Second-year activities are up-and-running on the Precision Farm. A Landsat radar satellite passed over the farm on May 1. Dr. Al Moulin (Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Brandon) took soil samples and residue measurements to correspond with the satellite image. From this we can provide a moisture map and show the influence of residue on moisture readings.
The wet spring delayed seeding, though less than elsewhere in southeast Saskatchewan. We seeded 160 acres of Barrie Wheat, 80 acres of Carneval peas and 80 acres of InVigor 2153 canola. The draw running through our half section had some spring water erosion but we expect the benefits of continuous cropping will reduce this problem. Last year's excellent growing conditions and our reduced fertilizer application (to reduce bias in this year's results) contributed to low fertility levels. We fertilized to soil-test requirements, and seeded with a 27' Flexicoil 5000 equipped with Stealth double shoot side-band boots. These boots worked very well in this spring's wet conditions. We use liquid nitrogen/sulfur and dry phosphorus fertilizer.
1999 data collection will include aerial infrared photos, moisture and vegetative satellite images, grid soil sampling, EM38 mapping and yield maps. We have just received confirmation of funding from the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Saskatchewan (CARDS) to go ahead with a detailed weed and disease sampling. We are also in the process of hiring an agronomist to oversee research projects on the Precision Farm and to analyze the data we collect.
You are invited to visit the Precision Farm anytime. It is located two miles east of the Indian Head Research Farm. For further information, contact Judy McKell (695-4250), Joseph Boersch (695-2693) or Guy Lafond (695-5220).