Potato World vision Potato cultivation, model crop for precision farming! From Precision Farming to Smart Farming Technology is the title of the recently-published lectureship text in which my colleague and I outline how to speed up the process of arriving at where Precision Farming is intended to be. This means accurate planting in space and time and applying the actions that are necessary for optimal growth and yield. Precision Farming is usually thought to include notions such as GPS and RTK, dead-straight furrowed potato ridges, fixed-track systems and section control. But before cultivation measures in a plot can be optimised in sections of 10-30 m2, for example, a great deal still needs to be done. Technically speaking, much can already be done by RTK GPS, currently available sensors, mechatronics and modern machinery. But a great deal still needs to be done in order to have section management widely accepted in the cultivation of potatoes. To make things easier, we’ll call this Precision Farming 2.0 or Smart Farming Technology. The challenge lies in having data about soil and crop variation within the plot available in a timely, accurately and cost-effective way. And subsequently linking this information responsibly to decisions and models that indicate optimal use of cultivation measures for each section within the plot. Think of variations in planting distances based on soil characteristics, or the intermittent application of fertiliser, crop protection chemicals or irrigation. It will then also be possible to monitor specific crop parameters (underwater weight) in order to be able to harvest and store more directly or more selectively. If I look at the current situation regarding sensors, ICT and machinery, section management in open crops could be common practice within 5 years. We only still need to make it Smart. In the cultivation of potatoes, a scale of 3 by 3 is a good target, which fits in well with the conventional mechanisation of planting and harvesting. For me, key words in the development path are collaboration between the interested parties and an integral approach at company level. Should this development path be successful, it will subsequently be another excellent stepping stone for the export of Dutch potato know-how. ● Corné Kempenaar Senior Researcher at Wageningen University - Plant Research International, Lecturer Precision Farming at CAH Vilentum (training centre for higher agricultural education) PW-ACTUA Butter CMR notes and weighing tickets in just 15 minutes available As from 1 January customers of the Butter Group have extremely fast insight into the unloading weight and other transport information. Within 15 minutes after unloading, the CMR notes and weighing tickets are digitally available in the Butter TPF Extranet. This applies to each ride with a Butter truck. It allows the Butter Group to further optimize the service. Our aim is to remain an interesting and competitive partner for our customers, now and in the future. De CMR-vrachtbrieven en weegbonnen worden direct na het lossen gescand. By using the TPF Extranet customers could already enter and follow transport orders. For example, the current geographic position of a truck can be requested. Customers who use the Butter SMS Service receive a text message 15 minutes before the truck arrives. All 260 trucks of the Butter Group are equipped with scanners so the CMR notes and weighing tickets are immediately available in the Butter TPF Extranet. This offers customers the opportunity to process their orders faster and efficiently. The Butter Group is a modern company specialized in the transport of bulk agricultural products in Europe. The 260 trucks drive 7 days a week and transport more than 3 million tons a year. The unique in-house developed trailers provide optimum product protection and a larger loading capacity because of the light weight. This also provides a lower CO2 emission per tonne. ● Potato World 2014 • number 1 9 Pagina 8
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