Field seeded into cereal rye about 30 days before corn harvest (Fall 2020). Photo taken March 21, 2021 by Grant Wyffels.
A few facts on Earth Day. More than 10% of the energy in the U.S. ag sector goes into making nitrogen (N) fertilizer for corn. Even though most farmers know that in-season N application will limit off-field losses, most N goes on at or before the time of seeding. That’s like going to Vegas: it is a roll of the dice that the N required by the crop in July will be there. That’s quite a gamble given that N is unparalleled in terms of its impact on yield, aside from Mother Nature (i.e., weather). We know how to manage N better. Rowbot has a plan that should reduce off-field losses dramatically, driving up farmer profitability, while maximizing yield potential.
With all of the excitement about carbon storage on farm fields in this new era of regenerative agriculture, we need to consider that about 90 million acres of U.S. farmland is in corn each year. And, importantly, farmers lack good solutions for seeding cover crops on those corn fields. Seeding by airplane into mature corn is hit or miss. Seeding after corn harvest is tough moving north because there are only a few days before snow. Again, we at Rowbot have a solid solution to lay down seed prior to corn harvest. Here’s a recent photo (credit to Grant Wyffels) from a field we seeded last fall as part of our campaign to seed 100 acres fully autonomously.
We’re ready. Help us take this world-positive technology to the next level! Happy Earth Day!