I agree completely with your second point, but many of us still make these applications with no real sense of the financial implications! The only issue I can see with control fields is that it is impossible to compare like with like i.e there needs to be exactly the same proportion of good, bad and average soil in each field to make a good comparison. If your control has a higher % of good it will most likely win. The real benefit in VRA that I have seen over 5 years practice is more effective use of fungicides, less lodging and more efficient harvesting through a more constant forward speed (reducing fuel & losses) all these benefits are difficult to put a price on
Variable rate drilling
- Thread starter farmerfred86
- Start date
I agree completely with your second point, but many of us still make these applications with no real sense of the financial implications! The only issue I can see with control fields is that it is impossible to compare like with like i.e there needs to be exactly the same proportion of good, bad and average soil in each field to make a good comparison. If your control has a higher % of good it will most likely win. The real benefit in VRA that I have seen over 5 years practice is more effective use of fungicides, less lodging and more efficient harvesting through a more constant forward speed (reducing fuel & losses) all these benefits are difficult to put a price on
- Location
- Suffolk
We're all set to start now... AS Communications were terrible at supporting our equipment despite supplying it! They are only keen to sell us a new model!
In the end it was Precise solutions that sorted us with a cable and got us set up.
Had to take the floor of the cab up again to get to the application rate module and wire into the vaderstad GPS socket...
In the end it was Precise solutions that sorted us with a cable and got us set up.
Had to take the floor of the cab up again to get to the application rate module and wire into the vaderstad GPS socket...
- Location
- Ashbourne, Derbyshire
It all depends how variable your soil is,
I'm going to dabble in it now i've got the ability to do VR seeding on our Claydon Sr via an RDS Athene box, unfortunately our soil testing people couldn't make it on time to do a soil connectivity scan this autumn, but we'll get some done for spring drilling
I'm going to dabble in it now i've got the ability to do VR seeding on our Claydon Sr via an RDS Athene box, unfortunately our soil testing people couldn't make it on time to do a soil connectivity scan this autumn, but we'll get some done for spring drilling
- Location
- Bedfordshire
This all makes sense, a neighbour who has used variable rate drilling for a few years finds the biggest benefit in barley grown on hilly and undulating areas. The valleys always used to go flat so he cuts rates by about 50% and on the tops of the hills ups rate by anything up to 100%. He has all the fancy kit to do this. This works well with wheat as well but with osr rape the benefits are not so clear, so variable rate N tends to be used.
- Location
- South Northants
I'm not sure if you would see the same variation in establishment with spring drilling as the seedbeds tend to be better and warmer. I would think there is more scope to vary seed and nitrogen rates on winter crops.
- Location
- Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Maybe so, but will dabble with it next autumn anyway, we have quite a few fields which have different soil types.... from heavy to very heavy!
- Location
- Suffolk
I'm thinking the same... We are going to 4 large fields this winter with cordiale and then one large field behind sugarbeet in the spring which is very variable in soil type...
- Location
- Suffolk
I think it depends on the land... This year is our first year growing sugarbeet on lighter land and I suspect we wouldn't see large benefit here... The fact remains that we really don't know - but we're gonna find out!
I agree with the 2 points above though - I expect very little benefit to a spring crop and I expect the data will need fine tuning to maintain the high yielding parts of the field.
I specified variable rate on the drill we bought 2 years ago but nothing sophisticated. Just flick a switch job , setting the % rate manually on the drill before you start. Simple but I love it! I know the poorer parts of the fields for germination and heavier parts are easy obviously but it is so convenient and reassuring to think I'll put a bit more on there as its always thin. That simple system is not standard on many new drills I don't think, mine cost £500 and some of the best money I have spent and I know it paid for itself a few times over in the first year. Would perhaps consider mapping in future if it will cover cost and make me money.
- Location
- Ashbourne, Derbyshire
towns
Member
- Location
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
Hi,
Retail is £3300 I think, I can check in the morning. If it is dual metering unit but a single hopper then the motor can be mounted between them and drive both metering units. If seed and fert then yes twin motor would be best option.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Nick
Retail is £3300 I think, I can check in the morning. If it is dual metering unit but a single hopper then the motor can be mounted between them and drive both metering units. If seed and fert then yes twin motor would be best option.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Nick
I have an accord DF2 hopper, so the motor would go in between the metering units then? How is the rate altered? Is there a motor on the apertures as well?
Agronomist was asking me today when I was going to go variable seed rate, hence the questions as I don't want to buy a new drill just yet.
Agronomist was asking me today when I was going to go variable seed rate, hence the questions as I don't want to buy a new drill just yet.
towns
Member
- Location
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
Correct, I'll try and post a photo tomorrow, I'm sure we have one fitted. The rate is altered by the motor speed increasing or decreasing. The apertures stay fixed, when you calibrate you set the apertures to roughly where they would be for that product if land wheel based but the motor covers the difference, you can't drill rape when it's at the beans aperture opening for instance as the motor would just be going far too slow.
You then either type in the rate that you want on the screen after a calibration or let the map do it all for you. You can then nudge that rate up or down as you're drilling. Simple as that!
Calibration simply involves holding a bucket or bag under the metering unit, holding a calibration button and telling the Artemis the weight of the seed in the bucket.
Hope that helps!
Nick
You then either type in the rate that you want on the screen after a calibration or let the map do it all for you. You can then nudge that rate up or down as you're drilling. Simple as that!
Calibration simply involves holding a bucket or bag under the metering unit, holding a calibration button and telling the Artemis the weight of the seed in the bucket.
Hope that helps!
Nick
Thank you, very helpful. For variable rate will it take RTK GPS feed from my NH FM750 for speed/position.
towns
Member
- Location
- Stroud, Gloucestershire
It will, you have two options, you can either take the GPS feed from the Trimble and load your maps on the SD card in to the Artemis or if you are already set up for variable rate on the Trimble then you can load the map on that and it will then tell the Artemis what to apply via a cable connection.
The kit comes with a radar sensor anyway for mounting on the drill which we recommend as it's connected straight in to the motor module and you get a speed pulse every 7mm so it's quick to react and get the motor turning. There's a pre-start function as well so for your front tank you get the motor running and blowing seed back to the coulters as then start to drive, so no gaps in corners/start of a bout.
Nick
The kit comes with a radar sensor anyway for mounting on the drill which we recommend as it's connected straight in to the motor module and you get a speed pulse every 7mm so it's quick to react and get the motor turning. There's a pre-start function as well so for your front tank you get the motor running and blowing seed back to the coulters as then start to drive, so no gaps in corners/start of a bout.
Nick
- Location
- South Northants
I have registered to use mySoyl - you will need them to send you an activation number to access all of your info. I was told yesterday that it's best to let Soyl do the maps for you this year as the site isn't fully up to speed.
Thanks, that sounds useful.