REAL Time Kinematic (RTK) is changing the face of WA agriculture.
It has become a defacto, albeit second cousin, of controlled traffic farming, as farmers employ GPS guidance systems to predominantly work up-and-back in paddocks.
RTK is providing a reliable guidance signal with +/- 2cm accuracy and an increasing number of farmers are switching from basic guidance systems to the more accurate RTK for a variety of reasons.
Foremost is to reduce cost inputs, through guidance, broadening to the ability to sow between previous crop rows to handle stubble, or to sow into previous rows to access moisture and nutrients.
The next step, already in its infancy, is variable rate applications, based on accurate paddock data.
According to Esperance-based machinery dealership Ratten and Slater, RTK adoption is already a major part of farm management.
The dealership is an acknowledged pioneer in so-called precision ag and is the biggest single outlet of volume sales of precision guidance equipment in Australia.
But according to dealer principal Warren Slater, the pioneers are the farmers throughout the district.
"We just facilitated what they wanted," he said. "Some guys were spraying up to eight times a year and compaction became an issue from increased trafficking."
"That's when attention started to turn towards controlled traffic farming and interest in auto guidance with equipment like the John Deere track tractors.
"The whole guidance thing really started to take off then which was around 2002."
The first RTK tower was installed by Ratten and Slater in 2005 at Mt Burdett, north east of Esperance and since then the RTK adoption rate has exploded with 75 per cent of the dealership's client base using RTK with the dealership providing 20 RTK towers throughout the Esperance district.
"We'll obviously continue to expand the tower network based on demand," Warren said. "That will include involvement of our branches in Gnowangerup and Albany."
According to Warren, anecdotal evidence from farmers shows a cost benefit averaging between 10 and 15 per cent.
"RTK is spawning new technologies and activities," Warren said. "Implement steering is now with us and farmers have an increased ability to carry out such things as clay delving and drainage.
"John Deere already has foreshadowed new products for 2011 to accommodate expanded use of RTK and it also will release a new controller with more processing power and increased compatibility with available satellite systems.
"What it means is even greater signal reliability and accuracy over a larger signal radius from the base station."
Ratten and Slater also took the step more than five years ago, to interface precision ag with agronomy, through an association with Precision Agronomics Australia.
"We strongly believe in supporting farmers with all the necessary tools to enhance their productivity and profit," Warren said. "Our association with the agronomy side of the business is a perfect fit for us to work with the farmer."
"It eliminates the mentality that we're just a machinery business.
"There's a huge interface between agronomy and machine technology and I can only see that getting stronger.
"Farmers are placing themselves in a position of becoming more vigilant about every aspect of their enterprise because at the end of the day, they need technology to get the best out of Mother Nature."
