Precision Farming Profitability

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Precision Farming Profitability
Chapter 5 Increasing Cost Effectiveness of Weed
Control By Case Medlin, Jess Lowenberg-DeBoer
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Figure 1. Many perennial weeds, such as
johnsongrass, exist as distinct patches in
fields. Control of johnsongrass in a soybean crop
is relatively easy with herbicides, but could be
expensive if treating the entire field.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 45
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Figure 2. Lightbar
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 45
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Ted Biehl, Urbana, IN Site-specific farming has
explained a lot of situations about what is going
on in the field, but it has created an immense
amount of work for the farmer and the dealer to
analyze this data.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 46
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Keith Anderson, West Point, NE Cost-wise I dont
think I saved any money. But as for weed control,
it worked real well.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 47
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Table 1. Cost and benefit examples for GPS
guidance and foam marker use on a 1500-acre farm.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 49
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Table 2. The rates of most soil applied
herbicides vary dramatically based on soil
texture, soil organic matter, soil pH, soil
cation exchange capacity, or a combination of
these factors. Site-specific application of these
herbicides may result in fewer cases of crop
response and improved weed control.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 50
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Figure 3. Soil factors can vary significantly
across a large production field. Many herbicides
are safest to the crop and most effective on the
weed when applied at specific rates. Therefore,
VRT applications based on soil pH, soil O.M., or
soil texture variability should be very
beneficial in the future.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 51
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Precision Farming Profitability, p. 51
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Kent Brewer, Clinton County, IN Producers cannot
afford crop injury, extra herbicide expense, or
yield reduction due to poor weed control. VRT
herbicide applications will be essential to
profitability in the future.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 52
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David Eshelman, Cass County, IN The savings from
variable-rate herbicide application are well
worth the equipment modification cost.
Precision Farming Profitability, p. 53
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Precision Farming Profitability, p. 54