About

The research project represents a collaborative approach between private agricultural producers, industry and government. The generosity (and patience!) of cooperating producers, Whetter Farms Ltd., allows this project to take place within one of their fields under annual cropping management for pedigreed seed production.

Initial funding to establish the research project was provided through Ag Action Manitoba, funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, with support from producer commodity organizations – Manitoba Crop Alliance, Manitoba Canola Growers, and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. Initial funding was provided as part of an umbrella of projects sponsored by the commodity organizations to address agricultural management under extremes of moisture in Manitoba.

Activities completed under this funding includes baseline investigation and field characterization, establishment of tile drainage research plots (developed within the context of field-scale site-specific or pattern drainage), and the establishment of a monitoring program for weather, soil moisture conditions, soil nutrient status and soil health, the quantity of water runoff through surface and tile drainage, and runoff water quality (nutrients and salts).

Long Term Funding
and Monitoring

Subsequent funding through Manitoba Crop Alliance’s Whole Farm Research Program is allowing for the establishment of tile drainage runoff treatment options including a constructed wetland and a phosphorus removal structure.

This will allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of these treatment options for reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff leaving the field.

Additional funding to the project has been granted under Manitoba Crop Alliance's Whole Farm Research Program and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. This will allow for five years of additional monitoring to track beneficial management practice effectiveness over a longer term. The research team is grateful to our funding agencies for this long-term commitment.

Funding is being sought through Mitacs to expand the collaboration to include graduate student research projects in cooperation between AgriEarth Consulting Ltd. and the University of Manitoba. This collaboration will allow for more in-depth research to be conducted within the framework of the established research and demonstration site.

Honouring the past, looking to the future...

The project site is located on Treaty 2 land, the traditional homelands of the Dakota, Anishinabek, Oji-Cree, Cree, Dene and Metis peoples.

Treaty 2 was signed on August 21, 1871 between Canada and the Anishinaabe of southern Manitoba. Treaty 2 lands comprise an area over 8.6 million hectares in size, from southeastern Saskatchewan, through southwestern Manitoba, and north of Dauphin and the north-central portion of the Interlake region.

The project embraces the Indigenous peoples’ Seventh Generation Principle in that it seeks to add to the body of knowledge of our understanding of sustainable land management practices – to keep our soils and waters healthy and productive for seven generations to come.