Variable rate drilling

[Brisel]

Ok, thanks. Just curious to see if you had any data on it.

 

[Rhiza-UK]

Here is an example of a VRA Solstice seed plan and the resultant viable tillers.

• Orange = deep, heavy silty clay loam valley bottoms
• Green = shallow, heavy silty clay loam
• Blue = very shallow, chalky, medium silty clay loam banks

 

[Brisel]

Do you think that a 20% variance either side of the field average is enough? Why not 50% or is it limited by the anticipated establishment % map?

 

[Rhiza-UK]

We recommend that farmers need to be using a minimum of 15% variation either side of their normal seed rate to see a difference. However, this depends on the degree of soil variation within a field and in some cases farmers are varying over 100%. The important thing is that the farmer is in control of the rates used.

You can see in the example above the rates could potentially be reduced further in the orange valleys and increased slightly on the very shallow blue areas.

We are currently running analysis on our data set to see what seed rates produce the highest yields for different soil types and varieties. We will pass this information on to farmers at our summer seed rate workshops to help them in deciding what rates to use.

 

[Brisel]

Is your modelling is based on target tiller numbers & ear numbers, rather than variance in establishment around a mean?

 

[Rhiza-UK]

We don't use modelling; farmers and agronomists decide on their own rates based on target plant populations and expected establishment in each soil zone. We can offer advice on the range of variation we think is suitable based on the level of variation in a particular field and share information on what other farmers in the area have found successful.

We are also hoping that by analysing our large data set we should be able to identify the optimum seed rates for different regions, soil types, varieties etc.

 

[Rhiza-UK]

Our free seed rate workshops are filling up quickly, so if you are interested in attending, please book now.

See below for your nearest workshop:

• 26th June - Deanwood Park Golf Club, Newbury, RG20 8JP
• 1st July - Marlborough Golf Club, Marlborough, SN8 1DU (FULLY BOOKED)
• 3rd July - Colmworth & North Beds Golf Club, Bedford, MK44 2AP
• 8th July - Ruddington Grange, Ruddington, NG11 6NB
• 10th July - Tynegrain Ltd, Tyne & Wear, NE34 9PL

For more information or to book your place, please PM me.

 

[Rhiza-UK]

Interesting article on some of the benefits of variable seed rates.

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/18/07...te-drilling-improves-autumn-establishment.htm

 

[Matt77]

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

There is a 9 pin serial port on the back of both the Mzuri RDS Artemis box and a case afs pro 700 screen, if I get a cable off the internet to connect both of these, will they talk together or is it more complicated than that, I want the GPS speed signal and to do variable rate plus use the boundary settings to control in's and out's if possible, thanks.

 

[jimmyriddle]

Gps speed sensing isn't all it's cracked up to be, I have it on an osr drill and it's a pain in the arse for corners and for testing seeder

 

[Matt77]

Gps speed sensing isn't all it's cracked up to be, I have it on an osr drill and it's a pain in the arse for corners and for testing seeder

Maybe "speed" was a bad choice of word, I'm after connection so I can use Rhiza files for variable rate seeding and I've been told once both box and screen are talking you can use boundary settings on the Case AFS to start the drill earlier and stop earlier to help reduce overlaps.

 

[jimmyriddle]

I used to run a weaving drill that had an rds box, I had a cable that went from my rds box to the topcon box (rds owned by topcon) I don't think it was that expensive, bought from lh agro @Robt may be able to help.
I could get it to turn on and of at headlands but only by setting a headland in the gps box

 

[Matt77]

I used to run a weaving drill that had an rds box, I had a cable that went from my rds box to the topcon box (rds owned by topcon) I don't think it was that expensive, bought from lh agro @Robt may be able to help.
I could get it to turn on and of at headlands but only by setting a headland in the gps box

Thanks, I'll try them in the week, I had heard that RDS do one, so probably the same, but it's £130 which is less than ideal!

 

[Brisel]

RDS Artemis controllers have a seed priming facility for corners etc. My Isocan is programmable for this.

 

[Matt77]

RDS Artemis controllers have a seed priming facility for corners etc. My Isocan is programmable for this.

Yes, I was using this manually for my in's and out's towards the end of the demo period I had the drill for, it felt a little slow to wait for the drill to trigger it and I ended up doing a couple more rounds on the headlands to avoid any sky lark plots! Thought if I could set the GPS up to do this it would be a bonus.

 

[Brisel]

A GPS switch? Vaderstad have that option. It's great for getting the seed rate just right and not dropping it on the surface when you lift out. I think you'd need RTK to make it work properly.

@towns ?

 

[Matt77]

A GPS switch? Vaderstad have that option. It's great for getting the seed rate just right and not dropping it on the surface when you lift out. I think you'd need RTK to make it work properly.

@towns ?

Yes guess so, I have RTK so that's covered, I'm told the case afs screen can trigger the drill switch with the boundary setting, guess I would need to make sure my drilling speed was always the same for in and out as it would all be down to timings. The seed being dropped on the surface after lifting out would be good to stop.

 

[RFR]

We're drilling hundreds of skylark plots with our RDS artemis seed system!
Fitted to a JD750a, twin switches for in and out of drilling, but we still have to put the drill in the ground before the front wheels of the tractor pass the headland mark and we're STILL left with unseeded areas!
I bet we must have at least a5 sec delay between the drill pressured into the ground and the seed roller turning, I cant fathom it out, its like there is a delay setting somewhere i cant find.

 

[Rhiza-UK]

Seems that you can adjust the finger switches to activate the motor sooner, might solve the problem?
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/rds-artemis-finger-switch-setup.20592/

Best off checking with @towns though.

 

[RFR]

Yeah we have been tweaking these. I have the activate on as fine as I can, but still seem to have a 5 second delay.