Precision Pays

I’d like to introduce the newest sponsor for our AgWired.com website and that’s Leica Geosystems. They are also providing supporting sponsorship here on Precision Pays as well.

Today the company announced that Harlan Little has been named the North American Business Manager for Leica Geosystems’ agriculture group.

Little started with Leica Geosystems in late January, and will be based out of Leica Geosystems NAFTA headquarters in Atlanta.

“Harlan is a great addition to the team and brings with him a wealth of ideas and industry contacts to help grow our business throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Rob Kiernan, global sales and marketing manager. “We are ready to take our business to the next level with new leadership and a suite of new products being introduced this year.”

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Most any photographer will know the Leica name. Oskar Barnack created a small 35mm camera back in 1925 that pretty much changed the way we look at things. What a lot of people are now learning about Leica is that they’re into precision agriculture technology in a big way. The company has three distinct divisions and the one on display at AG CONNECT Expo was Leica Geosystems. It was there that I met with Rob Kiernan, Global Sales & Marketing Manager.

Rob says that since they come from the optical business they’re basically a measurement company that has moved into GPS and that has led them into agriculture. At the show he says they’re promoting their mojoRTK which was launched in early 2008. He thinks they’re just now hitting their stride with the product. Service has been one of their priorities and they offer Virtual Wrench which allows the operator to get help without leaving the cab using mobile phone technology. The newest addition to their product lineup is their mojoMINI which does field guidance as well as standard navigation and will be available starting in February. You can see the unit on the display in the photo.

You can listen to my interview with Rob below:

AG CONNECT Expo Photo Album

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you’re seeking a cost-effective start in precision guidance, Leica wants you to check out their new mojoMINI 3D lightbar guidance system.

The Leica mojoMINI lightbar comes with the Leica SmartAg antenna and GLIDE technology for improved in-field accuracy. Plus, the easy-to-use 4.3-inch, touch-screen display has multiple guidance options, including AB parallel, A+ heading, contour and pivot guidance for use in many field types.

“The mojoMINI can be installed in minutes and is so versatile that growers can get daily use out of the display,” said Peter Bailey, product manager. “Plus the easy-to-follow 3D display greatly reduces the operators’ time to learn the system while increasing in-field guidance accuracy over traditional LED lightbar systems.”

The Leica mojoMINI lightbar system complements the current line of mojo auto-steer products, including  the Leica mojoGLIDE console with 6- to 8-inch (15- to 25-cm) pass-to-pass accuracy and the original Leica mojoRTK console with repeatable 2-inch (5 cm) accuracy.

Farmers who have precision guidance equipment and access to the growing CORS (Continuously Operating Reference System) towerless GPS network have a new tool from Leica Geosystems to tap into it.

The Intuicom RTK Bridge allows farm equipment with guidance systems to access real-time RTK network correction without the use of a base station. State-wide CORS and private real-time networks are now available to farmers with a wide range of auto-steer systems.

“This partnership allows our resellers to offer a solution for customers who have already purchased a guidance system but now wish to connect to one of the many CORS networks,” said Trevor Mecham, NAFTA business manager for Leica Ag Solutions.

Because CORS networks work together as a true network rather than a series of individual towers, farmers experience broader, more seamless coverage without the line-of-sight issues associated with existing, single-reference networks.

“We’ve seen the benefits of the RTK Bridge across many industries,” said Tom Foley, Intuicom president. “The advantages in precision agriculture are just beginning to be fully realized.”

Already this year, hundreds of Intuicom RTK bridges have increased farmer productivity with real-time network connections. Under this new partnership, Leica Ag Solution’s authorized resellers will become the premier distributor for the Intuicom RTK Bridge into the agriculture market.

The new mojoGLIDE console from Leica Geosystems is claimed to offer a revolutionary new dual-frequency GLIDE positioning technology that provides 6- to 8-inch accuracy with no subscription fees and no base station. And if you buy the console, display and auto boom section control for your sprayer before JUNE 30th, you can save $4,500.

Leica’s mojoGLIDE console retails at $7,990 and is fully upgradable to RTK accuracy with an unlock code. Once the unlock code is purchased, the console can be used with a personal base station or on a CORS network. No additional hardware or upgrades will be required to obtain RTK accuracy.

“The mojoGLIDE console is the only low-accuracy auto-steer system that comes with all the necessary components to upgrade to RTK accuracy, eliminating the need to purchase additional radios, antennas, or cell modems,” said Trevor Mecham, North American business manager for Leica’s Ag Group. “Like the mojoRTK, the mojoGLIDE console is quick and easy to install and comes with Leica Geosystem’s patented 9-axis terrain compensation for the best performance in the most difficult terrain.”

The dual-frequency L1/L2 GLIDE technology can be added to existing mojoRTK consoles allowing users to operate without the base station during field preparation, spraying or other work that does not require RTK accuracy.

“We think our customers will see a lot of value in the mojoGLIDE console since there is no subscription fee and it is completely upgradable to RTK accuracy with the purchase of a single unlock code, which can be purchased and delivered via Virtual Wrench™,” said Darin Sothers, North American sales manager for Leica’s Ag Group.

Leica’s remote service and support tool – Virtual Wrench – can be used with the mojoGLIDE console allowing customers to get quick support in the field with a touch a button. Virtual Wrench also allows users to add advanced guidance options, RTK accuracy or other software upgrades to their console.

Get accurate real-time visual display of every field application with the new iNEX Maping & Guidance Display from Leica Geosystems. This large touch-screen display works with the Leica mojoRTK auto-steer system, or can be used as stand-alone guidance system with most GPS receivers.

The display comes with field data management software to store multiple vehicle setups. It records data from all fields, which can be easily transferred to a computer. In addition to AB parallel guidance, you also get A+ Heading and Adaptive Curve options for year-to-year repeatability.

“Combining mapping, data management, and auto-section control technology in the iNEX display with the Leica mojoRTK has given us the opportunity to reach more of the market with the tools they need to save on input costs right now,” said Trevor Mecham, North American business manager for Leica’s Agriculture Group. “We remain committed to building tools and technology that are easy to use and fit the needs of U.S. farmers.”

To ensure that customers only pay for the features they want and need, the Leica iNEX comes with a suite of standard guidance options, but offers optional upgrades. Those producers who require advanced guidance options or auto-section control can add just the options they need. Plus, when used with Leica’s mojoRTK, the iNEX can be upgraded remotely at any time via Leica Geosystems’ unique remote service and support tool – Virtual Wrench(TM).

Upgrade options for the iNEX include three advanced guidance options – Pivots, Contours and Replay. Replay is a guidance option unique to the iNEX that allows users to “replay” advanced guidance patterns on the most unique fields.

Additionally, auto-section control can be added to the iNEX display providing automatic on/off for spraying and planting applications.

Retail price is $4,995, and is available from Leica’s network of premium resellers.