Analysing Fields from Space: Enns Brothers  

For Manitoba farmers, yield variability can make or break a season. Satellite, equipment, and agronomic data have been accumulating for years, but tools to translate it into timely field-level decisions have lagged behind. With climate volatility and other factors at play, improved data is critical for informed on-farm decision-making. 

Enns Brothers, a Manitoba-based John Deere dealership that works closely with producers across the province, saw an opportunity to change that. By partnering with Mitacs, agricultural risk company Agi3, and researchers at the University of Manitoba, they set out to build an AI tool that could do something remarkable: look down at a field from space and predict how well the crop is going to grow. 

The system works by analyzing satellite images of farmland over the course of a growing season. Rather than building the AI from scratch, the research team started with a model that had already been trained on enormous amounts of satellite data from around the world, then taught it to focus specifically on Prairie crop conditions. Think of it like hiring someone who already understands how to read maps, then training them on the particular roads and terrain of Manitoba. 

The results have been encouraging. During testing, the model was able to account for more than three-quarters of the yield variation seen across different parts of a field, meaning it can identify which areas are likely to produce well and which aren’t, before harvest.  

“One of the most memorable moments came when the research team showed us that the model had learned something farmers already know from experience: July matters,” said Ray Bouchard, President & CEO at Enns Brothers. “For crops like canola, July is a critical point in the growing season. Weather, moisture, flowering, and early pod development during that period can have a major impact on final yield.” 

According to Bouchard, this project demonstrates what’s possible when agricultural expertise, advanced AI research, and real-world deployment come together. As they continue to innovate, Enns Brothers, aims to keep developing practical, trusted tools that help producers make better decisions earlier in their farming season. 

About Mitacs

For over 25 years, Mitacs has helped grow the economy and develop the workforce of tomorrow, connecting industry with academia and global partners to solve real-world challenges. We support business-academic research collaboration through internships, co-funded with businesses, for undergraduate to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.

As a national innovation connector, Mitacs takes a talent-first approach to strengthen innovation capacity and drive global competitiveness. We serve as an essential research-commercialization bridge, accelerating market entry and growth for new products and services.

This is a critical time for Canada to think big and take bold action. Mitacs is ready to help build a strong and resilient Canadian economy, powered by ideas, talent and innovation.

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.