Video Interview with Rob Saik on the coming decade in Agriculture
January 14th, 2010 by Robert SaikThanks to Shaun Haney at realagriculture.com for taking the time to conduct and post this interview.
Part 1
Part 2
The original post can be found here.
GreenSeeker at AGRI-TREND Winter Training Event
November 17th, 2009 by Robert SaikThis year Trimble purchased Entek, the company who manufactures GreenSeeker Technology.
Jack Gerhardt discussed the history of remote sensing.
GreenSeeker is a sensor technology that is mounted on a machine passing over the field. It has its own light source and provides instant geo-referencing enabling a sprayer (for example) to apply a variable rate product through a variable rate controller.
Dr Guy Lafond with IHARF at Indian Head, SK has been developing the alogrithims we have been using to vary the N rate on wheat. There are now 7 different alogrithims now available for Canadian crops.
We have had a few farmers working with GreenSeeker for several years. The technology has some advantages because cloud cover is not an issue and the maps are generated in real time.
Jack mentioned the GreenSeeker has been used for top dressing of N, rescue Nitrogen, Fungicides, Desiccants and 2 Step Zone Rx’s as well as other real-time apps for farmers.
The RT150 is a up to 3 sensors…while the RT200 4 or more sensors enables variable boom shut off and allows an applicator to perform Real Time VR.
We featured an article on GreenSeeker in the May/June 2009 issue of The agAdvance. Check it out at www.TheagAdvance.com.
The GreenSeeker is available in Canada through Pattison Liquid Systems of Lemberg, SK.
Wireless Access Continues to Expand
November 6th, 2009 by Robert SaikThose who know me know I am a technology fan.
Agri-Trend has been at the forefront of integrating technology into agriculture, especially when it comes to harnessing the power of the internet to manage farm production data. Of course to make the best use of our systems, access to the internet is critical. This access continues to expand.
This week, as part of my duties as a director of The Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association, I had an opportunity to share some ideas with a group of consultants from Chile. We gathered in Santiago to discuss the role consultants play in advancing agriculture. Central to this work was, information dissemination, and central to that was the internet.
Even in the remote areas of Chile, consultants are able to access the internet through wireless technology. This brings the world to them…in real time.
Last year, I was in a farm house in Kazakhstan. Very nice home but it had no running water…but it was equipped with the internet…and I still communicate with the young farm lad from that village.
AND right now, I am posting this blog from 30,000 feet because I am flying back from Dallas to Calgary on an American Airlines flight that is equipped with In Flight Wi Fi. MAN is this exciting!
You see now, I can access the Field Programs of my customers though our Netware System while enroute. It creates even further connectivity!
I already am fully connected on land with my EVDO aircard and now I can remain connected in the air…wow!
In the Oct/Nov issue of The agAdvance, we featured a story on RTK technology that runs over EVDO signals…this will soon be eclipsed by 3G and 4G technology. What this means is that it puts the power of the internet in the cab of your tractor, effectively connecting you with the world, while you are in the field!
We continue to pour resources into our Netware Systems to connect our Agri-Coaches and Market-Coaches with farm customers. This capability will increase as we extend our reach to mobile devices such as smart phones.
We will increasingly use the internet to bring the power of knowledge and wisdom to help you on your farm.
Plenty of Opportunity for Agricultural Carbon Credits
October 29th, 2009 by Robert SaikBill Dorgan, President of Agri-Trend Aggregation Inc presented at the CAAR Crop Forum in Red Deer.
He told a group of agri-retailers that Alberta is the only compliance based carbon offset jurisdictionin North America and Agri-Trend Aggregation have been participating as one of the leading aggregators in the province.
Saskatchewan legislation is pending and likely to pass before in the spring of 2010.
There are plenty of Large Final Emitters ready to work with high quality agricultural offset credits. They are looking for more farmers to sign up.
They have successfully used their Soil Carbon Offset Program (SCOP) to return millions of dollars to Alberta farmers under the tillage regime rules in the climate legislation.
Agri-Trend Aggregation Agents work with farmers to pull the details together and get the information into The Agri-Data Solution which is used to track, validate, verify, register, transact and store the data used to calculate the returns to producers.
For more information go to www.atai.com or contact Bill Dorgan at 1-403-608-0992
You can view an on-line video that talks about carbon credits at http://www.youtube.com/agritrend
Clubroot of Canola – Biology and Solutions
October 29th, 2009 by Robert SaikNotes from Clint Jurke, Pathologist with Monsanto at CAAR Crop Forum - this was a pretty good presentation.
This is an important threat to the canola industry. What are we doing to fight this infection?
The 1st discovery of the disease was by Dr Ieuan Evans, now Senior Agri-Coach with Agri-Trend in the 1970’s.
The disease has expanded rapidly from 12 fields in 2003 in Sturgeon County to 2007 where 171 fields we identified in 11 counties…continues to grow…there is a good map on the Alberta web site that is tracking this in some 20 counties. Most is still in the Edmonton area. Now the disease is expanding to Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Identifcation is easy by watching the root area…swelling of the stem above the roots and then rapid cancer-like division of cells to produce the galls on the roots system.
The infected plants effectively sheds all root tissue and prevents nutrient and water uptake by the plant AND the spores are being released back into the soil. So if you are driving along, just keep your eyes open for drought areas in the field.
Tight rotations, especially in the northern, heavy canola growing areas are contibuting to the spread. This is enhanced by conventional tillage, which moves the spores through the field.
The spores have a 20 year life in the soil and there are millions…brizillions of them…so once you got it..you got it!
While the Edmonton area is susceptible…eastern MB and all of Ontario is very susceptible.
There have been 4 races identified in Alberta.
There was less clubroot in 2009 due to the cool and dry conditions.
Solutions:
Sanitation. Manure will transport the spores.
Management. Longer rotations, liming soils, contolling weeds that are hosts for clubroot…shepards purse, stinkweed, etc.
Resistance. This is likely the only long-term solution to fight this disease. There are many B. napus and B. rapa that have resistance…radish also has many varities with resistance.
The breeding began in 2006 and they began to look world-wide for resistance genes…they found some in Korea. In fact the Koreans, had the reistance genes on the shelves and sent them across to Canada.
The resistance genes were sent to Guelph and testing is now going on in Edmonton, Chile and many other areas.
There has been signifcant progress made in DEKALB hybrids.
Resistance gene will NOT last…only good for 3-4 rotations under single gene resistance.
Growers still need to follow good agronomic practices – longer rotations – scouting – prevention strategies – weed control – tillage systems.
Question – would composting kill the spores? NOT likely.
AVAIL Phoshpate Enhancement
October 29th, 2009 by Robert SaikWe have been following the use of AVAIL as a way to enhance phosphate fertilizer. Today their was a presentation by Kent Whitting of Simplot at the Red Deer CAAR Crop Forum.
The JR Simplot company is offering this phosphate enhancement product to Canadian producers.
Pre-treated phosphate formulations are available as MAP, 0-45-0 and 16-20-0.
Avail for Granular – concentrate can be applied to MAP at 2 l/MT
Avail SD (not yet registered) can be mixed with liquid fertilizers at 1.89 l/378.43L of finished solution 10-34-0, etc.
They claim it will provide up to doubling of phosphate efficiency from conventional fertilizers.
NutriSphere N
October 29th, 2009 by Robert SaikKent Whitting of JR Simplot Company did a quick presentation on their NutriSphere N technology…these are some of the ideas.
This is a nitrogen stabilzation product that acts as a urease inhibitor as well as reducing nitrification (in two areas).
It is a clear polymer coating applies to a nitrogen granular surface. It contains a blue dye that allows you to monitor the coating and results in a urea coated product that looks very similar to ESN.
There is a formulation that is compatible for liquids…but this is not registered yet in Canada.
My take…we are going to see more of the technologies coming out. We have been using ESN now for a couple of years…we like what we see.
This technology will reduce nitrous oxide emmisions and eventually could play a role in carbon credit generation.
What is happening with fertilizer economics?
October 29th, 2009 by Robert SaikI captured these notes on the fertilizer industry…thought you might find this interesting.
Fertilizer Economics – Presentation by Ben Gavica – JR Simplot Company (Looking mostly at phosphate) at the CAAR Crop Forum in Red Deer
They feel that seeded acreage in the US will be down due to slow corn harvest in the US. This decline in acreage will be offset by higher predicted fertilizer use next year which should keep yields high.
The Fertilizer Industry is doing through a bit of a “hangover” since the “party” (ie highest prices) ended in December 2008. They did make some record profits, which allowed the industry to re-invest in some infrastructure.
There was push-back from the grower and there was a lot of emotion attached to fertilizer pricing. There was plenty of resentment towards crop inputs.
Today phosphate is roughly the same as Jan 2006. So what is going to happen now? The industry is also been affected by the world financial crisis. IFA estimates P demand worldwide was down 9.4% while they estimate reduction in NA was over 20%.
Demand side
Going forward we should see moderate consumption recovery with the exception of India which grew significantly due to government subsidization of fertilizer purchases.
64% of worldwide crop input demand is coming from China, India, USA and Brazil, with the real growth in P2O5 consumption being China followed by India.
NA market is “destocked” at manufacturer level, the pipeline is pretty empty and farmer’s field P levels have declined due to a mining mentality by the growers over the last couple years. The manufacturers readjusted the inventory levels pretty quick after the “hangover” set in. So they turned the production down.
With the pipeline at low levels and farmers continuing to have negative emotions towards fertilizer they predict some additional demand.
In the US corn belt there has been a significant decline in P levels in soils…this has been due to 2 years of cut backs….there is going to have to be some soil replenishment.
Simplot predicts a near-full P2O5 recovery for 2010…and are ramping up production.
Key drivers….what will happen with the ethanol? The US is still moving forward AND there is a nutrient requirement.
2009 yield was very high in US and France….there will be nutrient depletion…question is – how long will farmer’s resist purchases?
The indication is YES, that the growers will come back to the markets.
BUT there are some outstanding issues…economic crisis…access to credit…freight rates (less competition)
Supply side
Africa is 63% of the long term P2O5 reserves going forward.
By 2011 the Ma’aden project in Saudi Arabia could supply up to 15% of the world demand…and they are well positioned…and they have money for development. They could overproduce and push supply – increasing price volatility.
Morocco (OCP) will continue to expand production to 2014 (MAP / DAP / TSP)
China is linked to a huge rock supply. Their goal is self sufficiency so they have instituted export tariffs. They are going to expand significantly to 2014, but what will happen after this? They will concentrate on MAP / DAP.
Operating rates
Supply / Demand elasticity is unknown based on the unpredictability more so based on the supply side in the mid-term. In the short term it will be dependent upon what the farmers will do…how far will they deplete soils?
DAP production costs range from $US 210/ST Integrated Producer to +$310 for non-integrated producers…but these costs are likely to increase over time.
EXCEPT for China and Africa the quality of phosphate rock is diminishing – this will drive up production costs for most producers in the long term.
Lastly…how will technology impact what we use and how much we need.
Should we cutback on fertilizer?
October 28th, 2009 by Robert SaikI am reading about the “Mexican Standoff” between the ag community and the fertilizer producers…and while I do not pretend to understand the economics behind fertilizer production, I do understand what fertilizer can do for a crop and what a lack or imbalance can do for a crop.
My concern is this…if we adopt a “lemming” mentality and just cut back on potash (for example)…we may be joining a sinking ship.
Fact is, every farm is different and every field is different.
If one is going to make a decision to ride on residual nutrients, you better consider that decision carefully and from a point of science.
Fact is, some fields can get by without extra potassium (especially in a drought year), but K is the MOST important nutrient for water retention and affects Water Use Efficiency.
Blanket statements like, “Farmers can get by without potash fertilizer”…are DANGEROUS.
The Farm Forum Event Video
October 26th, 2009 by adminGet More Agri-Trend
