Ontario Grain Farmer November 2021

Niagara), is one of the farmers participating in a Grain Data Solutions project. Razavi has taken some of the data Barlow has collected on the field and mapping nitrogen and carbon in the soil using satellite images. While he has not yet received feedback from the project, Barlow is intrigued by the possibilities. He hopes it will help himmaximize inputs, which would reduce costs and boost yields. It would also help him reduce his environmental footprint by minimizing nitrogen emissions and increasing soil carbon sequestration. Further down the road, he hopes that having access to this type of data will help him get paid for the carbon his soil sequesters. More importantly, though, Barlow hopes the data will be used to inform policymakers before they push for regulations. Grain Data Solutions is still working on it, and they have made great progress using data collected by universities and other ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 17 NOVEMBER 2021 Knowing what influences soil carbon sequestration would allow farmers to take advantage of the developing carbon market. SEED YOU CAN COUNT ON. Choice of trait platforms to suit your farming operation Protection from insects and diseases with AgriShield TM Seed Treatments High performing varieties covering 2450 to 3250 CHU’s P & Design is a registered trademark of AgReliant Genetics LLC. PRIDE is a registered trademark of AgReliant PRIDESEEDS.COM 1.800.265.5280 non-profit organizations over the years. Using this data has its drawbacks, though, the main one being that it is not scalable, said Razavi. If successful, having the ability to accurately map nitrogen use and quantify soil carbon sequestration will be a game changer for Canada’s grain farmers. “We have proof of concept, but the product is not there yet,” he said. l