Tom Staples Director, Echelon Crop Production Services Canada Precision Agriculture
Influence of Precision Agricultural Technologies on North American Nitrogen Fertilizer Usage Outlook Tom Staples Director, Echelon Crop Production Services (Canada) Inc.
Innovation & Production Growth 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Corn Yield Bushels/Acre Soy Yield Bushels/Acre Historical Growth in Agricultural Productivity in the US Hydraulics Hybridization Commercial Fertilizer Commercial Pesticides 1866 1870 1874 1878 1882 1886 1890 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 GMO Precision Technologies? *Source: US Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service Corn yields up nearly 7X, soybean yields up more than 4X since 1930s Numerous technologies have cumulatively contributed to yield increases Many believe precision technologies will provide the next stimulus to yield improvements
Precision Ag Technology Adoption Agriculture Dealer Demand for Precision Agriculture Technology 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% Soil Sampling with GPS Field Mapping with GIS Satellite Imagery Variable Rate Seeding 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010E 2011 2012E 2013 2014E 2015E 2016 *Source: 2013 Purdue University Precision Agricultural Services Dealership Survey Adoption of precision agriculture services has increased rapidly, and the pace of adoption is expected to accelerate
Grower s Goal is to Minimize Loss and Maximize Uptake
Nitrogen Vulnerability Gap Until the crop takes up all required N, soil and fertilizer N is vulnerable to loss Source: Bender et al., 2013
CPS FIELD TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION Echelon is the CPS Precision Ag Technology platform Currently: > 1,500 CPS Crop Advisors > 31,000 Growers > 19 million acres
KEY BENEFITS FOR GROWERS Technology helps maximize field productivity and grower returns Optimizes use of Crop Inputs (crop yields may improve as much as 20% using similar levels of inputs) Potential for environmental benefits, as well as compliance and record keeping management CPS/Echelon is all inclusive providing access to a wide array of brands/solutions, i.e. not tied to one product offering or equipment brand (color blind) Unique variable rate N technology
The Promise of Variable Rate N for Sustainability Echelon variable rate N technology reduces rates in areas of low yield potential Controlling N rates to yield potential maximizes yield while reducing N vulnerability to loss
Benefit of Variable Rate Nitrogen Yield 60.1 bu Rate 106 lbs N Yield 55.4 bu Flat Rate 83 lbs N Yield 58.6 bu Rate 104 lbs N SE Sask - Wheat
Benefit of Variable Rate Nitrogen Yield 51.1 bu/ac V Rate 163 lbs urea Yield 45.4 bu/ac Flat Rate 163 lbs urea 5.7 bu increase of wheat, 13% Yield Increase $7.50/bu = $42.75/ac increase Central Sask - Wheat
North American Fertilizer Consumption Trend 16,000 14,000 North American Consumption (000 mt nutrient) 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 N P2O5 K20 2,000 0 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 N consumption growing by 1.0% annually P and K consumption relatively flat Source: IFA, TFI, AAPFCO, Agrium
Innovation & Production Growth 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Corn Yield Bushels/Acre Soy Yield Bushels/Acre Historical Growth in Agricultural Productivity in the US Hydraulics Hybridization Commercial Fertilizer Commercial Pesticides 1866 1870 1874 1878 1882 1886 1890 1894 1898 1902 1906 1910 1914 1918 1922 1926 1930 1934 1938 1942 1946 1950 1954 1958 1962 1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 GMO Precision Technologies? *Source: US Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service Corn yields increasing by 1.4% annually, faster than N consumption increases
Nitrogen Use Efficiency Trend USA 1960 2010 Nitrogen Use Efficiency increasing by approximately 0.35% annually in US since 1980 Source: Lassaletta et al., 2014
How has increased NUE been achieved? Mainly by increasing yields, associated with: Greater N uptake, extending later into the season; Increased internal efficiency in the plant, yielding more grain per unit of N taken up; Small reductions in the crude protein (N) content of the grain. Improved understanding of 4R fundamentals also contributing Source: IPNI, 2010
The Promise of Technology Improved agronomics to minimize N loss while maintaining and growing yield potential Improved weather modelling, and modelling of the impacts of weather on N cycling Genetic improvements in NUE
Take Home Precision agricultural technologies will be a critical tool to maintain current yield trend line Adoption of precision nitrogen technologies still in its infancy, expected to grow Current improvements in NUE by variable rate application and other technologies will improve sustainable use of N but not have impact on overall N consumption in short to medium term