Over the past two years, a New Zealand farmer has witnessed significant benefits on his family’s 730-hectare arable and sheep farm in Cust, including reduced input costs, decreased nitrogen fertiliser usage, and improved environmental outcomes.
Roscoe Taggart uses the innovative Yara N sensor to navigate the challenges of severe nitrate regulations while ensuring the economic sustainability of their operations. By adopting this technology, he showcased productivity and environmental advantages, serving as an example to neighbouring farmers and beyond.
Roscoe emphasises that adopting precision agriculture farming techniques leads to enhanced efficiency, particularly in economic perspective. He has achieved cost savings regarding inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides.
Furthermore, the increased productivity and improved quality of his crops have resulted in higher yields and better market opportunities, contributing to his farming operation’s overall profitability and long-term viability.
Roscoe explained that by employing this technique reveals many social and environmental issues as well. It has allowed him to make informed decisions regarding managing his resources, including water, fertilisers, and pesticides. He has witnessed significant improvements in resource utilisation and overall productivity.
“Precision agriculture makes your farm more efficient, and there are some real social, environmental, and economic benefits that you don’t realise until you get into this,” he emphasised.
Roscoe considers the Yara N sensor as an essential tool in precision agriculture. It enables him to optimise nitrogen fertiliser application by providing precise and real-time measurements of soil nitrogen levels. It helps him minimise nutrient runoff and leaching. This data allows him to make informed decisions about the precise amount of fertiliser needed.
“We have achieved significant savings of approximately three nitrogen units per tonne of grain. It translates to a significant reduction of 36 nitrogen units per hectare on a twelve-tonne paddock, resulting in an overall saving of 80 kilograms of urea for the entire season,” Roscoe added.
In his search to minimise nitrogen fertiliser usage, he is expanding his knowledge on mineralisable nitrogen in the soil, which gradually gets released from organic matter during the season.
To optimise nitrogen usage, he is exploring strategies to synchronise nitrogen availability in the soil with the specific growth stages of the plants. By understanding when the soil’s nitrogen will be most beneficial for plant uptake, he aims to minimise the application of nitrogen fertilisers and maximise the utilisation of naturally occurring nutrients.
Driven by a sense of responsibility towards future generations, Roscoe’s motivation for innovation in agriculture stems from the realisation that his children should have the opportunity to farm on the same land he operates.
“I want my future children still have the opportunity to operate our land,” he said.
This awareness has compelled him to assess his surroundings and explore sustainable farming practices that will ensure a thriving environment in the future. Roscoe’s ultimate goal is to leave the land in an even better condition than he inherited, fostering a profound sense of fulfilment.
He firmly believes that he can contribute to the broader vision of sustainable agriculture by embracing cutting-edge advancements and practices. Through his commitment to minimising environmental impact and optimising resource usage by harnessing technology, Roscoe aims to create a harmonious balance between productivity and conservation, shaping a future where farming practices coexist harmoniously with nature.
