InfoAg 2009

Precision Farming as an Instrument for Fertilizer BMPs

Best management practices are actions applied to resources which have been demonstrated through research to provide the best known combination of economic, social, and environmental performance. The 4R nutrient stewardship concept defines the right source, rate, time, and place for plant nutrient application. Because the resources of crop production (e.g. soil, climate, etc.) vary from one site to another, BMPs are site-specific. Precision farming technology helps farmers and their advisers implement 4R nutrient stewardship. To be “right”, nutrient stewardship must offer balanced support of the economic, social, and environmental goals of sustainability as defined by stakeholders. Precision tools can help in the planning process to define what is “right” for management decisions, can help farmers implement the right practices, and can help document that the right management practices were used in the production system, demonstrating to all stakeholders that best management practices have been implemented. Site-specific, precision farming technologies employed in fertilizer management decisions make it possible to consider stakeholder interests, along with agronomic, economic, and resource factors in selecting the practices to be used. The right source, rate, time, and place are interdependent considerations in selecting the proper management for any individual site. Precision farming technology helps to systematically include all of these components in implementing the best fertilizer management system.

Speakers

Dr. Harold Reetz

Director at Large
IPNI