All posts by Dan Bloomer

Dan is the part time Manager of LandWISE Inc and one of the small group that established it in 1999. For the rest of his professional life he runs Page Bloomer Associates, a consultancy focused on sustainable land and water management and community development

AgTech, Automation, LandWISE People, Precision Agriculture

NZ AgTech meets Silicon Valley

November 29, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

This article previously appeared in The Grower

You can read about things, but actually experiencing them is something else.

Dan Bloomer joined Callaghan Innovation , NZTE and two dozen New Zealand agricultural technology organisations for a week in San Francisco.

The purpose was to understand how New Zealand could fit with the US agricultural technology scene. We visited UC Davis, agricultural technology companies, Silicon Valley start-ups and venture capital firms. We visited an almond orchard, a vineyard and a winery in Napa Valley. We went to a large raspberry farm in Salinas.

Driscoll’s berry fruit operation highlighted the difference in scale between New Zealand and the USA. With $US 3 billion in annual sales and a global growing and sales network, they have an advanced and comprehensive R&D programme.

The issues facing Driscoll’s are fully familiar to any farmer in New Zealand: produce more from less, reduce wastage all along the supply chain, prevent nutrient loss to water, address the disappearing labour force, meet increasing regulatory requirements, prove provenance and food safety, and get the best product to the right market in excellent condition at an acceptable price.

While at Driscoll’s we heard from technology companies with whom they are collaborating to address issues facing them now and in the future.

AgroBot is a machine developed by a Spanish entrepreneur to automate picking small produce like strawberries.

HarvestPort provides an on-line connection to share seasonally used resources such as fruit bins or crates.

Growcentia is developing microbial biostimulants to increase crop production and decrease the environmental impact of agriculture.

GeoVisual is focused on remote sensing and big data analytics to improve and predict crop yields, better manage croplands and improve harvests.

Food Origins is focused on precision data collection and analytic services for hand harvested produce.

Each of these could add value in New Zealand.

AgTech is growing very fast. Wharf42 reported that 499 companies attracted US $4.6 billion of venture capital investment in 2015, nearly doubling 2014 figures. 303 companies were in the US. India came second with 64 and Australia 11^th with 6 investments. Although we have some local investment, New Zealand didn’t register on the global stage.

In New Zealand we are impressed by million dollar investments. Climate Corporation was bought by Monsanto for $US 1 billion. It aims “to build a digitized world where every farmer is able to optimize and flawlessly execute every decision on the farm”. Yamaha just bought a share in UAV company PrecisionHawk in a $US 18 million deal.

We spoke with venture capital firms about accessing funding. Swamped by opportunities within two hours of the San Francisco CBD, they have no need of New Zealand. So New Zealand needs to have excellent technology, travel to them and have obvious local presence.

The week of intense stimulation, new experiences and gaining new understandings left me very positive about New Zealand technology capability and about our prospects in the world agtech markets.

We have numerous New Zealand companies that easily compete on a technology level with what we saw. We can do it, and with Callaghan Innovation , NZTE and private initiatives, there are things in place to help New Zealand companies succeed in this enormous market. But we have to think differently and execute very well.

When the right technology gets presented in the right way in the right place things can happen very fast. After winning a major US innovation award for its noise-reducing drone technology, nine month old New Zealand startup Dotterel Technologies is on a fast track to global success. We need more Dotterels.

This visit was organised by Wharf42, NZTE, Callaghan Innovation and the Silicon Valley Forum.

Agronomy, Drainage, Irrigation, MicroFarm, Plant Health, Planting, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Soil, Water

Onion Crop Development

November 29, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

The crop at the MicroFarm is showing increasing variability. The cause of some is understood, essentially excessive water pre-germination. But in some poor performing areas the causes have yet to be determined.

The effect of our artificially applied rain event pre-emergence is clearly evident in late November.

The lasting effect of a heavy (artificial) rain event pre-emergence (right panel) shows low population and poor growth compared to areas without heavy rain (left panel)

However, we also see other areas that have poor crop development that are outside the area irrigated to create the artificial rain event.

Wide variation within the area new to onions does not follow artificial rain or topographic drainage patterns.

Sharp differences in crop growth are evident in the new onion ground. Some parts that were heavily irrigated to simulate heavy rain show reasonable development. Areas that were not irrigated also show good development, but in some patches total crop loss.

Investigations of soil physical properties in these different areas are underway.

Agronomy, AgTech, Automation, Irrigation, MicroFarm, Nutrients, Plant Health, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing, Soil

Onion Crop Research Plan

November 29, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

After identifying areas within paddocks that had yields limited by different probably causes, we conceived the idea of Management Action Zones (MAZs).

Yield assessments show considerable variation, limits imposed by population, growth of individual plants, or both

Some areas showed that yield was limited by plant number: establishment was poor. Others had the expected population, but low biomass: the plants were small due to some other limiting factor.

If we can identify zones easily, and determine the causes, we should be able to target a management response accordingly. So for this season, we set out a revised research aim.

What we want to know:

Can we successfully determine a management action zone in a field?

Why do we need to know this?

Develop a tool to increase uniformity and yield outcomes
Develop a tool to evaluate management practices and crop productivity

If we want to successfully determine a management action zone in a field then there are two main steps to achieve in this year’s work:

Confirm the relationship between digital data and crop model parameters
- Does the relationship stay constant over time and sites?
- How early in growth can a difference be detected?
- Can the relationship be used to show a growth map across a field?
Develop an approach to gather information and ways to input and display results, initially using a website approach.
- Can we integrate a plant count and yield information to start developing a management action zone?
- How should this be put together in a way growers can start to use to gather information about their crops?

At the MicroFarm, we established six research zones based on paddock history and excessive wetness at establishment.

We have three paddock histories: two years of onion production with autumn cover crops of Caliente mustard, two years of onion production with autumn cover crops of oats, and no previous onion crops planted after previous summer sweetcorn and autumn sown rye grass. In each of these areas, we deliberately created sub-zones by applying about 45mm of spray irrigation as a “large rain event”.

Artificial heavy rain event applied after planting and before emergence

The impact of the artificial rainstorm is evident on images taken at the end of November.

Agronomy, MicroFarm, Planting, Projects, Research, Soil, Tillage

Onion Crops Sown

September 12, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

As part of our ongoing research project with Onions New Zealand, a new crop was sown on 6 September 2016.

Harvey from G & J Steenkamer planted the crop using Rhinestone seed donated by Vigour Seeds and treated for us by Seed and Field Services. We are very grateful for their continuing support.

We’ve aimed at a population of 580,000 plants/ha. With 8 rows in our 1.82m wide beds, we have seed at 72mm spacing in the row.

sowingonions03 — G& J Steenkamer sowing our onion crop.

After last harvest the beds, but not wheel tracks, were ripped to 450mm depth. Autumn planted Caliente and oat cover crops were mulched and incorporated in late June and the ground left fallow. Prior to sowing it was hoed and rolled.

Rain after planting had only minor impact, with a little soil capping in some areas.

Uncategorized

The Value of Smart Farming

August 30, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

Layden

One hundred and fifty farmers, technology developers, service providers and researchers joined us at our 14th Annual Conference in May 2016.

The presentation summaries are available on-line here>

Delegates left LandWISE 2016 with new understanding of how new digital technologies might help us, where current development is opening possibilities and which are offering on-farm value now and in the future.

Delegate feedback was extremely positive.

“We’ll be back next year with a carload of colleagues!”
“I’ve never been to a conference where the was so much interest and excitement! People went back in on time, sat on the edge of the chairs paying attention then talked nonstop all lunchtime”

AgTech, Automation, Irrigation, Nutrients, Precision Agriculture, Sensing, Soil, Water

Technology to Reduce N Leaching

August 17, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

N-Leach_Workshop The Precision Agriculture Association NZ is presenting workshops focused on technologies available to help reduce nitrogen leaching. There are two North Island workshops being offered at:

Massey University on Thursday 1^st September 2016 [PDF here]

and

Ellwood Centre, Hastings on Friday 2^nd September 2016 [PDF here]

Programme

The ‘Technology to Reduce N Leaching’ workshops are similar to the well received program conducted in Ashburton in March 2016 and will address where we are and what we can do about nitrate leaching limits in a North Island context utilising a range of technologies and farm systems options.

The particular areas for focus for the program are:

Variable rate technologies and systems
Precision irrigation
Precision spreading systems and services
Soil mapping
Soil moisture monitoring, sensors, metering
Nutrient budgeting and environmental monitoring

A Q & A time slot is devoted in the afternoon session for attendees to interact with members and presenters on the day to share learnings and understandings about the issues. This will also be possible over the lunch break on both days with one and half hours devoted for this.

Offer to PAANZ Members

As part of the Hastings program only on 2^nd September, PAANZ members are offered the opportunity to participate as trade/sector participants for technologies and products as may be appropriate to support the program.

PAANZ is not able to offer trade/sector stand space at the Palmerston North venue due to space restrictions unfortunately so only the Hastings venue will be able to accommodate this option for members.

If you would like to participate please advise Jim Grennell, E-mail: jim@paanz.co.nz

Mobile: 021 330 626, places are limited to ten organisations for the Hastings workshop to be involved as a trade/sector participant so it will be on a first come basis.

The cost of participation will be $100.00 plus GST per stand with attendance fee of $100.00 per person additional.

As these are indoors Workshops, with a technology focus and space at the Hastings venue is limited no large equipment or hardware can be accommodated.

Confirmation of members wishing to take up this opportunity is required by Monday 22^nd August 2016 after which time the opportunity to participate will be made available to non-members.

Agronomy, LandWISE People, MicroFarm, Plant Health, Projects, Research, Soil, Tillage

MicroFarm Cover Crops Incorporated

June 28, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

oatsvsmustard

Many thanks to Nicolle Contracting and True Earth Organics for getting our winter cover crops incorporated today.

incorporatecovercrops

This winter saw a repeat of last year’s split planting of Caliente Mustard and Oats to compare effects on soil, disease and plant growth. Seed was provided by True Earth Organics.

To gain benefit from the fumigant properties of the Caliente, it must be soil incorporated as soon as possible. This is why we have the two tractors closely following, one mulching the crop, the other incorporating the residues.

Mulching mustard - reasonable biomass, but some insect damage reducing leaf mass — Mulching mustard – reasonable biomass, but some insect damage reducing leaf mass

mulchingoats — Mulching before incorporating oats

Onions are to be planted in this area for a third season in succession. Our onion crop will also include a new area that has never had onions planted before. As part of our collaboration with Onions New Zealand and Plant and Food Research, we will compare the performance of crops in the different areas.

AgTech, Precision Agriculture

John Deere Conference Special

May 21, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

As a proud sponsor of LandWISE, John Deere has an exclusive Activation offer for members and 2016 conference attendees. To qualify, simply register for your unique voucher code at JohnDeere.co.nz/Activation before going to your nearest John Deere dealer to purchase. Be quick, this offer is only available until 30 June 2016.

JohnDeereSpecialOffer

*Offer is available for LandWISE members and conference attendees only. Valid for purchases between 25 May and 30 June 2016. View the full Terms & Conditions.

Download Offer Brochure

AgTech, LandWISE People, Precision Agriculture, Research

Sprout Accelerator

May 17, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

Sprout is a new agritech accelerator programme delivered by The BCC, Building Clever Companies in Palmerston North.

Entrepreneur-in-Residence Stu Bradbury is well known to the LandWISE community through his role starting and growing Where’s My Cows, Precision Irrigation and its Variable Rate Irrigation technology and more recently setting up AgriOptics in the North Island..

Stu will be introducing the Sprout Accelerator programme at LandWISE 2016 and giving a brief review of its first achievements.

Accompanying Stu are representatives from two successful Sprout programme participants, AgriTrack and Bee’z Thingz.

Dunedin entrepreneurs Andrew Humphries and Tom Rivett created AgriTrack to help large scale crop farmers with the multitude of logistical challenges during harvest time, particularly those associated with vehicle management. Their solution enables live tracking of vehicles and is already being used in more than 30 farms in Western Australia.

Dunedin entrepreneurs Andrew Humphries and Tom Rivett created AgriTrack (C) Sprout

Mangere Bridge duo Julian McCurdy and Peter Bennett set up Beez Thingz using technology to develop a platform for hive management so a network of kept bees could be accessed by everyone in the industry.

Beez Thingz founders Julian McCurdy and Peter Bennett Image (C) Sprout

Just three more exciting offerings at LandWISE 2016!

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Drainage, Irrigation, Plant Health, Research, Sensing, Soil, Water

Investigating variability in potato crops

May 17, 2016 Dan Bloomer Leave a comment

LandWISE 2016 Conference presenter Sarah Sinton is a well experienced member of a Plant and Food Research group studying potatoes.

In the 2012-13 growing season the Plant and Food researchers surveyed commercial potato crops in Canterbury and confirmed grower concerns that a “yield plateau” of approximately 60 t/ha was common. At this level, potato growing is becoming uneconomic.

Plant and Food Research computer-based modelling shows that yields of 90 t/ha (paid yield) are theoretically possible in the surveyed paddocks in most years. This shows a “yield gap” of about 30 t/ha.

The most important factors found to be reducing yield were soil compaction, the soil-borne diseases Rhizoctonia stem canker and Spongospora root galls.

DSC_4288sm — Tuber health, disease management, soil compaction and irrigation all have ability to reduce yields

Using CORE funding, Sarah and colleagues have been running a number of related trials, comparing field performance with modeled potential growth rates. They’ve used DNA to assess soil pathogens, applied a range of treatments and measured disease incidence and yields. They have also looked at the role of seed quality in potato emergence, variability and yield.

But it is not all about diseases. Soil compaction, structure and related issues such as aeration, drainage and water-holding show up as crop limiting factors. Also implicated are irrigation management and weeds.

Potatoes NZ reports that the use of guidance technology and variable rate application based on soil testing is being undertaken but there is limited crop based management of inputs. There may be opportunity to manipulate some inputs.

In paddock variability can be relatively easily identified using remote sensing equipment (both NDVI and Infrared) but there are three major problems with potatoes which are:

Remote sensing can identify differences in a paddock but these need to be ground truthed to determine what the reason for the difference is – e.g. canopy disease etc.
Often by the time a difference is apparent on a crop sensor map, even when it is ground truthed, growers cannot implement a management decision that will change the crop performance.
Yield maps are generally used as the baseline reference for Precision Agriculture and this is difficult and expensive to implement for potatoes.

Sarah is presenting some of her group’s work at LandWISE 2016. Look for “Investigating variability in potatoes”.

Programme

Offer to PAANZ Members

Promoting sustainable production