Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) An Tim Chamen CTF Europe What is CTF? any system that confines all tracks to least possible area of permanent traffic lanes CTF is NOT prescriptive about tillage CTF is NOT just about keeping tramlines in the same place Commitment to continual improvement
Predicted pressure at 0.5 m depth, bar 2.00 1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.00 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 2.5 t vehicle Why CTF? 6 fold increase 21 t vehicle Timeline from the 1930s to the present day 850 kg Horse 11.2-28 12.4-36 16.9-34 18.4-38 16.9 R 34 710/70 R 38 800/65R32 1050/50R32 Extensive tracking Scaled plan view of a 100 acre field Typical min-till system Rake, disc x2, drill, roll, harvest 127% tracking
What s the difference between trafficked and non-trafficked soil? Easier working soils! RTF CTF What s the difference between trafficked and non-trafficked soil? Random traffic Nontrafficked both fields in no-till for 3 years - neither deep loosened
And it s not just cultivated soils! Wheels have a big impact! Same field one week later!
CTF can turn tracking on its head! Traditional: Average: 85% tracked CTF can turn tracking on its head! CTF: 85% not tracked
THE CONVERSION PROCESS CTF how? Adopt the right mindset the most important step of all! you ve got to want to make it work! I can do it I will do it I ll not dwell on obstacles, I ll look for solutions! Review crop establishment systems are you confident running a low input tillage system? are you prepared to divorce the plough or accept temporary separation?!
CTF how? Decide machinery for cropping proposed Set the timescale Introduce a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) with RTK correction Match as many track widths as possible Match implement widths Rover Radios Base station Track width GPS receivers Deciding machinery Are you happy to reduce reliance on the plough? Non-inversion tillage? crop residues depth and intensity No-till? Type of drill Practical and agronomic issues
Timescale Conversion to CTF should reduce costs and capital investment in machinery, providing: introduced over right time period properly planned BUT GNSS RTK investment may or may not pay for itself depends on farm size and situation crop yield responses from CTF system use CTF Europe software to assess Only an RTK GNSS system provides repeatable positioning GNSS satellites e.g. GPS, GLONASS Galileo RTK L2 L2 L2 x Geo-stationary EPHEMERIS ERRORS satellite Base Network centres
Minimising cost of GNSS Research thoroughly Consider integration of markers if strapped for cash Matching track widths OutTrac Cereal harvesting Grain auger Cultivator/drill Trailer Chemical application Harvester e.g. 2.8 m Other vehicles e.g. 2 m
Matching track widths TwinTrac tractors straddle harvester passes Cereals harvester Max 6 m wide implements Cultivator/drill Cereals harvester Chemical application Grain auger Trailer Sown tracks Tramlines Harvester Tractor Measuring machinery Don t believe what you are told measure! Machine Tractor 1 Axle 1 Axle 2 Operation width, m Track gauge, m 1.8 1.8 Tyre widths, m 0.4 0.6 Notes Cultivator 3.95 - - Used with Tractor 1 Combine Axle 1 Axle 2 6.1 2.7 2.4 0.71 0.55
Spring linseed existing tracking < 2 2-3 4-5 6-7 > 7 tracked Tracking for spring linseed with some adjustments Cat55/8 m Hectavator NH6080/4 m discs NH6080/4 m drill NHTS90/6 m roll MF Cerea 6 m combine Hesston 8100 4.8 m swather Existing widths: 8 m Hectavator 4.2 m discs 4.0 m drill 4.4 m swather 6.9 m rolls 6.3 m combine Bout width changes: Discs 4.0 m Swather 4.8 m (5 mcut width) Rolls 6 m Combine 6 m Bateman 24 m SP sprayer Data Tracked Uncropped Percentage 69% 5%
Tracking for spring linseed with some adjustments Working widths as on previous slide: 8/4.0 m cult/drill 4.8 m -swather 6.0 m rolls/combine Tramline Opportunities for assessing traffic effects, including no traffic < 2 2-3 4-5 6-7 > 7 Results of CTF trial in Oxfordshire on Denchworthclay 15 months in Zero traffic for 15 months 2 passes post harvest 3 passes post harvest
Examples of CTF systems
TwinTracin the field at Hessleskew 1.93 m Tractors 3.86 m Harvester Implement width = Harvester track width + Tractor track width CTF in veg production System based on 1.83 m (6ft) track gauge
3 x 1.83 m beds = 5.49 m 3 x 1.83 m beds = 5.49 m
3 x 1.83 m beds = 5.49 m Spraying = 15 x 1.83 = 27.45 m Short extensions to 24 m spray boom
Harvesting -bug..r! Some innovative thinking and redesign needed The ultimate goal! Direct planting potatoes
Neesham Farms 9 m OutTrac East Hendred 10 m OutTrac system System made possible by new pre-series Lexion760 with narrow body, 10.5m header, 11,500l grain tank and 4XL unloading auger. Trailers never leave tramlines
Baling in CTF system - dropping or moving bale to the right place Will the benefits out weigh the disruption to the soil eco system? Is it economic to subsoil? Have we got time? Will subsoiling let out too much moisture? Is there compaction? Are conditions right or will the wings smear? What depth to subsoil? Benefits of CTF East Hendred, Julian Gold Once a CTF system is set up farming gets much simpler!
On-farm costs East Hendred Robert Barnes, Bedfordshire 2200 ha farmed (home farm and contracting) 11.66 m OutTrac CTF, 2010 Tractor and drill steered from one screen Tracked area 17%
But, not quite there yet! 12 m cutting platforms not always 12 m need to be 12.1 mminimum At 12 m, augers don t always reach CaseIHnow offering a complete 12 msolution BelvoirFruit Farms, 12 mouttrac Cutting platform 12.2 m
Challenges Integrating forage, vegetable and root crops forage planting maize harvesting maize Kemper & torpedo grass systems vegetable it s all about the harvesting roots it s all about the harvesting Choices for maize OutTrac CTF System AdTrac CTF System 3.35 m harvester track gauge 2.8 m harvester track gauge 6 m, 9 row maize planter, 0.67 m rows 6 m, 9 row maize planter, 0.67 m rows 2.01 m tractor track gauge 2.01 m tractor track gauge Foragers on track gauge of c. 2.7+ m Delivery reach very flexible
Calculated yield losses for forage 6 m random 9 m random % yield loss 12 m random 6 m CTF 9 m CTF 12 m CTF Number of harvests 12 m CTF for forage
Vegetable and root crops Grimme/ASA-Lift wide span vehicle 9.6 m track gauge -integrates with 3.2 m tractor-based CTF system, Samsø, Denmark 2013 CTF Europe Contact with other CTF farmers Sharing ideas Visiting CTF farms Attending in-house workshops DK UK NL D Member s area on website case studies, reports, calculators Visit: www.ctfeurope.eu for more information and details of membership SK UK CTF Europe representatives