Now Is The Time To Take Advantage Of Higher Agronomy And Cost Savings With Precision Farming Tools
Article & pictures:Pete Fleming@www.psfimages.co.uk (content modified for web use)
Having the ability to know every last square metre of your farm is an asset some may already claim to have. Those lucky enough to have this gift will quickly point out the benefits of this knowledge. But what do the majority of us do who are not blessed with such a memory? Or how easy is it to convey the vagaries of field by field information to your staff? In a time when accurate record keeping is becoming evermore essential, cutting edge software developer, Farm Works has come up with a number of innovative solutions to address these problems.
Farm Works excel in producing versatile and user friendly systems for mapping and recording all types of farm information, the company has also been partnering AGCO in developing the associated software behind the GTA cab console. In late autumn 2006, version 12 is due out which will take advantage of remote communication advances in wireless data transfer.
One of Farm Works’ most versatile systems is ‘Farm Site Mate’. It utilises a pocket PC along with a GPS receiver for site-specific mapping and note making in the field. The software’s most innovative feature is its ability to work with variable rate controllers for precise application of product in the field. A feature fully utilised by farmer Peter White.
On his 2200 acre farm in Newark, Nottinghamshire Mr White, of Leyfields Ltd has been embracing technology for effectively reducing production costs for several years. “We have been perfecting minimum tilling techniques for over ten years and have learnt a lot about optimising seed rates in that time. Our main achievement has been reducing seed rates from 250 seeds/m2 down to 150 seeds/m2,” he explains.
Peter, Adam and Farm Works’ Phil Templeton on site at Leyfields Ltd.
Peter points out why he selected ‘Farm Site Mate’ ahead of a number of market alternatives. “We looked at some satellite images in February 2004 and the first thing we could see was how plant density reflected soil type and wanted to know how we could influence this agronomically. At the time we were not able to alter seed rates on the move so had to rely on drilling in strips.”
“We were concerned with getting seed rates right before varying nitrogen accordingly so we bought a Simba Horsch drill with the ability to alter rates on the move,” he adds. “It wasn’t hard to find the software needed to operate the variable system after AGCO pointed us in the direction of Farm Works. We wanted a simple system from people we could trust and we certainly got that with ‘Farm Site Mate’ and Farm Works.”
This ability to vary seed rates is a crucial agronomic tool and will have huge benefits throughout the growing season. It is vital not to over-do seed rates; an open canopy is desirable in order to utilise all four leaves as one shouldn’t rely on the flag leaf to do all the work. A system that can take advantage of variations in soil types by adjusting seed rates will benefit the grower by reducing lodging, reducing disease, increasing specific weight, protein and ultimately yield through reduced plant competition.
But with the likelihood of numerous operators on farms reliant on seasonal labour the true test of this technology will be in the field. Drill operator and computer novice Adam Swan adds: “We were originally trying to map with quads but it proved to be very inefficient so we turned to the Farm Works system for a much more effective way of mapping fields. I have never really used a computer before but I now find the Farm Works software very easy to use.”
Adam in the cab with Leyfields’ Farm Works Variable Rate solution
Ultimately, this technology must prove to be cost effective, so what direct benefits does it bring to Peter White? “This is the first season we have run with the ‘Farm Site Mate’ system and have already seen savings in seed cost of over ten percent. It also removes the temptation to simply put more on when you are in the field.”
Asked if he will be taking more advantage of the Farm Works technology Peter replies: “From this harvest on we will be tailoring techniques around the system and I’m sure there is scope to further reduce the seed rate to below 150 seeds/m2 on our silty clay loams. The next stage will be at harvest 2007 when we plan to kit the combine out with the full yield and mapping package. This can then be transferred on to the sprayer for the rest of the year to take full advantage of the field information generated by the Farm Works software.”
Notes:
Systems can be tailored to individual needs but prices usually start at £900 (basic mapping and logging solution).
A fully integrated mobile system is available at £2300. This includes:
- Pocket PC with SD card
- RAM mount (rugged alternative available)
- Trac Mate (field record keeping software)
- Site Mate VRA (mapping, logging and Variable Rate Application software)
- Guide Mate (on-screen guidance software)
- Garmin GPS receiver (5hz EGNOS, 30cm pass-to-pass accuracy)
For managers requiring more sophisticated and detailed records ‘Farm Site’ offers GPS coordinate entry for state of the art positioning. This enables maps to be drawn simply by driving around your fields with a GPS-wired implement and is compatible with all major yield monitors. Together with all the features of Farm Trac, Farm Site offers a limitless number of layers to visualise soil types, test results and previous or intended cropping. Accountancy and livestock packages are also available.
