b'CUTTING-EDGE SEEDING,NEXT-GEN BREEDINGHigh-precision planting technologies may allow breeders to do things that today are considered science fiction.Treena Hein IF ONE THINGis for certain in agriculture, its that more tech-nology is coming, especially related to precision agriculture. And its not just about software making field scripts, but about hardware. How will super-precise planting sys-tems impact crop production plant breeding? For Peter J. Lynch, vice-president of research at AgReliant Genetics and its PRIDE Seeds brand, the con-nection between corn breeding and new planting tech-nologies is centered on better data quality. As that tech becomes more robust and sophisticated, it provides us with more information, he says. If our research seeds can be planted with higher levels of precision and we can have access to data about that planting, this will help in driving our best possible decisions in developing new hybrids. As a seed researcher and breeder, this is one of the reasons I get excited about new technology. Peter J. Lynch of AgReliantBayers Graham McGregor One such new technology is called Xaver from AGCO/ Genetics and its PRIDE Seedsfocusses on data to be gained Fendt. As explained in a recent article from staff at thebrand says the connectionby new technology, noting Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairsbetween corn breeding and newthat in any breeding program, (OMAFRA), farmers often cite poor seed-to-soil contactplanting technologies is centeredremoving variables is the key or depth control as reasons for not adopting no-till, buton better data quality.to demonstrating a hybrids notes that a super-precise seeding platform could essen- agronomic performance.tially be equipped and programmed to create an opti-mized micro-environment around each individual little seed it pokes into the soil. It could vary how it achieves this micro-environment across the field, giving optimal seeding conditions regardless of changes in soil type, slope, soil moisture and so on. To understand potential impacts of this sort of technol-ogy on breeding, we checked in with several front-line breeders and agronomists.More Data, Better DecisionsGraham McGregor focusses on the data to be gained by the technology, noting that in any breeding program, removing variables is the key to demonstrating a hybrids agronomic performance. Skips, gaps, double plant-ings, side wall compaction variation across the field, seed depth and other variables all play a factor in hybrid and varietal performance, explains the field testing andThe Xaver seeding system tells the farmer where every single seed was operations lead (North region) at Bayer Crop Science.planted via GPS, returns for fill-up when empty, returns to the charging By utilizing precision seeding technologies, we cantrailer when batteries get low, and communicates with other bots so if one eliminate variables so breeders can better identify productis disabled, others come to take over.26GERMINATION.CAJULY 2020'