bridge-to-land-water-sky

The Role of Prescribed Fire in Prairie Ecosystems

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:18:08 GMT

April 17, 2026

Prescribed fire is both an ancient practice and a modern tool that is increasingly becoming recognized for its essential role in maintaining the health of prairie ecosystems. Across the prairies, fire – both wild and controlled – has long shaped the landscape by influencing plant diversity, soil functions, and the movement and health of buffalo and the Indigenous people who relied on them for food and resources. Decades without prescribed burns as a result of European settler policy, however, has resulted in a landscape with diminished ability to resist invasive species and resilience to climate extremes and variability. Today, land managers are returning prescribed fire to the prairies, blending traditional knowledge and practices with modern ecological science as part of a whole-landscape approach to land stewardship.

Native prairie the spring following a prescribed burn the previous year – note the charred patches across the landscape.

Indigenous peoples of the plains have used controlled burns for centuries to manage bison forage and habitat, control woody encroachment, and maintain plant communities and biodiversity. The historic use of fire by First Nations was carefully timed and guided by deep-rooted knowledge from observation of seasonal cycles, weather patterns, and ecosystem responses to disturbance. Fire was not seen as destructive, but as a natural and renewing force. The arrival of European settlers in the prairies brought new land management policies that largely focused on fire suppression rather than traditional practices, which led to disruptions in nutrient cycles and biodiversity, invasive and woody plant encroachment in the grasslands, and more aggressive annual wildfires due to the accumulation of a massive fuel load in the form of dead organic matter.

Although Indigenous people of the plains have long understood the beneficial relationship between fire and soil and plant health, contemporary scientific research has begun to reveal exactly what processes take place during and after a fire that result in a healthier landscape. Some of the most significant benefits of prescribed fire take place at the microbial level, unseen and below the soil surface. When a fire is lit under controlled conditions, the first material to burn is accumulated plant litter. The removal of this layer of plant litter allows sunlight and warmth to reach the soil and stimulate microbial activity, especially in the spring following snow melt. Active soil microbiomes are essential for decomposition and nutrient cycling. Before decomposition, the nutrients in dead organic matter are locked up and unavailable to be used as food for growing plants. Fires can help speed up the release of essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium via combustion and ash deposition, providing nutrients in plant-available forms that can be used as fertilizer for new plant growth. Although there is generally some nitrogen lost during the burning process, this is often balanced over time as plant communities with nitrogen-fixing species recover and grow.

Charred remnants of a prescribed fire.

On a more macro scale, prescribed fire also improves soil structure over time. Native plants, particularly grasses, have evolved to have deep, vigorous below-ground root growth habits to overcome the regular loss of above-ground biomass during burns and other surface disturbances. Complex plant root communities are largely responsible for the success of agriculture in the prairies, as increased soil organic matter is a defining element of the rich, dark topsoil found throughout the region. Wide-reaching, fibrous root systems enhance soil aggregation, water infiltration and retention capacity, and resistance to erosion. The cumulative effect of these characteristics is a landscape with some inherent resilience to the highly variable climate of the prairies.

Not only are prairie plants well-adapted to fire, many native species depend on it. Thick layers of dead plant material on the soil surface can inhibit new growth; burning that litter allows sunlight and warmth to reach emerging shoots, resulting in many grasses and forbs that respond to fire with increased vigor and productivity. Prescribed fire can also shape plant community composition, favouring native, fire-adapted species with deep belowground growth and suppressing invasive plants and woody encroachment. Without periodic fire, grasslands have begun to be gradually taken over by shrubs and trees, reducing habitat for native wildlife and pollinator species.

New growth emerging from the ground in spring the year after a prescribed burn.

Today, prescribed fire is being reintroduced across the prairies by a range of land managers, including conservation organizations, government agencies, ranchers, and Indigenous communities. These controlled burns are being used to manage native grasslands, restore degraded habitat, renew forage stands for livestock, and reduce fuel loads in an effort to minimize the severity of future wildfires. Modern prescribed fires are guided by detailed planning and procedures to ensure the safety of the crews and prevent accidental spreading of the fire. Burn plans account for weather conditions, fuel moisture, wind direction, and landscape features that might influence a fire’s size and direction. Trained crews use specialized equipment and work within clearly defined boundaries to minimize risk and achieve their intended ecological outcomes. Perhaps most importantly, there is a growing recognition of the value of Indigenous guidance in using fire for land stewardship. Collaboration between traditional ecological knowledge and western science is helping to restore not only prairie ecosystems, but also cultural relationships with the land as fires rejuvenate plant species that have traditionally been important to First Nations.

As climate variability increases and pressure on prairie ecosystems grows, prescribed fire offers a highly effective solution for building resilience to changing conditions. It supports soil health, enhances biodiversity, and helps maintain the health of the open grassland landscapes that represent the prairies. As more land managers gain experience and training, prescribed fire is once again becoming an essential component of the land stewardship toolkit. Fire has always influenced life on the prairies, and restoring it with respect and consideration will ensure that these ecosystems thrive long after we are gone.

Author

Lydia Sauder

Environmental Technician

Kinnikinnick Consulting

Indigenous Farm & Food Fest - August 18-20, 2026

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:40:48 GMT

Following the success of our inaugural event in Meadow Lake with Flying Dust First Nation (2024) and second event at Batoche and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (2025), we’re excited to host the third annual Indigenous Farm & Food Festival!

�� Tuesday, August 18 - Thursday, August 20, 2026

�� One Arrow Cultural Lodge and Field Tours

��️ Free to attend | Expression of Interest required | Limited spots (selection-based)

This is a three-day interactive experience exploring Indigenous food systems, soil health, Indigenous-led production agriculture, and Buffalo caretaking. Through hands-on workshops, guided tours, and storytelling, participants will connect with the land, hear from local experts, and learn through a mix of Traditional Knowledge and scientific approaches. Expect immersive learning, meaningful conversations, and outdoor exploration—all set at the outstanding One Arrow Cultural Lodge (and nearby places).

This gathering is for Indigenous participants and those who are employed by or who work directly with Indigenous communities and organizations.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Practical Grazing Management: Balancing Forage, Land, and Goals | April 16, 2026

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:51:41 GMT

This webinar will cover the core principles of grazing management, including key considerations for developing a grazing management plan, understanding carrying capacity, and applying rest, recovery, and rotational grazing in a practical, goal-focused way. Rotational grazing will be explored through the lens of aligning forage capacity, land health, and operator goals to build systems that work for both the land and the people who manage it.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Virtual

March 2026 Newsletter

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:11:07 GMT

Rooted in the Land
Winter Webinar Series
Save the Date - Indigenous Farm & Food Festival 2026
Meet the Team!

The Mechanisms of Intercropping: How Mixing Crops Can Cut Inputs and Boost Yields | March 31, 2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:27:12 GMT

There are many claims for the benefits of cover cropping, including the ability to reduce fertilizer, herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide applications and an increased cropping yield. But what is it about intercropping that allows these benefits to occur? In this webinar, Warren McAuley from Nature United talks about plant growth characteristics, how insects look for plants to eat, how diseases are spread between plants, and more to better understand why intercropping different plants can be useful in reducing inputs and increasing crop yield.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm CST

Location

Virtual

AgriGather | March 26, 2026

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:09:27 GMT

A casual gathering for farmers, ranchers, and land managers to meet with knowledgeable presenters, local experts, and organizations that support crop and livestock operations.

Info tables will be available for much of the day, giving you the chance to stop in, ask questions, pick up resources, and talk through ideas. Whether you’re dealing with tough acres, weed pressure, grazing challenges, or just looking for something new to try on your operation, there will be plenty of useful information.

There will be time for conversations, asking questions, and connecting with neighbours. It’s a casual setting with coffee, pie, lunch, and lots of time to visit with people offering programs, services, and practical expertise for your farm or ranch.

Time: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Time: 9:30 am - 4 pm

Location: Senior Centre, Blaine Lake

Agenda (subject to change)

Event Poster

Kindly register so we can plan enough lunch and pie for everyone!

 Questions? email bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com or call/text 1 (306) 281-3272 .

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Building Resilience with Eco-Buffers

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:04:03 GMT

These diverse plantings also create habitat corridors that connect fragmented landscapes. Birds and beneficial insects nest in shrubs and trees, and mammals use the buffers for cover while roaming the landscape. When networks of eco-buffers are connected to create larger wildlife corridors, there is often a corresponding reduction in the incidences of wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Eco-buffer shelterbelts are particularly powerful when established along riparian areas adjacent to rivers, streams, and wetlands. Below ground, dense root systems improve nutrient filtration and stabilize streambanks, which reduces erosion and sedimentation. Increased below-ground biomass further supports complex communities of microfauna and insects that decompose organic matter and agricultural runoff and convert them to plant-available forms of nutrients. Plants uptake those nutrients for growth, filtering elements that would otherwise remain in the water system and could potentially cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems, like excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

Above ground, dense eco-buffers act as a physical barrier to slow wind and water runoff during heavy rain events or spring melt, which allows water to seep into the soil and replenish groundwater reserves. Fast-flowing surface water tends to pick up nutrients and sediment and deposit it elsewhere, as well as carve channels into the soil surface without properly infiltrating belowground. Slower aboveground flow reduces those soil erosion processes, leaving topsoil that is moist and nutrient rich. In the winter, aboveground biomass traps snow, which becomes crucial groundwater after spring melt. The result is cleaner water, healthier soils, and improved resilience to both floods and drought.

Climate extremes are the norm in the Canadian Prairies; frigid winters, hot summers, cycles of droughts and floods, and strong winds are the norm in the Canadian prairies. Native species are key to the success of eco-buffers as they are adapted to these extreme weather and climate cycles and require less long-term maintenance. When properly planned and planted, accounting for soil type, moisture availability, light exposure, and climate, eco-buffers can become largely self-sustaining systems

Common native prairie species used in eco-buffers include Manitoba maple, white spruce, green ash, balsam poplar, trembling aspen, and plains cottonwood. Shrubs such as red osier dogwood, snowberry, and chokecherry add structural diversity and provide food for wildlife. Fast-growing species help establish the buffer quickly and increase early carbon sequestration, while long-lived species ensure durability and resilience over time.

As climate extremes and variability increase across the Prairies, eco-buffers offer a practical adaptation tool for landowners. They conserve soil moisture, reduce evaporation, capture carbon, mitigate flooding, and protect livestock from wind chill and heat stress. In winter, taller species block cold winds and trap snow; in summer, shade reduces energy use around homes and farmyards.

Eco-buffer shelterbelts represent an approach to ecological stewardship that recognizes that soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and farm productivity are closely interconnected. Blending traditional prairie windbreaks with current ecological design principles, eco-buffers provide a solution to current landscape concerns and security for the future of the land.

For more information about eco-buffer shelterbelts, the Government of Canada ( https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/aac-aafc/A125-28-2017-eng.pdf ) and the Alberta Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society ( www.awes-ab.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Eco-Buffer-Factsheet-Complete.pdf ) have some great resources.

Author

Lydia Sauder

Environmental Technician

Kinnikinnick Consulting

February 2026 Newsletter

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:08:52 GMT

Building Resilience with Eco-Buffer Shelterbelts
Upcoming Winter Webinar Series Features
Prairie Precision Sustainability Network
First Nations Economic Forums - Saskatoon
Save the Date - Indigenous Farm & Food Festival 2026
Meet the Team!

Optimizing Cropping Strategies for Ecological and Economic Resilience | March 25, 2026

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 06:46:09 GMT

Diversified cropping systems through crop rotations are potential alternatives to conventional cropping as a way to reduce the environmental impact of farming while being able to economically compete with conventional systems. A key component of diversified cropping systems is the inclusion of multiple crop species, including pulse crops. System indicators, such as productivity, economic returns, nitrogen fertilizer use, and energy use efficiency from multiple site-year data will be presented to compare performance of diversified and conventional cropping systems.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Virtual

Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland | Feb 26, 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:11:22 GMT

Marginal land is often characterized as low yielding due to salinity, moisture issues or poor soils and is generally unprofitable. Our team is working to locate the marginal land across the prairies through a combination of producer combine yield data and satellite imagery. Armed with precision data, we are working with producers to better manage these lands with perennial plantings and measuring the changes in soil health, carbon storage, biodiversity, and economics over time. The goal is to provide options for maximizing the profitability and productivity of the land while capturing ecosystem service gains.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Thursday, January 26, 2026 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Virtual

Integrated Approaches to Weed Management | Feb 18, 2026

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:29:44 GMT

Herbicides are known to be the backbone of weed control, but resistance in weeds like kochia is making things harder. This webinar will share practical Prairie-focused strategies to slow resistance and stop weeds from spreading across fields and field edges.

In this webinar, Shaun will discuss simple practices that can manage weeds such as scouting, crop rotations, integrating perennials, understanding weed ecology and using the right timing. By mixing management tools we can shrink the soil seedbank and ultimately kill fewer weeds over time. Shaun will share field-margin-to-field-margin perspectives and perennial considerations to better understand and manage weeds, where and when they occur and highlight successes from the Bridge to Land Water Sky project.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

January 2026 Newsletter

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:47:47 GMT

Film: Singing Back the Buffalo
Understanding the History of Indigenous Farming Barriers in the Prairies
SaskSoil Soil Health Conference
Save the date - Indigenous Farm & Food Festival 2026
Meet the Team!

Film: Singing Back the Buffalo

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:39:24 GMT

Tasha Hubbard’s 2024 documentary Singing Back the Buffalo explores Indigenous-led efforts to restore buffalo to the North American plains after their near extinction. The film follows the animals’ journey across the Northern Plains during 2022, highlighting how their return is deeply connected to ecological renewal and cultural revitalization for many Indigenous nations. Hubbard weaves together history, land-based knowledge, and community activism to show how rematriation of the buffalo signals a turning point for both ecosystems and Indigenous sovereignty.

The film also reflects Hubbard’s longstanding commitment to telling Indigenous stories from Indigenous perspectives. After pausing the project to create her award‑winning documentary on the Colten Boushie case, she returned to this story because it brought her joy and honored a decades‑long personal and academic journey connected to “Buffalo Consciousness.” The result is a visually rich and emotionally grounded documentary that not only chronicles restoration efforts, but also calls viewers to recognize the buffalo as kin, as history, and as a vital part of a sustainable future.

Factsheet - Types of Farming Systems

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:47:15 GMT

Factsheet -A Crop Farm Year at a Glance in the Prairies

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:46:26 GMT

Understanding the History of Indigenous Farming Barriers

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:24:46 GMT

January 9, 2026

Sometimes in the agriculture world, we hear people ask why more Indigenous communities haven’t taken up farming today, especially when so much reserve land in Saskatchewan is cropland. In order to answer this question, we must look into the past and the bigger picture behind it.

A significant amount of agriculture takes place on reserve lands, yet very few of the farmers controlling, benefitting from, or operating that land are Indigenous.

Here are some important stats that often surprise people:

Between 3 and 4 million acres of agriculture take place on First Nations reserve lands in Saskatchewan. Most of this land is farmed by non-Indigenous farmers. (USask Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia)
Older estimates show that only about 20% of this agricultural land is actually farmed by First Nations people, with the rest leased or operated by others. (Pratt 2006; Champ et al. 2010)
Saskatchewan has about 40.3 million acres of cropland, which is roughly 43% of all cropland in Canada. (waapihk Research)
This means that agriculture on reserve lands makes up about 7-10% of all cropland in Saskatchewan
When compared to all cropland in Canada, agriculture on Saskatchewan reserve lands represents about 3-4% of the national total.
Only 2.8% of Canada’s farm population identifies as Indigenous. (Statistics Canada’s Agriculture - Population Linkage)

At first glance, this might make it seem like “just wasn’t taken up” by Indigenous peoples, but when we actually look at the history a different picture emerges. A picture that is shaped by restrictive government policies, systemic barriers, and painful realities that made it extremely difficult for First Nations to build or sustain thriving farm operations.

So, instead of assuming there was lack of interest or motivation, it’s important to understand the systemic barriers that held Indigenous farmers back. Some of these barriers were deliberate and others may not have been intended that way, but regardless of intent, the impacts are still felt today in land access, economic opportunity, and the number of Indigenous farmers farming in their own communities. Understanding this history helps explain where we are today, why, and how we move forward with more honesty, understanding, and respect.

A Tough Start Made Even Tougher

Early farming on the prairies was challenging for everyone. Short growing seasons, inadequate farming equipment, droughts, frosts, pests, and disease made agriculture difficult no matter who you were. While both Indigenous and non-Indigenous farmers faced many of the same difficulties with harsh environmental conditions, they did not face the same government policies. Indigenous farmers were forced to navigate restrictive and discriminatory systems that limited their market access, land use, independence, and even mobility. These policies didn’t just make farming for Indigenous peoples more difficult, they also disrupted cultural practices, traditions, and the ability to build livelihoods through agriculture.

Indigenous Farming Was Strong

Indigenous agriculture wasn’t new — it was deeply rooted long before settlers arrived. Nations across the Plains grew crops like corn, squash, beans, sunflowers, and tobacco, managed plant ecosystems, and harvested hundreds of wild species for food and medicine. Indigenous farmers also understood the Prairies intimately including its drought cycles, frost patterns, soil behaviour, and wildlife movements. This deep rooted knowledge gave them a knowledge the early settlers didn’t have.

Treaties & Broken Promises

In the 1870s, with the buffalo population collapsing, many Indigenous Nations saw farming as a path toward stability and long-term food security. Treaties promised tools, seeds, livestock, and farming education. However, instead of support, First Nations often received broken tools, poor-quality seeds, and minimal instruction, while settlers were given homestead grants, access to modern equipment, and government-funded agricultural programs.

From the very beginning, the playing field wasn’t level.

The Peasant Farming Policy: Holding Indigenous Farmers Back

In 1889, Indian Commissioner Hayter Reed introduced the Peasant Farming Policy. The policy was based on the belief that Indigenous Peoples should learn how to farm using simple tools such as a hoe and a rake on small plots of land.

Under this policy, Indigenous farmers were forced to:

use only basic, outdated tools
avoid modern farming methods
avoid mechanized equipment like plows or tractors
keep their farms small

Agricultural instructors were forbidden from teaching modern techniques. Meanwhile, settlers were rapidly embracing new technologies, rapidly expanding commercial farming in the prairies.

Pass & Permit Systems: Everyday Barriers

Two other policies made farming incredibly difficult for First Nations:

The Pass System

Indigenous people needed written permission from the Indian Agent just to leave the reserve, making it difficult to travel, attend markets and sell crops. Although never passed into law, it was enforced across the Prairies from 1885 well into the 1940s, with the federal government formally ending it in 1941. There is some evidence that suggests the system persisted in some communities into the early 1950s, despite having no legal basis.

The Pass System was one of the most restrictive tools used to control First Nations movement. In addition, the system also restricted non-Indigenous visitors from entering reserves, cutting off trade, social relationships, and market connections.

The Permit System

The Permit System added another layer of restriction for Indigenous farmers. Under this policy, First Nations people needed written permission from the Indian Agent before they could sell crops, buy supplies, or transport goods. Permits were granted and denied at the agent’s discretion, and delays were common. In many cases, farmers waited so long for a permit that their crops spoiled before they were allowed to sell them. This system greatly limited Indigenous participation in local markets.

Unlike the Pass System which was never into the Indian Act, the Permit System had legal backing. It began with an 1881 amendment to the Indian Act that prohibited the sale or trade of reserve-grown produce without government approval. After 1885, Indian Agents actively enforced this system. Although enforcement faded by the mid-1960s, the underlying prohibition remained in the Indian Act for decades and was not formally repealed until 2014 through Bill C-428.

Policies That Broke Up Collective Farming and Restricted Indigenous Land Use

After 1885, the federal government introduced policies - most notably Severalty, which was designed to dismantle Indigenous collective land systems. Under Severalty, reserve lands were divided into small individual parcels, pushing First Nations away from communal land systems and forcing them into a Euro‑Canadian, individualistic model of farming. By dividing reserve land into smaller parcels, it made it easier for the government to track who farmed what and to reallocate any land that wasn’t being used according to strict government expectations. This shift reduced the amount of land Indigenous farmers could put into production and weakened the collective farming structures that supported communities for generations.

At the same time, the government suppressed collective farming, even though it was a core part of many Indigenous communities. Indian Agents and departmental policies discouraged or blocked community-based farming by ways including, preventing collective purchases of equipment and enforcing rules that favoured individual plots over shared fields. Indigenous communities traditionally farmed collectively, sharing labour, responsibilities, and tools, reflecting cultural values and communal living, but federal policy pushed them away from these practices. Meanwhile, settler groups such as Hutterites were fully permitted to farm collectively without any restrictions.

Again, the playing field wasn’t level.

Forced Relocation

In some cases, when Indigenous communities were succeeding in agriculture, the government intervened through forced relocations. A well-known example is the Thunderchild First Nation. After heavy pressure from federal officials in 1908, the community was pushed into agreeing to a land surrender and was moved off its rich farmland near Delmas so settlers could take it over. The relocation was difficult and families even lost cattle while crossing the North Saskatchewan River. The new land they were moved to was much poorer for farming, making it far harder for the community to rebuild the success they once had.

Why This History Matters Today

Being an Indigenous farmer was already difficult enough with all the discriminatory policies, and in the 1880s the negative impacts from the policies seemed to be magnified due to back to back droughts and frost devastating crops. Even the most successful farmers gave up farming.

Today, the impacts of those policies are still felt across the Prairies. We see it in:

the underrepresentation of Indigenous farmers
ongoing land-use inequities
limited access to capital and modern equipment
ongoing struggles in training, markets, and economic opportunities

Recognizing this history helps us understand today with more clarity and compassion. It challenges long-held assumptions about why Indigenous farming participation is low and reminds us that these outcomes were shaped by policies — not by lack of ability or interest.

As we continue working together — sharing data, building partnerships, and supporting farmers across the prairies and beyond — acknowledging past harms is an important part in building a better future. Many First Nations are already leading this work. Communities are reclaiming land stewardship, investing in agricultural training, and supporting youth. Government programs, including long-overdue compensations like Cows and Plows, are also helping to open new doors for Indigenous producers.

There is still much to repair, but there is also a growing movement focused on empowerment, food sovereignty, and rebuilding agricultural capacity in ways that centre Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Even after generations of barriers, the future of Indigenous farming in Saskatchewan can be strong, resilient, and community-driven.

Author

Maddie Gould

Communications Manager

Bridge to Land Water Sky

Additional Resources for Further Reading

December 2025 Newsletter

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:42:42 GMT

The Evolution of Agriculture on the Canadian Plains
Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland
Webinar Recap: Roots to Revenue
Bridging Relations Podcast Returns!
Meet the Team!
Happy Holidays!

Take Your Nitrogen Management to the Next Level with Variable Rate Technology

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:36:47 GMT

April 12, 2025

If you're farming in Saskatchewan, you’ve probably heard about Variable Rate Technology (VRT). But what is it, how does it work, and what are the benefits? Let’s break it down and see if this technology is something you could consider for your land. If you’re not farming yourself, landowners can encourage tenants to explore VRT and even consider including it as part of a lease agreement.

What’s Variable Rate Technology (VRT)?

VRT is a precision farming tool that helps you apply inputs, like nitrogen and phosphorus exactly where they’re needed in your field. Instead of treating the whole field the same, VRT customizes applications for different spots, so nothing goes to waste.

Photo by AGRIVI

How Does It Work?

It’s all about using data. Tools like GPS, soil testing, and yield data create a field map showing different zones and their needs. From there, VRT-equipped gear adjusts how much fertilizer you apply as you move across your field. You can either use:

Maps: Pre-set prescriptions guide your equipment.
Sensors: On-the-go adjustments based on real-time conditions.

Why Should You Care?

Nitrogen is essential, but managing it can be tricky and expensive. Here's a few reasons why VRT is worth looking into:

Save Money: Use only what you need, where you need it.
Boost Yields: Give every zone in your field exactly what it needs to thrive.
Positive environmental impact: Cut back on overuse and reduce runoff into water systems.

Funding to Get Started

VRT might sound like a big investment, but Saskatchewan producers and landowners have access to funding programs to help out:

Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP): Provides support for sustainable farming practices.
Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive (SVAI): Encourages advanced ag tech adoption.
Innovation Saskatchewan Grants: A great resource for funding new technologies. These programs can make adopting VRT more affordable, so you get all the benefits without the big upfront cost.

Whether you're farming or leasing, VRT for nutrient management is worth considering.

Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:54:16 GMT

April 8, 2025

Marginal cropland refers to portions of agricultural land that consistently yield poor results due to factors such as low soil fertility, inadequate drainage, or high salinity. These areas often cost more to cultivate than they return in harvest. In Saskatchewan, it is estimated that about 10% of cropland is considered marginal, saline, or located near wetlands - conditions that make these lands unsuitable for growing cash crops.

Identifying marginal cropland involves several methods, each offering key insights into underperforming areas. Yield maps can reveal consistently low-yield zones, while historical data highlights fields that have repeatedly posed challenges over time. Soil testing is essential for detecting issues such as low organic matter, extreme textures - like overly sandy soil - and abnormal nutrient balances. Visual clues also play an important role, including poor crop emergence, stunted growth, visible salts on the soil surface, aggressive weeds like kochia and foxtail barley, water pooling, compacted soil, and areas prone to erosion.

It is important to note that marginal cropland is not marginal land. While It may be marginal for annual crop production, it can still do a lot of good for the land, animals and people who rely on it.

So, the question is, if the area isn’t ideal for crops what can it be used for instead?

Some great options include:

Wildlife habitat – Supports biodiversity while reducing input costs
Forage – Seed with perennial grasses or legumes to support livestock and reduce input costs
Agroforestry – Plant trees or shrubs for windbreaks, carbon storage sequestration, or fruit/nut production
Pollinator & Insect Habitat – Planting flowering species to create spaces for pollinators such as bees, as well as to provide habitat for the predator insects and parasitic wasps that help keep pest insects in check
Wetlands – Restore low-lying areas to improve water retention and biodiversity, and even qualify for conservation incentives
Converting marginal cropland offers a range of compelling benefits for the farmer. Financially, it reduces wasted inputs on areas that consistently fail to deliver a return, helping to lower costs. It also creates new opportunities, such as growing and marketing forage crops, which can diversify income. Operational efficiency improves as resources are concentrated on the most productive land. Beyond profitability, these changes bring environmental advantages like supporting healthier soils, cleaner water, and greater biodiversity.

Getting Started:

Begin by assessing your land using tools like yield maps, soil tests, and visual inspections to identify areas that may be better suited for alternative uses.
Next, choose a conversion option that aligns with your operation, whether it's wetlands, forage, agroforestry, or another approach.
Once you've decided, work with experts or programs to develop a plan and implement the changes effectively.
Finally, monitor the results over time, tracking the benefits and adjusting as needed to optimize land use and productivity.

Marginal cropland may not deliver consistent yields for annual row crops, but that doesn’t mean it’s without value. With strategic management, these areas offer opportunities to boost profitability while improving stewardship across the operation, contributing to overall farm resilience.

There are many funding and support opportunities available for land conversion efforts:

Ducks Unlimited Canada (Phone: 1-866-252-3825)
Marginal Acres Program: Free custom seeding of perennial forages by aerial application or $135/acre incentive for self-seeding.
Wetland Restoration Program: $2000/acre one-time payment with a 10-year lease, or 100% Fair Market Value for conservation easement on restored wetland acres.
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program (RALP)
Tame forage seeding: 50% cost-share, up to $60K | Native forage seeding: 90% cost-share, up to $30K
Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN)
See our blog post “ Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network ” for more information.
Saskatchewan Association of Watersheds (Phone: 1-306-541-9902)

Author

Megan Venneman

Communications Coordinator

Bridge to Land Water Sky

Evolution of Agriculture on the Canadian Plains

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:43:54 GMT

April 7, 2025

The evolution of agriculture across the Canadian Plains is a testament to the region’s rich history - rooted in Indigenous stewardship, shaped by settler cultivation, and propelled by modern innovation. As we journey through time, each section of this blog dives into a distinct era, exploring how evolving farming practices not only transformed the land but shaped livelihoods as well. Though this reflection offers just a glimpse into the dynamic history of the region, it serves as an important reminder of how the land has changed. Understanding these shifts is essential to drawing lessons from the past to build a more sustainable future.

Indigenous Agriculture (Pre-1850s):

Prior to European settlement, Indigenous peoples across the territory now known as Canada sustained themselves through hunting, gathering, berry picking, plant harvesting, and fishing. Camps rotated seasonally and controlled burns were used to maintain ecosystems and manage bison grazing. Natural resources - including plants and buffalo - were used not only for nourishment but also for medicine, clothing, shelter, and ceremonial purposes. Everyone in the community contributed to the work and care, ensuring every resource was used thoughtfully and nothing went to waste. Evidence also shows that Indigenous communities cultivated crops and cared for wild plant populations long before colonization. The land itself was a mosaic of thriving and intentionally managed ecosystems, grounded in a deep respect for nature and a sense of connection to it.

Settler Agriculture (Post-1850s):

Seeking new beginnings and the promise of a better life, many settlers arrived in the Canadian Prairies with hopes of building sustainable livelihoods through farming. They embraced a sedentary way of farming, clearing large stretches of land to cultivate monoculture crops such as wheat, corn, and barley. Draft horses and heavy iron plows carved the soil into rows, and these techniques profoundly altered natural ecosystems. This era of yield-driven farming positioned the Prairies as a global leader in agriculture. Yet alongside expansion, came deep and lasting consequences. Government-supported farming became a mechanism of displacement, disrupting Indigenous lifeways and severing connections to land, culture, and traditional forms of wealth. Colonial agricultural systems were imposed, amplifying inequality and undermining stewardship practices that had long sustained the region.

Other Significant Events between the late 1800s-early 1900s:

Treaty 6 signed (August 23, 1876): Notably, this treaty promised agricultural tools and support. However, these promises were often not fulfilled, leading to significant challenges for Indigenous farmers.
Loss of Buffalo (Late 1800s): The loss of bison devastated Indigenous communities, forcing them to rely on government rations and adopt new practices, including farming European crops.
Indian Act (1876): This legislation imposed numerous restrictions on Indigenous peoples, including their ability to farm. It introduced policies like the pass system, which restricted movement, and the permit system, which controlled the sale of agricultural products.
Permit System Introduced (1881): Amendments to the Indian Act required Indigenous individuals to obtain permits to sell or trade their agricultural produce, severely restricting their ability to participate in the agricultural economy.
Peasant Farming Policy (1889): This policy aimed to limit Indigenous agricultural production by restricting the use of modern farming equipment and techniques, forcing Indigenous farmers to use outdated methods.

Mechanical Farming & The Dirty Thirties (1920s-1940s):

During this period, horse-drawn plows declined rapidly as mechanized equipment, such as tractors, steel plows, cultivators and combines became increasingly widespread. These technological advances allowed for large-scale farming and intensive practices like over-tilling and monoculture cropping to become common. However, these methods, coupled with limited ecological knowledge, led to widespread soil degradation. The effects were extreme during the “Dirty Thirties,” when severe erosion triggered one of the most devastating environmental crises in prairie history. In response, awareness of soil health and sustainable land management began to grow. By 1935, the Government of Canada launched the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA), an initiative to support farmers in adopting conservation practices and restoring the ecological balance of the Plains. As well, though it was never officially legislated, the 1940’s saw the end of the enforcement of the Permit system, which limited Indigenous participation in the agricultural economy.

Technical Advancements (1950s):

Technological innovations - including diesel engines, hydraulic systems, and larger machinery - revolutionized farming operations during this era. Alongside these mechanical upgrades came increased use of synthetic fertilizers to boost yields, and chemicals to control weeds and pests. While these advancements greatly improved productivity and efficiency, they also deepened the dependence on chemical inputs. As a result, serious environmental concerns emerged: declining soil fertility, water contamination, loss of biodiversity, and rising threats to human health.

Conservation Agriculture (1960s-1980s):

By this point, it had become increasingly evident that the current agricultural practices were taking a toll on the land. Environmental advocates like Rachel Carson - whose groundbreaking 1960s work, and particularly her book Silent Spring – raised public awareness around the ecological dangers of pesticide use and played a critical role in prompting stricter regulations. Furthermore, innovations like no-till farming, no-till seed drills, and targeted herbicide applications reduced physical tillage and soil erosion, therefore enhancing soil health.

Modern & Regenerative Farming (1990s-present):

Modern technology has introduced the adoption of GPS, autosteer technology, use of drones, and robotics for seeding, fertilizing and spraying. Farmers continue to face challenges in this era, with unpredictable - and often extreme - climate events, rising input costs and market volatility, the livelihoods of many farmers are threatened. In response to these challenges, there has been a return to holistic and regenerative practices for soil health, climate resilience, and biodiversity. The result is increased efficiency as well as conservation of time, fuel and products, leading to improved environmental health and a more resilient agricultural future.

The deep-rooted principles found in Indigenous land stewardship are reflected in the holistic agricultural practices gaining momentum today. Regenerative techniques such as intercropping, strategic crop rotation, and integrated livestock systems are proving essential for restoring soil health, enhancing biodiversity, building climate resilience, and ensuring long-term food sustainability.

While the agricultural story of the Canadian Prairies is complex, marked by innovation, displacement and resilience, it continues to evolve. Though this reflection offers just a glimpse into the dynamic journey of this region, it reminds us that understanding these shifts and learning from both Indigenous stewardship and contemporary practices, we can cultivate a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture.

Author

Megan Venneman

Communications Coordinator

Bridge to Land Water Sky

Roots to Revenue Webinar | Dec 10, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 17:09:17 GMT

In this webinar, Dr. Shathi Akhter will take a closer look at how trees can play a practical role on the farm—improving soil, supporting biodiversity, and managing challenging spots in the fields. Drawing on insights from collaborative projects, Shathi will explore strategies like planting trees along field edges, enhancing wetlands with riparian vegetation, integrating trees with pasture, and intercropping hazelnuts and berries with other crops. The goal is finding ways to improve productivity while keeping your land thriving for the long haul.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Webinar Recording

November 2025 Newsletter

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:38:44 GMT

Indigenous Ag Summit - Centering the Land
The Cost of Control
Upcoming events!
Meet our Team!

The Cost of Control

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:45:18 GMT

November 26, 2025

Agrochemicals

Changes in agriculture and pesticide reliance have evolved over time. In the 1960s one farmer was feeding about 25 people and pesticide use was starting to rise quite rapidly in North America. The use of synthetic chemicals was brought to light by people like Rachel Carson who suddenly woke the world up that these inventions of new chemicals were not all good. By the mid-1980s and 1990s, we were using more pesticides than ever before in terms of mass. Some of the leading chemicals were organophosphates that were highly toxic to birds and insects but farmers now could feed more people. Today and in the last couple of decades pesticide use has kind of levelled out and we are still using very high quantities of agrochemicals over a wider area. Now the the leading chemicals that are being used tend to be herbicides that are applied on GMO crops (i.e., roundup-ready crops, and insecticides like neonicotinoids).

In the prairie region, the trend is towards more chemical use (58% increase in herbicide use over the last 20 to 30 years, a 400% increase in fungicide use since the 1990s, and a 50% increase in insecticide use since the 1990s). Herbicides like glyphosate (roundup) which are used on roundup-ready crops are a big problem because they are so widely used now. Glyphosate can be found in virtually all water and soil samples. There are more toxic compounds than glyphosate out there usually insecticides and fungicides. Most people believe that DDT, the first modern synthetic insecticide was one of the worst toxic chemicals ever made, however, humans are making more and more toxic chemicals all the time even though less can be used, in many cases they are more toxic to species. It takes about 1,334 milligrams per kilogram of DDT to kill 50 of a test population of songbirds, in comparison Imidacloprid, one of the neonicotinoid insecticides only takes 35 milligrams.

The focus tends to be on some of these “problem chemicals” like glyphosate and neonicotinoids and certain fungicides partly due to their toxicity and partly because of how much is being used. The most commonly used herbicide on the prairies is glyphosate so that is the roundup chemical that you use in your garden but also is used widely on all those roundup-ready GMO crops. The most common fungicide used on the prairies is protoconazole used mainly because of its properties to amplify the toxicity of insecticides and is an endocrine disruptor. The most common class of insecticides used on the prairies that tend to be the most problematic are the neonicotinoids.

In early 2010, research on neonicotinoids started to take off and triggered all kinds of controversy. The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) initially banned neonicotinoid insecticides in 2016 but in 2021 they reversed their decision to ban them shocking many people. The reason for this reversal was because PMRA concluded that although some outdoor uses are not acceptable (i.e., turf, minor use crops), other “risks are largely acceptable with mitigation” (i.e., spray buffer zones, rate reductions, label changes). The reversal was a shock to the research community because they are applied so widely on a wide range of different crop types (foliar sprays, seed treatments, soil drenches) and are a problem for the environment because they are highly water soluble - they move into wetlands and other surface waters and groundwater very easily. Neonicotinoids are highly persistent in the environment - the half-life for some of these chemicals can be several years not seen in most other insecticide classes. They kill beneficial insects. They also cause problems for both insectivorous and seed-eating birds through field exposure, consumption of chemically treated seeds left in the environment, and reducing the abundance of beneficial insect species as a food source. Effects on birds can include a change in food consumption, rapid weight loss, delayed onset of resuming migration and mortality.

A White Crown Sparrow weighing about 27 grams can eat about 230 wheat kernels or over 2,300 canola seeds per day and this can be higher during migration. The equivalent amount of imidacloprid (a neonicotinoid insecticide) treated seeds that this bird would need to eat to cause mortality is less than 1 treated corn kernel, about 3 sunflower seeds, or about 34-37 cereal or canola seeds. To cause sub-lethal effects (i.e., rapid weight loss, delayed migration) the amount of seeds is much lower, about a tenth of a corn kernel, two-tenths of a sunflower seed, or about 3 cereal or canola seeds.

One reason neonicotinoid insecticides were registered in the first place is that initial tests that were submitted by the chemical manufacturer were tested on daphnia magna (water flea), a species uniquely insensitive to the lethal effects of neonicotinoids. Other more sensitive species like the insect species are way more sensitive (lethal effects at approx. 1-100 mcg/L and sub-lethal effects are lower).

Is banning neonicotinoids once again the answer to these problems?

Neonicotinoids are a big problem, but they aren’t the only problem. The newer manufactured diamide insecticides are also contributing to the problem. Diamides were brought on the market in an attempt to replace neonicotinoids in the hopes they would be safer. However, diamides in terms of their toxicology profile and water-solubility are no safer and are actually more toxic to aquatic insects than the neonicotinoids they are meant to replace.

Where is the root of this problem?

High amounts of insecticides are being used on simplified landscapes, landscapes that are very simplified with more crops, little wetlands, and fewer hedgerows, trees, and grassy margins. It is predicted that in the next 10-20 years there will be a 10-20% increase in insecticide use just based on landscape simplification alone. We’re using modern techniques that include edge-to-edge cropping to maintain or increase production levels. Chemical bans and regulatory systems alone don’t seem to be the answer to protecting biodiversity. Our reliance on pesticides and inputs are symptoms of a much bigger issue.

Are insecticides just playing a small role?

Symptoms of biodiversity declines include seeing fewer birds, and fewer insects coupled with things like surface water degradation like increasingly prominent algal blooms, groundwater degradation, and increases in diseases, invasive weeds, and insect pests resulting in more chemical use that isn’t working. There are also climate extremes, droughts and floods that are resulting in crop losses, loss of soil fertility and moisture levels. All of these things are hugely problematic for farmers and production costs just keep going up which could cause serious economic issues. Insecticide use is a very small part of a much bigger problem, how we’re approaching agriculture.

To date, we've mostly focused on yield (food security), our single metric, but in doing that we're trading off environmental health for this perceived notion that it’s what we must do for the economy and so farmers can make a living. This focus and way of thinking is out of balance and environmental health doesn't necessarily need to be traded off to achieve food security, farm and business economics, and environmental health.

Can agriculture work with nature?

We need to work have agriculture work with biodiversity and look at our natural capital. Biodiversity is good for agriculture, we know now that pollinators and other beneficial insects are hugely important for production. To date, there's been little emphasis at least in North America on trying to boost biodiversity for the purpose of production but in places like the UK they're starting to catch on to this. One UK study took 3% or 8% of the marginal land out of agricultural production and planted it with diverse perennials to provide habitat for beneficial insects. The study found that business as usual had lower yields compared to the conversion of 3% or 8% of the marginal land to diverse perennials. Remarkably, there were no net losses of profits and yields were actually up to 35% higher in the conversion of 8% of marginal land to diverse perennials.

In North America, similar studies have taken place. A Saskatchewan study worked with farmers to replace 10-20% of their cropland with perennial forages around wetlands and in areas that were low-producing areas with soil fertility or salinity problems. No net losses of profitability were found. Some areas even saw higher gains while improving soil health and water quality. In Iowa, there is a study that looked at planting long strips of prairie forages as well as some flowering species intermixed with their very common corn-soybean rotations. They tested interspersed strips of 10% or 20% within the corn and soybean row crops. Remarkably, 10% of the field taken out of production and replaced with long integrated strips of prairie forage was the sweet spot since they saw a two-and-a-half-fold increase in insect taxa richness, pollinators went up by three and a half fold, native birds went up two and a half fold, soil retention was 20 fold and phosphorus retention or those that soil fertility went up for was 4 fold. In addition to no net loss of profits, so there doesn’t seem to be any downside to doing this only advantages.

Wetlands are our specialty here in the prairies. We've got this diversity already here making our our very homogeneous landscape more heterogeneous so that adds diversity right there but of course, we're losing wetlands, we're draining them and degrading them.

Studies here on the prairies show that when wetlands remain intact (natural wetland vegetative buffers are retained around wetlands) rather than cropping right up to the water's edge, water quality and biodiversity are maintained. Intact wetlands have lower neonicotinoid concentrations compared to wetlands that have lost their vegetative buffer. They are also great for birds. Birds tend to make a lot of further foraging trips over water. Wetlands in these agricultural landscapes even in intensively cropped areas are going to be hugely important for maintaining biodiversity and maintaining our aerial insectivores that are seeing some serious declines.

We shouldn’t be asking farmers to throw away their profits or productivity. The world needs to feed a large number of people and we cannot have yields decrease substantially from reductions in chemical use for example. A study in France looked at chemical use and how it affected conventional farm profits. They found that when pesticide use was reduced 94% of the farms reported no loss in productivity and 77% percent of the farms reported no loss in profitability. Just reducing their pesticide use seems to at least on the majority of farms cause no loss of productivity or profitability. The study concluded that 42% of all farms in France could reduce their chemical use without any negative effects on productivity or profitability. So if we use less pesticides, farmers would save money but they'd also do the environment a big favor.

What's key is that we just need to diversify our lands. There are endless opportunities to do this and farmers are fantastic experimenters. We can move away from just edge-to-edge mono crops to planting diverse crops like intercrops, cover crops, and vegetative buffers around wetlands and retaining wetlands, and also bringing livestock into crop production systems which can have huge benefits for soil health. Some of these regenerative agricultural practices are starting to catch on here on the prairies and new research is just starting to emerge and what the impacts are for biodiversity.

If we reframe this concept of agricultural sustainability and move away from just simply looking at yields we actually can start to rebalance between food security, farm and business economics, and environmental health, so all three can co-benefit one another. Overall our new way of thinking becomes integrated, and balanced, and demonstrates those win-wins.

Dr. Christy Morrissey - Modern Agriculture will Sustain a World of 9 Billion

October 2025 Newsletter

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:31:21 GMT

2nd Annual Indigenous Farm & Food Festival Recap
A New Path Forward: Rethinking Agriculture on the Canadian Prairies
Upcoming Events
Meet our Team!

A New Path Forward: Rethinking Agriculture on the Canadian Prairies

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:01:41 GMT

October 30, 2025

Modern agriculture faces a paradox: the push to feed more people while risking the health of ecosystems and livelihoods. Conventional agriculture has boosted productivity, but it relies heavily on chemicals and uniform landscapes. This way of farming leaves little to no room for wildlife habitat, and increases input costs for producers while adding pressure to wetlands and soils.

The Chemical Catch-22

One key issue is the climb in pesticide use. Herbicides like glyphosate are popping up just about everywhere and are losing their effectiveness. Invasive weeds are adapting and becoming harder to control even with stronger, more frequent chemical applications. Weeds like wild oat and kochia are increasingly building resistance to multiple herbicide groups making them harder to control . When these chemicals stop doing their job, producers are left with limited tools and rising production costs. These chemicals seem to fuel a problem to a never ending cycle:

More chemicals = more resistance = more cost = weaker results.

The Wetland Trade-Off

Over the decades, countless wetlands have been filled in, tiled, or farmed over to make more room for cropland. This may seem like a quick fix to gain usable acres and make the field easier for equipment to navigate, but it comes with real trade-offs. Wetlands filter runoff, support wildlife, hold water during wet years, preserve moisture during dry years, and help regulate climate. Once drained, these natural functions are hard to get back.

The Real Costs of Tree Loss

The removal of tree cover is also transforming the agricultural landscape. Shelterbelts and tree patches are being cleared to make room for larger, uninterrupted fields that are easier for equipment to manage. This may seem like an easy way to boost efficiency, but removing these areas also removes natural windbreaks for wind protection, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and moisture regulation.

Farming With Nature

The good news? A new path forward is already taking shape.

Farmers across the Prairies and around the world are proving that farming with nature doesn’t mean sacrificing profits or productivity. Producers in Saskatchewan are experimenting with practices like cover cropping, intercropping, slow-release fertilizers and variable rate applications. As a result, these producers are already seeing lower input costs, improved yields, healthier soils, and more wildlife activity.

Studies in the UK are showing that converting a small area of marginal cropland to alternatives like perennial forages and prairie strips can actually boost yields while also bringing back pollinators, protecting water resources, and creating wildlife habitat without hurting profitability.

An Alberta study showed that in fields where wetlands remain intact, farmers are seeing average returns of about $203 per acre. However, in areas that have been drained, profits drop noticeably - ranging from just $145 down to $76 per acre.

Farmers in Saskatchewan have found success converting 10–20% of low-yielding cropland like areas around wetlands or areas with poor soil into perennial forage. They’re finding that these conversions didn’t hurt profits, and in many cases resulted in better soil and water quality.

In Iowa, mixing strips of prairie forage into corn and soybean fields boosted pollinators, bird life, and soil health without hurting yields. They found that just 10% of the field made a big difference.

A New Path Forward

Modern farming has helped us grow more food, but it’s also created challenges for the land, water, and wildlife around us. The good news is we’re not stuck with the way things are and change is already happening. Across the Prairies, farmers are demonstrating that agriculture can be more balanced by preserving wetlands, reducing pesticide use through smarter farming practices, and finding creative ways to utilize marginal cropland. This approach isn’t about reducing, it’s about being more thoughtful with how we manage the land so it stays productive into the future.

Written by:

Maddie Gould

Communications Manager

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Crop Report - September 30, 2025

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:55:13 GMT

September 30, 2025
Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

Harvest has wrapped up for some and is wrapping up soon for others. The weather has been favourable for a speedy harvest season, with warm temperatures and relatively dry conditions. The forecast continues to hold as we move into October, welcomed by the many farmers who still have work to do in the field.

What's going on in the field

Combines continue to roll on the last of the fields that still have crop on them. The grain is being stored in bins or bags, or is being hauled off the combine to the elevator. But just because harvest is over doesn't mean that it’s not still busy on the farm - there are still weeks of field work left. This can include straw management in preparation for next year’s crop, which can mean a light harrowing of the straw in order to spread it more evenly on the field, especially after growing a heavy cereal crop. Farmers can also use this time to get soil sampling done, where they will test their soil for nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur, and other soil properties such as organic matter. Knowing what their nutrient levels are like in the fall will better help them formulate their fertilizer plans over the winter. Some farmers may apply fertilizer in the fall (once the soil temperatures cool down) in order to save time during seeding next spring. Some farmers may also apply herbicides at this time of the year as well, depending on the type of weeds they see in the field. Winter annual weeds, such as narrow-leaved hawk’s beard or cleavers, and simple perennials, like dandelion, can be more effectively controlled in the fall as the herbicides work better with the biology of these plants as they prepare for over-wintering.

Farmer’s Focus: Insights for the Weeks Ahead

From now until freeze-up, farmers will be focused on getting any field work done that they can - whatever can be completed in the fall is one less task off their list during the always busy springtime. Equipment will also be tended to, with combines and harvest machinery cleaned, washed and tucked away for another year. Grain will continue to be marketed and moved throughout the fall and winter, with bins being regularly inspected for signs of heating or insect infestations (such as rusty grain beetles). Bales will be hauled back to the yard in preparation for winter livestock feeding. And as the day length grows noticeably shorter, hopefully there’s still time to get in that last round of golf or day of fishing - to breathe in that fresh fall air and take a moment to absorb the beautiful autumn colours - before the snow falls on another completed crop year.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Forging a Path Forward: Managing Kochia Through Forage Systems

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:52:57 GMT

September 30, 2025

Kochia is no stranger to Saskatchewan fields. From field edges to saline patches, this drought-tolerant and herbicide-resistant weed continues to challenge producers across the province. As a result, many growers are reevaluating how to approach managing kochia beyond traditional solutions.

One strategy that seems to be gaining popularity is converting marginal cropland to perennial forage, turning problem acres into productive areas for grazing or hay. For farms that are consistently underperforming and attracting kochia, this approach can reduce input costs, limit the spread of kochia, improve soil health, and provide new income streams through hay or custom grazing.

Why Does Kochia Thrive in Marginal Cropland?

Kochia thrives in marginal cropland due to its ability to adapt to harsh growing conditions. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including saline, sandy, and low-organic matter types which are commonly found in marginal croplands. It is drought tolerant due to its deep taproots and it also is one of the earliest weeds to germinate in the spring, giving it a head start over other crops. Once established, its rapid growth and prolific seed production makes it difficult to manage. Kochia is often resistant to several herbicide groups including Groups 2, 4, and 9, limiting chemical control options.

How Does Marginal Cropland Conversion to Perennial Forage Suppress Kochia?

Converting marginal cropland to perennial forage crowds out kochia. Once perennial forage species are established, they shade the soil surface and restrict sunlight kochia needs to grow. These systems also stabilize soil moisture levels, reducing the dry conditions kochia prefers. Reduced reliance on herbicide applications minimizes soil disturbance, which in turn limits kochia establishment. Adding livestock provides another level of control as they consume young kochia plants before they mature.

Other Benefits to Forage Conversion

Beyond weed suppression, perennial forage systems offer more benefits. Once established, forage stands help stabilize the soil structure, improving moisture retention and reducing runoff. Input costs can be minimized because of the reduced reliance on herbicides. There’s also the benefit of versatility. Depending on the species chosen and management goals, they can be used for hay, rotational grazing, or as buffer zones.

Forging a Forage Path

Converting marginal cropland to perennial forage involves planning and understanding of the site conditions. Working with an agrologist or agronomist can help identify forage species that are well suited to the land and long-term goals. Having a good species mix increases the likelihood of strong establishment and long-term success. Managing Kochia in Saskatchewan isn’t just about spraying- it’s about adapting land use where it makes sense. For marginal acres that consistently underperform, perennial forage offers a practical, low-input alternative that supports agronomic and ecological function while also contributing to long-term economic value.

September 2025 Newsletter

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:34:08 GMT

Crop Report
Forging a Path Forward: Managing Kochia Through Forage Systems
Bridging Relations Podcast
Meet our Team!

Crop Report - August 31, 2025

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 03:53:12 GMT

August 31, 2025
Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

The past few weeks of August have finally felt like summer, but the intense heat has quickly brought the look of autumn across the landscape - the trees are yellowing, the grass browning and crunchy underfoot. The steady heat has accelerated crop development and the cereal crops and canola are at or nearing maturity. The rain that came later in the summer has been a case of ‘too little too late’, and while the later moisture can help fill the kernels and seeds, it unfortunately arrived too late to increase grain yield. The current dry conditions help to preserve the quality of the grain and make for a speedier and less stressful harvest for the farmers. At this point, hitting the pause button on the rainfall until after harvest would be ideal for the grain farmers, and then a good soaker in the fall to recharge the soil would be very welcome. Although, for the forage and pastures, the rain could come at any time.

What's going on in the field

Harvest is in full swing. Canola and malt barley are being swathed. Wheat has been sprayed to accelerate the dry-down of greener plant material and early-seeded wheat, especially that on sandier (‘lighter’) land, is being combined. Lots of equipment is on the move - please be extra patient and cautious on the roads!

Harvest was underway on a windy day in August on Mistawasis. Source: Jennifer Bogdan

Farmer’s Focus: Insights for the Weeks Ahead

The focus right now is getting the crops swathed and the grain combined and in the bin. Some grain coming off early may need to be run through a dryer in order to bring the moisture content of the seed down to a level that is safe for long-term storage in the bin. For example, wheat that is being combined at higher moisture (16-20%) will need to be dried down to around 13-14% moisture before it can be stored, or spoilage can occur. Losing a bin to heated grain is a massive financial hit for a farmer, especially with the size of grain bins today. As the wheat will be transported from the farm to the elevator, loaded onto a train, taken to the port, and then finally loaded onto a ship destined to an end-use country, making sure the grain is “dry” becomes very important. Grain elevators take samples of every load coming into the elevator where they test the moisture, temperature, and other grading parameters such as protein content, dockage, sprouting, and green seeds, depending on the crop. Grain that arrives “tough” (slightly higher than ideal moisture) or “damp” (much higher than ideal moisture) will be dried at the elevator before being binned with the dry grain in order to prevent spoilage of their very large bins. So far, the harvest weather has been cooperative and very little or no drying will be needed, unless September turns cool and rainy.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

August 2025 Newsletter

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 20:59:47 GMT

Crop Report
Regenerating Land & Sharing Knowledge at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation
Indigenous Farm & Food Festival
Bridging Relations Podcast
Meet out Team!

Regenerating Land and Sharing Knowledge at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 21:09:16 GMT

August 23, 2025

Across from the Muskeg Lake Food Forest, a new demonstration site is taking shape as a space for community-based learning. Its main goal is to showcase regenerative agricultural practices in a way that’s accessible to everyone, including large-scale producers, ranchers, land managers, small-scale community gardeners, students, and community members. The site encourages exploration of both conventional and regenerative farming practices. By creating a shared language around agriculture, it encourages connection, experimentation, and hands-on learning.

The site has been conventionally farmed for decades. In 2024, it was planted with canola and in 2025, most of the field was seeded to oats with the exception of the portion reserved for educational demonstration. This demonstration spans roughly 275 metres east to west and 45 metres north to south and is dedicated to exploring and observing regenerative farming practices. Located between two large wetlands, the site provides opportunities to learn about land stewardship and restoration approaches grounded in both local landscape conditions, and community values.

In 2023, 12 species were selected and a total of 700 trees were planted along the roadside of the demonstration site. These form an eco-buffer that functions as a windbreak and demonstrates the ecological and cultural value of eco-buffers/shelterbelts.

North of the eco-buffer, over 1,000 potatoes were planted using two different methods: traditional in-ground and no-dig techniques. With no irrigation system, this offers a great opportunity to compare practices under water-limited conditions.

Demonstration Plots

In 2025, part of the site was seeded into seven demonstration strips. These plots offer visitors the opportunity to observe and learn about a range of regenerative practices and the benefits they provide. This variety of crops allows visitors to observe how diverse plantings can improve soil health and build resilience.

Demonstration Plots include:

Corn and soybean planted in alternating rows to show row-intercropping

Mixed-intercropping plots include combinations like pea and oat, pea and flax, and oat with italian ryegrass

Three plots featuring annual cover crop blends, including the Covers & Co Blend and the SERF Pollinator Blend.

In addition, approximately 1,000 trees and shrubs were planted in 2025 along the outskirts of the main demonstration site, bordering the two adjacent wetlands. Species included a variety of willows, white spruce, poplar, and red-osier dogwood. These plantings support wildlife habitat, promote biodiversity, and serve as a buffer to capture runoff before it reaches the water, helping improve water quality.

Looking Ahead

Planned future additions include:

Single-species crops for identification and comparison

Perennial pollinator strips

Expanded ecological buffer zones

Informational signage to support self-guided learning

A site tour is planned for September and will offer an opportunity to gather feedback.

A Place to Share and Grow

This demonstration site is designed to support learning for everyone, from experienced farmers to young students. It combines Indigenous and western agricultural knowledge to support knowledge exchange, cultural connection, and practical learning about beneficial land management practices.

Stephanie Le Courtois, a master’s student from the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Bridge to Land Water Sky team, is studying how spaces like this contribute to learning, community well-being and cultural connection. Stephanie’s research focuses on the educational role these kinds of projects play and how they can strengthen relationships between people, land, water, and sky.

July 2025 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 18:06:52 GMT

Crop Report
Indigenous Farm & Food Festival
Regenerative Ag in Action Learning Day by Collective Impact
Allies in Action: The ē kanātahk askiy SAGE Project
Bridging Relations Podcast
Meet out Team!

Crop Report - July 15, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:25:56 GMT

July 15, 2025
Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

It’s been a mixed bag of weather this year - very little rain, wind, hot/cold/hot/cold, tornado warnings, hail, smoke. But the biggest impact on the crops has been the lack of rainfall, which is not out of the ordinary as precipitation plays a significant role in a plant’s life. After a winter of less snowfall compared to other areas, we didn’t receive any April showers to bring the May flowers. In some parts of the area, it was nearly 2 months before some rain fell. While the pastures would appreciate this drink of life, it’s a bit ‘too little too late’ for the annual crops that set their yield potential based on moisture conditions earlier on in their life cycle.

Seeding happened early this year, starting about 7-10 days sooner than usual. This earlier planting, coupled with dry conditions, will make for a much earlier harvest as well. The wheat is headed out and canola is in bloom, but the crops are thinner and shorter than they usually are.

What's going on in the field

Fungicide applications on wheat and canola have recently been applied, if they were even deemed necessary. With the crops being so variable in how well they look at this stage, farmers will pick and choose which fields to spray with fungicide - the fields that have better soil and/or received more rainfall will have grown taller and thicker crops. The thicker the plant stand and crop canopy, the more moisture it will trap beneath the canopy - and since fungi thrive under moist conditions, the greater the chance of disease occurring. Shorter, thinner crops growing on sandier land and/or with limited rainfall will not trap moisture and the plant surfaces will dry out quickly, making it less likely that disease will develop. Fields like this will likely not produce an additional profit to offset the cost of fungicide plus application.

Figure 1. Bertha armyworm moth. (Credit: Jennifer Bogdan)

Farmer’s Focus: Insights for the Weeks Ahead

Once the fungicide application window has passed, the only other potential threat to the crops to watch for are late season insects. In particular, farmers will be watching for bertha armyworm larvae in their canola. Bertha armyworm moths (Figure 1) begin laying eggs on canola leaves in June and by mid- to late-July, the larvae (Figure 2) have hatched and will start feeding on canola plant tissue. They begin feeding on the leaves but as the canola plant naturally loses its leaves upon reaching the podding stage, the larvae move upwards on the plants to feed on the green pods. As they feed on the pods, the armyworms also eat the young green canola seeds causing yield loss (Figure 3).

Figure 2. Bertha armyworm larvae. Full-grown larvae can appear in black, brown, or green forms, but all have a characteristic stripe that runs along each side. (Credit: Jennifer Bogdan)

Figure 3. Bertha armyworm larvae. Full-grown larvae can appear in black, brown, or green forms, but all have a characteristic stripe that runs along each side. (Credit: Jennifer Bogdan)

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

In outbreak years, bertha armyworms can cause great yield losses across large geographies. The last year of significant outbreaks in the province was 2016, with outbreak cycles occurring every 8-10 years and lasting for 2-3 years. This means that we’re due for an outbreak any year now. The Ministry of Agriculture coordinates a bertha armyworm monitoring program where farmers and industry set up traps to catch moths. Based on the moth counts, a weekly risk map is produced to help identify hot spots in the province - if potential outbreak areas show up on the map, it’s time for farmers to start thoroughly checking their canola fields on a regular basis. The weekly risk maps can be found on the province’s website: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/business/agriculture-natural-resources-and-industry/agribusiness-farmers-and-ranchers/crops-and-irrigation/insects/bertha-armyworm-map

Figure 4: High amounts of feeding damage can give the canola crop a whitish appearance as green plant tissue is consumed. (Credit: Jennifer Bogdan)

Figure 5: Bertha armyworm risk map as of July 2, 2025. (Credit: Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture)

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Indigenous Food & Farm Festival | Sep 23-25, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:33:32 GMT

Indigenous Farm & Food Festival

Time

Tuesday, September 23 to Thursday, September 25, 2025

Location

Dumont Lodge at Batoche

This gathering is for Indigenous participants and those who are employed by or directly work with Indigenous communities and organizations.

There is no cost to attend!

Agenda

Following the success of the inaugural event in Meadow Lake with Flying Dust First Nation, we’re excited to co-host the second annual Indigenous Farm & Food Festival—a three-day interactive experience exploring Indigenous food systems, soil health, regenerative agriculture and buffalo caretaking. Through hands-on workshops, guided farm tours, and storytelling, participants will connect with the land, hear from local experts, and learn through a mix of Traditional Knowledge and scientific approaches. Expect immersive learning, meaningful conversations, and outdoor exploration—all set against the rich cultural backdrop of Batoche, SK and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.

Meals will be provided throughout - a curated menu with locally-sourced ingredients, prepared by Métis Chef Jenni Lessard.

Goals of the Festival

Deepen connections to Indigenous food systems, land stewardship, and sustainable agriculture.
Provide hands-on learning through interactive workshops, storytelling, and guided explorations.
Celebrate Indigenous knowledge and traditions in farming, food, and environmental sustainability.
Foster community engagement by bringing together participants in shared experiences.
Encourage reflection and action on regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty.

Draft Itinerary

Day 1 - September 23: Participants will take part in hands-on discovery sessions in smaller breakout groups exploring Indigenous food systems, soil health, regenerative agriculture and buffalo caretaking.
Day 2 - September 24: Breakout sessions on Indigenous food systems, soil health, regenerative agriculture and buffalo caretaking will take place in the morning. In the afternoon, participants will have a chance to network, visit the buffalo, go on-self guided visits in the Batoche area and participate in other activities.
Day 3 - September 25: All participants will join a shared farm tour experience, including a bus tour stopping at several farms and a visit to the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Food Forest.

Funding for this project has been provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Strengthening Land Through Shared Knowledge

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:41:36 GMT

June 30, 2025

The SAGE Project

The Soil and Agroecosystem (SAGE) Health Project , also known by its ceremonial name ē kanātahk askiy (“it is a clean earth” in ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ nēhiyawēwin), is a community-led initiative rooted in Indigenous leadership. It works with Indigenous peoples across the prairies to support community goals for agriculture, food sovereignty, and land stewardship through the sharing knowledge from both Indigenous and western scientific perspectives. SAGE's mission is to support Indigenous communities with knowledge of soil and agroecosystem focusing on soil health, agricultural beneficial management practices, food sovereignty, traditional plant medicines and foods, buffalo rematriation, and more! Guided by Indigenous values, SAGE envisions thriving agroecosystems that foster soil health, biodiversity and resilience to climate change.

SAGE partners directly with Indigenous communities across the prairies, offering education, capacity-building, and support tailored to local values, interests, and goals. Their work is deeply collaborative, community-first, and rooted in relationship-building.

The work of SAGE focuses on four interconnected pillars:

1. Production Agriculture & Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs)

Host workshops, field tours, and webinars for Indigenous land managers and farmers.
Promote BMPs adapted to prairie conditions, especially within the Black Soil Zone
Support community-led land decisions

2. Buffalo Rematriation

Lead land-based learning circles on buffalo ecology and rematriation as restoration and food sovereignty
Host annual retreats where participants observe community-managed buffalo
Engage communities at every stage of rematriation—many united by the Buffalo Treaty

3. Indigenous Food Sovereignty

Revitalize traditional foodways through mentorship, seed saving, and pop-up workshops
Support culturally significant food growing practices that benefit soil health

4. Soil Health Assessment and Monitoring

Train communities in soil sampling, testing, and mapping techniques
Inform land use decisions across all scales of agroecosystem management

Knowledge Sharing

SAGE works with communities through practical learning including:

Field and Demonstration Tours
Workshops
Learning Circles
Online sessions
Learning on the land
One-on-one mentorship

Why it Matters

The ē kanātahk askiy SAGE Project supports community-led work in soil health, food sovereignty, and land stewardship. Through workshops, mentorship, and land-based learning, SAGE helps Indigenous communities across the prairies share knowledge and strengthen agroecosystems. The work is shaped by each community's values and priorities, contributing to long-term goals in sustainable land management.

Connect with SAGE

Want to follow what SAGE is working on across the prairies? Sign up for the SAGE Project Newsletter to receive updates about community-led learning, soil health, food sovereignty, buffalo rematriation, and more. You can also find SAGE on Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn to learn about current initiatives and stay connected.

Factsheet - Regenerative Agriculture

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:12:25 GMT

Factsheet - Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:11:37 GMT

Factsheet - Evolution of Agriculture on the Canadian Plains

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:09:59 GMT

Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:29:49 GMT

March 30, 2025

Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network

The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN) is rethinking how we manage marginal croplands in the Canadian Prairies. It began in 2022 with researchers from USask and UCalgary collaborating to identify underperforming areas of cropland using precision yield data and satellite imagery. By 2023, the team secured funding to expand their work to Manitoba, and in 2024, PPSN received a major $3.9M grant, bringing in researchers from UManitoba, UWaterloo, and USask. This paved the way for their next big step: converting problematic croplands into productive and sustainable areas.

Why Focus on Marginal Lands?

The Prairies have millions of acres of cropland facing challenges—such as saline soils that drastically cut yields or areas prone to erosion. PPSN aims to restore these lands, not only to boost productivity but to benefit the environment. Restoration directly contributes to healthier soils, cleaner water, greater biodiversity, and a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

PPSN’s Approach: From Data to Solutions

In Phase 1, PPSN used precision yield data from Saskatchewan and Alberta to create a satellite-based model for predicting crop yields and pinpointing unprofitable areas within fields. This set the foundation for targeted interventions and expanded research into Manitoba.

Phase 2 focuses on converting marginal lands into perennial forage. By collaborating with producers, PPSN identifies struggling areas—often saline or waterlogged—and restores them using diverse perennial mixes. These converted areas provide both ecological benefits and additional revenue opportunities through forage production.

The Case for Restoration

Marginal lands in the Prairie region pose challenges but also offer opportunities. Studies have highlighted over 11 million acres of saline lands that hinder production. PPSN’s restoration efforts address these challenges directly. Restoring marginal lands offers benefits including:

Environmental: Boost biodiversity, improve water quality, enrich soils, and enhance ecosystem services.
Climate: Capture carbon in roots and soils while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Economic: Stabilize yields, reduce input costs, and create new revenue streams.

Farmers at the Heart of Change

PPSN’s success relies on its close collaboration with producers. Through field-scale studies in the Prairie Pothole Region, farmers work with the team to map out low-yielding areas for forage conversion. Typically, 10–25% of a field’s crop area—spots prone to salinity or water issues—is seeded with perennial mixes. In return, farmers receive incentives like payments for converted acres, reimbursed seed costs, and access to programs like MAP, MARS, and S-CAP/RALP. The restored areas not only improve soil and ecosystem health but also provide a new source of income through haying forage.

Moving Toward Sustainable Agriculture

PPSN is challenging the old idea that environmental health and farming profitability must compete. By restoring marginal lands, farmers can stabilize yields, reduce input costs, and enhance resilience—all while contributing to a healthier environment.

If you're curious about where your own profit-loss areas might be, PPSN has created a Field Profitability and Marginality Tool to help producers make informed decisions about their land.

PPSN isn’t just about research—it’s about creating practical solutions. By collaborating with producers and fostering innovative practices, the Prairie Precision Sustainability Network is building a resilient, sustainable future for agriculture in Canada.

Listening to the Land: Exploring Bird and Bat Diversity on First Nation Communities

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 18:26:17 GMT

Map showing locations for ARU placements for bird and bat sites inside and outside First Nations Reserves in Saskatchewan. Blue dots represent First Nations sites and red dots represents non-First Nations sites.

March 28, 2025

What do Saskatchewan’s wetlands, forests, and grasslands sound like? From April to July 2024, researchers and students from the University of Saskatchewan tuned into these natural soundscapes, uncovering the hidden voices of birds and bats using Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs). This unique study, conducted across First Nations and non-First Nations lands, sheds light on biodiversity patterns and the critical role of First Nations lands as vibrant habitats for wildlife.

The team deployed ARUs across 69 sites in eight rural municipalities, spanning wetlands, forests, and grasslands, including areas within First Nations lands. ARUs provided a non-invasive method for monitoring species diversity, with bird ARUs capturing the songs and calls of various bird species and bat ARUs tracking bat activity at 12 select locations. Together, these recordings are helping researchers understand biodiversity patterns and wildlife behaviour, while contributing to future conservation efforts across Saskatchewan.

To gather these recordings, ARUs were rotated weekly to new locations, completing three rotations per season. They were set to capture mornings (starting one hour before sunrise) and evenings (starting one hour before sunset), ensuring a good mix of bird and bat activity. The recordings were then analyzed using a combination of automated species identification software and manual transcription by trained experts. The results were remarkable: a total of 225 bird, reptile, and mammal species were detected across the study area. Some of the most commonly identified birds included Canada Geese, American Crows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Hermit Thrushes, and various sparrow species.

This research highlights the unique role of First Nations lands as key habitats for thriving bird and bat populations, underscoring their importance in biodiversity conservation. By blending innovative technology with ecological expertise, researchers are capturing the sounds of Saskatchewan’s wildlife to offer fresh insights into the region’s ecosystems. Studies like this not only expand our understanding of the province’s biodiversity but also pave the way for more effective conservation strategies, revealing hidden stories in nature’s soundscape that can guide us toward healthier and more balanced ecosystems.

This study will continue into 2025 and the team is looking forward to releasing further project results later this year.

Authors

Ifrah Abdirizak

Researcher

University of Saskatchewan

March 2025 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 22:40:53 GMT

Listening to the Land: Exploring Bird and Bat Diversity on First Nation Communities
Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN)
Bridging Relations Podcast
Upcoming Events
Meet the Team!

Infosheet - BLWS Project One-Pager

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:48:06 GMT

Well Grounded: Honouring the Knowledge Keepers Webinar | Apr 9, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:40:08 GMT

Join us to hear Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper Bonnie Thomas and Professor Emerita Dr. Nancy J. Turner share stories and reflections on collaboration and study of ethnobotany and ethnoecology through traditional ways.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 | 1pm - 2:10pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Webinar Recording

Cam Kayter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:57:35 GMT

Cam Kayter

Range and Forage Biologist

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Cam Kayter is the AAFC Science Coordinator for the BTLWS Living Lab. Over his 25 years at AAFC, Cam has been involved with rangeland and forages, Land use decision support, GIS mapping and soil and water conservation activities. Raised in a small town in Saskatchewan, he grew up helping out on the family grain farm in the RM of Cupar. Cam currently resides in Warman with his wife Jolene and three children.

Jennifer Bogdan

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 18:04:51 GMT

Jennifer Bogdan

Project Agronomist

Prairie Trail Agrology

Jennifer has spent the past 20 years in the agriculture industry, primarily working as an agronomist based out of Saskatoon. For the last five years, she has enjoyed freelance writing for Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Top Crop Manager, and Canadian Agronomist. Jennifer is a Professional Agrologist with the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologies and a Certified Crop Advisor and sits on the Soils & Crops Conference organizing committee. She recently moved to an acreage south of Saskatoon, where she enjoys seeking out learning about the insects, native plants, and birds in the area.

Jennifer's role as agronomist for the Bridge project is essential, as she is the main point of contact for producers. Her knowledge and expertise guides farmers when deciding what BMPs are right for their land while also helping make decisions for the bridge project regarding best uses for agricultural lands.

Katherine Finn

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 17:05:34 GMT

Katherine Finn

Project Manager

Kinnikinnick Consulting Inc.

Katherine Finn completed her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Earth Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan. She is the Manager and Founder of Kinnikinnick Consulting, which supports environmental initiatives with First Nation communities in Treaty 6.

Living on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River with her husband and three small children, Katherine is also expanding her hobby farm. She has 15+ years of experience in grant writing, community engagement, and project development, with a talent for creative thinking to overcome challenges.

As the Project Manager for the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, Katherine's commitment to building community capacity, health, and well-being, and improving land management strategies makes her an invaluable asset to the team.

Indigenous Chefs Webinar | Mar 19, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 16:43:44 GMT

Join Us and Cat Free from Trent University to learn more about Indigenous Chefs and their role in food sovereignty, and for a broader conversation on Indigenous knowledges around food. Cat Free's graduate research is looking at Indigenous Chefs across Ontario who have stepped beyond their trade certification and training, and have moved into food sovereignty for the knowledge and benefit of Indigenous communities, Indigenous individuals, and beyond.

Cat Free is a PhD student in Indigenous Studies at Trent University, researching Indigenous Food Systems. She is a former Red Seal Chef and practiced for 22 years before pursuing her Bachelor's of Social Work and Master's of Social Work. Cat is a member of the Pays Plat First Nation, and lives and studies in Treaty 20, traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations. Cat Free's graduate research is looking at Indigenous Chefs across Ontario who have stepped beyond their trade certification and training, and have moved into food sovereignty for the knowledge and benefit of Indigenous communities, Indigenous individuals, and beyond.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 | 1pm - 2:10pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Webinar Recording

Roger Daniels

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 17:09:02 GMT

Roger Daniels

Land Claims

Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Roger Daniels is a dedicated member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and has lived in Mistawasis for all but three years of his life. With a deep passion for the land, Roger has spent the majority of his career in the lands area, serving 10 years as Lands Manager and 15 years as Trust Coordinator. His extensive knowledge and expertise of Mistawasis reserve lands make him an invaluable source of information and a crucial member of the Bridge to Land Water Sky team.

Roger has been married for 31 years and has two daughters, two sons, and 15 grandchildren. He started his career humbly as a Receptionist and has held various roles, including Maintenance Worker, Land Manager, Band Councilor, Governance Officer with ISC, Casino Security, Truck Driver, and finally, Trust Coordinator. Despite trying different jobs, Roger always returns to the lands department, where his true passion lies.

AgriGather Open House | Mar 26, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 19:39:48 GMT

or email bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com or text/call 1 (306) 281-3272

Swing by the AgriGather Open House a tradeshow-style event to chat about farming practices that can save you money, improve your soil, and open up new market opportunities. Grab a slice of pie and a cup of coffee while you learn about farm trials in your area and funding opportunities through RALP, LEAP and other programs.

Mingle with fellow farmers and scientists, pick up some valuable insights, and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. Drop in anytime during our open hours. We can't wait to see you there!

What to Expect:

Enjoy pie and coffee while gaining valuable insights for your operation including funding opportunities through RALP, LEAP and other programs.
Mingle with fellow farmers and scientists.
Brief presentations from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and University of Saskatchewan scientists to learn about on-farm research trials in your area.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, March, 26, 2025 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm CST

Location

Leask Community Hall

161 Railway Ave, Leask, SK

Questions?

Email bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com or text/call 1 (306) 281-3272

Wetlands in Agroecosystems Webinar | Mar 12, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:18:53 GMT

Depressional wetlands play a vital role in the Prairie agroecosystem, providing essential ecosystem services. Join us as we hear from Colin Whitfield of the Global Institute for Water Security, who will present recent research on how climate could affect these services in the future. He will also highlight the risks associated with ongoing wetland drainage in Saskatchewan and emphasize the importance of place-based management strategies.

Colin will explore how beneficial management practices, examined through the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, can offer co-benefits for the health and sustainability of wetlands. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the future of Prairie wetlands and the innovative approaches to preserving their invaluable functions.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, March, 12, 2025 | 1:30pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Virtual - To ensure a secure and enjoyable experience, we'll send the virtual join link one day before the webinar. This helps prevent scams and ensures only registered participants can join. Please check your email for the link. We appreciate your understanding.

Questions?

Email bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com or text/call 1 (306) 281-3272

Webinar Recording

This webinar is not being recorded.

Sowing Success | Mar 6, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:25:56 GMT

In this webinar, Shayla McKay, Indigenous Food Sovereignty Coordinator for Muskeg Lake Cree Nation , will prepare you for the upcoming gardening season. Shayla will discuss everything from considerations when planning your garden to starting seeds indoors and outdoors in this informative presentation. Whether you have an existing garden that you are hoping to improve or looking to start your gardening journey and don’t know where to begin, this presentation is great for gardeners of all levels.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Thursday, March, 6, 2025 | 1:30pm - 2:30 pm CST

Location

Questions?

Email bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com or text/call 1 (306) 281-3272

Webinar Recording

How We Come to Know Webinar | Mar 5, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 19:46:12 GMT

Join Us and Anishinaabekwe scholar Dr. Kathy Absolon (Minogiizhigo kwe) to learn more about Indigenous ways of knowing and knowledge. Dr. Absolon's academic journey has been a pathway of unlearning, healing, re-learning and finding who she is as an Indigenous woman & what her place is in the academy. Dr. Absolon works at Wilfred Laurier University and is the Director of the Centre for Indigegogy.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, March, 5, 2025 | 2pm - 3pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Webinar Recording

This webinar is not being recorded.

Anthony Johnston

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:22:25 GMT

Anthony Johnston

Elder/Knowledge Keeper

Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Anthony is a member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and one of the founding members of the Bridge to Land Water Sky project. He has been involved in several conservation and revitalization projects for Mistawasis lands, and his words of wisdom resonate with everyone he meets.

Anthony returned to his community to contribute his life, work, and educational experiences for its benefit. He believes his greatest contribution has been building partnerships, alliances, and friendships with people who care.

With experience working with federal and provincial governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Anthony holds a BA in History and a minor in Human Geography from the University of Manitoba. As an advisor for Mistawasis and the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, Anthony provides vital support, wisdom, and maintains cultural traditions.

Lawrence Johnston

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:07:07 GMT

Lawrence Johnston

Lands & Resources Department Director

Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Lost Harvests Webinar | Feb 5, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 18:55:25 GMT

Join Us and Sarah Carter to learn more about the history of indigenous agriculture in western Canada. Agriculture on Plains Indian reserves is generally thought to have failed because the Indigenous people lacked either an interest in farming or an aptitude for it. In our webinar Dr. Sarah Carter will reveal that reserve residents were anxious to farm and expended considerable effort on cultivation; government policies, more than anything else, acted to undermine their success.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Wednesday, February, 5, 2025 | 2pm - 4:30pm CST

Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Webinar Recording

This webinar is not being recorded.

Debbie Watson

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 17:52:37 GMT

Debbie Watson

Lands Administrative Assistant

Mistawasis Nêhiyawak

Debbie is a member of Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Mistawasis Lands & Resources Department.

As the main contact for the Mistawasis Lands & Resources Department, Debbie's extensive knowledge about Mistawasis lands, lease agreements, and more is critical to the success of the Bridge to Land Water Sky project. Our team frequently turns to Debbie for her insights on local contacts and ideas to engage Mistawasis community members including youth through various land-based educational opportunities. Debbie's role is also vital in providing support, wisdom, and maintaining cultural traditions within the Bridge to Land Water Sky project.

Dennis Greyeyes

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:54:41 GMT

Dennis Greyeyes

Lands Manager

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation - Lands & Resources Department

Steve Wiig

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 17:16:42 GMT

Steve Wiig

Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator

Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Steven Wiig is the Food Security & Climate Change Coordinator at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Since 2018, Steven has been dedicated to developing food security and climate change adaptation for the community. His journey into Permaculture and Sustainable Development began in 2011, taking him to S.E. Asia, Kenya, and the Caribbean, where he worked with various indigenous communities and international specialists.

Returning to Canada in 2017, Steven started a small Sustainable Landscaping company, which soon led him to Muskeg Lake. He decided to stay and work for the indigenous people of his homeland. Steven's expertise and commitment to sustainable practices make him an invaluable asset to the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, where he contributes his knowledge to improve land management strategies, increase food security, protect biodiversity, and create learning opportunities for youth and communities.

Melissa Arcand

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 17:14:42 GMT

Melissa Arcand

Research Co-Lead and Professor

University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Melissa Arcand is a soil scientist from the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, where she grew up on a grain farm. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on soil health, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, collaborating with First Nations to assess soils on agricultural lands.

In the Bridge project, Dr. Arcand wears many hats. As one of the Research Co-leads, she drives the research forward and facilitates communication between partners, including academic, non-academic, First Nation, and NGO partners. She ensures that the science behind the research is understood and that cultural nuances are respected.

Dr. Arcand and her team collaborate extensively with First Nations and Indigenous organizations on land management, agricultural initiatives, and buffalo projects. Beyond her research and service work, she teaches and advises students in the Kanawayihetaytan Askiy (“Let us take care of the land” in Plains Cree) Indigenous land and resource management certificate program. She also serves as the Academic Lead for the kihci-okâwîmâw askiy Knowledge Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

Christy Morrissey

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:47:40 GMT

Christy Morrissey

Research Scientist and Professor

University of Saskatchewan

Dr. Morrissey was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she envisioned becoming a veterinarian. While attending the University of British Columbia, she was inspired by ornithologist Jamie Smith to pursue a career in wildlife. Following graduation, she volunteered for the Canadian Wildlife Service to study raptors and carbamates, which was the basis of her Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University. Christy is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology and School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan.

In the Bridge project, Christy leads the biodiversity team, specializing in birds, bioacoustics, water quality monitoring and insect diversity.

Colin Whitfield

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:50:50 GMT

Colin Whitfield

Research Scientist and Associate Professor

University of Saskatchewan and Global Institute for Water Security

Dr. Colin Whitfield is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability and the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan. Colin’s research spans terrestrial to aquatic systems, including investigations of atmospheric pollution, catchment hydrochemistry, biogeochemistry, and aquatic greenhouse gas dynamics. The focus of his work is understanding how pressures from human activities influence water resources and ecosystems, primarily at the watershed scale, where he works actively with partner organizations to develop solutions to ongoing challenges. Colin holds a BSc in Environmental Science from Simon Fraser University, and MSc and PhD degrees in Watershed Ecosystems from Trent University.

Haben Asgedom Tedla

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:57:17 GMT

Haben Asgedom Tedla

Research Scientist

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Dr. Haben Asgedom Tedla is a Research Scientist at AAFC – Saskatoon with extensive experience in industry, universities, and ICARDA - CGIAR centre. He has conducted field studies on nutrient and moisture flows, evaluated 4R Nutrient Stewardship for the Canadian Prairies, and developed N2O emission coefficients. As a former Research Scientist and Systems Developer at Farmers Edge Inc., Dr. Tedla led research projects on variable rate nutrient management, irrigation, and sustainability.

Dr. Tedla's expertise in sustainable agricultural practices makes him an invaluable asset to the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, where he contributes his knowledge to improve land management strategies.

Reynald Lemke

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:15:26 GMT

Reynald Lemke

Research Scientist

University of Saskatchewan

Reynald L. Lemke is a dedicated researcher with extensive experience in Soil water, Agronomy, Crop rotation, Tillage, and Crop studies. His work in Soil management connects with subjects such as Ecodistrict, Carbon footprint, and Crop residue.

Reynald's research spans a wide range of topics, including Soil organic matter, Soil carbon, Soil classification, and Chernozem. He also focuses on Dry matter, Growing season, No-till farming, and Manure under the umbrella of Tillage. His Crop studies incorporate themes from Legume, Water-use efficiency, Soil retrogression and degradation, Seeding, and Erosion.

Reynald's expertise in sustainable agricultural practices makes him an invaluable asset to the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, where he contributes his knowledge to improve land management strategies.

Shaun Sharpe

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:30:31 GMT

Shaun Sharpe

Research Scientist

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Shaun is a Research Scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and his committed to supporting Canadian producers and landowners, particularly in Saskatchewan and the Prairies, by tackling problematic weed science issues. His work focuses on weed ecology and integrated weed management strategies to control troublesome species, mitigate herbicide resistance, and adapt to environmental stressors. With academic achievements spanning Mount Allison University, Dalhousie University, and the University of Florida, Shaun brings a wealth of expertise and a collaborative spirit to the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab.

Ashly Dyck

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:43:13 GMT

Ashly Dyck

Research Officer

University of Saskatchewan

Ashly Dyck is a soil scientist and economist with 2 years’ field experience and over 10 years’ research experience. Ashly's role in the Bridge project involves coordinating research and sampling activities at the Bridge research sites and explaining complex science in ways that farmers and policy makers can understand.

Steven Kessler

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:20:46 GMT

Steve Kessler

Research Assistant

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Steve is a Research Assistant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. As the senior field technician on this project, his role involves synthesizing this information and presenting it back to the research scientists. This data will be used develop strategies that can effectively reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without compromising yield targets.

As the senior field technician on the BTLWS project, Steve is in the field from spring to fall, getting his hands dirty collecting soil samples and other data to take back to the research scientists at AAFC. Steve's role in the project is very important as the data collected will be used to develop strategies to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without compromising yield targets.

Steven (Xiaolei) Yu

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 17:18:33 GMT

Steven (Xiaolei) Yu

Postdoc (Remote Sensing Geoscience)

University of Saskatchewan

As a Postdoctoral Fellow, Steven Yu's research focused on the historical land use/land cover change in the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation and Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation. Back in the 1960s to 1980s, a large amount of band lands was surrendered to non-indigenous owners. From the 1990s to now, the bands are recapturing fields, and registering them as reserved lands. However, the recaptured lands are not identical to the surrendered lands.

Steven's research is to investigate the historical land use and land cover change of these band lands, including surrendered and new-purchased fields as well as the surrounding regions through remote sensing imagery. Steven's study of land stewardship and land ownership for these two First Nations, coupled with his mapping expertise makes his role very important in the Bridge project. The main goal of the BLWS project is improving the surrounding environment while committing to the protection of Indigenous values, treaties, communities, lands, and resources.

John Kindrachuk

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:06:28 GMT

John Kindrachuk

Executive Director

Redberry Lake Biosphere Region

John has been Executive Director for the Redberry Lake Biosphere Region (RLBR) since 2011. As a farmer he was at the forefront of using the latest innovative ideas and technology on his farm and has now brought the same concept to managing the RLBR. The Redberry lake Biosphere region is where John was born and raised, married his wife Diana, and raised four daughters. He is very passionate about working with partner organizations within the region to fulfil the essence of the Vision and Mission of the RLBR “People and nature – in balance” which is achieved through research, education and collaboration.

Kerry LaForge

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:03:28 GMT

Kerry LaForge

Knowledge and Technology Transfer Specialist & Senior Range and Forage Biologist

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Kerry LaForge is a Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) specialist with AAFC. She has worked with the Federal Government as a Range and Forage Biologist and KTT for over 20 years, starting with PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) as a Range Biologist supporting the Community Pastures Program. Kerry’s career in agriculture though started much earlier, she was raised on a grain and commercial beef farm that also diversified into agro-tourism which included a 32 acre u-pick fruit and vegetable market garden. In addition to her AAFC employment, she helps to run LaForge Farms Ltd. a certified seed, and commercial beef operation with her husband, Troy and sons Nate and Zane.

Kerry works closely with the Bridge communications team, and her support and expertise is extremely valueable to the team.

Maddie Gould

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:11:59 GMT

Maddie Gould

Project Communications Manager

Kinnikinnick Consulting Inc.

Maddie Gould is the Communications Manager for the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, employed by Kinnikinnick Consulting. Her role primarily focuses on event planning and digital and print communications for the project.

Growing up on the west side of Saskatoon and spending time on her grandparents' farm along the Whitefox River near Smeaton, Maddie gained a unique perspective on people and the natural world. She now resides in Saskatoon and works primarily from her home office.

With a formal education in natural resource management and additional training in marketing and communications, Maddie is also the founder and creative director of Madwave Media Inc. Her diverse background includes twelve years in pharmacy, experience as a watershed technician, and various communications coordinator roles. Her skills in organization, marketing, computer proficiency, and community engagement are invaluable to the team.

Maddie enjoys spending time with her family, camping, swimming, hiking, and learning about nature and history.

Megan Venneman

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 17:13:28 GMT

Megan Venneman

Project Communications Coordinator

Kinnikinnick Consulting Inc.

Megan grew up in Ontario before moving to Nova Scotia to attend Dalhousie University, completing a BA in Environemtal Sustainaility and International Development. After finishing school and working in Ontario for a few years, she now lives in Saskatoon with her partner and two cats.

Before joining the BLWS team, Megan worked in organic farming, beekeeping, managing a small-scale local food business, and community organizing. In her free time, Megan loves cooking, reading, and outdoor activities such as gardening, camping, hiking and canoeing. Megan is communications coordinator for the Bridge project, and her role focuses on planning in-person and online events, social media and other forms of communications sharing.

Unlocking Indigenous Market Potential Webinar | Jan 16, 2025

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:08:34 GMT

Indigenous-led marketing interests resonate with consumers because they offer more than just good prices and quality. These brands can offer social and societal benefits, along with being eco-friendly. Labels like 'organic,' 'natural,' and the emerging 'regenerative' just don’t quite match up to what indigenous-led brands bring to the table.

Indigenous-led brands can offer unique cultural learning opportunities as well as an emphasis on respecting and honouring the land. However, tapping into new markets for community-branded, indigenous-led food products isn't an easy or straightforward process. It takes a lot of investment to build the brand and set up production, processing, and supply chain components to turn physical products into a thriving business.

This webinar will cover the steps to overcome the challenges of selling food to the public. Using bison as an example, Brenda Tjaden with Prairie Routes will walk us through everything from inspection requirements at slaughter to the information needed on price stickers, focusing on the rules and requirements for bringing products to market in Canada.

Funding for this project has been provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs program.

Time

Thursday, January 16, 2025 | 11 AM - 12 PM CST

Meeting Location

Virtual (link will be provided after registration)

Registration

Webinar Recording

Return of the Buffalo

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:05:42 GMT

Hear from one of our own team members, Anthony Johnston who participated in this insightful discussion.

Celebrating a Decade of the Buffalo Treaty

Photo Credit: Robert Johnson (X)

December 20, 2024

It's been 10 years since the Buffalo Treaty was signed. This agreement, established in 2014, has been a source of hope and renewal for Indigenous Nations across North America. The Buffalo Treaty, signed in 2014, is an agreement among various Indigenous Nations and organizations in Canada and the United States to restore bison to their native landscapes. It's all about recognizing the bison's cultural, spiritual and ecological importance. As of now, over 40 nations and organizations have signed the Buffalo Treaty.

Why is the Buffalo Treaty important?

Cultural Reconnection: For many Indigenous communities, buffalo are sacred and hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning. The Treaty helps renew this important connection, allowing people to reconnect with their traditions and heritage.
Ecological Benefits: Buffalo are considered a keystone species because they are key to keeping the plains ecosystem healthy. Their grazing supports plant diversity, soil health, and other wildlife.
Food Sovereignty and Economic Opportunities: The return of the buffalo ensures access to healthy food and enhances traditional food practices. Also, buffalo can create sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous communities, including, buffalo ranching, tourism, and sale of bison products.
Power of Partnerships: It's a great example of cross-border collaboration bringing together Indigenous Nations from Canada and the United States. This collective effort is crucial for sharing resources, knowledge, and support and achieving much more than working alone.
Healing and Resilience: Allows healing for both the land and the people.

The Buffalo Treaty is about honouring the past and building a sustainable future. Seeing buffalo roam the prairies again demonstrates resilience and what we can achieve when we work together.

October 2024 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:05:01 GMT

Maybe it isn't just the wetland birds who should be alarmed
No-dig Potatoes
Climate Smart Tour
Annual Living Labs Workshop
Research Highlights List
Meet our Team!

Crop Report - September 3, 2024

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 16:16:17 GMT

Weekly Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

Harvest is now upon us. What started out as a growing season with ample rainfall and promise has turned into uncertainty after a hot and dry July and August. The early season precipitation produced tall and lush crop stands, but harvest reports in the province are pointing to a less than expected grain yield. The high temperatures during flowering and lack of rainfall during the reproductive stages of crop development likely had a detrimental impact on flower and seed formation and grain fill.

At this point, it’s too late for rainfall to turn the crop yield around so dry and sunny weather will help farmers with this year’s harvest. But farmers will be looking forward to rainfall after the crop is off in order to recharge the soil moisture for next spring.

What's going on in the field

A lot of management decisions are made at harvest time and these decisions centre around crop staging - the crop must be at the proper stage before any spraying, swathing, or combining operations take place. Crop staging at harvest time is related to the amount of moisture in the seeds or kernels. If the plant is terminated when the seeds contain too much moisture, the seeds will shrink too much when they dry down and will blow out of the back of the combine, causing reduced yield for the farmer. With canola, further attention must be paid to the colour of the seeds. Canola seeds are green in colour when they begin their development and turn yellow to brown-black as they mature. In order to capture the highest yield and oil quality, farmers will ideally wait for 60% of the seeds to show signs of colour change before swathing their canola crop.

Farmers may also be spraying certain herbicides at this time of the year. One reason is because of perennial weeds, such as Canada thistle and perennial sow-thistle, that did not get adequately controlled during the in-crop herbicide application (typically in June). Controlling these weeds at this time of the year works with the biology of the plant - perennial weeds are sending sugars down to their root systems in preparation for winter and the herbicide piggy-backs on these sugars. The result is an effective root kill which helps reduce the population of these weeds into the next growing season. Again, the crop stage of this herbicide application is very important; for wheat, the kernels must be at 30% moisture or less, when the plant is deemed “physiologically mature” and will no longer be actively moving the herbicide into the seeds. If a farmer sprays too early and the herbicide moves into the kernel, the grain is at risk of exceeding the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) that is set for the herbicide in that crop. The MRL is the maximum amount of pesticide residue that is allowed in the grain for shipment to other countries. Since most of the grain produced in Canada gets exported, farmers must pay close attention to the herbicides and application timing at harvest so grain shipments are not rejected and our export markets remain open. Websites such as https://keepitclean.ca/ provide more information for farmers and the public to understand the importance of MRLs for our export markets.

Canola fields will either be swathed or straight-cut (direct combined) for harvest. Swathing cuts the canola plant off near the base of the plant and allows the canola to dry down until the plant material and seeds are at a low enough moisture level to combine. Not too long ago, nearly all canola fields were swathed. However, in the past decade, advancements in canola breeding have led to canola varieties that are able to dry down while standing, without losing pods and seeds, so farmers can combine them without the swathing operation. Canola that is going to be straight-cut sometimes requires a herbicide application in order to get the canola stems and other green plant material (such as weeds) to dry down more uniformly before combining.

Canola being swathed. The canola will lay in the swath for approximately 1-2 weeks before it has dried down enough to be combined.

Swathed canola being combined.

Canola being straight-cut or direct combined. The canola is left standing in order to dry down and become ripe enough that the combine can directly harvest the seed without needing the swathing operation.

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

Harvest is a busy time on the farm that includes spraying, swathing, combining, hauling grain to different bins for storage, and hauling grain directly from the field to the grain elevator. The cropping decisions made since the end of last year’s harvest combined with hard work, time, and the weather all come to a fruition at this time of the year. Similar to spring seeding, harvest can be stressful, but it’s also satisfying and rewarding to reap what was sown, and farmers should be proud of the work they’ve done. So, here’s to a safe and bountiful harvest season!

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Crop Report - July 12, 2024

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 23:32:09 GMT

Weekly Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

The big weather event from this past week was all of the heat, heat, heat!

Crops continue to look promising as they move into their reproductive stages, when flowers develop and begin the process of seed formation.

Canola is flowering and now is the best time to visibly see how big of a canola-producer (and exporter) Saskatchewan really is. Flowering is still in the early stages, at approximately 30% bloom.

Wheat is heading out and very soon will begin to develop and fill seeds in the heads. Soil moisture and rainfall is very important for the grain-filling process in the weeks to come.

What's going on in the field

We have now entered ‘fungicide season’. Fungicides are not used every year when growing crops, but in years where we’ve seen higher rainfall, there is a higher risk of disease and farmers are more likely to apply fungicides in order to protect their investment. Fungicides can be applied by ground sprayers or by airplane.

At the flowering stage of canola, the disease of concern is Sclerotinia stem rot. Sclerotinia spores blow onto the flower petals of canola. When the petals drop, they fall into the branches of the plant and the fungus grows into the plant, using the canola petal as a food source. As the fungus develops, it kills the tissue at its entry point into the plant, and the entire canola stem above that point will be killed. This means that the farmer will not be able to harvest seeds from the killed branch, resulting in yield loss. The goal of a fungicide application at this stage is to spray the flower petals before they drop into the branches of the plant, which starts occurring at around 30% bloom.

For more information on Sclerotinia stem rot, visit the Canola Council of Canada’s Canola Encyclopedia here: https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/diseases/sclerotinia-stem-rot/

A Sclerotinia stem rot lesion on canola.

Wheat head infected with Fusarium head blight.

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

Because of the amount of canola and wheat that we grow year after year in northern Saskatchewan, the host crops and their common pathogens are usually present in the area. This means that the biggest influence on disease development is the environmental conditions. Sclerotinia and Fusarium both like moist and humid conditions, and while Sclerotinia likes temperatures a little cooler (20-25C), Fusarium thrives under warmer temperatures (up to 30C).

Even though the infection process starts now, the disease symptoms for both Sclerotinia and Fusarium show up later on during the crop’s life (in about August). So farmers have the tough decision of figuring out if they should be spraying for these diseases right now, since they can’t actually see if the disease is present or not at the time of spraying. The biggest influencer when making this decision is the weather (environment). We’ve seen good moisture so far this season, which favours disease, but this past week has been extremely hot with no rainfall, which is not favourable for disease. The crop is now at the correct staging for fungicide application, so it’s now or never - how does a farmer decide what to do? Taking a walk into the field will help get an assessment of how humid the canopy is. Good crop establishment will create a more lush, dense canopy that creates its own microclimate below - when you feel down into a dense canopy, the temperature is cooler than the air above and it’s more humid as moisture from the respiring leaves and soil evaporation gets trapped down there. So, if you’re walking through a field at 2:00 pm on a +30C day and your boots are wet when you come out, this is still an environment that disease can develop in. The questions that follow are, “will that canopy stay humid like that or not?”, and “is there more rain in the forecast?”

There are tools available to help farmers make fungicide application decisions, like the Sclerotinia checklist (see Canola Council link above) or the new FHB risk mapping tool ( https://prairiefhb.ca/ ).

Ultimately, each farmer will have a different management style toward using fungicides for disease management. Some view fungicides as an insurance policy, where it’s penciled into their costs with the aim of protecting their investment (crop), knowing that in big disease years, the application will really pay off, and in lesser disease years, they hope to break even to cover the costs. Some will choose to spray some fields and not others, or some crops (like higher-valued canola) and not others (like wheat), if they feel that disease pressure might not be too bad. Some will spray none because they’ve already poured a lot of money into the crop and don’t want to incur another expense, and are okay with giving up yield if it turns out to be a disease year. In the end, the decision of “to spray or not to spray” involves many different factors (agronomic, economic, logistic, personal experience, management style), and is typically, like with any difficult decision, not a clear “yes” or “no”.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

July 2024 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 22:51:44 GMT

What is regenerative agriculture?
Crop Report
Greenhouse Gas Sampling
Improving Our Understanding of Wetlands
We the Bad: Facing hard choices in Saskatchewan farmland
Water Research Update

Crop Report - June 26, 2024

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:15:12 GMT

Weekly Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

More rain and more wind were seen this past week, fortunately without the hail or tornadoes seen in other areas nearby.

Crops are looking good and advancing well. Late-seeded canola is at the 3-4 leaf stage and earlier-seeded canola is beginning to bolt. “Bolting” is used to describe the stem elongation stage of canola when the flower buds that have formed in the centre of the rosette are pushed upwards. After a canola plant has bolted, the buds will open and flowering will begin.

Late-seeded wheat is at the 3-4 leaf stage and early-seeded wheat is nearing or at the flag leaf stage. The flag leaf is the final leaf that emerges from the top of the plant before the head (which contains the flowers and, later on, the seeds) emerges. The flag leaf is the most important leaf of the wheat plant because it alone contributes to approximately half of the yield of the entire plant.

What's going on in the field

Farmers may be applying a second herbicide application in canola at the current stage of the crop. The herbicides applied to our canola crops only kill the weeds that have already emerged from the soil. In rainy years, like the one we’re experiencing this year,

one of the challenges with weed control that farmers face is subsequent ‘flushes’ of weeds, where a whole new crop of weeds emerges that did not get controlled by the first herbicide application. If the canola is still small and cannot outcompete these new weeds very well, then a second herbicide application may be needed in order to control the weeds; otherwise, these weeds may steal resources from the crop and can also contribute to weed seeds being present in the harvested canola seed in the fall (called “dockage” - a cost to farmers when they sell their grain at the elevator).

Farmers are also evaluating the effectiveness of their herbicide applications that have already taken place this season. Depending on the herbicide used, it can take a few days to a few weeks for herbicide symptoms to appear on the susceptible plants. How did the herbicide perform? Are the weeds dying? If the weeds aren’t dying, did something go wrong with the application, or should herbicide resistance in the specific weed species be suspected? Is there a flush of weeds emerged that are at a high enough population that will need a second herbicide application? Evaluating herbicide performance is an important pro-active component of herbicide and weed management for the farm - future improvements cannot be made if we don’t know what went right or wrong.

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

Rainy weather contributes to plant disease. Farmers have disease and fungicides on their mind at this stage of the crop. Fungicides work by protecting the plant parts before the disease starts; if diseased spots are already visible, a fungicide will not be able to ‘cure’ those spots, and any yield damage will have already occurred. When deciding to apply a fungicide, farmers must assess the current crop conditions (plant stand density, crop moisture situation), pay attention to the weather forecast, calculate the costs of fungicide application vs the potential crop yield, and rely on their past experiences. The thinking for the farmer is not so much, “How much yield will I gain by applying a fungicide?” but rather, “How much yield will I lose if I don’t apply a fungicide?”. Fungicides are applied with the goal of preventing disease and protecting the crop yield that is currently there.

Crop stage is extremely important for fungicide application because different diseases attack the crop at different growth stages, and because fungicides are all about disease prevention (not a cure), the application timing falls within a very short window. Earlier, it was mentioned that the flag leaf of wheat contributes greatly to final yield, so protecting the flag leaf becomes very important if disease conditions exist. If there is disease appearing on the upper leaves, a fungicide application at the flag leaf stage becomes very important to preserve crop yield. If leaf diseases are not too pressing when the flag leaf is emerged, then farmers may hold off this fungicide timing in favour of a slightly later application timing when the head has emerged in order to protect the crop from Fusarium head blight. More farmers are now spraying at the head timing because research has shown that this timing delivers the ‘best bang for their buck’, since the fungicide will protect the head as well as the flag leaf from disease.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Crop Report-June 18, 2024

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:40:19 GMT

Weekly Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

The spring rains have continued to fall, supporting healthy growth for the crops and pastures. We’ve had a cool, windy, rainy spring so far.
Wheat is at the 4-6 leaf stage. Canola is at the 3-4 leaf stage, with some of the earlier seeded canola at the 5 leaf stage and the later seeded canola at the 2 leaf stage.
Very few insect problems have been encountered this year. Some flea beetles, an insect pest that feeds on newly-emerged canola seedlings, have caused some problems in a few fields, but there have not been any large outbreaks of insects so far this year.

What's going on in the field

At this time of year, farmers are thick in the middle of herbicide application. Herbicides are used to kill the weeds in the field that compete with the crops for resources such as water and nutrients (fertilizer). Many years of research has shown that removing weeds early in the season produces the highest crop yield - the bigger the weed gets, the more resources it steals from the crop - so if May is ‘seeding season’, then June is ‘spraying season’.

Windy and wet conditions have made spraying a challenge. Farmers cannot spray when the wind is blowing too strongly because the chemical droplets can be blown off of the field onto non-target crops and vegetation, causing plant damage. Farmers can reduce spray drift by changing their sprayer nozzles to ones that produce a larger-sized droplet or by spraying with a higher water volume, but these adaptations can only do so much. With the really high winds like we’ve been experiencing, all they can do is get up early to spray in the calmer morning until the winds pick up, park the sprayer during the day, and wait until the evening when (if) the winds die down. Sometimes, like this year, they may have to wait several days before they are able to resume spraying because it is too windy at all hours of the day. Since each herbicide has its own restrictions on the crop stage that you are allowed to apply the herbicide to the crop, long delays in spraying can cause challenges if the crop has grown out of its allowed herbicide application window. For example, the crop stage window for canola herbicides is generally between the cotyledon stage and 6 leaf/early bolting stage. For wheat, the crop stage is generally between the 3 or 4 leaf stage to just prior to the flag leaf stage (the flag leaf is the very last leaf to emerge from the top of the plant - when you see the flag leaf, you know that the wheat head/spike will be coming out next). Fortunately, the cool conditions have kept the crops from growing overly quickly and the crops are currently still within the growth stage window for herbicide application.

With the rain comes robust crop growth. Cereal crops (wheat, barley, oats) will grow taller with more rainfall and some crop varieties are more prone to lodging. Lodging is when the crop lays down before harvest because the seed heads are heavy, and if a strong wind comes along, it will push the crop down. Lodged crops may be able to stand up a bit after, but in a lot of cases, they will remain on the ground, making it difficult to harvest the grain, and the grain can also lose its quality resulting in down-grading. Each cereal crop variety has a different lodging rating assigned to it during its time in the breeding research trials, so choosing a variety with a higher lodging resistance is one strategy that a farmer can do. Another tool that can be used to manage lodging is to apply a plant growth regulator (PGR) that causes the stems to become shorter and thicker, making the plant less prone to lodging. The crop stage timing to use a PGR is a very narrow window during the stem elongation period of the crop (when the crop begins to stretch upwards), which is the stage that the earlier wheat crops are currently approaching. PGRs can be applied by a ground sprayer or by aerial application.

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

Farmers are looking for a number of different things at this time of the year, such as crop staging for herbicide application, insect issues, and early disease issues. Farmers are also evaluating how well their seeding went this year by taking plant counts and noting any areas of the field where plant emergence seems thinner - did they have seeding equipment issues? Is there an insect problem such as flea beetles or cutworms that are eating the crop? Did they seed too deep, causing the young seedlings to be delayed? Did they have root diseases that have delayed or killed seedlings? By scouting the crops and evaluating their seeding job this year, farmers can learn from their experience (good or bad) and tweak their seeding plans next year.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Peepeekisis Bison Tour | June 25, 2024

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:26:53 GMT

Peepeekisis Bison Tour

Explore the heart of the prairies on the Peepeekisis Bison Tour! Meet these incredible animals and learn about their cultural and ecological significance as a keystone species. Reconnect with our past and embrace the promise of a better future. Dress for the weather and join our group bus tour to explore the plains, observe the Peepeekisis, Okanese, and Standing Buffalo bison herds, and finish the day off with a hearty meal. Reserve your spot now for an unforgettable bison tour!

There is no cost to attend!

A bagged lunch will be provided on the bus and we will have dinner at Peepeekisis after the tour.

Time: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 9:00 AM - 7 PM

Meeting Location: Peepeekisis Cree Nation (exact location will be sent after registration)

Registration:

Click here to register or call 1-306-281-3272

Poster (click below to enlarge) Agenda (click below to enlarge)

Maybe it isn’t just the wetland birds who should be alarmed

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:56:48 GMT

June 7, 2024

Things are about to get a whole lot tougher for Saskatchewan’s wetland birds. Wetlands are a vital component of ecosystems, with habitat in prairie pothole wetlands critical for numerous organisms, from birds to amphibians to invertebrates, including a suite of insects beneficial to crop production as pollinators or for preying on pests.

Decades of wetland drainage, both in Saskatchewan and in other prairie provinces, has resulted in extensive loss of prairie wetland habitat. While this varies from place to place, as much as 70% of wetland area has been lost in some areas. Contrary to what the province of Saskatchewan’s recent ad campaign would like you to believe, best available estimates for the Prairie region indicate wetlands are being lost at a rate exceeding 10,000 hectares each year. If you are keeping track, this amounts to 25,000 football fields worth of wetlands — lost every year — many of them in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan is the only prairie province without a wetland conservation policy. Manitoba is working toward maintaining wetland area through their no net-loss approach. In response to worsening drought conditions, Alberta recently announced an initiative to fund wetland restoration projects. Meanwhile in Saskatchewan, the province’s Water Security Agency is charging ahead with a policy that will promote extensive wetland drainage, while affording few protections to these natural features which provide extensive services for society.

The science on what we can expect with continued loss of wetlands from rural landscapes and expanding urban footprints is clear. Beyond the destruction of valuable habitat for birds and other organisms, loss of wetlands will limit groundwater recharge, increase flooding, and contribute to enhanced nutrient pollution in our streams and lakes. The presence of wetlands on the landscape also provides carbon storage, and natural cooling, an increasingly important function in light of record high summer temperatures in recent years.

If you think it is strange that the provincial agency tasked with protecting water quality, and reducing flood and drought damage, among other water security concerns, is taking action that will impair its ability to meet its own responsibilities, you would not be alone. Ongoing wetland drainage will enhance threats to water security in a province facing a multitude of water security challenges. Globally, as jurisdictions including the European Union, and even our provincial neighbours are looking carefully at maintaining and restoring wetlands as part of the solution to present environmental and economic challenges, it is hard to reconcile that Saskatchewan is doing the opposite.

The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency is moving towards a target that will allow drainage of 50% of remaining pothole wetlands in Saskatchewan. This will not occur without costs to residents of the province. The $2 billion Sumas Prairie (British Columbia) flood of 2021 centred on the site of a former lake and wetland complex that had been drained. Continued pothole wetland drainage will increase flows, promote erosion and infrastructure damage, and raise flood risks. We can also anticipate risks of worsening water quality in our streams and lakes, and challenges in maintaining drinking water supplies that could face worsening risks of algae blooms, salinity issues, and carcinogenic disinfection byproducts. Sorry Manitoba, as our downstream neighbours you can expect these challenges to spread to your backyard too.

For birds calling pothole wetlands home during part of the year, the writing is on the wall. Estimates suggest losses of upwards of 50% of wetland birds and dabbling ducks with loss of only 30% of wetland area. In some areas this level of wetland loss has already occurred, but these populations will continue to decrease with additional drainage. With wide ranging impacts of wetland drainage inevitable, maybe it isn’t just the wetland birds who should be alarmed.

Author

Dr. Colin Whitfield

Assistant Professor

University of Saskatchewan

Crop Report-May 31, 2024

Fri, 31 May 2024 21:33:29 GMT

Weekly Crop Report

Crop conditions and weather

Seeding is wrapping up in the area. The rains this month have caused some seeding delays but overall the moisture has been welcomed to help recharge the land during this dry cycle.

Early seeded crops such as wheat have started to emerge. With the soils warming up and moisture being adequate, it won’t be long until the other crops will emerge as well.

What's going on in the field

Two Variable Rate (VR) Fertilizer trials has been seeded on Mistawasis and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. These trials will demonstrate the use of VR fertilizer application in which different rates of nitrogen (N) fertilizer will be applied to different areas of the field. In order to determine which rate of N should be applied, extensive soil sampling and field mapping was done in the fall to collect data on soil factors (texture, organic matter, salinity), water (dry and wet areas), and topography (low spots, mid-slopes, hilltops). Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) then pulled all of this data together in order to generate a field map that divides the field up into zones, from most productive areas to least productive areas. Each zone will have a different rate of N fertilizer applied to it, with the most productive areas of the field receiving the highest amount of N and the least productive areas receiving the lowest amount of N. This way, the farmer is not over-applying N fertilizer to areas of the field where the crop will never be able to use all of that nitrogen. As a result, there will not be excess N in the soil that can be lost to the environment, and the farmer is not wasting money on expensive nitrogen that the crop cannot use. Variable rate also allows the farmer to apply more N to the most productive areas of the field in order to maximize crop yield.

In addition to VR, these fertilizer trials will also measure the impact of an Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) product called SuperU. SuperU is a specific type of N fertilizer that comes treated with products that help reduce N losses to the environment when the fertilizer breaks down into plant available N in the soil. These N losses can be in the form of a gas lost to the atmosphere and/or as nitrate leached below the rooting zone of the crop and potentially into the ground water. In order to measure N lost to the atmosphere, AAFC researchers have installed devices into the soil to capture and measure greenhouse gas emissions to determine the differences in N loss from SuperU compared to urea (the most common source of dry N fertilizer used in crop production). The VR trials on these fields will be repeated for two more years, for a total of 3 years (9 site-years) of data.

Two weather stations have also been installed (one on each First Nation).

Farmer's focus: insights for the week ahead

Seeding is arguably the most important part of growing a crop. There’s a saying that goes, “Well-sown, half-grown”. Out of all of the factors that cannot be controlled in growing a crop (precipitation, temperature, frost, hail, etc), seeding is one of the times that a farmer has an important influence on the success of the crop. Farmers are paying careful attention to soil moisture levels, soil type, seeding depth, seeding rate, and fertilizer and seeding equipment settings in order to get their crops planted in a way that gets the seeds germinating and the plants emerging from the soil in a timely manner. After months and months of planning, now is the time to execute those plans and tweak them as needed.

Author

Jennifer Bogdan

Agronomist

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Greenhouse Gas Sampling

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 30 May 2024 14:49:29 GMT

Technician, Leah Richard using greenhouse gas sampling equipment

May 30, 2024

Gas sampling has started on the Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Labs project. After a winter of planning and training, seeding operations have commenced. Our focus is now on completing our ambitious gas sampling campaign. The latest addition to our gas sampling arsenal, the Licor 7820, is a laser-based detector designed specifically for quantifying the concentration of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. This technology enables us to collect high quality samples previously only possible on small plot studies. Now we can collect data on farmland seeded by local grain producers that represent the real-world scenario of grain farming in Saskatchewan.

We are thankful for the support from our three collaborators, Brad Toth, Stacey Sutherland, and the Leask Colony who have agreed to seed four different test strips across their fields. These test strips include areas with no nitrogen, a flat rate of nitrogen application, nitrogen applied using variable rate technology, and a strip with an enhanced efficiency product called SuperU. Each field undergoes biweekly sampling with our Licor 7820 gas analyzer, allowing us to accurately evaluate the efficiency of various emission reduction strategies.

In addition to gas sampling, we collect soil and plant samples to track the fate of applied nitrogen – whether it has been taken up by the plants, remains in the soil, or has been released into the atmosphere. As the senior field technician my role involves synthesizing this information and presenting it back to the research scientists. This data will be used develop strategies that can effectively reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions without compromising yield targets.

Author

Steve Kessler

Senior Field Technician

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Improving Our Understanding of Wetlands

Wed, 15 May 2024 15:12:43 GMT

Connor and Lauren organizing equipment at a wetland in a field where a new land management practice will be applied (variable rate application). (Anita Alvarez)

May 15, 2024

Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan (Global Institute for Water Security) are in Mistawasis Nêhiyawak this summer, studying wetlands and their vital role in our ecosystem. Ana (Anita), Connor, and Lauren will be visiting wetlands (also called sloughs) every two weeks from May to September this year. Say “Hi” if you see us!

Our research is about understanding how land management affects wetland water quality and how wetlands store and release greenhouse gases (GHGs). We are contributing to two Bridge Project goals: (1) Improve land management strategies and (2) Protect biodiversity and water.

What are we sampling?

We will collect water, air, and soil samples to measure different forms of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in and around wetlands. Among the chemicals we will investigate are nitrate, ammonia, GHGs (methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide), and sediment organic matter.

How it works

Water samples are analyzed on an instrument in our lab. Sediment samples are heated in the lab oven to measure organic matter. To measure GHGs, we use chambers to trap gases that are being released or absorbed from the water and exposed sediments at our study sites. We also collect water in a sealed bottle, add some air, and shake it for two minutes. In this process, GHGs dissolved in the water are trapped in the small pocket of air and can be extracted for analysis. Once all samples are analyzed, they can help us understand changes in GHG fluxes due to agricultural practices and climate variability.

Why it matters

Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water storage during droughts and floods, and habitat for plants and animals. By improving our understanding of wetlands, we can learn how to better manage agricultural lands to keep these ecosystems healthy now and in the future.

Authors

Connor Johnson, Ana Maria Alvarez, Lauren Miranda, Colin Whitfield

Researchers

University of Saskatchewan

We the Bad: Facing hard choices in Saskatchewan Farmland

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:31:18 GMT

The harvest season is well past and we have all found our scarves, gloves and wool coats. It is not winter yet but it is on its way. Coming out of the post office I smile and stop to chat with Ben. We have known each other for sixteen years and he has attended many of our land stewardship workshops through the Redberry Lake Biosphere Region. Our conversation covers politics, stewardship funding, the shame that kids spend more time watching screens than playing outside, to harvest and how this year was compared to last – the hardest drought we had had in 20 years. Ben says how he has shifted from ranching to farming, having had such a hard year and having lost so many cattle last year. Ben looks at the ground as if he can’t look me in the eye, as he shares that he will have to push 400 acres of bush.

I’ve spent the last 25 years building up my soil. I don’t want to bulldoze the bush. All I want, is to be able to pass down my land to my kids. I don’t know if I’ll even be able to do that.

"The hardship is there on his brow. Though his eyes are always smiling, they are not smiling now. He says “I’ve always been proud of being a rancher. There is nothing more honourable than growing food. Now I have to do this.”

“All those people are going to see me as that bad farmer. One who just sprays, drains and bulldozes. We are the bad in their eyes. They don’t see my 25 years of care and work. They don’t see that if I don’t’ do this, the large corporate farm, will just buy up my land and do it anyway. Either way it will happen, but this way, maybe, I can keep my land.”

"I feel his hurt and trouble in having to do this."

"I don’t want to do it. You should see when the bulldozers go in, what comes flying out of there. It’s a living thing.” He trails off. There is silence for a few moments, as if to honour the grief.

Seeing him there with no where to go in his mind, faced with this, in the shadows of rising costs and high diesel prices, and the despair of the drought still in everyone’s mind and bank accounts. I realize how entangled land use decisions are. Despite having hundreds of stewardship prescriptions, from research desktops and government offices, the reality is that each field is seeded with concern, care, grief and loss. The decisions, including the ones that break our hearts, are driven by need, more often, than greed.

There has to be a way to bring relief, to these trials: can working with scientists really provide solutions?

Hope. Where are those seeds?

Author

Katherine Finn

Project Manager

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab

Grazing Management Workshop | March 27, 2024

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 19:34:14 GMT

Grazing Management Workshop

Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab with the support of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) invites participants to learn from guest speakers from the prairies about livestock, forages, grazing 101, and fencing/watering options. This event is also great for networking with those in the industry.

Time: Wednesday, March 27 from 8 AM - 5 PM

Location: Leask Community Hall, 169 Railway Ave, Leask, SK

Registration:

Click here to register or call 1-306-281-3272

Please try and register by March 22, 2024, so we have correct lunch numbers. We will order some extra lunches for those who didn't register ahead of time.

Poster (click below to enlarge) Agenda (click below to enlarge)

January 2024 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:38:24 GMT

AAFC Field Tour
Nature United Field Tour
Adaptations Futures 2023
AAFC Mistawasis Science Fair
Canadian Western Agribition and Indigenous Agriculture Summit 2023

Webinar - Understanding the Land | November 16, 3 PM (CST)

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:46:29 GMT

Webinar - Understanding the Land

Register here

Learn more about soil health from Indigenous and Western Science perspectives through the upcoming Understanding the Land webinar.

Join us in collaboration with Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab and the ê-kanâtahk askiy SAGE for a webinar with Dr. Melissa Arcand and Teresa Porter, SAGE team soil scientists.

Time: Thursday, November 16 at 3 PM (CST)

Location: Zoom ( register here to get link)

Add to your Google Calendar

Mistawasis Science Fair | November 15, 2023

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:03:28 GMT

Mistawasis Science Fair

No registration required

Hosted by the Bridge to Land Water Sky project, it invites participants to learn from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) scientists, their interactive displays and the equipment they use in the field. Science booths include soil microbiology, insects and pollinators, sprinkler infiltrometer, and more!

Time: Wednesday, November 15 from 10 AM - 5 PM | Come and go event

Location: Chief Mistawasis School Gym

View the event poster here.

Soils and Soil Properties: Learn about the soils of Saskatchewan. See and touch soils of different colours, textures and soil organic matter content. Get your hands dirty and learn how to classify soil texture by feel. Understand the role of texture and soil organic matter in the function and productivity of soils.

Soil Microbiome: The soil microbiome is made up of microscopic organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but perform many important functions in the soil. Some soil microbes help plants grow stronger while others can cause plant diseases. See how plant roots use microbes to get nutrients from the soil. Learn how scientists use DNA to test for plant diseases.

Insects & Pollinators: Speak with the scientist studying the importance and role of pollinators in agriculture. View a display of pollinators found in Saskatchewan.

Native Plants: Learn how to identify plants through a dichotomous key. Learn how plants move through the environment. Speak with the scientist involved in developing native plant varieties.

Commercial Crops: Learn how to identify key commercial crops grown in Saskatchewan through their seed.

Weeds: Learn about the impacts that weeds have on our native and agricultural landscapes, what we can do to control the expansion of weeds in our landscapes and identify weeds. Live weeds and crops will be present for hands-on learning of what the shoots and roots look like.

Holos Model: Learn about the type and source of greenhouse gas emissions. Learn how greenhouse gas emissions are calculated and quantified. Input information into the Holos computer model and interpret the results.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Learn how GHG emissions are collected and sampled in the field. Interact with GHG chambers and extraction methods.

Live Webinar - Land Code 101 | July 27, 1 PM

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 22:18:34 GMT

Register for the Land Code 101 Webinar

Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM (CST)

Land Code 101 webinar hosted by the Bridge to Land Water Sky project invites participants to learn about Indigenous self-governance through land code, including what it is, how it works, how it compares to the Indian Act, its benefits, and potential challenges.

Dean Bear and Eugene Peterson with First Nations Land Management Resource Centre, are our guest speakers for this informative webinar.

Meet the Speakers

June 2023 Newsletter

bridgetolandwatersky@gmail.com (Bridge to Land Water Sky BTLWS) — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 22:46:34 GMT

The Bridge to Land Water Sky Project: Bringing Indigenous knowledge back to agriculture
Collecting Biodiversity Data Through Sound
Research and Demonstration Site Selection Meeting
Land Regeneration Planning Committee
New Team Member
Land Code 101 Webinar

bridge-to-land-water-sky

The Role of Prescribed Fire in Prairie Ecosystems

Indigenous Farm & Food Fest - August 18-20, 2026

Practical Grazing Management: Balancing Forage, Land, and Goals | April 16, 2026

March 2026 Newsletter

Contents

The Mechanisms of Intercropping: How Mixing Crops Can Cut Inputs and Boost Yields | March 31, 2026

AgriGather | March 26, 2026

Building Resilience with Eco-Buffers

February 2026 Newsletter

Contents

Optimizing Cropping Strategies for Ecological and Economic Resilience | March 25, 2026

Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland | Feb 26, 2026

Integrated Approaches to Weed Management | Feb 18, 2026

January 2026 Newsletter

Contents

Film: Singing Back the Buffalo

Factsheet - Types of Farming Systems

Factsheet -A Crop Farm Year at a Glance in the Prairies

Understanding the History of Indigenous Farming Barriers

December 2025 Newsletter

Contents

Take Your Nitrogen Management to the Next Level with Variable Rate Technology

Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland

Evolution of Agriculture on the Canadian Plains

Roots to Revenue Webinar | Dec 10, 2025

November 2025 Newsletter

Contents

The Cost of Control

October 2025 Newsletter

Contents

A New Path Forward: Rethinking Agriculture on the Canadian Prairies

Crop Report - September 30, 2025

September 30, 2025 Crop Report

Forging a Path Forward: Managing Kochia Through Forage Systems

September 2025 Newsletter

Contents

Crop Report - August 31, 2025

August 31, 2025 Crop Report

August 2025 Newsletter

Contents

Regenerating Land and Sharing Knowledge at Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

July 2025 Newsletter

Contents

Crop Report - July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025 Crop Report

Indigenous Food & Farm Festival | Sep 23-25, 2025

Strengthening Land Through Shared Knowledge

Factsheet - Regenerative Agriculture

Factsheet - Rethinking the Value of Marginal Cropland

Factsheet - Evolution of Agriculture on the Canadian Plains

Marginal Cropland Potential: The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network

Listening to the Land: Exploring Bird and Bat Diversity on First Nation Communities

March 2025 Newsletter

Contents

Infosheet - BLWS Project One-Pager

Well Grounded: Honouring the Knowledge Keepers Webinar | Apr 9, 2025

Cam Kayter

Jennifer Bogdan

Katherine Finn

Indigenous Chefs Webinar | Mar 19, 2025

Roger Daniels

AgriGather Open House | Mar 26, 2025

Wetlands in Agroecosystems Webinar | Mar 12, 2025

Sowing Success | Mar 6, 2025

How We Come to Know Webinar | Mar 5, 2025

Anthony Johnston

Lawrence Johnston

Lost Harvests Webinar | Feb 5, 2025

Debbie Watson

Dennis Greyeyes

Steve Wiig

Melissa Arcand

Christy Morrissey

Colin Whitfield

Haben Asgedom Tedla

Reynald Lemke

Shaun Sharpe

Ashly Dyck

Steven Kessler

September 30, 2025
Crop Report

August 31, 2025
Crop Report

July 15, 2025
Crop Report

Contents

Contents

No registration required