For modern producers, sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand. However, it can be a challenge to accurately measure soil health and nutrient efficiency to make better management decisions.
In collaboration with the AIVA network, AgExpert and Farm Credit Canada, this research based at the Olds College Smart Farm’s Saskatchewan farmland tests a software product on the AgExpert Sustainability agronomic intelligence framework. The project uses standardized lab-based measurements to improve decision-making, optimize nutrient investment and enhance grain quality.
The Smart Farm in Saskatchewan is 800 acres of land west of Craik, SK, donated to Olds College by Margery Steckler and her late husband, George Steckler.
The framework will equip producers and agronomists with seasonal and historical data to guide nutrient management and crop health interventions. By monitoring soil health indicators and regional benchmarks, it will help producers better understand their land’s health and quality with the context of their local conditions. It will also establish clear links between nutrient application, plant uptake and final grain grading factors.
In fall 2026, the project will also provide critical soil carbon data to validate the AgExpert Carbon Sequestration model. This work supports regional benchmarking and provides the data needed to align with long-term carbon forecasting and sustainability strategies.
Project Goals
Funders/Partners: Farm Credit Canada (FCC), AgExpert, AIVA Network