Western Ag Seed Innovations

Western Ag Seed Innovations
http://www.westernag.ca/seed/

Western Ag Seed Innovations was born in 2006 with the intention to offer farmers seed varieties that would normally not be offered to farmers in Western Canada and the Western States. Founded by Ken Greer and Dale Hicks, Western Ag Seed Innovations has years of both entrepreneurial and farming experience behind it. Western Ag Seed Innovations is part of the Western Ag family that includes Western Ag Labs and Western Ag Innovations.

Western Ag Labs
http://www.westernaglabs.com/

Western Ag Labs has been "Getting to the Root of Crop Nutrition" since 1997 when an opportunity presented itself for using the Plant Root Simulator (PRS)^TM-probe data with the agricultural sector. The PRS^TM-probe Nutrient Forecaster software was built after recognition of the potential gain to the agriculture sector on the conjecture of three Key elements:

the applications utility of the PRS^TM-probe in soil nutrient research
a practical need for crop nutrition planning for the farming community, and
the expert advice in Intelligent Tutoring Systems from Dr. Jim Greer, from the University of Saskatchewan.

This empowering technology application has provided a direct benefit to growers who now use the PRS^TM-probe technology as the basis for determining fertilizer recommendations on over 2 million acres of farmland in western Canada for 17 cereal, oil seed, pulse, and forage crops.

Western Ag Innovations
http://www.westernag.ca/innov

Western Ag Innovations Inc. (WAII) was incorporated in 1994, when the company founder and President, Ken Greer, recognized the promise of the Plant Root Simulator (PRS™) as an empowering technology for measuring soil nutrient bioavailability. Western Ag Innovations obtained the worldwide patent rights to the technology from the University of Saskatchewan in 1997. Since that time, WAII has assisted more than 200 researchers in 20 countries around the world using this dynamic ion adsorbing probe technology in studies ranging from soil contamination to the kinetics of nitrogen release. However, delivery of this technology did not end with the successful implementation of the PRS™-probe as a new soil nutrient measuring device for researchers. Western Ag Innovations, holding true to our mission, strove to translate this research data into a knowledge-based tool that would enable management of dynamic biological systems for the benefit of others.

Specifically, the first successful application of the PRS™-probe data to develop an empowering technology came about in 1997 when the need for extending the PRS™-probe data directly to growers was realized. Consequently, the PRS™ Nutrient Forecaster software was built after the conjuncture of three key elements: 1) the utility of the PRS™-probe in soil nutrient research, 2) a practical need for crop nutrition planning on Ken's own farm, and 3) the expert advice in Intelligent Tutoring Systems available from Dr. Jim Greer. This empowering technology application has provided a direct benefit to growers who now use the PRS™ technology as the basis for determining fertilizer recommendations on over 2 million acres of farmland in western Canada for 17 cereal, oil seed, pulse, and forage crops. Recently, the PRS™-probe was awarded the prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Synergy Award for Innovation, in acknowledgment of its significant contribution to improving crop production and fertilizer use in Canada.