Indiana State Certified Crop Advisers AGM Indianapolis Dec

Transcription

1 Indiana State Certified Crop Advisers AGM Indianapolis Dec Our Experiences In An Ag Retail Environment with UAVs Dale Cowan CCA On. 4 R NMS, Senior Agronomist - Sales Manager AGRIS and Wanstead Cooperatives Chatham, Ontario, Canada

2 Who? AGRIS Cooperative is owned by 1200 hard work farm families in Southwestern Ontario They elect a board from there peers to manage the direction of the Cooperative We are owner/members of Growmark We are in the Agronomy and Grain business to support the whole farm plan

3 Offerings? We have offered precision ag services since 1993 Over 775,000+ acres in our GIS of customer info and data Wide range of information from simple field boundaries to satellite imagery and EMI, yield, soil test, as applied etc. All used to support good customer experiences with outstanding agronomy. UAV/ UAS/ Drone in Other remote sensing satellite services in 2016 Yield Matters : the more you grow the more you have to sell at any price

4 Service Area This represents the extent of the trading area Each dark area is an unique farm field Contained in the boundaries are various layers of information Soil tests Application maps As applied maps Yield maps Drone NDVI on some Satellite imagery Fewer than 800 farmers influence this land base 1,200,000 acres of crop land in trading area, Soybean, Wheat, Corn

5 Individual farm fields around one branch location at Cottam Cottam Location Accumulated over past 20 years Most fields soil sampled at least 4 times in that time period Yield data has been captured for over 10 years and more interest in last 4 to 5 years

6 Using the Information We do crop planning with each key customer By field by crop by product ahead of time with budgeted returns Crop plans are in the system accessible by staff to do their part when the time comes to implement the plan- logistics management is the key Field locations, quantities, blend tickets, delivery tickets custom application all part of the exercise In the spring it is very busy there is no try only do We can plant the entire provincial crop of corn and soybeans in less than 10 days we use GPS vehicle tracking to know where are rolling assets are at any time during the day

7 Todays Agenda Review Transport Canada Regulations Selecting a UAV Operational overview Field experiences Finding Insight Beyond the obvious

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9 Rules, Rules, Rules You do not get to do whatever you please with a UAV New regulations have been published Weight limits place small UAVs in a category that looks like you are exempt from any regulations However it is the activities that matter Read the exemptions - all 40 Safety first Google - Transport Canada UAV operation

10 Permit Process in the beginning Special Flight Operation Certificate- S.F.O.C. Needed to apply for a SFOC for each and every field ( in 2012) Very detailed 9 page document in order to provide all pertinent information for them to grant approval Submitted to a website where the SFOC was processed in order received - 4 to 6 weeks to get a permit

11 Permit Process Transport Canada = FAA As far as they are concerned any UAV of any size, used for any purpose is an aircraft Aircraft are subject to regulation There is no agriculture airspace,we are not unique All aircraft are registered with TC- unmanned different Since UAV are unmanned they need a form of control for safe operation in the shared airspace

12 UAVs - 2 kg or less Simplified SFOC This exemption relieves persons conducting nonrecreational UAV system operations not exceeding 2 kilograms, operated within visual line-of-sight from the requirement to obtain a complex Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) Additionally operating away from built-up areas, controlled airspace, 5 NM from aerodromes, forest fire areas and other restricted locations. The exemption includes conditions which address the need for the safe and responsible use of certain UAV systems. UAV operations conducted outside the terms and conditions of this exemption will be subject to the requirements for a Complex SFOC.

13 2 kg or less Be over 18 years of age Liability insurance ($100,000) Operate in class G airspace Stay 5 NM away from airports and aerodromes ( grass airstrip at neighbors is an aerodrome) VFR line of sight by unaided eye, 2 mile visibility, free of cloud, unaided constant eye contact

14 2 kg or less Fly under 300 feet AGL 100 feet from buildings, livestock, or person(s) Yield to incoming aircraft Etc If you cannot follow these exemptions then you file for a complex SFOC

15 Permit Process- Complex SFOC Technical specifications of the aircraft Pilot and observer qualifications 2 person operation Your relevant experience, training, to safely fly the UAV- your proficiency Your ability to control it ground control station- contingency for runaways

16 Permit Process- Complex SFOC Area of intended operation Proximity to Controlled airspace- radio to monitor ATC with in 5NM of aerodromes in (un)controlled airspace we have a book with every airstrip in Canada listed NOTAMS Use of FIC Understanding VFR- unaided eye contact

17 Permit Process- Complex A safety- security plan to manage the site of operations Notification of landowners permission to fly property Ceiling of operation feet AGL >300

18 Permit Process- Complex Give way to manned aircraft No flying within 8 hours of consuming alcohol All people connected to operation minimum 18 years of age 2 way radio and licence SFOC permit carried with the operator

19 Business Start Up Determine the business plan Selection of UAV Retail experiences - staff engagement The notion of making better management decisions Experiences Progression of services today

20 Business Plan We wanted to have a systems approach to assessing field performance Enhance customers experiences with timely in season analysis of crop opportunities Integrate current GIS systems into one seamless database

21 Business Plan Connect with other systems wireless transfer of data to and from equipment and other analytics AIS Advanced Information Services AIS the all encompassing integrated service platform for everything that is precision ag Positive customer experiences nothing else matters

22 Integration with Other Cloud Services Field Systems Advanced Analytics Telematic s FS AIS/ Agvance Database Remote Sensing Field Environment

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24 Selecting a UAS At the time in there were few to choose from We wanted a local vendor Someone that knew agriculture Offered training and tech support Fixed wing vs Rotary Features and benefits

25 This is a ready to deploy mini UAV with high resolution digital camera Often asked how many flights are they good for? Its not how many times you fly its how many times you land

26 Robyn DeBrouwer AIS Specialist EBEE- UAV

27 The last Ebee picture RIP June 3 rd 2016 These are not UAV friendly, we required a SFOC to allow us to fly at 600 feet AGL

28 Google - 4,090,000 results (0.57 seconds) Since 2012 the market place has exploded in the number of UAV choices from as little as $300 to military grade Million $$$ Fixed wing to multiple rotors A host of sensor choices- color digital, infrared, HD video to thermal It really is a buyer beware marketplace Know what you want to do and why Oculus Rift -first person view not permitted in Canada $2,600 HD Video

29 Selecting a UAV Swinglet Cam was a reasonably economical entry point (BASF) into learning, acquiring knowledge, and developing the value in imagery services Most UAV vendors do a good job of flattening the set up time Flying was/ is the easy part Processing captured imagery requires additional skill sets

30 Processing Image collection and processing UAVs takes a series of overlapping images as it flies the targeted field Files are rather large (>350 MB) Most UAVs come with processing software packages to at least check the coverage and some initial mosaicking Usually you will need a higher end software package for final analysis, ortho correction, NDVI etc, back in the office or other solutions ( cloud services)

31 This is the view on our ground station tablet- each white square is an image 70% for and aft overlap

32 Each field can be flown in simulation- 130 acre field - 19 minutes 70 m spacing on passes,image area 175 m x 129m

33 Experiences Farmers are interested in one image - are they interested twice? Need to clearly demonstrate value We flew winter wheat fields to assess winter kill Cover Crop establishment Evaluate in season issues Support ROI decision making

34 No tile Winter Wheat taken May 2 nd

35 Imagery Service Package We charged $5.00 an acre for 2 flights one infrared and one color We provide by a pdf of each processed image and a kmz the customer can open in google maps Images (NDVI) are also brought into our GIS Most importantly our crop specialists deliver the image to the grower and walk the field together to gain insight on what may be happening, ( sort of) At the time we were evaluating IPAD scouting app tools that could accept the image and provide the scouting platform to record observations and feedback to our GIS and myfarmrecords

36 Red Clover after wheat

37 Colored image -Red Clover after wheat

38 NDVI

39 Less growth Nitrate N sampling zones- VRN Map Vigorous clover growth No clover

40 Nitrate N from PSNT soil test in lbs / acre Where clover was most vigorous no more N than, no clover Range of Nitrate 56 to 94 lbs /acre

41 Soil ph 5.4 to 7.0 Needs Lime on 30 acres

42 Result actual N recommendations from Nitrate Test Nitrate test measures all nitrate sources A few surprises Where we had more clover biomass not always more N fixed There was a ph issue in this area No clover area provides as much residual N as clover, higher SOM% Poorer growth areas offered a surprisingly good mineralization level of nitrate highest in SOM%

43 Soil Organic Matter % (SOM) Range 3.2 to 4.9 Higher SOM will influence PSNT results

44 VRN Application Map Using the management zones from cover crop establishment Nitrate soil tests taken and sent to lab Values recorded in GIS N script run on values Resulting in VRN map Using ESN protected N source Blend Smart N preplant

45 Number of Options Ignore red clover? Give full book value for legume contribution? Use the Zone maps and results of the nitrate soil test to do VRA? Ideally, set up replicated test strips of all 3 treatments

46 Treatment 97.6 acres Average N rec- Lbs actual N/ acre Range lbs actual N / acre Amount of Product $ / acre $ differential compared to standard Fixed Rate Standard no Credit mt $ Fixed Rate N credit ** VRNprotected N ESN mt $86.00 ($39.00) mt $72.00 ($53.00) However it was a late spring this field was planted to soybeans ** assumes uniform stand of red clover not incorporated All started with a UAV image of an established cover crop Gained insight into alternative strategies A classic 4R example of source, rate, time, and place

47 Yes soybean cyst nematode again Same spot as previous years Little bit bigger maybe Looks like potassium deficiency Looks like drought stress These are SCN resistant varieties

48 Soybean Cyst Nematode the view from above Picture taken here

49 17.7 acres impacted by SCN

50 Impact of SCN Different view of SCN Sensitivity analysis as to what it is costing We know SCN cuts yields Egg counts here are 23,000 to 30,000 / 100 gm of soil- it takes out resistant varieties Estimated yield on pod counts - 33% fewer pods Price of Soybeans $ / Bushel Yield Loss Bus/ acre # of acres $10.00 $11.00 $ $2300 $2500 $3400 Average loss/acre (2.2 bus ) ($28.00) ($24.00 ($33.00)

51 Solution We can now see the extent of damage and make an economic impact, issue is more defined Crop Rotation, variety rotations Rotation 55% of acres in soybeans sustainable? Field still averages 50+ bushels should average higher Selected seed treatments to reduce SCN? We now have a foundation of insight that did not previously exist

52 Bare Ground Image and Soil sampling Bare ground early spring Entry level sampling into precision ag 2 color sort 2 management zones high and low ground Dark is low ground Lighter high ground Differential in P soil tests Offers a better way to practice 4R Nutrient Stewardship Only need to fly field once Scaleable technology do not need to be a large acre stakeholder

53 Early senescence Full canopy Color- Soybean Image August 16 th

54 +3.0 bus Priaxor Check +2.5 bus Acapella

55 Current market conditions Nearly 40% of all large farmers have there own UAV The opportunity to charge a fee for imagery has evaporated The need for NDVI in their minds is of little value Replaced by video on the their smart devices Yield maps look like NDVI anyway so why pay for it Interpretation of an image in season requires a lot of effort and carries some uncertainty The is no historical performance perspective or record compared to what and when? Drones and image services are costly and limited in covering the entire trading area on timely basis

56 New Service Development Using Mavrx A combination of satellite and aerial imagery services Ability to upload field boundaries for all customers Unlimited users and access for a flat fee includes satellite imagery, separate per flight charge for UHR (10 cm) plane images 5 years of historical imagery in the background New imagery added every 8 to 10 days

57 New Service Development Velocity or performance measurement on the entire trading area Web based Controlled access by administrator Grant customers access Free Scout app linked with database so all can share imagery and observationsthings are changing on the farm

58 New Service Development Pre call planning Yield assessments Zone creation from historical imagery and yield maps Seamless integration back to main GIS Total staff engagement

59 Easily uploaded 346,840 acres of boundaries- Mavrx matched with 5 years of historical images

60 Velocity Map of trading area at 1 branch location

61 At a glance current image field performance is either average, above average or below average I know where I should spend my time this week

62 Interactive screens allows you to easily identify farms

63 Performed yield assessment based on relative NDVI maps taken late August

64 Imagery supports pre call planning- know what to expect before you get to the field Where will you spend your time?

65 You never know what farmer will see in his images

66 Crop Scouting Sales support from UAV mfg often claim crop scouting is easier and providing greater efficiency Perhaps aerial imagery will help to increase efficiencies Efficiencies would be necessary to offset the costs of owning/operating a UAV However ground truthing images remains necessary boots and brains in the field It is the interpretation by knowledgeable people that find the insight beyond the obvious (today)

67 Summary Remote sensing is not new UAV s are another tool for Precision Ag A platform for carrying sensors Provides autonomy any field, any time (weather, regulations permitting) They are an added cost with a challenging ROI Does require additional skill sets for capturing value Like most maps derived from this kind of technology it shows us where to go and practice good agronomy don t forget what you know Think critically when using the resulting images

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69 Thanks for Listening Dale Cowan