| Summer
2002
On
Target
Site-specific farming narrows the field
By Jennifer Doup
On Target
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| Tippecanoe
County farmer Kevin Kelley is using precision agriculture
technologies to vary the width of his rows so that he
can compare yield data this fall. (Photo by Tom Campbell) |
Kevin Kelley felt it was time for change. For
the last few years, he has been experiencing soybean yield
drop-off on his Tippecanoe County acreage. Normally, Kelley
drilled his beans in 8-inch rows, or more than 180,000 seeds
per acre. On the other hand, his neighbor planted beans in
30-inch rows, which is around 160,000 to 180,000 seeds per
acre. When the two compared the data, Kelley did not like
how the numbers added up. His yields were the same as his
neighbor's.
When Kelley climbed into the tractor to plant
soybeans this spring, he tried something a little different
to get a better handle on this problem. He again drilled
beans in 8-inch rows, but also planted beans in 16-inch rows
in the same field. He marked off the different areas on his
Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. At harvest this fall,
he can compare his yield monitor data to the GPS map and
see how things stacked up with the soybean trials. The data
may show that Kelley needs to alter his production practices.
Kelley is experimenting with some of the technologies
in precision agriculture, such as GPS and yield monitoring,
that allow him to closely examine how his planting and drainage
management influence his yields. But Kelley's not convinced
that he can fully benefit from the idea just yet. His farm
does not have much soil variability, so the technology is
not conducive to the conditions. Also, the input costs for
getting started are hard for him to justify, given current
weak commodity prices.
"The theory is fantastic," Kelley says. "Precision
agriculture is not a silver bullet, but it does enlarge the
bulls-eye and eliminate some variables. However, Mother Nature
always has the trump card. We have not saved money with the
technology, but it has brought value to the farm through
the data we're collecting."
So what is it?
Precision agriculture, also known as site-specific farming, is a term coined
in the 1980s to describe technology that fits into all the stages of crop
production, whether it's planting, spraying or harvesting. Yield monitors,
remote sensing, GPS and variable rate technologies map out several field
variables and target the specific acres that need more or less attention.
By using computer software that is compatible with the equipment, farmers
collect and interpret data to help them make management decisions.
While precision agriculture is not a one-size-fits-all
practice, it does help tailor soil and crop management to
specific field conditions, says Purdue agricultural economist
Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer.
The most common technology that farmers are
implementing is yield monitoring. In 2000, 30 percent of
Midwest crops were harvested with combines equipped with
a yield monitor, and half used GPS to map the area, as well.
Second to yield monitoring is variable rate fertilizer application,
which allows producers to apply fertilizer and lime only
where the nutrients are needed; 12 percent of producers in
the Midwest are using this practice.
This technology does not come cheap, and farmers
must look hard at their operations to justify the costs.
But the most important question that they need to answer
is, "Will I make money from this?"
"A one-bushel per-acre yield increase from
a better choice of hybrids and varieties would be enough
to pay for a yield monitor and GPS," Lowenberg-DeBoer says. "If
a farmer who has 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans increases
his average yields across the whole farm by one bushel per
acre, that would pay for a $7,000 yield monitor and GPS in
the first year, even at current grain prices."
Dan Culp, Pulaski County, has worked with the
technology for several years and sees a bright future for
precision agriculture practices.
The Purdue Agriculture alumnus
consults with farmers to determine whether the technology
is right for them by plugging several variables into the
equation, such as soil variability, land value and farm size.
He has a 40-acre test plot on his farm where he utilizes
GPS, yield monitoring, Geographic Information Systems (GIS),
soil sampling analysis, remote sensing and variable-rate
technologies so that he can understand the technology and
better serve farmers.
"Farmers have to look at the technology used
in precision agriculture practices like a new piece of equipment," Culp
says. "If the acreage can't justify the cost, then they should
wait to make a purchase. When producers make a purchase,
they also should look at all the ways the equipment can be
used on several acres. They can lower equipment and service
costs by finding multiple uses for the same piece of machinery."
Culp says farmers may use a yield monitor to
gather data for the first few years and then make changes
based on the collected information. But a yield monitor can
be used for more than collecting yield data; it can also
help pull soil samples or map tile lines. The possibilities
are endless, Culp says. Farmers just have to make the decision
on how far they want to stretch the technology's capabilities.
To a certain extent, all producers are using
the method of precision agriculture in some way, because
they alter production practices based on problems they are
seeing in their fields, Culp says. "They are changing production
practices on their farm to better fit their management plans."
On
Target
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