Category Archives: Projects

Plant Health, Projects, Research

Understanding Biology and Biofertilisers

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Smart Biology – Trial on your own Farm

MerfieldCharles Merfield

Future Farming Centre

There has been a phenomenal growth of biostimulants and biological fertilisers. A wide range of claims are made for these products and it can be hard for farmers and growers to tell fact from fiction.  Unfortunately, there is no rule of thumb or other simple way to separate good from bogus products: the only way is to do experimental trials.

The good news is that you don’t need lots of expensive research equipment for such experiments – the best place to do them is on your crops, your pasture and your stock.  This is because in many cases, the effects of the products are highly climate, soil, plant and animal specific – what works on one farm may not work on others.

The answers you get will also have the highest level of applicability to your business.  This is also why you should be wary of experimental results that weren’t done on a production system similar to your own property – they may be meaningless to your property.

Conducting your own experiments is also not that difficult.  There are some key things to get right including: treatments; a null control; the right duration; make sure it’s randomised and replicated, and measure what matters.

While there is a bit to learn to get such experiments right, it is not rocket science, and when you do your own experiments you can also discover a lot more about your farming and growing systems which can help you run your business better plus it puts more power in your hands.

For more information, see the on-line FFC Bulletin article or download as a pdf.

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, Automation, Controlled Traffic Systems, MicroFarm, Planting, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing

Trans-Tasman Grower Day

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Looking for answers - LandWISE 2015
Looking for answers – LandWISE 2015

What’s the Trans-Tasman Day about?

Given there are two dozen top Australian growers, agronomists and researchers joining us for our conference, arranging more time to discuss issues of interest was too good an opportunity to pass up.

The programme for the day is less structured than a normal conference day.  The morning is inside discussion, the afternoon getting out and about. But it does follow two days of conference, so we’ll be well primed.

We will spend time discussing some key crops – onions and potatoes included – and importantly technologies we can use to better understand and manage them.

We aim to identify areas of common interest and possible collaboration. What topics are relevant in both countries? What joint research opportunities are there? Where to from here?

After lunch we travel to a local farm, True Earth Organics, where Scott and Vicki Lawson and staff grow and pack a range of field, vegetable and berry crops. From there we go to a local major vegetable processing factory to view the next stage in the value chain.

Register here>

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Agronomy, AgTech, Automation, Controlled Traffic Systems, LandWISE People, MicroFarm, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing, Soil, Water

Excellent LandWISE 2016 Conference Speakers

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We published the list and short biographies of our invited speakers today. We are again privileged to have an extremely knowledgeable group representing farmers, technologists and researchers from both sides of the Tasman Sea.

Conference keynotes and new LandWISE Australians include Ian Layden and Julie O’Halloran, precision horticulture researchers and extension specialists from the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

Ian and Julie are leading a group of two dozen top growers and agronomists for a week of related events built around the LandWISE Conference. Queensland farmer Ben Moore and Tasmanian farmer Robbie Tole will present their own experiences investigating precision horticulture opportunities.

Returning LandWISE Australians are Tristan Perez from Queensland University of Technology and John McPhee from the University of Tasmania. Tristan will update us on progress with weeding robot AgBot II and Harvey the capsicum picker. John will tell us about precision horticulture research underway in Tasmania.

Parallel work is being done in New Zealand. Look for reports from  Plant and Food researchers Sarah Sinton, Paul Johnstone and long serving LandWISE Board member Bruce Searle. Chris Smith from AgriOptics, Jane Adams of OnionsNZ and LandWISE’s Dan Bloomer and Justin Pishief will overlay a series of precision cropping and related topics.  Charles Merfield from the Future Farming Centre will give a review of biostimulants and related technologies – a different aspect of the agritech revolution.

Rounding out Day 1 are agritech accelerator Sprout Entrepreneur in Residence Stu Bradbury and two accelerating companies represented by Tom Rivett and Julian McCurdy.

Day 2 has a focus on value from data and robotics. We hear a lot about “big data” and “value chains”: what are they? Alistair Mowat, James Beech and Megan Cushnahan will tell us how they and others are getting real value, and where there’s still value to be tapped. Roger Williams will outline how Plant and Food is investing in digital horticulture research.

Lincoln Agritech’s Armin Werner has been a regular attendee at LandWISE. This year he takes the stage with a global review of field robotics and weeding technologies in particular. Kit Wong will tell us about Callaghan Innovation development of systems for machine vision to manage onion crops.

David Herries of Interpine will take us to a different sector and explain how UAVs are giving value in forest research and management.  And rounding it all up, Simon Morris of ALtus UAS will make sure we understand the regulations governing our use of this still new but very powerful technology.

So come to LandWISE 2016: the value of smart farming. Have you mind expanded, your knowledge updated and your excitement kindled. Mix and mingle with leaders in farming, agronomy and agtech!

Conference programme here>

Speaker biographies here>

Conference registration here>

 

Agronomy, Controlled Traffic Systems, MicroFarm, Planting, Projects, Research, Soil, Tillage

Winter Cover Crops Established

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This winter we have established both Caliente Mustard and Oats in paddocks 1 and 2, the site of our last two years of summer onions.

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Oats and Mustard well established 12 days after drilling

The ground had not had onions before 2014-2015 as far as we know. We grew our second crop in succession in 2015-2016.

Our plan is to grow onions for a third year, and to pay attention to the development of weeds, pests and diseases. Plant and Food Research reported some evidence of “Pink Root” in a few plants while harvesting samples of the 2015-2016 crop.

After harvest, Gerry and John Steenkamer ripped the beds, leaving the wheel tracks. This is step 1 of a route into permanent bed cropping at the MicroFarm.

Unfortunately, the alignment of the main AB line for the entire block did not match the buried drip irrigation installed some years ago, and it has been damaged beyond repair.

Mike Kettle Contracting drilling oats and mustard
Mike Kettle Contracting drilling oats and mustard

After ripping, Mike Kettle Contracting power harrowed the paddocks to about 100mm to reduce the rubbley surface. The Caliente and Oats were drilled by Kettle Contracting on 16 March.

We chose a split-paddock planting, with Caliente on the northern side and oats on the south. This repeats last winter’s pattern, so we will have two years of onions followed by either Caliente or Oats when we establish the 2016-2017 crop.

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Caliente emerging on 23 March, 7 days after planting
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Oats emerging on 23 March, 7 days after planting

Many thanks to True Earth Organics for supplying the Caliente seed, and to G & J Steenkamer and Mike Kettle for groundwork and drilling.

 

Agronomy, Projects, Research

Onion Crop Harvested

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The MicroFarm onion crop was lifted on 3rd February and harvested on 13th February prior to promised rain.  Many thanks to Gerry and John Steenkamer for providing equipment and staff to do these tasks.

We don’t have final yields yet, but the load out was about 70 tonnes per hectare.

Here is a simple photo essay showing some of the scenes from the ground and from our UAV.

Lifting

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Harvesting

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And off to the packhouse

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Agronomy, Automation, MicroFarm, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing

Scouting by Consumer UAV

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Consumer UAVs are increasingly seen as farm tools.  Some come with camera and packaged tech for easy flying, pretty much straight out of the box.

But before you leap in, please be aware there are RULES.

We suggest you spend time on the AirShare www.airshare.co.nz and CAA www.caa.govt.nz/rpas/ websites before you get started.  Designed specifically for UAV users they have easy to digest information setting out what you can and cannot do.

DJI Phantom 3

Our package came with all equipment, an extra battery and optional propeller guards packed in a tough custom carry case.  The camera is on a gimbal for steady shots, panning and tilting. Zoom in by getting closer!

A downloaded smartphone or tablet app shows flight information such as height, position and battery charge and lets you see exactly what the camera sees with no delay.

In windy conditions, we achieved about 13 minutes of flight time rather than the 23 minutes stated for each battery charge. Rules say you must be able to see the aircraft with your own eyes so you are probably limited to under 100ha. You could make a reasonable inspection in that time.

Peas and onions from 30m Web

We used the UAV to scout at the LandWISE MicroFarm. Viewed from 30m up, crop variation is immediately obvious.  Pea flowering striping seems to match drill widths. We had variable emergence too so ponder the link. Sprayer runs are visible too.

On the onion side we see thinner areas to the bottom right, and patches where Plant & Food have harvested sample plants as part of our joint OnionsNZ research project.

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Viewed from directly overhead we see more of Plant & Food’s research plots, some harvested and some still being followed through to final harvest. The image indicates all these plots are within a reasonably good and even part of the crop.

To the bottom right, a lower wetter area shows lower populations where plants are smaller and fewer made it through establishment.

OnionsFromUAV_CloseUp45_web

Dropping to a metre of two above the crop and tilting the camera, we see up close. Because we are seeing what the camera is seeing, we can choose exactly what we want to check and go there immediately.

So we’ve scouted the whole paddock, had a closer look here and there, and if we need to, we can walk to the spots we want to check in detail. The thing is, we know where we should be looking.

Agronomy, MicroFarm, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research, Sensing

Satellite Imagery

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A large part of Heretaunga Plains horticulture was photographed for us by satellite at the end of November.

World View 2 satellite coverage of the Heretaunga Plains on 23 November 2105
World View 2 satellite coverage of the Heretaunga Plains on 23 November 2105

Part of our OnionsNZ Variability project, the World View 2 coverage targeted our crop and other onion crops east of Hastings.

By capturing four bands of light, Blue, Green, Red and Near Infrared, we are able to get a “normal” colour image like an aerial photo, and a biomass map using the NDVI index.

The satellite image pixel size in 0.5m x 0.5m, so we get at least two pixels across each onion bed.

World View 2 NDVI image captured 23 november 2015 of MicroFarm onion and vining pea crops
World View 2 NDVI image captured 23 November 2015 of MicroFarm onion and vining pea crops

In the NDVI image, the onion crop is lower left paddock, the vining peas upper right. Red areas indicate low or no biomass, yellow light, green moderate and blue heavy cover. Note however that the value of each colour is slightly different for each crop.

Because the pea canopy is full ground cover while the onions are only roughly half ground cover, we had to use different value bands to see variation within each crop. If we used the same range, either the peas would all be blue, or the onions mostly yellow and red.

The striping effect in the onions is the onion beds. Some adjacent beds have quite different canopy densities.  The red edge around the onions is bare soil and light canopy in the outer beds. The blue area in the centre is influenced by charcoal from an old bonfire site. Even taking these things into account, there is a reasonably large amount of variation in this crop.

Red spots in the pea crop are patches with no plants. The red headlands show light canopy areas and the red strip centre right the irrigator access track. There are three different seed lines of Ashton peas making up the pea crop. These are not discernable in the satellite image. The crop was harvested on 14 December, and there was no significant difference seen in hand harvested plots or in the viner.

Agronomy, Planting, Projects, Research

Flowering Patterns in Process Pea Paddocks

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LandWISE farmers and processors want to increase vining pea yields, and importantly reliably higher yields. Last year many farms growing processing pea crops exceeded 10t/ha. But regularly crop yields are less than half that.

PodFillWe have been trying to determine factors controlling plant density, flowering, pod number, pea number and fill in process crops. Unlike seed peas, vining peas are harvested before the life cycle is complete. Any variation in maturity causes yield loss – both quantity and quality.

A small trial at the MicroFarm saw three lines of Ashton pea seed planted on the same day, using the same drill, seeking to achieve the same plant density of 110 plants/m2.

Sub-plots in each line were covered in Cosio cover mesh or an open bird netting to remove the effect of birds stealing seed or seedlings. This is important because recent years have seen a major increase in bird numbers and damage. We had 60 pigeons eating a 1ha crop. One farm shot 600 pigeons on one crop in one day and there were still hundreds eating.

At emergence, striping effects were immediately noticeable. We attribute this to drill settings because it repeated at the same spacing across the paddock. Half the width emerged later than the rest. What surprised us was the length of delay in some areas, plants emerging up to three weeks behind.

Variable coulter depth at planting leads to smaller canopy and delayed flowering
Variable coulter depth at planting seen in delayed emergence, smaller canopy and delayed flowering

On enquiry, we found the coulters were set differently to account for the area compacted by the tractor tyres versus uncompacted/untrafficked areas. The settings were clearly incorrect!

The trouble with this kind of issue is the delay in observing the problem.  In the period between planting this crop and our observation, many, many other crops could have been planted, all to suffer a similar problem.

How big is the problem?

We’ll take samples from the three seed lines, the cover options and the planter positions just before harvest. We’ll determine their yields and see what variation we find.

Agronomy, Nutrients, Precision Agriculture, Projects, Research

Fertiliser Calibration Resources Available

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Development of procedures and resources for on-farm fertiliser spreader application checks have been completed. A trial workshop was run with farmers in Dunsandel and resources are available on-line.

The emphasis of the project is ensuring the right amount of fertiliser is evenly spread. The rate is check by dividing the amount applied by the area covered. Determining evenness is trickier.

Like international systems and SpreadMark, pattern testing relies on sample collection in catch trays and mathematical analysis. A line of trays is laid across the path of travel, fertiliser collected and weighed, and data analysed.

Tray layout for a spreader pattern testTray layout for a spreader pattern test

To help the maths and reporting, an on-line calculator has been developed. This is publicly available at www.fertspread.nz.

The spreader test procedures will be presented at workshops at the FAR Waikato Arable Research Site on 10 December 2015, at Arable Y’s in Ashburton in April 2016. Other opportunities will be advised as confirmed.

More information and downloads available on the LandWISE website.