Post on 26-Sep-2020
Precision Agriculture, Grower Profitability, and Resource Conservation
Ryan Heiniger
Director of Agriculture & Conservation Innovations
@FarmrHuntr
26 June 2018
Outline
1) Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever Background
2) Defining Sustainability
3) Precision Ag for Precision Conservation
4) Opportunities to Partner
• Text
A Grassroots Habitat Organization
United States140,000 Members750 Chapters
Our Mission. Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education, and land management policies and programs
What We’re Known For
Father of Soil Conservation“With stripping off of the natural vegetation we have lost both the soil itself and the wildlife that found food and refuge in the vegetation. If that be so, then it is perfectly logical that the only real, permanent cure for erosion is a coordinated plan of land treatment, with heavy reliance on vegetation, and that the proper handling of vegetation for the control of erosion will in a large degree restore conditions suitable for wildlife.”
- Hugh Hammond Bennett, 1938
Defining Sustainability - USDAThe core concept of sustainability is that lasting success (and avoiding crises) requires an integrated approach to producing food and other products; farm profitability; quality of life for farmers, workers, and communities; and stewardship of natural resources.
Defining Sustainability - ASA
One approach to sustainable agriculture is the practice of precision agriculture: an information technology-based management system that uses data obtained from GPS, and integrates the data into GIS. These new spatial tools are used with yield, rate, and other information to better manage the timing and application of fertilizers—thereby reducing the impact on the environment and increasing the cost-effectiveness for farmers.
Defining Sustainability - Political
“It is hard to be green when you’re in the red”
-Paul Torkelson, Farmer & MN State Representative
“Production agriculture is a business. You have to make enough money to farm again next year. The hard truth is that farmers don’t care about soil health or water quality if they can’t afford to farm again the next season. So true sustainability means that you are making a profit.”
-AJ Blair, 2016 IA Cattlemen Environmental Stewardship Award Recipient
Defining Sustainability - Grower
Sustainability utilizes the best technology and a
collaborative approach to continuously improve
soil, water, wildlife habitat and hunting
traditions for future generations while striving
for landowner profitability on each acre.
Defining Sustainability – PF/QF
Bad agronomy + precision ag = bad agronomy applied precisely
- Author unknown
Defining UnSustainability
Definition of insanity is doing same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Defining UnSustainability
Then for each acre of a field consider:
Input Expenses $100/acre > Breakeven Commodity Price ≥ 2 years = Unsustainable
2.5 Million Acres in 2013!
Source: Brandes etal. Subfield profitability analysis reveals an economic case for cropland Diversification. Environmental Research Letters, 2016.
Our Precision Principles
• Subfield Profitability/ROI Focused
• Farmer Directed
• 100% Voluntary
• Customized Crop Budgets
• Entire Enterprise
• Working Lands
Precision Ag Optimal Workflow
Farmer
NRCS/Private Land Wildlife
Biologist/Farm Bill Biologist
Agronomist
PF/QF Precision Ag
& Conservation
Specialist
Conservation Cover Options Presented to
Landowner
Conservation Planning
Revenue Negative
Acres
Increased ROI & profitability
ROI Based Analysis
Solutions to Grow ROI on Every Acre
• State/Federal Conservation Programs
• Small grains
• Forage Production
• Pasture Restoration
• Pollinator Habitat
• Emerging Market (Kernza?)
• Cover Crop Seed Production
LaMoure County, ND (Profit Map)Corn/Soybean Rotation
LaMoure County, NDCorn/Soybean Rotation + Forage Barley for Saline Soil remediation + hay production
North Dakota – Salinity
Minnesota – Cover Crop Seed
Douglas County, MN (ROI Map)Corn/SB Rotation
Douglas County, MN (ROI Map)Corn/SB/Oat CC Seed Rotation
Chisago County, MN (ROI Map)Corn/SB Rotation
Chisago County, MN (ROI Map)Corn/SB Rotation with RCPP Pollinator Habitat
Minnesota – Pollinator Habitat
Wisconsin – Deer Food Plot
Dunn County, WI (Profit Map)Corn/Soybean Rotation
Dunn County, WI (Profit Map)Corn/Soybean Rotation + Sunflower and Field Border
2018 PF Precision Farmer of the Year“We do everything we can to make a living and let wildlife make a living too. It makes me real proud to be managing our land this way. The generations before usalways took care of the land. But with precision agriculture, you can do so much more.
-Jeff Lake Boyceville WI
Summary
Sub-field planning is key
Innovation requires challenging convention practices
Data analyses and alternatives take time
Consider wildlife along with soil & water
We are ready to listen, partner & assist
Acknowledgements
FarmsResources
Pollutantemissions
Food and beverage companies, consumers
Product distributionResource use
Payment
Agricultural sustainability requires:(1) regeneration or replacement of key resources, (2) reduction of pollution to levels that can be
assimilated or detoxified
Source: http://farmprogress.com/story-avoid-hit-run-soybean-spraying-9-59824
Agriculture currently relies heavily on herbicidesAnnual application of active ingredients:U.S. – 678 million lb. Worldwide – 2.85 billion lb.
Source: US EPA (2017)
Herbicide resistant weeds are a critical challenge
• Weed resistance to herbicides has been documented for populations of at least 254 weed species worldwide.
• Weeds have evolved resistance to 23 of the 26 known herbicide sites of action and to 163 different herbicides.
• Herbicide resistant weeds have been reported in 92 crops in 70 countries.
Source: Ian Heap, WeedScience.org, 2018
Source: Owen (2017)
HG2 (ALS): imazethapyrHG5: atrazineHG9: glyphosateHG14 (PPO): lactofenHG27 (HPPD): mesotrione
Source: Westwood et al. (2018), doi:10.1017/wsc.2017.78
Herbicide-resistant weed biotypes are increasing, but few new herbicide sites of action are expected
“The increase in evolved herbicide resistance, coupled with the lack of new mechanisms of action, threatens to make almost all existing herbicides unusable by 2050.”
“Resource” depletion
Westwood et al. (2018), doi:10.1017/wsc.2017.78
Off-site movement of herbicides and their toxic effects on non-target organisms constitute significant pollution problems.
Source: https://ipm.missouri.edu/IPCM/2017/10/final_report_dicamba_injured_soybean/
Total: ~3.6 million acres
Estimates of dicamba-injured soybean acreage as reported by state extension weed scientists, 2017
Stone et al. (2014), Environ. Sci. Tech., doi:10.1021/es5025367
Herbicides and insecticides detected in U.S. streams and rivers (1992-2011)
EBWM weaves together multiple management tactics. It does not exclude the use of herbicides, but emphasizes ecological processes that suppress weeds at many life stages.
By spreading the burden of crop protection across multiple tactics, EBWM reduces risks of failure and crop loss.
By minimizing reliance on herbicides, EBWM can reduce selection for resistance and better protect environmental quality.
Diverse cropping systems that maximize stress and mortality factors acting on weeds form the core of EBWM strategies.
Ecologically Based Weed Management
Seed bank Seeds
AdultsSeedlings
Seedling
recruitment
Seedling
survival
Seed
production
Seed
survival
Annual Weed
Life Cycle
Precision cultivation with System Cameleon, SwedenCamera + computer for real-time lateral adjustment during seeding, fertilizing, cultivating, intercropping
(Source: E. Gallandt)
Photo courtesy of John Millhouse
A seed “destructor” in Australia grinding weed seeds in crop chaff passing through the combine
Cropping system effects on wild oat after 18 years, Scott, SK
Type of cropping system
Crop sequence
Wild oat panicle density
(no./m2)
Wild oat resistance to
ACC-inhibiting herbicides (%)
All annualcanola-rye-pea-barley-flax-wheat
6.8 a 42.3 a
Annual-perennial
barley-alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa-canola-wheat
0.7 b 2.7 b
Source: Beckie et al. (2014), doi:10.4141/CJPS2013-361
Regnier et al. (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/WS-D-15-00116.1
Giant Ragweed Populations Resistant to ALS-inhibitors and/or Glyphosate
But giant ragweed has several vulnerabilities….
• High rates of seed consumption by predators (e.g., rodents, invertebrates, and birds)
• Short lifetime of seeds in and on the soil (i.e., it has a transient seedbank rather than a persistent seedbank)
• Relatively low rates of seed production (1,000s rather than 10,000s or 100,000s)
• Late summer/fall maturation
(1) Row crops (e.g., corn, soy) can be cultivated or sprayed, but weed control is less than 100% effective.
(2) Solid seeded crops that are harvested in mid-summer (e.g., forages, winter cereals)can prevent reproduction by giant ragweed, without being cultivated or sprayed.
Model assumptions
(1) Diversifying corn-soybean rotations with winter cereals and forages should reduce the level of weed control required to prevent an increase in giant ragweed population density. (2) Higher control efficacy in diversified systems should give better results than in simpler systems.
Rotation lengthControl efficacy
needed in row crops
2-year: Row-Row
99.0%
4-year:Solid-Solid-Row-Row
90.7%
Model results
Field testing: how does cropping system diversification affect weeds, yields, profits, and environmental quality in the central Corn Belt?
2-year rotation: corn-soybean 4-year rotation: corn-soybean-oat/alfalfa-alfalfa
Plots are 60’ x 275’ each, all phases of each rotation present every year2001 and 2002: base-line sampling / 2003-2005: start-up period
2006-present: mature period
ISU Marsden Farm, Boone Co., IA
Mean annual herbicide use, 2008-2017
Herbicide use
Crop and herbicide groups used
2-year rotation
4-year rotation
lb a.i./acre
Corn (2, 15, 27) 1.06 1.06
Soybean (9, 14) 1.59 1.59
Oat -- 0
Alfalfa -- 0
Rotation average 1.32 0.66
Reduction -50%
Mean yields, 2008-2017Sources: Hunt et al. (2017) and unpublished data,doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b04086
Rotation Corn Soybean Oat Alfalfa
Yield bu/acre bu/acre bu/acre tons/acre
2-year 191 b 48 b --- ---
4-year 200 a 59 a 95 4.3
low in corn and soybean phases of both systems, greater in oat and alfalfa
Within columns, means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly.
Weed biomass, lb/acre
Rotation Corn Soybean Oat Alfalfa
2-year 1.7 a 1.0 a --- ---
4-year 1.8 a 0.3 a 101 78
Weed biomass, 2008-2017:
Sources: Hunt et al. (2017) and unpublished data,doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b04086
Cropping system diversification led to equivalent profitability and less herbicide ecotoxicity
Rotation
2-year 4-year
Annual net returns to land and management, 2008-2017 ($/acre, whole rotation)
331 a 349 a
Annual freshwater toxicity load of herbicides, 2008-2015 (CTUe/acre, whole rotation)
1914 a 957 b
Sources: Hunt et al. (2017) and unpublished data,doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b04086
Additional environmental effectsof cropping system diversification
• less soil compaction• greater soil water content during drought • more earthworms• more microbial biomass
Ecologically based weed management strategies can protect productivity and profitability and improve environmental performance. They are thus key components of sustainable farming systems.
What is sustainable agriculture?
1990 Farm Bill-https://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/sustainable-agriculture-definitions-and-terms
“…sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices…that…
• Satisfy human food and fiber needs,• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base…,• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and
integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls,
• Sustain economic viability of farm operations and,• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
Midwest soybean pests -Before 2000
• Few soybean insect pests.
1996 ~ 0 soybean acres treated with insecticides (USDA estimate).
Changes in environmental impacts of major crops in the US.
Yi and Suh 2015.
”As a result [of the soybean aphid’s invasion of the US], the total quantity of insecticides applied to soybean quadrupled between 2001 and 2012."
130-fold increase in insecticide use to soybean since the soybean aphid arrived in the US.
Ragsdale et al. 2011
Resistance: A consequence of increased insecticide use
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/management-of-insecticide-resistant-soybean-aphids
Figure 2. Counties with reported failures of pyrethroids for control of soybean aphid. Red-shaded counties indicate those from which Extension entomologists received reports of failures. (Maps courtesy of B. Potter, University of Minnesota)
Resistance to Insecticides
Global Pesticide Resistance in Arthropods, 2008, Ed. Whalon, Mota-Sanchez, and Hollingworth
How to fight resistance and grow soybeans more sustainably?
1. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
3. Use multiple tactics.
1. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
• Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC)
• http://www.irac-online.org/
• A technical group of CropLife with a mission to:• Facilitate communication and education on insecticide
and traits resistance.
• Promote insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies to maintain efficacy and support sustainable agriculture and improved public health.
10
IRM and IRAC continued
• “Rotation of insecticides for the purposes of resistance management should be based entirely on difference in mode of action.” IRAC
• 29 different modes of action (MOA) organized by the physiological functions affected:
• Nerve & Muscle, Growth, Respiration, Midgut, Unknown
• Only three MOAs for soybean aphids.
• Avoid prophylactic/preventative use of insecticides.
11
How to fight resistance and grow soybeans more sustainably?
1. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
3. Use multiple tactics.
“Probability of cost effective management of soybean aphid”*
4 methods compared in 3 states over 3 years:
• untreated control = no insecticides.
• Prophylactic = insecticide & fungicide applied to foliage when soybeans flower.
• Seed-treatment = Cruiser, seed-treatment only.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach = fields scouted and insecticide applied as needed.
*Johnson et al. 2009. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 2101-2108.
Type & application of insecticides
(Photo by R. C. Kemerait, Jr.)
Treatment Insecticide Time of Application
Control None NAPreventative Pyrethroid + Fungicide R1-R2Soybean aphid IPM Pyrethroid 250 aphids per plantSeed treatment Neonicotinoid before planting
Mea
n yi
eld
bu p
er a
cre
(+SE
M)
Yields by treatment: all years & locations
Control Prophylactic IPM45
50
55
60
65
70
Seed treatment
A AA
B
Significant difference among treatments.
Probability of cost effective management of soybean aphid*
*Johnson et al. 2009. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 2101-2108.
High-input management systems effect on soybean seed yield, yield components, and economic break-even probabilities. Orlowski et al. 2016
“In each site-year both individual inputs and combination high-input (SOYA) management systems were tested.”
Orlowski et al.2016
A single application of an insecticide exceeded the gain threshold from 37%-93% across a range of increasing values.
How to fight resistance and grow soybeans more sustainably?
1. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)
2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
3. Use multiple tactics.• Biological control
• Host Plant Resistance
“Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls”
USDA released
Aphelinusglycinis in the US in
2016.
Aphid mummies now
commonly found in
Michigan, Ontario Canada.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2Susceptible Rag1 Rag2
Yie
ld, b
ush
els
pe
r ac
re (
±SEM
)
NS
Aphid resistance protects soybean yield
Rag1+2
McCarville et al. 2014
(Un
tre
ate
d –
Ap
hid
Fre
e)
* = Significant loss without insecticide
**
*
Summary: how to fight resistance (and grow soybeans more sustainably)?
1. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)• Visit IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee)
2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)• Avoid prophylactic use of insecticides.
3. Use multiple tactics.• Demand aphid-resistant varieties from your seed
supplier.
• If you spray for SBA and suspect performance issues, please let Erin Hodgson know! (ewh@iastate.edu)
• We want to assess more SBA populations for resistance in 2018 and beyond.
Changes in environmental impacts of major crops in the US. Yi and Suh 2015.
”As a result [of the soybean aphid’s invasion of the US], the total quantity of insecticides applied to soybean quadrupled between 2001 and 2012."
Nerve and muscle
Growth and development
Respiration Midgut Unknown
1) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (carbamates andorganophosphates)
2) Gaba-gated chloride channel blockers (cyclodieneorganochlorines and fiproles)
3) Sodium channel modulators (pyrethroids, DDT)
4) Nicotinic acetylchloline receptor competitive modulators (neonicotinoids, sulfoximines)
5) Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric modulators (spinosyns)
6) Glutamate-gated chloride channel allosteric modulators (avermectins)
9) Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators (pyridine azomethinederivatives)
14) Nicotinic acetylchloline receptor channel blocker
19) Octopaminereceptor agonists (amitraz)
22) Voltage-dependentsodium channel blockers
28) Ryanodine receptor modulators (diamides)
29) Chordotonal organ modulators- undefined target site
7) Juvenile hormone mimics (fenoxycarb, pyripoxyfen)
10) Mite growthinhibitors (clofentezine, etoxazole)
15) Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 0 (benzaylureas)
16) Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1 (buprofezin)
17) Moulting disruptor, dipteran (cyromazine)
18) Ecdysone receptoragonists (diacylhydrazines)
23) Inhibitors of acetyl COA carboxylase (tetronic and tetramicacid derivatives)
12) Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase
13) Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient
20) Mitochondrialcomplex III electron transport inhibitors
21) Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors
24) Mitochrondrialcomplex IV electron transport inhibitors
25) Mitochrondrialcomplex II electron transport inhibitors
11) Microbial disruptorsof insects midgutmembranes (Bt)
8) Misc. non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors
Unknown compounds, uncertain MOA
http://www.irac-online.org/modes-of-action/
http://www.irac-online.org/documents/moa-classification/
Group Common name Active ingredients Formulated mixtures
1A methomyl Lannate
1B
acephate Acephate
chlorpyrifosLorsban Advanced, Chlorpyrifos, Govern, Hatchet, Nufos, Vulcan, Warhawk, Whirlwind, Yuma
Tundra Supreme, Cobalt, Cobalt Advanced, Stallion, Match-Up
dimethoate Dimethoate
3A
alpha-cypermethrin Fastac
beta-cyflufthrin Baythroid Leverage
bifenthrin Tundra, Sniper, Fanfare, Discipline, Brigade, Bifenture, RevealJustice, Match-Up, Tundra Supreme, Brigadier, Swagger, Skyraider, Hero, Steed, Triple Crown
cyfluthrin Tombstone
deltamethrin Delta Gold, Batallion
esfenvalerate Asana XL, Adjourn
gamma-cyhalothrin Declare, Proaxis, Cobalt
lambda-cyhalothrinWarrior II, Grizzly Z, LambdaStar, Lambda-Cy, Lamcap, Province, Silencer VC, Taiga Z
Besiege, Cobalt Advanced, Double Take, Endigo, Seeker
permethrin Arctic
zeta-cypermethrin Mustang Maxx, Respect Hero, Steed, Stallion, Triple Crown
4A
acetamiprid Justice
chlothianadin Belay
imidacloprid Prey, Admire Pro, ADAMA Alias, Wrangler, Nuprid, Sherpa, Leverage, Brigadier, Swagger, Skyraider, Triple Crown
thiamethoxam Endigo
4C sulfoxaflor Transform Seeker
Insecticides targeting soybean aphids
“Probability of cost effective management of soybean aphid”*
• 4 Treatments in a Randomized Complete Block Design
• 6 replications of each treatment at each location
• 3 Years (2005, 2006, and 2007) • 3 States (Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota)
• 2 locations per state
*Johnson et al. 2009. Journal of Economic Entomology 102: 2101-2108.
Acknowledgements
Viking Seed, Dupont Pioneer (for now),
ISU Soybean breeders Walter Fehr and Danny Singh
Soybean aphid populationsStory Co. Iowa
6-Jun 20-Jun 4-Jul 18-Jul 1-Aug 15-Aug 29-Aug0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
2005
2006
2007
Mea
n ap
hids
per
pla
nt +
SEM
Mea
n yi
eld
bu p
er a
cre
( ±SE
M)
2005- Story County, Iowa
Control Prophylactic IPM45
50
55
60
65
70 No significant difference among treatments
Mea
n yi
eld
bu p
er a
cre
(+SE
M)
2006- Story County, Iowa
Control Prophylactic IPM Seed treatment45
50
55
60
65
70No significant difference among treatments