Lakeland College Farm 4.0 Showcases Cutting-Edge Agricultural Innovation

On April 3, Lakeland College’s Bachelor of Agriculture Technology students took over the Vermilion Regional Centre for the third annual Farm 4.0 event. The day was filled with insightful presentations, networking opportunities, and an impressive showcase of cutting-edge agricultural technology.

This year’s speakers were last year’s Bachelor of Agriculture Technology students, now practicum students preparing to graduate. They delivered a series of presentations categorized into five key areas of modern agriculture.

The event kicked off with Pawnanpreet Kaur discussing Farm Data: A Key to Smart Decision Making. Braelynn Ekstrom followed with AI and UAV Use for Small Plot Canola Research. Other presentations in this category included Chase Hanke’s Using Drone Imagery for Crop Scouting, Nikolas Lamont’s Crop Intelligence Weather Stations, Serena Griffin’s Enhancing Farm Management Practices with Echelon, and Jace Hansen’s Application of Geospatial Technology in Pest Management.

Session two featured Kyle Hafner discussing Pasture Management Utilizing Rotational Grazing, Molly Sayers presenting Optimizing Herd Potential with Holstein Canada’s Genetic Services, Rylee Martin covering Technology Utilization in the Feedlot Industry, and Novalee Pender closing the session with Advancing Livestock Production: The Role of Technology in Enhancing Agricultural Efficiency in Australia.

In session three, Travis Lundgren spoke on UAV Collection of Preferential Canola Breeding Traits, followed by Ava Moller’s Drone Technology and Practical Applications. Bailee Richardson presented Harvest Insights: Understanding Combine Monitors for Improved Crop Management, and Colton McLean wrapped up the session with Predictive Ground Speed Automation and Auto Trac Turn Automation.

During the lunch hour, attendees engaged with a Lakeland College Research Panel, which explored the latest research shaping the future of farming. The afternoon sessions resumed with Grace Christensen’s Planting Seeds: Inspiring Future Farmers Through Ag Education. Vaughn Zimmer presented Agriculture Technology: Decoding What to Implement on Your Farm, while Kyleigh Magotiaux discussed Advancing Animal Welfare – How Lidocaine Bands Enhance Pain-Free Cattle Management and Drive Innovation. Abby Raines presented Data Collection and Management Platforms for Livestock.

The final session focused on innovative crop and soil management tools. Ashten Form presented UAV Pesticide Application for Advancement in Agricultural Technology, followed by Marci LeBlance’s Integrating Drone Imagery for Herbicide-Resistant Weed Management. Nathan van Staveren discussed Soil Probes and Weather Stations and How to Use Them, Keegan Pol introduced the Ag Scouter App, and Pyper Snow closed the event with Tissue Testing Using the ATP Nutriscan.

Beyond the presentations, the event featured 13 exhibitor booths and three Lakeland College booths, highlighting the Crops Student Managed Farm (SMF) Unit, the Livestock SMF Unit, and Lakeland College Research. Four farm tours were conducted, giving participants a firsthand look at how emerging technologies are applied in real-world agricultural settings.

Two live demonstrations of the Augmenta Field Analyzer from New Holland Agriculture showcased the capabilities of precision farming equipment. “We are using the Augmenta Field Analyzer by Raven, a brand of CNH, as a live demo, which increases or decreases the rate of spray where the Augmenta Field Analyzer camera detects plant vegetation/biomass (in this live demo case, spinach),” explained Derian Lang, Augmenta specialist.

Attendees also explored an impressive display of agricultural machinery, courtesy of Webbs Machinery, Horizon Ag and Turf, Rocky Mountain Equipment, and Ireland Farm Equipment, providing an up-close look at the latest innovations designed to enhance modern farming operations.

Farm 4.0 continues to grow each year, providing an invaluable platform for students, industry professionals, and agricultural enthusiasts to explore the future of farming. As technology plays an increasingly vital role in agriculture, events like these ensure that the next generation of agricultural leaders is well-equipped with the knowledge and tools needed for success.