Precision Pays

The recent Cotton Incorporated Crop Management Seminar in Tunica, Mississippi featured workshops to help growers learn more about precision management.

Director of Agricultural Research Ed Barnes says they actually had two different precision workshops. “One for people who really had not done any work with precision agriculture. We had a workshop on the basics of how to scout your field, use a GPS and download data back to the computer.”

“Then we had a second workshop for people who are more experienced and wanted to take it to a new level, transitioning to zone management where you manage by soil type a little more,” said Barnes. The workshops concluded with a look at the “Green Seeker” variable rate application and mapping system that can help cotton growers make real time variable rate applications of plant growth regulators and defoliants.

Some 200 growers were able to attend the workshops and Cotton Inc plans to have another at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences in January.

It’s the first anniversary for Precision Pays, which was launched last year at the Commodity Classic in Tampa.

One of the first interviews we had on the site was with Laura Robson, senior marketing rep for John Deere. We caught up with her again at this year’s Classic, being held this week in Nashville. I asked Laura about the state of precision technology and how farmers are adapting to precision becoming standard on new equipment. We also talked about how last year’s ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars contest winners used their precision package in 2007, what they thought about it and how it is helping John Deere make precision pay even more!

You can listen to my interview with Laura at Commodity Classic here: Laura Robson Interview (4:30 min. mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Gary Truitt calls him a “tinkerer with new technology.” That’s because Roger Hadley of Woodburn, IN has been using precision farming technology, such as GPS field mapping, for about ten years. Roger was a presenter at the Indianapolis Precision Agriculture Conference earlier this month. Hoosier Ag Network broadcaster Gary Truitt caught up with Roger at the conference and spoke with him about how precision technology applied ten years ago and how it applies today.

Roger has kept up with the cutting edge of precision soy practices and says precision technology can help mitigate yield pressure, save on fertilizer, make farming more environmentally-friendly and more.

You can listen to Gary’s interview with Roger here: Roger Hadley Interview (5 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Brent Maddon was the John Deere product development representative on hand at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas last week. The event is one of three “Reach for the Stars” presentations being sponsored by John Deere.

Maddon gave a presentation about how farmer’s can use precision technology and where the technology is headed for the future. He says farmers should look to move beyond the Autotrac guidance systems because GPS technology is allowing John Deere to develop more applications for different farming needs. Maddon urges farmers to get a hands-on feel for precision ag technology saying consumers need to use it to fully recognize and appreciate what it can do.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Maddon here: Brent Maddon Interview (3 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Precision technology puts extra cash in your pocket according to a grower from the northeast Arkansas area. David Pigue uses precision farming in his cotton and grain harvesting operations and he says the innovative technology produces excellent results. He says applying the technology in different ways is sure to make farmers more money, whether they get “knee-deep or neck-deep” into precision farming techniques.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Pigue here: David Pigue Interview (2 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tennessee Grower Alan Meadows is willing to bet that no less than 90 percent of all farmers who try their hand at tools using precision technology wouldn’t ever dream of moving forward without it. In an interview, Meadows told reporter Stewart Doan that if farmers “try it… [they'll] never go back.”

Meadows was a presenter at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas last week.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Meadows here: Alan Meadows Interview (1 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Farmers are feeling out the benefits of GPS satellite technology with measured care. At least, that’s what “Reach For The Stars” seminar presenter Dr. Terry Griffin says. Griffin held an audience at last week’s American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas Ag extension economist says precision agriculture encompasses several different technologies and isn’t just one individual piece of technology. He calls precision farming a new, modern system for approaching and applying work in the field.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Griffin, where he explains more about this system of data, guidance tools and GPS technology here: Dr. Terry Griffin Interview (6 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

At this week’s American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions, “Reach For The Stars” seminar in Arkansas Ted Glaub, Glaub Farm Management and ASA board member, was a presenter.

He says that a lot of his operators are using new sprayer technology to save significantly on input costs, especially on odd shaped fields. Ted says that using precision equipment does save on operator “wear and tear.” By not having to focus as much on steering the operator can focus on other important elements of planting or harvesting. He says he sees more and more farmers getting into precision ag each year. For growers considering making an investment he recommends starting out by asking the local dealer a lot of questions, especially for their specific operation.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Ted here: Ted Glaub Interview (5 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Over the next week or so we’ll be featuring interviews with people who are attending and presenting at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions, “Reach For The Stars” seminars in Arkansas and Indiana. We’ve enlisted the aid of two very well known farm broadcasters, Stewart Doan, past President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Network. So let’s get started.

The first seminar took place in Jonesboro, AR. One of the growers attending was Rich Faulkner, New Madrid, MO. Rich told us that he started with precision agriculture about 2 1/2 years ago with the Starfire SF1 receiver and last year added RTK. He’s very happy with them and looking to expand more as they get more accustomed to the equipment.

He says that benefits to using the equipment he’s got so far include less driver fatigue in keeping rows straight, the ability to make all the rows the same distance apart which makes things more economical and with RTK, they can come back and track in the same tracks. Rich says they see an increase in productivity. He recommends that farmers who are row cropping year to year look at RTK for these reasons.

You can listen to Stewart’s interview with Rich here: Rich Faulkner Interview (2 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

John Deere and The American Soybean Association are offering growers in the Midwest a chance to learn more about precision agriculture. The ASA says the winter education series is a part of the organization´s “Reach for the Stars” precision ag program. Farmers and growers can attend meetings on January 8, 2008 in Wahoo, NE, January 28, 2008 in Jonesboro, AR and Jan 29,2008 in Indianapolis, IN.

John Deere personnel will be on hand demonstrating the advantages of precision ag equipment and farm management software. The meetings will also feature the president of that state´s soybean association as well as an ASA executive committee member and other experts in precision farming.

Before becoming a Reach for the Stars winner this year, Curtis Claeys of Delmar, Iowa had pretty limited experience with precision farming.

“I’m not real technologically advanced,” Curtis says. “Thankfully, my son is in college so when I get stuck I can give him a call and he can walk me through it. Otherwise, our local tech guy was very supportive and very good as far as taking care of us and getting us set up.”

Curtis was very pleased with the way precision farming helped him save money with nitrogen and fertilizer application by avoiding overlap. “And I think as they get this advanced, it will really save us a lot of money.”

Listen to some of my interview with Curtis here.
Curtis Claeys (4:30 min mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Alan Meadows is a corn and soybean producer from Halls, Tennessee – which is located in the western part of the state near the border with Missouri. As one of this year’s ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars winners, Meadows was able to use the precision agriculture package in several different applications.

“First I had it on my sprayer and used the AutoTrac on it,” Alan said. “We also bought the Swath Pro and put that on there and that worked very well.” He also used it on the combine in harvesting beans.

Alan says he learned how precision farming helps in cutting down on overlaps and helped him save time and money. “Your efficiency is so much greater with no overlap or driver fatigue.”

Listen to some of my interview with Alan here.
Alan Meadows (3:00 min mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Ted Vinson of Fithian, Illinois had very little experience with precision technology prior to winning the ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars contest this season but now that he’s been able to use it he says, “It really is a tremendous technology and one you really can’t do without after you’ve had it.”

Vinson, who has a 1300 acre corn/soybean operation, used the precision farming package to map all of his fields at planting time, used the Green Star Auto-Trac assisted steering system to plant both corn and soybeans and to harvest soybeans, and used the yield monitor for both corn and soybeans.

Did it save him time or money? “Yes, definitely, it saved both time and money,” he said. “On the time side, when you plant with auto steer you get straighter rows and not having to use row markers to guide you on your next pass its faster to cross waterways. On the money side, less fuel was used when we combined the beans because you’re always taking a full header width cut.”

Listen to some of my interview with Ted here.
Ted Vinson (2:30 min mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Not much rain in Gibbon, Minnesota this season either, according to ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars winner Peter Kramer who farms about 1100 acres of mainly corn and soybeans.

Pete says he was able to use AutoTrac with planting and spraying this season. “This fall I plan on using that same tractor and the AutoTrac to pull my strip tiller and make my strips for banding fertilizer for next year,” he said.

According to Pete, the main benefit of the precision package for him has been allowing him to run longer hours with less fatigue. “It’s helped me, without a lot of labor, to farm a little more efficiently and in a shorter time.”

“The best thing I liked about the system was their tech support,” Pete added. “There’s a learning curve to get the thing up and running but the dealership helped me out quite a bit and the on-line tech support helps out a great deal.”

Listen to my interview with Pete here.
Pete Kramer (4:00 min mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The ASA/John Deere “Reach for the Stars” winner from southwest Georgia had to contend with some seriously unfavorable weather conditions this year, but Roger Godwin of Pelham says at least AutoTrac made his life easier when it came to harvesting his peanut crop.

“Lot of people don’t know how peanuts are grown,” Roger said. “We have a plow that we go in and plow those peanuts up and invert them and you really have to stay within about a 2-3 inch tolerance of where you planted to plow those peanuts up correctly and invert them. And this AutoTrac has really made a difference in that. It has been the easiest to plow this crop up that I’ve ever had. I’m really impressed with that part of it.”

Listen to my interview with Roger here.
Roger Godwin (5:00 min mp3)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download