KNOWINGWHATYOU AREDOINGCRUCIAL
KNOWINGWHATYOU AREDOINGCRUCIAL
HAVING the best information to hand to help you make the right decisions for your arable farming business has always been important.
With grain prices at world levels it is now more important than ever.
Accurately implementing such management decisions through the use of compatible control systems and equipment is equally vital to optimise the production of arable crops.
Precision Farming 2002 at the Newark and Notts Showground on Wed, Mar 6, offers visitors a rare chance to catch up on all that is available from this sector to help them support their arable farming businesses.
Do not be mistaken. This is not a costly technology reserved for enthusiasts only. Fine-tuning input use to secure top returns with minimal impact on the environment is within the reach of many growers, through purchase or use of a contractor.
Precision Farming 2002, organised by Fusion Events and staged in association with FARMERS WEEKLY, offers visitors a single shop-window on the best solutions the industry has to offer. Products, services and systems on offer can help growers and contractors get accurate, up-to-date management information and then implement the resulting decisions with precise, controllable equipment.
A packed seminar programme will focus on the key cost and management issues surrounding the successful use of the technology, providing hands-on experience as well as an insight into what the future holds.
We look forward to seeing you on the day. This is not a technology UK growers can afford to overlook.
Andy Newbold, event director, Fusion Events.
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
The Development of Management Guidelines for Precision Farming – the results of the HGCA precision farming project. The first three papers result from the five year programme of work funded by the Home-Grown Cereal Authority, Agco and Hydro Agri. "The Development of Practical Guidelines for Precision Farming" was undertaken by Cranfield University at Silsoe, Arable Research Centres and Shuttleworth Trust.
10.30am Analysis of variability – John Taylor
Just what causes variable crop performance within a field? This
project compared crop yields within three trial fields of cereals
in England from 1994 to 1997. Despite the fields being
managed with uniform inputs considerable differences were
still seen. Why? Soil electrical conductivity, measured by
Electromagnetic Induction (EMI), helped provide the answers.
11.15am The spatial management of nitrogen – Gavin Wood
Experiments at two sites growing winter wheat show that
remote sensing techniques can be used to monitor crop
canopy development so variable nitrogen applications can be
made at key timings. Surplus nitrogen was also reduced by
one-third – a possible benefit if everyone must meet NVZ
rules?
12 noon A cost-benefit analysis of precision farming – Prof
Dick Godwin
Precision farming philosophy is all very well. But what about
the economics? Results from various variable nitrogen studies
are analysed in economic terms and compared to the costs of
precision farming hardware, software and other services for
cereal crops in the UK.
2.00pm Precision farmers – millionaires or weakest links? –
Simon Griffin, Soil Scientist, SOYL
After eight years in business, 700,000 acres of nutrient
mapping, variable application and remapping, SOYL reveals the
facts and figures. Has it worked? Come and find out.
2.45pm Matching spray applications to target conditions – Paul
Miller, Silsoe Research Institute
What scope is there for selectively spraying weed patches?
Methods of visually mapping weed patches will be described
and the use of such weed patch maps to generate treatment
maps will be explained. Such techniques could also help
protect environmentally sensitive areas and surface water.
3.30pm Variable sites, appropriate rates – Jeremy Ruff,
agronomist, Masstock Arable
Using the example of a grower in the Lincolnshire Wolds, on
hilly land with changing soil types, this presentation will
demonstrate the environmental and cost benefits of precision
application on a variable farm.
Acknowledgements
The organisers gratefully acknowledge the following for their assistance at this event: The participants in the HGCA Precision Farming Project, Silsoe Research Institute, SOYL, Masstock Arable, and the Chief Executive and staff of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society.
PRECISION FARMING 2002
• Wed, Mar 6.
• Newark & Notts Showground.
• 9am-4pm.
• Tickets £5 on gate, FREE if booked in advance via www.fusionevents.co.uk (tel: 01539-734725 fax: 01539-740485).
• Catering on site.
EXHIBITORS
Amazone
Blyth Road, Harworth, Doncaster, South Yorks DN11 8NE (01302-751200 fax 01302-751202 e-mail info@amazone.co.uk web-site amazone.co.uk)
Fertiliser spreaders, sprayers, drills and cultivation equipment, all of which can be GPS-controlled for precision farming.
Application Controls
Gemini Works, Hanbury Road, Pontypool, Gwent NP4 6PD (01495-750625 e-mail mail@applicationcontrol.co.uk)
Distributor of precision farming equipment including chemical injection systems and GPS-controlled variable rate systems. Raven systems offer performance and reliability.
Farmade Management Systems
Claygate Farm, Herons Ghyll, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 4BU (01825-712502 fax 01825-713559 e-mail: sarah.hudson@farmade.com web-site farmade.com)
Fully integrated software for crop management, mapping and precision farming needs. The stand will display Amais Mapping and Amais PF (Precision Farming), Multicrop, New Sentinel and PDM.
Garmin (Europe)
Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, Hants SO51 9AQ (01794-519944 fax 01794 519222e-mail mike.goldstein@garmin.com web-site garmin.com)
Design, manufacture and marketing of more than 50 products for the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless and outdoor markets.
Gotech Technology
Trebeck Hall, Bishops Drive, Southwell, Notts NG25 0JP (01636-816428 fax 01636 816429 e-mail PrecisionFarming@cs.com)
Management company establishing the new Employers Learning Network for Precision in Farming by involving product manufacturers, dealers, contractors and farmers, in co-operation with Lantra.
Knight Farm Machinery
Wireless Hill, South Luffenham, Oakham Rutland LE15 8NF (01780-722200 fax 01780-722201 e-mail sales@knight-ltd.co.uk web-site knight-ltd.co.uk)
Crop sprayer manufacturer. Options include variable rate GPS control, automatic application control and chemical injection systems.
Kuhn Farm Machinery (UK) Stafford Park No 7, Telford, Shropshire TF3 3BQ (01952-239300fax 01952 290091 e-mail infouk@kuhn.co.uk web-site kuhn.co.uk)
Twin disc and pneumatic fertiliser spreaders with 12-24m spreading widths. Options include Quantron, Telemat for border spreading, hopper extensions, single and double acting hydraulic controls. Prices from £1840.
LH Agro (UK)
Old Railway Industrial Estate, Needingworth Road, St Ives, Cambs PE27 5NB (01480-496367 fax 01480-496365 e-mail lhagrouk@btinternet.com web-site lh-agro.com)
Combine and root crop yield mapping systems. Multi/single channel variable rate controllers. Light bar, navigation and data logging. Can Bus implement control systems.
Muddy Boots Software
Phocle Green, Ross On Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7XU (01989-780540fax 01989-780436e-mail sales@muddyboots.com web-site muddyboots.com)
Cropwalker 98 and Cropwalker FM supported by Procheck, the up-to-date source of pesticide data, are all available on the hand-held pocket PC. Demonstrations available on the stand.
Omni STAR BV Dillenburgsingel 69 2263 HW, Leidschendam, The Netherlands (0031 70 31 70 900fax +31 70 31 70 919 e-mail dgps@omnistar.nl web-site omnistar.nl)
OmniSTAR is a sub-meter differential GPS positioning service delivered via satellite. OmniSTAR DGPS receivers are suitable for B-pack, vehicle mounting or OEM use in agri and GIS applications.
Patchwork Technology
PO Box 35, Pontypool, Gwent NP4 8YR (01495-759515 fax 01495-759818e-mail mail@patchwork.co.ukweb-site patchwork.co.uk)
Specialist in precision farming mapping solutions plus data collection, data warehousing and variable rate application systems for use in the agricultural market.
Pear Technology
24 First Avenue, Havant, Hants PO9 2QN (023-9249 9689, fax 023 9278 7207 e-mail jcowling@peartechnology.co.uk web-site peartechnology.co.uk)
Specialist in mapping, crop recording and agronomy software. All products will be on show, including the latest field mapper for low cost mapping and the new GPS mapper for hand-helds.
RDS Technology
Cirencester Road, Minchinhampton, Stroud, Glos GL6 9BH (01453-733300 fax 01453-733311 e-mail info@rdstec.comweb-site rdstec.com)
Manufacturer of precision farming instrumentation and software, including yield mapping, soil mapping and variable rate treatment.
S&G Soil Services
Tythe Farm, Colmworth, Beds MK44 2JZ (01234-376375, fax 01234-376599)
Supplier of CEE soil sampling equipment for standard soil sampling, PCN, mineral N to 90cm and residue work to 90cm. Also DGPS mapping system allowing soil index maps to be drawn up.
Silsoe Research Institute
Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedford MK45 4HS (01525-860000, fax 01525-860156web-site sri.bbsrc.ac.uk)
Research concerned with precision agriculture includes, spatially variable application of pesticides in response to local crop weed patch conditions, yield map interpretation, spatial variability in soils and the implications of nitrogen application.
SOYL
Red Shute, Mill Hermitage, Newbury, Berks RG18 9QU (01635-204190 fax 01635-201625 e-mail timb@soyl.co.uk web-site soyl.co.uk)
Precision farming, nutrient mapping, variable rate recommendations and application, yield map installation/ interpretation, conductivity testing, weed mapping, patch spraying, training services, independent advice.
Thales LandStar
Thales House, Kirkdon Drive, Pitmedden Industrial Estate, Dyce, Aberdeen AB21 0BG (01224-794200 fax 01224-794280 e-mail jim.sugden@thales-tracs.comweb-site landstar-dgps.com)
Ultimate precision GPS to the precision farming industry. Offering highly reliable sub-metre accuracies.
Vicon
Walkers Lane, Lea Green, St Helens, Merseyside WA9 4AF (01744-853200 fax 01744-853400 e-mail mhowell@vicon.ltd.uk)
Vicon Rotaflow EDW weighcell equipped spreader . GPS compatible for application mapping or can be used with Vicons own Profas stand alone precision farming system.