Precision Pays

It was obvious at the recent InfoAg Conference that developing industry standards, data sharing capability, connectivity and software integration are the hottest topics in precision ag technology right now.

In this edition of the Precision Pays Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we hear from Kelby Kleinsasser, director of Ag Information for Raven Industries and chairman of the Precision Ag Council of AgGateway, an organization of ag technology companies working together to find solutions that will allow the sharing of data while keeping proprietary information protected. Kelby gave a presentation at the conference on Slingshot API platform, which is designed to bridge the information gap between activity in the field and existing software at the office.

Listen to Kelby’s update in this Precision Pays Podcast. Precision Pays Podcast

You can subscribe to the Precision Pays Podcast here.

Our coverage of the InfoAg Conference would not be complete without a visit to our sponsor, Ag Leader Technology. Although the crew as often busy when I stopped by I finally found a quiet moment with Jeff Bentley, GPS Guidance/Steering Sales Manager.

Jeff told me the conference is attended more by consultants and others involved in the precision industry than growers like it used to be. He says it’s great to have more interaction with these folks. Yield monitoring is where Ag Leader started and going into the fall harvest it’s on the top of mind. But the company has grown into so many other precision areas and steering has become an area with more and more interest, especially for harvesting. For growers who have not moved into precision applications, he suggests starting with yield mapping and not just yield monitoring. That gives the grower some very important field data from which management decisions can be made. He says mapping really sets a grower up for new products from Ag Leader like their OptRx system which improves nitrogen use.

Listen to my interview with Jeff here: Interview with Jeff Bentley

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

The fast pace of new technology was very evident at the InfoAg Conference. Everywhere you looked you could see someone with a smartphone and there were lots of tablets being used. Speaking of tablets, how about iPads doing some precision ag duties? How about something called Precision Earth?

Pictured are Chris Tucker (left), Precision Earth and Aaron Hutchinson, Cogent3D, Inc. holding an iPad showing Precision Earth in action. I visited with Chris to learn more about how this application got started. Chris has been a diehard Microsoft guy who got his first iPhone last year. He’s been in the precision ag industry for a long time. The iPhone “opened his eyes” that it could be used as a data collection device. He sees lots of farmers carrying them around. So he got started working with Aaron’s company to develop what is now Precision Earth. He sees it evolving beyond just soil sampling to a full fledged crop scouting device. The app uses shapefiles which can be managed by iTunes or a local computer app they can provide. The feedback that Chris received at the InfoAg Conference was far more positive than he even hoped for. That’s a good sign. There are plans to utilize other mobile platforms in the future.

Precision Earth should be available in the iTunes Store soon. It will also work on an iPhone!

Learn more about it in our interview: Interview with Chris Tucker

I shared the stage for a session at the InfoAg Conference with Jeremy Wilson, Technology Specialist, Crop IMS. We talked social media and wireless connections. I also did a short interview with him afterward.

Jeremy says that wireless connectivity has become very important to precision ag service and support as well as communicating with customers. He says “Our biggest investment right now is going in to developing light, or mobile-friendly how-to manuals.” He points to the good job Ag Leader Technology has done with their YouTube Channel. Looking forward he says it’s clear from what he’s seen at the InfoAg Conference that the future is all about mobile information, “We actually are going to be able to better serve a customer and provide better information to the customer because it’s going to come in the palm of their hand.”

Listen to my interview with Jeremy here: Interview with Jeremy Wilson

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

To get an InfoAg Conference wrap-up I spoke with Paul Schrimpf, Group Editor, CropLife Media Group. Paul says there were over 700 people in attendance and a record number of booths in the trade show. He says the energy was highly positive across the board. He saw more examples of companies reaching across the aisle to collaborate in finding ways to help the farmer than ever before. He says it’s impressive to see how new devices like the iPhone and iPad have been embraced by the industry not only for use during the conference but to create applications using them on the farm.

I also asked him about how things are going with PrecisionAg. Paul says one of the most important things they’re trying to do is get farmers who have never used precision ag to understand its benefits. One of the ways they’re doing this is by being more visible at events like Commodity Classic and promoting their Profit Calculator. They’re looking for other partners to work with to promote precision agriculture.

Listen to my interview with Paul here: Interview with Paul Schrimpf

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Closing out the InfoAg Conference this year was a session on a very important topic. Titled, “GPS Under Seige: Lightsquared and the Threat to High-End Global Positioning,” this presentation was conducted by Kevin Kobb, Topcon (right) and Doug Schmuland, NovAtel. I spoke with them after their presentation. The threat comes from a plan to allow high-speed internet service to utilize GPS satellites to distribute their signal correction: high-powered, close-proximity transmissions from a network of ground stations that would cause substantial interference with GPS signals. This plan is currently in a comment phase at the FCC.

Kevin and Doug told me it has caused the major GPS producers and distributors to come together to understand the threat and then present that to the public and then work toward a favorable conclusion to the situation. The potential exists for this proposal to affect just about every device relying on GPS satellites. They say that now is the time to act and make your voice heard before the proposal receives a final FCC decision. You can find a lot of information on the website, Coalition To Save Our GPS.

Listen to my interview with Kevin and Doug here: Interview with Kevin Kobb and Doug Schmuland

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

The InfoAg Conference session titled, “Gadgets and Gizmos for Precision Agriculture” got my attention. One of the presenters was Dr. “No-Till Phil” Rasmussen. He had a collection of gadgets and gizmos on display to show and tell.

I interviewed him after his presentation. This soil physicist has a love for gadgets. They’ve been a big part of his career. He says that GPS systems have become more and more important to the farm. Therefore, the data that can be collected by various devices is becoming essential for efficient farm management today. One of the gadgets that has become very effective for in the field data gathering is a gel cell battery that has an adapter to allow you to charge various devices when you’re spending a day away from electricity. I recorded the interview on my iPhone with a recording app. Seemed very appropriate. Listen to my interview with Dr. Rassmussen here: Interview with Dr. Philip Rasmussen

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Acreage Crop Reporting Streamlining Initiative Project (ACRSIP) may well be the “most important thing that USDA has ever done,” according to Acting Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Michael Scuse.

Scuse talked about the initiative as the keynote speaker at the opening of InfoAg 2011 in Springfield, Illinois on Tuesday. The concept is to simplify and provide new reporting options for producers. “Rather than a farmer or rancher going to the local FSA office to do their crop reports as they do now and have to give a second report to their agent, they can actually do the report from home,” Scuse said. “Our ultimate goal is for those that have precision ag equipment in their planters and combines to actually use the information that’s collected from that equipment to be downloaded directly to their Farm Service Agency and to the crop insurance agent, to simplify the process even further.”

Scuse says they plan a pilot test of the program this fall and hope to have it implemented by 2013. “This is how we’re going to provide a better service for farmers and ranchers,” he said. “It will ultimately save the taxpayers a great deal of money with this initiative.”

Listen to my interview with Scuse from InfoAg here: Interview with Michael Scuse, USDA

Chuck and I are tag-teaming this InfoAg Conference. He will be covering tomorrow while I head to Dixon, IL for a Wyffles corn strategies field day. Chuck will be doing a presentation on using social media here at the conference on Thursday.

2011 InfoAg Conference Photo Album

Going to InfoAg next week? Then you might want to get this app for your smartphone. This is the newest app on my iPhone and will be on my Android phone later this morning. It’s the InfoAg 2011 Conference app.

The InfoAg 2011 Conference, hosted at Springfield Illinois’ Crowne Plaza, from July 12-14th, is pleased to add a digital Conference Companion available exclusively for the InfoAg 2011 exhibitors and attendees. Designed to supplement the online conference program, this app allows its user to view an at-a-glance program, search speakers, exhibitors, and presentation synopses, as well as create a personalized conference itinerary.

As you can see from this screenshot I’ll be on the program talking about social media. Our moderator for that session is Paul Schrimpf, Group Editor, Croflife Media Group. Also in our session will be Jeremy Wilson, Technology Specialist, Crop IMS. Our session will be offered twice next Thursday. Hope you can make it.

The app is the creation of Quentin Rund, PAQ Interactive. Get it and let him know what you think. I think this is going to become a standard offering of shows of all kinds, farm included. Kind of like the “old” conference brochure but much easier to use and carry around!

InfoAg 2009 was a terrific success. Over 650 participants shared in presentations on a wide range of topics on technology applications and data management and interpretation. As with previous InfoAg Conferences, the networking among participants was again a highlight of the experience. New relationships formed at InfoAg will lead to greater benefits and opportunities for those involved.

InfoAg 2011 will be held July 12-14 in Springfield, Ill.

Coverage of the event will be sponsored by Ag Leader.

Precision agriculture is the focus of many educational sessions at the 2011 AG CONNECT Expo in Atlanta this weekend. One of the very first sessions that was held on the Friday special preview day was “Implementing an On-Farm Research Program” presented by precision agriculture advocate Harold Reetz of Reetz Agronomics.

“Every farmer ought to have an area set aside that he’s testing new things under his management conditions,” Harold said. “We have a lot of new equipment, new products, new varieties that are coming on line and as we get to site specific management and fine-tuning the management on your farm, you really have to evaluate each of those things on your farm under your conditions to see if it fits and will improve your profits or your environmental impact.”

He explains that site-specific technology provides the tools to do the research. “Every field can be a research plot where we’re testing something new. We can set it up on the computer, apply the treatments as you’re doing normal farming operations,” he said. “You learn more about your operation and how you can improve what you’re doing.”

I also chatted with Harold about how fast the technology for precision farming has grown in just the last 15 years, now incorporating wireless internet and smartphones, “We’re doing so much more than we dreamed of 15 years ago – it’s unbelievable!” he says.

Harold also talks about the recently formed International Society for Precision Agriculture and the2011 InfoAg Conference, coming up July 12-14 in Springfield, IL.

Listen to the whole interview with Harold here: Harold Reetz at AG CONNECT

You can see photos from AG CONNECT
2011 AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

A precision agriculture pioneer was on hand last week for the Conservation Technology and Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action tour near Williamsburg, Virginia.

Harold Reetz, who founded the InfoAg Conference, is one of the board members for the CTIC. He recently retired after 28 years with the International Plant Nutrition Institute and started Reetz Agronomics.

As a champion of technology and precision agriculture throughout his four decade-long career, Reetz was one of the recipients of the Legacy Award in the PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence program for 2010 at the recent International Conference on Precision Agriculture.

In an interview with Chuck Zimmerman at the CTIC board meeting last week, Harold said he has three passions – high yield production systems, precision technology and conservation. Harold Reetz Interview

Conservation In Action Tour 2010 Photo Album

AgWired coverage of the Conservation In Action Tour last week was made
possible by and the

Does your precision technology provider deliver good information to you in methods beyond direct contact or a Website?

A good lesson regarding customer service and expanded ways to connect with customers comes from precision agriculture solutions provider HTS Precision Ag, based in Harlan, Iowa.

For example, check out their blog called “Precision Ag Explained,” where Adam Gittins posts weekly insights on products, issues and even his attendance and talk he gave at the recent precision agriculture conference InfoAg.

This week, Gittins talked about Trimble’s new Ag 3000 cellular modem, used to connect to a VRS or CORS network for RTK corrections — a product he tested and wrote about in a previous post. And he mentioned the company’s True Guide, which correct implement drift. Another post talks about Ag Leader’s commitment to training customers and prospects by breaking ground on a new training center. And still more posts highlight their own training sessions and ride & drives.

Not only does HTS blog, they are also using a Facebook fan page (where you can even RSVP for training sessions if you are a Facebook member) to connect with users on that social media site. And they also have an updated Website where they also connect with customers using an email newsletter.

HTS offers solutions to growers from Ag Leader Technology, Trimble Navigation, Norac, Garmin and Wilson Electronics. They serve growers in portions of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Growers need to focus on getting the right nutrient source applied at the right time, rate and place, says Steve Phillips, southeast region director of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI).

In his talk at the recent InfoAg precision agriculture conference, Phillips outlined the top 10 reasons why we need to understand spatial variability for nutrient management.

10. We need to understand variability to guide technology development. Understand the job to know what tools to use — GPS, GIS, variable rate, etc.
9. More accurate computer-generated modeling needed — to better understand crop scouting and yield, water quality, climate change and more.
8. Cropping system sustainability — such as soil quality on a spatial scale, variable-rate pest management, continued grower competitiveness, etc.
7. Guide nutrient management legislation. If we don’t help put science behind legislation (that is often based on models) then we’ll have policy makers creating laws not backed by science.
6. Maximize productivity — getting the right nutrients in the right locations because blanket applications are not efficient.
5. Maximize profits — using variable-rate applications and such in-season tools like GreenSeeker or Crop Circle that use sensors to prescription feed plants what they need on the go. Technology costs are coming down to help even small to mid-size farms make it pay.
4. Minimize environmental impact — more nutrients in the plant and less in the field.
3. This year is not last year — due to the impact of weather, growers too often get into the habit of applying the same rates every year.
2. Develop nutrient recommendation systems at the appropriate scale — take national/state recommendation down to the field management zone level.
1. Making the right decision with nutrient efficiency and effectiveness to increase productivity. Learn the 4R nutrient stewardship system.

Listen to Phillips’ presentation to learn more:
StevePhillips010.mp3

Precision Pays coverage of the InfoAg 2009 Conference is sponsored by: .

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Ten years of research by Dr. Raj Khosla and his precision agriculture grad students at Colorado State University has produced a soil color based management zone technique that accurately optimizes Nitrogen use efficiency within and across zones in given corn fields.

“Once farmers realize the value of varying N rates based on field productivity zones, most want to add more N to bring the low zone productivity up. We’re helping them to change this paradigm thinking because more fertilizer in a  low zone usually isn’t cost effective,” Khosla says. “Once we start talking in terms of raising the net dollar return of the entire field to the same level, that usually gets their attention. And we accomplish that by applying low rates to low producing zones, medium rates on medium zones and high rates in high productivity zones.”

In his presentation at the recent InfoAg precision farming conference, Khosla addressed several key efficiencies:

• Their SCMZ (soil color management zone) technique has three data layers — bare soil imagery, field topography and farmer experience (where farmers indicate high and low producing areas)
• In 9 out of 10 site years, this SCMZ method can accurately differentiate grain yield going from low to medium to high zones. And when N optimization prescription strategy is applied (low rates to low producing zones, medium rates on medium zones and high rates in high productivity zones) there is a significant increase in N use efficiency, and reduced N leaching as well.
• Research in Colorado has shown that N rates can be cut by up to 40 percent in parts of fields without losing any yield.
• The early days of using grid soil sampling to build prescription maps has shifted to management zones due to the constraints of grids — grid size too large to capture the spacial variability within a grid; difficulty of interpolating fertility levels between known sample points; fertility recommendation software ignores the inherent soil variability.

Listen to Khosla’s presentation to learn more:
RajKhosla009.mp3

Precision Pays coverage of the InfoAg 2009 Conference is sponsored by: .

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