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More control over your cultivation with 'My Growth'
Fertilizing by instinct, or choosing control and insight? More and more arable farmers are choosing the latter. Van Iperen developed "Mijn Groei" (My Growth) for this purpose, a digital dashboard that supports growers in their cultivation decisions regarding fertilization, protection, and irrigation. It combines data from various sources and turns complex models into practical tools.
Wilbert Nieuwenhuis from Boesingheliede was one of the first users. More than 80 growers have now joined. "'Mijn Groei' gave me the confidence to start without granular fertilizer," he says. "But it also helped me stay on track during the season."
Digital growth model
When "My Growth" was introduced, Wilbert was guided by his regular advisor, Joris van den Heuvel, and Jan Jaap Roseboom, arable farming team leader and technical specialist in precision farming at Van Iperen. Together, they explored how the tool could best be applied to Wilbert's fields. Jan Jaap explains: "'My Growth' provides daily insight into a crop's needs. It's a digital growth model that's continuously fed with data from existing growth models like NDICEA, including field information, soil analyses, and the cultivation plan. All this data is brought together in a clear dashboard. And the more you enter, the smarter the model becomes." Joris adds: "For the grower, it's very user-friendly, with clear graphs that provide immediate insight. For example, if soil moisture changes, you can immediately see what that means for nitrogen availability."
Support all season long
During the season, Wilbert validated the model with field measurements. He weighed foliage and counted tubers, several times in different locations. The foliage lagged slightly behind the model, but the tubers performed as expected. "The tool continuously supports you. You receive signals based on current conditions. Sometimes it confirms what you already suspected. Sometimes it makes you think twice. For example, when the model indicated in June that irrigation was advisable, but the ditch water had too high an EC. I consciously chose not to irrigate at that time. The system then calculates the impact on your yield. That helps you make well-considered choices."
From gut feeling to substantiated
Wilbert uses an extensive cropping plan and relies heavily on organic fertilizer. But how much will be released and when? "That's normally difficult to estimate. 'My Growth' gave me the confidence to start without a base dose of artificial fertilizer. And during the season, it showed that sufficient nitrogen was available." He entered all his plot data beforehand, including soil samples and crop history. "That gives you a picture of what's already in the soil, and when it will be released."
"Take winter wheat, for example. That crop wants to start early, but the soil is often not yet active. So you do have to make adjustments there. With potatoes, a late crop, you can make more use of what the soil naturally produces. You can then potentially use that nitrogen space for wheat."
Focus on nitrogen and potassium
'My Growth' currently focuses primarily on nitrogen and potassium. Jan Jaap: "These two elements, along with phosphate, are the main nutrients for arable crops. That's where the greatest benefits lie." Van Iperen developed 'My Growth' over the past three years in collaboration with growers. Around 50 plots have been actively monitored. "We do this on different soil types, with diverse cultivars and cultivation strategies," says Jan Jaap. "It's precisely this variation that makes the model so powerful." More than 80 growers now use 'My Growth'.
The tool was developed for potatoes and onions and is now being further refined, including at the variety level and under varying growing conditions. Work is also underway to expand it to flower bulb cultivation. Wilbert would like to see other crops follow suit. "Take wheat, for example. It's a low-yielding crop, but it requires a lot of nitrogen. You want to know exactly what's happening."
Accessible and personal
"My Growth" is linked to the AgroVision crop registration program and also works with other precision tools, including Van Iperen's "My Fertigation" application. "You don't have to enter anything twice. Everything communicates with each other," says Jan Jaap. Yet, it's not a tool you can simply click on. "We guide growers personally the first time. After that, they can do more and more independently. But we remain available as a sparring partner. It's truly a collaboration."
For every arable farmer
"My Growth" is suitable for all arable farmers. Wilbert consciously chooses to use as little artificial fertilizer as possible. But there are also growers who do rely on mineral fertilizers, and they too benefit from using "My Growth." Joris: "Whether you work with organic or artificial fertilizers, it's all about timing and insight. That makes the tool valuable for anyone who takes precision fertilization seriously." Wilbert agrees. "You don't have to completely overhaul everything. But if you're open to making adjustments and want more control over your crop, this system will really help you move forward."
Future-oriented cultivation
The pressure on the sector is increasing. Lower emissions, fewer resources, more accountability. "As a grower, you have to be able to justify what you're doing and why," says Jan Jaap. "Take, for example, the nitrate standards for groundwater. With 'My Growth', you can manage those too. And thus ensure you meet the standard."
'My Growth' is still in development, but it's already proving its worth in practice. Wilbert: "I harvested around 60 tons of table potatoes this season. Without a single grain of fertilizer. With a system that kept me going throughout the entire season. That speaks volumes about the value of 'My Growth'."
Are you an arable farmer looking for more control over your crop? Are you looking for ways to better manage plant needs? "My Growth" helps you make informed decisions throughout the season. Discover the possibilities on the website or contact Van Iperen.
