4 minute read
In-Field Testing & Validation on the Smart Farm
Abby Sim, Smart Ag Research Technician, testing the ChrysaLabs soil nutrient probe on the Smart Farm.
Collaborations with Applied Research
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In-Field Testing & Validation on the Smart Farm
New technologies for agriculture require in-field testing and validation in an operating farm environment to move through the innovation chain, and into the hands of farmers and producers. One key outcome of collaborating with Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) is independent, unbiased information for technology innovators, agricultural producers, agronomists, and other industry stakeholders on the functionality and value of agriculture technologies, processes, and practices.
The Olds College Smart Farm offers lab space and a hands-on learning environment including 3,600 acres of land for crop and forage production, state-of-the-art equipment and technology, 140 commercial cattle, 16 Purebred Red Angus and 150 ewes — as well as the Field Crop Development Centre, a feedlot, greenhouses and other infrastructure.
Olds College also has a growing team of researchers, managers, scientists and technicians as well as students, interns and seasonal staff executing the various applied research projects throughout the year.
The Smart Farm provides partners with a unique means of gaining boots-on-the-ground testing and learnings for technologies and practices in real agriculture settings — which continues to bring new projects to the Smart Farm. This includes support in disseminating results of these products and services to producers and other industry stakeholders, so producers can make informed decisions about implementing technology in their own operations.
Read about some of the latest applied research activities and partnerships on the Olds College Smart Farm.
During the 2022 growing season, the OCCI research team will be visiting fields after hailstorms occur to see if high definition imaging from drones can be used to classify hail damaged areas within crop fields. Researchers will create a database of hail damaged crops imagery and see if this could assist Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (ASFC) adjusters in the assessment process.
OCCI is also conducting research to determine if soil moisture measurements captured by soil sensing probes can be used in the estimations of forage yield potential. This will provide learning opportunities for AFSC in support of their Moisture Deficiency Insurance (MDI) Program, which compensates participating producers who experience low forage production due to a lack of soil moisture.
In addition, OCCI is performing a historical data correlation analysis with AFSC to learn what variables matter most to forage growth including historical precipitation, soil moisture measurements, forage yield records, and other relevant weather measurements. These data sets provide the opportunity for a correlation analysis and model development to determine if forage yield can be estimated and modelled using soil moisture and weather data.
OCCI is evaluating how the Spornado Sampler, an early alert system for crop disease, contributes to the canola fungicide application decision process. Researchers will evaluate how Spornado lab results influence the timing, speed, ease, confidence, and final recommendation of the fungicide application decision making process in canola.
Researchers are evaluating the ChrysaLabs soil nutrient probe in numerous field types and environmental conditions such as soil moisture, soil temperature, ambient temperature and frozen soil. The ChrysaLabs probe contains a spectroscopy interface for a 360° analysis for real-time results of soil nutrients to help producers optimize crop yield and determine fertilizer applications. OCCI is collecting weather and crop information for METOS Canada to help validate their yield calculator, and provide additional measurements to further develop the algorithm into a crop growth model. The research team is collecting a variety of weather station measurements, soil and crop samples, and biomass and grain yield measurements.
Researchers are performing in-field accuracy assessments of the disease recognition tool within xarvio SCOUTING — a mobile app designed to assist producers with the identification and diagnosis of in-field stressors. The findings will be compared to results from a plant pathologist, and georeferenced results will be compared to other geospatial data layers collected within the HyperLayer Data Concept project on the Smart Farm.
Researchers continue to evaluate the WEED-IT precision sprayer which is designed to apply herbicide directly on weeds and avoid wastage — and help producers reduce herbicide use and subsequently costs related to herbicide application.
