Well, it's the 10th anniversery of the SSCA and the 1st anniversary of my induction into the Association - coincidence? I think not! It's also the second anniversary of the District 35 Precision Farming Project (D35-PFP) which has been studying the agronomics of precision agriculture.
During the 1997 growing season we completed several tasks which should aid in bringing together some of the pieces of the puzzle. In June a detailed topographic analysis was completed, and in October the U. of S. completed both a detailed soil sampling and the classification of the soils within the research plots. Soil sample locations were recorded using both GPS and DGPS. These locations will also be used to examine on a yearly basis the available nutrients and to make ongoing fertilizer recommendations.
But perhaps the most satisfying task of 1997 was harvest. Compared to 1996, this year's operation seemed virtually problem free. Harvest was completed with a Case IH 2188 AFS combine, complete with yield monitor and GPS and DGPS signals (Figure 1). The raw data looks good but it will require further data analysis to uncover the best fertilizer blend and seeding rate within the various landscape positions during the 1997 growing season. Whatever the end results, the stats will all add to the D35-PFP database, which will hopefully aid us in making better decisions in the future. That's what precision farming is all about, right?
As the anniversary candles dim, it's exciting to consider that in the next decade precision farming will undoubtedly become as familiar to us as direct seeding has become in the past decade. Until then, stay tuned to the Prairie Steward. The next issue will contain a summary of the 1997 results for project D35-PFP. And remember, your ideas and comments are always welcome.
Figure 1. Yield data from the 1997 harvest (CPS Wheat, average yield 49.2 bu/ac).