In South Africa, we are currently in a scenario where high prices are achieved alongside high yields. We are more accustomed to farming on narrow margins. Therefore, it becomes increasingly important for each seed to contribute to achieving the maximum yield for that specific year in your fields.
Your soil potential, rainfall, and practices determine your yield. At Pioneer, we have conducted extensive research over the past five seasons using scientific models on a wide variety of soil types with different depths and clay percentages. Currently, we have a product that we confidently use in the field based on our genetics.
Pioneer seeds are now planted with the assurance that each seed is planted at the right spacing for the best plant population per hectare. Based on multi-year data, the advantage of doing this ranges from 2 to 9%. Considering this, the significant capital costs associated with investing in a precision planter and a harvester that generates yield maps can be more easily justified.
Table 1: Example of the difference between a flat rate density versus prescription planting.
In Table 1 you can see how the data is analysed to determine whether a variable planting density across your field was better than a uniform density across the entire field. The example mentioned above was from a trial planted by a farmer in Leandra, Mpumalanga. It shows that this year’s yield with the Pioneer prescription delivered R2 478,00/ha more value than the flat rate of the same cultivar in the same field. Cultivar density are often too high or too low, which means the potential of the genetics is not optimally utilised. By understanding both the soil potential and the hybrid’s potential, you can make fewer mistakes and significantly improve your chances of maximising yield every year.
Prescriptions are not written for extreme wet or dry years; if you perform better following the prescription in at least seven out of ten years, it justifies your move to this technology.
What should you do?
If you have reached a point in your farming where you feel you are hitting a ceiling or want to enhance profitability, technology is something you should embrace as a farmer. While everything costs money, spend it where it will be advantageous and where the capital investment is justified. If you are a crop farmer, have the vision to invest in a precision planter. Alongside that, consider precision analysis and mapping of your fields.
You do not need to do everything in one season; start gradually. By incorporating this information and equipment into your business, many agricultural enterprises can add significant value to your farming unit. As the agricultural industry expands technologically and develops new technologies, staying competitive in the market becomes crucial for them and you.
Using precision equipment makes your variables more predictable, leading to more successful actions. Take the steps to know more precisely, measure precisely, and place precisely. It is not a guaranteed formula for success, but it significantly increases your chances of being part of the winning team.
For more information on precision planting and Pioneer itself, visit Pioneer’s website or send an e-mail to info.rsa@pioneer.com.
