in

Grand Farm Project Report: 2020 Growing Season

ALT grand form
DCIM101MEDIADJI_0231.JPG

To solve the problems of tomorrow, Grand Farm starts with the problems of modern agriculture. Our team works directly with growers and industry to better understand these problems (pain points) and work with partners in industry, higher education, and government to help solve these. To do this, the Grand Farm employs direct project management across commodity supply chains, digital system integration, and grower operations.

During the 2020 growing season at Grand Farm, there were 40 projects conducted on the Grand Farm, including the work of nine partners. These projects were in augmented reality mapping, soil health monitoring, unmanned aerial systems, unmanned ground systems, autonomous vehicles, sensing and identification of plants, and precision spraying.

Of these 40 projects, one high-level project was conducted involving seven organizations. There were also 12 projects conducted which involved two or more partners. Below is a list of partners involved in 2020 projects, and the descriptions of each project.

Using Agronomeye’s mapping software, farmers can make better insights from the information being collected by sensors and UAVs. This example shows how thermal imagery of crops can be combined with water flow maps (using elevation) to understand why crop yields might have been lower in certain areas of the farm.

PARTNER (S)PROJECTDESCRIPTIONS
Agronomeye, Field of View, CHS, NDSU,
Be More Colorful, ND Agriculture
Experiment Station
Augmented Reality Map of Grand FarmAgronomeye created an augmented reality
map of Grand Farm utilizing data pulled from
drones and ground sensors. This project
utilized data from 10 different inputs, which will
be described as individual projects.
Agronomeye, Field of ViewHigh Resolution Imagery integration into a
high-level mapping software.
Utilizing the data collected by Field of View
in the first project conducted on the Grand
Farm, Agronomeye was able to integrate high
resolution imagery (time-stamped) into their
augmented reality view of Grand Farm.
Agronomeye, NDSUReal-time kinematic (RTK) Imagery integration
into a high-level mapping software.
Utilizing the RTK imagery collected by NDSU
Professor Dr. Paulo Flores, Agronomeye was
able to integrate data into their augmented
reality view of the Grand Farm.
Agronomeye, NDSURGB Imagery integration into a high-level
mapping software.
Utilizing the periodic RGB imagery collected
by Dr. Paulo Flores, Agronomeye was able to
integrate data into their augmented reality
view of Grand Farm.
Agronomeye, NDSUThermal Imagery integration into a high-level
mapping software
Utilizing the periodic thermal imagery collected
by Dr. Paulo Flores, Agronomeye was able to
integrate data into their augmented reality
view of the Grand Farm.
Agronomeye, NDSUNormalized difference vegetation index (NVDI)
Imagery integration into a high-level mapping
software.
Utilizing the periodic NVDI imagery collected
by Dr. Paulo Flores, Agronomeye was able to
integrate data into their augmented reality
view of the Grand Farm.
Agronomeye, NDSUSoil Core Samples integration into high-level
mapping software.
Utilizing soil core samples taken by NDSU
Professors Dr. Caley Gasch and Joel Bell,
Agronomeye was able to integrate information
up to four feet in depth at Grand Farm to see
soil characteristics in augmented reality.
Agronomeye, NDSUVeris Survey integration into high-level
mapping software.
Utilizing the Veris Survey, soil conductivity
measurements taken before planting at Grand
Farm, Agronomeye was able to integrate
this information into the augmented reality
application of the Grand Farm.
Grand Farm Recap
Be more Colorful Matt Chaussee came out to Grand Farm to do a 360 degree tour of Grand Farm. To view the tour and click on the different test plots and examine the projects that occurred at the farm, go to tours.bemorecolorful.com/ v/35ze6EL5jAn
PARTNERPROJECTDESCRIPTIONS
Agronomeye, Be More Colorful360 imagery of Grand Farm integrated into
high-level mapping software.
Using the imagery collected by Be More
Colorful, 360 pictures were added to the
augmented reality application created by
Agronomeye.
Agronomeye, CHSField Trial Information integrated into
augmented reality map of the Grand Farm
Using Test Plot maps created by CHS
of research being conducted on Grand
Farm, information was integrated into
the augmented reality map created by
Agronomeye.
CHS, NDSUCorn Husk EnzymeIn a field trial conducted by CHS, enzymes
which break down corn husk were measured
by NDSU to determine impacts on the
microbiome of the soil.
CHS, NDSUPhosphatase EnzymeIn a field trial conducted by CHS, enzymes
which break down phosphatases were
measured by NDSU to determine impacts on
the microbiome of the soil.
CHSReplicated TrialsKayJay Ag is conducting replicated trials on:
Sugar Beets (eight treatments)
CHSReplicated TrialsKayJay Ag is conducting replicated trials on:
Corn (12 treatments)
CHSReplicated TrialsKayJay Ag is conducting replicated trials on:
Foliar Wheat (10-12 treatments)
CHSReplicated TrialsKayJay Ag is conducting replicated trials on:
Boron in Sugar Beets (four treatments)
Grand Farm Recap
PARTNERSPROJECTDESCRIPTIONS
CHSReplicated TrialsKayJay Ag is conducting replicated trials on:
Corn Enzyme IF (20 treatments)
CHSProduct trial on Iron Deficiency ChlorosisDPA Yield Point is conducting two product
trials evaluating effectiveness against Iron
Deficiency Chlorosis by adding nitrogen to
treatment groups of soybeans. Two different
trials will occur; one on good land and one on
bad land.
CHSSoybean Fertility with induced salt burnDPA Yield Point is conducting two Soybean
fertility trials with the use of a product while
inducing salt burn with higher rates of inputs.
CHSCorn Fertility TrialsDPA Yield Point is conducting seven corn
fertility trials to highlight the importance of
quality starter fertilizers.
CHSSpray Drift TrialsKirk Howatt is conducting 72 precision spray
drift tests in different wind conditions.
CHSWeed Height ResponseJoe Ikley is conducting four trials on response
to herbicide of native and nonnative weeds
based on height.
CHSHerbicide Systems TrialsJoe Ikley is conducting 18 trials on effectiveness
of different herbicide systems on native and
nonnative weeds with the use of indicator
species.

Grand Farm Program Manager Dr. William Aderholdt leading a tour of the Grand Farm Test Site. Last summer, Grand Farm safely hosted 20 plus events with 750 plus people.

PARTNER (S)PROJECTDESCRIPTIONS
CHSHerbicide Additive TrialJoe Ikley is conducting 14 trials on the
effectiveness of herbicide products on native
and non-native weed species.
CHSCorn Seed TreatmentsDPA Yield Point is conducting three zinc Corn
seed treatment demonstration trials.
CHSSunflower DemonstrationDPA Yield Point is conducting one Sunflower
demonstration trial.
CHSSoybean Seed TreatmentDPA Yield Point is conducting six Soybean
trials.
NDSUUAS Mapping – NVDIDr. Paulo Flores is conducting regular, periodic
mapping of the Grand Farm Test Site using
techniques in NVDI imagery.
NDSUUAS Mapping – RGBDr. Paulo Flores is conducting regular, periodic
mapping of the Grand Farm Test Site using
techniques in RBG imagery
NDSUUAS Mapping – ThermalJDr. Paulo Flores is conducting regular, periodic
mapping of the Grand Farm Test Site using
techniques in thermal imagery
NDSUVeris SurveyDr. Caley Gasch and Joel Bell are conducting
a Veris survey, which provides electrical
conductivity readings of soil at high spatial
resolution at two depths.
PARTNERPROJECTDESCRIPTIONS
NDSUUAS Mapping – RTKUAS Mapping – RTK
Dr. Paulo Flores conducted mapping of Grand
Farm using RTK imagery
NDSUSoil SamplingDr. Caley Gasch and Joel Bell are collecting
soil samples at four feet in depth across the
entire field. Soils will be analyzed for physical
(texture, density, structure), chemical (fertility,
salinity, labile organic fractions) and basic
biological properties.
NDSUSoil SensorsDr. Caley Gasch and Joel Bell are installing
soil sensors at multiple locations and depths
within each crop block. These sensors will
automatically record soil/water content and
temperature at high frequency.
NDSUUAS/UGS Weed Identification Using Computer
Vision
Dr. Xin (Rex) Sun is researching native
and non-native weed identification to
develop effective tools and systems to
identify, map and site-specifically manage
weeds, specifically resistant weeds, using
latest technologies such as unmanned
aerial systems (UAS), bioinformatics,
artificial intelligence and chemical/sprayer
technologies
USDASolitary PollinatorsDr. Joseph Rinehart and Dr. Dacotah Melicher
are studying solitary pollinators (Leaf-cutter)
and their ability to strategically pollinate fields.
This project will show the impacts of multiple
trials/demonstrations being conducted on
these pollinators, thus showing the impacts of
precision agriculture techniques.
USDHive-Based PollinatorsDr. Joseph Rinehart and Dr. Dacotah Melicher
are studying hive-based pollinators (honey
bees) and the impacts of precision agriculture
techniques on hive health
Field of ViewUAS High-Resolution MappingDavid Dvorak (CEO of Field of View) is
conducting a high-resolution survey of the
Grand Farm Test Site.
Better Earth AgronomyAdvanced Genomics Survey of Grand FarmBetter Earth Agronomy conducted an
advanced genomics survey of the Grand Farm
to determine the baseline microbiology of the
soil.
Signum, NDSUConnection of Sensors to Wireless NetworkSignum was able to retrofit sensors NDSU was
using to collect soil moisture

What do you think?

summer program recap

Grand Farm: 2020 Summer Program Recap

Communication: The Key To Navigating Crop Insurance