Fusing Technology

Meeting the Agronomic Needs of North Dakota Livestock Growers

Contrary to public opinion, dairy and swine farms can expand without having a negative environmental impact by using precision ag technologies.

A three-year project is proposed which builds onto an existing program the Dakota Precision Ag Center has in place. It addresses the need to combine data-based, site-specific ag technologies with agronomy-linked knowledge of soil profiles, crop need, and use of manure nutrients.

Maximize production, minimize impact

Most North Dakota dairy and swine producers use towed-hose manure slurry application tools. This new initiative will combine site-specific data and controllers to the injection toolbar so manure is injecting precisely in soil zones that have the most potential for production. This minimizes manure applications where soil is unfit for normal production or in sensitive areas such as buffers, watersheds, ditches, or drainage areas.

As part of the proposal, one swine farm and one dairy farm will be used as "Answer Farms," and fields will be approximately 80 acres. Variable-rate injected fields' production will be compared to fields where traditional manure injection was done.

This initiative also proposes to develop a prototype manure injection toolbar, site-specific control technology, new data capability, and educational modules. These are all resources dairy, swine, and other livestock producers could use when engaged in year-to-year strategic planning of their farms. Additionally, they could also be used as incentives for job growth and development through licensing, franchising, and allied entity creation.

Please check back as more projects become available.