Category Archives: Agronomy

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.

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

14th Annual Symposium on Precision Agriculture in Australasia

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Albury NSW, 2-3 September 2010

Hosted by the Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture and SPAA Precision Agriculture Australia

Summary Report by Dan Bloomer and James Powrie, LandWISE Inc.

Presentations at the symposium tended to refer to practical applications of Precision Agriculture technologies with a research focus.  They ranged across topics from grains, to remote sensing, and from livestock to viticulture.

The opening by outgoing SPAA President Mark Branson, referred to population increases, tightening oil supply and environmental regulation, crop losses through climate change and future restrictions on synthetic fertilisers.   Precision Agriculture was offered as an opportunity for the farming industry to invest in technologies to address these challenges.

Note:  The names credited here are those of the speakers.  Other authors also contributed to most of the papers presented. We assume full papers will be made available through SPAA or ACPA websites.

Assessment of sugar cane yield monitoring technology

Troy Jensen- National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture

Systems were trialled for monitoring sugar cane yield.  Significant variation was noted between yield monitor types.  While we don’t grow sugar cane in NZ there may be implications for forage harvesters.

Are passive sensors passé

Eileen Perry- DPI Victoria

Passive sensors rely on sunlight as the source that is reflected, so there are issues dealing with readings as light conditions change. Active sensors have their own light source, so they get a stable result in changing light conditions – and can be used at night if desired. Passive sensors have a place in remote sensing. Satellites, for example, cannot supply active light so remain passive. Passive sensors are also being used in permanent positions to monitor temporal changes in crop status.

Some links to other information: Tetracam.com and headworkphotonix.com and Quantalab in Spain may be interesting to review.  The FLIR handheld imaging sensors for carotenoids and chlorophyll looks interesting: www.psi.cz/products/pocket-sized-instruments/plantpen.

Precision pastures

David Lamb- Precision Agriculture Research Group, University of New England

Experiments have been using GPS information to track pasture quality and grazing behavior.   By tracking what animals are doing when, i.e, moving, still or eating, they are gaining insight into which areas are most productive.  This enables improved understanding for integrated landscape management.  Tracking animals shows places where they are not grazing at all.  Pasture quality patterns show up, with different pastures preferred morning to afternoon.

RFID animal tags are also being trialled to enable automatic walkover weighing and fleece weight recordings to assess growth achieved in relevant parts of the paddock.  RFID eartags with GPS (estimated 3 year battery life) are about 2 yrs from market.

Other studies have investigated training animals to allow remote control using sirens. This will potentially enable isolated stock to be managed and encouraged to move to new paddocks by a farmer  anywhere on the globe.

UNEPARG research has now shown that Cropcircle sensors with enhanced LEDs can now be used up to 50m above the ground for improved (and safer) aerial biomass measurement.

Once biomass variability has been mapped using, for example, optical sensors or CDAX pasture meter they believe you can define transects within a field that give you a shortcut to getting whole paddock biomass estimates (truncated biomass transects).

David Lamb also noted LIDAR may augment the use of sensors by adding more detailed knowledge of biomass.  David Manktelow’s Hawke’s Bay work with orchard canopies was mentioned.

Why do grapevine yield and quality vary in time and space?

Andrew Hall- National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, Charles Sturt University

Andrew reported that their research showed there are big annual deviations in yield.  Data from a normal year predicts variability in other years better than same-season sampling in an off-year.  Spatial variation was found to be greatest early and late in season.   Understanding the effects on weather induced change on reproductive processes and carbohydrate dynamics within the plant appears to be the key to making accurate productivity forecasts. [See also Rob Bramley’s report]

Remote sensing applications for the Australian cotton industry.

Andrew Robson- Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

Much of this focused on review of different resolutions of available remote imagery. Some satellite imagery is relatively coarse but is cheap for large areas so may prove appropriate in the cotton industry.  Strategic purchase of imagery at only necessary resolution can save cost.

UAV technology with PA to improve productivity and sustainability of macadamia orchards

Leasie Felderhof- Skyview Solutions Pty Ltd.

Regulations are holding back use of UAVs (model aircraft with cameras) in Australia and in US.    A commercial pilot licence is required for UAVs!  A macadamia orchard of 100ha was mapped in 4 hours flying time.  Wind can limit flight potential.

Image quality can be very high (3cm pixel size) and can be used to show individual leaves and identify early stages of pest attack.  This is possible using relatively easily available cameras.  New photo stitching technology makes it possible to easily and rapidly create mosaics from individual images.

Preliminary cost analysis suggests that nutrition maps derived from aerial images can lower production inputs and increase profits in the macadamia sector.

Fixing low pH soils and solving drainage problems with PA in NSW and Victoria

Tim Neale- precisionagriculture.com.au

Farmers can gain more value from their GPS purchase by using their guidance system to create farm topography maps.    Drainage analysis and cut and fill maps can then be created from these.  Software advances allowed them to reduce soil moved to ensure drainage by 90% compared to traditional laser levelling techniques.

High resolution satellite images were being used to identify areas suspected of low pH.  They compared targeted sampling to grid sampling and decided that zones drawn from satellite imagery were a good intermediate step to start on variable rate liming.  A targeted approach to pH can reduce the number of samples required.

John Deere Industry Update

Andrew Bremner John Deere AMS

A number of new John Deere PA products are being launched for 2011.  Remote access to tractors equipped with new communications features, will allow for fleet management, diagnostics and online backup.

An Automated system for rapid in field soil nutrient testing

Craig Lobsey- Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture

This work is bridging the gap between conventional lab sampling and lab analysis and current proximal soil sensors.  Wet chemistry is desirable for measuring soil nitrate, and potassium and sodium.  But rapid processing is essential for on-the-go in-field analysis. The research goal was to get wet chemistry sample processing done in 30 seconds to make in-field processing economic.  They found (the cunning bit) that by carefully measuring the rate of change of the chemical reaction at early stages they were able to predict a result that would be gained by the reaction going to completion (which takes 30+ minutes).

SPAA Precision Ag Association Grower group project

Leighton Wilksch- SPAA Precision Agriculture Association

The Grower Group project is focusing on site specific crop management. SPAA has 16 farm discussion groups running, with three meetings a year are held per group.

SPAA also ran their first annual Advanced Training Courses in PA for advisors and key farmers (70 attendees).  People we spoke to said this was stunningly good. We’ll find out if we can arrange a New Zealand course if there is interest.

Wireless Sensor Networks

Rakesh Devadas- RMIT University, Melbourne

Effective calibration of remote sensing by satellites, aeroplanes etc needs ground based data.  A system was set up to capture continuous ground based measurements, to give data that coincides exactly with aerial and satellite observations.  To collect that data, the researchers built an in-paddock sensor network that was wirelessly connected to a base computer, so that when satellite image received they had the necessary data to calibrate the image.  This cost $2K per node.

Identifying scales at which yield and soil attributes are related

Brett Whelan- Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture

This statistical presentation looked at the resolution (density of sampling points) of data collection, and the analysis of that data to explain the causes of variability. The amount of variability seen in data can relate more to the amount of sampling than the actual variability present.  Some analyses can show highly correlated results, but only explain a little of the variability. By changing the scales, you may have lower correlation but explain more of the variability.

Integrating temporal variation into the management of spatial variability of Precision Viticulture

Rob Bramley- CSIRO

Work was completed at Stoneleigh Squires vineyard in Marlborough.  This was led by Marlborough Wine Research Centre’s Mike Trought with John Paul Praat also involved in the project.  They analysed spatial vineyard information gained over several years to quantify relationships.  EM appeared useful for describing soil variation but detected very low EC values over a very narrow range due to shallow stony soils.  EC was closely correlated with trunk circumference.

They used an array of Cropcircle sensors from side of canopy to derive the Plant Cell Density (PCD) index. This uses the same wave bands (near infrared and red) as NDVI, but is a simple ratio rather than the difference ratio used for NDVI index. In contrast to Australian work, vine vigour assessments did not correlate with yield.  The researchers believe this is due to the high degree of bud selection at hand pruning.  Australian vines are typically machine pruned.

With assistance from a panel of winemakers they determined a juice score based on soluble solids, juice pH and titratable acidity.  They then predicted the change in juice score through time using the proximally sensed vine vigour data.  This gave a spatial fruit quality and maturity map of the vineyard changing over time.  This allowed them to create a map showing the date on which optimum harvest score was attained.

“Identifying those parts of the vineyard that produce the best fruit, and the date for best balance of flavour and aroma is the holy grail of viticulture research” (Mike Trought)

Onion Precision Agronomy

Trevor Twigden- National Onion Labs

Trevor’s team has been working on nutrient and plant stress impacts on onion pungency, sweetness and shelf life. There is a significant price premium for “mild onions” (called “sweet onions” in USA) which are actually low pungency rather than sweet.

To avoid pungency growers must avoid plant stress as the chemical involved (pyruvic acid) results from a stress response. There is “Mild Onion Certification” in Australia – Australia’s only flavour certified fresh horticultural product on the market. The research has demonstrated that precision agronomy e.g. GPS mapping and GPS generated sample sites with infield onion pungency testing makes it feasible to isolate areas with low pungency onions.  The marketing system is fully traceable, so the industry can assure quality is not degraded by untested onions being represented as mild.

A very large amount of spatially referenced sampling has enabled the researchers to identify soil, nutrient and nutrient combination effects on pungency and on storage quality. Pungency and sugars are independent.  Industry belief was that higher yields caused low storability, but this work shows good nutrition (at all points across the full site) allows high yields (100+ t/ha) and good storability.

TopCon Update

Martin Keye- Topcon

The CropSpec optical sensor has been through numerous upgrades.  It is currently being widely used in Montana to manage protein levels in wheat, because protein premiums are at record highs.

New TopCon products have remote communications ability allowing on-line service and support. Farmers can see exactly where each machine is and where it has been, from the office computer. They can send prescription maps directly to the tractor and equipment.  Martin sees great future for such connectivity allowing access to weather data etc from the cab. The move to wireless connectivity avoids the need for USB data sticks (thumb drives) or swapping data cards to transfer data – this is seen by many as a vital improvement.

Developing capacity via paddock learning – growers and groups

Simon Craig- Birchip Cropping Group (BCG)

Simon reported that use of PA technology for guidance is widespread among BCG farmers, but use of PA information for input decisions has been rare. Barriers of initial investment and aging gear are being displaced by drivers of reduced input costs and risks. A major limitation is software compatibility between office system and various different equipment protocols.

The BCG has been working with farmers to reduce inputs where possible, delay inputs such as nitrogen until later in the season when seasonal forecasts and yield potential predictions are more reliable. They have taught farmers to use paddock strips: e.g. leaving out an input in a pass that crosses over representative zones then monitoring yield at harvest time. These are very effective for building confidence to push the boundaries with little risk to production. An example relevant to NZ maize, would be leaving out P in starter fertiliser. They noted the benefits of running inter-seasonal nutrient budgets, reflecting previous crop extraction and anticipated yields.

PA education and training modules

Brett Whelan- Australian Centre for Precision Agriculture

Brett and colleagues have prepared a series of training modules based on the 2006 GRDC PA Training Manual. They identify different levels of knowledge sought, and structure the material accordingly. Each module covers a separate aspect of PA, and starts with a general introduction, allows an interested person to access more detailed information, and includes references to very details references should those be wanted. This information is intended to be made freely available, downloadable or CD, and open for use by educators and advisors as they wish to generate their own resources.

Future Trends in PA

James Hassall- Farmer and Nuffield Scholar in Precision Agriculture

James is a very long term PA farmer who built his own auto steer system years ago, and other pieces of equipment since. James presented a view of the future of PA, based on his experience, his Nuffield research and hours sitting in his tractor thinking.  He says ISOBUS communication between tractor and equipment is coming. However some manufacturers think it is already becoming redundant as it won’t cope with the required volume of data moving between multiple sensors on the tractor and equipment.  He says manufacturers are sharing information and testing compatiblity between gear by holding ‘plugfests’.

James is building a robot to move through his fields. He suggested that in terms of technology, the 80s introduced the personal computer, the 90’s the internet. We are currently seeing miniaturisation, and the next decade will see widespread introduction of robotics.  He believes he’ll be able to use his robot for many applications, including soil sampling, protein monitoring, weed spraying and more.

He noted work by David Slaughter using a robot to drop micro-doses of herbicide onto weed leaves. The Danish researchers have combined optical colour and shape technology to identify weed species and apply different chemicals at specific rates using bubble jet printer technology.

James is convinced that wireless data transfer and diagnostics will change farm management. No more having data cards slip out of your top pocket into the spray tank. He is keen to upload maps from office to tractor to manage equipment. He employs a lot of casual labour and remote access can assist the farmer ensure correct operation, and help inexperienced operators easily.

Trade Displays (a sample)

Apogee

Apogee is a defence company which has moved into agriculture, bringing a different spin on technology. They are highly specialised in satellite radar which penetrates cloud and works at night and can provide a lot of information not available through standard light sensing from satellites.  Radar allows identification of different materials, through polarizing of signals. http://www.apogee.com.au

Trimble

Trimble was marketing their equipment range and their base station network services.

Leica

Leica had a display of their ag products along with video on their mining and construction products with laser driven drafting of existing structures and earthworks.

Crop-Optics

Crop-Optics had a display of Weedseeker and Greenseeker sensors (formally manufactured by Ntech, now owned by Trimble).  The display included a moving banner of maize plants being scanned by Greenseeker and showing calculated variable rate against the NDVI score changing as the plant images passed.  Contact Scott Jameson

PrecisionAgriculture.com.au

Tim Neale and Andrew Whitlock had their imaging, training packages and consulting services on display.

Outline Imagery

This is a South African firm now in Australia.  They have an easily mounted multi-spectral camera for aircraft.  Contact Andrew Coleman

Agronomy, Precision Agriculture, Projects

World class chemical application and traceability using Precision Ag Tools

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As published in Grower October 2010. James Powrie and Dan Bloomer, LandWISE Inc.

Tim Macfarlane paid for his GPS in one day.  Electronic recordkeeping avoided a chemical trespass fight and maintained good neighbour relations.  Tim is working closely with FAR and LandWISE on a project called Advanced Farming Systems, which aims to research and extend new technology on NZ farms.

“This single event covered the cost of my GPS and control systems by avoiding legal action and the stress that goes with it,” he says.  Tim grows sweetcorn, vegetables and seed crops on his family farm in Kaiapoi.  Spray events are recorded by GPS, which tracks sprayer location and application rates.

An on-farm climate station also records data automatically.  Using these data together, Tim can show exactly what was applied, when, and in what weather conditions.  This makes it easy for him to complete industry and market quality assurance records such as New Zealand GAP.

“I invested in GPS to get agrichemical efficiencies.  I wanted to avoid overlaps or misses, with their resulting yield reductions, and to get better coverage with less chemical.  Proof of product placement is the icing on the cake,” he says.

GPS tracking clearly shows operators what has been sprayed, and what hasn’t.  “Before GPS, I’d find myself at the end of a field wondering if I’d done that row or not.  And GPS shows me exactly what is sprayed, where the last tank ran out, and where to start again,” said Tim.

Prescription application reduces the risk of chemical being applied at incorrect rates or places.  And if errors occur, affected crop can be traced and isolated.  Boom control avoids double spraying on angled headlands.

The benefits of traceability

Higher up the value scale, consumers are more interested in details of the products they buy.  Marketers can focus on traceability to differentiate products and add value.  A merino clothing brand encourages customers to trace their individual garment via the web.  They can view detail on ethics and environmental policy and see the farms where the wool was grown.

Precision agriculture systems provide more staff accountability for job quality and make supervision easier.  Records contain date, time and operator information so that details can be checked and followed up if needed.  Real-time links can advise supervisors if plant or equipment operates outside specified limits via the internet.  A manager can view in-cab operations from their office computer screen.

Regulation and demand for traceability can be seen as a burden or as an opportunity to improve your system. “When I have targeted one area of my operation for improvement with precision agriculture technology, I have found that other aspects get better too,” says Tim.

For more information on precision agriculture options and adoption, talk to LandWISE.

The LandWISE website www.landwise.org.nz contains information on current members, precision agriculture articles, resources and tools.

LandWISE membership puts you in touch with other innovative growers, industry folks and technologists, join at http://www.landwise.org.nz/join/

Visit the website to learn more, or contact James direct on 06 6504531 or 0272 757757.

FAR

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Agronomy, Drainage, Irrigation, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Water

Going High Tech at Holton Farm

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As Published in ‘Grower’ Magazine February 2010.

Like many farmers who have adopted precision agriculture, Tim Macfarlane is using GPS to control his machinery.  This gives savings in time, fuel, labour, machinery and other input costs.

Tim farms Holton Farm near Kaiapoi.  He grows sweetcorn and pumpkin for the fresh market and seed crops including cabbage, clover, ryegrass and radish.  Peas, wheat and barley are grown for feed.

The first steps into precision agriculture came to the farm in the 1990s. A hired hand-held GPS was used to map paddock boundaries. Knowing true paddock sizes allowed for accurate ordering of seed and chemicals.

Now, GPS guides the tractor providing for more efficient cultivation, planting, fertilising and inter row cultivation.  It controls his spray boom too, switching nozzles on and off, section by section at exactly the right time.  Spraying is more precise and less overlapping of herbicide applications reduces chemical waste and yield reduction.

Leica RTK GPS is now used for all high accuracy guidance, with corrections coming from an on-site base station. This gives season to season accuracy of better than 2 cm. Farm operations are routinely logged with GPS and transferred into an integrated farm mapping and management program.

New technology keeps coming to Holton

GPS and auto steering is allowing a shift towards Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) which Tim thinks will increase yields by reducing overall compaction.  CTF is also expected to provide other efficiencies. “As we grow in confidence with Precision Ag, endless possibilities are opening up to us,” says Tim.

GPS allows various types of captured data to be precisely located and mapped on the farm.  EM38 soil conductivity sensing is being used to map relative water holding capacity across the farm.  Greenseeker crop sensors are capturing differences in greenness across paddocks, helping decisions about weed control.  Yield maps are clearly showing how much crop was harvested from each part of a paddock.

EM38 scanning and mapping was conducted in 2009.  The intention is to gain understanding of soil depth, quality and water holding capacity.  This information will be used to plan rotations and decide whether to irrigate more of the property.

EM38 mapping also helps determine location and depth of old, forgotten drains, identifying areas where inversion and ripping might be practical.

Weeds and technology

Weed challenges are now focusing Tim’s attention on GPS based weed management practices. These offer alternative options for control and can increase efficiency in the use of chemical, fuel and other inputs.

Tim wants systems that allow him to determine weed type and density using sensing and GPS mapping tools.  Once the target is well understood, chemical rates and application methods can easily be varied. Already, GPS controlled boom switching is reducing overlap, providing accurate record keeping and proof of placement, and easy recording of chemical trial data.

When chemical tools are unavailable, the improved accuracy of RTK allows very efficient mechanical weeding. The accuracy lets Tim go later with the final inter row weeding pass and go closer to the planted crop. And RTK inter row weeding means less hand weeding in radish, sweetcorn, cabbage and pumpkin row crops.

The future of technology at Holton

Technology is giving gains at Holton.  Tim says, “As we learn more about technology, we learn more about our farm and how we can keep making progress. Over time and with good planning, precision ag ensures that huge benefits are gained in production, efficiency and economics for the entire operation”

Tim is an agent for Leica Geosytems Precision Ag products, Raven GPS and spray control equipment, and Farm Data software. These technology products are integrated into the farming system.  The GPS feeds operations and yield data into the farm software.  Farm software feeds data and map files back to the GPS.

If you would like to keep making progress on your farm and to understand Precision Agriculture better, you may like to join LandWISE and to attend the LandWISE conference in Havelock North on May 12th and 13th.  This year’s conference will be called ‘Know your farm – with Precision Ag’.

See www.landwise.org.nz for more information.

Agronomy, Drainage, Irrigation, Projects, Water

Guest Post: Dr Paul Johnstone (Plant and Food Research) on Improving Profits by Reducing Surface Ponding

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Ponding of surface runoff from rainfall and irrigation can reduce crop production. The ‘Holding it together’ project addresses this.

Plant & Food Research and LandWISE are working with growers on ways to reduce surface ponding, improve soil quality and increase returns.

MAF Sustainable Farming Fund, Fresh Vegetable Product Group, Potatoes NZ, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Horizons Regional Council, Auckland Regional Council, Environment Waikato and Ballance Agri-Nutrients have funded the project.

Runoff occurs when water infiltration is slower than application of rain or irrigation. In some soils, slow infiltration is due to texture, in others it is reduced by frequent tillage or compaction. Whatever the cause, runoff can pond for extended periods, in low-lying dips or field edges. This ponding can be damaging to crops.

Trials with onions have shown that even temporary ponding can reduce yields. Yield loss ranged from 60-80%.  Ponding also reduced the proportion of yield within the most profitable size range.

In one field, a leaky pipe resulted in ponding during irrigation. This area of 0.2 ha cost the grower $1,700 in lost income. The cost of fixing the pipe was $10.

A  similar-sized area was affected by ponding during spring rainfall. Resulting crop loss totalled $3,500 in lost income.

Other crops dislike wet feet too, especially during germination, emergence and early growth, when ponding can affect establishment and final yield outcomes.

Weeds and soil-borne diseases can also flourish in affected areas.  Mobile nutrients, such as nitrogen, are easily leached beyond shallow root zones, resulting in potential deficiency. In worst cases, crops require replanting.

The project also looked at the grower’s greatest asset – their soil. Soil condition proved to be poorer in ponded areas. In particular, aggregates became clumpy, and soils heavily compacted.  When aggregation and structure collapse, soils become poorly drained and aerated, access to nutrients and water is restricted, and this reduces yield.

Nutrients and productive topsoil also concentrate in ponded areas after runoff.  In ponded areas, soil Olsen P levels were as much as 75% higher than adjacent unponded areas. Organic matter levels were higher too. This can contribute to variability and input inefficiency over time.

Furrow diking is a tool to reduce surface runoff. Small soil dikes (dams) are formed in wheel tracks by a towed implement. Controlling runoff largely eliminates the impacts of ponding, meaning better returns.

Horowhenua grower, John Clarke has seen how effective diking can be. In the past, ponding has reduced yields in low-lying areas. Where they tested diking there was no standing water after heavy rain, this is a major improvement.

Hawke’s Bay grower Scott Lawson of True Earth Organics, is also an advocate. “Diking eliminates ponding damage and can reduce disease incidence. It’s standard practice now”.

Growers may also harvest more rainfall with diking installed, as water has more soaking time and so more storage in the soil.

Scott Lawson notes that soils need to have good drainage. “sustainability of farming operations includes promoting good soil structure, by building organic matter levels, reducing cultivation and working to eliminate compaction”.

For more information on ‘Holding it Together’ projects or on implementing practices on-farm please contact Paul Johnstone (Plant and Food Research) or Dan Bloomer (LandWISE).

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

2010 LandWISE Conference

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2010 LandWISE Conference

Know Your Farm – With Precision Ag, Havelock North, 12th & 13th May.

The LandWISE conference aims to be to the leading Precision Agriculture event in New Zealand each year.

You will get to meet other farmers, growers and industry people with an interest in Precision Agriculture.  And  hear world class speakers on these topics:

  • Precision Ag and the Big Wide World – MAF Director of Strategy Development – James Palmer, Professor David Lamb (UNE) and Dr Charles Merfield, will address the challenges and changes driving advances in Precision Ag. in NZ and worldwide.
  • Making Your Data Valuable – New ways farm data is enhancing farm profitability.  See how it is being collected and used to farm better.
  • Knowing and Growing Your Soil – Ways you can preserve and improve soil quality.
  • Managing Traffic in the Field – Updates on managing soil compaction, a technical session on tyre inflation and successful Controlled Traffic Farming in NZ.
  • Managing Variability – Demystifying crop sensors, agronomy tools and Variable Rate Technology to improve effectiveness with fertiliser and other inputs.
  • Precision Irrigation – How some NZ  farmers are managing water smarter to reduce the cost and environmental impacts of irrigation.

Members enjoy a discount, so if you are coming to the LandWISE conference, consider signing up, you will be in excellent company.

This year the LandWISE Conference will be followed by a one day Crop Sensor Workshop on 14th May 2010.  Places limited.

To receive a conference schedule, to register or to learn more about our activities, contact LandWISE for more information at info@landwise.org.nz

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Precision Agriculture, Projects

Organics embrace the best of all worlds

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As Published in ‘Grower Magazine December 2009’

Scott Lawson is a BioGro certified farmer who is using precision agriculture (PA) techniques on his Hawke’s Bay farm.  Produce from his farm is marketed through the True Earth brand. Scott is a founding member, and a Director of LandWISE.

At Lawson’s Organic Farms they integrate the best of organic, biological and conventional toolkits.

Scott’s philosophy is simple:  “The health of our soils relates directly to the health of our community.  My intention is to promote healthy soils to produce healthy food, for healthy people.”

“We adopted RTK GPS two years ago to drive straight lines and save costs.  GPS lets us do things we wanted to do before but couldn’t.  It is an essential tool for us now.”

“We operate a controlled traffic farming (CTF) system.  Precision GPS guidance keeps our cultivation, planting and mechanical and thermal weeding equipment on the same tracks.  We are also using GPS for capturing yield data, fertility and ph information and have begun mapping our soils with EM38.”

Managing compaction with GPS and controlled traffic

Scott has found that GPS allows straight lines to be driven by any operator, saving inputs and making operations quicker and cheaper.  RTK GPS guides the tractor to within 1-2 cm of the same wheel tracks, year after year.

Now he is using GPS guidance to control traffic and get on top of soil compaction. Controlled traffic farming is about deliberately driving on designated roads through the crop and keeping compaction in one zone.  The beds or gardens are then kept relatively free of compaction.

Scott’s controlled traffic system is seasonal, because current tractors and harvesters have different wheel track widths. All operations except harvest are in the controlled traffic system so plants get the growth benefit.

GPS guided mechanical and thermal weeding

The chemical weed management tools available to organic farmers are very limited. So they tend to make more use of hand, mechanical and thermal weeding.

Hand weeding has been used extensively in Scott’s operation.  It is slow and expensive, and labour management is a big consumer of time too. Precise GPS guidance has allowed bullet straight rows to be planted and mechanical weeding machines to be guided close to the crop row.  This has reduced expenditure on hand weeding operations.

Thermal weeding is also used, with steam applied to kill emerging weeds.  Timing is critical and so the controlled traffic system is a bonus.  The formed tracks have an enhanced ability to carry traffic, even when ground conditions wetter than ideal.

Mechanical and thermal weeding, as pursued by organic growers like Scott, are receiving more interest from conventional growers.  Some weeds cannot be easily taken out of some crops with selective herbicides.   Chemical options are declining as products come off registration and as plants evolve chemical resistance.  As chemicals are deregistered, growers lose ability to rotate chemistry and avoid evolved resistance.

Conventional farmers, John Evans and Hugh Ritchie, are two other LandWISE members who have adopted GPS guided weeding.  John grows vegetable seed and grass seed crops.  Chemical options are not giving adequate weed control, especially in his seed carrot crops.

John uses RTK GPS to guide a Kongskilde mechanical weeder within 50mm of the planted rows.  “This is reducing the hand weeding bill and offers improved weed control.  It has an added benefit of aerating the soil surface when a rainfall crust has formed, letting the soil breathe again,” John says.

Hugh uses GPS guidance supplemented with camera implement control to weed squash, fresh and process vegetables with a Danish Eco-Dan system.”  It has reduced a major labour bill for us.  And using less residual chemical is a direction we are pleased to be heading in.“

Scott is intrigued by the view some folks have of organics.  “If I asked some fellow growers if they’d like to try the organic weeding methods I am applying, they’d likely tell me where to get off.  If I ask if they’d like to weed mechanically using GPS and eliminate expensive selective herbicides from their program, their ears prick up”.

The LandWISE website www.landwise.org.nz contains articles on precision agriculture and many resources and tools.  It is also a place to comment, chat and ask questions about where to go to learn more.
Visit the website to learn more, or contact James direct on 06 6504531 or 0272 757757.

Agronomy, Precision Agriculture

Six Simple Steps to Precision Agriculture Adoption

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From Grower Magazine November 2009

Precision Agriculture, or ‘information rich farming’, is a rapidly increasing part of New Zealand crop production.   Precision Agriculture is allowing growers to be more efficient with inputs and lift their profitability while making their farming more sustainable.

Sustainable profitability is why many growers in New Zealand are adopting Precision Agriculture.   Some vocally promote it but others prefer to keep quiet about the advantages.

LandWISE is working with farmers who are making Precision Agriculture work for themselves in different ways.  A wide range of technologies are being adopted, examples being;  GPS, auto-steer, mapping systems, optical sensors and variable rate application technologies for spraying, fertiliser and planting.

Each time they master one step, a new set of opportunities appears. “I couldn’t even perceive what I might be doing with this when I started.”

It seems there is something for everyone.  If you are going to be part of this, what steps might you take?
Let’s chart a grower’s progress in adopting Precision Agriculture:

1.    Acknowledge that you have probably already started!

A principle of Precision Agriculture is to identify and manage zones.  If you are a farmer in New Zealand, you’ll already think at paddock scale, and recognise that paddocks are different to one another. You will be aware that different parts of your land perform differently.  Some areas hold less water, are ready to work sooner, warm up quicker but dry out first. Paddocks may have sandier or deeper soils or have a different aspect or weed cover. They have different cropping histories.  You probably soil test and fertilise accordingly.  If you use this knowledge to make decisions about inputs, timing or management, then you are already operating with the basics of Precision Agriculture.

2.    Get spatially aware and more precise

LandWISE farmer Tim Macfarlane is routinely using PA tools on his farm in Canterbury.   “The basic technology is simple and it lets us do things we otherwise couldn’t.  My first step towards PA was to accurately map the farm using a hired GPS unit.  I then had confidence in ordering fertiliser and seed and a sound basis for assessing yield information”.

Tim’s tractors now have GPS guidance for cultivating, planting and spraying in his mixed cropping and fresh and process vegetable operation.  We watched Tim using high accuracy auto steer to make a second planting of male plants for specialist seed production, and the final row was precisely on line.

3.    Ask yourself whether you would like to increase farm input efficiency.

Increased input efficiency means producing more for less.  Ideally, lifting yields while reducing labour, fuel, fertiliser, seed or chemicals to grow your crops.
Driving straight lines often gives the biggest immediate payback. The fatigue reduction is enough reason in itself, but the follow on advantages provide efficiency gains and the ability to do things in new ways. Some LandWISE vegetable growers using GPS to guide their cultivation and establish permanent beds are saving in excess of 50% of their fuel bill, as well as reducing labour and other inputs.
Variable Rate Technologies (applying different inputs based on variable crop requirements), show a lot of promise.   LandWISE is working with growers to determine how they can gain advantage from such tools.

4.    Understand your own farm better.

Where are your best and worst yields?  Why?
Identifying zones on your farm may support better decision making.  Google earth, aerial photographs and topographical and soil maps are a good place to start. Can you use other information to categorise these zones?  Soil maps and experience may hold clues to the causes of differences.

Electronic crop sensors are being used with GPS to plot differences in ‘colour’ across a crop.  Your eye is a sensor too.  You may start with a hand held GPS, mapping areas you know to be different.  Then you can inspect and sample your soil, crop, and weeds to better understand the zones, and your farm.

A number of LandWISE farmers have scanned paddocks using electromagnetic sensing tools (EM38) to identify soil zones. One goal is to map water holding capacity for irrigation management, a process that requires field sampling in different zones.  There is a lot still to learn, but the benefits are already apparent.

5.    Get information, Get together

Seek out neighbours who are already practicing precision agriculture and ask if you can see what they are up to. There are people at all stages of adoption across the country.  LandWISE is working with farmer groups from Pukekohe to Canterbury. Keep an eye out for a LandWISE event near you.

Dan Bloomer at LandWISE has seen how precision agriculture is making farming more interesting and fun, as well as lifting farm profit and sustainability.  “At LandWISE we get to work with a bunch of growers, who are very enthusiastic about the gains they get.  And they do this while they learn and share information.  Everyone wins.

Hugh Ritchie is sharing equipment with his contractor and his neighbours to speed their adoption and share engineering costs in arable and vegetable cropping.  “We know we want to adopt controlled traffic farming, to take better care of our soil and save costs.  Sharing the investment in technology means we can all get there faster” says Hugh.

6.    Join LandWISE

LandWISE farmers support each other to move forward and learn about Precision Agriculture.  A major Sustainable Farming Fund project, supported by FAR, HortNZ, Farmlands, Ballance, and several Regional Councils has twelve development sites in operation across New Zealand.

LandWISE has a major annual conference in May and field events during the year. We are currently establishing local precision agriculture discussion groups for members.
The LandWISE website www.landwise.org.nz contains information on current members, articles on precision agriculture and many resources and tools.  It is also a place to comment, chat and ask questions about where to go to learn more.

LandWISE hold field walks and Precision Agriculture discussions in Pukekohe, Gisborne, Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay and Levin.  If you share an interest in Precision Agriculture you are welcome to attend.
Visit the website to learn more, or contact James direct on 06 6504531 or 0272 757757.

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, Drainage, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Soil, Tillage, Water

Evans Farm Precision Agriculture Field Walk, Canterbury

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On Monday 16 November 2009, a field walk was held in conjunction with FAR, at John and Jack Evan’s farm in Dorie. This is an Advanced Farming Systems Project farm and includes a strip tillage trial.

James Powrie and Dan Bloomer spoke about the LandWISE Advanced Farming Systems project, what the various farmers are achieving with Precision Ag and the benefits of Controlled Traffic. About 35 visitors attended and saw John’s Trimble GPS guidance at work in mechanical weeding of beetroot seed. And then viewed the strip tillage trial which is in carrot seed production.

John spoke frankly about the warts and all of adopting Precision Agriculture. The principle benefits to him are in reducing overlaps and wasteage and in being able to solve weed control and herbicide efficacy challenges by mechanically weeding. As he becomes more precise with planting, he finds that his demand is lifting for still further precision, so that he can weed closer and faster.

Thanks to John and Jack Evans and FAR.
For further information: Call James on 06 6504531 or 0272 757757, email james@landwise.org.nz or see www.landwise.org.nz for updates.