“Most of our robots are simply autonomous tractors. If you think of them as a tractor first… then you can run any kind of implement just like on a lawn mower or a tractor,” he says. While many of the robots on display were more suited to smaller market garden-sized farms and horticultural crops, Baresich says several models they have trialed show promise for larger-scale grain farms. He points to the Danish-made Robotti as an example. Differing from the other robots, which are electric-powered, the Robotti is diesel-powered, designed to run autonomously for 60 hours on a tank of fuel. It has a regular three-point hitch and can accommodate regular hydraulic attachments, which means it has a little less of a learning curve than some of the other robots in the Haggery AgRobotics fleet. “What's interesting about the Robotti is that it is not a big of a transition. So, some who have looked at it say, ‘it’s got a diesel engine, it has regular hydraulics, a regular threepoint hitch… maybe not as much to learn,’” says Baresich. The farmer who used the Robotti in the 2023 season used it to plant corn and sugar beets and will try a strip-till attachment in the fall. Ultimately, Haggerty AgRobotic's goal is to continue growing its fleet of robots and work with farmers, users, and manufacturers to 12 address the challenges and limitations they come across as they are trialed in various Ontario conditions, soil types, and weather. “What we’re trying to show for farmers is [the robots] working in real-world conditions, not just test plots. It’s a lot of trial and error,” says Baresich. Find out more at www.haggertagrobotics.com UP IN THE AIR While drones for agricultural use are not necessarily new, new and expanded applications for on-farm use make them more appealing for the average farmer, says Felix Weber, president and agriculture specialist at Ag Business and Crop Inc. in Palmerston, Ontario. Weber hosted daily drone flying demonstrations for COFS attendees, drawing large crowds interested in learning more about how the technology can be used on their farm. A self-described early adopter of technology, he’s been flying drones since 2011. As a mapping tool, he says drones did not really take off in agriculture, and beyond a fun toy that could take some cool photos, many farmers did not see a return on investment. But as technology evolves — and the ability to use drones for more uses such as in-crop seeding and fertilizer application — he sees more and more farmers' interest being piqued by drones. Potential changes to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) rules, which would allow pesticides to be sprayed via drone, could open up the market even more. (Currently, PMRA has authorized only a small number of biological larvicides for drone application.) Weber encourages farmers interested in using a drone to do their homework and get the necessary training and licenses. “Buy a small, cheap drone to get used to flying,” he advises. “You can’t buy a drone today and start tomorrow; there is a learning curve.” Find out more at www.agbusiness.ca. LOOKING BACK While most exhibitors at COFS were looking ahead to the future, seven-year-old Caleb Dickie, son of James and Janine Dickie of Whitechurch, Ontario, was eager to learn more about the Farmall Cub tractor on display at the Case IH booth. Caleb’s Grandpa, Walter Dickie, explained that he grew up using the 1949 model on his home farm in Whitechurch. His brother, William Dickie, still has that same tractor. 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Farmall tractors, launched in 1923 as the “one for all” farm implement. “In 1923, we set out to design a tractor that could replace horses, and today, our Farmall still serves as the workhorse on farms across the globe,” says Scott Harris, Case IH global brand president, in a news release. “Generation after generation, Farmall has been a symbol of modern farming.” To mark the 100th anniversary, Case IH has launched two new Farmall models, the Farmall 90N and 120N. Caleb Dickie, who says he wants to be a ‘farmer and a wrestler’ when he grows up, enjoyed learning more about the past but was also excited, in addition to getting a day off school to visit the show, to see new and modern equipment like skid steers and tractors on display and to kick a few tires along the way. l WALTER DICKIE REMINISCES ABOUT USING A 1949 FARMALL CUB TRACTOR, EXPLAINING HOW IT WORKS TO HIS GRANDSON, CALEB. continued from page 11
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