Yield Prophet®
Yield Prophet® is a software package that helps grain growers to manage their crop in response to climate variability and climate risk to maximise profit and minimise risk.
- Who this tool is for
- Questions this tool answers
- What this tool does
- Inputs
- Outputs
- Reliability
- History
- Support available
- Where to get it
- Cost
Read about our selection process for including tools on Climate Kelpie
Who this tool is for
Dryland and irrigation grain growers throughout Australia.
All major varieties of wheat, barley and sorghum, and to a lesser extent, canola and oats, are supported.
Questions this tool answers
- Given the seasonal conditions to date, and historic climatic conditions, what is the yield potential of my crop under current management and with unlimited nitrogen supply?
- What is the likelihood of my crop being affected by frost, heat shock and/or water logging?
- How does the yield potential of my crop change as crop inputs (e.g. nitrogen) and agronomic decisions are changed?
- Where in the soil profile are my crop resources and what affect will that have on the yield potential of my crop?
- How are the effects of climate change likely to affect my yield potential and how should I respond to this?
What this tool does
Yield Prophet® is a web-based crop production model that provides paddock-specific yield forecasts, crop growth and resource information.
It incorporates:
- soil test results
- forecast growing-season rainfall
- crop management actions
- historic climate data
Yield Prophet® is built upon the crop production model APSIM. It simplifies output into reports designed to help you manage your crops.
Inputs
Yield Prophet® combines 6 key components:
- a soil test prior to planting to determine soil water and nitrate content
- a soil classification
- historical and current climate data for the nearest Bureau of Meteorology weather station
- your paddock-specific rainfall data (optional)
- crop details
- a record of fertiliser and irrigation applications during the growing season
Outputs
Yield Prophet® produces a set of comprehensive reports, based on your input.
- Crop report: the most commonly used report – various outputs relating to individual crops
- Nitrogen comparison report: effects of different nitrogen application decisions on yield
- Nitrogen profit report: profits according to nitrogen management decisions
- Irrigation comparison report: effects of water and nitrogen application decisions on yield
- Irrigation profit report: profits according to decisions applied in above report
- Sowing by Variety report: effects of different crop cultivars and/or sowing dates on yield
- Fallow monitoring report: soil moisture and nitrogen levels – used after harvesting
- Stubble management report: effects of tillage and grazing decisions on soil nitrogen and moisture content
- Climate change report: potential effects of climate change on crop yields in 2030
- Climate adaptation report: yield under climate change using current practices and alternatives
- Sowing opportunity report: effects of sowing date on yield, and frost and heat-shock risk
Reliability
Yield Prophet® is the most accurate predictive tool available.
Its accuracy is determined by the accuracy of the soil type and initial soil moisture level entered.
Not all varieties and commodities are supported.
Results are applicable at the paddock scale.
History
Yield Prophet® was funded through the Grains Research & Development Corporation and Managing Climate Variability.
Research, development and support services are provided collaboratively by CSIRO and BCG (the Birchip Cropping Group).
Support available
Yield Prophet® is provided as an online subscription service by BCG.
A coordinator provides online and phone help to subscribers.
Workshops are available for groups of subscribers.
Where to get it
Subscribe online: Yield Prophet
Email: Yield Prophet coordinator
Phone: 0400 090 659
Cost
Subscription is based on number of paddocks.