Category Archives: Precision Agriculture

AgTech, Automation, Precision Agriculture, Research

Sprout: Accelerating New Technologies

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AgTech Start-ups

Stu BradburyStu Bradbury, Tom Rivett and Julian McCurd

Sprout is a start-up accelerator programme delivered by The BCC, Building Clever Companies in Palmerston North. The programme is designed to inspire, inform and support the next generation of Ag Tech start-ups.

Every year Sprout selects eight Ag Tech start-ups. Over 20 weeks the start-ups and entrepreneurs receive funding, alongside world class mentoring and training from leaders in technology, research and business growth.

Companies receive unparalleled access to the New Zealand and global farming network to validate and grow their businesses. At the end of the programme start-ups will have an opportunity to pitch to a hand-picked group of investors, corporate partners and potential customers to support the continuation of the rapid progress achieved through the Sprout programme.

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

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

Agronomy, AgTech, Nutrients, Plant Health, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research

On-Farm Fertiliser Applicator Calibration

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Guidance for farmers – check performance of fertiliser spreading

DanBloomer200

Dan Bloomer
LandWISE

Fertiliser application calibration procedures suitable for farmers applying nutrients with their own equipment have been developed.  Guidelines and a web-based calculator (see www.fertspread.nz) support on-farm checks to ensure and demonstrate application equipment is performing to expectations.

Farmers and agronomists had noticed striping in crops, especially when spreading bout widths increased to match wide sprayer bouts. Visible striping is indicative of very significant non-uniform distribution and yield loss.

A calibration check includes assessment and correcting of both application rate (kg/ha) and uniformity (CV). Farmers indicate determining the rate is reasonably easy and commonly done. Very few report completing any form of uniformity assessment.

FertSpread calculates uniformity from data from a single pass and mathematically applies overlap using both to and fro and round and round driving patterns. Test spread-pattern checks performed to date show there is a need for wider testing by farmers. Unacceptable CVs and incorrect application rates are the norm.

Fertiliser applicator manufacturers provide guidelines to calibrate equipment and some newer machines automatically adjust to correct distribution pattern based on product properties and comparing a test catch with “factory” test data.

The efficiency of catch trays is called into question. While we believe the collection tray data is acceptable to assess evenness of application, the application rate should be determined by direct measurement of weight applied to determined area.  Weighing samples involves very small quantities so scales weighing to 0.01g are required. Satisfactory options are readily available at reasonable price.

An alternative approach uses small measuring cylinders or syringe bodies to compare applied volumes. While not able to assess alternative driving patterns, this can give a direct and very visual immediate view of performance.

The Sustainable Farming Fund “On-Farm Fertiliser Applicator Calibration” project arose from repeated requests by farmers for a quick and simple way to check performance of fertiliser spreading by themselves or contractors. It was co-funded by the Foundation for Arable Research and the Fertiliser Association.

Agronomy, AgTech, Irrigation, Precision Agriculture, Sensing, Soil

Farmers getting value from soil EM maps

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Chris SmithChris Smith
AgriOptics NZ Ltd

An electromagnetic (EM) soil conductivity Survey maps the variability in soils characteristics; these values are strongly influenced by many factors but mainly soil texture, soil moisture at the time of the survey as well as bulk density and salinity.

Combining this data with topography data collected at the time of the survey gives the farmer a powerful management tool for creating management zones for various aspects of his business, including amongst other things; managing water, zonal soil sampling, improving yield and pasture performance where soil characteristics are the limiting factors, managing inputs to targeted placement, highlighting and reducing the environmental impacts or risks.

AgriOptics has been conducting EM surveys since 2011, with various clients and in many differing scenarios and enterprises, covering over 20,000ha in that time.

This presentation explained what an EM survey is and what information the farmer receives from the service and how the different layers of data from that survey are being utilised by farmers in the South Island with both its direct and indirect uses, and how that translates into a dollar value to those clients.  Examples of both dairy and arable farmers each with not only common goals but their own specific issues and requirements were given.

Plant Health, Precision Agriculture

Increasing on-farm productivity and sustainability through Precision Agriculture

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John McPhee
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Burnie

A project involving an industry representative group, the private sector, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture and collaborating growers aims to facilitate uptake of PA technologies, with a focus on the vegetable industry.  Through the use of six commercial farm case study sites spread across a range of soil types and cropping enterprises, the project aims to:

  • raise awareness and increase knowledge of PA to aid adoption
  • identify and raise awareness of on-farm variability of soils and crops
  • provide advice regarding variable crop management and application of inputs
  • share experiences and develop networks

Project activities in the first year have focused on:

  • accumulating pre-existing data layers (primarily EM38 and elevation derived layers) and mapping case study sites for soil pH
  • collecting NDVI imagery for use as a scouting tool to aid crop management
  • sample harvests to determine the variability of crop yield and quality in a range of crops
  • planning and holding a PA Expo, allowing service providers and technology dealers to promote their products to the agricultural community

A major limitation at this stage is the relative lack of access to yield monitoring equipment for most vegetable harvesters.

In the first season of field work, harvest samples have been collected from accurately surveyed points in crops at densities ranging from 1 – 5 per ha.  Data from these harvest samples show that the variation in crop yields ranged from 2.2 fold in the best case (poppies) to nine fold in the worst case (processing potatoes).  Data will be analysed to determine correlations between crop yield and quality and underlying characteristics derived from map layers (e.g. EM38).

All sample points are located with RTK accuracy to allow inter-season sampling from the same locations (either manually or with yield monitors as they become more available) to determine if yield responses are consistent between seasons and crops.

Drainage, Irrigation, Precision Agriculture, Soil

Precision Agriculture in Tasmania

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Where are we getting value?

RobbieToleRob Tole, Farmer
Greenvale Pastoral, Tasmania

Rob and his wife, Eliza, are now the fourth generation farming Greenvale, which was traditionally, a 100% dryland, prime lamb operation. It is now a diversified farming business with an extensive cropping program and a small breeding flock of crossbred ewes which are run alongside a lamb trading operation.

The farm has a long term average rainfall of 680mm and is now 60% covered with fixed pivot irrigators, reducing the risks of dry seasons. Soil types range from very heavy black canola running up to lighter sandy loams.

Over recent years, extensive development work has been put into practice.  Technology has been implemented into the farming system to gain efficiencies in production and labour, such as livestock handling equipment, variable rate irrigation, Fieldnet, RTK guidance NDVI images underground drainage and grid soil mapping.

The introduction of PA has been implemented over a decade but in recent years the adoption of VRI and NDVI has taken this to a new level. It dramatically altered the way we view our crop management and has opened up many opportunities to increase production but at the same time reduce inputs

The operation now has a well-balanced irrigation system complementing the cropping and lamb production, allowing turn off lambs all year round.

Precision Agriculture

Variable rate technology – a collective approach

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Variable rate technology in vegetables – a collective approach

Ben Moore

DJM Farming, Fassifern Valley, Kalbar, Queensland

Ben Moore is part of a small family mixed cropping operation (vegetables, grains and fodder) situated in the Fassifern Valley, approximately 90km south west of Brisbane, Queensland.

Ben is a member of a small local vegetable grower group that has been working towards the implementation of precision technologies, in particular variable rate technology for the past 2 years. This group has been involved in a larger project exploring the value that precision agriculture technologies provide to vegetable systems.

The group has been able to purchase a range of technologies that are shared by group members.  This includes crop biomass sensors, yield monitors and variable rate equipment.  Through the application of these technologies DJM Farming has gained more detailed understanding of the variability within their farming operation.

The range of precision technologies they now have access to has provided them with multiple data layers to assess spatial variability, develop strategies to manage it and obtain cost benefit data to assess the value of any intervention.

The presentation provided some background on the members of the vegetable grower group as well as some detail about DJM Farming’s journey to implement precision and variable rate technologies.

AgTech, Precision Agriculture, Research, Sensing

Turning precision data into knowledge for vegetable systems

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JulieOHalloran1Julie O’Halloran

 Senior Development Horticulturist, Horticulture and Forestry Science Agri-Science Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Queensland vegetable growers and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have been collaborating to adapt precision agriculture technologies into vegetable systems for the last two years.  This work has focused on 3 key areas: assessing spatial variability, implementing variable rate technologies and yield monitoring.  Significant spatial variability has been successfully identified in Queensland vegetable systems using a range of crop sensing technologies (e.g Satellite, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and tractor mounted Greenseeker®).

Ground truthing the underlying causal factors of this variability has proven critical to enable informed decision making to manage block uniformity. These ground truthing activities have focused on EM38 soil mapping to understand any inherent soil variability, mapping of cut and fill areas, crop sensing imagery, strategic soil sampling programs and monitoring pest, diseases, irrigation and drainage.

While within block biomass and yield variability can be inferred from crop sensing data, it is ideal to measure yield itself.  The measurement of yield variability is currently being trialed in carrot, sweet potato and potato production in Queensland using retrofitted load-cell based, geo-referenced yield monitors.  Primarily, this provides growers with a quantitative data set of the spatial and temporal nature of yield variances and the cost of lost yield potential.

Additionally, it allows growers to cost benefit analyses of potential management interventions to improve under performing areas and make decisions as to whether these are likely to be cost effective.  This presentation will highlight the undertake outcomes from a range of variable rate applications and how multiple data layers can be used to manage crops to address spatial variability.

AgTech, Precision Agriculture

John Deere Conference Special

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

JohnDeereSpecialOffer

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

Download Offer Brochure

 

AgTech, LandWISE People, Precision Agriculture, Research

Sprout Accelerator

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Sprout

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just three more exciting offerings at LandWISE 2016!

Register here>

Precision Agriculture

Trans-Tasman Rivalry at LandWISE 2016

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QuizPanel

Disputes between horticultural interests on either side of the Tasman will be settled once and for all until the next time at the LandWISE Conference Dinner.

Cross “7 Days” with a sub-tropical vegetable and what do you get?

An intense debate between main and dessert courses will pit teams from east and west of Lord Howe Island. Three of the finest growers and agronomists from each camp will line up before adjudicator Ian Layden.

A true Queensland patriot and government agent, Ian is totally unbiased and will ensure a fair fight. “I’ve done this a lot”, he says. “It’s a great deal of fun!” “You won’t see any overarm tactics from our side”, he adds.

Make up of the Kiwi team is a closely guarded secret and will not be announced until immediately before the contest. Rumours indicate this is because the New Zealand camp leader has been away a lot and may not have contacted eligible contestants. This has been denied.

With record numbers registering for LandWISE 2016, there will be plenty of witnesses available to assert their side was the true winner on the night.

Delegates can also look forward to a full array of excellent presenters, a great chance to chat with colleagues and make new contacts and watch an airshow displaying UAVs from 1 kg to 64 kg.

We thank our loyal sponsors for their support for LandWISE 2016

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Thanks to Our Loyal Platinum Sponsors!
Thanks to Our Loyal Platinum Sponsors!