For nitrogen fertilization
Free task card brings variety to the picture
Precision agriculture specialist Vantage Agrometius is launching a website on which free task maps can be made for variable nitrogen fertilization. It can be used in all kinds of crops. You can make your own cards in 3 steps via taskkaart.nl.
Used to create the task cards Company the Swedish CropSAT portal. For this it works together with the Swedish importer of Trimble: DataVäxt AB. CropSat uses various satellite images to visualize the biomass. New images are available every week, although clouds are a problem.
These images are made by 3 satellites: DMC, Sentinel-2 and Landsat 8. The images have a resolution of 10 to 30 meters, depending on the satellite. The field borders can be drawn in manually or can be copied from the Combined Statement.
Also for (dairy) farmers
Creating the free task cards is not a playful action by the Trimble importer. "Some arable farmers do not know how much difference there can be in a plot", says marketing manager Maarten van Kampen. "That also applies to livestock farmers, because the portal can also be used for grassland. It is often written that precision farming is difficult and therefore this super simple portal."
In addition to a low entry, taskcard.nl another advantage. "In practice, there is an increasing desire to make task cards yourself. Even those who have not invested in sensors can do something like this. If the machines are not equipped with variable output, you can always print out an image and adjust it manually. with your own farming wisdom," says Van Kampen.
Export files
Since one system is more critical of the files than the other, the maps can be exported in different formats; currently only Trimble (shapefile), text file and JPEG image. Within a few weeks, opportunities will follow for John Deere, Kverneland and Yara, and then the ISOXML file format can also be used.
Vantage Agrometius has tested the system in practice. It does, however, recommend varying the fertilization on the basis of advice and observations in the field. "The goal is to keep it as accessible as possible," says Van Kampen. "For those who want more, we offer paid software packages from Trimble."
It is not (yet) possible to draw in grids that match the working width and to determine the driving direction. Also, zones cannot be created. Since everything is digital, updates can be made quickly and frequently.
No snag in the grass
More and more tools are appearing to make task cards yourself. Some use satellite imagery, others use drone footage or data from sensors. Is a proliferation of platforms desirable? Van Kampen: "It is healthy that there are several providers. This is how you get the discussion going site specific working and field variation. You can immediately see whether it pays off for your company. Taakkaart.nl is free and without strings attached. It's also a bit of marketing for us. Perhaps in the future a premium package will be offered, with more functionalities. You also see that happening at Boer&Bunder."
The program starts with a variable nitrogen fertilization, but the options are more extensive. For example, variable disease control in potatoes or a module for haulm killing are now being considered.
Niels van der Boom
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