Weather – It’s The Variability That’s Hard To Farm With

PART V - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Author: Guy Ash, Global Training Manager, Pessl Instruments

Throughout the Weather – It’s The Variability That’s Hard To Farm With series, we’ve examined how weather variables – precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, and soil moisture – impact crop development and yield potential.

Now, in Part V, we bring all these elements together and explore how in-field IoT devices can be used to accurately predict yield and optimize irrigation decisions.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: how to predict yield with an in-field IoT device using temperature, rainfall, soil moisture, and forecasts

Timely and effective irrigation management is critical for maximizing crop yields, especially during the early to mid-reproductive stages of corn and soybeans and with the cost of inputs today. As corn and soybeans enter the early to mid-reproductive stages, irrigation is critical to meet the increasing crop water needs since precipitation and soil moisture can’t meet the crop water demand during this period. Water or moisture stress results when the crop’s water demand is higher than the supply (precipitation and stored soil moisture) and can result in reduced biological processes, leading to yield and/or quality penalties.

As we discussed throughout this entire Farm Weather Talk series, we require in-field IoT devices and forecasts to make timely and accurate estimates for any field management decisions. For yield predictions of grain, row or oilseed crops, the two most important environmental factors for good yields are water-use (being the most important) and thermal development, given that all the other agronomic decisions are being done properly (seeding, fertility, pesticides, etc.). Monitoring for yield can easily be accomplished with an in-field IoT device monitoring precipitation, temperature and a site-specific forecast for an entire field or for defined zones within the field.

In the picture: Corn Crop being monitored with an in-field IoT Device

To illustrate the impact of a non-irrigated versus a well managed irrigated field a case study for corn was undertaken. In this case, we had the weather station in the field, capturing irrigated amounts, rainfall and temperature data and one right next to the field, which is not capturing irrigation events. In this case, the total rain feed precipitation is 19 inches, versus the in-field total for precipitation and irrigation at 27 inches.

Cost benefit of timely and accurate irrigation on Corn Production: The overall difference (rainfed to rainfed-irrigated) had a very significant impact on yield prediction estimates, with the predicted (actual rain and seasonal forecast) yield forecast to physiological mature estimating 276 bu/acre, the normal season is predicted at 230 bu/acre. The rainfed and irrigated yield prediction is estimated at 394 bu/acre or 118 bu/acre more to physiological maturity. At $5 corn, that translates into an extra $590 per acre.

In the picture: Impact of rainfed vs rainfed + irrigated field on yield prediction
In the picture: How Yield Prediction by Pessl Instruments works
In the picture: Setup of Yield Prediction for a zone or field
In the picture: Corn Yield Prediction Results

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The insights provided in this Farm Weather Talk highlight the critical role of in-field IoT devices in addressing weather-related challenges in modern agriculture.

Weather variability, whether in precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, or wind speed, directly impacts crop development, yield potential, and the effectiveness of farm operations. Without site-specific data, farmers face significant risks, ranging from reduced yields to inefficiencies in spraying and irrigation.

  • An infield IoT device can be used to measure many critical weather-related production issues, e.g. excess precipitation for fieldwork, spray decision, disease risk, insect development, yield estimates.
  • An in or near-field weather station can be used to generate site specific, hourly updated, and seasonal weather forecasts and work planning solutions, which is critical for field management.
  • Tracking of field-specific current and forecasted spray conditions can same time, money and complaint issues.
  • In-field disease pressure/risk can be managed in an economical and sustainable manner.
  • With an in-or-near field weather station and site-specific forecast, a yield prediction to date and physiological maturity can be generated for the current year and long-term normal.
  • Considering the economic losses from inappropriate field management decisions from site-specific weather-related issues (10 to 30%), the cost of a field IoT device is a small fraction for any one of these issues.

In conclusion, adopting in-field IoT devices is no longer an option but a necessity for efficient and sustainable field management. The potential to reduce economic losses, improve operational efficiency, and achieve better yields far outweighs the initial investment. As climate variability continues to increase, these tools will become even more essential in mitigating risks and ensuring the resilience of modern agricultural practices.

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