LandWISE Advanced Farming Systems Project Case study ...

LandWISE Advanced Farming Systems ProjectCase study summariesDeveloping a controlled traffic system for potatoes and onionsA.S Wilcox & Sons grow carrots, potatoes, onions and maize in Pukekohe and the Waikato. They aredeveloping their use of high accuracy RTK GPS in bed forming, towards controlled traffic in potatoes andonions. The goal of a trial at Pukekawa is to establish whether controlled traffic will provide expectedgains in operational costs and in reduced soil compaction on clay soils.Precision interplanting of clover under barley to aid establishment and avoid winderosionBruce and Grant Perry are current users of GPS in their certified seed operation in Mid Canterbury. Theyare moving towards high accuracy RTK GPS and will trial inter row planting of clover under barley. Theintention is to determine whether expected gains in clover yield and soil protection will result though alonger growing period, sheltered establishment conditions and improved agrichemical options.Permanent beds to control compaction in leaf vegetable croppingNZ Freshcuts grow leaf vegetables for supermarkets and are using RTK GPS to form permanent beds.The aim is to reduce compaction, cultivation and inputs costs. Trials at Mangere and Rangiriri, willexplore methodologies for bed forming. This is expected to improve profit, soil quality and improveutilization of land by minimising tractor operations and associated delays.Strategies for adopting advanced farming systemsF&D Briant are recent adopters of GPS in their cropping operations in Gisborne where they grow squash,maize, sweetcorn, tomatoes, asparagus and grapes. LandWISE will track and support the adoptionprocess, with the intention of creating protocols and training methods to assist others.Refining a controlled traffic system for maize productionDavid Clark grows maize in a controlled traffic system, with all operations following matched wheelspacing and 9 m implement widths. The advanced farming project is supporting refinement to systems,agronomy and equipment towards more sustainable and profitable practices.Precision recontouring of sand dune farmlandHew Dalrymple grows squash, maize, wheat, barley for silage, brassica crops for stock feed and wintergrass and is an advanced user of high accuracy GPS. He will level sand dune farmland using GPSguided implements, with the goal of improved irrigator travel and drainage characteristics. LandWISE willsupport the development of best practices for surface optimization and post operation soil rehabilitation,to return the sites to best productivity.LandWISE Inc – Centre for Land and Water, 21 Ruahapia Rd, RD2, Hastings, NZ – www.landwise.org.nz

Advanced Farming Systems – Case Study Summaries 2Integrating field data with farm management systemsHugh Ritchie grows wheat, barley, maize, peas and squash and some seed crops. High accuracy GPS isused for cultivation and planting. Next planned gains from advanced farming systems are in theintegration of operational data between tractor and office, and in making maximum use of compatibleGPS data from contractor operations.Capturing benefits of advanced farming systems for fresh vegetable productionJohn Clarke grows fresh market vegetables at Woodhaven gardens in the Horowhenua. High accuracyGPS is used for bed forming and planting, with next gains planned from chemical proof of placement,surface optimisation and data integration.Precision strip tillage and inter row weeding to improve soils in vegetable seedproduction.John Evans grows certified seed, being ryegrasses (Italian), red beet and radish, mustards, carrots,linseed, spinach, cabbage with some process peas and wheat. High accuracy RTK GPS is being used totrial strip tillage and inter row weeding to provide for better care of light wind prone soils, in carrot andbeet seed production.Assessing soil quality on a farm in transition.Randal Hanrahan grows maize, peas, oats, barley, wheat, grass seed and carrots. GPS is used forprecision planting on the farm and in contract operations for other growers. Intensification has led to theinstallation of lateral and centre pivot irrigation and retirement of border dyke systems. EM38electromagnetic scanning is to be applied to provide data on the variable and thin soils. This will allow forbest management regimes to be designed for sustainable and profitable farming.Permanent beds and precision mechanical weeding in organic fresh vegetablesScott Lawson grows and packs the True Earth Organics brand at his Hastings farm. RTK GPS is used ingrowing domestic fresh and process vegetables, export blueberries and organic corn for Heinz Watties.Light soils and a chemical free farming approach provide a challenge for this sustainable farmingoperation. GPS will be used to guide weeding operations towards best practices for this site.Weed Management in an Advanced Farming SystemTim Macfarlane grows browntop, cabbage, clover, ryegrass and radish for seed, process peas andsweetcorn and pumpkin for the fresh market. Advanced use is made of GPS for minimum tillagecultivation, planting and spraying. GPS use is evolving with the use of sensing and mapping technologyto create integrated weed management practices. GPS controlled boom switching is being refined alongwith integrated mapping tools. This will provide for targeted chemical application, to eliminate overlapand waste, and to provide proof of placement.LandWISE Inc – Centre for Land and Water, 21 Ruahapia Rd, RD2, Hastings, NZ – www.landwise.org.nz