A Perspective on the Nutrient Management Planning Process Eric McLean BenLedi Farm Ltd. Oak River, MB
BenLedi Farm History Farm roots of J.S. Henry & Son Who’s who and what we do? Crops – Wheats, Barleys, Oats – RR, LL, & Specialty Oil Canola – Yellow Peas and Flax – Soybeans? Fababeans? Our interests and pursuits…
Pursuit of Advancement Technologies – Customers and neighbours look to us for opinions – Who, what, where, when, & why – Cost vs. return Agronomic practices – Herbicides, fungicides, seed treatments Environmental Stewardship – ALUS Pilot Project – Environmental Farm Plan Beneficial Management Practices
ALUS Alternate Land Use Services – Green box funding to preserve riparian, wetland, forest and sensitive areas – Various increments of reimbursement for different degrees of participation – 3 year commitment BenLedi’s contribution – Landbase breakdown…30% of total acreage Voluntary programs have great response! – Voluntary vs. government required
Environmental Farm Plan Investment Beneficial Management Practices Utilized by BenLedi Farm: – Product and Waste Management Fertilizer bins – Improved Cropping Systems GPS Autosteers, VR technologies & software – Improved Pest Management SP sprayer autoboom SP sprayer remote boom control JD Swath Control Pro – Nutrient Management Planning… Total expenditures of over $160,000
Farm History of Nutrient Management Planning Lack of Confidence in Soil Sampling Grid vs. Site specific Terrain issues Difficulty in believing the accuracy Under Utilization of agronomic services Tough to trust recommendations Blanket nutrient application Ain’t broke don’t fix it What’s Variable Rate fertilizing about? How can we get into this…It seems to make sense!
Nutrient Management Planning for VR Researching agronomists – In house vs. independents – VR based vs. traditional Reviewing procedures – Short comings and limitations to different systems Asking questions – VR Maps can tell many stories Dealing with start up issues – Software, hardware, human error – Going to the field RESULTS…
Agronomic Results Nutrient Utilization Benefits – Proper placement – Proper amount Crop uniformity – Improved input application timing and product effectiveness Harvestability – Even rippening-straight combining advantage Yield – On target with some surprises and some disappointments Other Advantages…
Advantages GPS tool implementation – Not just expensive toys to drive straight! Utilization of soil management data Generation of VR prescriptions – Calculating what is needed and where – not over applying needlessly VR Application – Putting nutrients where they need to be Profit/Loss/Breakeven – 30% to 50% repayment of services from EFP What’s the future…
The future…? Environmental Benefits Social Benefits Trade Benefits NMP when $ disappears Tips for consultants