Precision Pays

Crop farmers seem to get most of the cool tools when it comes precision technology, but there are definitely applications for livestock producers who want to keep track of their animals and make grazing areas more productive and that’s our topic for this edition of the Precision Pays Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.

The Precision Agriculture Research Group (PARG) at the University of New England in Armidale has been studying the benefits of real time GPS tracking for monitoring livestock activity, according to Dr. Mark Trotter. “GPS tracking of livestock has been around for several years and a lot of research has come out of Texas, Oregon, Kansas and other places in the states,” Mark says. Mostly this has involved collars on the animals that store information which can be downloaded to find out where they’ve been. “But we are starting to see a shift towards real time GPS devices where the information is transmitted back to the researcher or producer to give them an idea of where their animals are in real time.” Mark says they have been demonstrating the value of precision technology in crop and livestock production through a project called Clever Cattle and Cropping Systems.

Mark and his PARG colleagues will be presenting some of their research at the 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture July 18-21 in Denver. Listen to the podcast to find out more.

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Clouds can often interfere with aerial imagery from satellites or high level aircraft, while wet conditions on the ground can make it difficult to use ground based sensors. Research being done in Australia combines ground type sensors with low flying aircraft to deal with those situations.

For this edition of the Precision Pays Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we go to the Precision Agriculture Research Group (PARG) at the University of New England in Armidale, Australia where they are working on Ultra Low Level Airborne (ULLA) sensing. I spoke with group leader David Lamb about the system and its potential for helping growers who need timely aerial imaging information in challenging weather conditions and potentially saving them both time and money in the process.

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This edition of the Precision Pays Podcast features comments from the leaders of two precision technology companies that recently formed an alliance.

Ag Leader Technology president Al Myers and AutoFarm CEO Herb Satterlee spoke to agricultural media in early December about the collaboration between the two companies and the recently released INTEGRA display and ParaDyme steering system.

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Using ethanol mixed with water in diesel engines could make them more efficient and reduce emissions.

National Corn Growers Association chairman Bob Dickey is also chairman of CleanFlex Power Systems, which is so new they haven’t built a website yet, but what they have done is developed a method to efficiently use ethanol in diesel engines.

Dickey started the idea a year ago when he bought a new John Deere 150-hp four-cylinder turbo diesel irrigation system engine and retrofitted it to use an ethanol and diesel blend. “It worked so well that we applied for a grant at the University of Nebraska and we’re currently doing research there to bring credibility to what we’re doing,” Dickey says.

The company has developed a new hydrated-ethanol fuel called EM60 (a mixture of 60% ethanol and 40% water) to combine with diesel fuel to power diesel engines. “Just like oil and water don’t mix, ethanol and diesel don’t mix,” Dickey said. So, they run two lines into the diesel engine. “The only time the ethanol, water and diesel are together is at the point of combustion and it really works well. The engine runs cooler, it runs more efficient and the emissions are reduced.”

CleanFlex president Ron Preston says they are talking with agricultural equipment manufacturers, railroads, and even bus companies about the idea because the EM60 fuel has the potential to help meet Tier 4 emission standards that become effective in 2011. “There are 60 million diesel engines in the United States,” Preston says. “We’ve been working with EPA and going through the proper steps to make ethanol a solution that will help them meet emissions requirements.”

Listen to a Precision Pays Podcast with Bob Dickey and Ron Preston about CleanFlex by clicking on the player below – or subscribe to our monthly podcast, sponsored by AgLeader Technology, by following this link or the sidebar link.

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This edition of the Precision Pays Podcast, sponsored by AgLeader Technology, offers some timely tips on preparing yield monitors for harvest provided during the recent Iowa Soybean Association On-Farm Network yield monitor webinar hosted by technology manager Patrick Reeg.

The entire webcast can be viewed at www.isafarmnet.com. AgLeader Technology’s pre-harvest tips can be found on-line here.

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We are happy to introduce a new and improved Precision Pays Podcast, a monthly feature with news and information important for growers who want to produce more efficiently. Thanks to Ag Leader Technology for their sponsorship.

In this first edition of the podcast, we hear from champions who choose precision technology and how taking your software mapping solutions to the field is easier than ever before.

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Subscribe to the Precision Pays Podcast here.

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