A new learning curve sits in front of the farmers on the Keeseekoose First Nation, which is four hours east of Saskatoon.

Through a Research Collaboration Agreement, they and Suncrest College will be collaborating to implement a smart farm on the first nation.

Applied Research Coordinator with Suncrest College Greg Tomcala says technologies to be implemented on the farm include weather tracking, livestock tracking, remote bin-sensing data capture, and data tracking on fields.

“Smart farms are being set up to get more of that technology out into the hands of producers and operators, so it can start doing more integration, and start using more of this technology, because the world is going that direction.”

As part of the agreement, the farmers will receive training from Suncrest College as well as any third-party product vendors supplying the technology.

Tomcala says funding for the project will be coming from the first nation, both from revenue generated through farming and land settlement claims.

Tomcala hopes the farm is up and running by 2025, and fully self-sufficient within a 10-year timespan.