Controlled Traffic Farming
Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF) establishes permanent traffic Lanes where all Machinery travels each Year. A Machinery System is created where all Machinery uses a similar Track Distance (Distance between Wheels across the Machine) as much as possible. The most efficient System Global Farming structured, is the 36/12 System. 12m Seeder, 12m Planter, 12m Header for Combine, 36m Sprayer, 36m Fertilizer Spreader, all running on a similar Track Distance, for example 2,80m.
Whether Soil Compaction is a serious Issue or one that is less easily observed or measured is undergoing renewed debate in eastern Europe´s Farming, not only because of the awareness of CTF, but also because recent wet growing Seasons have Farmers questioning whether Compaction is an Issue on their Farms.CTF has been around to a lesser extent in Europe. There are about 10.000 Hectares in the UK, with a few thousand more Hectares across Europe. There was not existing and CTF System in Europe before 2004, and the first was in the UK.
10% - 15% increase in Yields. Yield responses were attributed to Soil Improvements, capture of Water and Timeliness of Seeding and Planting. Reducing Compaction began the process of Soil Improvement. Soil structure, Water infiltration, and Soil Water storage improved and led to Yield increases. Plant rooting depths increased and both Water and Nutrient efficiencies improved. A CTF system using RTK/GPS allows Farmers to apply Fertilizer closer to Plant needs.
Up to 50% better Yields during Drought. In some cases, CTF enabled Crops to be grown compared to neighbours who had no Crop. CTF has led to greatly improved Water use efficiencies.
Up to 15% improved Nutrient use efficiency. The same Reason as increased Yields due to better Soil Structure and Plants exploring the rooting Zone more effectively. As well, Farmers have noticed a marked increase in Soil biological activity, which leads to better Nutrient cycling.
15 - 25% reduced Ag Chemicals and Crop Protection costs. Crops are more competitive in the CTF system. RTK/GPS allowed Farmers to apply Ag Chemicals more accurately and efficiently, avoiding overlap. It also allows for inter-row spraying of weeds and on-row Spraying of Fungicides and Insecticides, thus reducing the amount of Ag Chemicals that needs to be applied.
Up to 50% reduced Fuel usage. Compacted Soil in the tramlines decreases implement rolling resistance, improves Traction and leads to less Fuel use. Efficient Field Layouts and highly accurate RTK/GPS ensure that the Seeder, Planter, Sprayer, Spreader and Combine are running to full Capacity.
Lower Machinery Capital Investment. Farmers can use front-wheel assist Tractors rather than Four-Wheel drives. Improved Soil Structure reduces Horsepower Requirements.Impact on Crop grades over time. It is proofed that Farmers can get on Fields sooner after Rain events both for Seeding and at Harvest.
Reduced Risk: CTF Systems are enhancing stored Soil Water. The system allows Farmers to keep Stubble standing, preventing Erosion and enhancing Water infiltration.
CTF opens up a World of precision application opportunities: inter-row Seeding to inter-row spraying Herbicides, on-row and over-leaf spraying of Fungicides and Insecticides, in-crop Fertilizer banding, and Strip Till banding Fertilizer in the Fall.
CTF creates spatial Awareness. With the aid of Application and Yield Mapping you can begin to eliminate the Variables that reduce Yield in your Cropping System. Once you reduce the Randomness of Input Applications, you can start to extract valuable Yield Data because the placement of Inputs is so precise.
CTF improves the Timeliness of Input Applications. We all know how important timing is in Farming. With CTF, Farmers can get on the Field sooner after a Rain than conventional Farming Systems. Improving the Timeliness of Seeding, Planting, Spraying, Spreading and Harvest can generate big Returns.
CTF reduces Fuel use by 30 - 50%, with big savings during Harvest. For example, drive a loaded Combine weighing in excess of 35 Tons across a soft Field and then drive it across a pair of hard-packed Tramlines. Needless to say, the reduction in Fuel use is significant.
On-farm research becomes easier and the Data collected more valuable with CTF. The pass-to-pass accuracy in a CTF system allows you to apply Treatments and collect Yield Data knowing exactly how many rows you treated and how many rows you Harvested. It eliminates randomness such as Input overlap and Harvest under-lap that skews Yield Data.
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