Lely Showcases Dairy Innovation at Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show

Sep 11, 2013

Lely brought all the bells and whistles to Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show this week, putting its innovations on display.

While Lely’s milking robots have been around for 20 years, they still draw a large crowd at the annual show. “In the last 12 years they’ve really taken off,” said Dan Schreiner - farm management support representative for Lely, explaining the appetite for purchasing milking robots in the North American market.

Perhaps the biggest attraction in the Dairy Innovation Centre is Lely’s newest product - the Lely Vector, which was commercially launched in Canada last May. The Vector is an automatic feeding system for dairy farms.

One size fits all, but there is an option to have two mixing robots in one system. “It depends on the rooting and how many different groups you have…but with one we can conservatively say you can feed about 300 head,” explains Schreiner. With two mixing robots in one system a farmer can feed almost double, about 80% more.

The biggest benefit to owning a Lely vector you might ask is the flexibility, says Schreiner. “Farmers can load up the kitchen on their time…the biggest benefit by far is flexibility.” There are some added benefits too. While dairy farmers have seen production levels stay relatively the same, components went up, which Schreiner adds generally means healthier cows.

There are currently three Vectors in operation in Canada. “They’ve been working awesome on the three farms that we have…one has been going for over a year now,” recalls Schreiner.

Lely’s display of the Vector at the farm show seems to be paying off, at least in the short term, as all three Vector systems are in operation on farms located in Oxford County, within the radius of the farm show. There are about 50 in operation around the world.

Lely spends about 6% of its gross revenue annually on research and development, which Schreiner says helps keep them competitive. “Lely’s mission is to improve the life of cows and producers,” concluded Schreiner.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.