CTF – on track to our Future Dr Don Yule - ACTFA

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Dr Don Yule
Just do it BUT do it right
Combining ideas into a farming system context
What we have learnt and what we don’t know

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Driving Principles
• <strong>CTF</strong> is a farming system built on controlled
traffic <strong>–</strong> all load bearing wheels are on the
same tracks.
• Start with a PLAN for the farm
• Focus on the Similarities <strong>–</strong> all crops grow in
soil in landscapes, similar challenges, similar
solutions.
• Talk to each other and SHARE.
• <strong>CTF</strong> is practical intensity with no mediocrity.

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Similar or Variable?
Good management achieves even growth in variable
paddocks.

What have we learnt about Practices?
• Practice 1. Controlled Traffic manages compaction <strong>–</strong>
Just do it.
• CT defines <strong>CTF</strong> Management Zones <strong>–</strong> wheel tracks,
crop rows and inter-rows. Hard tracks for access
and timeliness, soft beds for crops.
• Practice 2. CT defines machinery in the farm plan <strong>–</strong>
choose a wheel track and matching implements <strong>–</strong>
Just do it.
• Delivers efficiency and effectiveness. Need wide
tracks, wider implements and narrow tyres <strong>–</strong> Do it
right.

3m/9m (warranted JD)

What have we learnt about Practices?
• Practice 3. CT requires a field layout to manage
• runoff
• erosion
• waterlogging
• and for dry wheel tracks.
• All tracks must drain to a safe disposal area, i.e.
downslope <strong>–</strong> Just do it.
• Need professional advice. Excellent data now
from GNSS.

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Runoff and erosion management
TRADITIONAL 100t/ha
<strong>CTF</strong> 10t/ha

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Waterlogging management
2004. Waterlogging, loss $56,000 2006. ABer drainage, cost $3,000.

What have we learnt about Practices?
• Practice 4. CT is good for zero tillage and all the
benefits that delivers <strong>–</strong> infiltration, cover, soil
structure, soil C. <strong>–</strong> Just do it.
• CT management zones and ZT deliver residue
management, intensity, speed, timeliness. - Do it
right.

The Zero-till STORY
Can set up machinery to micro-manage
wheel tracks, rows and inter-rows

What have we learnt about Practices?
• Practice 5. CT needs guidance. <strong>–</strong> Just do it.
• Need GNSS RTK 2cm, delivers auto steer,
repeatability, accuracy - Do it right.
• CT and GNSS deliver position, and a spatial
footprint, the basis for Spatial Technologies.
• CT management zones and GNSS are a perfect
match.

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Spatial Footprint

What have we learnt about Practices?
• Practice 6. Spatial Technologies. CT, GNSS and
2-way communications (mobile phones) = access
to the internet. Just do it.
• Automated and remote data collection,
processing, interpretation, distribution
anywhere with high accuracy (2 cm) and high
intensity (1 m, single plant). Do it right.
• Other industries know how to do this, we need to
apply it to our cropping. Do it right.

What have we learnt about SYSTEMS?
• “Just do Our 6 Practices” <strong>–</strong> CT, machinery,
layout, ZT, GNSS guidance and Spatial
Technologies
• “ Do them right” and we have our NEW
FARMING SYSTEM = <strong>CTF</strong>
• The Practices are compatible, additive, and they
all work together
• Also consider climate
• This is our future, it will revolutionise cropping,
we must do it right.

What have we learnt about SYSTEMS?
• We have a NEW SOIL, we have a NEW
SYSTEM, we need NEW AGRONOMY
SYSTEMS
• Ideas from Neil Lecler, India, and cropping
frequency

New Agronomy Systems
• India <strong>–</strong> Monsoon, too wet during monsoon, post monsoon cropping, 1 t/ha.
• With <strong>CTF</strong>, dry sow, wet season yields of 3 <strong>–</strong> 10 t/ha and still have same post
monsoon crop
• Systems thinking in the 1960s!

New Agronomy Systems
• CQ Cropping frequency was

New Agronomy Systems
<strong>CTF</strong>
21t
↘
↖
8t
TRAD

New Agronomy Systems
• Higher yield with less fertiliser (Rob
Ruwoldt)
• Increased soil profile N and P with less
fertiliser (Bill Crabtree)
• New weed and pest control
• New high value crops, niche markets
• New Targets <strong>–</strong> e.g. WUE
CSIRO <strong>–</strong> 20 <strong>–</strong> 22 kg/mm.
Rob Ruwoldt <strong>–</strong> 40+ kg/mm
• What can we achieve?

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
New Agronomy Systems
SUMMARY
• Need a New Agronomy
• Challenge the “old” rules
• Ask New questions from “new” people
• Need R&D program for our New Soil and New
System.

How did we build this new Farming System?
What did we do?
Is it just magic that the practices fit so well into the
system?
• We THOUGHT of practices within the system,
how did they interact?
• Scientists don’t do this, our expertise is in
“Practices” <strong>–</strong> in silos.

How did we build this new Farming System?
• We were lucky!
• All our <strong>CTF</strong> R&D had to be done on
farm by farmers
• Farming systems are everything a farmer
does, they are mostly about people
• The farmer had to agree that it was a
good approach, that it would work in his
system, the “common sense” test
• Unique farmer/farm combination

What have we learnt about FARMING
SYSTEMS for Adoption and Change?
• It is all about people
• Attitudinal and cultural change <strong>–</strong> throughout the value chain
• Growers have a long history of change <strong>–</strong> both what they do
and how they do it.
• Institutions and support services? Silos?
• System change requires one to one support, not more
information
Where are the barriers?
Some grower wisdom:
“The biggest problem I had was between my ears”
“ I have just grown 3 T/ac, aim is now 5 T/ac”. “That’s ridiculous, far
too high”. “Maybe, but it will make 4T/ac easy” .

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Grain grower Survey of <strong>CTF</strong> adoption
268 growers in eastern Australia
Permanent Wheel tracks?
• 34% use PWT
• 80% for sowing, 90% for spraying, 41% for harvesting
• 40 <strong>–</strong> 44% use 3m for sow and spray
<strong>CTF</strong> USE IS ABOUT 15%
WORST CASE SCENARIO

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
Grain grower Survey of <strong>CTF</strong> and GNSS
adoption
WORST CASE SCENARIO
• Half of growers “using <strong>CTF</strong>” get none of the benefits
• They also think they are doing it, so no need to
change
• 85% of growers don’t understand what <strong>CTF</strong> is
• From our adviser survey, the advisers don’t
understand what <strong>CTF</strong> is
• General surveys (ABS and GRDC) over-estimate
adoption
• We suspect that adoption of 2cm guidance is a
similar scenario

<strong>CTF</strong> <strong>–</strong> on track to our Future
CONCLUSION
1. Just do it BUT do it right
2. We know what to do, it is all proven, we can double
productivity
3. We have a major adoption problem
4. We need an integrated R,D and A program