GPS and Standard Soil Sampling and Mapping
Using the very latest in GPS ( Global Positioning Satellite ) technology, Fresh Produce Consultancy Ltd are pleased to be able to offer the following new services to Farmers, Growers or Land agents.

Soil Sampling
Sampling and analysis are an integral part of good agricultural practice for the selection of and justification for crop inputs. With the costs of inputs rising and the value of many crop outputs falling, then the optimum application of inputs is critical to the continuation of production.

Protocols require analysis not just for nutrients but for nematodes as well. With the pressure on the use of nematicides we need to establish in which sites crops can be grown without using nematicide and to justify where it is used.

Manual soil sampling is a time consuming and wholly inaccurate means of assessing the soils status for either nutrients or nematodes. Manual samplers rarely sample to the correct depth or use sufficient sampling points to offer results of meaning. Motorised screw augers tend not to sample evenly through the profile.

The New Wintex 1000 Automatic Sampler

Our Wintex 1000 automatic sampling system reliably and consistently produces a soil core cylinder to 15cm which consists equally of soil from each layer in that profile, other motorised soil augers, manual augers or hand held trowels simply cannot do this.

Our Services Include :-

Standard Soil Sampling
Our standard sample is anything but standard as we sample on a grid system laid down by the GPS satellite receiver.

With a manual sampler walking a standard sampling “W” on a 10ha field, if sampled well, each sub-sample will represent an area which will vary from 10,750sqm ( over a hectare ) to 2,750sqm and the sample point can be up to 1000m from the furthest non sampled point.

If we drive a 50M GPS grid each sub-sample will represent 2,500sqm no more no less, the furthest non sample point is 50m from a sample point.

GPS Sampling for Variable Input
Our system will sample to a grid size of your choosing. Normally a 1ha grid is used but any size can be used, the limiting factor is cost as to create a variable input map multi-point analysis is needed and the smaller the grid the higher the number of analysis per field but the more detailed is the map.

Our data can then be used as a guide to vary your own inputs or loaded into the major contractor spreader systems to create a variable input plan for fertiliser, lime or nematicide.

Soil Nutrient Analysis
Following sampling we will submit samples for analysis of nutrients for the major nutrients P, K, Mg and lime requirement as required. More detailed analysis available on request to include minor nutrients, CEC, OM, soil mineral nitrogen.

All analysis will be at cost and can be invoiced directly to your account from a laboratory of your choice or our recommended one, as required.

Fertiliser recommendations can be provided for all outdoor arable and vegetable crops by a FACTS registered consultant.

Recommendations will follow good agricultural practice and be compliant with Assured Produce, Eurep-GAP, NVZ’s and the Air, Soil and Water Codes.

Soil Nematode ( Eelworm ) Analysis
With the withdrawal of Aldicarb ( Temik ), identifying fields in which crops can be grown without nematicides will be crucial.

A highly disciplined and intense sampling protocol is required when the analysis is for nematodes.

When we sample the sample size will not exceed 4ha. Samples will be taken on a grid size of 25M or less and samples properly stored prior to dispatch. Nematodes can be sampled for on a whole field basis or contour grid mapped. Sampling can be carried out using smaller grid sizes if required.

Free Living Nematodes
Free living nematodes affect principally the root crops onions, carrots, parsnips and sugar beet . Samples will be taken for the crops mentioned but analysis only undertaken through the Central Science Laboratories at York.

Advice will be given on the suitability for cropping with the above crops and/or nematicide use.

Cyst Nematodes
Sampling will be undertaken for Cyst nematodes including PCN cyst count and egg count at laboratory of choice. Speciation of potato cyst as required.

All results can be delivered electronically, ready to read digitally on PC, as a paper version or both.

Disease Forecasting
Fresh Produce Consultancy manages a network of Skye Instruments GSM weather stations across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. These stations continually record temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and leaf wetness within crop canopies.

The weather stations are remotely accessed via a computer modem and data downloaded. The data package is then run against the appropriate Disease Forecast program. Services are currently provided for predicting disease conditions in Allium and salad crops.

Pest Monitoring
Fresh Produce Consultancy provide monitoring services for the major pests of vegetable and salad crops. These include the installation and monitoring of pheromone trapping systems for Cutworm ( Agrostis segetum ), Silver-y-moth ( Autographa gamma ) and Diamond-back moth ( Plutella xylostella ). We also offer a trapping and monitoring service for Thrips on leeks, onions and brassicas and are actively involved in the development and implementation of vegetable crops pest forecasting systems.

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© Fresh Produce Consultancy Ltd 2005