Precision Pays

This site, www.precisionpays.com, was recently recognized by its peers by bringing home a second place award from the American Agricultural Editors’ Association (AAEA) 2007 MarComm Awards program in Louisville, Ky. John Deere representatives accepted the award at the Tuesday night “Awards Night.”

Remember to visit the site on a regular basis for the latest information on precision farming.

For more information, you can also visit the John Deere Web site.

Tomorrow, July 31, two satellites in the Wide Area Augmentation System constellation will be shut down by the government. The two satellites that have taken their place have been active and working for some time now, but the shutdown will have an impact on the differential correction accuracy of certain GPS receivers.

The two satellites, numbers 122 and 134, are scheduled to be shut off permanently at around 8:00 am EST. Many GPS receivers currently in service were configured specifically to lock into signals from those specific satellites, and must be reconfigured by the manufacturer. In the field, these units will not be able to achieve differential correction.

Some units manufactured by Midwest Technologies/TeeJet, Raven Industries, Trimble, and Hemisphere GPS are among those affected. For more information, click here.

Welcome back for more information from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and John Deere “Reach for the Stars” summer grower meeting in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 20th at Scott Community College.

During the morning presentation, three of the Reach for the Stars winners offered experiences and observations they’ve had while using John Deere precision ag systems on their own farms. They were: David Oberbroeckling, Davenport, Iowa, Chris Von Holten, Walnut, Ill., and Curtis Claeys, Delmar, Iowa.

“We jumped in with both feet. We put the system on our 7120 Magnum sprayer tractor, then over to our MX for anhydrous, then back to the sprayer tractor, then to the New Holland for planting. We then did some side dress nitrogen strip tests and put it back into the sprayer tractor. We were moving that steering wheel a lot and it works on any color,” said Oberbroeckling. “We had good luck with it, and our AMS consultant (Vern Beninga with Elder Equipment Company) was a big help. I called him a lot, but that’s what he was there for. I think the real value in the whole program is the mapping, documentation and information because if you need to go back to it, it’s all right there. With all the rules coming down, this is going to be important.”

“We put it into the 4230 sprayer tractor, in the New Holland for some custom seeding work on alfalfa ground, then into the combine for wheat,” said Von Holten. “It’s great to see the maps as you’re going through the field and the moisture reports are really accurate. We’ll use it this fall when we strip till for increased accuracy.”

“We used the system for some primary tillage, spraying and fertilizing pastures and applying anhydrous. That is, in my mind, where you can make the most money with the system: anhydrous and spraying,” said Claeys. “We also used it for planting and mapping. We had it in three tractors, from a 4230 to an 8110. Moving the steering wheel is only about 20 minutes and we’re looking forward to using it in the combine this fall. We too had great support from our dealer. There are a lot of things that you just don’t realize the system can do.”

Visit the John Deere Web site for more information about the GreenStar™ 2 system.

Welcome back for more information from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and John Deere “Reach for the Stars” summer grower meeting in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 20th at Scott Community College.

Mark Hanna, Extension Agricultural Engineer with Iowa State University, continued the classroom learning with information about the benefits of precision agriculture. Hanna currently conducts adult education and applied research with agriculture field machinery in the areas of tillage, seeding, application harvest and safety classes. He has BS, MS and PhD degrees in agriculture engineering from ISU and was raised on crop and livestock farm in western Illinois. A precision nitrogen applicator designed and developed by a team led by Dr. Hanna was recently recognized as one of the top 10 design innovations in the last 20 years by the American Society of Ag and Biological Engineers.

“Potential benefits from precision farming include record-keeping/data collection/improved decision making, reduced operator fatigue, efficiency and variable-rate applications,” said Hanna. “Is it going to make you money? University research conducted a few years back showed a higher potential for payback with increased benefits to soil compaction, strip tillage and row crop cultivation. Precision farming is here, it’s no longer just coming. It’s not a replacement for good management, it’s just helping you be considerably better.“

There’s a lot of potential with precision agriculture, but growers need to decide what their yield-limiting factors are. Decide what level of accuracy is needed. Pass-to-pass (15 minutes) or long-term (next day, next week, next season). A lot depends on the conditions and how the system will be used.

Visit the John Deere Web site for more information about the GreenStar™ 2 system and watch for future reports on Precision Pays from the Reach for the Stars contest winners.

We’re happy to bring you more information from the American Soybean Association (ASA) and John Deere “Reach for the Stars” summer grower meeting in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 20th at Scott Community College.

The morning classroom sessions continued with a presentation from John Hoffman, ASA President and 2,000-acre corn and soybean grower near Waterloo, Iowa. Hoffman spoke about how precision agriculture is helping to meet global demand for U.S. soy and outlined three key benefits to precision farming:
1. Improved Profitability
2. Increased Efficiency
3. Enhanced Sustainability

He began with a look at the global marketplace. “We have a global marketplace that has become very complex and competitive. As we look ahead, where are we going to find the acres? U.S. soybean production in 2006 was 3.2 billion bushels; soybean acres planted in 2006 was 76 million. In 2007, soybean acres planted was 64 million – down about 13 percent from a 5-year trend line. Exports are running at an all-time high, and the U.S. is the dominant supplier of soybeans.”

“The ASA endorses precision ag and we, along with John Deere, are excited about the potential that this new, innovative technology holds for U.S. farmers,” continued Hoffman. “I believe that precision ag will improve our profitability, enhance our sustainability and that precision farming is part of the solution for becoming a reliable supplier.”

Visit the John Deere Web site for more information about the GreenStar™ 2 system. Watch for future reports from Mark Hanna, Extension Agricultural Engineer with Iowa State University as well as feedback from three of the local Reach for the Stars contest winners.

The American Soybean Association (ASA) and John Deere held one of three “Reach for the Stars” summer grower meetings in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 20th at Scott Community College. At least 25 growers were in attendance despite heavy, damaging rains received in the state earlier that week.

To begin the classroom presentation, Ray Gaesser, Iowa Soybean Association President, gave a short welcome and spoke to growers about the benefits of precision farming. Ray farms 6,000 acres of corn and soybeans near Urbandale, Iowa, and has witnessed precision at work in his own operation.

“We bought our first yield monitor in 1996. Technology has come a long way in the last 10 years and it’s really benefited our farm. We plant and harvest with auto steer; we took on Swath Control Pro in our sprayer this year, we’ll have Swath Control on our planter next year, and it’s a big savings. It will easily save us 3 to 4 percent on chemical costs this year.”

The morning session was then followed by a panel discussion and a ride-and-drive where John Deere Ag Management Solutions (AMS) representatives were able to give growers a hands-on (or rather hands-off!) demonstration of the GreenStar 2 auto guidance system as well as the newly launched iTEC Pro system.

Adding to an already extensive line-up of air-seeding tools, John Deere now provides customers an efficient, environmentally-friendly seeding solution with hydraulic-tine technology on the new 1870 Air Hoe Drills.

“Growers told us they wanted an air-seeding tool with very accurate seed and fertilizer placement,” says Steve Detrick, project manager, John Deere Seeding Group. “We invested in new technology, the Conserva Pak hydraulic shank opener, which does an exceptional job in placing seed and fertilizer at a more accurate and consistent depth. The result is more accurate placement of fertilizer, reduced seed, fertilizer and input costs, and consistent, uniform emergence throughout the field for higher yields. This translates to a greater potential for improved income, while optimizing conditions for responsible stewardship of the soil.”

“The real story on the 1870 seeders is the independently controlled hydraulic shank opener, Conserva Pak, which enables the placement of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and sulfur-based fertilizers up to four inches away from the seed,” explains Detrick. “This positive vertical and horizontal separation of fertilizer and seed eliminates seeding damage caused by some fertilizer forms. This translates to more efficient placement of fertilizer, decreased seed damage, and optimized crop yields.”

Seed depth consistency is also improved on the 1870 Air Hoe Drills because the hydraulic accumulators permit separate control of down force of the fertilizer shank and the press wheel/seed opener. The Conserva Pak opener achieves consistent depth with an even amount of soil placed over the seed in a single or paired-row setting – even in variable seeding conditions.

“As another benefit to our customers, we’ve designed the air seeding packages to be fully compatible with all Green Star 2™ precision guidance and map-based prescription seeding, fertilizing, and field documentation systems,” concludes Detrick. “These systems, integrated with the Conserva Pak hydraulic shank openers, give us the most productive and environmentally-friendly air hoe drills we’ve ever designed and built.”

For more information, visit the John Deere Web site.

Look out! Something BIG is coming to your farm.

Be one of the First to See the hottest, new equipment from John Deere. It’s easy!

Sign up now, or at least before August 21, and we’ll send you a special e-mail on the evening of August 22, 2007.

Visit the Web site to be one of the First to See!

Now that you’ve got your GPS system installed and you’re a pro at precision farming, don’t forget the basics.

This month, John Deere Publishing has revised four of its current educational books in the company’s comprehensive line of 2006 textbooks and guides. These books include “Combine Harvesting”, “Hay and Forage Harvesting”, “Tillage” and “Preventive Maintenance”. These educational books cover agribusiness management practices, agricultural machinery operation and adjustments, and equipment servicing and maintenance.

“These easy-to-read manuals help growers at any skill level enhance and improve their operations, from the do-it-yourselfer to the novice,” says Gary Aversing, John Deere Publishing. “The manuals are not John Deere-specific; they guide the user through diagnostic, repair or maintenance procedures regardless of the manufacturer.”

Knowledge learned and applied can help growers maintain equipment and keep it safe to run, save on operating costs, and in the end, make for a more profitable growing season. These “how-to” books help growers stay competitive.

To order, call 800-522-7448 or visit our Web site.

Chemical overlap when spraying is costly in product and sometimes in added crop stress that can cut yield. But it’s next to impossible to prevent it on headlands and on point rows. Plus, sprayer skips can be costly when unsprayed weeds rob yields.

John Deere’s automated solution to these costly problems is Swath Control Pro, designed to control boom sections in its 4720 and 4920 self-propelled sprayers, as well as its brand new 30 series sprayers. Swath Control Pro is part of Deere’s GreenStar 2 (GS2) system, using GPS to turn boom sections on and off automatically, according to a coverage map.

To grasp how it works, view this animation of a tractor in the field and a view of the GS2 screen.

Content courtesy of Kurt Lawton, Farm Industy News.

The key to maximizing corn yields.

Planting is complete, fields have been sprayed for weeds and insects, and as you drive by your fields and gaze at the first three rows of healthy corn from your truck window, everything looks as it should…but is it? It’s impossible to know exactly what is going on throughout your entire field, but you can’t forget about your crops after planting and spraying is complete. With high corn prices, you have the potential to make record profits with continued mid- to late-season crop management.

Good crop management is vital to a successful growing season, from planting all the way through harvest. One way to maximize the investment in a field is by using aerial images, which help identify varying nitrogen needs across a field. This proven technology also pin-points specific areas of a field that either require more nitrogen or other inputs, or segments that already have what they need.

The John Deere Agri Services OptiGro™ system gives growers a “bird’s eye” view of plant needs during the season. “It’s impossible for anyone to predict exactly how much fertilizer is appropriate for different parts of the field,” says Dr. Tracy Blackmer, Iowa Soybean Association. “Having the infrared imagery that will tell you how well the crop is doing is just a whole new level of management.”

In the same regard, growers are always looking for ways to maximize yield, especially with soaring corn prices. Aerial imagery is able to detect revealing information about each field, and when used appropriately with accurate interpretation, it is easier to detect nitrogen needs in corn plants.

Learning how to better manage nitrogen is an area growers are looking to improve. “I definitely see that it’s going to add to the bottom line. It’s going to help me manage, season-long, my nitrogen inputs that I haven’t been able to do in the past. There was just no way to do it and now there is a way,” says Bob Wieland, corn and soybean grower from Laura, Ill. “But together, I think that we can really optimize these yields.”

As you begin the final stretch of this growing season, don’t forget about your crop – nitrogen management must be maintained until tasseling. So the next time you’re driving by your crops, remember that OptiGro imaging can see more than you can.

Corn growers wanting more information about remote sensing and a list of local providers for the OptiGro system should visit www.JohnDeereAgriServices.com, e-mail AgriServices@JohnDeere.com or call 800-518-0472.

(click on links to hear audio sound bites from Blackmer and Wieland)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

A series of grower meetings will be held this summer as a continuation of the “Reach for the Stars” program between the American Soybean Association (ASA) and John Deere. Sessions will begin with a short welcome and introduction from John Deere and the ASA on the value of the “Reach for the Stars” program and its benefits to growers. Growers will then receive information on integration of guidance tools into their own operation (ease of installation, learning to use, troubleshooting problems, use, etc.,) from local “Reach for the Stars” program winners. Educational sessions will be followed by a field demonstration and guest speaker.

Plan to attend a meeting today!
CITY: Morton, Minnesota 56270
ADDRESS: Jackpot Junction, 39375 County Highway 2, 2nd Floor Convention Center
DATE: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TIME: 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

CITY: Plain City, Ohio 43064
ADDRESS: Der Dutchman, 445 S. Jefferson Ave., Banquet Rooms A&B
DATE: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
TIME:9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

CITY: Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
ADDRESS: Scott Community College, 500 Belmont Road, Belmont Campus, Student Life Center (Go in Doors 5 or 6)
DATE: Friday, July 20, 2007
TIME:9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Visit the ASA Web site for more information and to register today!

Research, innovation and education — you’ll hear these three words repeated time and again when describing what a visitor will find at the Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day.

Scheduled for Tuesday, July 10 at Spence Field in Moultrie, Ga., — site of the Sunbelt Expo — Field Day is an annual preview for the big show held in October and it’s an opportunity for farmers to see future trends in agriculture.

Field Day focuses on seed varieties, chemical applications, irrigation technology and precision ag technology.

This year 25 companies, as well as university researchers, will participate with 120 to 130 plots focusing on traditional row crop varieties. These will include 35 varieties each of corn and soybeans, 50 for cotton and 21 for peanuts and 1 plot highlighting Pearl Millet as an alternative crop.

Research is what the Sunbelt Ag Expo was built on and there is no shortage of it in the fields this year.

Trams depart starting at 8:30 and a complimentary lunch is served at 12:15.

Content courtesy of Farm Press.

This spring, CropLife® magazine and Purdue University’s Center for Food and Agricultural Business conducted a survey of crop input dealers for the 12th consecutive year to see which precision technologies were being used by dealers, what type of precision services they were expecting to offer in the future, and how precision farming customers were impacting their businesses. As in previous years, a survey was sent to 2,500 CropLife dealership readers to “take the pulse of the industry” with respect to precision farming.

This year, results are focusing on the Midwest dealerships who responded.

How Midwest Dealers Are Using Precision
The most common precision technology this year was GPS guidance systems with manual control/lightbar, by 75% of respondents, followed by precision technologies being used to provide services to growers. Rising to third place this year were GPS guidance systems with auto control/auto steer for fertilizer/chemical applications (used by 30% of the responding dealerships). Over one-quarter of the respondents (27%) used both types of GPS guidance systems, while 22% of the dealerships didn’t use either type of guidance system.

The biggest growth in technology in the last three years has been in GPS guidance systems with auto control/autosteer. In 2004, only 4% of the dealerships in the Midwest were using autocontrol/autosteer technology. Last year, 22% were using the technology and by this year 30% of the Midwestern dealerships were using it. The use of other precision technologies has more or less leveled off from 2005 to 2007.

Dealers are still expecting to add precision services in the next two years, with continued growth expected through 2009. The biggest growth expected is in fieldmapping with GIS, with 56% of the Midwestern dealerships expecting to be offering the service by 2009, up from 45% in 2007. Satellite imagery is also expected to grow substantially in the next two years, from 18% of the dealerships offering the service by fall of 2007 to 27% by 2009.

Precision technology appears to be here to stay in over three-quarters of the retail dealerships in the Midwest. The biggest growth currently is in use of the technology within the dealership instead of in services offered to customers. GPS guidance systems with autocontrol/autosteer continue to show the most rapid growth, though sensors (both on-the-go and mounted sensors) may be starting their growth in adoption as well. With the boom in ethanol production, a key strategic question is the impact of more corn acres on precision agricultural services (and vice versa).

Where are the opportunities? Where are the challenges? This story is one to follow in the 2008 CropLife/Purdue precision agriculture survey. Content courtesy of PrecisionAg, a Meister publication.

While new precision farming tools such as global positioning system (GPS) and guidance technology have recently gained much attention from growers, it’s the collection, storage and analysis of field data that may have the greatest impact on farming operations. That’s because the availability of accurate information for most businesses, including farming, can lead to better management and input decisions over the long term.

“The accurate collection and analysis of the data generated from precision farming technologies can be the most important part of the entire package,” says Kayla Reynolds, product marketing manager for John Deere Ag Management Solutions. “While guidance, GPS, variable rate application and other precision tools are important in the physical production of each year’s crop, it’s the use of field data over time that can really drive farm productivity and profitability into the future,” Reynolds adds.

Field, yield and soil maps, along with crop and input information and other data, can be collected easily and accurately with many of today’s precision farming systems. In many cases, much of this data can be aggregated and overlaid to help producers understand the dynamics of their fields and farming operations.

The documentation features of these systems make it convenient to tie in accurate data with guidance and other precision tools when conducting normal field operations from planting through harvest. It also allows the collection of information on weather and field conditions, hybrid/variety data, seeding rates, product and operator information and much more. For some producers this information-intensive management provides the missing link in what technology offers in precision farming.

The GreenStar™ system from John Deere with its Apex desktop software, for example, is a popular precision farming program. This system allows producers to collect, store and retrieve a wide variety of farm data from numerous operations into one easy-to-use program.

Some of the most common documentation features include:
• Yield mapping
• Field boundaries
• Planting information
• Field application and operational documentation
• Harvest documentation

For producers involved in growing identity-preserved crops or crops that need detailed documentation of inputs, or who are looking for that competitive edge, these precision farming technologies can be very useful tools.

“Access to highly detailed agronomic and production information for each individual field can help growers more fully utilize the capabilities of this technology,” adds Reynolds from John Deere. “It provides the intelligence behind the technology that helps growers further optimize the productivity and profitability of each field.”