Category Archives: Precision Agriculture

AgTech, Nutrients, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Soil

Fertiliser Spreader Calibration

Leave a comment

We successfully completed our SFF project “On-farm Fertiliser Spreader Calibration” and launched the online tool, www.fertspread.nz earlier this year.

Some key messages:

  • Our testing found wide performance variation
  • Most new machines do a good job if set up correctly
  • Caution is essential spreading blended fertilisers or when bout widths exceed 30 m
  • Visible striping indicates > 40% application variability and at least a 20% yield penalty.
  • Fertiliser ballistics play a critical role
Setting out a line of catch trays to test fertiliser application uniformity
Driving over a line of catch trays

We ran a number of workshops from Waikato to Ashburton reaching a wide range of farmers and industry people. Information, training handouts and how-to YouTube video clips are on the LandWISE website. See www.fertspread.nz for the on-line calculator and field recording sheets.

We are grateful for strong support from Miles Grafton and Ian Yule at Massey University.

This project was co-funded by the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR), the Fertiliser Association (FertResearch) and MPI Sustainable Farming Fund.

More at www.landwise.org.nz/projects/fert-calibration

AgTech, Automation, LandWISE People, Precision Agriculture

NZ AgTech meets Silicon Valley

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 11th 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

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)
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.
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

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
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
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.

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

Technology to Reduce N Leaching

Leave a comment

N-Leach_WorkshopThe 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 1st September 2016 [PDF here]

and

Ellwood Centre, Hastings on Friday 2nd 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.

PAANZ2

Offer to PAANZ Members

As part of the Hastings program only on 2nd 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 22nd August 2016 after which time the opportunity to participate will be made available to non-members.

AgTech, Drainage, Precision Agriculture

UAV Regulations To Know

Leave a comment

Guidance for Operating Your Drone Safely

Simon Morris

Simon Morris

Altus UAS

 

 

Most people will have heard about UAV’s or drones (officially RPAS) and many know of the existence of regulations here in New Zealand, but few know exactly what the rules are and who they apply to.

Two websites offer particularly helpful information for users of UAVs or RPAS:

www.caa.govt.nz/rpas/

This is the dedicated webpage of Civil Aviation, the controlling authority. Information about Parts to Civil Aviation Rules that relate directly to RPAS are:

  • Part 101 Gyrogliders and Parasails, Unmanned Aircraft (including Balloons), Kites, and Rockets – Operating Rules, and
  • Part 102 Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certification.

Operators of RPAS also need to be aware of other rules that affect them, for example Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules.

www.airshare.co.nz

Airshare acts as a UAV hub for New Zealand. It has information including how to operate your drone safely, plan all your UAV flights, and request access to controlled airspace.

You can find maps on the site showing where you can and cannot fly your UAV

NOTE   The information contained on Airshare is not to be relied on as a substitute for a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant rules and regulations that apply to the operation of UAVs. It is the UAV operator’s responsibility to read, understand and operate any UAVs in accordance with the Civil Aviation Rules.

AgTech, Automation, Precision Agriculture

Digital Agriculture – Challenges and Risks

Leave a comment

Associated Technologies Including Robotics

TristanPerez1

 

Tristan Perez, Queensland University of Technology

 

There is big hype at the moment about big data, big-data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Some of these terms are starting to make it into agriculture, especially when we consider the potential impact of data flows from an integrated value chain.

There is little doubt that the judicious application of some of these concepts and associated technologies will be transformational to the agricultural industry. However, there are also some risks.

In this talk, I  attempted to define some of the terms above using simple examples within the agricultural context and discuss how the associated technologies including robotics could be applied.

I  also highlighted the challenges and risks associated with generating and using data without appropriate regard for the underlying management problems we seek to address.

AgTech, MicroFarm, Plant Health, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Sensing

Mapping Onion Canopies

Leave a comment

Investigating Technologies to Map Onion Crop Development

DanBloomer200

 

Dan Bloomer and Justin Pishief – Centre for Land and Water

 

The OnionsNZ/SFF Project “Benchmarking Variability in Onion Crops” is investigating technologies to map onion crop development. The purpose is to better understand variability and to gather information to inform tactical and strategic decision making.

An AgriOptics survey provided a Soil EM map of the MicroFarm which was used as a base data layer and helped select positions for Plant & Food’s research plots.

As the crop developed, repeated canopy surveys used a GreenSeeker NDVI sensor and CoverMap, a Smartphone application. Both were mounted side by side on a tractor fitted with sub-metre accuracy GPS.  Altus UAS provided UAV survey data including MicaSense imagery with five colour bands captured. A mid-season 0.5 m pixel NDVI satellite image was captured.

Both ground based systems had difficulty recording very small plants. GreenSeeker data were dominated by soil effects until a significant canopy was present. Once plants could be seen in photographs, the CoverMap system was able to distinguish between plants and soil.

Direct photos of Plant & Food plots were processed to calculate apparent ground cover. A very strong relationship was found between these and actual plant measurements of fresh leaf weight and leaf area index – both strongly correlated to final crop size.

Attempts to directly correlate the map layers with Plant & Food field plot measurements were frustrated by inadequate or inaccurate image location. Onion crops have been found highly variable over small distances. The GreenSeeker only records a reading every four or five metres, and CoverMap about every 1.5 m. Compounded by errors of a metre or more, finding a measurement to match a 0.5 m bed plot was not possible. Similarly, the UAV and satellite images, while able to identify plots, did not initially show correlations.

Using ArcGIS, fishnets were constructed over the various canopy data layers and correlations between them found at 5 m and 10 m grids. The 10 m grid appears to collect enough data points even for the GreenSeeker to provide a reasonable if not strong correlation with other canopy layers.  Similar processes are being used to compare soil and canopy data.

After one season of capture, there appears to be merit in using an optical canopy cover assessment as plants develop. Once full canopy is achieved, the NDVI or a similar index may be better. Colour image analysis will be tested as a method of recording crop top-down as a measure of maturity and storage potential.

We were not successful in mapping yield directly, but did identify a process for creating a yield map based on earlier crop canopy data.

Agronomy, AgTech, Drainage, MicroFarm, Nutrients, Plant Health, Planting, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing, Soil, Water

Profit Mapping Variability in Onions

Leave a comment

Profit Bands Across A Paddock

 Justin Pishief

Justin Pishief and Dan Bloomer
Centre for Land and Water

 

As part of the Onions NZ project “Benchmarking Variability in Onion Crops” a process was developed to generate yield and profit maps. This presentation explains the process using the example of a 7.3 ha paddock in Hawke’s Bay.

Data from a satellite image captured in late November were used to identify high, medium and low biomass zones.  Paddock yield samples were taken from these zones at harvest and used to generate a paddock yield map. The average yield of the paddock was estimated at 95 t/ha, with a predicted total field harvest of 669 tonnes. This compares to the grower recorded harvest of 614 tonnes.

The relative yield data were combined with grower supplied costs and returns to determine gross margins across the paddock. Data were mapped in ArcGIS and a Gross Margin map with five “profit bands” produced. The highest band had a mean Gross Margin of $11,884/ha compared to the lowest at $3,225/ha.

The breakeven gross margin yield is estimated to be 62.5 t/ha at current costs and prices. The estimated cost to business of low performing areas is $27,945, assuming the whole paddock could achieve the top band mean yield.

The poorest performing areas were identified by the grower as impacted by a failed council drain and areas of slowed drainage in the main paddock areas. An OptiSurface® assessment using historic HBRC LiDAR elevation data analysed of the impact of ponding on the site and also suggested ponding was a significant issue.

An OptiSurface® landform assessment was conducted using both single plain and optimised surface designs and the soil movement required to allow effective surface drainage was determined.

The assessment showed ponding could be avoided by land shaping with 224 m3/ha soil movement and few areas requiring more than 100 mm cut or fill. The cost is estimated at $2,000/ha or approximately $14,000 total.

Agronomy, AgTech, MicroFarm, Plant Health, Planting, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing

Enhancing Value of New Zealand Onions

Leave a comment

Onions New Zealand Research project

 

Dr Jane Adams
Research and Innovation Manager, Onions New Zealand Inc.

The New Zealand onion industry expects to further develop high value export markets, particularly in Asia, which could see its exports double to $200million by 2025. To realise these export opportunities the industry needs to improve efficiency and consistency of production and reliably supply high quality onions.

Currently industry average yields for brown onions vary between 33 and 50t/ha depending on season, which are significantly below demonstrated potential average yields of 100t/ha. Competition for productive land mean growers must maximise both productivity and crop value, while also meeting requirements to sustainably use resources and minimise environment impacts.

To help the industry achieve these objectives Onions New Zealand developed a project ‘Enhancing the profitability and value of NZ onions’, in collaboration with LandWISE Inc and Plant and Food Research, to understand causes of low yields and variable quality of onion crops and to develop tools to help growers monitor and manage crops. The project received additional funding from Ministry of Primary Industries Sustainable Farming Fund and commenced in July 2015.

In the first season of the project a crop of cv Rhinestone onions was grown on the LandWISE MicroFarm to allow easy access for both LandWISE and Plant and Food Research scientists to assess crop development and test methods and tools for monitoring the crop and environment at regular intervals.

Four monitoring zones were established across the trial paddock for detailed measurement of plant growth and crop development. Several tools and techniques were tested for obtaining digital data of site and crop attributes. 

An important part of the project is the involvement of local growers in discussion of progress results and use of monitoring tools and advice on crop management.