utilizing site-specific technologies to improve farm...

Utilizing Site-specific Technologies To Improve Farm Profitability And

Environmental Quality

Dan Schaefer

Director of Nutrient Stewardship

Illinois Council for Best Management Practices

KIC PRIORITY

WATERSHEDS

Impaired due to high levels of

nitrogen, phosphorus or

both

Sources of drinking Water

Combined Practices and/or Scenarios

Nitrate-N (% reduction)

Total P (% reduction)

MRTN rate, all spring N application, cover crops 70% tile-drained & 45% non-tiled, bioreactors 50%, wetlands 25%, all ag streams have

buffers

45 20

MRTN rate, all spring N application, cover crops 100% tile-drained & 70% non-tiled, bioreactors 50%, perennial

crops non-tiled, point source to 10 mg nitrate-N/L

45 33

$690M/Yr

$800M/Yr

• Developing a“4R Code of Practice”

• BMPs for all Forms of Nitrogen (4Rs)

• Nutrient Stewardship Recs

• Developing 4R Curriculum

• Roll-out in January, 2015

UNDER DEVELOPMENT

NREC serves as the foundation that for research and outreach programs that will lead Illinois agriculture into a new era.

Managed Nitrogen

15.2 acres 100 ft

Spacing

Normal Practice

15.1 acres 100 ft

Spacing

N Rate Study Emphasis

N RATE STUDIES IN 2013

• 15 N Rate Trials (6 rates x 3 reps)

• 2 N Rate x Timing Trials (5 rates x 3 reps x 2 times)

• 5 VRT vs. Straight Rates

• 10 Split Application vs. One Application

• 1 Crop Canopy Sensor vs. Conventional

MRTN plus 3.21 Base rate only 2.79 Control No N 2.09 MRTN 3.14 Greenseeker 3.23 MRTN minus 3.05 MRTN 3.07 Base rate only 2.81 Greenseeker 2.82 MRTN minus 3.04 Control No N 1.65 MRTN plus 2.88 Base rate only 2.65 MRTN 2.98

Control No N 1.77 MRTN minus 3.01 MRTN plus 3.01 Greenseeker 3.2 MRTN plus 3 Base rate only 2.45 MRTN 3.13 Greenseeker 3.1 Control No N 1.71 MRTN minus 3.2

2014 Nitrogen Rate Trial: CSREC Burwash700

Treatment Tissue Test N Control No N 1.8 Base rate only 2.67 MRTN minus 3.07 MRTN 3.08 MRTN plus 3.03 Greenseeker 3.09

2013 Yield Map with N-Rate Trial

2013 Yield By Combine Monitor

2013 Yield by N-Rate

2014 N-Rate Trial by Soil Nitrate Test

Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN)

Web Version App Droid/iPad

www.illinoiscbmp.org

1. Single Application 2. Split Application 3. Comparison of Cost

PURPOSE • Inventory

• Track

• Verify

• Apply

N Management System TM

A Management Tool

Not a Recommendation System

Teach about N transformation in the soil

• Management Tool

• Help to show need for change

• Identify need for cover crop use

• Proof of stewardship

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SITES (2014)

Template

Image Source: Noland Farms, Inc.

N RECOVERY FROM 6 FIELDS 16 SITES/ FIELD

N Inventory Report

Sampling Date: Company:

Customer: Submitted By:

Farm/Field Name: Nearest Town:

Latitude: County:

Longitude:

Position

(inches)

NO3-N

(ppm)

NH4-N

(ppm)

Position

(inches)

NO3-N

(ppm)

NH4-N

(ppm)

AVAILABLE N 0-12" 12-24" 0 6 5 0 3 3

NO3-N (ppm) 9.5 4.0 3 10 5 3 4 3

NH4-N ((ppm) 24.5 3.4 6 8 5 6 5 4

Tot. Available N 33.9 7.4 9 11 6 9 4 3

% N as NO3: 28% 54% 12 17 102 12 5 3

% N as NH4: 72% 46% 15 19 122 15 5 4

18 8 6 18 4 3

21 7 4 21 3 3

24 6 4 24 3 3

Crop: 27 5 4 27 4 4

Yield 30 7 6 30 4 47

N Source Rate (N)

NH3 180

N Inventory Report 2014

H N 80

Corn after Beans Dan Schaefer

Application Date Placement Stabilizer Used

2013-2014 N MANAGEMENT2014 Corn

0 to 12-Inch Sampling Depth 12 to 24-Inch Sampling Depth

4/1/2014

Nov-13 Inject NoneNote: ppm conc. below 5 ppm not significant. May be caused by

interfering ions in soil.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Av

ail

ab

le N

(p

pm

)

Spacing of Sample (inches)

Available N at 0 to 12" Depth NO3-N (ppm)

NH4-N (ppm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30

Av

ail

ab

le N

(p

pm

)

Spacing of Sample (inches)

Available N at 12 to 24" Depth NO3-N (ppm)NH4-N (ppm)

25 ppm

Su

rfa

ceS

ub

surf

ace

25 ppm

DEFENSIBLE-RESPONSIBLE-RELIABLE

• Nitrogen Rates based on the N-Rate Calculator

• On Farm N-Rate Trials

• Soil Testing for Nitrate Inventory

• Nitrate & Ammonium Tracking

• Spring Nitrogen Rate Recommendations

• Nitrogen as a System using the 4R’s, Right Source, Rate, Time and Place.

Agriculture Supports the 4Rs

Right Source

Right Rate

Right Time

Right Place

We Refuse to Revert to the 4Ds

Deny

Defend

Delay

Duck

FROM DWIGHT D EISENHOWER

• “Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a 1000 miles from the field”

• He Added the proper role of government, however, is that of a partner with the farmer never his master.

• Bradley University, Peoria Illinois. 9/25/1956

Contact Information Dan Schaefer Illinois CBMP

217-202-5173

dschaefer@illinoiscbmp.org

“We’re seeing a significant drop in customer complaints since we stopped answering our phones.”