Olds College Smart Farm

Olds College, in collaboration with its industry and sector partners, is converting the whole of its farming operation to a Smart Farm: an interconnected environment through which the college is leveraging its land (2,800 acres), existing agriculture operations, and applied research programming, in order to provide a product development and demonstration venue to accelerate agriculture technology and agri-food development. At the same time, the Smart Farm serves as a cutting-edge learning environment for students, producers and the agriculture sector.

Smart Farm Impact Report Smart Farm Interactive Project Map

The Olds College Smart Farm is essentially a giant lab that provides the agriculture sector a venue for commercial scale applied research. It is attracting investment and engagement from companies ranging from multi-national ag and tech companies to SMEs (small and medium enterprises). It also provides our students with a learning environment centred on the future of ag and technology, setting the learning experience apart from other programming in the country.

The purpose of the Olds College Smart Farm is to:

Establish the most efficient way to collect and implement the world's best digital agriculture technologies for crop and livestock production;
Demonstrate increased efficiency of farming operations through implementation of smart technologies and practices; and
Utilize commercial and pre-commercial technologies for world class education, demonstration, and applied research.

The philosophy and principles guiding the development and operation of the Olds College Smart Farm are centred around engaging producers and industry on addressing real-world problems by utilizing and integrating technology and data. The Smart Farm is also focused on teaching students how to integrate, manage and leverage ag technology for the enhancement and sustainability of agri-food production.

With the introduction of the Smart Farm, Olds College has created a trusted space where our partners can collaborate together and work to advance agriculture. The Smart Farm creates a place for producers, industry partners, students and faculty to look at the opportunities and challenges facing the agriculture industry and investigate solutions to evolve agriculture practices.

In the end, Olds College believes that our focus on ag technology and the problems to be solved will serve as a catalyst for new thinking and leadership that inspires cross-industry solutions, innovation and strategic decision-making.

Olds College Smart Farm Crop and Livestock Plan 2021

The Olds College Smart Farm includes 2,800 acres of land for crops and forage production (excluding ponds, roadways and natural areas)

1,117 acres on main campus at Olds, AB
418 acres across Highway 2
308 acres at Pitstra Farm west of Carstairs, AB
312 acres at Steckler Farm west of Didsbury
600+ acres at the Field Crop Development Centre located at Lacombe, AB

The 2021 crop plan and current research projects that have been integrated into the farming operations can be viewed on the interactive Olds College Smart Farm Map.

The Olds College Smart Farm also maintains a cow calf herd with approximately 140 pairs. We currently have 131 cows with calves at foot, 36 yearling heifers (planned for replacements) and 8 bulls. In addition to the commercial beef cattle, Olds College also has a herd of 10 purebred Red Angus yearling heifers, with plans to expand that number in future years. On average, the Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production houses 500 additional animals for custom feeding trials, residual feed intake trials, and other research initiatives on a fee-for-service or cost recovery basis. The Smart Farm also includes 152 breeding ewes, 5 rams, and approximately 300 lambs will be born in 2021.

Autonomous Agricultural Equipment

Automation and robotics for farm operations presents numerous opportunities and challenges for western Canadian agriculture. The applied research related to the DOT power platform and implements is focused on an evaluation of the technical, economic, and environmental "footprint" of autonomous agricultural equipment operation.

Comparison of "life cycle" field efficiency of autonomous equipment and conventional equipment for a variety of field configurations and conditions.
Understanding required labour and skillset required for long-term operation of autonomous agricultural equipment and comparison with conventional equipment
Optimization of mapping tools and techniques to improve efficiency of making a field "DOT-ready"

Data

Smart and precision agriculture is heavily reliant on data. Research at Olds College is focused on developing and optimizing ways to collect, manage and utilize on-farm data for evidence-based decision making.

Hyperlayer data concept development including generation and utilization of multiple layers of geospatial data for the creation of predictive algorithms, mapping plant available soil nutrients, and identification of yield limiting factors.
Using as-applied data to assess overlap reduction with sectional control technologies
Compilation of training data sets and specific data layers to validate and optimize novel soil and crop mapping techniques
Development of a user guide that outlines prescription mapping methods from different service providers and the corresponding file formats
Evaluation and summary of features for various farm data management platforms

Sensors

On-farm data collection relies on climate, soil, crop, and weather monitors and sensors. The applied research at Olds College is focused on evaluating the functionality, accuracy, reliability, and connectivity of pre-commercial and commercial sensors and understanding the value the data can provide to producers.

Implementation of a multi-sensor cluster to evaluate and compare performance of several types of soil, climate, and crop sensors
Measuring the effect of method of installing soil sensors on accuracy of soil moisture data
Validation of real-time soil nutrient sensors
Evaluation of a novel micro-climate sensor

Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture practices support a more holistic management of cropping and livestock systems to improve overall soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability of food production. Applied research at Olds College focuses on evaluation of technologies that support and quantify the benefits of regenerative agriculture practices.

Evaluation of technologies for remote grazing management and quantification of benefits of intensively managed grazing versus conventional grazing on animal, soil, and forage health
Evaluation of novel crop cocktail blends on long-term soil and forage health

Technology Development and Validation

New technologies for agriculture require in-field validation and testing in the setting of an operating farm. Olds College applied research supports refinement and optimization of technologies and provides users with information on functionality, accuracy, and value of technologies.

Evaluation of variable rate prescription mapping using satellite imagery
Preliminary development of cattle facial recognition for cattle identification, lameness detection, etc.
Development and testing of an automated and remotely monitored in-pasture weighing system
Assessment of performance, accuracy, and cost effectiveness of optical spot spraying in western Canadian conditions.
Validation of a novel sensor and algorithm that predicts when grain reaches "average" dry during in-bin drying

Smart Farm Articles

Work-Integrated Learning on the Smart Farm

Providing meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities while benefiting from new skill sets and fresh perspectives — the makings of a successful partnership this year between Olds College and 12 enthusiastic agriculture students.
Floating Island Technology for Livestock Water Remediation

Olds College researchers are evaluating the economic and environmental benefits of using native wetland plants and floating island technology to remediate feedlot runoff water. This research aims to effectively improve water quality for irrigation or livestock use by removing nutrients, heavy metals, and other contaminants — as well as minimizing the presence of algae blooms. Feedlot operators could access alternative, low-cost options for treating feedlot runoff water while being environmentally sustainable. ...more
Satellite Imagery on the Smart Farm

By Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Ag, Olds College
Olds College Smart Farm uses a wide range of leading edge technologies which help to solve various problems and make smart farming even more efficient. Using various types of satellite imagery for monitoring crop conditions and field variability analysis is one of the most important components of the Smart Ag ecosystem. ...more
Gamma-Ray Soil Spectrometry on the Smart Farm

By Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Ag, Olds College
Since its creation, the Olds College Smart Farm has tested and validated pretty much any advanced or leading edge precision ag technology that exists in the world (and this is not an exaggeration!). Digital technologies and innovative tools, which can speed up field data collection and analysis, provide detailed information about various field properties, and help making better agronomic decisions became an integrated part of Smart Farm activities at Olds College.
Olds College Tests New Grain-drying Mobile App for Farmers

Farmers can now monitor their crops on a mobile app during the in-bin drying process. Olds College Centre of Innovation (OCCI) confirms the app is accurate after thorough testing, plus provides recommendations for increased accuracy. ...more
Forage Biomass Assessment

By Dr. Alex Melnitchouck, Chief Technology Officer, Digital Ag, Olds College - February 2020
In the last decade, remote sensing tools became an essential component of precision agriculture. Satellite and aerial imagery is extensively used for field monitoring and crop condition assessment. The Olds College Smart Farm extensively uses remote sensing in farming operations and research.