Ontario Grain Farmer November 2021

Cover story 6 THE LATEST IN cutting-edge robotics is coming to a field near you — sooner than you think. A new team of in-field innovation enthusiasts have been working diligently over the past year to test, demonstrate, and troubleshoot robotic applications in a variety of Ontario crops, bringing the reality of robots within reach for farmers within this decade. The Ag Robotics Working Group came together in early 2021 when Haggerty Creek AgRobotics approached the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to help them test their Naio Oz robot in vegetable crops. The idea was to test and demonstrate the robot in a variety of crops to evaluate the machine’s applications, limitations, and potential in Ontario crops. As a result, the group quickly expanded to include industry representatives, grower organizations, and processors. Throughout the growing season the robot was tested in eight different vegetable crops. And by August 2021, two more robotics companies joined the group, seeking to participate in the demonstrations and weekly meetings to review progress and troubleshoot challenges. The group demonstrated autonomous robots from four manufacturers throughout the 2021 season, including some from Europe and companies right here in Canada. The participating robotics companies included Naio Technologies, Nexus Robotics, Korechi Innovations, and Raven Industries OmniPower (formerly DOT). Four robot models were tested, with a fifth, larger model expected to arrive in fall 2021 to be tested in larger field crop applications. “The main goal of the new Ag Robotics Working Group is to see how this technology could fit into Ontario production systems,” explains Kristen Obeid, OMAFRA horticulture weed specialist. The group has been busy this year, hosting more than 30 farmer demonstrations in a variety of crops, regularly meeting to discuss outcomes, and planning the continuation of this cutting-edge applied research. Obeid outlines the groups three priorities — demonstrating new autonomous robotics to farmers, securing funding sources to continue research, and determining future targeted research needs for various cropping systems with participating robotics companies. TESTING AND TROUBLE SHOOTING “Autonomous robots could offer a new solution to common industry challenges like resistant weeds, labour shortages, and nutrient management,” says Chuck Baresich, general manager of Haggerty Creek, explaining how this new technology can be applied to Ontario field crops. “The challenge is that many of these existing models are designed for high-value crops, like vegetables,” he says. “That’s one of the reasons we created the working group — to learn more about the machines, test them in as many field crops and conditions as we could, and hear from growers as they raised practical questions and suggested applications for the robots.” Haggerty Creek AgRobotics is a new division of Haggerty Creek, a crop inputs and grain marketing company in Bothwell, Ontario. Baresich says Haggerty Creek got into precision agriculture in 2004, but had always had an interest in robotic applications in field crops. That is why, in 2018, he made the decision to create an autonomy division, focused on bringing robotic applications to field crops in Ontario. Haggerty Creek participated in testing select autonomous robot models in field crops throughout the growing season, allowing the working group to evaluate field conditions and applications for the machines. The team identified uses for the robots in field crops such as precision broadcasting of fertilizer and cover crops, soil sampling and testing, passive weeding, and cultivation. A larger robot model, the Naio Dino is expected to arrive in Ontario from its manufacturer in France this fall for further field crop testing. Each robot model tested was unique, with some powered by batteries and others by diesel. Performance depended on field conditions, with some struggling to work effectively in areas with heavy crop residue or cover crops. “We’re still at the proof-of-concept phase,” says Darren Robinson, a professor in the Bringing robots to field crops EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL Jeanine Moyer continued on page 8 • Each robot model tested was unique, with some powered by batteries and others by diesel. • Some robots struggled to work effectively in areas with heavy crop residue or cover crops. • Researchers note there are only a handful of working robotic units in North America, and since Ontario offers such a wide range of crops and growing conditions, we have the ideal environment for testing these systems. • Soil sampling is another task that autonomous robots could shoulder for farmers and agronomists. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW