Transborder farming in small-seale land use systerns H. Auernhamrner, M. Mayer, M. Demme1 Institut für Landtechnik, Technische Universität München, Am Staudengartenz, 85350 Prelsing-Weihenstephan, Germany (Keywords] small scale farming, transborderfarming, GPS, precision farming, information technology Abstract In many regions of the world farming can be characterised as small-scale land use systerns. Huge time consumption, relatively high production costs and large portions of headland reduceagricultural productivuy. Virtualland consolidarion may be an effective alternative with the possibility to starr rapidly, By the application of information technology both econornic and ecological management targets can be implemented. The first results analysed in a model calculation are encoaraging. They were alreadyrealised in some pilot projects in Germany. l. Aims of the invcstigations In many regions of the world farmlag can be characterised as small-scaleland use systems. Large portions of headlands are causing huge working time inpur and severe soil compaction during operanon. Furthermore application of fertiliser and of plant protection products is different to the main field. The use of efficient rnachineryis very difficult or even impossible, New technologies cannot be used at all 01' on1y delayed. And last but not least high productioncosts per unit can not bebalanced out through high ylelds. . A consolidationof farmlandcan lead tOflcstlmprOvements under these circumstances, The construction of roads for an improved infrastructure is therefore very important. Usually the field sizes can be tripled and will grow up [Tom about 0.3 ha to somewhere around I ha. However relatively high costs result and the procedures are long- lasring. In addition many procedures fail because of the resistance of a rninority of farmers, who fear disadvantages aller the possession rearrangement or see no benefit while going out of farming and leasing [heil' land to other farmers, A new possibility isopened bythe application ofinformation technology. With the aid ofthe Global Positioning System GPS a "virtual consoJidation of farm land" is implemented where ownershipstructures rernain unchanged. Only the settlement of a common crop rotation is required, Tillage, cultivation and harvesting are organisedin larger units disregarding existing boundaries (Fig, I). [Im Winter wheat § Winter barley [ J Winter canola Existing structure &ll-aside as "green boarder' Figure I: Virtual land consolidation 2. Methods The realisanon oftransborder farming follows several successive steps : I, Definition of joint areas: In afirst step the farmers must agree on the common farming of an area consisting of different plots, In an ideal case all farmers from a villagc are integrated, in the most unfavourablc case only portions oftheir farmland can be integrated. PROCEEDINGS OF THE XIV MEMORIAL CIGR WORLD CONGRESS 2000.
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Transborder farming in small-seale land use systerns
H. Auernhamrner, M. Mayer, M. Demme1
Institut für Landtechnik, Technische Universität München, Am Staudengartenz, 85350 Prelsing-Weihenstephan, Germany
(Keywords] small scale farming, transborderfarming, GPS, precision farming, informat ion technology
Abstract In many regions of the world farming can be characterised as small-scale land use systerns. Huge time consumption, relatively high production costs and large portions of headland reduceagricultural productivuy. Virtualland consolidarion may be an effective alternative with the possibility to starr rapidly, By the application of information technology both econornic and ecological management targets can be implemented. The first results analysed in a model calculation are encoaraging. They were alreadyrealised in some pilot projects in Germany.
l. Aims of the invcstigations In many regions of the world farmlag can be characterised as small-scaleland use systems. Large portions of headlands are causing huge working time inpur and severe soil compaction during operanon. Furthermore application of fertiliser and of plant protection products is different to the main field. The use of efficient rnachineryis very difficult or even impossible, New technologies cannot be used at all 01' on1y delayed. And last but not least high productioncosts per unit can not bebalanced out through high ylelds. .
A consolidationof farmlandcan lead tOflcstlmprOvements under these circumstances, The construction of roads for an improved infrastructure is therefore very important. Usually the field sizes can be tripled and will grow up [Tom about 0.3 ha to somewhere around I ha. However relatively high costs result and the procedures are longlasring. In addition many procedures fail because of the resistance of a rninority of farmers, who fear disadvantages aller the possession rearrangement or see no benefit while going out of farming and leasing [heil' land to other farmers,
A new possibility isopened bythe application ofinformation technology. With the aid ofthe Global Positioning System GPS a "virtual consoJidation of farm land" is implemented where ownershipstructures rernain unchanged. Only the settlement of a common crop rotation is required, Tillage, cultivation and harvesting are organisedin larger units disregarding existing boundaries (Fig, I).
Existing structure ~~~,~?p , &ll-aside as "green boarder'
Figure I: Virtual land consolidation
2. Methods The realisanon oftransborder farming follows several successive steps :
I, Definition ofjoint areas: In afirst step the farmers must agree on the common farming of an area consisting of different plots, In an ideal case all farmers from a villagc are integrated, in the most unfavourablc case only portions oftheir farmland can be integrated.
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2. Sofeguard 01'field borders: In the next step field boundaries need to be sccured in two different ways: - Saving the coordinates of exisring field marks - In case of missing field marks.saving the current situation is realised using GPS and/or rernote images. This measure constitutes a basis to re-establish the original boundaries.
J Lowering field marks: In order to reduce possible perturbations marks within the enlarged field have 10 be lowered. Magnetie marks are used to simplify the localisatlon, This way theoriginal .position can easily be restored.
4. Settlement 01a common croprotaiion: AJI involved farmers Il'lUst agree on a common crop rotanon. In case of one-crop farrning for instance rise or maizethere is no necessity.
5. Definition ofthemanagement targets: Theoretically transborder farming can be organised following purely cconomical or ecological targets (Fig, 2). Tbe local eonditions are diversely eonsidering the chosen targets and differ in their econornical and ecological effects (Tab. I).
application rates site-specific issues across Iandscape existing borders applieations structure
Expensesand All Recording 01'Management and yields are settled documentation measurernents application rares depending onthe with site-specific are documented and yields per
technique by ownership integrated plot portionof strueturesintezrated land
Little HighestMinimum Highest investrnents withinvestments in an investments and investments still
optimised stable conditions a low produciion with unused levelproductionyield potentials
process Social dernands Local conditions Settlement of aProbably loeal are taken into maximisedare taken under supply problems consideration reduction ofstreng
erosionconsideration
6. Settlement ofthe farming.type: Independent.from the determined targets the management can be eslablished in tbree different ways:
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I) Management community: The farmers do all work by themselves. The use of the best available technique is possible within the management community just like the application of thc best available specialised knowledgeofa farmer.and its (probably very good) technique,
11) Machinery ring: lf'the performance ofthe available technique is not sufficient, additional technique ean be organised through the machinery ring.
Ill) Contractors: In areas with dominant supplementary income the equiprnent for larger units is generally missing. In addition maehinery ring performance is no Ionger available. Therefore contractors with highly specialised knowledge and suitable technique can do all necessary works.
i . Campletion 0/ the used equipment with information technology: The requirernents depend on the defined management targets (Tab. 2):
Envlronmental ortented (ecological)
by ownership by common yield by site-specific by erosion by landscape rar et farmin reduetion rotection
J 2 3 4 5 Local yield (Ioeal yield Local yield Local yield Local yield detection detection) dcteetion detcction detection
- In all cascs a mainly automated doubt free documentation has to be provided, The used technique has to bc equipped with GPS. electronic communication und Implement indicators.
- By establishing sitc-speciflc crop management a loeal yield determination and a site-specific application for seed, fertilising and plant proteenon rnust be integrated,
3. Realisation and results So far first investigations took place at two locationsin Bavaria under different conditions:
3.1 Area without field marks in the "Nürnberger Land" In 1998 four farmers defined two joint transborder fields with 7,8 (13 plots, average plot size 0,70 ha) and 13,4 ha (27 plots, avetage plot size 0,52 ha) . A highportion ofthe involved plots is rented land. Missing safety in the tcnancy agreements and difficulties on legal issuesabout doubtless border protection led to substantial dela ys in the realisation.
Effects of'transborder farming were analysed in a model ealeulation. Following operational conditions have been takenas a fundamental assumption:
for the actual situation of self-managemem the operational conditions and real mechanisation have been taken into account
necessary work in the joint transborder flelds is carried out in the way of a management community
the best available technique is taken for cultivating operations
the yield in the new organised areas is not supposed 10 increase
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no price advantages with the purchase of larger means of producrion quantities and no higher product prices by targer uniformly produced quantities for the enlargedland units are subordinated.
According 10 these calculations the size of headland was reduced between 15 and 25 % and concerning work time requ irement between 20 and 30 % (Fig. 3).
§ .;;olfE.' rr-:1"Sr...:r. nme1tvl1':Ji ~ emly cno ra1l1 l1rne (M1Q) ~ lurnlQ time (N M ) ill mein nne (MllJ!
Figure 3: Headland and working time effects
For the calcul ation of the cultivation costs different labour costs were subo rdinated. In add ition an increase d use of the "best available technique" was considered and a reduced decreased utilisation of machines no lan ger used were taken into account, Possib le proceeds of machinery sales were not included. In addition two theoretically joint areas from the neighbour village were calculated to eonsider the effects of different fie ld sizes (Fig, 4 ).
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3.2 Areawith field marks after consohdation offarmlaild in "Lower Franconia" In the village named Zeilitzheim three joint transborder ftelds were created in 1999. Due to the favourable starting situation and a good infrastructure ftelds of approx.im,ately8 hectares couldbeachieved (Fig. 5).
\ 8A]
r
I>
811 \
''t\ ) u \ e \ \ @ 11
__
Plots per Owner
Fehler C .J Kukoll ~ Räth l.:2El Rettner Joint transborder Field area '" 6,9 ha
s
Figure 5: Joint transborder field named "Hausäeker" with sugar beets in the village of Zeilitzheim, community Kolitzheim
I
Beside ongoing lnfleld .measuremeuts for this joint transborder fteld model analyses were also carriedout. Their basic assumptions havebeen:
the whole area of all joining farmers (l02,5 ha with 15 different joint transborder fields) were taken into account
crop roration fultils the requirements ofall participantsaecordingto their needs
best availabJe technique was used
attention was paid to boundary effects by under/over supplyand increasedyields according to the highcst yield ofthe best farmer
Relating 10the variable cross margin per ha each crop shows different effects:
highest cost reductions are found in sugar beets, followed by winter wheat, winter barley and silage maize
Without labour saving costs (cross margin I) betweenl70 €t11a and about 100 € /ha can be eamed, The labour savings add another 15 % to this margins. For the total transborder farming community annual benefits of 10.430€ respectively 13.880 €will be realistic effects of the new farming operation concept.
4.ConcLusions Transborder farming opens new perspectives in the future management and in the world-wide competition ( 0
small-scaled farming areas:
• It enables an optimised use ofthe infonnation technology,
• lt creates largerstructures for land cultivation with advantages in soil protection, work time requirement und expenses.
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• The biggest chances are situated in a combination ofeconornioal and ecological management targets with the possibility of introducing Precision Farming into regions with small scale farming and realising a maximum reduction in soil erosion in the same way (Tab. 3).
Table 3: Possible ste s into transborder farmin
by ownership
1
Only an exceptional situations.jf
Suitability owners 01'
landlords agree (idealised only to this way of targets) transborder
farming
ets
bycommon yield by site-specific cl farmin
Cheapest step getting into lransborder
farming with necessary
additional fertiliser application on different plots
Environmental orientated (ecological)
by erosion by landscape reduction rotection
5
Possible way offarming iftbe society rcquircs the remaining 01'
the existing structures
Acknowledgements Parts of this work were funded through the German Ministry of Education andResearch (Bonn) in the joint research project pre agro (Management system for site specific crop production, www.preagro.de; grant 00:
0339740) . The research activities.of the department are made possible throughbasic funding by the Technical University ofMunich (TUM), Bavaria, Gennany. ,
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