Wheatbelt NRM’s recent Precision Agriculture Workshop in York was a hands-on look at developing prescription maps for variable rate fertiliser and lime application using Electromagnetic (EM) and radiometric surveys.

Hands were dirtied as soil texture assessment skills were tested during the ground-truthing process, which involved soil coring and soil type identification. Katherine Davies from DAFWA provided an overview of DAFWA’s eConnected Grainbelt support tools, and Planfarm’s Glen Brayshaw gave a run through of yield forecasting tools and grain marketing options.

This was followed by a quick look at a Bredal spreader set up for variable rate application, before heading back into the warmth for a presentation from Frank D’Emden of Precision Agronomics on how raw EM/radiometrics data is converted into useable variable rate prescription maps.

The day also included a summary from Dan Dempster on his experience using EM/Radiometrics as part of the Wheatbelt NRM funded trial – Mapping plant available water-holding capacity using EM and Radiometric surveying – which is being conducted on his farm in Goomalling.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, practical event which generated much interesting discussion around precision agriculture, particularly variable rate technology.

Thanks to all who attended, including the group of Curtin University agricultural students who got out into the paddock with local growers for a close-up look at the survey equipment.

Resources

Mapping plant available water-holding capacity using EM and Radiometric surveying