2009 Sensor Based NitrogenManagement Conference

Jack Gerhardt

GreenSeeker Representative

507.236.1144

Breaking News Corn Producers achieve 100% Nitrogen Use

Efficiency!

Source: National Corn Growers Association– Hypoxia in the Gulf: An Analytical White Paper– June 2009– “The amount of N fertilizer applied to corn acres is

equal to the amount of N in the removed grain”

Let’s all go home and update our resumes

Agenda

Trimble Acquisition of NTech GreenSeeker Product Developments Field Observations

– Sensor Based N Algorithms– Nitrogen Rich Strips– Sensor Adoption– State of Conventional N Management

Case Study: Dutch Creek Farms

Trimble Acquisition NTech acquired in June of 2009

Goal: Position Trimble as The Leader in Precision Ag– Expands product capabilities – Integrate sensing technology – Leverage Trimble market power to accelerate GS/WS adoption

Consistent with recent acquisitions of:– Rawson Controls– TruCount Clutches– FarmWorks Software

Since 2004, Trimble Ag has evolved from a navigation company to a major force in Precision Ag

Key Trimble Offerings FMX

– 12.1” touch screen controller with 2 integrated GPS receivers

– Planting/Application/Harvesting – Auto Steer / Implement Steering– Field Leveling / Water Mgt– Information Management

EZ Guide 250 and 500– Lightbar– Auto steer– Flat or VR application control – Mapping

New GreenSeeker Developments

RT Commander Pro– 2007: Envisioned the need to consider historic

information with real time rate decisions– RTC Pro is the first software to simultaneously

access historic and real time information– Override, Enhance or Restrict real time algorithm-

based rates based on zone delineation.– Applicable for:

VR planting populations Center pivot field corners Extreme soil or topographical variance Any desired zone delineation (yield, Veris, etc)

GreenSeekerGreenSeeker®® RT RT Commander ProCommander Pro

When setting up a job,

RT Commander Pro includes a

background prescription map

option.

When setting up a job,

RT Commander Pro includes a

background prescription map

option.

Completely override the algorithm in selected areas,

orMultiply the algorithm

values to increase or decrease the

recommended rate

Completely override the algorithm in selected areas,

orMultiply the algorithm

values to increase or decrease the

recommended rate

GreenSeekerGreenSeeker®® Background Background MapMap

The pre determined management zones

appear on the monitor as a

background map.

The pre determined management zones

appear on the monitor as a

background map.

The target rate applies outside the bounded areas, but is replaced by the over-

ride prescription value (80) in the example above.

The target rate applies outside the bounded areas, but is replaced by the over-

ride prescription value (80) in the example above.

2009 GreenSeeker Algorithms

Industry leader in Supported Nitrogen Algorithms (19 total, 10 crops)– Ag & Agri-Foods Canada-Oats, Barley, Durum,

Canola (updates)– Missouri-cotton– More Pending

NE U.S. wheat, corn SE U.S. cotton, corn KSU corn Global work in corn, wheat, sugar cane, rice

RT Commander v1.3.9 (pending)

Featuring multi-language software to facilitate international adoption– Spanish– German– Dutch– French– Access up to 26 different languages

RT150 Mapping Only System

Entry Level 3 Sensor Mapping OfferingFully Upgradeable to VR Capabilities

Where do we go from here?

Broader Controller Compatibility– GreenSeeker is Inclusive Technology-not

exclusive. This is a barrier to adoption.

Sensor integration through ISO BUS development & standardization– Simplifies controller and user interface

Boom Section Control– “Accuracy is Addictive”

Feedback from the Field

University/Researcher Algorithms:– Add credibility, but Farmer’s are skeptical – Viewed as a guide or compared to their N program– See GreenSeeker as a tool to improve “their own”

nitrogen strategy via custom Rx option– Prefer local or regional algorithms

Universal Algorithm must allow for customization

– Algorithms are often “tweaked” to achieve acceptable rates

Nitrogen Rich Strips

Stop apologizing for Nitrogen Rich Strips! They should be considered a BMP with or

without sensor technology Virtual Reference Strips do nothing to

advance NUE– Just because you identify a peak value does not

mean it is sufficient in N, or is representative of maximum seasonal yield potential

– Still requires many passes to find “peak” value– Best fit for VRS is nitrogen rescue situations

Adoption Rates We’re changing Nitrogen practices; not making

farmers better at what they are already doing– Side dress is too often a minority practice– Late stage crop N assessment is bothersome

Sensing requires a cultural change: – “Grandpa didn’t do it like this”

Best adoption model: No Till/Strip Till Expect slow steady growth, unless:

– New regulations drive adoption– Economics shift to incent adoption– Competition enters the market

Welcome AgLeader & TopCon

If we are going to change the NUE world, it will take many voices.

Revisiting the N Problem

Overriding N Fertilizer Mentality – Every year has homerun yield potential.– Weather conditions have little influence on the

nitrogen rate decision.– Crop Advisors don’t take the time to account for

mineralization in the total N supply – One pass N is easy and usually works well– “More (N) Is Better”

So what do we get…

Blind Excess

Source: Elwyn Taylor ISU Meteorologist

What can change this mentality?

Economics:– The high N prices of 2008 forced producers to

collectively think about their N rates for the first time in years.

– Farmers are trained to wait for economic incentives like EQIP before they act—this can actually delay adoption while they wait for a program & funding.

– Since researchers acknowledge that mineralization exists, more of them could start considering it in their N rate recommendation, or we could….

– Demonstrate that even in with today’s economics, there are large returns to capture.

Case Study (In Progress): Dutch Creek Farms

Early GreenSeeker Adopter-2005

Views change as opportunity for short term competitive advantage

Recognized for outstanding environmental stewardship relating to farming practices

Corn Production Program

North Central Iowa 3rd year corn on corn Strip Till 3 Pass Nitrogen Plan

– Fall Strip Till NPK (manure): 95 lbs– Early side dress v2-v4: 38 lbs– V10+ GreenSeeker side dress: ?

Fall Strip Till: Hog Manure 95 lbs N

Planting into Strips with No Till Planter

v2-v4 Flat Rate Side Dress: 38 lbs

Evaluating Corn at v10-v12

Late Season Sensing v10-v12

Farmer Practice 133 lbs N N Rich Strip 200 lbs N

ISU Calculator corn on corn rate: 181 lbs

*95 lbs Fall Strip Till Manure*38 lbs v3 UAN side dress

*95 lbs Fall Strip Manure*105 lbs v3 UAN side dress

NDVI = .801 NDVI = .795

Decision: Do Nothing

Lessons Grower practiced BMP’s with respect to N

Timing, Placement and Product Without the right tools (NRS & sensors),

grower may have unnecessarily applied an additional 46+ lbs of N

Sometimes you get paid to do nothing

Anticipated Savings:– 46 lbs x $.35 x 3900 acres = $62,790– $4 /ac application x 3900 acres = $15,600– Total avoided cost: $78,390

Sensor Impact on NUE

If he harvests 180 bpa corn:– GreenSeeker NUE = .75 – ISU Calculator NUE = 1.0

– NDVI estimated yield potential: 209 bpa (.636 NUE)

That’s 179,400 lbs of N that didn’t go down the river….and that’s just one operation.

Thank You