Increase yields and reduce costs with variable rate planting
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This document summarizes a webinar about using variable rate planting to increase yields and reduce costs. It finds that most growers are just starting to use variable seeding technology. The webinar discusses developing management zones using soil data and yield maps, understanding hybrid performance data, and evaluating the effectiveness of variable rate planting recommendations. Growers' biggest challenges are evaluating variable rate planting results and establishing effective management zones.
Increase yields and reduce costs with variable rate planting
- 1. Sponsored by XSInc Increase Yields and Reduce Costs with Variable Rate Planting Precision Ag Insight Webinar July 8, 2015
- 2. Sponsored by XSInc Webcast Format • You are muted. • Please ask questions using the “Questions” box. • Click the red arrow to close/open controls. • Click the “plus” next to “Questions” if you don’t see the questions box. • A recording of today’s webcast will be emailed to you. Minimized Controls
- 3. Sponsored by XSInc Speakers • Chad Godsey, PhD Owner, Godsey Precision Ag • Dave Scheiderer President, Integrated Ag • Dale Cowan Senior Agronomist, AGRIS and Wanstead Coops
- 5. Sponsored by XSInc Registration Question How many of your growers are currently utilizing variable seeding technology? • Very few, 0-25% • Some, 26-50% • Most, 51-75% • Almost all, 76-100%
- 6. Sponsored by XSInc Results Very few, 0-25% 62% Some, 26-50% 32% Most, 51-75% 3% Almost all, 76-100% 3%
- 7. Sponsored by XSInc Basics of Variable Rate Planting • Local agronomy trumps everything most of what we will discuss this morning • Types of data required to create quality seeding zones vary from region to region • Seek professional support from someone who understands your local agronomy and has experience using GIS tools
- 8. Sponsored by XSInc Basics of Variable Rate Planting • Develop clear cut goals for what you want to accomplish • Save on seed costs? • Increase yield?
- 9. Sponsored by XSInc End of Year Analysis - Whole Field Table 1. Input cost and realized savings for 2010-2014 Input Minimum Rate Maximum Rate Average Rate Savings over uniform rate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - per acre - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Seed 27,000 34,000 31,299 $1.75† Nitrogen (lb/N) 30 100 67 $11.07‡ Total Input Savings $12.82
- 10. Sponsored by XSInc End of Year Analysis – Whole Field Table 2. Whole field analysis and increase in revenue from variable rate management Long-term Average Prior to Mgt† Difference in Year of Treatment minus Long-term Average Seed Savings for Field Nitrogen Savings for Field Increase Revenue for Field from Yield Increase 201 bu/ac 17.1 $229† $1450‡ $8960¶ †Savings based on a uniform seeding rate of 32,000 seeds per acre and $80 per acre seeding cost. ‡Savings based on a uniform rate of 85 lb N/ac and $0.60/lb N, applied as UAN. ¶ Revenue increased on $4.00/bu selling price.
- 11. Sponsored by XSInc Considerations • Work with seed companies on hybrid population dynamics • Cover the basics before moving on to VRS • Set reasonable expectations from VR seeding and do it early • Economics • Chances of achieving goals in year one
- 12. Sponsored by XSInc Understanding Sources of Variability • There are 3 main types of field variability: 1. Natural - field landscape 2. Man made – field activities 3. Random – weather • All 3 interact individually and together to determine crop outcome • The fourth source of variability is plant to plant
- 13. Sponsored by XSInc Cobs collected from 1/1000 of an acre
- 14. Sponsored by XSInc 0 50 100 150 200 250 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Yieldbus/acre Ear Location Range in Corn Yield 1/1000 of an Acre 125.6 bushel range in estimated yield Overall average yield 175 bus/ acre , potential yield with plant uniformity 217 bushels per acre a 42 bushel increase
- 15. Sponsored by XSInc Management Zones • First, understand the scope of the variability and opportunities; then create management zones • Consistent size and shape • Consistent year over year in terms of yield performance • Attributes that can be measured and managed • Sources are - multiple years of yield maps, topography, soil data, drone imagery, farmer input , others – all layers should support a consistent development of management zones
- 16. Sponsored by XSInc Management Zones • Most GIS software packages contain tools for multiyear yield analysis (MYYA), yield normalization or merging of layers. • Simple is the best place to start • Identify above average, average and below average yield areas; sometimes you will find areas that are variable each year • Decide how you will position population rates in zones or management blocks within zones • What are the specific hybrid dynamics? • Work with seed companies
- 17. Sponsored by XSInc Registration Question What is your biggest challenge in achieving your objectives for variable seeding? • Collecting the data • Establishing management zones • Getting the recommendation implemented correctly • Evaluating effectiveness of the recommendation at the end of the season
- 18. Sponsored by XSInc Results Collecting the data 17% Establishing management zones 19%Evaluating effectiveness of the recommendation at the end of the season 36% Getting the recommendation implemented correctly 28%
- 19. Sponsored by XSInc Hybrid Performance Data • 3 yield potentials per maturity zones: < 80 RM 80 - 90 RM > 90 RM Low <120 bu/ac <140 bu/ac <160 bu/ac Mid 120-150 bu/ac 140-180 bu/ac 160-210 bu/ac High >150 bu/ac >180 bu/ac >210 bu/ac
- 21. Sponsored by XSInc DKC49-82RIB Optimums Yield Optimum Economical Optimum Pop (Pl/Ac) Yield (Bu/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) Pop (Pl/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) High 40.2 239.2 811.33 36.1 818.76 Mid 34.4 194.8 654.63 30.3 662.05 Low N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Seeds Price = $275/80 000 kernels bag 95% Germination Corn Price = 4 $/Bu
- 23. Sponsored by XSInc DKC57-75RIB Optimums Yield Optimum Economical Optimum Pop (Pl/Ac) Yield (Bu/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) Pop (Pl/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) High 43.2 242.1 812.02 36.9 823.35 Mid 46.8 190.1 591.13 33.3 615.51 Low N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Seeds Price = $275/80 000 kernels bag 95% Germination Corn Price = 4 $/Bu
- 25. Sponsored by XSInc DKC61-89RIB Optimums Yield Optimum Economical Optimum Pop (Pl/Ac) Yield (Bu/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) Pop (Pl/Ac) Revenue ($/Ac) High 36.4 242.1 836.50 33.9 841.04 Mid 37.0 191.3 631.25 33.1 638.23 Low N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Seeds Price = $275/80 000 kernels bag 95% Germination Corn Price = 4 $/Bu
- 26. Sponsored by XSInc Price/ unit of seed (80,000) = $275.00 Seed cost per 1000 seeds $3.44 If you increase population by 5K, seed cost increases by $17.22/ acre. At $4.00 corn, you need 4.3 bushels per acre increase to break even. If you decrease seed by 5K and save $17.22 an acre in seed costs, yields can drop the same for a break even; but ideally they must stay the same as normal rate to realize a true benefit. Simple Seeding Economics
- 27. Sponsored by XSInc MYYA 3 years of corn yield data- 3 years of corn in last 5 years Most farmers alternate Corn, Soy, Wheat, so it takes 9 years to get 3 years of corn – we can normalize soy and corn together. This map formed the base for creating management zones. The Process
- 28. Sponsored by XSInc VRS Target • MYYA • Soil test data • Hybrid performance data • Monitor information 20/20 • Farmer input
- 29. Sponsored by XSInc As planted map downloaded from Field View Issues with internal polygons As Planted
- 30. Sponsored by XSInc All the data layers come in from 20/20 system Downforce highlighted here Analysis
- 31. Sponsored by XSInc After all the effort and investment, take the time to scout and understand the issues with final plant populations. Not being critical, just realistic What you plan and plant with precision may not all show up Other learning opportunities “emerge” that impact VRS outcomes
- 32. Sponsored by XSInc Summary • Having data (all relevant data ) organized in the GIS allows analysis tools to be used (e.g. XS Inc) • Yield x population etc. • The only variable on this farm is the seeding rate • Small management blocks afford an opportunity to analyze within the zone, without skewing the yield in larger areas • Verification of management zones and population rates compared to normal farmer practices • Calculate the ROI
- 33. Sponsored by XSInc Redefining Seeding Zones & Optimizing Rates
- 34. Sponsored by XSInc Soil Sampling Density is Critical
- 35. Sponsored by XSInc What is a Common Production Unit? Common Production Unit (CPU) • Classifies land units that possess similar characteristics affecting crop development • Quantifies the temporal stability of the field from: -Soil Organic Matter -Soil Texture (CEC) -Normalized Yield (+2 yrs.) -Slope (elevation) -Irrigation
- 36. How A CPU Is Created Soil Organic Matter Soil CEC Normalized Yield Slope CPUs - created from compiled data
- 37. Sponsored by XSInc Soil Types as Management Zones Don’t Model Well NDVI/Soil Type CPU/Soil Type
- 38. Yield DataCPU using normalized yields, om, slope, CEC
- 39. Aerial Imagery • Great diagnostic tool • Must have a good understanding of the field to set up management zones
- 41. Sponsored by XSInc Theoretical Yield Response to Population Optimizing Seeding Rates for Corn Production (Crop Insights, Pioneer-DuPont) By Steve Butzen, Agronomy Information Manager
- 42. Corn Yield Response Stress Vs. Good Growing Conditions Updated Jan 2015 URL: http://www.kingcorn.org/news/timeless/Seed ingRateGuidelines.html Yield Response to Plant Population for Corn in Indiana R.L. (Bob) Nielsen, Jason Lee, & Jim Camberato Agronomy Dept., Purdue Univ. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054 Good Conditions Optimum seeding rate: 34,000 plts./ac. Poor growing conditions Optimum seeding rate: 24,100 plts./ac.
- 43. Sponsored by XSInc CPU Zones to VR Seeding Prescription CPU VR Seeding Prescription
- 44. Sponsored by XSInc Data Analysis to Refine Populations and Hybrid Choice
- 45. Sponsored by XSInc Thank You Chad Godsey, PhD Owner, Godsey Precision Ag Phone: 970-630-7732 Email: chad.godsey@godseyag.com Web: godseyag.com Twitter: @godseyag Stick around for an AgVeritas demonstration.
- 46. Sponsored by XSInc AgVeritas – Overview • Web-based yield analysis tool • Uses spatial statistics to analyze yield • Analyzes all the factors that impact yield simultaneously • Planting choice / rate • Treatment choice / rate • Nutrient levels, soil types, elevation • And many more • Determines which factors impacted yield more and less • Calculates if and where a tested management practice is profitable
- 47. Sponsored by XSInc AgVeritas - Variable Rate Analysis Example Seeding Rate ChecksManagement Zones The Question: What is the optimal seeding rate in my management zones? - 36k - 33K - 33K - 31K - 28K
- 48. Sponsored by XSInc AgVeritas – Variable Rate AnalysisResult Optimal rates by zone • Above Average = 35k • Slightly Above Average = 32k • Average = 34k • Slightly Below Average = 32k • Below Average = 29K Check – Originally Recommended Rates: • Above Average = 36K • Slightly Above Average = 33K • Average = 33k • Slightly Below Average = 31K • Below Average = 28K
- 49. Sponsored by XSInc Thank You Chad Godsey, PhD Owner, Godsey Precision Ag Phone: 970-630-7732 Email: chad.godsey@godseyag.com Web: godseyag.com Twitter: @godseyag