Reducing the carbon footprint of Agriculture with Precision Technologies

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Reducing the carbon footprint of Agriculture with
Precision Technologies

• Scott A. Shearer
• Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
• University of Kentucky
• Lexington

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Carbon Footprint
"measure of the impact that human activities have
on the environment in terms of the amount of
greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of
carbon dioxide"
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Outline

• Carbon Footprint of Production Ag
• Energy Efficiency Automated Guidance
• Input Conservation Map-Based Application
• Improved Input Efficacy High Resolution Metering
  of Inputs
• Preserving Waterways, Buffers and Riparian Areas

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Popular View

• Agriculture is believed to be responsible for
  25 of CO2, 65 of methane and 90 of NO2
  emitted.
• Modern processes such as use of machinery over
  man and animal power, global trading and
  increased use of fertilizers and other so called
  "agro-chemicals" has already made agriculture an
  energy intensive process in the developed world
  and is still in the process of doing the same
  thing in the developing world.

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CO2 (Energy) and Crop Production

• On-farm fuel use accounts for 1/4 to 1/3 of
  farmings energy consumption.
• Remaining energy consumption is indirect - mainly
  from inputs like fertilizer (gt 1/3) and
  pesticides.
• Solutions
• reduce fertilizer and pesticide use (increase use
  efficiency)
• improve energy efficiency of farming practices

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Machinery/Technology Considerations

• What is the impact of increasing size of field
  machinery?
• How can technology reduce carbon footprint?

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Worth and Dee Ellis FarmsShelby County, Kentucky
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Outline

• Carbon Footprint of Production Ag
• Energy Efficiency Automated Guidance
• Input Conservation Map-Based Application
• Improved Input Efficacy High Resolution Metering
  of Inputs
• Preserving Waterways, Buffers and Riparian Areas

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How would youplant this field for greatest
efficiency?
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Make a few passes around the outside, and then
plant what is left?
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Headland vs. Point-Row Turns
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Turning Summary Statistics
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The greatestAFC (2.92 ha/h)occurs when the
internal area of the field is planted at an angle
of 5o with E-W.
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Summary
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Automated Guidance
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Planters

• Deere 7000 16-row front fold drawn planter
• Deere 1720 16-row integral planter

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Field Conditions
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Sensitivity 1 Lowest Setting, 2 Middle
Setting, 3 Highest SettingImplement 1
Integral Planter, 2 Tillage Tool, 3 Towed
Planter
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Sensitivity 1 Lowest Setting, 2 Middle
Setting, 3 Highest SettingImplement 1
Integral Planter, 2 Tillage Tool, 3 Towed
Planter
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Implement Guidance
Orthman Tracker IV
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Outline

• Carbon Footprint of Production Ag
• Energy Efficiency Automated Guidance
• Input Conservation Map-Based Application
• Improved Input Efficacy High Resolution Metering
  of Inputs
• Preserving Waterways, Buffers and Riparian Areas

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Spraying Challenges Waterways and Point Rows
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Map-Based Nozzle Control
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As-Applied Traverse
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Application Model
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Tip Nozzle On-Time
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Channel On-Time
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Seeding Challenges
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Triangular Borders

• This 16.2 ha triangular field requires 70,
  8-row planter passes.
• The total unplanted area (point rows) is 0.7 ac
  or 4.2.

530 m
305 m
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Curved Borders

• This 4.7 ha field requires 40, 8-row planter
  passes.
• The total unplanted area is 0.4 ha or 7.8.

75 m
75 m
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Current Ground Drives
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Positive Displacement Fertilizer Pumps
Return
Supply
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Outline

• Carbon Footprint of Production Ag
• Energy Efficiency Automated Guidance
• Input Conservation Map-Based Application
• Improved Input Efficacy High Resolution Metering
  of Inputs
• Preserving Waterways, Buffers and Riparian Areas

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Spraying Challenges - Turning
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CAN-Based Single Nozzle Injection
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Results (0.40 mm Orifice at 5 Hz)
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Seeding Challenges
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Single Row Drives
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Bus Implementation
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Accuracy for Differential Toolbar Speed(10 to 40
rpm)
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Field Implementation
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Zone Management?
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Outline

• Carbon Footprint of Production Ag
• Energy Efficiency Automated Guidance
• Input Conservation Map-Based Application
• Improved Input Efficacy High Resolution Metering
  of Inputs
• Preserving Waterways, Buffers and Riparian Areas

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Questions?