Precision Ag. Back to Basics

Transcription

1 Precision Ag Back to Basics Nicole Rabe (Land Resource Specialist OMAFRA) Mike Wilson (CCA-ON, Advanced Agronomy Solutions Manager - Thompsons Limited)

2 What is Precision Agriculture a management system that is information and technology based, is site specific and uses one or more of the following sources of data: soils, crops, nutrients, pests, moisture, or yield, for optimum profitability, sustainability, and protection of the environment Source: NRCS Support for Emerging Technologies (2003 & 2007) Technical Note 11/21/2014 2

3 Trends in Precision Agriculture Open Ag Data Alliance (OADA) 11/21/2014 3

4 Why precision ag? 1. Your operation, your farm, your field goals Cut your input investment with out sacrificing yield Increase yield by increasing crop inputs Invest in the soil with the right amount Farming with Average s Over application Wasting $$$ Environmental Impact Yield vs. Inputs Under Application Loss of Yield inputs 0 Low Productivity Areas Medium Productivity Areas High Productivity Areas Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

5 Technology will change our Future 450 Yield vs. Inputs Targeting Maximum Yield Potential Very little Waste 50 0 Low Productivity Areas Medium Productivity Areas High Productivity Areas Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

6 Today vs. Tomorrow 450 Current Yield & Inputs vs. Yield Goal & Inputs Required Low Productivity Areas Medium Productivity Areas High Productivity Areas Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

7 Why Precision Ag (con td )Blooms 2. Environmental goals 3. Social license to farm at risk?????? - Perception or fact? - How will ag sector respond to more scrutiny on nutrient management by public? Agricultural land represents about 70% of the Lake Erie watershed in Ontario. Urban areas (5%), wetlands (10%) and natural areas (15%) make up the remaining. Source: AAFC Mid 1990s blooms begin to appear again since 1970s 2011 worst algal bloom in Lake Erie history 2014 harmful bloom, impacts drinking water supply Toledo & Pelee Island Western Lake Erie basic most severe bloom in recent years 7

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10 Additional Commitments Involving Ontario A Collaborative Agreement was signed by the Premier of Ontario and the Governors of Michigan and Ohio in June The agreement commits to a 40% phosphorus reduction target for Lake Erie s Western Basin with the following timelines: 20% reduction by 2020; 40% reduction by 2025 Crop Sector Land Area (Million Acres) Total 12.7 Field Crops 8.90 Hort Crops 0.20 Greenhouse 0.03 Pasture 1.60 Other 1.97 Agricultural land represents about 70% of the Lake Erie watershed in Ontario. 10

11 Up to $25,000 in cost-share funding available

12 Precision Applications: Crop Nutrient Plans Soil and manure testing, mapping, zones 5 year plan of conservative fertilizer use Tillage and Equipment Modifications Tire deflation systems Planter modifications for fertilizer placement

13 Where and How do we start Precision Ag Approach? Yield Elevation Hydrologic Slope Value High : 1.0 peak or ridge, dry Low : 0.0 stream channel or pit (wet) Soil Remote Sensing Soybeans Sept 4, 2013

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15 Zone Based Field Management allows us to achieve these goals! We can reduce cost in specific areas with out harming yield We can build other areas back up to acceptable levels to increase yield, or to have a soil reserve there when we need it. We can apply product only where needed to reduce input costs We can apply different products in different areas to maximize the potential of each product and our input investment. This process Matches the 4R s approach perfectly. Sustainably and Profitably

16 Case Study: Zone Management & Profitability Chatham-Kent

17 PA Step 1: Collect Data (The key to our future success) Couple years of yield data + Elevation data off guidance system or a D.S.M. from a UAV flight + Soil sampling

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19 PA Step 2: Integrate Data to make management zones Yield + Elevation + Soil Sampling Integrated Analysis Management Zones Evolutionary Build

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21 PA Step 3: Grower knowledge Management Zone Map Revisions Review with your agronomist Crop Input Recommendations Prescription Map for Product Application

22 Review with Your Agronomist. Review the Zones created from your data to determine their validity. Grower knowledge is crucial to success especially in the early stages. Review Operations goals and discuss how to properly implement an input strategy. Determine Crop Yield goals to accurately recommend nutrient rates Determine which Fertilizer Recommendation Strategy is to be used (Sufficiency approach or the Build and Maintenance method) VR Application allows us to do both in a field at the same time! Discuss all other nutrient sources that are planed to be applied to the field this season and adjust our application rates accordingly. Work through application method and timing to be compliant with a 4R strategy. Review Cost of application to ensure you are on track with Cost of production calculations and profitability goals

23 Building a Crop Input Recommendation We must matches the goals of the Operation!

24 Phosphorus Example: Removal of 200 bu corn: 200 x.41 lbs. = 82 lbs. P lbs. /.52 = 158 lbs./acre of MAP We are saving where Phosphorous is high by applying 30 lbs of Map less than the removal requirement. We are building the Phosphorus Levels in the Low ground by applying 80# s of extra Map. The Total recommendation is 10 lbs per acre of product less than the removal value.

25 Straight Show Rate MAP vs. Difference Variable map Rate Comparison

26 PA Step 4: Implement Rx Maps Check as-applied maps Harvest Debrief & post-harvest analysis

27 Validating Prescription Maps How do you know the prescription for crop inputs was correct? Implement checks in two ways: Strips Blocks Dry fertilizer 80ft wide passes = 3 passes with 20ft combine header

28 2015 Rx Map Nitrogen full length strips Farm GIS Desktop software Strips not preprogrammed Operator toggles to full rate or none Managing your own data Requires training Analysis after harvest more involved because each zone needs a yield result

29 2015 Rx Map Nitrogen small strips Farm GIS Desktop software pre-programmed VR-N zones + checks operator places checks in map based on equipment size Semi-automated reporting after harvest requires investment in training

30 Small Blocks Online system with secure user account Less real estate in checks Less frontage for replicated trials required Pre-programmed into Rx map by client or done by your consultant Applied automatically on day of application

31 Reporting automated at end of season post-harvest

32 Combination Approach Some blocks put together Trying to accommodate: equipment size zone configuration Acquiring enough yield points to be statistically relevant

33 Profitability: Does Not Come from Higher Yields Alone. We must: Increase yield wherever we can Maximize our input dollars where we can not, And market our crop for as profitable of a price as often as possible

34 Profitability: Yield Analysis

35 Profitability: Gross Profit Map

36 Profitability: Field Records (Straight Rate Info) We must accurately track all Operations preformed on a field Tillage Planting Chemical Applications Herbicide Fungicide Insecticide Fertilizer Application Fall or Spring Broadcast Planter Starter Side Dress N (Early or Late) Agronomy Services Prescription Fee Scouting Imagery Yield Processing Profitability Mapping Harvest Costs Combining Trucking Drying Elevation The list continues!

37 Profitability: As-Applied Data (Variable Rate Info) MAP Potash Population K-MAG

38 Profitability: Field Summary

39 Variable Rate Net Profit Comparison Straight Rate $23.00/acre advantage to the Variable Rate Program

40 Variable Rate R.O.I. Comparison Straight Rate 5% Higher ROI using the Variable Rate Program

41 In Conclusion Profitability Does Not Come from Higher Yields Alone, True Profitability Comes when we Merge our Proven Agronomic Practices with a Solid Marketing Plan The Future of farming is not based on bushels per acre but rather farming with dollars per acre and calculated return on investment numbers. If we continue to farm based on our farm average, we will continue to harvest average yields. Start collecting today the data you will need to farm with tomorrow