Farming Simulator 22: Improving Yield

Summary

With the Precision Farming DLC the yield for crop is changed significantly and much more in depth. There are 4 different Soil Types now each with different requirements, Soil must now be Sampled to find out more about the soil such as PH level and Nitrogen content.

Achieving full yield is more difficult and players may choose to reduce yield slightly to improve the Environmental Score which gives higher prices.

Steps to Improve Yield

1. Soil Sampling: If not done before or if soil samples are outdated (after 6 harvests)
2. Mulching: Mulch after harvest, gives a slight yield bonus.
3. Plowing: Only when the field states "needs plowing". May result in increased yield, but a lower environmental score.
4. Stone Picking: Only needed if stones on field. Does not affect yield, but does effect vehicle wear.
5. Liming: Lime after each harvest. Use auto mode to get the perfect level for each soil type.
6. Cultivate: Cultivate if you do not have a direct seeder and did not plow. Better environmental score than plowing, but not as good as direct seeding.
7. Seed: Use auto seed rate for best results. Using a direct seeder results in a better environmental score.
8. Rolling: Rolling on the same day as seeding gives a slight yield bonus.
9. Fertilize: Fertilizing can be done all at once when seeding if you seeder supports it, use auto rate to get optimum yield. Some Crops do not need fertilizer such as Soybeans.
10. Weed: Remove weeds with new Spot Spraying to remove all weeds and to get best environmental score, other weeding methods give full yield like spot spraying but less environmental score points.

Maximizing both yield and environmental score

While likely not intended by the creators of the DLC, it is in fact possible to get the maximum yield possible for the soil type, and have a maximum environmental score (100) at the same time.

Do the following steps on a harvested field:

1. Soil sample whenever needed (15 points for economic score)
2. Mulch the field (2.5% of possible yield)
3. Plow/subsoil the field (every time; 15% of possible yield and prevents weeds)
4. Pick stones if necessary
5. Lime the field with automatic application rate (15% of possible yield and 15 points for economic score)
6. Direct seed/plant the field (10 points for economic score - even if you plowed)
7. Roll the field on the same day (2.5% of possible yield)
8. The next day, drive on the field with a spot sprayer, activate it shortly and deactivate it again. (20% of possible yield and 30 points for economic score instantly, since no weeds are left on the field due to plowing)
9. Use a liquid fertilizer sprayer or a solid fertilizer spreader with automatic application rate, and an activated Isaria Scout crop sensor (45% of possible yield and 30 points for economic score)

Note that the economic score for lime (PH levels) and fertilizer (nitrogen levels) will only be updated once you start harvesting, since you could still over-fertilize the field up to that point. Also note the percentage values above refer to the "Potential Yield" of the field, which depends on the soil type. This means that if you do everything right, the "Expected yield" will show the same value as "Potential yield" rather than a fixed number of 100%.