final report.

“Studies show that calmly and gently handling cattle more regularly, with a small amount of feed reinforcement offered immediately after handling, can minimize the animal’s stress and anxiety during routine management procedures,” explains Dr. Gellatly. “The primary goal of a cow-calf operation is to produce one calf per cow a year. After conducting this research for two seasons, our results show acclimated heifers in the replicate study had a greater pregnancy rate of 10.84 per cent when compared to the control (non-acclimated) group.”

Research Results

Acclimated heifers had an increment in pregnancy rate of 10.84 per cent when compared to the control group independent of their ranch source. By adopting handling acclimation procedures, heifers were shown to have 7.5 times increased chances (representing a probability of 88.3%; P = 0.06) of becoming pregnant.

Currently, the Neilson’s operational capacity is approximately 1,000 head per year. Based on these findings, adopting the handling acclimation proposed by the TACLP would lead to an increase of 91 calves weaned per year which takes into account a percentage for preweaning mortality of 4.5 per cent described by Pearson et al. (2019).

The 2020 study showed an improvement of 2.23 per cent in the pregnancy rate for the acclimated group compared to the control group. The increment on pregnancy rate from 2.23 to 10.84 per cent in the replicate study is likely connected to the extended advising and training made by the TACLP to Neilson Cattle Development on basic lowstress handling techniques as well as cattle’s perception and behaviour.

Study Details

During the two years of research, 322 heifers aged 13 to 14 months were assessed and evaluated following the same protocol. In the replicate study, there was also a mix of heifers raised at Neilson’s operation and heifers purchased from external ranch sources.

Heifers were ranked by initial body weight prior to the breeding season, and equally allocated to four groups with two groups per treatment. Each group was in a separate feedlot pen and was randomly assigned to acclimated group (heifers subjected to handling acclimation procedures prior to the breeding season) or control group (non-acclimated heifers).

Heifers in the acclimated groups had a person familiar to the animals walk inside the feedlot pens — every other day for a two-week period — talking softly while pail feeding the heifers with a small feed supplement (approximately 100 grams per heifer as-fed basis) while their regular diet was offered daily by feed truck. Additionally, the heifers were run through the chute on three separate days with feed rewards immediately after handling (positive reinforcement).

Heifers in the control groups were fed by feed truck without any human interaction, and were not exposed to handling acclimation procedures prior to breeding.

This research shows that calmly and gently handling cattle more regularly can minimize the animal’s stress and anxiety during routine management procedures. This also helps address the challenge of cattle showing excitable behaviour during routine handling, which usually results in heifers injuring themselves, handlers and/or other animals.

Overwhelmingly positive results from the combined studies means the TACLP is able to use this research to recommend acclimation practices to increase reproductive efficiency, improve overall animal welfare, and increase the profitability and sustainability of cow-calf operations. Read more about this research at oldscollege.ca/TACLP.

Literature cited: Pearson JM, EA Pajor, NA Caulkett, M Levy, JR Campbell, MC Windeyer. Benchmarking calving management practices on Western Canada cow–calf operations, Translational Animal Science, Volume 3, Issue 4, July 2019, Pages 1446–1459.

Heifers in the acclimated groups getting pail fed by a person familiar to them.

Herman Simons, Project ManagerSmart Agriculture Applied Research, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, presenting on economic modeling at AgSmart 2022.

Moving Ag Tech Forward

Digging into the ROI of Variable Rate Technology with TELUS Agriculture

Across the 3,600-acre Smart Farm, Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) is evaluating variable rate technology (VRT) for fertilizer application, which could help producers save money, increase yields and improve their environmental footprint.

Herman Simons, Manager of Smart Ag Applied Research at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, is leading ongoing research to better understand the return on investment (ROI) of VRT as part of a five-year strategic partnership with TELUS Agriculture. The partnership aims to test and develop ag tech to enable greater innovation and better decision making, yields, efficiency and sustainability in food production.

VRT is part of a precision agriculture approach that enables producers to get more exact in what and how much they apply to their crops. With VRT, a field can be defined into respective zones where different or variable rates of applications are used. Producers no longer need to apply a flat rate to an entire field with fertilizer, water, seed or inputs — they can now make more informed and targeted decisions backed by artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), predictive analytics and data from field maps, sensors, soil sampling and historical crop performance. This can ultimately help producers cut costs and improve the use of inputs and natural resources, while increasing productivity, profitability and sustainability.

“We’re trying to help producers more easily quantify the value of VRT on their farm by expressing it in monetary value,” explains Simons. “This economic model will help determine what level of field variability is required to make investing in VRT worthwhile. For example, if producers can reduce 10 per cent of fertilizer usage on a third of their acres without negatively impacting their yield, would it be worth investing in VRT? The range of variability in each field impacts the financial return for VRT. The extent of the field’s variability and the impact it has on ROI has led to a disconnect between the technology that’s already included on farming equipment and the adoption of VRT.”

Validating the Economic Return for VRT Fertilizer: Preliminary Results

The research ran a break-even analysis based on a 10-year time period where VRT fertilizer rates were used on an individual 2,000-acre farm with a four-year crop rotation of canola, wheat, barley and peas. Different scenarios were explored that focused on optimizing fertilizer use, increasing yield and the impact of reduced greenhouse gas emissions related to change in fertilizer use.

Proving the economic viability of VRT for fertilizer application was an important project to explore for both TELUS Agriculture and Olds College. Fertilizer makes up a significant portion of a farmer’s operating costs, and prices have shot up in the last year due to supply chain issues and global conflicts.

“Precision agriculture technologies like VRT can, when implemented with preferred management practices, bring a range of benefits from a sustainability perspective including better environmental outcomes – GHG emission reduction and mitigation of risks to local air and water quality – whilst strengthening farmer livelihoods,” adds Kevin Ramm, Head of Sustainability at TELUS Agriculture. “There are significant economic opportunities for producers, depending on their geography and supply chains, to take part in programs that will reward more sustainable and regenerative farm management practices such as improved nitrogen management. It’s a potential win-win for producers and the planet.”

Future Research with TELUS Agriculture

Prescription map for Steckler Farm, part of the Olds College Smart Farm, which helps the research team build the economic model for VRT.

Simons and his team continue to research VRT’s economic potential to help bridge the adoption gap on farms as part of the TELUS partnership, as well as how it could help optimize fertilizer use to improve environmental sustainability on farms. Further analysis is planned to enhance the level of detail on field variability to make it more farm and field specific, validate the results across different crop types and other VRT such as seeding and crop protection applications, and consider the overall investment required to implement VRT on farms.

Early results indicate that VRT as included in part of normal farming operations can help producers reduce their environmental footprint while staying productive — especially if producers can capitalize on carbon credit programs that the practice itself would qualify them for.

The results also show that prioritizing yield increase from reallocating fertilizer can drive the biggest economic return, rather than focusing on savings from fertilizer reduction only (based on early 2022 fertilizer prices as compared to 2021).

Smart farms, technology development and precision ag have a critical role to play in the ‘global grand challenge’ of feeding a growing population with fewer resources in an increasingly environmentally-aware society. Agriculture is a risky business — technologies and data help crop and livestock producers manage risk.

An updated research report and findings about economic modeling will be released in early 2023. Stay up-to-date with research findings and results at oldscollege.ca/smartfarm.

Fertilizing Prescription

Moving Environmental Responsibility Forward Environmental Farm Plan

Certification for the Smart Farm

The Smart Farm at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology recently received a certificate for completing the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) – a voluntary, whole farm, self-assessment tool that helps producers identify and develop plans to mitigate their environmental risks. Five years in the making, this large achievement was a truly collaborative effort between students, faculty and the Smart Farm team at the College.

A certified Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) shows a significant commitment to environmental sustainability and is well-recognized in the agriculture industry and rural communities. Participating in the program helps Olds College identify and address environmental risks that could affect Smart Farm operations, and increase operational efficiency while reducing farm costs. As well, an EFP completion certificate opens funding eligibility under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

The Alberta EFP website (albertaefp.com) explains the benefits of having an EFP on your farm, and reinforces that a healthy and sustainable environment is key to agriculture and producers. Since the College is publicly funded, it’s also important the Smart Farm demonstrates to the public, government, organizations, donors and funders that it is managing any environmental risks.

Certification Process

Getting a certified EFP originally began when David Johnson, Instructor, Land & Water Resources, Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, brought this idea forward in his Watershed Management class in early 2018. Since an EFP can require a significant investment of time, students initially focused on chapters relating to water and watershed issues on the farm — such as water wells, soil loss, manure management and surface water bodies.

This work-integrated learning initiative then continued into the GIS Tools course within the Werklund School of Agriculture Technology. In early 2022, students enrolled in the Environmental Farm Management course continued working on the Smart Farm EFP for a course project.

“From my perspective, a student’s skills and knowledge are best developed and proved by working them out in real-life situations,” explains Johnson. “When a student knows they will have to apply their knowledge — and report on it not just to the instructor, but to the farm team and an EFP technician — then the content in the classroom takes on new significance. Along with science and mapping-related skills being enhanced in the courses themselves, students strengthened their communication, organizational, leadership and problemsolving skills during this project.”

Student Involvement & Work-Integrated Learning

With a focus on environmental stewardship, students who collaborated on this plan gained practical insights into managing environmental risks and factors that contribute to sustainable production of crops and livestock. This also allowed students to gain a great understanding of the behind the scenes operations on the Smart Farm and the process of building an EFP.

During the creation of the EFP, students were identifying and assessing environmental risks; interpreting and applying government standards on farming operations; developing solutions, recommendations and action plans

Drone imagery of Olds College Smart Farm fields (left) and feedlot pens (right) located on campus.

Certificate #220530-4711

THIS IS TO RECOGNIZE THAT Olds College Smart

Has/have

for mitigating risks; conducting stakeholder engagement and giving a final presentation; and recording GPS locations of key infrastructure and fields to create maps for the Smart Farm.

Bob Hoffos, GPS/GIS Instructor, Land & Water Resources, Werklund School of Agriculture Technology, and one of the subject matter experts at the College on mapping, drone technology, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), worked with students to create specialized maps of the 3,600 acre Smart Farm for the certification. Updated maps were made of some of the fields, buildings, facilities, waterimpacted areas and water sources. Students used a combination of existing aerial photos and GIS layers of the Smart Farm, along with new data collection using Trimble GPS technology, and inputted the data into ESRI ArcGIS mapping software to create an EFP basemap.

“Students did much of the core research related to investigating various farm and land management practices and identifying the potential environmental risks and mitigation strategies that helped build the Environmental Farm Plan,” explains Hoffos. "Farm and facility managers over the past five years have been interviewed, various historical documents reviewed, and visits to various locations around the farm were conducted as part of this investigative work.”

Creating the EFP allowed students to apply concepts and skills learned from their courses to a real-life situation on the Smart Farm, and the Smart Farm team is able to review the EFP final decisions and recommendations. Colin Windover, Assistant Farm Manager on the Smart Farm, highlighted how the EFP certification is useful to the farm team to see where they can make improvements.

A number of recommendations from the EFP have already been adopted on the Smart Farm such as establishing larger buffer zones between wetlands and cultivated fields, improving drainage, decommissioning abandoned water wells, collecting baseline water quality data and analyzing nutrients of manure.

Moving forward, the farm team will look to start implementing additional recommendations along with support from internal and external partners.

Getting EFP certification for the Olds College Smart Farm was a long time in the works. Although the certificate was received in 2022, there is more work to complete as the Smart Farm continues to expand and evolve.

Find more information about Environmental Farm Plans at albertaefp.com.

Student feedback from creating the EFP for the Olds College Smart Farm:

“This was a highlight of my semester — it was a wonderful experience to see a Canadian farm in action and contribute ideas to management.” (international student)

“I had no idea how large the Olds College Smart Farm actually is and how many things are going on.”

“It is really eye-opening to see how the management of a farm operation can affect so many aspects of the environment: groundwater, surface water quality, air quality, biodiversity and of course soil health.”

“Considering the practical limitations and economic costs of reducing environmental risks made it much more challenging, but also much more interesting than a simple theoretical exercise.”

“The EFP project gave me a much better idea of what to expect if I was to work for a county in their ag services department.”

28 Olds College Horizons

Equine Care & Management Certificate

Equine programming has expanded at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology to include a new Equine Care & Management Certificate. In the new one-year certificate program, students will learn foundational knowledge and skills of equine behaviour and handling, management of horses and horse herds, how to respond when first aid is required, and how to communicate effectively within the equine industry.

partake in a directed field study industry placement to gain practical experience while developing skills in equine care and management.

“The new program aims to create an inclusive environment for all learners interested in learning about the whole horse,” comments Dr. Jaryn Scheck, Instructor, School of Life Science & Business. “Students will learn about equine behaviour and horsemanship, equine health, and the business of the equine industry. Students will also participate in a six to eight week work-integrated learning placement within the equine industry.”

In addition to the core programs, students get to select from a list of elective classes including Western Riding, English Riding, Intro to the Veterinary Profession, Reproductive Fundamentals, and Foaling & Foal Management to name a few. Students also have the option to bring their own horse(s) to the College to use for the riding elective classes.

“Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has a long history of providing equine education,” comments Dalin Bullock, Dean of the School of Life Science & Business. “We are very excited to offer this new programming for fall 2023. This entry-level equine program will position students for growth in the unique and diverse world of equine. Whether a student is new to the industry or well experienced, this new program is designed to meet students where they are at.”

Students will gain knowledge on horsemanship, life stages of a horse and opportunities in the equine industry. Along with hands-on learning, students will

The new Equine Care & Management Certificate is one of four equine programs the College offers which includes Equine Reproduction Technician Certificate, Farrier Science Certificate and the Equine Massage Certificate.

Applications are now open for the September 2023 Equine Care & Management Certificate intake.

To learn more about this program, visit oldscollege.ca/programs.

If you’re interested in applying for this program, register to attend an upcoming recruitment event:

ƒ

In-Person Equine Care & Management Preview Day

• Feb. 8, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

ƒ Animal Health & Equine Virtual Webinar

• Feb. 22, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

To register, visit oldscollege.ca.

Agriculture Communications Certificate

The first of its kind in Canada, the new Agriculture Communications certificate is addressing industry demand for increased communication skills and advocacy within the agriculture and agri-food industry.

This unique delivery method also presents a reskilling or upskilling opportunity for employers to invest in their current employees, who would otherwise not have the flexibility in their schedules to sit in a classroom all day. Students can develop new skills while maintaining an existing job, managing their own business or running a farm operation.

Completed over the course of 10 months, students will learn foundations of professional writing, marketing and multi-media production, including entry-level videography, photography and audio production. Students will also learn how to develop public relations and crisis communications campaigns and strategies.

The program features 10 courses that are delivered in a flexible online format followed by a 14-week paid internship that may be completed with the student’s current employer.

This program is eligible for the Canada Alberta Job Grant. To find out if you are eligible, visit alberta.ca/canada-alberta-job-grant.

Launched in November 2022, the program is set to have its first intake of students for fall 2023. The program is being delivered asynchronously online which provides students with the flexibility to learn around their schedule without location restrictions.

“The program was developed through close consultation with industry,” says Brendan Richardson, Instructor, Communications, Werklund School of Agriculture Technology. “They identified a need for additional communications skills, as well as increased advocacy for the agriculture industry through strategic communications and dynamic multimedia storytelling.”

Applications are now open for Fall 2023 intake. To learn more about this program, visit oldscollege.ca/programs.

If you’re interested in applying for this program, register to attend an upcoming recruitment event:

ƒ

Program Information Night: Agriculture

• Feb. 1, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

ƒ Preview Webinar: Agriculture Communications

• Feb. 27, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.

To register, visit oldscollege.ca.

Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Degree

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has a long standing reputation of creating relevant agriculture programming for students. To round out the current agriculture technology program offerings, the College has launched a new Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Degree. The new bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree that will prepare students for leadership roles within agriculture enterprises.

new degree is the work-integrated learning requirement that will have students complete a four-month industry internship between their third and fourth year to gain practical experience while developing skills in leadership, project management and data-informed decision making.”

The career opportunities for graduates are bountiful. Just 45 minutes south of Olds College, Calgary is home to several multinational agriculture firms who represent key decision makers in the industry, offer high-value job opportunities and are leaders in agriculture innovation.

“We are excited and honored to bring the first of its kind Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Degree to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology,” says Jay Steeves, Dean of Werklund School of Agriculture Technology. “We are currently designing courses with international expertise that offer the student an experience in innovation, technology skills, data analysis, management and leadership development along with the ability to be an entrepreneur in the future of food production. Our students will be building the future of agriculture by developing and building companies that will lead the way in global business.”

Students who graduate from the new Digital Ag Degree will be prepared to lead change in the agribusiness sector and tackle global sustainability issues through a corporate lens. The program focuses on business, economics, leadership and global issues, including ethical agriculture, climate change and sustainability.

Steeves continues, “What really sets this program apart is that it offers students the core competencies of a traditional university business degree with a focus on the agriculture sector. An exciting component of the

“The agribusiness sector in Calgary and southern Alberta is growing and continues to play an important role to the economic health of Alberta and Canada,” comments Brady Stadnicki, Business Development Manager, Agriculture at Calgary Economic Development. “Calgary really has become a hotspot for Canadian and global food and technology suppliers. Cargill, Nutrien, TELUS Agriculture, BASF, Old Dutch and PEPSICO are just a few of the established anchor companies that operate in our region. The city is also emerging as a hub for ag tech innovation, scaling solutions to global challenges.”

Applications are currently being accepted for the Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Degree with classes beginning in September 2023.

To learn more about this program, visit oldscollege.ca/programs.

If you’re interested in applying for this program, register to attend an upcoming recruitment event: ƒ

Agriculture Technology Virtual Webinar

• Jan. 25, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. ƒ

In-Person Bachelor of Digital Agriculture Preview Day

• Feb. 8, 2023 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

To register, visit oldscollege.ca.