Caption: Gary and Penny Robinson of Robinson Subsurface Drip Irrigation at Linwood Park in Christchurch where their underground irrigation system is being installed.

Cust dairy farmers Gary and Penny Robinson have advanced their Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) trial with positive feedback from farmers following field days at trial blocks in North Canterbury and Central Otago. The system is also being installed at Linwood Park in Christchurch.

Gary and Penny are participating in Next Generation Farming; a project that aims to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like the Robinsons are using innovation and demonstrating its productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

SDI’s low-pressure system saves water and power and improves crop yields by eliminating surface water evaporation and reducing the incidence of weeds and disease. Water is applied directly to the root zone of the crop and not to the soil surface.

Gary and Penny recently held two field days at trial blocks in Cust, North Canterbury and in Maniototo, Central Otago which were well received by farmers and industry partners.

Despite heavy rain during the Cust field day, Penny says farmers were keen to learn about subsurface irrigation and seeing the system in the ground and being able to ask practical questions built a stronger understanding of how the system works.

“The weather definitely wasn’t in our favour, but we still had a good turnout, and everyone was very engaged and interested. From the questions asked and discussion we had, SDI does seem to be accepted as a viable solution and option for irrigation in New Zealand.”

Over 50 farmers turned out for the Maniototo field day where the difference between the 18-hectare test block using subsurface irrigation and the adjacent block using traditional irrigation was evident, says Gary.

“It was a stinking hot day, and it was perfect because they have had a hot and dry summer down there so you could really see the difference with lush green grass growing on the block where we have installed the SDI.

“The farmer, Luke Jeffries, is really impressed with the system and after the field day we had quite a few local farmers approach us to learn more.”

Gary and Penny are now focused on gathering data to prove the benefits of the subsurface drip irrigation system and have some interesting projects in the pipeline.

“We’ve had lots of interest from farmers, and we are also in discussions about using the SDI system for wastewater. We feel like we are on a roll now in terms of public awareness of how the system works and the benefits it provides.”

Meanwhile, working on the installation of their first SDI system for a recreational area has been an exciting opportunity for Gary and Penny. Christchurch City Council is remediating Linwood Park following its use as a site for temporary housing after the Canterbury earthquakes. Penny says the environmental and practical benefits make SDI an ideal option for the Council because it saves power and uses less water.

Gary and Penny will now focus on gathering and analysing data from their Maniototo test block, while also exploring opportunities for the SDI system to be used for wastewater, and meeting with farmers to discuss installing the underground irrigation system on their farms.

The Yara N-sensor fitted to the roof of Roscoe’s tractor allows him to apply the precise amount of nitrogen required for his crops which has resulted in significant savings on fertiliser costs while also reducing his environmental impact.

Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart has reduced his use of nitrogen fertiliser by approximately 80 kilograms this season through trialling a Yara N sensor on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm over the past two years.

Roscoe is participating in Next Generation Farming; a project to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability. As part of this project, farmers like Roscoe are using innovation and demonstrating its productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.

Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

The significant savings on fertiliser, the ease of use of the N sensor, and the environmental benefits make the N sensor a tool that Roscoe sees himself using well into the future.

“We have saved around three units of N per tonne of grain so on a twelve-tonne paddock you are saving 36 units of N per hectare which gives us an overall saving of 80 kilograms of urea for the season.

“While you are saving on costs you are also obviously lessening the impact that your farming operation is having on the environment. It is a win-win.”

Roscoe says the N sensor is quick and easy to set up with little input required before he starts applying fertiliser.

“We just put in the crop growth stage and expected yield and parameters around the limits you would like the sensor to spread to. It is remarkably simple.”

The N sensor has two operating modes; target rate mode where farmers provide the N sensor with a figure to work towards and absolute mode where the sensor fully controls the application rate by measuring the crop’s light reflectance which is connected to the crop’s biomass and chlorophyll content. The N sensor then calculates the crop’s nitrogen uptake and applies the correct amount of fertiliser directly to the plant.

Roscoe begins his first fertiliser application in target rate mode and then switches to absolute mode for subsequent applications if these are required. He has been surprised by the variability of fertiliser required by crops throughout his farm which is something that he didn’t have the ability to refine when using the previous variable rate system.

“I noticed a lot of variability in the first season, and it was not what we were expecting. Areas that I would have expected to require quite a bit of fertiliser didn’t require quite so much and then areas that I thought wouldn’t need as much ended up with a bit more.

“You must trust in the technology when you switch it to absolute mode, and it helps you become more efficient with farming when you try new things and move ahead with technology.

“It’s not just about saving money, it’s also about reducing our environmental impact and learning how technology can be a tool in the toolbox for the future.”

Meanwhile, a sustained period of rain during the crop flowering period in December caused fusarium head blight, a fungal disease which affects wheat and this along with other diseases impacted on some of Roscoe’s crops during the growth stage.

“We’ve had a mixed bag with the yield this season. Last season we had good growing conditions right up until harvest, which was extremely wet, whereas this year it rained during the growing season. However, we’ve have had good conditions during the harvest this year.”

Despite weather related issues, Roscoe has still managed to achieve above budget yields for his crops.

“The grasses have been above budget, and our clover is over budget as well. All the hybrid crops that we have harvested have also gone over budget. Overall, I think it has been a pretty good result for us.”

Roscoe will continue to focus on precision agriculture by measuring and quantifying the benefits of his N sensor over coming seasons. He believes that using technology wisely can enable efficient farming.

“Weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable, and we are seeing more extreme weather events occurring closer together than in the past. We have to look at what we can control and focus on farming as efficiently as we can.”

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw with Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) general manager of New Zealand markets Malcolm Ellis and one of her cows whose offspring was considered for LIC’s Sire Proving Scheme (SPS) breeding programme.

Fernside dairy farmer Julie Bradshaw says being involved in Livestock Improvement Corporation’s (LIC’s) Sire Proving Scheme (SPS) for over 20 years has shown her how quality animal data is key to improving the efficiency of her farming operation.

Julie is participating in a farming innovation project which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

Alongside the SPS participation, Julie decided to DNA parentage test her entire herd when the technology became available in 2007 and says the test (which uses DNA to match an animal to its parents) has removed the stress from calving season while helping to identify which animals have the best genetic profile for breeding.

“We were asked to join LIC’s Sire Proving Scheme and it’s one of the best decisions we ever made. Making the commitment to DNA test has been of huge benefit as it shows exactly what you have in your herd.

“When it comes time for calving, you’re not running around trying to match all the calves to their dam because you already have your data.”

This season, Julie is focusing on fine-tuning her herd while aiming to achieve the same amount of milk production.

“We went through the herd and looked at the top producing cows. We’ve made sure that these have been properly mated using AI (artificial insemination) to get the most genetic gains through targeting replacements from the higher rated cows.

“Using herd test data and genetic merit analysis we can determine which animals are the most efficient and focus our efforts on these cows. There is no doubt that we will have to reduce our cow numbers and science can help us make the best decisions for the future of our farm.”

LIC general manager of New Zealand markets Malcolm Ellis says that following on from the significant period of cow growth and the eventual cow peak in 2015, the focus is now on the productive efficiency of the individual cow.

“There can be a significant range in productivity within a herd. The difference between good and average cows in any herd is often quite extreme. It isn’t unusual to have a herd that is doing 400 to 450 kilograms of milk solids per cow and having a range in productivity of 160 to 200 kilograms between the top and bottom quartile groups.

“It does provide a significant opportunity to target the top performing cows while not breeding from the poorer quality cows in order to accelerate the rate of genetic gain.”

Malcolm says it’s important for the dairy sector to own the fact that farmers will be milking less cows in the future.

“I don’t think that we should fight this. I see it as an opportunity to embrace and celebrate our best cows and to have more of them.”

The calibre of Julie’s herd was recognised this season, with one of her bull calves being considered for LIC’s Sire Proving Scheme. Although it didn’t make the final cut (only 250 bull calves from across New Zealand are selected each year), Julie was proud to have an animal in the running.

“It has been quite exciting as it’s the first time for us to have one of our animals considered in 25 years of dairy farming.”

Julie says data from genetics helps her make informed decisions which are essential for a successful farming business, especially in the current climate.

“The more information you can gather, the better the decision-making process will be. We can use technology to improve our efficiency and reduce our impact on the environment.

“As a farmer you’ve got to be efficient. This is the way that the world wants us to be and if you are going to future-proof your business you need the data to prove that you are minimising your impact on the planet.”

Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart hopes to prove the benefits of using sensor-based nitrogen application on his farm as part of his drive to use more precision agriculture technology in his operation.

Last year, Cust farmer Roscoe Taggart was one of two New Zealand farmers selected to trial a Yara N sensor on his family’s 730 hectare arable and sheep farm. He saved a significant amount of nitrogen fertiliser and plans to quantify the environmental and economic benefits of using the sensors during the current season.

Roscoe is participating in a project  which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

With a less than ideal harvest season last year due to inclement weather, Roscoe is hoping a more normal weather pattern this year will provide him with the data to show that the N sensor is having a positive impact on his farming operation.

“Due to the heavy rain last year, we couldn’t truth our findings, but we did use significantly less fertiliser and we got comparable yields to other farmers.

“Hopefully, this season will be the determining one in terms of getting solid data. With the cost of diesel and fertiliser skyrocketing and interest rates going up too, everywhere that you can save while being more efficient on your farm is a bonus.”

The N-sensor is fitted to the roof of Roscoe’s tractor and allows him to measure the precise amount of nitrogen required for each area of crops in a paddock. As the fertiliser spreader moves through the paddock it varies the fertiliser application rate according to the data that the N-sensor receives.

The amount of nitrogen is determined by measuring the crop’s light reflectance. Measurements are taken every second at specific wave bands which reflect the crop’s biomass and chlorophyll content. The system then calculates the crop’s nitrogen uptake which enables the correct amount of fertiliser to be applied directly to the plant.

Roscoe says that while the technology used by the N-sensor is complex, the actual operation couldn’t be any easier.

“It is extremely easy to use. You just hop in the tractor and the sensor does all the work for you. It is all algorithm-based and we don’t need to have any further input from our end.

“That’s the key to anything like this really. It must be simple or else it will be put in the too hard basket.”

Roscoe views precision agriculture as a way of contributing to the legacy of his family’s farm which has been handed down over three generations.

“I got into precision agriculture as a way of making my mark on the farm. Grandad bought the farm; Dad irrigated the farm and for me it was precision agriculture that caught my attention.

“Technology is allowing us to try new ways of farming that previous generations haven’t had the opportunity to do. The way technology is moving if we give it five years, I think it will be a whole different picture in terms of how we are using it to solve all sorts of farming challenges.”

Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson will collect data from their North Canterbury trial block and from a new subsurface irrigation system they installed in Central Otago to prove the benefits of underground irrigation.

Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson are anticipating a season of “data collection” after installing a subsurface drip irrigation system on an 18-hectare block of land which is part of a 260-hectare farm in Maniototo, Central Otago. They aim to collect data from both this block and their trial site in Cust to analyse the benefits of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI).

Gary and Penny are participating in a project which examines how the next generation of farmers are using innovation to improve their farming practices. Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.

After a wet summer last year scuppered plans to collect data from their trial block, the couple were delighted when their partner Carrfields approached them for an installation opportunity in Maniototo. Gary says the site is an ideal location for installing subsurface drip irrigation.

“Part of it is a corner of a pivot on existing grass and the rest is worked up land. It contains two different soil types so it will be interesting to compare how the SDI performs on those soil types and then we can also compare that to our trial block in Cust. It goes dry down there in Central Otago, so we are hoping to fetch some good data.”

During the installation process several neighbouring farmers visited the Maniototo site to learn more about subsurface drip irrigation. They expressed interest in trialling the system if the data gathered from the system proves the benefits.

With less water potentially available for irrigation in the future and stricter regulations regarding nitrogen run off into streams and rivers being introduced, Penny says the economic and environmental benefits of subsurface drip irrigation are clear.

“SDI provides water directly to the root zone, so you use less water more efficiently when compared to a traditional irrigation system. There is zero leaching of nitrates as you don’t apply a lot of water because you are not saturating the soil from the top down but slowly and steadily from the roots of the plant.”

Measuring the quality of the yield of the crop or pasture produced using subsurface drip irrigation is also an important aspect of data gathering. Penny describes how they will work with project partners Carrfields and Ballance at their trial block to measure pasture yield and quality.

“We will mow patches of pasture on our trial block where the SDI is installed and weigh it to get an indication of how many kilos of dry matter per kilo we have per hectare and then compare this to the same pasture in an area where SDI is not installed.

“Obviously, we want increased yield but not increased yield of poor pasture. We are looking for increased yield of high ME (metabolisable energy) pasture.”

Gary and Penny were finalists in the recent Irrigation New Zealand Innovation in Irrigation Award. While they didn’t win the award, being able to network with people and organisations with a keen interest in new types of technology was important for creating new connections.

Farm environmental consultant Rebecca Hyde nominated Gary and Penny for the award as she could see the benefits of providing farmers with efficient irrigation from her work with North Canterbury farmers.

“I know Gary and Penny personally, so I have seen their journey with subsurface drip irrigation progress right from the beginning. I have seen the need for farmers to use less water more efficiently as some landowners are now seeing a decrease in the amount of water they can use on farm.

“In the corners of pivots, traditional sprinklers and K-line irrigation will struggle whereas SDI is perfect for these areas.

“I can also see the benefits of using SDI in urban settings like parks and golf clubs where we now have to be more aware of the amount of water we are using and try to get it in the right place at the right time.”

Penny and Gary will host a field day at their trial block in February for local farmers and industry partners to learn more about subsurface drip irrigation.

“It will be a good opportunity to see the system in action and we should have some data to present by then. We are looking forward to being able to showcase what we believe will be the future of irrigation in New Zealand.”