Using New Technologies in Forage Production Systems

Transcription

1 Using New Technologies in Forage Production Systems by Bob Schultheis Natural Resource Engineering Specialist for Advanced Grazing School Mountain Grove, MO April 17, Impact of Mechanization on Our Society Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20 th Century: Order Topic Order Topic 1. Electrification 7. Agricultural Mechanization 2. Automobile 8. Computers 3. Airplane 9. Telephone 4. Water Supply and Distribution 10. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration 5. Electronics 11. Highways 6. Radio and Television 12. Spacecraft The next on the list? Number 13 was the Internet! Grand Challenges for 21 st Century Need to feed 9.6 billion people by 2050 Food production must increase by 70% by 2050, in spite of: Limited availability of arable lands Increasing need for fresh water Agriculture consumes 70% of the world s fresh water supply Impact of climate change affecting seasonal events in the life cycle of plant and animals More food from less energy, less water, less land Aging and changing workforce Labor shortages/migrant labor Consumers are 3 4 generations removed from farm Technology this will be the game changer for agriculture. Technology that will help make this possible: smart power systems precision agriculture tools farm management software affordable sensors Photo credit: _A_DIY_Guide_v0.8.pdf smart internet systems; a mesh like internet grid a plan to transfer our technology to other countries How could these systems change agriculture / farming? Remote livestock monitoring Cameras in the calving barn Temperature sensors alerting us Remote grain bin monitoring Security Temperature, moisture, grain quality Water quality of a well, pond or tank Potential to disable a system that is failing or has not been serviced properly Thermostats (integrated controllers) for your home, business, farm shop, livestock facility, grain facility These can ALL BE MONITORED WITH YOUR CELL PHONE What other systems might we see deployed in agriculture? The equivalent of fitbits for animals So a horse at the Kentucky Derby is able to perform better So a horse at the Kentucky Derby does not have a heart attack during the race A wet spot in the grain bin is found before grain is spoiled Alert the manager or better yet; the bin automatically responds A sensor in the field notes the insect, fertilizer condition, moisture condition and alerts the farm manager A rowbot may be deployed 1

2 How about forage production systems? What do you consider new technology now? Pocket knife? Moisture testers? Thermometers? GPS guided equipment? Drones? Photo Credit: Photo Credit: More Success with Forage Production and Weed Control Learn about your fields Soil test; don t guess Ag Site Assessment Tool Verify seeding depth Adjust ph and hardness of spray mix water Do sprayer calibration Handheld GPS better than vehicle speedometer 8 USDA Spraying App Overcoming Weather Uncertainties Baleage instead of hay in early season Inline wrappers Photo credit: Wrapper balers 10 Forage Harvesting Technology Harvesters can give real time nutrient analysis recording moisture, dry matter, protein, starch, ADF and NDF Baler can automatically adjust bale tension, preservative rates, record moisture and create a field map Lightbar shows a driver how to steer a machine along parallel passes or swaths moving across a field How long before we have machines that will be able to mow pastures and retrieve round bales automatically? 11 John Deere B Wrap An Alternative to Indoor Storage Works on bales inches in diameter Works with dry baled hay & crop residues; best on high quality hay Sheds rain and snow; protects from ground moisture Microscopic pores allow bale moisture to escape Installs like net wrap using a special baler kit Photo credit:

3 John Deere B Wrap An Alternative to Indoor Storage 1 layer net wrap + 1 layer B wrap + 2 layers net wrap May achieve similar losses as hay stored in barn Orientation of wrap overlap important for bale protection Protects up to 18 months Works with most John Deere Series 7, 8 and 9 balers Costs about $5 $7 more per bale than net wrap John Deere B Wrap An Alternative to Indoor Storage For more info: protection/john deere b wrap Other Smart Phone Apps Case IH 32 apps on Google Play Caterpillar 9 apps on Google Play AGCO 3 apps Grain systems ADM, Bin Sense, Dry grain calculator Tee Jet App Calculate pesticide volume Reduce environmental risks Tractor roll over detection Similar John Deere Systems Apps free on Google Play John Deere PowerAssist App Warranty registration & Engine information search John Deere Mower Plus Helps track lawn care Mobile Version for jdparts.deere.com JD Link Ultimate Data (if applicable), Multiple machine mapping, Directions to machines, Ping machines, View and acknowledge alerts, Engine hours, John Deere Remote Display Access, Users can filter multiple alert categories at one time. Possible Technologies for Monitoring Livestock Possible Potential Uses of Camera Monitoring Camera technologies What are you wanting to monitor? Indoors (barn) vs. outdoors? How far away from visual monitoring device? How often do you need to monitor? 24 hours Being able to record On demand Photo credit: Calving barns Calving areas Water access Surveillance of lots Photo credit: Photo credit: Photo credit: dakotamicro.com/agcam/ 3

4 Camera Technologies Options Viewing Wired vs. wireless Fixed screen in an office Day vs. night time Need for recording Fixed position vs. pan/tilt Mobile access via an app / Field of view (adjustable) computer Zoom adjustment Distance away from camera(s) Affects whether wired or wireless Possible Technologies for Monitoring Livestock UAVs (drones) Precision Agriculture is... Using precise information and precise management to improve the efficiency of cropping inputs (seed, fertilizers, herbicides, etc.) for improved profits and environmental stewardship Potential of Utilizing Technologies for Managing Soil Fertility in Forage Production Grid (site specific) soil sampling Variable Rate Technologies (VRT) GPS guidance technologies Future technologies for measuring forage production (developing yield maps for forage) Why Do We Need Precision Agriculture? Different areas within fields have differing capacities for supporting crop growth Soil Sample Soil Fertility Management and Variable Rate Technology Lab Tests & Recommendations Interpolated Recommendation Map Interpolation is one of the keys in producing a good prescription 4

5 GPS Software Used To Collect Soil Nutrient Samples Phosphorus Potassium ph (salt) lb/acre lb/acre Importance of Understanding Past Management 7.1 ph Historical Aerial Photos from the County FSA Office Note the farmstead and two ponds prior to Importance of Fertilizer Recommendations Effect On Changing Soil Test P Critical Value From 45 to 30 lbs/acre Change in Total Amount of P = 529 lbs. or 16 lbs./acre 5

6 Utilizing Yield Map Data for Nutrient Removal Variable Rate Technology (VRT) Uses an application guidance map to direct application of a product Variable Rate Fertilizer Technology Spreading Out Equipment Cost Lower Cost VRT Fertility Variability in Forage Production Fertility Variability in Forage Production P Rec Lime Rec K Rec Product Saved Using Precision Ag on a 17 acre field P 133 lbs (7.8 lbs/acre) K 450 lbs (26.4 lbs/acre) Lime 6 ton (0.35 tons/acre) Product Saved Using Precision Ag on Test Plots DAP 45 lbs (7.5 lbs/acre) POTASH 92 lbs (15.3 lbs/acre) Area in Plots 6 acres 6

7 Utilizing a Handheld GPS for Soil Sampling Are Smartphones The Replacement for Handheld GPS Units? At Least From My Experience the iphone Might What About Tablets? Possibility of Utilizing a Tablet or Smartphone for Collecting the Data SST Sirrus GPS Options for Tablets / Smartphones Utilizing a Smartphone for Soil Sampling Bad Elf GPS - $ GNS 5870 MFI - $85.00 New Model $91.00 Dual Electronics Model XGPS150A - $85.00 Bluetooth GPS Android App by Googoo Android - $0.00 Garmin Glo - $99.00 Utilizing GPS Kit App - $9.99 7

8 Utilizing a Tablet or Handheld Computer for Soil Sampling Utilizing a Tablet with either AgLeader SMS Mobile or Farmworks Mobile GPS Aided Guidance Real Life Scenario of GPS Guidance Distance Traveled 0% overlap for 60 foot swath 5% overlap for 60 foot swath 10% overlap for 60 foot swath 40 swaths miles 42 swaths miles 45 swaths miles Example is a 110 acre field Forage Example: Real Life Scenario of GPS Guidance Used 9 fields totaling 510 acres Field size ranged from 33 to 79 acres Analyzed distance traveled and overlap area Overlap used was 0%, 5%, and 10% Assumptions Spinner spreader with 60 foot pattern Travel in field was parallel swaths Note: Assumed travel speed could be increased from 8 mph to 10 mph with 0% overlap and fuel consumption of gal/hr using a 165 hp MFWD tractor Fuel Usage Amount of Overlap 5% 10% Extra Gallons of Fuel Extra Gallons of Fuel per Acre Extra Dollars $74.32 $91.05 Extra Dollars per $0.15 $0.18 Acre Price Used for Diesel $3.10/gallon Forage Example: Area Covered and Fertilizer Used Amount of Overlap 5% 10% Extra Acres Extra Fertilizer Cost $572 $1172 Extra Fertilizer Cost per Acre $1.12 $2.30 Note: Assumed fertilizer cost of $20.40 /acre Fescue Pasture Extra Fertilizer Cost $1900 $3897 Extra Fertilizer Cost per Acre $3.73 $7.65 Note: Assumed fertilizer cost of $67.82 /acre Fescue Hay 8

9 Estimating Forage Yield with Sensors How Does An Ultrasonic Sensor Work? Reflected Wave Other Sensor Technologies Rapid Pasture Sensor Sender/ Receiver Optical beams continually measure pasture height The height is averaged and converted to a Kg DM/ha reading Original Wave Using an Ultrasonic Sensor Forage Systems Research Center, Linneus, MO Example Map Collected with an Ultrasonic Sensor Winter Hay Feeding Trial at Linneus, MO Forage Systems Research Center Conclusions from Ultrasonic Sensors Work Sonic sensor technology shows promise as a way to estimate forage yield Location and time specific calibration is important Consider not converting readings to a forage height basis because of the challenges of establishing an appropriate tare height (distance used to convert sensor distance reading to forage height; forage height = tare measured distance) Conclusions from Ultrasonic Sensors Work Keep travel speed constant or account for the effect of periods of acceleration and deceleration (e.g. angle sensor) Sensor consistently, successfully measured distance to forage except when seed heads protrude above the canopy Data needs to be processed on a per time or per distance traveled basis when sensor is not consistently obtaining readings; or on a per distance traveled basis if travel speed varies significantly within the target area If you purchase one of the commercially available systems developed for measuring forages, be sure to thoroughly test that it works well under all conditions and all times of the year 9

10 Photo credit: CBS News Photo credit: CBS News Possible Jobs for UAS Agricultural monitoring (crops & animals) Weather monitoring Disaster assessment & management (tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes) Tower, bridge, rail and power line surveys Hazardous site evaluation (chemical, nuclear, etc.) Law enforcement (locate threats, document site for evidence) Environmental monitoring & research Aerial imaging/mapping (real estate) Oil and gas exploration Telecommunications (news coverage, sporting events, moviemaking) Freight transport/package delivery Agri tourism Entertainment (unique photography, remote dog walking ) Photo credit: CBS News Dirty Dangerous Difficult Dull UAS best suited for the Four D s Aerial Precision Ag, also known as APA, is a division of Cirrus Rotors us/ Most Common Uses by Farmers Crop Scouting Directed scouting of animals and crops, which involves ground truthing what you observe from air Crop condition (growth, insects, diseases) Cattle counts, rustler monitoring Assess stand establishment of crop Crop Scouting Nitrogen Stress Nitrogen Rate Study at Graves Chapple Farm on August 27, North View 60 10

11 Possibilities with Other Sensors Spray-Swath Overlaps? Thermal (infrared) Livestock detection, sick animals Water temperature, source identification Hyperspectral Crop growth, plant identification LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) Measuring plant height, 3 D terrain mapping Photo credit: Use of Multispectral Cameras Old N&S Dead-Furrows 62 Monitoring of Beef Cattle and Pastures Lightning strikes Work being conducted through Kansas State University 63 Unmanned Sprayer The Yamaha RMAX crop sprayer (246cc gasoline twin) with an AUW of 207 lb. has an endurance of minutes with a payload capacity of 66 lb (equivalent to about 10 gallons of gasoline, which could be used for extending endurance) cc two cycle engine from a Yamaha weed whacker. A tank of mixed gas keeps the chopper flying for an hour. G15 AutoCopter $50,000 to $75,000 The G15 weighs 15 pounds and is capable of carrying 15 lb. The carbon fiber rotors have a 71 inch span

12 Final Thoughts knowbeforeyoufly.org Fertility is one variable in forage production just as row crop Question becomes is services available and the economics GPS guidance technologies can save fertilizer and have a quick payback Future technologies such as ultrasonic sensors to measure forage production will be able to quantify the variability in forage production across pastures/hay fields 67 Final Thoughts There is information in your pastures and fields that remote sensing can help you extract and use Other forms of remote sensing (airplane, satellite) are expensive and frustrating UAS puts the control in your hands either directly or through your adviser Precision Ag Technologies Provide better farm records Provide better information for management decisions A lot of it is up to you!!! Questions?? Robert A. (Bob) Schultheis Natural Resource Engineering Specialist Webster County Extension Center 800 S. Marshall St. Marshfield, MO Voice: Fax: E mail: schultheisr@missouri.edu Web: extension.missouri.edu/webster Program Complaint Information To file a program complaint you may contact any of the following: University of Missouri MU Extension AA/EEO Office 109 F. Whitten Hall, Columbia, MO MU Human Resources Office 130 Heinkel Bldg, Columbia, MO USDA Office of Civil Rights, Director Room 326 W, Whitten Building 14th and Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC The University of Missouri does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. 12