1. Controlled Traffic Farming an overview
Bindi Isbister
Tim Neale
Andrew Whitlock

2. SMART Farming Machine GPS guidance Information Rich
Precise input placement
Consistent spatial footprint
Accurate field operations mapping
Max production with less inputs
Economic, Environmental, Social

3. Why consider CTF? PLATFORM for SMART FARMING: Machinery efficiency
Improved soil water holding capacity
Improved soil water infiltration
Increased yield (resilience to dry finish)
Precision techniques (inter/intra row sowing, shielded & banded spraying)
On-farm trials

4. Why control wheel traffic?
The first tyre pass does ~90% of the soil damage of 5 passes
Soil compaction significantly affects water, soil and crops (10-30% yield loss)

5. Australian min tillage system (70%)
Cultivator + Tractor
Ute + spray-rig
Seeder + Tractor
Combine

6. Controlled Traffic Farming 11% for machinery 89% for crops
Photo: Roger Todd

7. Firm track, better traction, less fuel use “Roots”
“Roads”
Firm track, better traction, less fuel use
“Roots”
Better access to water & nutrients
Less leaching & erosion
Increase yield

8. WHEELING TREATMENT EFFECTS
GRAVEL 430 mm GSRF
CLAY 280 mm GSRF
CLAY 206 mm GSRF
LOAM 426 mm GSRF
Slide courtesy Paul Blackwell

9. Harvester compaction studies
Paper
% yield loss
$ loss/ha
Braunack 2008 24
125
Argentina 30
135
Whitlock 2005 15
350
Radford (5 years) 23
200

10. Steps to CTF Decide on metric or imperial measurement!
Select operating width
Match to the harvester (most 120”/3m)
Match tracks- can machinery go to 3m (some advice is important here)
Develop a plan for investment

12. CTF Planting

13. Metric v Imperial Work in metric with planter & imperial for header
9.0m planter (30ft header, 9.14m)
10.6m planter (36ft header, 10.97m)
12.0m planter (40ft header, 12.2m)
12.2m planter (41ft header, 12.5m)
13.5m planter (45ft header, 13.7m)
15.0m planter (50ft header, 15.24m)
18.0m planter (30ft, 9.14m or 60ft, 18.28m)
24.0m planter (40ft header, 12.2m)
Also add ½ row spacing width for harvest overlap

14. 10.67m/ 32m system 10% Tracks 5.33 m 10.67m (planter) 16m
Sprayer 1st pass
16 m

15. 12m/ 36m system
9% Tracks
6 m
12 m
(planter)
18 m
Sprayer 1st pass

16. 12.2m:36.6m:18.1m

17. CTF Spreading & Spraying

18. 12m Sowing
9m spreading and windrowing

19. Spreader Accuracy

20. 13% yield decrease middle seeder width
10% yield decrease in “sowing only tracks”

21. Spreader curtain 12.2m
Source: Brady Green

22. CTF Harvesting
3m/9m in barley

23. JD auger extension

25. CTF Windrowing
12m windrows older model swathers good up to 2.2t/ha

26. Choosing a track spacing

27. “Cotton reel” spools Possible king pin & bearing issues
Photo: Rob Taylor

28. Older JD’s – rear axle risk
Min 100mm recommended

29. JD Warranted option

30. Wheel track maintenance

31. Wheeltrack management
Rotate sprayer onto other tracks where possible
Use wider tyres on spray rigs
Examine layout using RTK GPS data
Use disc seeders on slopes with caution
Use wheeltrack renovators where practical
Use land levelling to fix core issues

34. VRT case study 3.2 t/ha 4.5 t/ha 2.7 t/ha Casestudy farmer
David Isbister
Rowes Rd
Agronomist
Erin Cahill Agvivo
2.7 t/ha

35. VR compound fertiliser

36. Gross margin $/ha VR compound fertiliser
Paddock Income
Medium rate $14810
VR rate $ 12948
Costs: fertilisers K Till Mix $703/T Flexi N at seeding $438/t NS 31     $478/t, UREA $567/t, Barley Feed 1 $213/t Farmgate, fixed input costs $292

37. VR 2nd N application

38. 6m imagery
Yield
12 July
9 Sept

39. 7 ept 2015
12 July 2015

40. Thank you
Subsoil pH <4.8 Al toxicity 3

41. Conclusion
CTF less compaction, better water & nutrient efficiency, increased yield
CTF is the perfect platform for SMART farming
Develop a CTF investment plan in line with your machinery replacement schedule
This is your CTF puzzle picture.
Have fun fitting the pieces together! Talk to other CTF
farmers

42. Thank you