Spreading. Accurate spread. Reliable return. Environmental investment.

Transcription

1 Spreading Accurate spread. Reliable return. Environmental investment.

2 Contents Our spreading operators 3 Why use Ravensdown spreading? 4 Benefits of Ravensdown spreading 5 Ravtrak 6 What others are saying 8 Ravensdown: putting on a good spread 10 How does variable rate application work? 11 How to get the most from spreading Use our Spreadmark certified trucks Track your applications using our proof of placement technology Get a fertiliser plan for your farm Ordering is easy To order simply call to speak to your local spreading contractor. The information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing (July 2013), and is subject to change. 2

3 Our spreading operators Because we ve partnered with local ground spreading businesses throughout New Zealand, you now have access to great spreading technology wherever you are. Plus we have aerial spreading and spraying. All fixed wing aircraft and helicopters use GPS for guidance and offer full proof of placement maps for spreading and spray applications. Spreading Northland Spreading Waikato Spreading FBT Spreading Sandfords Rural Bulk Spreading Wanganui Aeroworks Rae Brothers Spreading Buckley Tait and McKenzie Spreading Spreading Canterbury North Otago Ground Spreading Spreading Southland Advanced Spreading 3

4 Why use Ravensdown spreading? Accurate spread Spreadmark certified trucks Proof of placement maps Ravtrak guidance system Reliable return Precise spreading means you can get the most out of your pasture or crop Local investment A quality spread means no wasted money Environmental investment Fertiliser placed away from waterways Only necessary nutrients are applied and recorded in proof of placement maps Keep a record of what fertiliser has been put on your farm 4

5 Benefits of Ravensdown spreading Good for your farm Better planning for your pasture or crop One application of urea on your dairy farm using Ravtrak could increase your production by an extra $15 - $22/ha* *(100kg/ha Urea applied, $8 kg/ms payout. Conversion factor of 15kgs/ DM to 1 kg/ms.) Good for ease of mind Product applied in an environmentally responsible way, avoiding high run-off areas, effluent blocks and waterways Skilful and knowledgeable operators Staff are committed to developing skills through the New Zealand Groundspread Association driver training programme Good for your community Support your local community through employment and use of local services Local knowledge and established relationships 5

6 Feel confident with our spreading Introducing Ravtrak, the most accurate spreading technology in New Zealand, ensuring increased productivity for your farm. Call now to get the most from your spreading. SPREADMARK CERTIFIED SPREADS A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS UNIQUE AUTOMATE GUIDANCE CONTRO (helps the driver know where to go) VARIABLE RATE SPREADING SMART VEHICLE REPOSITIONING (starts from where spreading last stopped) AUT (contr 6

7 D L LOW EXHAUST EMISSIONS SPREADMARK DRIVER TRAINING Ravtrak DIFFERENTIAL GPS (accurate to 20cm) OMATIC FLOW VALVE CONTROL ols flow of fertiliser to minimise wastage) FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 7

8 What other users are saying... We use Ravensdown spreading as it s an easy one-stop shop with everything done with one phone call from ordering the products to spreading them. Proof-of-placement maps are useful as we employ staff and this way everybody knows what s going on and where. Eric Van Druten, Taranaki, Dairy farmer It s convenient. The main benefit for me using Advanced Spreaders is that my spreading s done when I want it. They do the job they re supposed to. I have a grazing block for wintering the cows that s quite steep so I tell the drivers to go where they re happy to go. It is good to look at the proof-of-placement maps and see where they ve actually put it. John den Baars, Milton, Dairy farmer 8

9 Continual improvements to GPS and computer technology have allowed aspects of my business to move on alongside Spreading Southland. They re forever updating their systems and are interested in new technology. Graeme Spittle, Northern Southland Sheep and Beef farmer 9

10 Ravensdown: putting on a good spread 10 By Fabian Kopu, Application Manager The modern farmer has a range of farm management tools to implement a farm fertility strategy but none of the benefits from your fertiliser investment are available until the fertiliser is spread. Many shareholders don t realise the true value of an accurate fertiliser spread, or the cost of a poor spread. It may seem obvious, but the closer the spreader is to applying the fertiliser at the targeted rate, the closer the pasture or crop will be to achieving the targeted response. Ravensdown has invested heavily in spreading and spreading technologies to improve shareholders production responses to the fertiliser products they purchase. The in-paddock variation of spread improved between 9 and 17% by adding flow control and automatic start and stop features to our differentially corrected GPS signal that is accurate to 20cm. So, what does this mean for farm revenue? Applying urea at 80kg per ha on moderately high fertility dairy flats carrying cows converting 15kg of dry matter to 1kg of milk solids; at a payout of: $6.50 per kg of milk solids it is $ $18.02 per hectare $7.25 per kg of milk solids it is $ $20.10 per hectare $8.00 per kg of milk solids it is $ $22.18 per hectare By using Ravensdown technology (available through spreading subsidiaries and joint ventures) the increased response to high analysis fertiliser is often greater than the cost of the spread. Ravensdown is committed to providing the benefits of precision agriculture to its shareholders. The tools for achieving a more precise spread are not cheap, but by sharing costs with our spreading partners, automating proof of placement reporting, standardising GPS, flow control units and sharing the differential correction costs (which give our trucks greater positional accuracy), shareholders receive a superior service at a similar market price. All other spreaders operate to a standard GPS accuracy of (± 8m) and do not have flow control or reporting systems as sophisticated as ours. To take advantage of Ravensdown s spreading system just tell the Customer Centre when you place your order or discuss your spreading plans with your local Ravensdown account manager.

11 How does variable rate application work? By Michelle Quirke, Application Technology Manager Precision agriculture and variable rate application can be critical for helping farmers manage their environmental responsibilities. And of course, there are financial benefits of being able to apply nutrients only on the areas that need them. But how does variable rate application actually work? Due to our integration with ground and aerial spreaders, fertiliser recommendations and Nutrient Management Plan information can be electronically fed into the vehicles GPS equipment in the form of a prescription map. Data from ARL tests or yield maps and electromagnetic maps (that are converted into variable rate zones via our partnership with Agrioptics) are then supplied to the Ravensdown Application Technology Team as spatial (shape) files. This is converted to a single truckready file which is sent to the spreader s on-board computer over the 3G network using our custom-built SpreaderComms software. Once loaded, the map automatically controls the application rate of the spreader based on its physical location or zone rate as set in the prescription map. As the spreader enters each zone, the controlled application rate automatically changes to that of the new zone and any exclusion zones recorded in the map will stop the spreader s application altogether thereby only applying nutrients to those predefined areas. After the application, the operator saves the proof-ofplacement map and sends it back to our server over the 3G network using SpreaderComms. The maps are automatically validated then processed and uploaded into our internationally awarded GIS (Geographic Information System) and made immediately available for farmers to see via their secure online service www. myravensdown.co.nz. As well as the download and upload of the files, the SpreaderComms software enables us to remotely support ground spreaders and sprayers from virtually anywhere. A file is constructed from tests, maps and other data, before being converted into a truck-ready file. The file is sent to the spreading truck s onboard computer. The onboard computer ensures placement of fertiliser in right place and amount. Driver can refer to the accurate map and request in-cab support. Once application is complete, the data is uploaded back to Ravensdown s systems. A proof of placement map is automatically uploaded to the farmer s secure web area on 11

12 It s all yours, it s all here. Award winning Smart Maps gives you quick access to all your farm information Create a detailed map of your farm Application maps Feed wedge C-Dax uploads Nutrient summaries Upload farm events Maintain paddock information Plus much more