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Beiseker researchers speak at international conference

Two soil specialists from Beiseker spoke at the International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Denver, Col., July 18-21.

Two soil specialists from Beiseker spoke at the International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Denver, Col., July 18-21.

Alex Melnitchouck and Garth Donald spoke on their Variable Rate Technology (VRT) related research projects to academics, growers and other industry professionals.

“It’s a great conference for us being there,” said Donald, a soil specialist who has worked with DynAgra for 14 seasons.

“We got a really good response to the information we provided,” he said.

The two presented on a number of topics including soil management and utilizing satellite imagery to scout variable rate fertilization and seeding methods.

“The big one is that satellite imagery hasn’t been utilized as much worldwide as what we have in Western Canada,” said Donald.

VRT applies crop inputs at a variable rate instead of a constant rate, which is traditionally used, and DynAgra is one of the few providers of the service in Western Canada.

“There’s a lengthy scientific process behind it,” Donald said of VRT. “It’s more scientific than it is shooting from the hip.”

With VRT, farmers can put the exact amount of nutrients in the right spots, saving time and money.

Melnitchouck said the biggest issue is always farmers wanting to increase bushel numbers without adding unnecessary costs.

He said the research wasn’t carried out in labs but real farmers’ fields in southern Alberta, which makes their VRT research unique and accurate.

“It’s 100 per cent applied research,” Melnitchouck said.

The pair has partnered with Olds College to educate students who are studying agricultural studies.

“Olds College is a good place for that (agriculture) because people that are most interested in VRT and new things in agriculture… they come to this college,” said Melnitchouck.

Donald said one of the best features of the conference was making connections with other researchers and educating people that were innovators in the VRT game.

“It’s that inter-sharing of ideas that you can work with,” he said. “They want to know what’s going on so they don’t have to re-invent the wheel as well.”

Donald said he and Melnitchouck are excited to continue the research and speak at the next conference about precision agriculture in Springfield, Illinois, next July.


Airdrie Today Staff

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