6 Follow us on @PrairieFarming Better Farming | October 2024 Beyond the Barn CSA FUNDS USASK EMISSIONS PROJECT USask researchers are using state-ofthe-art satellite imaging techniques to map agricultural emissions and to plan emission reduction strategies. “We’re not going to be able to see nitrous oxide emissions, but we’re going to be able to quantify areas that will have a higher risk of emissions,” explains Dr. Steve Shirtliffe in a recent USask release. Shirtliffe works with the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and is leading a research project to map “hot spots” in growers’ fields where the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide emissions should be the greatest. The project is one of 17 supported by the Research Opportunities in Satellite Earth Observation funding initiative from the Canadian Space Agency. “This will be good for farmers because they would know in what areas of their field they should employ practices to reduce emissions.” Shirtliffe plans to incorporate gathered information from satellite imaging to look at soil moisture. According to the release, he hopes to identify potential high emissions early so they can be mitigated. “We want to map areas that have an increased risk of emissions,” says Shirtliffe “The grant is for us to model in-field variability and the future potential for nitrous oxide emission, which is a greenhouse gas.” The project has the potential to help growers across the country. Mapping potential emission hot spots and predicting their change and development over time with machine learning could help growers make the best decisions for their fields both now and in the future. “It’s a rare win-win situation. It can be good for the productivity of farmers, and it can be good for society. Efficiency is good for everyone,” says Shirtliffe. BF Motorists driving on Highway 2 near Haywood, Man., about an hour west of Winnipeg, will come across a sign directing them to a sunflower field that’s set up as a selfie station and fundraiser. Those sunflowers belong to JP LeFloch, who also grows corn, canola, wheat and other crops. “Planting the sunflowers was a last-minute thing this spring,” he told Farms.com of the 110 acres he dedicated to the crop. LeFloch borrowed the idea of a sunflower selfie fundraiser from another Manitoba farmer, Dean Toews, who farms near MacGregor. Toews uses his sunflower fields to raise money for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. In 2021 he collected $2,000 in cash donations and another $20,000 on the sale of the sunflower crop. Picture seekers stopping at LeFloch’s farm can snap a selfie and are encouraged to make a cash or online donation to Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service, better known as STARS. He’s also asking that visitors don’t touch the crop. STARS provides rapid and specialized emergency care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. LeFloch is giving back to STARS after it provided him with care four years ago. He was doing yard work at his father’s place when the situation became very serious. “I was cutting a tree down and it pinned me,” he said. “It pretty much disintegrated my leg. “I was very fortunate that STARS came out and flew me to the hospital in Winnipeg. I’m doing much better today, and I think STARS coming out to get me as quickly as they did greatly improved my chances of a full recovery.” The community response has been positive with supportive messages online, LeFloch said. Anyone interested in visiting his sunflower selfie setup doesn’t have much time left. “Once the petals start falling off, which could start in the next week or two, and the heads start drooping, the sunflowers won’t look as nice,” he said. LeFloch also wants to remind people that just because he’s allowing visitors in his fields doesn’t mean people can go into any farmer’s field. Entering a farmer’s field without permission is trespassing and risks crop damage, he said. BF - Diego Flammini TURNING SELFIES INTO DONATIONS Wade Kehler - stock.adobe.com
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