Dealer Experience inNitrogen Sensing

Danny Peeper

Wheeler Brothers Grain

Peace of Mind

• Fertilizer cost….$.60 per # N

• Wheat market…..$9 bushel

• Knowing you spent the right amount on topdress fertilizer……….priceless

N Rich Defined

• Strip– An area of the field exposed to a “non-limiting”

nitrogen rate

• Ramp– An area of the field with various

demonstration rates of nitrogen and includes a “non-limiting” rate

Why is the Technology Needed

• Fixed costs are increasing• Variable costs are increasing• Follow the trend

– Increased Production– Increased Efficiency

• Nitrogen difficiency is a major factor of yield• Some years don’t require nitrogen• Every field is different• Topdress Rates are hard to decide

Current Practices

• 30-40# N at planting

• Removal from grazing

• 30-40# N at topdress– Normally applied to late– Incorporation before FHS

• Very little change from field to field

Enhanced Practices

• 30-40# N at planting

• Removal from grazing

• N rate recommendation in late winter for each field

• Topdress applied Jan-Fed

How Do We Make It Work

• Apply thousands of Ramps– Dealers – Producers– Consultants

• Dedicate time for Sensing/Visual interpretations

• Be willing to apply different rates for producers

Can It Be Done

• 3 years of N Rich Strip use

• 500-800 plots annually– 1 machine

• Added service– Customer loyalty

• Added efficiency

• We don’t make money unless you make money

Our Equipment

• Modified Ramp/Strip• Portable• Storage• Visual

How Does the Program Work

• We apply a ramp in your field during the fall

• Treat it just like the rest of the field

• Visual determination can be made in spring

• Sensor determination can also be made

• Grazing?

How Much is Enough?

• The traditional Approach (Blanket Rate)– I normally put out x amount in the spring– Independent of field history and yield potential– May be spending more than needed– Profit potential is usually found in the last 5-10

bushel of production

Soil Test Method for N

• Accurate only if your Yield Goal is the same as Final Production and no environmental N

• Recommendatons will change very little from year to year

• Provides for efficiency about 5% of the time

• 2#/Bushel Rule

Fertilizer N requirement (total yield/N rate) for maximum wheat yield (trial 502).

2.7

0.0

1.6

2.1

2.7

0.4

2.6

0.60.8

2.2

1.2 1.2

3.4

2.2 2.2

2.6

1.3

2.1

0.8 0.91.31.3

1.91.7

1.2

1.91.81.91.81.91.91.8

y = 1.33E-02x + 1.49E+00 Ave = 1.7; C.V. = 39

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year

N R

equi

rem

ent (

lb/b

u)

Fertilizer N requirement (total yield/N rate) for maximum wheat yield (trial 502).

2.7

0.0

1.6

2.1

2.7

0.4

2.6

0.60.8

2.2

1.2 1.2

3.4

2.2 2.2

2.6

1.3

2.1

0.8 0.91.31.3

1.91.7

1.2

1.91.81.91.81.91.91.8

y = 1.33E-02x + 1.49E+00 Ave = 1.7; C.V. = 39

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

Year

N R

equi

rem

ent (

lb/b

u)Does the 2# Rule Still Apply?

Ramp or N Rich Strip

• Visually with Ramp • Use of Sensor with

Ramp or Strip• Accurate every year• Changes sometimes

greatly from year to year and field to field

• Efficient• Long term usage

Concerns

• How big of ramp do you need

• How do you go back and find it

• What if you can’t see any difference

• Are we representing accurately the field variability

• When do I have to put one out

Bottom Line

• Current Fertilizer Prices High

• Current Wheat Prices High

• We need to produce a lot of wheat efficiently

55-20-16

32-0-25

25-20-1045-16-12

55-20-16

32-0-25

25-20-1045-16-12

35-0-0

45-0-0

27-0-052-0-0

57% Over

29% Under

66% Over 62% Under

Blanket 40#N

Success Stories

• Early years of strip use

• Following year response

• Current shift away from blanket rate applications

• Better fertility management practices enhances other decisions

Summary

• How can we recommend an accurate N rate visually with no reference– Adds Credibility

• Producers need a correct rate by field by year– Averages have shown $10+ profit gains

Questions?