GPS halves fuel use
A Rangitikei farming couple have cut their fuel use in half by using GPS technology.
Brendon and Rachel Williams are third-generation farmers on Pencoed, an arable and finishing farm near Marton.
The property was bought primarily for its high-quality soils and the couple grow wheat, maize, peas and grass, as well as finishing about 2500 lambs and 100 cattle each year.
‘‘Your soil is like a savings account,’’ Brendon Williams said. ‘‘If you look after it then it will look after you.’’
Technology plays an increasing part in looking after the farm’s soil, and the Williamses have introduced GPS to improve their cultivation technique.
Maize is planted in strips, and only the strip is cultivated, an approach that has led to a 50 per cent drop in fuel use.
‘‘Drilling without GPS, you have to gauge how far to be from the previous run and you tend to be cautious, ending up with an overlap of between 150 millimetres to 200mm on a 3-metre strip.
‘‘With GPS, that overlap drops to between 30mm and 40mm.’’
GPS is also used for soil testing, calculating nutrient inputs, tillage and yield monitoring. ‘‘We carry out soil testing before planting, so we know which nutrients it’s deficient in and can match inputs,’’ Williams said.
‘‘We can even split a paddock into zones and adjust planting and fertiliser ratios to match soil types or slopes. Essentially, [the technology] has made things a whole lot easier,’’ Williams said.
Setting clear goals and establishing simple systems are critical when it comes to successfully using on-farm technology, Williams said.
‘‘Identify what it is that you’re trying to achieve – for example, straight lines when drilling or accurate data on paddock sizes. If you start with the basics, you can add to that.
‘‘The more information you gather, the more informed your decisions. Farmers often stick to a tried-and-true method because it’s reliable.
‘‘We went out on a limb when we changed cultivation techniques for our maize because it wasn’t widely practised. We did a little bit and, when it worked, we jumped in boots and all.’’
While technology plays a crucial role on the property, getting the basics – good drainage, careful crop rotation and stocking – right, is also important, he said.
‘‘If you look after your soil it will look after you.’’
Brendon Williams, above, with his wife Rachel