3 August 2020
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Precision techniques are proving less practical on agricultural holdings than they were marketed as. Plug and play is often out of the question. The National Precision Farming Experiment project is helping farmers and market gardeners to apply these techniques. One of the techniques being experimented with since 2018 is variable haulm topping in potato cultivation. The participating farmers, including two farmers from Limburg, share their experiences.
Site-specific control
Variable haulm killing is a precision farming application where doses of haulm killers and fungicides against phytophthora infestans are applied site-specifically within a field. The doses are determined based on biomass maps from drone or satellite images or sensors on the sprayer. The goal is to use fewer pesticides to reduce costs, increase yield, reduce environmental impact and improve food quality.
Convinced
Seven farmers have started working on this innovation in collaboration with NPPL (National Precision Farming Laboratory), including Limburgers Mischa Raedts from Sevenum and Daniël Cerfontaine from Berg en Terblijt. Both are positive about the technique, although there are snags. Mischa Raedts is sufficiently convinced to continue using the application in the near future, but only in plots where it is convenient. "Plots that are already completely full? Don't do it!
Raedts sees variable haulm killing as a good option for farmers who already have the necessary technology in house. "Variable haulm killing doesn't increase yield, but it does cut costs. You put less of a burden on the environment and it also helps in getting certificates for pesticides." His colleague from Limburg Daniël Cerfontaine from Berg en Terblijt concurs. "About two years ago, I applied variable haulm killing. It was an extremely dry year at the time, so the savings were considerable. The question is what it would have looked like in a normal year."
Return
Not all participants plan to continue with variable haulm killing. Gelderland farmer Pieter van Leeuwen Boomkamp has stopped for now, waiting for a real alternative to the drug Reglone, banned in 2019. Groningen farmer Sterenborg does continue to use the technique and also sees the potential for returns, although it can be time-consuming at times.
Learn more
Read more about the opinions and experiences with variable haulm killing on the website Farmer. On the website of NPPL you will find an overview with all precision farming techniques currently applied and the participants. How drones can be used with these techniques you can read here.