Ranchers use satellite technology to feed livestock
Canada’s government is implementing new measures to support its agricultural industry. They are particularly encouraging local firms to develop new tools to manage agricultural risks and meet the needs of local farmers.
Terry Duguid, a Member of Parliament, announced at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business that a federal subsidy is available for the exploration and study of new technologies that would track and improve pasture and hay production.
“Feed is the lifeblood of any livestock operation, and our government understands the importance of helping to protect ranchers from risk such as losses to their forage crops. This project uses cutting-edge satellite technology to equip ranchers with the information they need,” said Terry.
Ranchers use satellite technology
One such study is being undertaken by Dr. Lysa Porth from the Warren Center of Actuarial Studies and Research at the University of Manitoba. Their research is intended to contribute to the local cattle sector’s stability.
Dr. Porth and her team will be working alongside the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association. They are to be awarded 988,000 CAD worth of federal government funding.
The project entails a research that will be done in cooperation with the Alberta Beef Producers. They will test new technology that utilizes data from satellites to gain accurate estimates of the growth of pasture for each province. They will also come up with a forage production index. This will serve as a basis for new insurance tools to help farmers protect their business.
“This project provides a tremendous opportunity to bring together leaders in agricultural risk management and insurance, both within Canada and internationally, across academia, the private sector, and government. Satellite-derived approaches show promise for improving forage insurance based on improved design that is cost-efficient, representative, and reliable,” said Dr. Porth
The Canadian government has specified the need to focus on agriculture and food as a top priority for development.Their target is to push the industry towards significant growth and provide greater security for farmers.
