Rancher Researcher Enhancing Technology Adoption

Partners.

Overview.

This project focuses on the process of adopting new innovations and/or technology on Alberta ranches. Producers throughout the province have adopted a variety of innovations on their operations through this project.

Project Details.

The Rancher Researcher Enhancing Technology Adoption Project is an expansion of a Rancher/Researcher Pilot project which monitored the adoption of up to 3 innovations by 8 ranchers in south central Alberta. Several targeted areas were evaluated, including soil, forage and economic parameters, for assessment of the impact the innovations made to the individual ranch operations. The ranchers were provided with the opportunity to consult with various scientists to further their understanding of the new technologies. They were encouraged to participate in Alberta Agriculture’s Agriprofit$ program, which although onerous, provided enlightening results for their operations.

The pilot project demonstrated that an enhanced understanding of the ranch operation can improve the outcomes of adopting an innovation. Ranch participants also acknowledged the importance of collecting and utilizing production and financial data when making decisions on management change.

The goal of this expansion project is to provide a framework for enhancing adoption of recent innovations related to the management of cow/calf, backgrounding or feedlot operations in Alberta.

Interested in hearing from producers in both the pilot and the expansion project? Check out the videos to hear what some of the producers involved had to say!