1. Precision Ranch Management
Daniel Penturf
Agribusiness Major

2. Summary
Appling precision ag technologies to other areas of agriculture besides farming
Using Precision Ag to Improve Forage production
Using Aerial Photography and GIS for Brush and Tree Control

3. Remote Sensing in Ranching
Weed and Brush control
Rotational grazing
Locating animals using Infrared Photography
Fertilizer application

4. Bermuda Grass Research
OSU is currently researching using INSEY for predicting forage yield
58% of variation in predicted forage yield was explained by INSEY
NDVI was also able to explain 65% of variation in Forage N uptake

5. Bermuda Grass Research
Reduce cost of Nitrogen fertilizer
Increase nitrogen use efficiency
Reduce possible environmental harm from over application

6. “Precision Ranching”
In 1987 Bert Wallace owner of the Peace Pipe Ranch in West Texas decided to take a new approach to mesquite tree management

7. Peace Pipe Ranch
Using TNTmips software he created aerial maps of his property using IR photography
Using a GIS package he then created a detailed map showing what areas would be most beneficial to spray

8. Peace Pipe Ranch
His overall goal is to clear dense mesquites from the soils with the highest production potential.
By loading his TNTmips Software into Excel he can create Spreadsheet to determine the Cost/Benefits of spraying in given areas
The factors he uses to determine where to spray are:
Soil type
Canopy Density
Number of acres
Expected root kill

9. Peace Pipe Ranch
He is also using these maps linked up with a GIS package to:
Designing fence layouts
Placing water tubs
Planning Grassing strategies

10. Snowberry Bush Control in Montana
A Montana Rancher used IKONOS imagery to aid in the Arial spraying of Snowberry Bush.
The Rancher has considered the use of this technology a large success

11. Snowberry Bush Control in Montana
The value of the satellite photos is very obvious in this project. Without access, it would be very difficult to measure the progress of the spraying. The images are also invaluable for determining where to spray next.”

12. Alternative uses for ranching
IKONOS Maps have been created for hunters who lease land from ranchers
The maps allow Ranchers to show hunters:
where cattle are located,
what crops are growing,
where they can hunt.
On one particular ranch interaction time and hunter conflicts were greatly reduced.

13. References Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium
Cobley K Beef. Help form Above.
Royal K Decision Support Systems for Precision Ranching

14. Questions?