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

2

Drivers of cropping

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

Scene Setting

3

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

AND•Rain use efficiency

CTF Responses

4

CTF Response

1. Cropping is mechanised

Hard tracks for wheels, no compaction for crops

5

CTF Response

1. Cropping is mechanised

Do wheels impact on crop yield?

6

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

7

FARMER’S CTF RESPONSE

8

Removes the low values, reduces variability

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

9

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

10

2. Crops grow in soils

CTF ResponseUse more manures

11

Manure added 3 years ago

No manure added

2. Crops grow in soils CTF ResponseImprove biological soil health

12

Biological soil health

Responses to these realities

13

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

14

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

15

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

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

16

CTF Response to severe erosion event

1997

TRADITIONAL 100t/ha

CTF 10t/ha

17

3. Soils are in landscapes

3. Soils are in landscapes

18

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.

20

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

21

Base station

Radio

Rover/tractor

GNSS antennae

A

B

GNSS Guidance

22

CORS Network - GPSnet

23

CTF and GNSS define the on-farm spatial footprint

24

•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

25

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

26

•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

27

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%)

28

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

29

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