Presented By: Scott Clark SOIL 4213 snclark@okstate.edu

Presented By:Scott Clark

SOIL 4213snclark@okstate.edu

Today’s Discussion

• What is precision ag. and why is it important?

• What is the diversity of precision systems?

• What are the benefits of these systems?

• If it’s so beneficial, why aren’t farmers using it?

What is Precision Agriculture?

• Taking an area and breaking it down in size for the purpose of optimizing crop production based on variability within the field.

• Or; farming smaller areas within a given field to reduce fertilizer, herbicide, and seed usage to attain a higher yield and improve equipment efficiency from pass to pass.

Why is it important?

• Record setting grain market values—good or bad?– "The American farmer is the only man in our economy who buys

everything he buys at retail, sells everything he sells at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.“ -JFK

• Increasing expenses:– Fertilizer, Fuel, Seed, Chemicals, Labor, Equipment

• Pressure to feed a growing population.– More food expected from same amount of land

• Agriculturists NEED a way to become more efficient and improve their operations.

Solution & Increasing Importance

• Precision Agriculture provides the ‘efficiency’ factor of farming

• Environmental Concerns

• Agriculture is becoming a tough business

• Qualified workers for equipment are near impossible to find

• Expansion of farms

• “Worldwide, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for cereal production…is approximately 33%,the unaccounted represents a $15.9 billion annual loss of N fertilizer. (Raun & Johnson 1999)

• Sprayer regulation can save $15-30 per acre. (Weaver 2007)

• Fuel consumption is minimized and equipment runs at maximum potential for longer days.

Today’s Discussion

• What is precision ag. and why is it important?

• What is the diversity of precision systems?

• What are the benefits of these systems?

• If it’s so beneficial, why aren’t farmers using it?

The Diversity of Precision Ag

Precision ag. can be utilized from Pre-plant to Harvest

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Today’s Discussion

• What is precision ag. and why is it important?

• What is the diversity of precision systems?

• What are the benefits of these systems?

• If it’s so beneficial, why aren’t farmers using it?

What Can We do with It?

• Till the soil in uniform passes to reduce repetition.• Reduces soil compaction and the release of CO2

• Reduce planting overlap and create uniformity.• Limits complications for later applications

• Reduce sprayer overlap.• Decrease potential for excess chemical use

• Optimize harvesting potential.– Put more bushels in the bin faster

Today’s Discussion

• What is precision ag. and why is it important?

• What is the diversity of precision systems?

• What are the benefits of these systems?

• If it’s so beneficial, why aren’t farmers using it?

Why Don’t All Farmers Already Use it?

• It’s expensive. Theoretically.• The systems can be “too intelligent” or

complicated for farmers with few tech skills.• It’s difficult to implement into older

machinery.• Some just don’t know the potential of these

systems and the benefits they have.

•“Since 1992, Oklahoma State University scientists have been working on the development of an optical sensor based approach to improve fertilizer use efficiency”(Solie et. al, 1996)•“…the system has given a payback in the first year in some cases, he adds, and it’s expected to return the investment in two years in fertilizer cost-savings” says Mayfield (Schill, 2008). •“The outcome is a system that increases profitability and conserves environmental resources” (McGinnis, 2007) •“It allows me to work longer because I'm not as tired," Fulton said.” (Weaver, 2007).

But, there is supporting evidence for precision agriculture.

Implementation on the Farm

• Training Simulator

Conclusion• “Farmin’ ain’t what it used to be.”

• Farmers provide for a larger population• Equipment is much larger

– Visibility is reduced and operator fatigue is increased• Farmers are trying to become more efficient• Mere guesses for application rates are now unacceptable

– Increasing cost of inputs» Prices tripled in recent years

• Reducing time in the field and optimizing resources– These systems are expensive but soon pay for

themselves.– QUESTION: In a Greenstar Ready Machine, how much

does a John Deere, Starfire1 System cost?

• $11,500 for JD SF1