By Jim Smalley Dec 16, 2020 1:10 PM The federal government has announced up to 5.9 million dollars for on-farm research projects in Manitoba. The funds are geared for co-operative work between farmers and scientists to determine best practices for environmental management. The Living Lab-Eastern Prairies project has been launched throughout the last year on farms in the Upper Oak Lake, Swan Lake, North Shannon Creek and Main Drain watersheds. Key research work will look at enhanced habitat for beneficial insects, better tile draining practices and new approaches to prevent habitat loss and use regenerative grazing to capture carbon in grasslands. Current farm projects include perennial grassed buffer strips, cover cropping, inter-cropping, and the construction of small wetland retention ponds.