Reduce the Cost of Nutrient Loss with Precision Ag (Part 2 of 3)

In the last blog post we looked at nutrients and how Precision Ag can help with your Farm Environment Plans (FEP). This blog post looks at how an EM survey can help with identifying your soil types for your Farm Environment Plan.

An EM survey illustrates the relative variability in soil characteristics including soil texture that can be potentially related to water holding properties within that soil profile, this can help you manage water application through the use of variable rate irrigation technology. When combined with the use of soil moisture probes you have the data and technology you need to be able to retain nutrients within the soil profile itself. 

EM surveys can be ground-truthed to find the correlation between the EM value and water holding capacity (WHC).  From that you can create a WHC map and site-specifically place moisture probes to monitor the soil moisture levels within each identified zone.

Ground-truthing sites are identified within each zone (shown on the left). The graph illustrates the correlation between the EM values and WHC in the top 55cm of the soil profile for this paddock.

In the image above we can see the correlation between EM value and WHC at this site has an R2 of 0.97 (R2 quantifies goodness of fit. It is a fraction between 0.0 and 1.0, higher values indicate that the model fits the data better). We can then use the equation in VA Gateway, one of the PA software platforms supported by Agri Optics, to create a water holding capacity (WHC) map out of the EM values map.

The EM map converted into a Water Holding Capacity map

This water holding capacity map can then be used in conjunction with soil moisture probes and VRI to maintain the moisture levels between field capacity and critical moisture. This not only reduces any potential yield loss from moisture stress but it also ensures that you aren't saturating the soil profile, and therefore avoid leaching nutrients out of the root zone.

It’s all about balancing crop requirements, real-time moisture levels, rainfall (when it comes!) and application rates with irrigation return times as precisely as possible to keep everything at an optimum level.

An AquaCheck soil moisture probe graph showing soil moisture levels and how they are affected my irrigation or rain events on this soil profile.

As can be seen above by keeping the moisture between upper and lower readily available water levels you ensure yield isn’t compromised and eliminate leaching. The rooting depth used for the probe profile can be tailored to the crops specific needs on the moisture monitoring website.

Next time we will discuss how the EM maps and topography data can help you with your FEP.

Chris Smith

Agri Optics NZ Ltd

Reduce the Cost of Nutrient Loss with Precision Ag (Part 1 of 3)

Precision Ag can help you in many ways with your Farm Environment Plan (FEP). Precision nutrient management, EM maps, topography data,variable rate irrigation (VRI) and moisture probes are all tools available to help you manage your FEP and mitigate any potential issues you may face - Reducing costs to your farming operation and the environment.

I will be looking at how each of these can help you over the next few blog posts (to make sure you don't miss out pop your email address in the "Follow By Email" box, to the right). In this first blog of three I am looking into precision nutrient management.

Improving Nutrient Management with Precision Ag

The objective here is to maximise nutrient use efficiency while minimising nutrient losses into water. This can be accomplished by looking at the nutrient levels in the soils themselves as well as monitoring the moisture in the soil profile to ensure you don’t leach nutrients out with over watering. Precision Ag can help you in several ways to achieve this, this week I will look at the nutrient levels themselves.

This is done through either grid or zonal soil sampling. Instead of taking one soil sample per field or block, you sample in a grid at a resolution of one site per hectare or take samples within each known soil zone from your EM survey. Whichever way the samples are collected the sites are geo-referenced that means you can go back to the same point every time you sample so you can see how you are managing your nutrient levels over a number of years. At each site 12-15 cores are taken and placed in a bag, labelled and sent off to the laboratory for that sampling point.

Picture 1: Geo referenced sampling points in a field.

When you receive the laboratory results, they look similar to those you normally get however the critical difference is they are all geo-referenced and are at a higher resolution i.e. one per hectare. The data received can then be processed to create a nutrient zone map; with nutrient levels grouped in ranges for the given area and given nutrient.  From that layer of data application maps are made to match the soil and crop requirements.  The main nutrients commonly applied using this variable rate method are potash, phosphate and magnesium as well as lime for pH.

Picture 2: A map showing the varying Olsen P values across a field.

By only applying what is needed where it is needed means you minimise any over-application of product with financial and environmental implications, and you also maximise the crops potential on a nutrient level. By using this method you can mine nutrient-rich zones reducing nutrient levels in those areas and apply only what is required elsewhere.

Chris Smith

Agri Optics NZ Ltd

International Recognition for Precision Ag Advocate

Here on the H2Grow blog we showcase leading edge precision agriculture technologies and practices often through case studies of growers achieving success through there application. But in today’s post we would like to showcase a true leader in precision agriculture – Craige Mackenzie. Craige is a leading advocate and role model within New Zealand, a pioneer in the adoption of precision farming techniques.

Craige has recently been awarded the 2016 PrecisionAg® Farmer of the Year. This is a huge accolade and NZ should be very proud that the award has gone to one of our own!

The PrecisionAg® Institute recognises outstanding people, programs, and organisations that are making a difference in the precision ag industry. Each year’s winners have devoted their careers to the technology that improves crop production stewardship, agronomy, and efficiency.

Craige and Roz Mackenzie at Greenvale Pastures

Craige’s focus has been on utilising precision agriculture systems to maximise nutrient and irrigation efficiency for improved farm sustainability, both environmental and financial.

Craige and wife Roz farm Greenvale Pastures, a 200ha fully irrigated cropping operation near Methven specialising in vegetable and small seed production. They are also 50:50 equity owners in Three Springs Dairies, a high-output dairy farm with 1,200 milking cows. Their adoption of precision ag technologies has resulted in improved seed quality and yield with reduced inputs.

The utilisation of Growsmart Precision VRI has led to annual water savings of 32% and resulted in vastly improved water management on their variable soils. Resulting in three years of no measured nitrate losses to the groundwater!

In this recent video Craige and Roz share some of their secrets to farming sustainably and profitably through by employing precision ag.

In 2010 Craige and daughter Jemma established Agri Optics Ltd., New Zealand’s first precision agriculture service company providing precision ag tools and services to NZ farming systems with a focus on field sensing (crop sensing and Electro Magnetic soil surveying) and spatial data management solutions. Agri Optics NZ is now recognised as New Zealand’s leading precision agriculture company. And are also coincidentally partners in the H2Grow crusade.

This post has been put together by Sarah Elliot (Lindsay NZ), and I would personally like to congratulate Craige for being recognised with this prestigious award - Congratulations!!

Managing Environmental Compliance with Precision VRI and EM Mapping

Farm Fast facts:

Farm Name: Seadown Dairies

Cows Milked: 620

Length of VRI Pivot: 565m

Production: 1705/ha, 278000 KgMS

Pasture Grown/Harvested: 17,000 KgDM /14,500 KgDM

Key Benefits from VRI system: Reduced track maintenance, reduced pugging damage less water wasted.

Sustainable farm management was a major driver behind Brendan Caird’s decision to install Lindsay Growsmart Precision VRI with FieldNET on his 565m pivot. A major feature of the farm is a spring fed stream that flows through the middle of the irrigated area of the property. Totalling an area of approximately 5 ha, the streams and springs add to the visual appearance of the property and have been fenced and planted into a riparian zone. However without VRI effective irrigation management would have been considerably more difficult. By installing the VRI system Brendan is now able to work around mother nature and reduce his farms overall impact on the environment.

Riparian Zone in the middle of the VRI Pivot

The costs of irrigating his races and tracks were also a big part of the equation.

“Stock flows better, track maintenance is reduced and water is not wasted on unproductive areas” says Brendan who uses VRI to improve the conditions on the farm races. Nearly 5Ha of the 93Ha irrigated area is able to be avoided which includes races and waterways which allows Brendan to utilise that saved water elsewhere.

With an allocation of only 3.2mm/ha/Day irrigation practices need to be as efficient as possible at Seadown Dairies to maximise water use for grass production. Brendan also finds benefit in the VRI system to help remove paddocks from the irrigation round that are set to be re-sown. In the case of the 2016 season Caird planted fodder beet and set an irrigation plan to avoid the paddock whilst it was being cultivated. You can see the effects of this below. The yellow is the paddock that was avoided. The pink is for zones that were a part of the avoid zones.

As Applied Irrigation for the season. Note the paddock in Yellow.

Agri Optics conducted an EM survey on the property and the major soil zones were able to be identified see (http://www.agrioptics.co.nz/portfolio/em-survey/ for more info). The next step that Brendan and his team are working on is to begin irrigating to the EM soil zone plan. With multiple soil management zones identified on the property the goal is to water according to the relative requirements of each soil zone. This is aided by soil moisture sensing equipment to give the exact time that irrigation is required. Further to this Brendan can also be sure that soils are not being overwatered and water is not being wasted which Brendan says helps make his farm environment plan more comprehensive.

Blog this week by Nick @ Agri Optics
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An Eye for Innovation at Fieldays 2016

Field days are a great part of working as a rural professional as they are a chance to catch-up with farmers off-farm where the most pressing time constraint for the day is no more than ensuring that you get to the coffee cart before the mid-morning rush and the bargain bin before it empties.

The teams at Agri Optics and Lindsay NZ passion for precision agriculture is innate as is our genuine interest in all things innovative so it is an opportunity to take a look at exciting new products and technologies. We’ve picked out a few of our favourites from the 2016 NZ National Agricultural Fieldays.

Optical Nitrate Sensor

Lincoln Agritech is in the process of developing a low cost, high performance groundwater nitrate sensor. Should this reach commercialisation we think there will be benefits for everyone who enjoys our rivers and lakes.

Jens Rekker was showing off the nitrate sensor prototype at #fieldays2016

Agriculture’s contribution to nitrogen concentrations in freshwater bodies has been under the microscope for several years now. Part of New Zealand’s approach to allow for continued primary sector growth whilst managing environmental impacts is the establishment of nitrate caps on farming operations. However a major challenge for those involved in these negotiations is the limitations of the current modelling to define the net effects on rural water quality.

It is this ambiguity that a direct, real time sensor with high spatial accuracy will resolve, closing the loop on the science so to speak. And therefore could be a vital tool to validate sustainable resource use and manage environmental impacts. We will be watching this space with great interest.

Pasture Robot

The pasture sensing robot is being developed as a joint project between Massey’s Centre for Precision Agriculture and the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology and aims to help farmers generate better information about the pasture and soils on their farms.

Pasture sensing robot on display at #fieldays2016

The current prototype has a multi spectral camera mounted which allows you to map nutrient variability. Plans are to enable the robot to be equipped with different types of sensors which could measure a number of soil or crop parameters. The development team envisage having it pre-programmed to be able to leave its docking station at say 4am to run a predefined pattern using RTK GPS and automatically send back the information to the office. This could be pasture growth levels, nutrient levels, moisture content, basically data from whatever sensors you have it loaded with. Unfortunately, it won't get your cows in for you........yet!

Current sensing technology is typically carried on planes or drones and uses expensive and complex equipment. A robot is a cheaper option that would also be more reliable as it is less weather dependent than drones. The hope is the robot will be fully automated, reducing time spent by farmers assessing pasture quality.

CalfSMART

CalfSMART shows new thinking in automated calf rearing.  The system delivers the right balance of nutrition to each and every calf. Calves are identified by their RFID ear tags. CalfSMART sends information on all parameters to your smartphone or computer.

Karl Watson demonstrates the latest CalfSMART automated calf feeding system.

This new product leverages on two technology platforms that have enabled the development of many instrumental agricultural products; RFID animal identification and the smartphone. The power of the smartphone as a farming tool is massive, so many exciting apps have been developed in recent years giving farmers unparalleled access to control and data!  

FarmWalker

FarmWalker (from FeedFlo) is a wireless data capture solution for rising plate meters. It allows easy data capture utilising a smartphone app. The app uses the phones GPS to log spatial data as well as pasture mass data. In essence the FarmWalker can build a low resolution pasture yield map, eliminating the requirement for any manual data handling and processing. This app could be a handy addition to a pastoral farmers’ toolbox enabling easy, basic yield mapping.

Robot Ron from Bosch

Robot Ron’s potential could be endless, perhaps his eyes are multispectral cameras, perhaps his feet are DualEM sensors, perhaps he will trim your front hedge after mowing your lawn… we’re not quite sure but he was a hit with every 10-year-old visiting the fieldays this year.

And finally the latest in Farmall tractor ergonomics, shown off during a parade of tractors around the Fieldays.

So thanks to the farmers, the families, other exhibitors, the coffee cart girls and guys, and all those that popped in to say hello and made our week at Mystery Creek so enjoyable!

This post is a combined effort by Nick, Chris, Paul, Stu and Sarah.