Partners invest in tech aid for farm sector

Close to $1 million is going into a new project in Eastern Ontario, to help farmers in the region with water management needs for their lands.

The South Nation Conservation Authority (SNC) is taking the lead in developing a hydro geologic model that will provide farmers in the South Nation River watershed region with up-to-date information on weather and water conditions that may affect their operations. The federal Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food is providing a $997,654 investment in the SNC’s project, which will use a Canadian-designed hydrologic simulator which predicts the movement of water on and through the ground.

“Our government recognizes that Canadian farmers face risk every day in managing their businesses,” said Francis Drouin, MP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, during the Aug. 23 news conference announcement of the project in Winchester. “This investment is all about giving farmers the tools they need to adjust their farms to a changing climate. Helping farmers be better informed in making their water management decisions is good for the sector’s sustainable growth, good for farmers’ bottom lines, and good for the Canadian economy.”

The 15-month project will create an integrated groundwater-surface water forecasting model for the South Nation River watershed. The project will use the HydroGeoSphere, a piece of Canadian technology, as part of the analysis and forecasting condition monitoring and forecasting for the watershed region.

On reconnait, ci-dessus, les participants au dévoilement, le 23 août dernier, d’un nouveau projet d’aide de haute technologie pour les agriculteurs locaux : Sandra Mancini, chef d’équipe, Ingénierie, SNC; Katherine Watson, spécialiste des ressources en eau, SNC; Bill Smirle, directeur de la SNC; Ronda Boutz, chef d’équipe, Projets spéciaux, SNC; Tony Fraser, conseiller pour le comté de North Dundas; Francis Drouin, député fédéral de Glengarry-Prescott-Russell; André Brisson, conseiller de la municipalité de Russell; Doug Thompson, ancien président de SNC; Cindy Saucier, conseillère de la municipalité de Russell; et Gerry Boyce, adjoint au maire, canton de North Dundas.