Perfectly Placed

Locations: Lethbridge & Brooks, AB

This program will have six separate trials. Each trial will aim to identify criteria for maximum crop performance and will provide a baseline to adapt and develop planters to seed a specific crop or crop group.

The 6 research trials encompassed in this research program are as follows:

1. Precision Pulses ≥ 3-year small plot research trial. This trial will study precision planter agronomy with a variety of different pulse crops, and will examine row spacing, seeding rate, agronomy, etc. The trial will highlight whether precision planting can mitigate disease and improve crop uniformity, seed quality and yield, essential for industry success.

Split block design with 20 treatments x 3 years x 3 locations

• Factor A Seeding System: precision planter, air drill (12" spacing)
• Factor B Crop: peas, lentils, soybeans, faba beans, chickpeas (main blocks
• Factor C Seeding Rate: best practice, half rate
• Field Tested: Precision Planter Research ≥ 3-year field scale research trial. This trial takes key findings from Farming Smarter's small plot precision planter research program and evaluates performance in a real-world field environment, fostering adaptation development and adoption.

Design ≥ 3 field scale locations x 3 years each

• Factor A seeder: planter, air seeder (use producers 10-15" spacing)
• Factor B Seeding Rate: Standard (Industry standard for crop being studied), low (Half of industry standard for crop being studied
• Year 1 will focus on canola, year 2 and 3 will seed different crops to be determined on the basis of compelling preliminary results from small plot trials
• Precision Canola ≥ 1-year small plot research trial. This trial is an extension of Farming Smarter's current 3-year research project focused on developing agronomy for canola with precision planters. Current findings show very favorable results for planters on narrow rows and we would like to have high statistical confidence before promoting this as best practice.

Experiment 1 Seeding Rate ≥ 1 year x 15 treatments x 3 locations

• Factor A Seeder: precision planter (12", 20"), air drill (9" spacing)
• Factor B Seeding rate: 20, 40, 60, 80, 160 seeds/m2

Experiment 2 Liquid Phos ≥ 1 year x 18 treatments x 3 locations

• Factor A Seeder: precision planter (12", 20"), air drill (9" spacing)
• Factor B Liquid Phos rate: 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha
• Precision Durum ≥ 3-year small plot research trial. This trial will study precision planters with durum wheat, including row spacing, seeding rate, agronomy, etc. This project will address if planters can help durum overcome stagnant yields in recent years and will focus on irrigated locations to maximize yield potential.

24 treatments x 3 locations x 3 years

• Factor A Seeding system: precision planter, air drill (12" spacing)
• Factor B Seeding rate: high (400 seeds/m^2), normal (200 seeds/m^2)
• Factor C Fertility: maximum fertility (1.5X N, P, K, S + micros with 0.5X N as split app), normal recommended 1X (replacement values of NPKS all at seeding)
• Factor D Fungicides and Growth Regulators: Untreated check, Growth regulator, Growth regulator + fungicide
• Precision Corn ≥ 3-year small plot research trial. This trial will build on Farming Smarter's recent research into grain corn agronomy using planters and will explore optimal seeding practices using advanced tillage, seeding dates, and varieties.

Experiment 1 Optimal management of tillage system, seeding date and hybrid ≥ 12 treatments x 2 locations x 3 years

• Factor A System: Strip-till, No-till
• Factor B Seeding Date: April 15, May 1, May 15
• Factor C Hybrid Selection: 1900 CHU hybrid, 2300 CHU hybrid
• Corn will be planted in 20 inch rows at 25,000 seeds/acre with a Monosem precision planter
• Precision Hemp ≥ 3-year small plot research trial. (2 trials) These trials will assess optimal hemp production based on planter type and seeding rate. It will test safe rates of seed place liquid phosphorus, and evaluate plant responses such as height, stem thickness, male/female dynamics, CBD, etc.

Experiment 1 Hemp seeding Comparison ≥ 1 location x 3 years x 4 treatments

• Factor A Seeder: precision planter, air drill (12")
• Factor B Seeding Rate: BMP (250 seeds/m2), half rate (125 seeds/m2)

Experiment 2 safe rates of P ≥ 1 location x 3 years x 8 treatments

• 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha P with seed
• 20 kg/ha with seed, 20 kg/ha side banded (common practice)
• 40 kg/ha all side banded (common practice)