GrainsWest Tech 2020

Tech 2020 grainswest.com 9 BY IAN DOIG Asimple twist Tunable towers engineered to DIGITAL INNOVATION IN FARM TECHNOLOGY RECEIVES a lot of attention, perhaps overshadowing noteworthy feats of implement engineering. One such piece of inspired tech is SeedMaster’s tunable seed and fertilizer drill towers, which constitute the business end of the company’s XeedSystem. While this deceptively simple piece of seeding technology is relatively new, having hit the market in 2016, it has notably prov- en itself in the field. Positive response from users led the compa- ny to make these tunable towers standard issue on drills with the SeedMaster AirPack. Directed by the system’s software, rates can be tweaked with the twist of a wrench. Row by row variance on seed drills can run in the 10 to 20 per cent range. The system’s software counts the seeds as they move through each outlet and generates a bar graph on the cab monitor where the user can set a variance target. “It will tell you if you’re overflowing or underflowing on any one of those outlets,” said Chris Ustupski, who handles SeedMaster after- market parts sales. The flow rate, controlled by a cone within each tower, can then be adjusted with the twist of a single five-sixteenths nut. “Whenever you change your seed type, you’ll most likely have to slightly tweak it,” said Ustupski. With 12 to 20 towers, the convenience of the quick twist is obvious. The system’s stainless steel components also lend it durability, he added. Equal length primary lines also assist in minimizing vari- ance, and Ustupski pitches another simple adjustment: better seed placement equals proper growth. “It’s going to save farmers a lot of money.” reduce seeding variance barcoded sample can then be taken to the lab for accurate, representative results. The lab is then able to upload the data to the VeriGrain app where it is accompanied by metadata such as the associated field and bin. The representative sampling system, while easier than man- ual sampling, allows farmers to know exactly what they’ve got in the bin. They can then exercise leverage in marketing their grain and satisfy supply chain demands for consumer assur- ance, traceability and sustainability. “What we’re trying to do is offer certainty of information to the buyer so they will pay more for the product,” said Scott Cunningham, the Saskatoon, SK, company’s CFO. Buyers will pay more for traceable lots, but offer discounts on the rest. A systemic problem, much sampling is being carried out in a manual, random fashion and is not reliably representative. “You have uncertainty, and buyers have always used that uncertainty to leverage a better price,” said Cunningham. “I don’t know what you’ve got, you don’t know what you’ve got, so I’m going to lowball you, and your truck’s here: here you go.” Pilot testing of the advanced prototype began in May across the Canadian Prairies and North Dakota. While testing leads to hopeful sales, the company is looking ahead to further data-driven upgrades and integration with additional farm management platforms. “As we advance the product, we’re look- ing to take some of those characteristic tests from the lab to the field—moisture, temperature and protein,” said Cunningham. Photo:Courtesyof VeriGrain Photo:Courtesyof SeedMaster SeedMaster’s tunable seed drill towers work in combination with seeding software to fine tune variability. The VeriGrain system collects representative, barcoded samples that can be sent to the lab.