Technology continues to change one of the oldest professions – farming.
Showcasing some of the latest agricultural technology is at the heart of the AgInnovation contest at Agri-Trade, the annual ag equipment expo in Red Deer.
This is the 14th year for the competition, which culminates with five finalists making five-minute pitches before a live audience and a panel of farmer judges. The winner receives $20,000.
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“We had 27 applications this year,” said Krissy Fiddler, Agri-Trade operations manager. “It’s a tough job to narrow it down.”
While applications are taken from all over the world and from any sector of agriculture, “we try to focus on if it will work for Western Canada,” she said.
Some selections for this year’s final have been on the market for a few years, which means they’ve been tested and have data on how well they work.
“It’s nice to have brand new innovations, but it’s also nice to know that it’s proven in what it’s supposed to do,” Fiddler said.
Here are the five finalists:
ATP Nutrition: NutriScan
The company says its hand-held diagnostic soil testing tool called NutriScan can give producers a wide range of soil test data in minutes. The device uses near-infrared sensor and electro-conductivity technology that has been calibrated for North American soils.
Readings are uploaded, via a smartphone app, to a cloud database containing thousands of soil samples, and a report is generated within five minutes. The report details general soil properties, macro and micro nutrients and base saturation.
The NutriScan unit can be purchased for just under $5,000 with a yearly fee of $7,200. Users can take as many tests as they want.
Opend Range Ltd: Cowgo Loading System
Made of aluminum, custom fitted to the liner, and mounted onto the rear of the liner, the load system takes less than a minute to set up, says the Alberta company (see photo at top).
The bottom ramp is installed above the floor in a new sub-floor and slides out when in use. Both the left- and right-side panels fold tight against the outside (back and driver’s side) of the trailer when not in use.
When the side panels are in use, they are securely attached to the ramp, ensuring livestock safety when animals go up and down.
The company says its system makes for quick loading and unloading, and only requires one person to set up.
Prairie Grain Analyzers: PGA Auger Sampler with Integrated Moisture Analyzer
It also says the device gives the user a real time moisture and test weight on the flow, reducing the need for the grain sample to be divided manually.
Results are averaged for each pail, truck or bin on an app and PGA says the readings from its device are more accurate – within 0.3 per cent accuracy versus the three per cent accuracy of traditional moisture cables installed in grain bins.
The auger sampler has an adjustable opening for various sized samples, has a remote on/off switch, and mounts to any auger without the need for modifications.
Precision AI: Precision Spray Drone System
It says the system is able to differentiate weeds instantly, and that spraying only weeds and not bare ground or crop reduces chemical use and reduces water needs by 95 per cent. Using drones also eliminates soil compaction.
The drones can accurately identify weeds while travelling at speeds of more than 45 miles per hour and each drone has a long flight time, Precision AI says.
The system has auto refill capabilities and uses a hive system to charge drones, allowing for a fleet of drones for swarming.
SeedMaster: Ultra SR
The Ultra SR uses the company’s dual-knife opener and Ultra Pro II metering. It is 60 feet wide and has a 735-bushel capacity. The company says it is three times more responsive to uneven terrain, allowing for better manoeuvring, and has a 40-inch rotating disc for heavy trash clearance.
The Ultra SR has no manifolds, allowing direct metering of product into individual air streams. It also has two fans and separate air systems for seed and fertilizer tanks.
The five finalists will give their “perfect pitch” presentations on Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. in the Frontier Room at Westerner Park. Attendees at the presentation will help select the winner of the Farmers’ Choice Award, who will receive a $5,000 prize.
For more info on the contest and on Agri-Trade, which runs from Nov. 9-11, go to agri-trade.com.
