Does Variable Rate Seeding Help With ROI?

Jan 11, 2019


Does Variable Rate Seeding help with ROI?
We already know that 2019 will continue to be a challenging year to make ends meet in our industry.  At GreenPoint AG we know this is a challenge, and are ready to partner with you to continue to look for new ways to help you wth this challenge. Variable-rate planting and applications can help you allocate your in-field investments more precisely.  This however, is only part of the story. Variable Rate cannot replace sound agronomics from the start. Here are 5 tips that GreenPoint Ag recommends before you start your script.
 
1. Consult your Advisor to create by field plans.
Because there are many factors that go into creating variable-rate prescriptions, call your GreenPoint AG Advisor for help to accurately put together a precision plan. Talk with him or her about your goals, your opportunities, and your current capabilities. Then the advisor can use his full tool box  to help you put together a field specific plan to create the most ROI (Return on Investment) for your operation.
 
2. Place seed properly.
 Field plans created by our professional staff of precision ag advisors. We will help you place the right seed in the right spot at the right rate. Essentially, new technologies have made it possible to overlay different points of data to create a prescription that makes since for your field. For example, just using a previous yield map or EC map could miss opportunities in the field. If a wet spring changed the nutrition in the field, previous yield data would not give us that view. Understanding the data is just as important as collecting it. 
 
Incompass by GreenPoint AG can create zones for different areas. Each aspect of your field is important to comprising a “layer” of the prescription map. Those layers can include variables such as soil type, historical yield data and previous fertility rates. Taken together, these factors will let you know what plant populations to use in different areas to achieve the greatest potential outcome.   
 
3. Determine nutrient needs.
Incompass by GreenPoint AG is a great start for any fertility program. Using historical yield data, in-season imagery or other available satellite imagery helps increase prescription accuracy by helping to determine how to sample a field. Work with your trusted advisor to determine optimal soil test timing. GreenPoint AG Advisors can use the Incompass tools to identify available nutrients in the soil, allowing an optimal plan to be created thus improving the nutritional profile of your field.
 
4. Apply nutrients as needed.
Proper nutrient management can help you budget more appropriately, thereby optimizing your return on investment potential. For example, you may have an area in your field that requires more lime than another does. It may not be in your best economical interest to put the same rate of lime on both places.
 
With the current economic times, it may make more sense to pull back in some areas and increase in others. A GreenPoint Technology Specialist has been trained to understand how to look at the different layers and spot ROI opportunities. We do more than just determine how much fertilizer the test says to put out to gain another bushel. GreenPoint Advisors look at the break even point and help the grower make a decision.
 
5.Making your inputs count
No two fields are equal. The goal of any variable-rate prescription is to improve ROI potential by prioritizing input allocations. Don’t forget that a solid seed care plan will help you make the most of your investment as well. The most potential you have is when the seed is still in the bag. Make sure you are doing all you can to protect the yield in each bag you plant. (Learn more about seed care) Talk with your advisor today about how you can partner to create the perfect plan that work best with your field variability and your budget.

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