Saving Money with Precision Agriculture

Transcription

1 Saving Money with Precision Agriculture Mark Carter, MBA Delaware County ANR February 22, 2018 Photo from Hay and Forage Growers Today s farm operation requires incredible amounts of cash flow with marginal returns. Equipment is expensive Technology is expensive Inputs are expensive 1

2 Market prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat continue to be flat making profitability difficult for producers. Photo from Ag View FS Proper farm management takes extra layers to be productive in a digital age. Using technology can be more costly, but the return on investment can save money in the long run. 2

3 2/25/2018 Everything is connected in today s agricultural field Photo by AFGRI Technology Services So what technologies are available to make a producer more productive and help them control costs? Soil sampling Variable rate applications for seed and nutrients Crop scouting Yield monitoring Precision agriculture is getting the right product in the right place at the right time at the right rate! 3

4 Soil sampling is the best way to get a fundamental idea of what you have to work with in the soil. Allows producers to check variability of nutrients within the field Reveals nutrient content Gives producers information on what inputs they are going to plan for the growing season Photo by John Deere Burrow Why precision soil sampling? Target inputs to meet production potential Reduce excess applications Enhance environmental quality Manage field variability Increase efficiency of nutrient applications Photo by Hull Coop Association Precision soil sampling is done by: Grid pattern Management zones Photo by Sciencedirect.com 4

5 Grid sampling creation GPS + computer Or digital device Create field boundary Assign grid ID Match sample ID to grid Grid Sampling Advantages Assess nutrient variability present in the field Field history Identify hot spots/trouble areas Minimize excess nutrient application Target inputs where needed Requires minimal skill level Disadvantages No justification for grid sizes Ignores soil properties and field characteristics Labor and time intensive Expensive 5

6 Zone Management Field is divided into regions based on soil and/or yield properties Zones created within GIS software Composite samples take for each zone Zone ID consistent with sample ID Farmer knowledge plus field history allows for the creation of management zones. 6

7 Management zone advantages: Zones delineated based on past field performance and intrinsic properties Classifies special variability Reduces time and labor More economical Disadvantages: Greater initial time and financial investment to implement zones Higher skill level required Requires field history/knowledge Prescription Map 7

8 Prescription Map Computer/ Controller VR Application As-Applied Map 60 lbs 0 lbs 40 lbs 40 lbs 60 lbs 80 lbs 20 lbs 80 lbs 8

9 Financial savings for precision soil sampling is to reduce the amount of samples that need processed while gathering enough information to provide adequate nutrients to the field for the year. The As-Applied Map is for the variable rate application of nutrients into/onto the soil in the form of: Dry spreadables or dry fertilizer Injected fertilizer Sprayed fertilizer Photo by Sprayer Depot Photo by Challenger Photo by Allerton Supply Company 9

10 Applying nutrients to the soil: Nitrogen is normally injected as Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3), sprayed/injected as liquid 28 (28-0-0), or injected as starter fertilizer in the planter (i.e ). Phosphorus can be sprayed as starter fertilizer, injected as side dress with liquid 28, or applied as a granular fertilizer. Potassium is normally applied as a granular fertilizer. Micro nutrients are applied in many different ways. Using the prescription map (for nutrients and seeding): The proper amount of a selected nutrient or seed can be placed in/on the soil for use Compliments the variability in the soil Reduces the cost of inputs Photo by Farm Collector 10

11 2/25/2018 Tractor monitor maps showing the VR application in seeding. Photo by Ag Leader Technology See real time errors or problems while planting fields. Photo by Farm Industry News Section and Row Control Air seeders Planters Sprayers Planter Row ON Waterway 11

12 Putting it together for sampling and nutrient/seeding: Soil sampling in a grid pattern for an 80 acre field with 2 acre cells requires 40 samples. The same field with management zones could require depending on the zones. Most retail fertilizer plants charge about $20/sample. Grid samples for this field = $800 Zone samples for this field could range from $ It is good to grid sample farms that there is no history on. Anhydrous ammonia is $550/ton currently Applying at a rate of 200 lbs./acre over the entire field with no VR application = $4400 for that 80 acres Applying with VR application for the same field could reduce amounts of nitrogen significantly Planting the same field with Stewart Seed s most popular corn costs $225-$250/bag (not counting seed treatments) = $8000 Planting with variable rate will reduce the costs significantly Even a 30% reduction in either cost is $1320 for nitrogen and $2400 for seed. 12

13 Crop scouting is another good way to leverage technology to save money on the farm. Methods of crop scouting: Walking fields Aerial imagery from aircraft Aerial imagery from UAV s Satellite imagery Photo from Axis Seed Photo from Huffington Post Photo from directory.eoportal.org UAV pros: Image collection can be done more frequently Imagery is more precise Imagery is cheaper than satellite or plane The operator has more control of the data Source: 13

14 UAV cons: UAVs require more time and effort Time to fly fields Time to charge batteries Time to process images and analyze data Required to keep flight logs UAVs require more maintenance There is always the possibility of crashing your investment! Source: Satellite pros: Imagery is much simpler to use Images are available without processing right to pc or smart device Offers more processing options Satellite cons: More expense per year Imagery is not as precise 14

15 DJI Phantom 3, 4 and 4 Pro $500, $1200, $1500 P3 offers 2.7K camera, 23 minute flight time and 1 mile signal range P4 offers 4k camera, 27 minute flight time and 3 mile signal range P4 Pro offers 4k camera, 30 minute flight time, and 4 mile signal range P4 Pro is standard for most farm use flight mapping P4 Pro 5 way collision avoidance sensing All standard RGB camera Sentera Single Sensor is available Source: So what sensing options are available? Source: 15

16 Orthomosaic 2 dimensional imagery Requires standard RGB camera as the sensor Takes standard earth images (like Google Maps) Useful for finding trends from the eye in the sky Easily uploaded to most farm software Source: NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Uses reflected light in the green, red, and near infrared light (NIR) spectrum to produce images Takes standard earth images and NIR-visual images and normalizes them 16

17 Sensors Sentera single sensor ndvi or ndre - $3000 Sentera Double 4k ndvi, ndre - $4200 mounted to Inspire or Phantom - $6000 mounted on a gimble Sentera Quad Sensor multi-spectral (R, G, NIR, RGB) - $ $7200 depending on options Source: Data processing software Drone Deploy most popular for farmers Free to $299/mo Create flight plans from take off to landing Supports DJI drones only Stitch maps to create orthomosaics which can be converted to false NDVI maps Requires only an RGB camera Offers many apps to further process data Supports IOS and Android 17

18 Putting it all together Let s say you have selected the following: DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone Deploy s Pro Software Package Accessories 4 batteries, carrying case, extra props, charger, sun visor, lanyard Insurance Source: Putting it all together cont. DJI Phantom 4 Pro Executive Kit from Drone-World.com = $2499 Drone Deploy Pro Package per year = $1000 Verifly insurance $10/hr x 5 hrs/day x 20 days = $1000 Total $4499 The yearly investment beyond start up is $2000 for software and insurance. Assume 2500 acre farm: UAV costing $4499 in year 1 = $1.80 per acre in year 1 UAV costing $2000/yr in year 2+ = $.80/acre Satellite imagery for same farm is around $3.60/acre/yr 18

19 Using UAV s Know the FAA requirements for flying UAVs Pass the Part 107 Remote Pilot test Decide what your needs are for your farm management strategies Develop a budget for what you can spend Select a drone, sensor, and software that makes sense for your operation Get insurance Become more productive and save money! Yield Monitoring and Data Management Yield Monitors with GPS GIS Programs 19

20 Yield monitor mapping done right in the combine Photo by egnos-portal.eu Benefits of Yield Monitoring On-the-go yield comparisons Make storage decisions based on moisture readings in the field. Load trucks/wagons accurately In-depth performance analysis High and low yielding areas Magnitude of yield differences across fields Results Rental agreement negotiations Estimate yield potential for rentable acres Improved relationship with land owner (pictures!) Identify possible management changes Hybrids/Variety selection Drainage issues Fertility recommendations Support site-specific management Site-specific (zone) management EQIP and other programs 20

21 Precision Spraying Technology Boom height Section and nozzle control Nozzle flow control Droplet size control As-applied maps Technology Adoption in Agriculture Lightbars (GPS guidance) Gains against overlap and marker alternatives are easily perceived Do take a little more investment so less adopted by small farms until recently Tractor cabs Hard to measure gain in $ but know it s there GPS-assisted steering Larger investment than lightbars but still easy to perceive the advantage Aspects like tractor cabs (reduces stress) 21

22 Implications in Precision Agriculture Real-time plant fertilizer requirements - Maximize yield - Increased use efficiency reduce total application Early yield prediction Precision desiccant application Issues: - Additional application costs - Another pass on the field - Weather issues could prevent second application The future of precision farming will incorporate many new technologies 22

23 Technology will move more process to become autonomous Why Precision Agriculture? 1804 Maximize profits - Less overlap - Reduce inputs - Increase yields Reduce stress Protect environment Feed 7 billion people 1 billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion billion 23

24 Questions? Mark Carter, MBA Purdue Extension Delaware County Ag & Natural Resources Educator Office: