Precision Ag “Back to Basics”

Nicole Rabe (Land Resource Specialist – OMAFRA)

Mike Wilson (CCA-ON, Advanced Agronomy Solutions Manager - Thompsons Limited)

What is Precision Agriculture

“a management system that is information and technology based, is site specific and uses one or more of the following sources of data: soils, crops, nutrients, pests, moisture, or yield, for optimum profitability, sustainability, and protection of the environment” Source: NRCS Support for Emerging Technologies (2003 & 2007) Technical Note

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Open Ag Data

Alliance (OADA)

Trends in Precision

Agriculture

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Why precision ag?

1. Your operation, your farm, your field goals…

• Cut your input investment with out sacrificing yield

• Increase yield by increasing crop inputs

• Invest in the soil with the “right” amount inputs 0

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Low Productivity Areas Medium ProductivityAreas

High Productivity Areas

Yield vs. Inputs

Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

Over application Wasting $$$ Environmental Impact

Under Application Loss of Yield

Farming with Average’s

Technology will change our Future

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Low Productivity Areas Medium Productivity Areas High Productivity Areas

Yield vs. Inputs

Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

Very little Waste

Targeting Maximum Yield Potential

Today vs. Tomorrow

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Low Productivity Areas Medium Productivity Areas High Productivity Areas

Current Yield & Inputs vs. Yield Goal & Inputs Required.

Current Yield Current Imput level Yield Goal Input Goal

Why Precision Ag (con’td…)Blooms

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2. Environmental goals

3. Social license to farm at risk??????

- Perception or fact?

- How will ag sector respond to more scrutiny on nutrient management by public?

Agricultural land represents about 70% of the Lake Erie watershed in Ontario.

Urban areas (5%) , wetlands (10%) and natural areas (15%) make up the remaining .

Source: AAFC

Mid 1990s blooms begin

to appear again since

1970s

2011 worst algal bloom in

Lake Erie history

2014 harmful bloom, impacts

drinking water supply Toledo & Pelee Island

Western Lake Erie basic most severe bloom

in recent years

Additional Commitments Involving Ontario

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• A Collaborative Agreement was signed by the Premier of Ontario and the Governors of Michigan and Ohio in June 2015.

• The agreement commits to a 40% phosphorus reduction target for Lake Erie’s Western Basin with the following timelines:

• 20% reduction by 2020; 40% reduction by 2025

Crop Sector Land Area (Million Acres)

Total 12.7

Field Crops 8.90

Hort Crops 0.20

Greenhouse 0.03

Pasture 1.60

Other 1.97

Agricultural land represents about 70% of the Lake Erie watershed in Ontario.

Up to $25,000 in cost-share

funding available

Precision Applications:

• Crop Nutrient Plans • Soil and manure testing, mapping,

zones

• 5 year plan of conservative fertilizer use

• Tillage and Equipment Modifications

• Tire deflation systems

• Planter modifications for fertilizer placement

http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/oscia-programs/glasi/

Where and How do we start Precision Ag Approach?

Hydrologic Slope

Value High : 1.0 peak or ridge, dry

Low : 0.0 stream channel or pit (wet)

Yield Elevation

Soil

Sept 4, 2013 Soybeans

Remote Sensing

Zone Based Field Management allows us to achieve these goals!

We can reduce cost in specific areas with out harming yield

We can build other areas back up to acceptable levels to increase yield, or

to have a soil reserve there when we need it.

We can apply product only where needed to reduce input costs

We can apply different products in different areas to maximize the potential of each product and our input investment.

This process Matches the 4R’s approach perfectly. Sustainably and Profitably

Case Study: Zone Management & Profitability Chatham-Kent

PA Step 1: Collect Data (The key to our

future success)

Couple years of yield data +

Elevation data off guidance system or a D.S.M. from a UAV flight

+ Soil sampling

300

297 308

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PA Step 2: Integrate Data to make management zones

Yield + Elevation + Soil Sampling

Integrated Analysis

Management Zones

Evolutionary Build…

PA Step 3: Grower knowledge

Management Zone Map

Review with your agronomist

Crop Input Recommendations

Prescription Map for Product Application

Revisions

Review with Your Agronomist. • Review the Zones created from your data to determine their validity.

Grower knowledge is crucial to success especially in the early stages.

• Review Operations goals and discuss how to properly implement an input

strategy. • Determine Crop Yield goals to accurately recommend nutrient rates

• Determine which Fertilizer Recommendation Strategy is to be used (Sufficiency approach or the Build and Maintenance method)

VR Application allows us to do both in a field at the same time! • Discuss all other nutrient sources that are planed to be applied to the field

this season and adjust our application rates accordingly. • Work through application method and timing to be compliant with a 4R

strategy. • Review Cost of application to ensure you are on track with Cost of

production calculations and profitability goals

Building a Crop Input Recommendation We must matches the goals of the Operation!

Phosphorus Example: Removal of 200 bu corn: 200 x .41 lbs. = 82 lbs. P205

82 lbs. / .52 = 158 lbs./acre of MAP

We are saving where Phosphorous is high by applying 30 lbs of Map less than the removal requirement. We are building the Phosphorus Levels in the Low ground by applying 80#’s of extra Map. The Total recommendation is 10 lbs per acre of product less than the removal value.

Show MAP Difference map Straight Rate vs. Variable Rate Comparison

PA Step 4: Implement Rx Maps

Harvest Debrief & post-harvest analysis

Check as-applied maps

Validating Prescription Maps How do you know the prescription for crop inputs was correct?

• Implement checks in two ways:

• Strips

• Blocks

Dry fertilizer spreader @ 80ft wide passes = 3 passes with 20ft combine header

2015 Rx Map – Nitrogen – full length strips

Farm GIS Desktop software • Strips not pre-

programmed • Operator toggles to

full rate or none • Managing your own

data • Requires training • Analysis after harvest

more involved because each zone needs a yield result

2015 Rx Map – Nitrogen – small strips

Farm GIS Desktop software • pre-programmed VR-N

zones + checks • operator places checks

in map based on equipment size

• Semi-automated reporting after harvest

• requires investment in training

Small Blocks • Online system with secure

user account

• Less real estate in checks

• Less frontage for replicated trials required

• Pre-programmed into Rx map by client or done by your consultant

• Applied automatically on day of application

• Reporting automated at end of season post-harvest

Combination Approach • Some blocks

put together

• Trying to accommodate:

• equipment size

• zone configuration

• Acquiring enough yield points to be statistically relevant

Profitability: Does Not Come from Higher Yields Alone.

We must: Increase yield wherever we can Maximize our input dollars where we can not, And market our crop for as profitable of a price as

often as possible

Profitability: Yield Analysis

Profitability: Gross Profit Map

Profitability: Field Records (Straight Rate Info)

We must accurately track all Operations preformed on a field

• Tillage • Planting • Chemical Applications Herbicide

Fungicide Insecticide

• Fertilizer Application Fall or Spring Broadcast

Planter Starter Side Dress N (Early or Late)

The list continues!

• Agronomy Services Prescription Fee Scouting Imagery Yield Processing Profitability Mapping

• Harvest Costs

Combining

Trucking Drying Elevation

Profitability: As-Applied Data (Variable Rate Info)

28-0-0

Population

MAP

Potash

K-MAG

Profitability: Field Summary

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Variable Rate Straight Rate

Net Profit Comparison

$23.00/acre advantage to the Variable Rate Program

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Variable Rate Straight Rate

R.O.I. Comparison

5% Higher ROI using the Variable Rate Program

In Conclusion

“Profitability Does Not Come from Higher Yields Alone, True Profitability Comes when we Merge our Proven Agronomic

Practices with a Solid Marketing Plan”

“The Future of farming is not based on bushels per acre but

rather farming with dollars per acre and calculated return on investment numbers.”

“If we continue to farm based on our farm average, we will

continue to harvest average yields.”

“Start collecting today the data you will need to farm with tomorrow”