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Variable rate application technology
Cost effective and affordable in many cases

Academic study pinpoints great savings from variable rate applications in grain crops

LIVERMORE, CA - April 24, 2007 -- A joint study by staff members at two U.S. universities regarding application of chemical inputs in grain crop production have determined definitive savings from both variable rate application and automatic boom section control when using the Topcon X20 control console.

Instructors in the departments of agriculture economics, and biosystems and agriculture engineering from the University of Kentucky and Auburn University specifically addressed the savings in chemical applications via automated chemical controls.

The paper is titled Improved Profitability via Enhanced Variable Rate Application Management Resolution in Grain Crop Production.

The result of the study of a 1,350 acre farm using the Topcon X20 application control console for variable rate application along with 30 channel boom section control of the sprayer yielded some startling results. Key points made in the study include:

-- Answers positively the question: Should farmers invest in this technology as a viable way to increase profitability?

-- Improved application tools and methods provide farmers with opportunities to improve profitability.

-- Improved application from automatically turning the boom section valves on and off under fixed or variable-rate application methods; positively impacts profitability associated with managing various crop production inputs.

-- Positive implications of precision positioning technology and methods extend well beyond the management of grain crops alone.

-- Tests using three distinct economic scenarios - partial budgeting, break-even, and payback period – confirm economic justification for investment in the technology on the basis of herbicide cost savings alone in 2 of the 3 scenarios.

-- When a scenario failed to show appreciable profitability from the technology in one area, tests showed favorable results when using the technology with an increased number of applications, increased number of acres, or by using the technology to decrease the total material used for a particular application.

-- Other favorable factors that could enhance the profitably of the technology include: Increases in price of inputs; increases in the desired rate of application; increases in the number of applications; or; decreases in the cost of the technology.

-- With precision control in fixed rate chemical application, reduced overlap of the test area ranged from 16.37 to 26.29 percent. In all cases the reduction in coverage area was attributed to the 30 section Automated boom on/off feature of the X20 that eliminated over-application at the boom sections by turning the valves on/off within irregular shaped fields and fields with point rows.

-- Using a base scenario of three applications and a midpoint application rate, the return on investment (ROI) for precise positioning equipment used in the test would range from 2.55 years to 3.19 years. (Note: This study was based on the average grain farm size of 1,350 acres. With a 3,500-acre operation (more typical for self-propelled sprayers) the payback period may be as little as one year. With this favorable of ROI, anyone who owns a self-propelled sprayer that is utilized to produce grain crops (3,000 acres, plus or minus) can easily justify the addition of the technology.

-- Without considering any other benefits of the technology, savings on input expense alone would justify the adoption of this technology in "many cases."

Future studies will include: environment improvements as a result of the technology; improved agronomic performance; value of profit maximizing input application level, and other factors.

Directly involved in the study were:

Scott A. Shearer, Professor, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Carl R. Dillon, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics
T.G. Mueller, Associate Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences
S.F. Higgins, Research Associate, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
S. Pitla, Engineer Associate, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

John P. Fulton, Assistant Professor, Biosystems Engineering
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

About Topcon Positioning Systems: Topcon Positioning Systems, a developer and manufacturer of positioning equipment, offers the world's leading selection of innovating precision GPS, agriculture, GIS, laser, optical surveying, and machine control products, software, and applications. Topcon Corporation is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (7732).

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