60 | Focus on precision farming and soil biology Precision agriculture now sits at the core of JCL’s maize and pasture work. Kelly Deeks RURAL SERVICES » JCL Contracting Ltd As rising input costs force farmers and growers to rethink how production gains are achieved, Western Bay of Plenty agricultural contractor JCL Contracting is sharpening its focus on precision farming and soil biology and allowing its clients to grow more in healthy soils while spending less on fertiliser and seed. Founded in 2008, the Paengaroa-based business is led by Japie Jordaan, with crop manager Norman Higgins overseeing agronomy and crop performance. Together, they are combining grid sampling, variable rate applications, strip tillage, and compost biology to help farmers lift yields while using significantly less fertiliser and seed. Precision agriculture now sits at the core of JCL’s maize and pasture work. Grid soil sampling allows nutrient variability to be mapped across paddocks, with prescription maps written specifically for fertiliser and seed placement. Application rates are then adjusted in real time based on GPS positioning, ensuring nutrients go only where they are needed. Japie says the results have been clear. Yield increases are being achieved alongside fertiliser and seed savings, with many farmers now applying between one-half and two-thirds less fertiliser than under traditional blanket spreading. “We were reaching a plateau where farmers were putting on more and more fertiliser and chemicals but getting the same results,” Japie says. “Now we’re seeing better yields at lower cost because we’re matching inputs to what the soil and crop actually need.” A major step forward this season has been JCL’s investment in a new maize silage harvester capable of detailed yield mapping. That data is fed back into future fertiliser and seed prescriptions, creating a continuous improvement loop where crop performance directly informs input decisions. Alongside precision placement, JCL has expanded its use of strip tillage in maize silage systems. By disturbing only the planting row, soil structure is preserved, moisture retention is improved, and microbial and earthworm activity is increasing. Norman says reduced soil disturbance is critical to restoring soil function. “Minimal tillage allows biology to rebuild. We’re seeing more worms, more microbial life, and better aggregation, which all improves nutrient uptake and resilience.” The biological focus is being reinforced through JCL’s developing compost programme. While final council consent is still pending, the aim is to supply high-quality compost to support microbial diversity and long-term soil health across both pastoral and horticultural systems. Norman says soils that are biologically active unlock nutrients already present, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. “Microbes and fungi are what make nutrients available. If soil life is functioning properly, plants need less fertiliser and fewer chemical interventions.” Trials are already underway to measure impacts on weed pressure, including persistent species such as bristle grass. Early indicators suggest improved soil health reduces weed competitiveness over time, though both Japie and Norman stress that results are gradual and data-driven. “This isn’t about stopping fertiliser overnight,” Norman says. “It’s about reducing dependency and improving efficiency. www.holmesbearings.co.nz 79B Hull Road 07 575 0504 sales@holmesbearings.co.nz It takes years to rebuild soil biology, but once you start turning that spiral around, the gains compound.” Japie says the approach also has wider environmental implications. “If we look after soils properly, we can produce more food with fewer inputs and lower losses. That’s better for farmers, better for the environment, and better for our future.”
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