Start the season off right with fertility scripting
February 24, 2023
Advances in digital farming continue to expand the toolbox of options to help you maximize your return on every acre. For example, use of variable rate fertility prescriptions is rapidly increasing across the Canadian prairies.
Fertility scripting with Climate FieldViewTM provides simple, easy-to-use editing tools to create variable rate fertility prescriptions in as little as three minutes. It reduces the time spent writing scripts, improves the planning experience and helps to optimize fertility usage across multiple fields and crops. The tool can also validate the outcome of completed scripts to keep fine tuning the planning process.
FieldView offers four ways to develop fertility scripts:
- Automatically generate zones from a map layer by selecting “field health map layers”.
- Use zones from previous planting, fertility or crop protection prescriptions.
- Select from zones that were previously imported into your account.
- Use FieldView’s drawing tools to create your own zones.
After completing your script, you can export that data to your equipment of choice to be executed or send it wirelessly for viewing in your FieldView Cab app.
The right fertility rate critical for success
Seed grower Jonathon Dear, who farms around 10,000 acres near Hepburn, Saskatchewan, was an early adopter of the fertility scripting feature in FieldView. He’s seen the FieldView advantage firsthand, and reports excellent results over the past four years.
“We’ve found that getting fertility right has been one of the most important factors we can control that has a direct impact on yield and quality,” says Dear. “Using FieldView to make data-driven scripts has been a true game changer for us to identify fertility variability and ensure each field has the right inputs for the best results possible. It’s easy to use and gives peace of mind that everything is optimized to the needs of the crop and for the highest return on investment.”
Dear also runs a farm retail business. His positive experience with using FieldView for fertility scripting has led him to recommend this approach to his customers, many who have now adopted it as well and see it as a key part of their farming strategy.
“We know getting the right fertility rate will be critical for success,” says Dear.
Thankfully, there are a number of options for using multiple data layers from previous years to fit the needs and goals of each field. You can can create fertility zones by using various data layers including imagery, yield or any other relevant data layer you may have.
According to Dear, he plans to use a combination of satellite imagery correlated with yield data from the previous year. “We can identify the areas that have a good N and P credit already, and also areas where we know adding fertilizer at the right level will pay us back and provide a strong return.”
Any size and type of farm can benefit, Dear adds. “Because we have a seed farm, we have above average labor costs and people involved. We also have multiple crops and many different varieties to manage. The approach with FieldView is a huge benefit to simplify the management and decision-making so that every field zone and variety gets what it needs.”
FieldView also makes it easy for you to measure the performance of your prescriptions and to collaborate on scripts with an agronomist or partner. Learn more in this FAQ about Fertility Scripting and this video on Improved Zoning for FieldView Manual Prescriptions.
Seed grower Jonathon Dear has made FieldView an essential part of his crop production plan. With seamless data management and proven ROI, FieldView is winning converts like Dear all across the Prairies.
Getting Started is Simple
To start, simply log into your FieldView account, select the field you want to analyze, choose “fertility” on the prescription screen and continue following the process from there. The precision delivered by fertility scripting can go a long way to optimizing fertility and nutrient management. That way, you can be sure you get the best value possible from your inputs.
Design
Scouting
