The Field of Excellence powered by AgExpert is a collaborative research and demonstration program that occurs annually at Discovery Farm Langham. This popular program attracts a variety of agriculture industry partners, bringing their insights, learnings and objectives together in a single cohesive project focused on informing and engaging with Canadian farmers.
The Field of Excellence powered by AgExpert is a part of the Pan-Canadian Smart Farm Network, which is building a collaborative framework among Canada’s Smart Farm initiatives for sharing data and expertise to help farmers, industry and technology developers better understand, utilize, and develop smart agriculture technologies and systems.
There are two themes for the Field of Excellence powered by AgExpert this year, which will be sown to wheat.
The first theme is a continuation from 2023, Closing the Yield Gap – in subpar areas, how can yield be improved (and profitability) in the short term and productivity potential in the long term? We will continue to explore these questions through use of multiple data layers and tools to bring together precision agriculture, sound agronomy, and use of specialized products including novel soil amendments.
The second theme will visually show how a farmer can achieve improved yields, and other positive impacts on the crop, when following proper agronomic recommendations using lab services (grower standard practice vs. laboratory recommendations); in addition, we will demonstrate the impact of soil health on crop quality
In 2024, both themes represent a collaborative effort with the following partners:
A&L Canada Laboratories Inc.: As a Strategic Partner, A & L Laboratories Inc. helped to develop the project and define the research goals and protocols. A & L will be taking regular soil samples and using the data obtained, will direct the project with the objectives of demonstrating the impact of soil health on crop quality, providing a profitable alternative to the grower standard practice and demonstrate proper use/potential capabilities of biological practices readily available products on the market, or in the late stages of market approval.
AgExpert: The AgExpert platform is utilized throughout the season to track field operations (from seeding to spraying to harvest), showcasing the value behind digitizing records and connected data. This information provided critical information to assess the Project’s overall success.
MNP: The Field of Excellence will seek to demonstrate increase in profitability of the field over time. MNP can assist with predicting profitability with their consulting services
AGI: AGI is the Discovery Farm Langham provider of grain handling and storage equipment used in the Field of Excellence Project.
CLAAS: CLAAS of America supplied a state-of-the-art combine to bring in the harvest for the Field of Excellence Project.
SWAT MAPS: The SWAT MAPS ecosystem was utilized in several ways, including as a basis for applying prescriptive rates of seed and fertilizer to each SWAT zone.
FP Genetics: The Wheat Seed Supplier for the Field of Excellence powered by AgExpert
