GrainsWest Fall 2019

Tech 2019 Grains West 6 The inaugural GrainsWest tech issue THE ADVANCEMENT OF FARM technology can be expensive, but everything is relative. In the lab, new technologies are being pushed forward to generate control options in the annual battle against pathogens, weeds and pests that impact agricultural operations. In the event a chemistry ban leaves an entire crop variety unprotected, the dollars spent on such research and development projects would be hard to argue. Among such potentially revolutionary ag tech initiatives is the study of ribo- nucleic acid interference (RNAi) as a non-toxic alternative to broad-spectrum crop protection products. Using the mes- senger counterpart to DNA to effectively switch off the genes that control specific functions in a targeted organism, RNAi may also be used in breeding or in the field to induce the appearance of desira- ble crop traits. Well beyond the promising stage, it’s a solution hunting for problems that hap- pens to address the potentially expensive loss of control chemistries. In one of our technology-themed stories, “In search of options” (page 42), we look at two projects funded by the Alberta Wheat Commission that together are taking on smuts, bunts and Fusarium head blight as well as sclerotinia. Farm technology in the data realm continues to evolve. “Data cultivation” (page 22) is our three-part section on ag-data innovation and views the topic from multiple distinct vantage points— from inside, up above and from outer space. The trio of stories focuses on the seemingly unlikely marriage of farming and virtual reality devices, and the fall- out from new drone regulations insti- tuted in June. As well, the launch of the three-satellite RADARSAT Constellation Mission will produce a vast expanse of new remote mapping data. Also at the crossroads of change, in the area of mechanical farm technology, we investigate inventively engineered farm equipment in the traditional and next-wave categories. In “Tech follows farmers” (page 18), we examine the products and practices of Prairie innova- tors in farm technology. New products are nothing without users, and these farm-technology entrepreneurs tailor their products to the real-world needs and desires of fellow farmers. Products such as precision ag tools and grain stor- age and monitoring systems featured in the story have flourished by giving farm- ers new and improved means to prosper. These entrepreneurs stress the value of their interaction with the farm community. “As soon as you lose that connectivity with the farmer, they don’t feel comfortable,” said Greg Andrukow who founded Point Forward Solutions in Camrose. The same ultra-connective qualities that make many digital-based tech- nologies so desirable can also create a human disconnect. While we can have a seemingly endless array of ag data at our fingertips to fuel precision platforms, various face-to-face aspects of farming may naturally be diminished. Further to our coverage of digital data use, we asked several Alberta farmers to discuss their favourite and most-used apps. In “Farmer approved” (page 38), our contributors cite several ag-specific apps, but also a number on non-farm apps that serve them equally well. A central theme among their app choices is boosted connectivity. Smartphone apps serve them well in their work, but also in connecting with their people on the farm and beyond. A Twitter exchange or a work consultation via an ag-app’s messaging function may not quite equal a sit-down chat over coffee, but these can certainly be productive and satisfying additional interactions. Just as industry-funded research is key to minding the farm bottom line, these entrepreneur-generated innovations in farm technology provide operational as- sists that can reduce expenses and push profits. While keeping up with techno- logical advances in farming undeniably demands burning mental energy, new and evolving products and platforms are rapidly becoming easier to use. EDITOR’S MESSAGE More grain stories more ways To complement the print edition of GrainsWest , you can read the free online edition of the magazine at grainswest.com , where you’ll also find exclusive online-only stories. On the go? We’ve got you covered. For in-depth audio that expands on topics tackled in the pages of the magazine, download The GrainsWest Podcast on iTunes or wherever you access your podcasts. Also get important ag information and links to new online stories and never miss a story by signing up for the GrainsWest newsletter at grainswest.com/newsletter-signup/