Precision Agriculture

Utilising PA in Animal Production

Systems

Brendan Torpy

PrecisionAgriculture.com.au

@AgPrecision

Our Company

• PrecisionAgriculture.com.au is an independent consulting company offering advice, training and products associated with precision farming industries

• Offices in Ballarat, Wagga Wagga and Toowoomba

• Work all over eastern Australia in cropping, horticulture and pasture systems

PA components

Data gathering

Integration

Intelligence

Action

Overview

Utilising PA processes and technologies in animal production/pasture systems:

Soil Fertility mapping

Satellite imagery

Electromagnetic (EM38) mapping

Soil pH mapping

Remote monitoring systems

Use these tools combined with local knowledge to define production/management zones, manage variability in production systems and improve farm management

Managing Production Variability 5 Steps for Implementation

1. Create digitised farm map

2. Capture landscape/soils/production data (EM38, pH, elevation, satellite imagery)

3. Define production zones (utilising data layers and local knowledge)

4. Strategic ground truthing within production zones

5. Develop management strategies for production zones

Getting your farm on the map

Accurate areas

Measuring tool

Lease & contractor rates

Productivity / area

Irrigation design

Farm logistics

OH&S plan

Etc…

Fertility Mapping

Grid soil sampling over grazing systems has continued to show significant variability in phosphorus, potassium, soil pH, aluminium levels etc.

OPPORTUNITIES EXIST FOR SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS!

Fertility Mapping

Over this 5ha paddock:

Olsen P ranged from 33 to 66

Colwell K ranged from 118 to 396 mg/kg

Soil pH (CaCl2) ranged from 4.7 to 5.6

Fertility Mapping

The trouble with grid soil sampling

=

High Cost (labour, analysis)

Need to utilise PA technology and data combined with local knowledge to define production/management zones to allow more targeted soil sampling

Satellite Imagery

5 satellites in orbit

Fly over Eastern Australia 11am each day

More than just ‘visual’ pictures, includes near infrared

5m pixel = 400pixels/ha

Powerful tool for farmers and agronomists

Satellite imagery & lightBlu

e

Gre

en

Red

Red E

dge

Near Infrared SW Infrared

NDVI = (NIR + Red)/ (NIR – Red)

NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index)

Used to measure plant health and vigour

Excellent indicator of biomass (amount of living plant tissue/greenness)

Ideal to predict areas of different yield potential

Does not predict what is limiting

production - need to ground-truth!!!

Plant Biomass Mapping

Satellite Biomass

Stability

Define production zones

with multiple biomass data

analysis

Soil test to develop variable

rate fertiliser program

Soil Electromagnetic Induction (EM38) surveys

An EM38 sensor measures the bulk/apparent electrical conductivity of soils. This is dependent on the volume and type of:

Water

Salts

Clay

Rock

Most EM sensors are dual dipole. They are most sensitive to soil conductivity at depths of 0.3 to 0.5m and .75 to 1m.

Within the soil profile

Soil Electromagnetic Induction (EM38) surveys

EM sensors contain a transmitting and receiving coil at either end of the unit

An electromagnetic signal (primary magnetic field) is emitted from the transmitting coil, that passes downwards through the soil

This process creates a secondary signal (secondary magnetic field) and this is detected by the receiving coil on the sensor

Soil Electromagnetic Induction (EM38) surveys

Red/Pink = low soil conductivity/lower clay content

Dark blue/purple = high soil conductivity/higher clay content

Elevation

Elevation/aspect can be a significant driver of production variability in production systems

Capturing accurate elevation data over your property can assist with:

• Farm layouts

• Drainage designs

• Creating management zones

EM38 vs Elevation

EM 38 Map

Elevation Map

Using These Data Layers to Define Management Zones

• Interpreting these maps with agronomist and PA consultant and utilising local knowledge can enable producers to define production/management zones

Strategic Soil/Tissue Sampling Strategic GPS referenced soil sampling or tissue

testing conducted in management/production zones to determine what is driving variability

Develop Management Strategies for Defined Production Zones

Review production zone soil and tissue testing analysis data and supporting data layers

Implement appropriate management strategies for defined production zones

Evaluate

Develop Management Strategies for Defined Production Zones

By better understanding your farm landscape, nutrient loads and soil types:

Conduct phosphorus audit to understand where P is actually required and where savings can be made (farmers may have potential to reduce P rates by 25% without reducing production)

Plant the appropriate pasture species based on soil types, elevation and aspect

Soil pH Mapping

Veris soil pH detector purchased from US in 2010

First in Australia

Measures soil pH (H2O) reading in 5 to 10 seconds

Probe

GPS Data Logger

Wash Nozzles

Probe pushed into

soil manually to 5 – 7.5 cm

1. Use the Rapid pH Detector to determine soil pH Zones

2. Use strategic soil sampling to calculate required lime rate

per zone

Soil pH mapping

pH Point Data and Contoured Map

• After reviewing pH map in paddock, determine strategic soil sampling points based on pH zones

• Upload sampling points to GPS

• Conduct sampling (0-10cm)(pHcacl2, CEC & Ex Al%)

60% lime saving

$27,710 or

$28.90/ha

net saving

+ Production

Benefits

Traditional Approach:

Apply 1t/ha in

‘maintenance phase’

= 960t = $62,400

VR Approach:

Apply lime to 386ha at

rates of 1, 1.25 and 2t/ha

= 386t = $25,090

Implementing VR Lime – The Costs Cost Breakdown

pH mapping = $7.50/ha

Soil Sampling = Approx. $65 (basic) and $85

comprehensive) per strategic soil sample

(includes collection, postage and analysis)

Travel = $1/km

• Cost including pH mapping, travel & soil analysis approx.

$10/ha

• Strategic soil sampling:

Basic Analysis (pHH2O & CaCl2, Ex Al & CEC)

Comprehensive Analysis (Basic Analysis + N, P, K, S &

trace elements)

Implementing VR Lime Soil pH mapping best conducted in June-July, with good soil

moisture

Greatest return on investment for paddocks in lime maintenance phase

Makes it possible to apply the appropriate lime rate to the right areas

Remote monitoring Stock water points

Security

Animal movement

Taggle Systems

• Radio Beacon Time-of-flight (RBT) technology and triangulation

• Cheap ear tag

Simple geo-location

• Where are the cows?

– Are they in the right paddock?

– Are they in the recently sprayed paddock?

– Are they on the farm?

-0.50

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

Monitoring behaviour in critical events

• Livestock theft and predation

Summary

Using precision ag tools and technologies combined with local knowledge to define production/management zones, manage variability in production systems and improve farm management

Utilising these tools, processes and technologies can allow producers to work smarter not harder and improve farm production and profitability

Questions