Variable rate

[Hilly]

Silly question but how does it work ?

 

[Chae1]

Generally it works with gps and alters rate according to where you are in field and soil/crop requirements from soil samples.

The theory is your applying nutrients where its needed, instead of a blanket rate across whole field.

We just do vari rate lime. Variations in p&k across our fields isn't great.

 

[Hilly]

What do you need in the tractor then ?

 

[quattro]

I think biggest saving is in lime
but you do tend to put more pand k where the crop is yielding more

 

[Hilly]

I think biggest saving is in lime
but you do tend to put more pand k where the crop is yielding more

Im
Just wondering what extra electrical kit in the cab is needed , contractor pulls into farm you have done soil sampling how do you transfer soil sample results into door opening and closing ?

 

[Zebbedee]

Soil samples taken to lab then transferred to an electronic spreading plan set by target ph requirement (or p and k) e mailed to us as a spreading contractor then we upload file to gps controller in spreader which then applies material variable rate across field by altering belt speed on spreader. So equipment needed is variable rate spreader eg hyd drive with an electronic control box which can then speak to a gps controller with variable rate software enabled or fert spinner would be similar but with electronic rate to open slides that’s the gist of it anyway

 

[Chae1]

Im
Just wondering what extra electrical kit in the cab is needed , contractor pulls into farm you have done soil sampling how do you transfer soil sample results into door opening and closing ?

You can do it yourself! Drop a half gear in bits that need more. Speed up in bits that need less.

 

[Hilly]

You can do it yourself! Drop a half gear in bits that need more. Speed up in bits that need less.

I know but I’m just a nosey git I want to know how it’s done . ?

 

[daveydiesel1]

Local contractor has harvest lab in his harvester and then it tells where the fert is needed most.

 

[TripleSix]

I know but I’m just a nosey git I want to know how it’s done . ?

Ours is done through the Trimble FMX750.
Has extra plugins and cables for VRA to talk to the Bredal spreader.

We've also got a Trimble with a section control unit on it, it can turn up to 12 sections.
Could run a sprayer with it linked to speed

 

[brentnz]

Somebody has to sit down and create the prescription file on a computer

 

[Chae1]

Local contractor has harvest lab in his harvester and then it tells where the fert is needed most.

How does it decide what it needs?

 

[Hilly]

Is all the equipment expensive ?

 

[Phil P]

Is all the equipment expensive ?

Depends what you have to start with, but generally yes! Although most new tractors and equipment will have VR capability but will usually need some sort of unlock.

we have all our field zoned into soil types and areas that need attention, they then get a full lab test and a prescription created for lime p&k. I use the @Rhiza-UK And all the prescriptions come through there software. Depending on the machine it’s either a shp or iso-xml file, seed rate files I do myself with the same software.
We can also do VR N using NDVI satellite imagery, I've said it before though, if you have varying soil types I think the biggest difference is made by VR seed applications.

 

[Hilly]

Depends what you have to start with, but generally yes! Although most new tractors and equipment will have VR capability but will usually need some sort of unlock.

we have all our field zoned into soil types and areas that need attention, they then get a full lab test and a prescription created for lime p&k. I use the @Rhiza-UK And all the prescriptions come through there software. Depending on the machine it’s either a shp or iso-xml file, seed rate files I do myself with the same software.
We can also do VR N using NDVI satellite imagery, I've said it before though, if you have varying soil types I think the biggest difference is made by VR seed applications.

Sort of money for tractor that’s not set up for it ?

 

[Phil P]

Sort of money for tractor that’s not set up for it ?

Do you mean how much to make a non isobus tractor do VR?

All you need is a screen such as a jd 2600/2630/4630, kv tellus, I’m sure there’s plenty of Trimble screens etc, and an iso power harness. Probably under a couple of £K For used.

 

[Hilly]

Do you mean how much to make a non isobus tractor do VR?

All you need is a screen such as a jd 2600/2630/4630, kv tellus, I’m sure there’s plenty of Trimble screens etc, and an iso power harness. Probably under a couple of £K For used.

Yes , so for 2 k I could run a variable rate machine in a non iso bus tractor .

 

[Hilly]

Would an iPad do ?

 

[case44]

I use an IPad App to run a Kuhn spreader to apply Variable Rate Fert.The spreading files are downloaded from SOYL who did the field analysis for P,K and Lime.

 

[Phil P]

Yes , so for 2 k I could run a variable rate machine in a non iso bus tractor .

Would an iPad do ?

Would depend on the machine, if the machine has its own control box that can do vr then you won’t need anything extra, or as @case44 has said some machines will interface with an I pad etc.

There’s a hell of a lot of machines out there operating on different systems so unless you have something specific in mind? It’s hard to say which way to do it And how much it would cost.
When I bought my fert spreader I spec’d it with its own screed, harness and vr unlocks but I knew it was going on a tractor that had no screen or unlocks.
My drill I fitted an iso system without a screen, but I knew that was going on a tractor with a built in iso terminal and all the unlocks.
It really is machine specific to how it can be done.
Did you have something in mind as a start point?

Personally I’d start with yield mapping, and possibly a Weighbridge become unless you can compare back to a start point you won’t know if your makings things better or worse!