Improving Crop Input Use Efficiency Through Use Of Precision Ag Tools John Shanahan, Agronomy Research Manager

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1 Improving Crop Input Use Efficiency Through Use Of Precision Ag Tools John Shanahan, Agronomy Research Manager Survey of Adoption of Precision Ag in the USA The Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA has conducted survey every year since 1996 Data collected includes resources required for agricultural production seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, machinery, labor, and the use of precision farming tools, along with yields 2 1

2 Barriers to Adopting Precision Ag Tools Yield monitoring and auto-guidance most widely adopted, because available as standard equipment and easy to use Yield mapping and VR equipment more challenging additional costs associated with data storage/information management requirements Development of suite of information management technologies and/or better decision aids needed 3 Better Decision Aid Tools 1. Geo-spatial data bases combined Environmental information (historical & real-time climatic data) Landscape information (i.e., soils, topography, imagery, etc.) Genotypic and agronomic performance information 2. Geo-spatial orientation enables both regional & within field evaluation 3. Analytical engines to distill information into knowledge and decisions Geo-spatial data bases Environmental Landscape Performance Analytical Engines 2

3 Right Product, Right Acre = G x E x M What s the best hybrid for my field? Disease Insect pressure Yield potential Stress What s the environment the crop will be growing in? Cold/hot Drought High yield How do I need to manage the crop? Planting date Fertility Population Pests 2011 Environmental Information Environment Classification (EnClass )Map for Year Avg 3

4 Environmental Information Real-time & Historical Individual Location Profile Historical Drought Maps - 60 yrs EnClass System Landscape Information Pioneer FIT Studio is a proprietary version of MapShots AgStudio precision Ag software package. Customers inputting yield data in system since early 2000 s GIS analysis tools, with ability to import multiple information layer, Pioneer EnClass Soils Can analyze performance data using unique combinations of polygons SURGO Soils, Topo, Soil EC, Imagery As-Planted Nitrogen Treatment Yield Map, SM, TM Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont PHII. 4

5 Performance Information On-farm Agronomy Trial Locations in 2012 Supported with Large Network of Field Agronomist and Sales Professionals Weigh Wagon Yield Monitor On-farm Hybrid by Population Protocol Field Layout of Hybrid and Population Field Strips FIT Yield Map of Strips 5

6 Performance Difference of Two Hybrids from a Regional Perspective Interpolated Difference Map Performance at a Location 6

7 Performance at a Location Impact of Weather Performance at a Location Impact of Soils 7

8 Performance within a Field Lower yielding area in the field. First 3 strips did not run through this spot. This is a stressed area. Performance within a Field 8

9 Yield (bu/acre) 2/25/2013 Performance in Stress vs. Non-stress Areas Hybrid A Drought = 8 Hybrid B Drought = Hybrid A Hybrid B Whole Location Stress Areas Procedures for Variable Rate Seeding Prescription 1. Define/delineate field management zones (MZ) 2. Apply appropriate seeding rate for each MZ Yield mapping Soil Survey Imagery EC and topography mapping 18 9

10 Yield Response to Population at Different Stress Levels Plant population response by yield level in Pioneer research trials ( ) Example of a Decision Aid Support Tool Pioneer Mobile: Field Troubleshooting Aids Videos Insects Disease Environment Current Research Trials By Locality Field Tools Planting Rate Plantability GDU/Precipitation Growth Stage Yield Estimation Replant (NEW) NEW 10

11 Procedures for Variable Rate Seeding Prescription Multi-Year Yield Map Satellite Imagery VRS R x, SM, TM Trademarks and service marks of Pioneer. The DuPont Oval Logo is a registered trademark of DuPont PHII. Why the Need to Integrate Soil & Environment Information Brent Myers, USDA/ARS Columbia, Missouri # Yield Maps Yield-Landscape Inversion 11

12 Current Improving Work Corn N Management With Crop Sensors Using Crop Models & Sensors to Improve Corn N Management Premise for Crop Sensing Similar N Status 12

13 Commercial Crop Sensors Active sensors emit their own source of modulated light onto the crop canopy and measure the percent of that light reflected from the canopy back to the sensor. This measurement is used to assess canopy greenness and biomass to determine crop N requirements. GreenSeeker system distributed by Trimble Ag. OptRx system distributed by Ag Leader. CropSpec system distributed by Topcon Positioning Systems. Active Sensor Operation -- 40,000 Hz modulation -- Night or Day Operation TARGET LED PD1 PD2 PD3 SENSOR 13

14 Yield, Mg/ha 2/25/2013 Photosynthesis Chlorophyll Reflects NIR Biomass Visible Wavebands Near Infrared Wavebands (NIR) Film and Sensors Measure Disappearance of red light Abundance of reflected NIR Chlorophyll captures BLUE and RED light EONR Producer Optimum N Credits Preplant N Field Reference Spatial 8 Soil 6 / Topography 4 2 Adjustment Fertilizer N Rate, kg/ha Algorithm for Translating Sensor SI Readings Into N Recommendation Sufficiency Index N Accumulation (based on growth stage) 14

15 Can Hybrid Canopy Architecture and Color Affect Sensor N Recommendation? Crop Sensor Study Description Map of 2011 and 2012 trial locations in central Nebraska. Hybrids used by year and their respective characteristic canopy colors. Year Hybrid Color P0902XR (HXX, LL, RR2) P1395XR (HXX, LL, RR2) 33D49 (HX1, LL, RR2) P1498HR (HX1, LL, RR2) Dark Light Dark Light 15

16 Study Description (continued) Hybrid Color Sensor Trmt Pre-plant or Early Sidedress N (lbs/a) Description Dark N-Suff. Reference (NSR) Self (Dark) Ref Light Hybrid Ref Average Both Light N-Suff. Reference (NSR) Dark Hybrid Ref Self (Light) Ref Average Both N Application and Yield Response Results from 8 locations in 2011 and 2012 R e f R e f $30-50/A Potential Profit Dark Hybrid Light Hybrid 16

17 Yield Change (bu/ac) 2/25/2013 Sensors Can Improve N Management & Profitability University of Missouri study Average profit of $17/A for sensor vs. producer side-dress rates across 55 fields Profit calculated using $.60/lb N for liquid UAN fertilizer and $5.00 per bushel corn Farmers gained benefit 80% of time using N sensor-aided side-dress 15% Sensor 20% Profitability ($/A) VOC w/optrx User, Hannibal MO 27% 18% < $0 $0 to $10 $10 - $20 $20 - $40 > $40 20% Source: Sensor-Based Nitrogen Applications Out-Performed Producer-Chosen Rates for Corn in On-Farm Demonstrations Scharf, et al., 2011 Source: Lehenbauerfarms.com Scenarios for Improved Profitability Environmental stewardship Increased N Use Efficiency > ~ ~ ~-7.5 >-25 decrease increase Sensor-based side-dress recommendation (Ib N/ac) 17

18 Agronomy and Crop Management Leadership DuPont Pioneer is uniquely positioned to help growers maximize income potential per acre Pioneer sales professionals and employees Extensive data network Enhanced crop management tools Pioneer FIT Studio Pioneer EnClass Soils Other tools/decision aids announced at Commodity Classic Feb. 28 Long Look #4: We give helpful management suggestions to our customers to assist them in making the greatest possible profit from our products. Thanks for Your Attention Questions? 36 18