b'PROJECT DETAILSAim of project was to reduce soil erosion in the springBerry developed the SPUDNIK 8080 planter with hill shapers mounted on the back by working with his local equipment dealer genAG- The potato planter was modelled after Grimme platers which they saw at the AGRITECHNICA farm equipment show in GermanyBerry partnered with his processor J.R. Simplot Company and Vikram Bisht with Manitoba Agricul-ture to monitor the field throughout the growing season Project was done in a lighter soil areaPotatoes were planted on a canola field that was ripped with an eco-till sub-soiler with 1inch shanks at a depth of 15 inches the fall beforeIn the spring the field was seeded with 70 acres of direct seeding and the fertilizer was broadcast on top with the planter then being ran directly into it- Other half of the field was planted traditionally to allow for a direct comparisonFirst noted difference between the two sides of the field was that the conventionally planted side emerged a few days before the minimal tillage sidePotato hills waiting to be harvested at Under the Hill Was able to save money on fuel and workload by having to do less passes in the fieldFarms from the minimal tillage field with a five-foot tarp laid down to collect potatoes to study. PHOTO: VIKRAM BISHTWINTER 2021 SPUDSMART.COM 43'