All posts by JamesP

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Precision Agriculture

What is LandWISE and what does it do?

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As published in Grower November 2011

James Powrie and Dan Bloomer LandWISE Inc.

History of LandWISE

LandWISE was formed in 1999 in Hawke’s Bay, because farmers and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council saw a need for improved soil conservation.  Since then we have become involved in precision agriculture as a means to better care of soil and water, and for more profitable and sustainable farming.  We have worked with farmers and others over much of New Zealand.

Today LandWISE is a sustainable cropping group of about 600 farmers, supporters and researchers from around NZ and the world.  It is a meeting place for those who want to continue to push back boundaries and improve their farming business with technology.  LandWISE aims for real gains from innovation. We conduct on-farm research, host field events and an annual conference.

Trends toward better cropping – GPS guidance and controlled traffic farming (CTF)

Growers sometimes continue with poor practices out of habit. It is not always easy for them to see where they are losing soil quality and money, but the search is always worth it. The more aware growers are always looking to improve their operations.  This leads us into technologies that can help.

GPS guidance gives the opportunity for farmers to avoid overlaps or misses in their operations.  This means less waste of “soil, oil and toil”.  Cost and time savings of more around 10% are common from these field efficiencies alone.  Also less land is wasted when rows are neatly laid out using GPS.

Using GPS guidance has many other advantages which may surprise growers who invest.  Freedom from concentrating on driving straight means less fatigue and operators can then use a phone, arrange other jobs, even use a laptop in the cab.  Also, they are able to devote more attention to the implement, which is where the money is made or lost.

Controlled traffic farming is also finding favour across many crop types in New Zealand. RTK GPS and auto-steering allows the same wheel tracks to be used again, pass after pass, saving fuel and reducing tracked area in the paddock.

Remedial tillage never restores soil to where it was and it is very expensive, so using controlled traffic to reduce compaction can pay off very quickly.

Many tractors you see in paddocks are either wasting energy or working against the effort invested in earlier operations.  Make sure yours aren’t!

Ask yourself: Can I align wheel widths and implement spacings to traffic less soil?

LandWISE Protocols for GPS guidance

When setting up GPS guidance and using it on your farm, there are some essential steps for success.  LandWISE farmers found this out the hard way, and so the Protocols for GPS Guidance were established. Because farmers helped to put them together, they have been tested again and again.

The latest version of the “Protocols for GPS Guidance” is on the LandWISE website www.landwise.org.nz in the resources section. It includes recommendations and check lists to help avoid the pain others experienced.

Recommendations include:

  • Have a list of paddock names so they are spelt the same way every time.
  • Have a set format for labeling AB lines so they are retrievable. You use them again, so that other operations match as planned.
  • Measure and match implement details to those in the GPS, so that there will be no gaps and no overlaps
  • Redo calibrations if the GPS is moved between tractors and when implements are changed.

The checklists include step by step instructions to make sure things are not forgotten. Even experienced operators find them useful, especially at the start of a new season.

LandWISE and you

LandWISE seeks the support of good science, and then communicates learnings from science back to farmers in a way they can relate to.  This ensures that problem solving between farmers and others is as smooth as it can be. We treat both successes and failures as opportunities to share information.  Our events and membership keep growing.  We would be happy to have you as a member too.

If you would like to know more about LandWISE, our conference, events, publications, or to become a member, visit

Agronomy, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Uncategorized

Smart Spraying in Hawke’s Bay

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James Powrie and Dan Bloomer, LandWISE Inc.

As published in Grower October 2011

A Hawke’s Bay crop farming company wanted spraying done quicker.  Managers also wanted to know agrichemicals were applied in the right place and not wasted.

The farmers liked machines AgTech’s Matt Gordon had built, so got him involved.

Matt says, “Reducing spraying errors and improved application quality put money in the bank for these farmers.”

“They have a big programme spread around Hawke’s Bay and their people put in a big season.  Equipment has to be reliable, comfortable and fast on the road.”   Driver comfort, air suspension and airbag suspension were all on the shopping list.

Matt provided a Multidrive 6195 with a 320 litre/min pump and four-wheel steering.  With four-wheel drive, diff lock and air drive it is designed to get maximum hp on the ground and it hasn’t been stuck yet.

The sprayer holds 4000 litres of mixed spray, and another 400 litres of fresh water for flushing the machine.

The farmers also chose auto-steer and sectional control using Trimble FMX. The GPS monitor in the cab displays spray coverage as the paddock is sprayed, reducing the chance of missed or doubled-up runs.  A Hardy HC5500 auto-rate spray controller adjusts for variation in vehicle speed.

This combination of brands duplicated successful overseas installations. This mix makes the machine unique but parts are readily available so any downtime is minimised.

The 21-m air boom has an air-rail carrying nozzles, allowing for adjustment of nozzle angle from 40 degrees backwards and 30 degrees forwards.  This helps control drift, and lays the plant canopy over for best spray coverage.

Seven individually controlled sections further reduce overlap.  Sections automatically turn off in areas previously sprayed such as headland turns and point rowsand  to avoid spraying waterways, troughs or tracks, then on again to cover unsprayed crop.   The outer sections, where most variation occurs, are slightly shorter.   Individual nozzle control is an option and a possible later upgrade.

The technology improves efficiency by reducing the amount of chemical, water, time and fuel used.

It works because the GPS knows the position of each part of a spray boom, controls whether the section is on or off.

Saving money, time and improving yields mean this technology has to be a winner.   “We work to build machines which are as efficient as possible.  This machine does a very good job and gets the area done fast,” says Matt.

Drainage, Precision Agriculture, Water

Precision Drain Laying using GPS

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James Powrie and Dan Bloomer – LandWISE Inc

As publised in Grower September 2011

Keith Nicoll and Hugh Ritchie put their heads together to produce a fast and highly accurate drain laying solution.

Through a chance conversation, Keith learned that Hugh wanted a mole plough to lay drain-pipe. Hugh learned that Keith already had one at his yard. Keith had built a prototype tine for laying pipe and shingle, which worked but lacked strength for deeper drains.

Keith and Hugh combined forces and made the machine stronger, able to lay 110mm plastic drainage pipe 1.2 metres deep.  The tractor-drawn drain-layer’s wheels are hydraulically driven to provide extra traction.

What makes the new machine extra-special is the addition of precision technologies. High accuracy GPS maps farm terrain in 3D, special software determines optimum drain gradients on the fly, and guidance ensures pipe is laid to exact depth. And of course, there’s a record of exactly where it is for future reference!

Wade Riley installed Trimble’s “Field Level” software in the FMX in Hugh’s JD 8520 tractor.  Designed with assistance from drainage contractors in US and UK, “Field Level” is the key to the process, Wade says. The software surveys the paddock as the tractor drives along the planned line for the next drain, the GPS measuring surface elevation to an accuracy of +/-2 centimetres. “Field Level” calculates the optimum design to fit the desired slope from the top end of the drain to the outlet. Guidance puts the tine foot in the right place.

Laser guided pipe-laying uses a single plane based on an average grade for the desired section. Every change in grade requires a new laser set-up.  “Field Level” designs a change in grade where necessary, and no extra set-up is needed.  This is very valuable when the surface grade is variable because it allows more consistent depth of pipe-laying across a paddock.  This allows more effective drainage.

In practice, drain pipe is laid alongside the planned drain and fed into the pipe-laying shank on the machine.  The depth of the shank is automatically controlled according to the design saved in the on‑board computer.  Pitch control allows the mole-plough tine to be angled, reducing stress on the machine.

Keith and Hugh are laying pipe at up to 1 km per hour.  To date this is limited by the ability to keep shingle supplied.  The drain-layer has its own hopper that holds enough shingle for 200 m of pipe.  When a towed hopper is added to the system, shingle will be supplied faster, and the work rate is likely to improve dramatically.

The machine was used to lay new drain pipe in one of Hugh’s wetter paddocks in PakiPaki in Hawke’s Bay.  Hugh is delighted.  Water flowed strongly from the pipes, some for a week after installation.  “I now have a quick and cost effective solution to drainage and I know the pipe has been precisely laid to the correct depth and grade,” says Hugh.  “From now on, planting won’t be delayed or crops affected by big puddles in those lower areas.  We expect fewer stuck tractors, even crops, and more yield.

Visit landwise.org.nz to learn more about our events, precision farming and taking better care of soil and water.

Precision Agriculture

Unexpected benefits from GPS Guidance

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As published in Grower August 2011

James Powrie and Dan Bloomer – LandWISE Inc.

“My time in the cab is worth more since I fitted a self steering system”, says Randal Hanrahan. He runs a mixed arable, vegetable and beef operation and a contracting business in Ashburton. His time is precious, especially during planting and harvest. “I can do admin and calls during the day, while the tractor keeps driving itself straight. It is like giving myself a pay rise while I am on the tractor. Self steering also means I can keep a close eye on what is happening behind the machine – and that is where the money is made and lost”.

“A backpacker drove straighter with GPS than an old hand without it”, says Bruce Graham from Gisborne. Bruce spent twenty minutes teaching a Danish visitor to drive the tractor with GPS and left them to it. Predictably, the results were bullet straight. GPS means no overlap, less wasted seed, fuel, time and wear and tear in Bruce’s squash and maize. “We originally bought a lightbar but that meant I was still watching out the front of the tractor and could not pay full attention to the implement. Getting RTK with autosteer gave us the biggest gains in precision, work, quality and speed”.

Brothers Andrew and Peter Gilchrist are using RTK GPS in their contract spraying and seeding operation in Canterbury. “Being able to get through jobs efficiently is a big benefit of GPS, especially when a busy season means everybody wants the gear at once. It is better for us and it means better service for the client. Our drivers are less tired at the end of the day, and the next day too”, says Andrew. “Also the second time we are in a paddock, the self steering puts us on exactly the same tramlines. This means better access sooner after rain and less damaged crop”.

You have probably heard that GPS in your tractor or sprayer will make things go much better in the paddock. The unexpected benefits include getting more jobs done while in the cab, getting through work quicker, and less fatigue and a better mood at the end of the day. This means GPS in your tractor can make things better at home too. More than one farmer’s partner has said, “He’s not such a grumpy so ‘n’ so when he gets in a night!” Farmers and contractors who aim to enjoy life more, and operate more profitably and sustainably, can meet others at LandWISE events and conferences. Visit www.landwise.org.nz

Agronomy, Precision Agriculture, Projects

Winter Cover Crop Field Walks

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The first of two winter cover crop field walks was held on 16 August, courtesy of Brownrigg Agriculture.

The walk was attended by 29 people who saw and handled soils that had spent winter under different cover crops; Moata ryegrass, mustard and oats.  These were compared with the usual winter fallow treatment.

Soil improvements are very obvious in terms of structure and organic matter after only 4 months of cover cropping.  Earthworm populations are up and soil nitrogen is being held in the plants relative to loss through the profile in the fallow treatment.

The focus is now on measuring and recording soil condition by visual soil assessments (VSA) to monitor change.

How can Brownrigg’s ensure that soil improvements are maintained through the production phase?

We are holding another field walk at 1.30pm on Tuesday 23rd August at Brownriggs’ Poukawa cover crop trial to discuss this.  Link to Fieldwalk details

LandWISE is working with Horticulture NZ and Plant and Food Research on the Holding it together project, and with Foundation for Arable Research on the Advanced Farming Systems Project.

Agronomy, Precision Agriculture, Projects

Managing weeds without chemicals

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As published in Grower July 2011

Dan Bloomer and James Powrie – LandWISE Inc.

“I plant with precision, so that I can mechanically weed with confidence, and quickly too,” says John Evans.

Farming 271 ha at Dorie in mid Canterbury, John’s crops are largely grown for seed. The mix includes red beet and radish, mustards, carrots, linseed, spinach, cabbage, process peas, ryegrass and wheat.

John’s tractor is fitted with RTK-GPS and steers itself along the rows.  His implements have their own GPS receiver, which combined with a modified forklift side shifter, controls their position to within 2 cm. This ensures all his field operations are very precise.

High precision planting sets the crop up perfectly for mechanical weeding. This provides chemical free weed treatment and saves money too.

On John’s farm, chemical options are limited for some crop types with crop regeneration and field pansy unable to be treated. “Also herbicide resistance is reducing the efficacy of remaining options,” he says.  The weeds that affect many of the crops John grows are very closely related to the crop and extremely difficult to control with herbicides. Push hoeing isn’t seen as a desirable management option!  With the precision he now has at his disposal he can cover the ground very quickly.  The job he does is arguably better than push hoe quality.

“In Europe they have fewer and fewer chemical options available.  This happens as chemicals are banned or companies elect not to invest in re registering them.  The same thing is happening in NZ,” John says.  Precision mechanical weeding technology is leaping ahead in Europe.

John’s visits opened his eyes to the new technology and how it can be applied.  He imported a tine weeder, having seen it being used.  It bolts onto his existing Konskilde inter row cultivator and gives a far higher level of control with minimal crop damage.

Mechanical weeding only dropped out of favour with the development of herbicide options over the last 50 years. GPS has allowed it to be used again, getting the benefits without the downsides.

Cost savings relating to GPS are difficult to quantify, however John says that if he had to purchase GPS and start again tomorrow he definitely would.  He can work longer and work rate increases, yet he has less fatigue and feels better at the end of a shift.  This lets him achieve extra work after driving too.

See the LandWISE website for information and events  www.landwise.org.nz  Contact us and let us put you in touch with farmers who are making changes, or for relevant information on sustainable cropping through technology.  Thanks to Foundation for Arable Research for their research assistance on this farm.

Uncategorized

Immense benefits from minimum tillage cropping

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As published in Grower May 2011

Dan Bloomer and James Powrie – LandWISE Inc.

Two days after harvest in poor weather conditions, worm castings covered the ground driven on by bean harvesters.
We were at Hugh Ritchie’s farm in Central Hawke’s Bay.  It was one of those times when we see a farmer really benefit from changes they have made.  It was confirmation that the effort and challenge has been worth it.

“This paddock is on one of our more difficult soils, with compaction issues holding us back before.  We don’t want multiple cultivations that require more labour and more steel in the ground.  Making the change to minimum tillage has been very successful here, we treat the soil as it prefers to be treated and we are being rewarded for that,” says Hugh.

The paddock was strip tilled then planted with beans.  Fuel use for establishment was 10 litres per hectare, against about 70 litres per hectares for a conventional heavy cultivation system.  With diesel at nearly $1.70/litre today those litres are worth saving.

Hugh’s bean yields were at the upper end for the season.   Even with yield and costs so compelling, the surprise was yet to come. The thing Hugh was most excited about was the state of his soil after harvest.

The bean roots had penetrated fully through the soil, showing little or no compaction. After harvest the surface was covered in worm castings, including in the tracks.  The depressions of the harvest tracks were barely noticeable and the soil opened up easily with a spade.

Hugh has achieved these improvements after adopting strip till, direct drill and GPS guidance.  He is planning to continue to move toward controlled traffic farming.  It is exciting to see, that even without matched equipment and with random traffic at harvest, Hugh and his soil are gaining from the changes made to his system.

Harvester configuration is often given as a reason not to adopt controlled traffic.   Hugh’s example shows that some discipline, minimum tillage and a focus on reducing compaction, has great benefits.  Common sense, some simple changes and new technology have slashed Hugh’s fuel bill and are improving his soil.

Where might you start?  Ask yourself the question – How can I burn less fuel and take better care of my soil?
Why is that tractor belching smoke? Is that heavy draft operation necessary?  Why is so much compaction present?  Is that second cultivation necessary?  Would a strip till or min till operation have been more fuel efficient and better for the soil?  Am I working against myself?  Am I wasting soil, oil and toil?

Talk to other farmers at a LandWISE or FAR event or conference.  See the LandWISE website for information and events  www.landwise.org.nz  Contact us and let us put you in touch with farmers who are making changes, or for relevant information on reducing tillage, controlled traffic farming and GPS guidance.

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Drainage, Irrigation, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Water

LandWISE 2011 Conference on farmer’s successes with technology

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As published in Grower June 2011

Dan Bloomer and James Powrie – LandWISE Inc.

“Agriculture is the business to be in,” Hew Dalrymple told 115 delegates at the 9th LandWISE conference in Havelock North. Hew painted an exciting picture of high global demand for food and outlined some of the technologies he is adopting to be a better producer.

Chinese food consumption growth and diminishing area of agricultural land (8.33 million ha lost in the last 12 years) are just two drivers he presented.  Hew quoted David Stroud, chief executive officer of New York-based hedge fund TS Capital Partners: “China’s increased demand for agricultural commodities will mean an increase in prices for the entire world market. China can outlast any other bidders for the commodities it desires.”

One example: China, the world’s biggest grain producer, was a net exporter of soybeans until 1995.  This year, it’s forecast to import 57 million tons, or almost 60 percent of global trade in the oilseed used in animal-feed and tofu. Hew says this is setting the scene for NZ farmers to gain from exports.

Four AGMARDT sponsored experts from Australia addressed the conference. Professor David Lamb showed Precision Ag has moved steadily forward in Australia. He spoke on precision pastures and livestock, and the ways researchers are interpreting tracked animal behaviour to better manage farm systems.

David also described recent work with plane mounted crop sensors, capturing crop information from 150 feet, and how smart engineering is trying to use on board sensors to adjust aerial application rates in real time.

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should!” Steven Raine, Professor of Irrigation from Southern Queensland, opened the irrigation and drainage session with a review of precision irrigation. He pointed out that you can precisely apply irrigation to a whole paddock as one block. He challenged farmers to look at real returns from investment, rather than adding to a stable of toys.

Steven showed how really smart irrigation systems not only manage application, but measure, monitor and determine needs automatically with little input from farmers. This needs a high level of knowledge of soils, weather and crops, computer modelling and process controls. But your system must be working correctly in the first place, before expensive smart technologies will add value.

The how-to of successful Precision Agriculture was covered by Tim Neale and Andrew Whitlock from Australia.  They covered farm software, precision drainage design and controlled traffic farming with Australian examples and comments on NZ practices as they had seen in their travels prior to conference.  They were impressed by the New Zealand farmers they met. “We don’t know anyone in the world who has gone as far as you, with precision ag in potatoes and onions,” they told AS Wilcox delegates.

Simon Wilcox spoke about their experience starting with the LandWISE Controlled Traffic trial at Pukekawa.  GPS guidance has given them savings from the paddock to logistics, and in the processing plant, with better structured soil staying in the paddock instead of riding in the truck to the factory. “The washing plant loves it,” said Simon.

Emma McCracken described how she and husband Peter have paced their investment in technology at Wai-Iti Fresh in Canterbury.  They are new adopters, with RTK-GPS, new irrigation types and other technology being adopted in the past two years.  Emma described their plans to build on this base, and use such tools to address their challenges with soil quality, water use, drainage and crop yield.

Sjaak Wolfert leads a European Union research program to enhance the use of on farm data. Based at Wageningen in Holland, he described the challenges of data compatibility between brands.  The same difficulties we find in New Zealand are faced globally by farmers. Sjaak invited aligned efforts and assistance from LandWISE in spelling out farmers’ requirements of the technology industry.

Massey University has formed a joint Centre for Precision Agriculture with Lincoln University. Professor Ian Yule outlined where this fits with the advancement of Precision Agriculture in New Zealand. He spoke about paths to managing your farm at the highest practical resolution. Using sensors and fertiliser as examples, he explained the goals and difficulties of managing variability in time and space as crops develop.

Plant and Food research Scientists Bruce Searle and Steven Trolove brought zonal management of nutrients into perspective, relating soil measurements to crop wants, and translating complex nutrient mapping into farmer application decisions.

It was exciting to see how success with technology is becoming the norm across a range of sectors and to hear farmer’s plans for more.

And it’s not just for the big farms. Brothers Travis and Nigel, and father Gordon Sue, grow fresh vegetables on 70 ha of land in Levin. Travis explained the successes his family has had with auto-steer precision; cutting costs and making better use of their land.  He explained how they plan to make their site more productive by managing traffic better. “We should have had it [RTK-GPS] years ago,” says Gordon.

The conference was generously supported with the platinum sponsor being CASE IH NZ Ltd.  AGMARDT provided funding for Professors Steven Raine and David Lamb and Andrew Whitlock and Tim Neale to present at the conference also. For more detail on the conference and coming LandWISE events visit our website www.landwise.org.nz

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Tillage

Take More Care of Soil at Harvest

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As printed in Grower February 2011

James Powrie and Dan Bloomer LandWISE Inc.

In November LandWISE, FAR and Horticulture NZ held combined field visits to 7 cropping farms.  Visual soil assessments were performed at a range of sites and discussions held about what was seen.

Each farm is experiencing common challenges with soil quality.  All of the farmers visited want more soil quality because of what it means for the future of their operation…and almost all are getting less.  When we say less… digging soil from under a fence shows where the soil has come from, or its natural state.  When this is compared to the cropped soil, there is always a difference.  Often compaction damage is seen as big hard lumps with plant roots growing around their edges. Virtual rocks.

Farmers wanting to move their soil back toward this state have a range of options.
Reduce the use of powered implements –  Powered implements use PTO power to turn a tool at speed.  Soil structure is shattered at point of impact, rather than a natural line, worms and other life are destroyed and the natural flow pathways and porosity are interrupted. Depending on severity, full destruction of soil structure can result.  Often the progressively damaged structure requires increasing use of powered implements to create tilth.

Reduced traffic – Any practical mechanised system involves field traffic and compaction of soil, usually by wheels. Wheels cause soil damage, but this can be limited to a small proportion of field area by restricting all heavy wheels to permanent traffic lanes. Adoption in NZ and other countries has demonstrated the effectiveness and practicability of Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) systems in very different cropping environments.  Less trafficking means less remedial tillage is required to remove compaction and this can mean fuel savings and fewer operations.

Comparisons between CTF and conventional “random traffic” cropping systems in NZ are also showing improvements in soil quality, crop performance, time savings and a range of other gains.  Data from extensive grain production systems in Australia indicate that CTF could provide a major reduction in cropping emissions and massive improvements in hydrology.  CTF can improve productivity, and all measures of sustainability; it also overcomes some important constraints to the adoption of conservation agriculture.

As precise guidance becomes progressively cheaper, machine system width compatibility remains the only real barrier to a significant improvement in food security and the environmental footprint of cropping.  Imagined barriers can include tradition, stubbornness or resistance to change.

If soil is recognised as a primary asset on the farm and improvement a goal, then the cost is justified as an investment in the future.  It may be easier to make changes than you expect.  Some changes can create immediate improvements and savings.  With the urgency of better soil care becoming clear, be sure its not rocks in your head causing the rocks in your paddocks.

For more information on how farmers in NZ are making these changes and support with yours, talk to James Powrie (LandWISE) or Dan Bloomer.. Funding for this work has come from the Sustainable Farming Fund ‘Advanced Farming Systems’ and ‘Holding it Together’ programs.