RTK auto-steer topped the list which together with variable rate spreaders and mapping is already used by over 50% of those answering the survey. Vitally over 80% of contractors reported that numerous customers had asked about precision equipment over the last three years. Therefore awareness to the technology continues to rise.
Case studies
Nick August runs a farming operation of over 400 hectares near Burford in Oxfordshire. GPS and Real Time Kinematic (RTK) technology has been used for accurate yield mapping and to optimise applications to land. Controlled traffic farming has been employed where wheelings are minimised as another method to combat compaction.
Read more here.
Poul Holveson discusses the use of a Discordon cultivator to lower the number of passes on his land as a method to reduce compaction. The cereal and bean crops are then sown with a Vaderstad Rapide Drill, the Sugarbeet is drilled with a separate precision drill.