Innovation key for Farming Smarter

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 1, 2022.

Speaking on sustainable food production and the agriculture industry, the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs hosted Ken Coles, executive director of Farming Smarter, at its weekly discussion panel Thursday held at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization.

Farming Smarter is a non-profit organization that instills a culture of innovation using agronomy research, extensions, and field testing to help farmers compete and grow in a complex environment.

“We are created by farmers for farms,” said Coles. “We have our charitable status as an educational institution. The model we live by is changing the way people farm and focus on innovators. Those are the farmers that are always pushing the envelope, trying out new ideas, and trying new farming practice technology.”

Helping facilitate that work, Farming Smarter works with innovators to move the industry forward. Founded in 2012 with the amalgamation of the Southern Applied Research Association and the Southern Alberta Conservation Association, the organization plays a pivotal role in shaping the agricultural landscape in southern Alberta.

“This year is our tenth anniversary as Farming Smarter,” said Coles. “Moving forward there is a lot of uncertainty, we are coming through a new ag policy framework, which is from the federal government, and we know that there is a lot of climate change focus, so we will see how things go.”

Through six strategic goals, Farming Smarter looks to help the agriculture industry continue to succeed. These goals include building a stable growing resource base, enhancing the value of Farming Smarter, delivering impactful agricultural research, field testing agricultural practices, leading in contract research, and being Alberta’s leading agronomy network.

“A lot of our businesses is working with industry. We will work with chemical companies, seed companies, and test bio-stimulants,” said Coles. “We get locally tested third party data on products and practices that are coming within the industry. It maintains a great connection with industry even though we are still focused on the farm.”

Working towards expansion and growth for the agricultural industry, Farming Smarter advocates for farmers in the southern Alberta region working towards a sustainable future.

“We want to be Alberta’s leading agronomy network, the training and extension component. We want to be the spot where people come to learn, talk, and have a conversation about farming and farming practice,” said Coles.