Precision Agriculture and CORS Shannon Huber Norwood Multi-County Extension Agent Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Why precision agriculture? Growers are facing increased input costs ◦ nitrogen, fuel Labor is becoming harder to find ◦ Allows farms to reduce labor needs Environmentally friendly ◦ Putting inputs precisely where they are needed Generate farm specific data to increase profits
GPS use in Agriculture Yield Monitoring Variable Rate Application ◦ Fertilizer, plant growth regulators, defoliant Sensor Technology Remote Sensing Guidance ◦ Boom control
Yield Monitoring Sensors on combine or cotton picker determine yield, typically at 1 second intervals Controller connects GPS data to sensor data allowing for creation of yield map Typically use 1 m accuracy GPS Cotton pickers use light emitters (Ag Leader) or microwave technology (John Deere) Yield monitors are report cards for farmers
Yield Maps Ultimate goal is a profit map!
Variable Rate Application Technology exists to variable rate apply most crop inputs: ◦ Fertilizer, seed, insecticide, plant growth regulators, defoliant Fertilizer is probably most frequently applied on a variable rate basis
Variable Rate Application Seeding Prescription Map Higher seeding rates under pivot. Nitrogen Prescription Map Based on multiple years of yield data
Sensor Technology Greenseeker is a commercially available product that measures NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index), which basically indicates how green the crop is Why is this important? ◦ Indicator of plant health and growth What can we use this for? ◦ Nitrogen application was original purpose
Sensor Technology
Remote Sensing Commercial providers of aerial based NDVI and thermal imagery In Alabama, primarily for cotton management Plant growth regulators and defoliant
Remote Sensing ‘Scouting’ image product from commercial vendor Thermal image product from commercial vendor
Guidance 3 levels of guidance products ◦ Light bar/LCD screen guidance ◦ Assisted steer ◦ RTK
Why would a farmer need guidance?
My personal guidance systems Runs on chicken nuggets & mac-n-cheese Runs on baby food and lots of love
Guidance Light bar/LCD screen guidance ◦ ◦ ◦ 12” pass-to-pass Burndown of cover crops Pastures Golf course/sod Cost: $1895 - $5000
Guidance Assisted steer ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ 4 -12” pass-to-pass Star. Fire 2, Omni. Star Spray applications Planting Some products simply attach to steering column Accuracy, but not repeatability $2000 (as an add-on to light bar) and up
Guidance RTK ◦ ◦ ◦ Base station CORS Controlled traffic pattern Controlled tillage Precise input application
Guidance RTK Costs ◦ CORS Station: approx. $24, 000 ◦ $22, 000 for third party auto-guidance setup ◦ $12, 000 for third-party base station Base station range is approx. 6 miles line of sight Line of sight seems to be challenge here (vs. Midwest or MS Delta) Many farms are spread over large geographic area, would require multiple base stations Multiple base stations or moving a base station, which would require additional labor.
Guidance – Boom Control Sprayer booms are typically 60 or 90 ft. Booms can have from 3 – 7 sections Boom controls allows individual sections to be turned on or off
Guidance – Boom Control Field boundary Top View from behind Slide courtesy Dr John Fulton, AU
CORS Private company worked with Chris Johnson at USSRC and Tennessee Valley Research and Extension Center to test use of farm RTK equipment using CORS as correction signal Two brands of equipment were tested
CORS Farm in Lawrence County acquired Trimble Auto. Pilot equipment to use with CORS This farm is located approx. 27 miles from GTAC CORS
CORS In January, a discussion began between Extension PA program and area farmers to gauge interest in CORS as a possible application for the Conservation Innovation Grants
CORS in North Alabama 25 mile radius map
CORS Farmers inquired about going together to purchase a CORS DOT was contacted Grant money secured from Wheat and Feed Grain & Cotton Commission Word spreads… 9 farms buy into the CORS for Courtland
Partnership Alabama Cooperative Extension System Alabama Department of Transportation Lawrence County Board of Education 9 farms AL Wheat & Feed Grain Producers; AL Cotton Commission
Courtland on-line!!! Courtland site became operational on March 11
Which one is right for me? Traditional Base Station Line of sight Geographic limitations ◦ More base stations ◦ Move station ◦ Some dealers provide network Depending on factory preinstalls or current equipment, it can be cheaper to upgrade than purchase 3 rd party CORS Requires cell phone coverage Not compatible with John Deere GPS - tractor equipped with John Deere RTK can not use CORS for correction signal Nice that other groups/agencies can use signal
Future Plans Further evaluation of CORS for ag applications ◦ Funded by Alabama Cotton Commission Precision Ag Team plans to apply for Conservation Innovation Grants in 2009 ◦ Require farmer cost-share ◦ Commercially available technology ◦ Further partnership with DOT
Contact Information Shannon Huber Norwood ◦ hubersr@aces. edu ◦ 256 -412 -1696 mobile ◦ 256 -353 -8702 ext. 28 Amy Winstead ◦ winstat@aces. edu ◦ 256 -443 -4752 ◦ 256 -353 -8702 ext. 26
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