Precision Farming
Precision farming methods allow us to be certain our use of resources is accurate, measured and justified. Technical improvements are being made all the time. All of our field operations utilise satellite guidance technology and many applications to our crops are done using variable rate technology, so we don’t just manage a field, we manage areas of variation according to the needs to each subfield area, minimising the use of synthetic inputs as much as possible.
Precision farming and crop-production techniques go hand in hand. GPS, live camera feeds and crop-area measurement are tools of our trade with constant data transfers between the operations in the field and the farm office. John Deere’s Operations Centre not only helps optimise the performance and management of our machinery fleet but also provides an ability to accurately assess the full cost of each operation across our fields.
We also use an ‘N sensor’ when spreading nitrogen fertiliser on cereal crops. The N Sensor measures the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves of the crop and adjusts the application rate of fertiliser to the needs of the crop, using GPS guided variable rate spreading capabilities. This helps us ensure better use of nitrogen by the crop, ensuring maximum efficiency of the fertiliser, helping us provide the best yield per unit of nitrogen, thereby reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Policy
Reducing our demands on the planet
Waldersey Farms has a policy of ensuring all new electrical installations, machinery and vehicles are the most efficient type available at the time of insulation or purchase.
These installations and equipment include cold storage or chilling facilities, heating appliances and any other machinery which may be needed. Vehicles purchased, including road vehicles, tractors and fork trucks are also included.
All Cold Stores are insulated for maximum efficiency, either by spray foam or insulated panels, and all doors have plastic strip curtains fitted when in use.
We are committed to optimising water and other natural resources, reducing waste and encouraging recycling, where possible. We use neutron probes to measure moisture in the soil for irrigation.
As our tractors come up for renewal all our new fleet is equipped with Adblue fuel additive. This technology has helped improve diesel usage and lower exhaust emissions.
Solar panels are used in many places across the farm, so the sun not only helps us grow our crops, it powers our equipment too.