Precision Farming – RealAgriculture: Recent Episodes
Precision Farming – RealAgriculture
Farmers are keen to use drones for several passes over the field, including using UAVs for scouting and even spraying. But, to date, only one herbicide has been approved for spraying in Canada, and it’s for non-crop applications. Drones have come a long way in the last decade and the potential for agricultural uses are... Read More
Even a small field has variability from one end to the next. With more variability or larger fields comes the opportunity to vary input levels to better match the yield potential of each unique part of the field. Deciding on how many zones to split a field into and what the deciding factor for each... Read More
Producers strive to optimize yields, while maximizing the efficiency and minimizing waste with each spray pass. Selecting the right nozzles and adjuvants for spray mixes is important for efficient and effective crop management. Martin Carr, agronomy manager with WinField United Canada, says the decision making process when it comes to sprayer nozzles includes looking at... Read More
AGCO Corporation has launched PTx, a new brand representing its precision ag portfolio. PTx combines precision ag technologies from Precision Planting with AGCO’s newest joint venture, PTx Trimble. The name PTx is a combination of precision agriculture (P) and advanced technologies (T) that multiply (x) the impact it creates for farmers through seamless, intelligent and... Read More
When it comes to spraying crops, European farmers want accuracy and the ability to effectively control rates as they travel through the field. North American farmers have similar spraying goals, but the size and capacity of equipment differs considerably from one continent to the other. In this report from Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, John Deere... Read More
With a new brush-based seed guidance system, Monosem says its ValoTerra Ultimate planter can ensure optimal planting and depth at speeds of 2 to 18 kilometres per hour. In this report from Agritechnica, Monosem product sales specialist Flavien Cattoni explains how a new Active Seed Guidance system was developed based on a zero-gravity concept to... Read More
Keep it simple and deliver field performance. That’s the message Great Plains is sharing with growers taking a look at the manufacturer’s PL5700 planter for 2024. The planter features 5000 Series row units, and Air-Pro meters, and a positive air system that sets it apart from the competition by providing more accuracy with fewer headaches... Read More
DJI is getting ready to take flight with its largest agriculture drone ever for international markets. The Agras T50 has been flying in China and is set to land in North America in the near future, says DJI Agriculture’s Toby Knisely. The high payload capacity drone is capable of carrying 40 litres of liquid or 50... Read More
It’s bad news for weeds. Travelling at speeds of up to 18 km per hour, Garford says its Robocrop guided hoes will either pull out the pests or cut them down. In this report from Agritechnica 23, host Shaun Haney and Garford’s technical sales and marketing manager Allan Knight discuss how the U.K.-based company uses... Read More
A greater emphasis on digital tools and precision application tools that provide tangible benefits for farmers is what Dr. Mario Tenuta sees when he looks ahead to where Canada is moving with nitrogen mangement. Tenuta is the senior industrial research chair in 4R nutrient management and professor of soil ecology at the University of Manitoba,... Read More
Väderstad’s TopDown high intensity, multipurpose cultivator is not a new product for Canadian farmers, but the versatile tillage implement will get updates for the 2024 season, including a new design and the introduction of prescription tillage. In this report from Agritechnica 23 in Hanover, Germany, Väderstad’s Western Canada sales director Philip Korczak shares how introduction... Read More
Growers looking for a smoother, less stressful grain harvest will have a new tool to consider for harvest 2024. Raven Cart Automation makes it easier for any operator – at any skill level – to effectively run an unload on-the-go operation, says Raven Canada’s Chris Morson. In this report from Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in... Read More
One of the keys to the evolution and adoption of agricultural robots is to ensure the machines can meet safety standards while working autonomously. At Agritechnica ’23 in Germany, French robot manufacturer Naïo Technologies announced that its robots will now be available with augmented autonomy — what the company describes as revolutionary technology that allows... Read More
The latest farm technology doesn’t always come in the form of a new tractor, planter, or combine. Quite often a precision ag upgrade can take equipment to a new level to help farmers reduce inputs or have a significant impact on yield. At the 2023 Farm Progress Show at Decatur, Illinois, John Deere rolled out... Read More
Kubota showed off its new precision planters at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show at Woodstock, Ont., earlier this month. The Kubota PP1641TF is an eight-row precision planter with 30-inch spacing designed mainly for corn growers. Kubota product specialist Jeff Fuller says it’s a good fit for small- to medium-sized farms, including smaller acreage corn and soybean... Read More
As slow-release products and split applications become more common in the pursuit of fertilizer efficiency, it’s important to understand the timing of when a crop needs those nutrients to avoid situations where fertilizer that’s been applied is not available when the plants need it. The agronomy team at Manitoba equipment dealer Enns Brothers is in... Read More
Is it efficient to use autonomous vehicle in row crop agriculture in southwestern Ontario? That’s a question cash crop farmer Mark Richards is wrestling with on his Dresden, Ont. farm. In 2022, he used a solar-powered FarmDroid robot to plant sugar beets. That machine found it challenging to adapt to the widespread use of strip... Read More
How do you cover acres quickly during planting season with big equipment without causing compaction and compromising yield? Cliff Horst and his brother, Dale, make it happen with a 24-row Harvest International planter and a Fendt 1038 tractor. The brothers farm in Perth County, Ont., and also operate Country Custom Ag, providing custom services to... Read More
John Deere is offering all new displays, receivers and modems in its precision agriculture line up. The new displays — the G5 plus andG5 — will offer three times more processing speed. Producers around the world share similar needs, and John Deere recognizes the importance of working with producers as they make advances in equipment... Read More
Stratford, Ont., wheat grower Andy Timmermans says anyone who is half serious about growing wheat in Ontario should enrol in the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN). Timmermans has been involved in the Great Lakes YEN since it started two years years ago. In 2022, he finished second in both the yield and per cent... Read More
Kinze is launching two planter models for 2024 that will feature the company’s new 5000 Series row units. Growers had their first opportunity to inspect the new row units last month at the National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville, Kentucky. The company is touting the units as a means to enhance planting precision, boost productivity... Read More
There are many ways crops can show they’re stressed, but unfortunately, the signs are often only noticeable to a human eye when a significant number of plants are in crisis. The potential for individual plants to signal stress before they begin to suffer is the reason why there’s some excitement around a company called InnerPlant,... Read More
In theory, variable rate (VR) technology should result in more efficient use of a farm’s resources, whether that’s a lower fertilizer bill, improved crop uniformity, or other potential benefits. So why, since most seeding tools are capable of using prescription maps, are adoption rates of VR not higher? And will we see a new wave... Read More
What happens when you precision plant wheat? There’s a growing body of evidence indicating that better seed singulation, metering and depth control has the potential to improve uniformity of emergence, growth and crop canopy. That precise approach can also add up to higher yield potential and more grain in the bin. But many growers have... Read More
A new certificate program offered by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will set out to provide students the opportunity to “gain knowledge and develop experiential skills in precision agriculture by leveraging competencies from their academic discipline.” Housed in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the certificate will bring together USask students from AgBio, the College... Read More
Technology is continuously changing, and along with that is how we implement said technology on farms. For this edition of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Garth Donald of Decisive Farming, and Caleb Niemeyer of Woodrill Ltd, to discuss variable rate applications for seed and fertilizer. This episode of The Agronomists is brought... Read More
Soil, water and topography maps — more commonly know as SWAT Maps — are becoming a familiar management tool for corn producers. These high-resolution soil foundation maps are used to execute variable rate fertilizer, seed, soil amendment and pesticide applications. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, host Bernard Tobin catches up with Sullivan... Read More
Warren Schneckenburger is a big proponent of no-till and optimizing soil health, but he also has a disc cultivator that he turns to in times of need. The Morrisburg, Ont. farmer likes to say he farms in reality — he and his family have been focusing on soil health for a decade, but the clay... Read More
The annual Ontario crop diagnostic days were back in the field on July 20 and 21, 2022, but only at Ridgetown campus University of Guelph. Not everyone could attend these two field days, so the organizing committees of these highly successful in-field education and learning events are again partnering with crop researchers and extension, along with... Read More
How much fertilizer do farmers lose when they apply nitrogen in season? Is volatilization a significant problem? Could 4R nutrient management and urease inhibitors help? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, University of Guelph researcher Josh Nasielski shares what he and his collaborators are learning about the best way to minimize in-season losses using... Read More
A drone sprayer aimed at saving farmer’s inputs and resources was on display at Ag in Motion 2022, where it also took home an innovation award for its potential within the industry. SkyAg Tech, in partnership with XAG, debuted their v40 drone — a fully autonomous machine capable of spraying 100 acres per day. For... Read More
The list of technology continues to evolve, and Outback Guidance is continuing that trend. The new MaveriX Precision AG solution provides guidance, steering, and application control. The MaveriX application software includes a new user interface that provides a tablet-like user experience with improved 3D graphics, with adjustable widgets, says Darren Pritchard of Outback Guidance. The M-series... Read More
An emerging technology yet to be released in Canada looks to up the ante on spraying herbicides by using an algorithm that is able to identify and spot-spray just the weeds in a growing crop. On this episode of the Pulse School, we speak with Tom Wolf, owner of Agrimetrix Research & Training, about the new... Read More
When it comes to determining the right rate of nitrogen for your farm there’s nothing better than on-farm data. After a winter of talking with growers about escalating nutrient prices and the most economic rate of nitrogen (MERN), Ben Rosser, corn lead with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is encouraging... Read More
We all know here’s more than one way to achieve a goal, and farming is no exception. Four years ago RealAgriculture caught up with an Indiana farmer pioneering relay and intercropping; fast forward to today and that same farmer is getting creative, now incorporating livestock into the mix. Jason Mauck was one of many in... Read More
Precision agriculture strategies and technology have become an integral part of managing crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, but are edible bean growers using it effectively in dry bean crops? Dublin, Ont., grower and Hensall Co-op field marketer Dave Louwagie doesn’t think so. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Edible Bean School, Louwagie explains that compared to other... Read More
Have you zeroed your row units? It’s one way to help ensure the corn planter is planting at the same depth across the entire implement and the field. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, Kearney Planters sales and customer care specialist Jay Curtis shows why zeroing row units is important and how to do it... Read More
Spraying fungicides from within the canopy is a more efficient method of achieving good crop coverage, as compared to trying to penetrate the crop from above. That’s the idea behind the Beluga drop hose — technology developed in Germany by Agrotop, and now distributed by Greenleaf Technologies in North America. RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin caught up... Read More
Independent depth control is one of the features that makes Unverferth’s Raptor strip till tools a good fit for growers looking to create ideal seedbeds in the tillage system, the company says. At the National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville, Kentucky, Unverferth’s Garrick Schroeder took RealAgriculture on a short tour of the Raptor. In this video,... Read More
When should growers apply nitrogen during the growing season to help their soybean crop optimize yield? That’s a question Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs soybean specialist Horst Bohner tackles in this 2021 Ontario Diagnostic Days video report. Bohner kicks off the discussion with help from Aaron Stevanus, agronomist and Mosaic technical sales manager. For Stevanus,... Read More
With strong farm commodity demand and high crop prices, confident farmers attending the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) at Louisville, Kentucky in February look to be eager to replace equipment and upgrade technology. In this interview from the floor of the NFMS, Kurt Coffey, Case IH vice president for North America, tells RealAgriculture’s Bernard Tobin that the Association... Read More
Growers can look for greater capacity and productivity from the new 2150S Early Riser front-fold trailing planter from Case IH. The company unveiled the new split-row configuration of the planter last week at the National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville, Kentucky. With the arrival of the 2150S, Case IH has boosted planting capacity thanks to a 525-gallon fertilizer tank —... Read More
Fine-tuning nitrogen and managing lodging are two key strategies that helped earn London, Ont., wheat grower Jeff Cook a third place finish in the 2021 Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) overall yield category. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Wheat School, Cook speaks with agronomist Peter Johnson and shares how he grew 148.6 bu/ac to earn the bronze... Read More
Grain farmers are known for their generosity when supplying nitrogen to the corn crop, but many growers get stingy when providing nitrogen to the soybean crop. That’s a situation University of Illinois plant physiology professor Fred Below sees too often when it comes to managing the oilseed crop. In his presentation last month at the Ontario Agricultural Conference, Below... Read More
Today, farm robots come in all shapes and sizes, but they’re really not much different than a farm tractor, says Chuck Baresich, robot expert and general manager for Haggerty Creek Ltd. Last summer, Baresich joined OMAFRA crop innovation specialist Ian McDonald on the Ontario Diagnostic Days video series talk about the evolution of robot technology and where it fits... Read More
The practice of variable rate seeding for corn continues to increase as growers attempt to match seeding rates and hybrid characteristics to the varying yield potential across their fields. With the growth of precision agriculture, every year more growers adopt variable rate seeding strategies but are they effectively evaluating and fine-tuning this strategy on their... Read More
Planting corn into a cultivated strip provides many soil health and management benefits, but dealing with residue from the previous crop can prove challenging. In this video report from 2021 Ontario Diagnostic Days, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs corn specialist Ben Rosser and Anderson Agronomy Services agronomist Chad Anderson share what they’re learning from... Read More
Wheat is an emotional crop. It doesn’t cry or yell but it will tell you how it’s feeling, especially if it’s struggling in a field that’s compacted, has inadequate drainage, or is suffering from poor manure or nitrogen application. “Wheat shows everything,” says Russ Barker, Corteva/Pioneer Hi-Bred agronomist, who joins OMAFRA cereals specialist Joanna Follings and RealAgriculture’s... Read More
Putting down fertilizer or acting as a back-up seeder, the Degelman Pro-Cast precision granular applicator is designed to mount on Degelman’s Pro-Till high performance discs or Strawmaster heavy harrow units. Derek Molnar, territory manager at Degelman, says the unit will fit on the Pro-Till 30 up to the company’s Pro-Till 45 as well as the... Read More
How could precision planting technology impact Ontario winter wheat yields? Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs cereals specialist Joanna Follings and RealAgriculture agronomist Peter Johnson are back with a final report on precision planting trials Follings conducted on her home farm at Ayr, Ont. RealAgriculture first visited the site in September 202o when... Read More
From simply leaving a check strip to replicated trials, field-level data collection and analysis can be overwhelming. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by Jenn Sabourin of Manitoba-based Antara Agronomy, and Aaron Breimer of Deveron, based near Chatham, Ontario. The three talk about field trial set up, data collection, and... Read More
It’s time for Day 7 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Wheat and soybean fungicide tips, tar spot control in corn, manganese deficiency, plant growth regulators and double crop soybeans are all featured in this episode. We’ll kick it off with Ontario... Read More
It’s time for Day 6 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Management tips for corn, soybeans and dry beans; learning lessons from your soil; and the role robotic technology plays on the farm are all featured in this episode. We’ll... Read More
One of the most data-intensive fields in Canada has received a $300,000 donation from BASF Digital Farming. The donation is as a part of its three-year commitment to support the Olds College Smart Farm. Made on behalf of the company’s xarvio Digital Farming Solutions brand, it benefits the farm’s HyperLayer data concept, a process that... Read More
Organic matter plays a key role in soil health, productivity, and resiliency. But building or replenishing organic matter can take a long time and a tremendous amount of organic material. On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Soil School we visit with Nicole Penney, precision ag manager for FS Partners in Ontario. Penney notes that it takes... Read More
It’s time to talk soil health, nutrient management, and more on Day 5 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Cover crops, soil compaction, topsoil sampling and soybean fertility are the focus of this episode. We’ll kick it off with cover... Read More
It’s important to know what’s going well, and what’s not, especially with soil. Certain “canaries in the coalmine” can indicate existing, persistent problems with management practices that over time can be improved. Adam Ireland, who farms with his family near Teeswater in Bruce County, Ont., is joined by Bernard Tobin for this episode of Soil... Read More
Bigger corn planters with on-board fertilizer deliver efficiency and cover acres quickly. All that weight, however, can produce yield-robbing pinch rows and compaction. On this episode of The Sharp Edge, we visit Jeff Cook who farms with his family at their Mapleview Farms operation, just southwest of London, Ont. Over the years, the Cooks have... Read More
You may recall from previous Wheat School episodes, the research trial using different seeder technologies looking at the effects on a wheat crop throughout the growing season. In this Wheat School episode, we’re joined for another Follings’ research farm report with Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with OMAFRA, and Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, RealAgriculture’s resident agronomist.... Read More
We rely more and more on artificial intelligence and powerful computers to accumulate and process information. Can artificial intelligence help us grow a better soybean crop? In this Soybean School episode, Bernard Tobin is joined by Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin-Madison soybean extension specialist, to talk about his research in artificial intelligence derived management systems for... Read More
Will precision planting pay when it comes to winter wheat yield? How do things like down force and row spacing contribute to a more uniform winter wheat stand? In this Wheat School episode, we’ve got our latest research update from the Follings Research Farm with Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson and Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with... Read More
John Deere is betting that its new model year 2022 planters will appeal to growers wanting to apply high rates of liquid fertilizer while limiting fertilizer refilling stops. Redesigned planters will be part of a factory-installed offering from Deere that integrates the company’s ExactRate technology. The set up monitors and controls the application of liquid fertilizer during... Read More
In 2020, Eric Watson broke his own world record when he harvested 258 bushels of wheat per acre on his Ashburton, New Zealand farm. It’s an astounding yield that Canadian farmers can only dream about. But are there crop management tips that farmers in this country can glean from Watson’s record-setting wheat? Bayer CropScience regional business... Read More
It’s been more than 30 years since Caterpillar launched the first tracked tractor for farming. A lot has changed since those first basic tracks and under carriages rolled into farm fields. Most of those early tractors were in the 200 to 400 horsepower range. In the past decade however, many of those smaller tractors are... Read More
Trends and opportunities always seem to crop up in people’s minds as the end of the year draws closer and as we enter into a new one. In terms of digital technology, there are some new opportunities for applications in farm management. Casper Kaastra, general manager of crop production at Sollio Agriculture, recently spoke with... Read More
If you feel that not yet being on the precision farming or big data wagon means you’re too late, today’s LIVE! guest has two words for you: just begin. Denise Hockaday, with Climate Fieldview, says that the platform can be as simple or as complex as you need, and that there’s no wrong time to... Read More
Farms aren’t as mobile as we’d like sometimes, and that can mean leaving your home base to pursue work and life somewhere else. Taking on a new challenge outside of where you grew up has benefits though; for example, expanding your social circle, or diversifying professional opportunities. For Michelle Baker, with Millstone Crop Services, based... Read More
There’s a saying about decisions being only as good as the information they’re based on. The same could be said for agronomic decisions based on maps; the better the map, the better the decision. When Cory Willness, based at Naicam, Sask., got going in his agronomist role, most field maps (if they existed) were based... Read More
If you’ve ever wondered how to integrate field maps, yield data, and more into one decision making tool, check out this LIVE! Q&A segment featuring Andria Karstens, with Climate Fieldview. Don’t miss RealAg LIVE! weekdays at 1 pm M/3 pm E on your favourite social media platform! SUMMARY What’s better: farming in Ontario or in... Read More
Canadian-developed autonomous field unit DOT has made its debut in Ontario, beginning with a commercial fertilizer application in Chatham-Kent. This first autonomous unit is owned by Haggerty Creek and contributes to operator efficiency, says Chuck Baresich, general manager of Haggerty Creek. “The operator can be answering calls and providing service to customers while the machine... Read More
Does building your corn planting and side-dress fertilizer program around a fertilizer cart make sense? That’s what Blenheim, Ont., farmer Joe De Brouwer does and that’s why he’s on this episode of The Sharp Edge on RealAgriculture. De Brouwer, who farms with his father and two uncles, tells Maizex Seeds’ agronomist Greg Stewart that an... Read More
Fendt Ideal combines — minus a steering column and wheel — will make their debut in North America for harvest 2021. AGCO made the announcement this week at the Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas. The IdealDrive steering system is the first joystick steering system for a combine released by a major manufacturer, says AGCO.... Read More
Bigger isn’t always better, as is the case with the new 1745 MaxEmerge 5 planter, says John Deere. The manufacturer rolled out the planter at the National Farm Machinery Show (NFMS) earlier this month, touting narrow transport capabilities, a split-row configuration, a fit for small fields and no-till, and compatibility with older tractors. The key... Read More
Kinze’ new high-speed planting system will allow growers to plant at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour when it hits farmer fields in 2021. Dubbed as “True Speed” by the manufacturer, the system will be available with Kinze’s new 4905 planter for corn and soybeans. Last week at the National Farm Machinery Show... Read More
Can twin-row soybeans flourish in a strip till world? That’s a question Maizex Seeds’ agronomist Greg Stewart explores with Woodstock, Ont., farmer Wes Hart on the latest episode of The Sharp Edge on RealAgriculture. Hart is a firm believer in the benefits of no-till corn, but he and his father, Doug, have never been satisfied... Read More
For years, Tim Williams has dutifully planted crops to the edge of the trees and bush that line the fields he farms near Petrolia, Ont. Every year, he looks at his yield maps to see the same red line indicating no crop yield in these areas that hug the bush and woodlots. But today there... Read More
What happens in your fields during the growing season plays a critical role in determining the numbers that pop up on the combine yield monitor at harvest. One way to better understand those final yields and improve future management decisions is to utilize digital agronomy tools that are now widely available to both growers and... Read More
A wide range of new concepts were on display in Canada’s Farm Progress Show’s Innovation showcase hall this month. A total of 22 inventions were submitted to the show this year, with one innovation winning gold, and two others tied for the sterling award. Saskatchewan-based Precision AI was one of the two sterling award winners.... Read More
The Amity brand of seeding tools is reintroducing the Concord brand, a name associated with the initial development of its air seeding technology. Any air drills and air carts that would have the Amity name will now be branded as Concord, starting in the model year 2020. Concord Inc, founded in 1977 by Howard and... Read More
A brand new program with a focus on precision agriculture will be available this fall at Olds College. Being dubbed Techgronomy, graduates will be prepared for careers that require a “deep understanding of the connectedness between agronomy, agriculture machinery/purpose built network management, and data sciences,” the school says. “This diploma program will help students discover... Read More
The number of certified crop advisors (CCAs) in Ontario topped the 600 mark in 2017 and agronomist ranks in the province just keep on growing. At the Ontario Certified Crop Advisor Association annual meeting this week, outgoing CCA board chair Ken Currah reported that organization membership has now reached 655, with 102 more candidates registered... Read More
Can spray technology help us better manage the escalating problem of herbicide-resistant weeds? Spray guru Tom Wolf, from Saskatchewan-based Agrimetrix Research & Training, certainly thinks so. At the recent Canadian Weed Science Society meeting at Niagara Falls, Ont., Wolf highlighted two technologies he believes could help help growers manage weed resistance. In this video, Wolf and... Read More
When precision agriculture concepts were first introduced, fields with high variability were seen as the natural first choice on which to deploy the technology. As precision technology has evolved, improved, and become more efficient, it’s much easier to make a business case for its use on nearly every acre. “All land, all farmland has a... Read More
The concept of ‘flex’ corn hybrids has been talked about in seed circles for several years. The idea is quite simple: these corn hybrids have the ability to flex and create larger ears with more girth at lower populations. They produce higher yields when planted in the 28,000 seeds per acre range. The idea of... Read More
It’s time for corn growers to take a hard look at variable rate planting. That was agronomist Pat Lynch’s message to growers as they watched variable rate planters in action at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) in Woodstock, Ontario. In this episode of RealAgriculture’s Corn School, Lynch says the ability to adjust seed population while... Read More
Every farmer doesn’t need to own and operate a drone for UAV technology to have a positive impact on their farm. That’s the message Scott Ditschun shares with farmers when he discusses how Bayer CropScience is employing drones in its agronomic and product research. He says UAV technology could effectively increase Bayer’s field research efficiency by... Read More
Thinking about using an aerial applicator this year to fly on fungicide, fertilizer, or cover crops? If so, you better grab your phone and book a supplier, says Dan Haupt of Blenheim, ON, based Zimmer Air Services. The family-owned company, currently operated by Paul Zimmer, has been serving Ontario agriculture since 1974. Haupt says farmers... Read More
Kinze has traditionally relied on suppliers to provide electronic interface and monitors for its planters, but that all changes with the introduction of the company’s new Blue Vantage monitoring system. Kinze launched the monitor as well as the new Blue Drive row unit electric drive last week at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville,... Read More
Precision agriculture provides clear evidence of the impact of yield variability. But often farmers find themselves mired in a swamp of data as they work to create management zones and prescriptions to maximize yield across a field. University of Guelph’s Clarence Swanton certainly sees the opportunity for farmers to intensify management and increase yield but... Read More
Recent advances in the availability and quality of satellite imagery is providing powerful in-season management insights for corn growers. Many growers feel it’s no longer necessary to fly their own drone to capture aerial images of their fields. They can simply rely on a growing number of agronomic services to scout their crop using drone... Read More
From automated tractors to precision sprayers that spray only weeds, new technology is creating a buzz in the farming community. But let’s not forget about satellite technology, which is now poised to make a tremendous impact on crop production. That’s the message Patrick Crampton from Farmers Edge shared during a technology discussion panel at the recent... Read More
Farmers who visited the 2017 Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show (COFS) in Woodstock, Ontario had an opportunity to watch the Climate FieldView in action in a field scale demo. So how’s it different from other precision agriculture application out there? Owned by The Climate Corporation (a subsidiary of Monsanto), the key to the platform is a device... Read More
Think of your planter as a high-resolution field printer. Instead of multiple colours of ink, it’s dispensing combinations of micronutrients and crop protection products in-furrow. A U.S. company is following the concept of an inkjet printer, with plans to commercialize a system for applying precise amounts as needed at varying rates in each row. SIMPAS,... Read More
Pretty field pictures and awesome harvest videos aside, drones, or UAVs, are proving their worth on the farm through field scouting and development of management zones for precision farming applications. But there are many that see drones as an overblown camera or a fun toy, not fully recognizing the present usefulness and future potential of the... Read More
Deciding which product to use is not easy. Depending on the category, the plethora of products or services is extensive and noisy. Whether it is biologicals, precision agriculture, or seed enhancements, to name a few, it can be very difficult to try and figure out which products are the best fit for your farm. At... Read More
Case IH wants to help farmers take the guesswork out of turning on headlands. The company says tractor operators can now use its new AccuTurn automatic headland turning technology to navigate hands-free, automatic, repeatable turns for increased productivity and reduced operator fatigue. Case IH unveiled the Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) auto guidance technology last week... Read More
The marriage of agronomy and data really can deliver better profits for growers wedded to precision planting technology. That was the message from the A-Team – Pride Seeds agronomist Aaron Stevanus and Veritas agronomist Aaron Breimer – earlier this month when they spoke to growers at the Southwest Agricultural Conference at the University of Guelph’s... Read More
Who are the most profitable corn growers? The answer to this question is really quite simple, says Ken Ferrie, one of North America’s leading agronomists and crop consultants. The most profitable corn growers are those who most effectively manage the big three crop production variables: sunlight, water, and nutrients. An independent agronomist, the Illinois-based Ferrie... Read More
Numbers and data points mean very little if they can’t be translated into information that helps cropping decisions. Software programs and services are necessary to take many sources of data and not just bring them all to one place, but also make sure the many layers of maps, data points, and images mesh. A new platform —... Read More
A huge amount of field productivity variation is tied to what lies beneath. Underlying soil type, quality, health, and nutrient levels all play a role in what each acre can produce. Across even just one, acre, however, you may have two or more different soil types, varied organic matter levels and significant pH swings. Tyler Lund,... Read More
Consistent planting depth and even emergence — it’s every corn grower’s goal, but it can be difficult to achieve. In this Corn School episode, AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan takes a close look at the impact planter down force can play in helping (or hindering) growers in their quest for an evenly spaced, picket fence... Read More
Placing fertilizer where it needs to go can prove challenging, especially along roads, fencerows and bending contours of a field. But navigating fields and hitting the spot should be easier with the new Javelin sectional spreader from Salford BBI. “It’s the first precision spreader on the North American market to achieve a true 120-foot spread... Read More
What a difference a year makes. Back in spring 2015, Ontario farmers were scrambling to manage an abundance of corn stalk residue and grappling with questions about tillage and how to fix fields full of ruts caused by a challenging harvest. Fast forward to spring 2016 and farmers are facing a much more favourable planting... Read More
Talk of banding versus broadcasting nutrients is likely to become a much bigger conversation as Ontario works to reduce the impact farm phosphorous on the Great Lakes. In this Corn School episode, Purdue University professor Tony Vyn offers insights on why he feels farmers should consider banding nutrients as apposed to broadcasting. While attending the... Read More
Put down your popcorn, buckle your seatbelt and hold on as Real Agriculture’s Bernard Tobin and Peter Johnson rip through a 2016 Corn School preview. What’s up for Corn School 2016 on Real Agriculture? Where will we go? What will we cover? Who will you see? You’ll get it all in three minutes. The 2016... Read More
If farmers want to supersize their corn yields, they have to challenge conventional thinking and become students of the crop. That was the main message National Corn Growers Association yield contest champion Randy Dowdy shared with hundreds of farmers at the 2016 SouthWest Agricultural Conference in Ridgetown, Ontario earlier this week. In 2014, Dowdy set... Read More
The line between what’s a traditional clunky tractor monitor and a user-friendly household tablet is disappearing, as evidenced by Trimble’s latest version of its TMX-2050 display. On the market for two years, Trimble introduced several upgrades to the Android-based 12-inch touch screen unit earlier this year, explains TJ Schulte in the video below, filmed at... Read More
Harvest is wrapped up and your yield monitor has accumulated another year of data. What should you do with it? In this episode of Corn School, AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan shares his thoughts on how you can use that yield data to guide soil sampling and create management zones in your fields. Many farmers... Read More
Harvest is in the homestretch and it’s time for farmers to start thinking about how the precision agriculture data they’ve accumulated can help build a winning strategy for 2016. In this Corn School episode, AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan looks at how farmers can combine performance data and field observations to diagnose issues that contribute... Read More
The yield monitor is still the best barometer when it comes to assessing the value of crop inputs and agronomic strategies, but UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) are proving to be an important tool for in-season measurement and assessment of cropping strategies. Not Just Toys: Adding Value with UAVs Chad Colby’s Top Tips for Integrating UAV... Read More
In this episode of In The Dirt, Salford’s Jim Boak introduces us to AGRIS Co-operative agronomist Dale Cowan and the role agronomists play in helping farmers implement and achieve 4R nutrient stewardship. Boak recommends farmers pay particular attention to how Cowan uses an approach called MOM to meet 4R objectives. This includes using the right... Read More
John Deere’s new ExactEmerge retrofit kit will allow farmers who own the company’s late-model planters to step up their speed and accuracy. John Deere launched its ExactEmerge seed delivery system in 2014, promising farmers precise seed placement and spacing while boasting the ability to travel at much faster planting speeds, up to 10 mph. The... Read More
Farmers watched as planters and seeders of all sizes, shapes and capabilities rolled down the field during the planting and seeding demonstration at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock last month. Some planted at 10 MPH while others showed off their ability to plant multiple crops, combine seeding and tillage, or the flexibility to plant... Read More
Farm management and variable rate advisory firm Decisive Farming and Canada’s largest Case IH dealer — Rocky Mountain Equipment — have announced an alliance to integrate tech support for variable rate equipment. “There’s always been a gap in the market before this alliance between the variable rate provider and the equipment dealer. This is closing... Read More
Switching between corn varieties on-the-go while planting is showing a yield benefit, according to Kinze, as the Iowa-based equipment manufacturer ramps up production of its multi-hybrid planters. The last time we heard from Kinze’s Luc Van Herle on Real Ag, the company was rolling out its new electronic metering system for its 4,900 series multi-hybrid planting units. Bern... Read More
Beyond the “cool” factor, the value of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for farmers comes down to how they help them make more-informed decisions. That includes helping a producer understand plant stand counts across entire fields early in the growing season, explains Kris Poulson, CEO of Casselton, North Dakota-based North Country Ag Services. “If we just talk about... Read More
With all the excitement about the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in agriculture, it’s important to understand the reliability of information collected by UAVs. Can we trust their accuracy to make farm management decisions? Beyond that, could UAV data tell us something before we see it on the ground? Researchers in North Dakota are evaluating... Read More
Farmers have been collecting data since the first yield maps appeared 20 to 30 years ago. The promise then was that farmers would be able to turn data into management decisions that would benefit their bottom line. For most farmers, though, that has yet to happen. In this episode of the Agronomy Geeks Ontario podcast,... Read More
A better understanding of soil properties like electrical conductivity, organic matter and pH levels can go a long way in precision agriculture applications. As Veris Technologies president Eric Lund explains in the following video, mapping these properties is useful in variable rate fertilizer application, as well as for site-specific management when seeding, applying lime or irrigating. “There are... Read More
With the 2014 growing season fast approaching (we hope) you are probably wrapping up your seeding and input plans and getting antsy to get into the field. As cropping plans start to fall into place, the logical next step for many is to decide on which products or practices to test out to measure their... Read More
It’s like a scene from an old-timey western movie. A grizzled cowboy squints into the horizon and says “I don’t like the look of those clouds. Storm is a’ brewin.” I’ve witnessed similar body language as I cross the country talking to farmers about mobile technology and the new world of data management, but it’s... Read More
If your farm is one soil type from end to end, you can feel free to skip this post. Of course, unless your farm is only 20 feet square, it likely contains several soil types and textures overall and in each field. The concept of managing each soil type or resulting management zone is not... Read More
The only data that’s useful is data you can…well…use. On the farm, that means data that can translate into a decision, without the use of an interpreter, quickly and efficiently. Many companies currently offer all kinds of data collection services for your operation. The real question is, how will that impact what you do tomorrow?... Read More
If you’ve got a GPS-equipped yield monitor in your combine, I have good news. You’re already well on your way to developing a practical precision farming plan for your farm. Well of course I am, you say. But, if we’re all being very honest here, what do you actually do with that yield map beyond... Read More
It’s been described as a stethoscope for your air-seeder and that’s actually a fairly accurate analogy for how Intelligent Agricultural Solution’s Wireless Blockage and Flow Monitoring System works. The product monitors the openers on your drill with an acoustic-based system to not only detect blockages and reduced flow rates but also give you a broad... Read More
Every year as the calendar turns to a new year, the Southwest Ag Conference greets us with two days of learning and networking with agricultural colleagues. Due to travel issues into Toronto, Shaun Haney attended SWAC via twitter from the Las Vegas airport while Ontario Field Editor, Bern Tobin took in the event in person... Read More
There are many times during the busy conference season that I wish I could clone myself so that I could attend every meeting that interests me. While Twitter does a great job of bridging the gap at times, there’s still nothing quite like actually sitting in on a fascinating discussion on new research findings and... Read More
The ability to measure, track and vary inputs and other agronomic data far exceeds most people’s comfort level with data analysis. And if you’re all, whoa, what the heck is she talking about? You’ve made my point. Any new(ish) equipment comes with the fantastic built-in capability to track what its doing, and as farmers add... Read More
In years gone by, seeding overlap fell into the same category as new vehicle depreciation. It was just something you didn’t think about as you drove off the lot. You still can’t do anything about losing 10 grand as you drive away from the dealership, but you do have some pretty fantastic options when it... Read More
Bigger or faster? It’s a question that pops up from time to time when it comes to farm equipment (like, always). Our recent discussion with Dr. Tom Wolf brought up the issue with regard to spraying, but what about planting? Not everyone has a piece of land that an ultra-wide seeder or planter will work... Read More
You’ve gone out to check fields. Last week’s herbicide application should be in full force, but when you get out to the field, targeted weeds aren’t showing the signs they should, or the crop looks sickly or both. Was this product failure or human error? Both or neither? Spraying pesticides — be they insecticides, fungicides... Read More
What’s your technology mix? Phone and a laptop, phone, tablet and a laptop, or desktop, phone and a tablet? Or something else entirely? It’s an expensive trial, this getting the right mix of useful gadgets, so certified AgNerds Shaun Haney and Peter Gredig decided to tackle the question. Inspired by Shaun’s adoption of the lamely-named... Read More
There’s no doubt that access to available sulphur is incredibly important to canola development and yield. Applying and managing this nutrient, however, has challenges — ammonium sulfate can be incredibly toxic to young sprouts and other forms of the fertilizer can also take some time before sulphur is made available to the plant. In an... Read More
At one time when you heard someone talk about precision ag it was about minimizing overlap of the sprayer and driving the planter straight. After a winter of farm shows and meetings I have come to the conclusion in certain regions that precision ag is evolving into being about real planting precision. In the corn and soybean... Read More
If you cannot see the above embedded audio player, click here We have discussed retro-fitting older farm equipment with the latest in precision farming technology in the past, but we think that we have found maybe the most significant retro fit ever. Middlesex Soil and Crop has invested in a 1977 JD6600 combine to change it into a... Read More
I’m not a big markets person. I know, I know, it’s agriculture, how could I not be into markets? I have a basic understanding of charts and outlooks, of course, but by my heart is in the soil, plants and animals — the futures market is rather Greek to me. Still, it’s difficult to attend... Read More
Investing in a sectional control option on a new seeder isn’t an inexpensive proposition, however, you may change your perception of the true cost once you see just how much it can save you. Chris Morson, with Seed Hawk, took Shaun Haney on a tour of Seed Hawk’s software program that incorporates Google Earth images... Read More
Agri-Trend’s latest business offering is the Agri-Data Solution, a web-based application that stores all the farm data you may need. Once inputted, the Agri-Data interface can be accessed by several members of the farm team from any computer, tablet or smartphone by a user name and password. Shaun Haney caught up with Kevin Pattison of... Read More
You don’t mess around with a good thing. Every farm has a tried and true, trusted piece of equipment that you just can’t part with. You know it’s quirks, it’s comfortable…it just works well. The problem now is that technological advancements are available to help you do the job better, but the equipment is out-dated.... Read More
If one-inch pass-to-pass accuracy is your goal when it comes to precision farming, you’re going to need more than a basic guidance system to get there. That said, creating an extremely accurate guidance system for all equipment can require several components, including extra receivers and RTK towers. Each component is going to cost you, so... Read More
Owning the latest and greatest technology is great, but actually using it to its full potential is what makes the cost worthwhile. When that involves your iPhone, it’s understandable that some apps amount to bells and whistles, but when the technology sits inside your tractor cab, having the latest and greatest needs to earn its... Read More
When someone mentions precision agriculture, what do you think of? Do you think of autosteer, GPS, variable rate technology or prescription mapping? The truth is that all of those things and more are involved in what we currently term “precision agriculture.” In fact, much of the technology that we associate with precision agriculture is so... Read More
The RealAgriculture Roundtable reconvened last week during Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina, Saskatchewan. This time around, Shaun and Lyndsey were joined by Morris Industries Chief Operating Officer Don Henry. We’ve talked with Don before on RealAgriculture.com and he is extremely knowledgable when it comes to farm equipment and cropping in general. With that in... Read More
On-farm trials are an exercise not widely pursued by farmers in general. What’s unfortunate about that is the fact that most farmers could stand to benefit greatly from adopting some type of on-farm trial. The reason being that a lot of manufacturer trials are limited in scope for financial reasons. They may perform fewer location... Read More
FarmTech 2012 was an incredible success by all measures. It managed to bring together some of the most progressive and diverse farmers from across the West to listen to some of the most innovative and knowledgable people in the industry. With such a diverse and savvy group available to us, we had to take the... Read More
Variable rate technology has huge implications for the efficiency and productivity on the farm. Data collection and monitoring are key components in the application of that technology. Knowing the composition of your fields, the structure of your fields as what went into those fields is the information that makes VRT technology benefit your farm by... Read More
Here we are again at the end of another year. It’s been a great year at RealAgriculture.com. Our YouTube channel has had over 150,000 views this year and our website traffic has grown dramatically. We’ve met some great people and covered some fascinating stories. We’ve also come together in some great new partnerships to launch... Read More
Technology is integrating our lives into a hopefully more simplified system. The farm is no exception to this new rule. Data from every sector of the farm can now be collected, stored, analyzed and distributed like no time before in history. With the advent of the data storage cloud and the increasing accessibility of high... Read More
Inputs prices are high and so are crop prices. Managing costs and yields is critical to success on your farm. With commodity prices high you cannot settle for average yields. The use of variable rate precision ag products and services helps farmers to do just that. Placing the inputs in the intended prescribed areas has... Read More
Part of the focus of 2011 Farm Forum Event was on the utilization of technology in the agriculture industry to improve production and profitability. A big part of improving production and profitability is precision agriculture including the use of variable rate technology as a part of managing crop inputs. The ability to scan a field... Read More
Technology in the cab has become a major area of focus for all machinery companies. Trying to tie all of the farming stages into a data / information platform to allow farmers to make better decisions is a major focus of John Deere. The area of variable rate technologies has seen its star rise as... Read More
By Ken Coles, FarmingSmarter.com In July I attended the Precision Ag Conference in Springfield, Illinois. I though in my first blog post I would cover my thoughts and observations at the conference. Day 1 Last week Brent Nicol and I attended the infoag, precision ag conference in Springfield, Illinois. (www.infoag.org). Not being a seasoned... Read More
If you talk about controlled traffic farming in Alberta, you’ll only come up with a handful of names of farmers involved in the practice. Steve Laroque is one of those farmers. We talked to Steve a while back about his involvement in controlled traffic farming and why he thought it had the potential to fit... Read More
When you’re looking at controlling costs on the farm, the issue of overlapping with seed and fertilizer can be a big one. Especially in crops like canola, over seeding and over application of fertilizer can have a very negative impact on growth and development and end up being very costly for the farmer. Controlling that... Read More
A lot of work is going into technologies that will increase plant survivability and yield. Challenging growing conditions coupled with an increased global demand for food mean we have to give crop production every advantage possible. There are a number of factors we can manipulate when it comes to optimal growing conditions for our crops.... Read More
Precision agriculture has some obvious benefits when it comes to efficiency and input costs. GPS mapping and technologies are becoming more and more accurate with coverage available in areas previously inaccessible. Seeding overlap is almost non -existent and placement is incredibly precise. With input costs growing and the demand for production rising, the need to... Read More
Blog post by John Guelly, BSc, P.Eng Wheat and Canola Farmer and Ag Engineer at Westlock, AB So we just ordered a new tractor, state of the art 2011 JD 8260R, complete with all the bells and whistles. We sold our old tractor to some neighbors and I asked them if they also were interested... Read More
GPS has become a major component of in-tractor technology. For many of the applications of GPS, once you have them you sometimes wonder how you did certain things before hand. Auto-steer is one of those GPS applications that has received lots of marketing and as time moves on more and more farmers are experiencing the... Read More
No matter what industry you are involved in, striving for efficiency is critical for lowering costs. If you can gain efficiency and increase productivity you are really achieving a win win. Precision agriculture provides the opportunity to achieve both improved efficiency and increased productivity with the same application. Most of the early focus was on... Read More