controlled traffic farming and cropping productivity ctf – providing a future of productivity dr...

Controlled traffic farming and cropping productivity

CTF – providing a future of productivity

Dr Don Yule

1www.ctfsolutions.com.au

CTF is a farming system that includes at least

1.Controlled traffic = permanent wheel tracks and matched implement widths2.Minimum tillage, preferable none3.Designed paddock layouts

Scene Setting

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Drivers of cropping

1.Cropping is mechanised2.Crops grow in soils3.Soils are in landscapes

Scene Setting

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Key Performance Indicators•Efficiency•Effectiveness•Continuous improvement•Access to new technologies•Measure to manage

AND•Rain use efficiency

CTF Responses

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CTF Response

1. Cropping is mechanised

Hard tracks for wheels, no compaction for crops

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CTF Response

1. Cropping is mechanised

Do wheels impact on crop yield?

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Yield

(t/Ha)

P 0.07

Av LSD (5%) 1.16

0 tyre beside row 3.6 a

1 tyre beside row 3.0 ab

2 tyre beside row 2.4 b

Single row Sorghum yields

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FARMER’S CTF RESPONSE

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Removes the low values, reduces variability

2. Crops grow in soilsCTF ResponseImprove physical soil healthIncrease water use efficiency

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2. Crops grow in soils

CTF Response

Improve chemical soil health• Enormous knowledge base• pH management critical

• Manures may be under-estimated Re-visit for our new really healthy soils

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2. Crops grow in soils

CTF ResponseUse more manures

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Manure added 3 years ago

No manure added

2. Crops grow in soils CTF ResponseImprove biological soil health

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Biological soil health

Responses to these realities

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2. Crops grow in soilsImprove overall soil healthIncrease crop frequency, farm like natureIncrease Rain Use Efficiency

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CTF21t

8tTRAD

• Farm planning for infrastructure, land use capability, trees and wildlife

• Paddock layout – CT direction, efficient operations, remove waterlogging and reduce erosion, topography information critical.

3. Soils are in landscapesCTF Responses

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3. Soils are in landscapesCTF Layout using 1m pixel imagery and GPS topo

2004. Waterlogging, loss $56,000 2006. After drainage, cost $3,000.

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CTF Response to severe erosion event

1997

TRADITIONAL 100t/ha

CTF 10t/ha

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3. Soils are in landscapes

3. Soils are in landscapes

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CTF Response to wind erosion

No tillStubble retention

3. Soils are in landscapes CTF Response to waterlogging

Raised beds

Pre-beds4.4 kg/ha/mm

Post-beds11.6 kg/ha/mm

CTF produced 2.6 times more for the same rainfall19

Controlled traffic farming and cropping productivity

CTF has produced massive increases in grain productivity, and also in cane,

cotton and vegetables.

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4. CTF and Spatial Technologiesthe perfect match

•GNSS (GPS)• “Know where you are farming”• 2cm accuracy and repeatability• Automation, e.g. Auto-steer• Labour benefits• CORS networks• Spatial footprint

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Base station

Radio

Rover/tractor

GNSS antennae

A

B

GNSS Guidance

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CORS Network - GPSnet

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CTF and GNSS define the on-farm spatial footprint

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•Remote Sensing• 1m pixel – satellites or planes• Multi-spectral – includes NIR• $0.50/ha• Measures crop and machinery

performance•Ground based sensing

• Topography• Yield monitoring

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4. CTF and Spatial Technologies

the perfect match

•Measure to Manage• Tools produce digital, automated, high

resolution data• Relevant – measure paddock and farmer

performance• GIS ready, spatially accurate• Forensic analysis – how much impact and

what area, relate to other data to identify and manage causes of poor and good growth

4. CTF and Spatial Technologiesthe perfect match

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•Continuous Improvement• Use tools to drive On-farm R&D for every

grower’s farm and farming system. Easy to implement and measure. Highly relevant, applicable and adoptable.

4. CTF and Spatial Technologiesthe perfect match

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Does CTF Provide a Future of PRODUCTIVITY?

CTF and System BenefitsBowman (2008) studied 16 farmers and

change on 4,250 ha, Darling Downs•Soil erosion less by 195,000 tonnes/year (-90%)•Diesel use from 338,000 to 130,000 L/yr (-60%)•Nitrogen leaving farms from 119 to 9 t (-90%)•Carbon dioxide loss from 1,199 to 373 t (-70%)•Labour from 4,590 to 1,744 hours (-60%)•Annual income $1,652,500 to $2,386,230 (+44%)•Gross Margin $547,279 to $918,366 (+68%)

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CTF – Providing a Future of PRODUCTIVITY

CTF and CORS NETWORK Benefits

The Allen Consulting Group (2008) calculated benefits due to precision GNSS (from CORS Networks) and CTF and inter-row sowing practices were $152 – 208 million in 2008, and estimated to be $1005 – 1357 million per year in 2030. CRC for Spatial Information

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Controlled traffic farming and cropping productivity

The conclusion of the 2005 National CTF Conference was “JUST DO IT” and I hope I have explained why.

But ABS (2009) reported 88% of cropping farmers were doing no CTF. Why are so few “doing it”?

30www.ctfsolutions.com.au