On-farm trials are essential for farmers who want their own data on the effectiveness of new products and ideas. Setting up trials and taking them to harvest does requires a little extra work and planning, but the result is more informed decision-making and a better idea of what provides a return on investment – and what doesn’t.
Fertilizer rates based on soil sampling is a basic part of 4R nutrient management. This article explains how Federated Co-op 4R designated agronomists can help a farm allocate fertilizer resources based on the productivity of each field or zones within each field.
The new Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN), which includes the smart farms at Olds College and Lakeland College, will help innovators make the connections necessary to test an idea and bring it to market.