This was not a busy week at the DATA Farm for field activities, the cover crops and ryegrass continue to increase in biomass because of the applied nitrogen. ABAC’s forage team is planning to cut the Main Farm ryegrass soon but will wait to cut the DATA Farm ryegrass later in the spring.  

The Valley VRI upgrade purchase was approved and ordered so hopefully the installation will begin soon. The RealmFive weather station/soil sensor network equipment was approved and ordered as well. These are key equipment purchases for the project. The VRI upgrade to the pivot will allow nozzle by nozzle control across the fields and allow for cut off when sections of the pivot leave the field entering the buffer/wetland area. The RealmFive sensor network will allow for the weather and soil data to come from one data platform.  

Progress was also made on the automated drone pad by getting the utility lines marked around the building and well. UGA crews can now begin grading the site and trenching for power and network lines to the building. The drone itself will be delivered to the DATA Farm building next Thursday.