Farmacist vehicle used to undertake electromagnetic mapping
“ We can identify that part of a paddock may need 8 or 10 tonnes , whereas a vast portion of it might only need two .
“ So , we strategically figure out where we can apply the product to get the biggest bang for buck .
“ Without this technology , you ’ d probably put five tonnes per hectare across the block and end up not putting enough on the areas that need it , and too much on the areas that don ’ t .”
Jayson said nitrogen use efficiency was an important part of the P2D project .
“ Not only does that come from appropriate fertiliser selection and nitrogen application , it ’ s also about growing bigger crops that have the ability to take up more nitrogen and prevent it potentially ending up in catchments running out to the Great Barrier Reef .
“ IT ’ S A WIN-WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT , AND FOR ANDREW ’ S PROFITABILITY .”
Andrew said the soil data had given him the confidence to cut his losses on a poor-performing paddock .
“ As soon as we mapped it and took a look , that was it , we ploughed it out , otherwise , it ’ d be growing another very poor crop of cane right now ,” he said .
“ I ’ d rather spend money on country that can better convert it .”
From left : Grower Andrew Cross , Luke Clark ( NQ Dry Tropics Sugarcane Team Leader ), Jayson Dowie ( Director / Agronomist , Farmacist Pty Ltd )
DATA WILL PROVIDE LONG-TERM BENEFITS
Jayson said the EM mapping would serve Andrew well for years to come .
“ It ’ s given Andrew a bit of legacy after the project and that ’ s what we try and do ,” he said .
“ He ’ ll always have these spatial data sets that he can keep building on .
“ We don ’ t know what new developments in precision ag may come along in six , eight , 10-years time , but if we can get our baseline data sets down pat now , it can only help into the future .”