The IK Caldwell online platform gives both agronomists and clients the power to easily process, store and share precision agriculture data. The system has been designed to take the hard work out of processing data captured on farm and turn it into meaningful and useful data layers that are safely stored and easily viewable from any computer with internet access.

Summary of features included (more details below):

1. As part of the AGpack program a farm map is generated for all growers in the AGpack program including paddock boundaries, names and sizes. Your agronomist can invite you into the system where you can create your own log in credentials to access your farm map and data layers.
2. You and your agronomist can access the easy to use feature for uploading of yield data where it is cleaned, processed and displayed within the online system.
3. EM38 data can be uploaded for processing where it is then displayed within the online system.
4. Based on data layers, agronomists and growers can add soil test points and sample transects to maps.
5. NDVI satellite imagery for current crop or blocks of historical imagery captured over many seasons can be ordered using the system.
6. Elevation data from your auto steer system can be uploaded and processed.
7. Maps, soil transects and data layers can be exported at anytime for use in other GIS packages.
8. Data is password protected and backed up regularly.

Farm Mapping Functions

As part of the AGpack program all of your paddock boundaries will be added to the system. This map will then display paddock name and size (based on the boundary that has been drawn). Maps, soil test points, sample transects and delivery points (such as chem and fertiliser tanks) can be added and exported at any time.

If you have a soil moisture probe or weather station with data hosted by IK Caldwell, the system will even display your soil moisture and weather graphs on your farm map. We are also working on a new feature that will allow your analytical test results (eg soil tests and tissue tests) to be tagged to your mapped paddocks. This will allow you to quickly access your current and historical test results at anytime.

Yield Data Processing & Map Creation

Your yield data can be uploaded into the IKC PA system for cleaning and processing. Maps produced from raw yield data usually contain errors due to partial header passes or overlaps, monitor lag, headlands etc. It is important that your yield data is passed through a quality cleaning process if you are to extract the maximum value from your maps.

Data is uploaded into the system with the easy to use upload tool – simply select your file, list the cropping year or paddocks to process and click upload. This process can take place from any computer with internet access. The data layer is then displayed online for you to view, compare, export, and you can even add soil test points or transects.

NDVI Acquisition & Map Creation

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a simply a numerical indicator that can be used to analyse remote sensing measurements, typically from a satellite, and assess the intensity of the targets live green vegetation. Basically it is an indicator of how vigorously your crop is growing.

The system can be used to order the most current in season image or back catalogue of the current season or even historical images for all season for the last five years. NDVI images are an excellent tool in readily demonstrating crop variability and allows growers and agronomists to target in season assessment tools such as leaf tissue and soil testing.

EM38 Surveying & Map Creation

EM stands for Electro Magnetic induction, a technique used to measure soil conductivity. IK Caldwell can map your soils using EM38 technology. Data is captured on 30m transects across your paddock. The raw data is then fed into the online precision agriculture software where it is cleaned, processed and paddock maps displayed.

Once the maps are created, the online system can then be used to identify zones and add GPS point specific soil sampling locations. This enables you and your agronomist to define exactly what the soil characteristics are in each selected zone. This is a critical step if these zones are going to be managed accordingly.

The size of the zone will determine how many cores are taken but it is typically three to four per zone. Samples can be taken at multiple depths and the soil test can range from comprehensive to basic. In most cases the comprehensive test is done for the surface sample and basic is done for samples taken at depth.

Gamma Radiometric & Elevation Maps

The system provides these images (where available) very soon after your paddock boundary is digitised. We will keep the image on the system for three months where it will be removed from view (but kept in the database).

Radiometrics is a measure of the natural radiation in the earth’s surface, which can tell us about the distribution of certain soils and rocks. A radiometric survey measures the spatial distribution of three radioactive elements (potassium-K, thorium-Th and uranium-U) in the top 30-45 cm of the earth’s crust. These layers can be used in conjunction with other data layers to look at differences in soil type over larger areas.

The elevation data has been captured from the shuttle and has a 90m pixel size - over big areas it does provide some good information. Many auto steer systems capture elevation data which can be uploaded and processed with completed maps displayed within the system.

Pricing

As a member of our AGpack program you get unlimited use of functions such as accessing/exporting farm maps, adding/exporting soil test points & transects, adding/exporting delivery points and imbedding your soil moisture probe graphs at no additional cost. Any processed data layers such as yield, EM, and NDVI will be stored on the system indefinitely for you to access at anytime at no additional cost. Gamma and shuttle elevation data layers will be stored at no charge for a three month period. Processing data to produce yield , EM, and elevation (from your auto steer system) maps as well as ordering NDVI imagery are additional services to the AGpack program.

Talk to your agronomists for more information on AGpack member pricing and access to your farm map or contact Charles DuBourg on 0428 210477 if you require more information.

For more information on the IK Caldwell AGpack program click here