New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Developing variable rate application technology:
economic
impact for farm owners and topdressing operators
R. I. Murray
I. J. Yule
New Zealand
Centre for Precision Agriculture
Massey
University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North 4442, New
Zealand
Abstract The use of variable
rate
application
technology on topdressing aircraft is now technically possible. Its
uptake will
be determined by the economic benefit to the farmers and pricing
structure for
aerial operators. The economic impact of six fertiliser spreading
scenarios
were examined at a case study farm. Farm operating costs were
considered under
each of the scenarios and the economic consequences calculated.
Variable rate
application was found to be financially viable, both in terms of
maximising
return per hectare and increasing fertiliser use efficiency. Under the
most
productive scenario, the farm was modelled to provide a 26% higher cash
surplus
per hectare than it is currently modelled to achieve. This was due to
the
system’s ability to match the supply of nutrient to the pasture’s
nutrient
demand across varying topography, resulting in an increased economic
output for
the farm. The cost of implementing such a system was not prohibitive
and would
provide aircraft operators the opportunity to add value to the services
they
provide, while improving their own business sustainability.
Keywords decision tree;
economics;
fertiliser; GIS
modelling; GPS; pasture production; topdressing; variable rate
application
New Zealand
Journal of Agricultural Research, 2007, Vol. 50: 65–72
0028–8233/07/5001–0065 © The Royal Society
of New Zealand
2007
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