- It’s the level of detail that has been the impetus for change – this is what Kensworth grower David Woods has to say about his experience of using the Omnia Digital Farming platform
Precision farming is nothing new to the 335ha farming business, DH Woods & Sons near Dunstable, that has been variably drilling crops for twelve years.
Having to farm across a range of soil types from heavy clay to chalk with lots of flints, Mr Woods was open to the concept of variable rate drilling as this allowed him to tailor seed rates to soil type and condition.
Variable drilling results in a more even crop resulting in less disease pressure, less risk of lodging, better use of inputs and higher yields.
“We have always approached variable rate drilling with a mindset that it is not about saving seed, but ensuring that we are using seed as efficiently as we can; drilling the right amount of seed for the soil in a particular area at a certain time. Its all about marginal gains, even a 1% improvement in yields pays for any extra seed that may be required, “says Mr Woods.
“Historically we have based our plans on a limited amount of data based on more traditional methods of soil sampling which then created ‘zones’ across fields,” he says.
However after having the whole farm Terramapped summer 2022 and moving over to the Omnia Digital Farming system, Mr Woods has been very impressed by the level of detail and accuracy from TerraMap – having shown up clear variations in the soils that had not been seen before.
“It has brought about a complete step change in the level of information and given us a much deeper insight into what is happening in our soils than we ever thought possible.”
