To assist in managing and minimizin risks associated with extreme weather events, the Federal Government of Canada is collaborating with Manitoba farmers to create and develop a tool that will provide predictions for soil moisture, groundwater, and surface water flow.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency) and Economic Development and Official Languages (Western Economic Diversification Canada), and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, announced a $1.1 million investment in the Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA).
The funding will be used to create and develop a new forecasting tool that will aid farmers and stakeholders in the Assiniboine River Basin in better understanding and managing extreme weather occurrences.
The MFGA will use this money to develop a web-based application that will give seven-day predictions for soil moisture, groundwater, and surface water flow. Producers may utilise this real-time data to improve their risk management strategies and make better operational decisions in the event of severe weather.
The new interactive tool will also demonstrate how different soil and landscape management techniques may affect moisture and water conditions over a seven-day period, with the objective of encouraging people to use better management methods.