Precision Pays

We are getting back in touch with all the ASA/John Deere “Reach for the Stars” winners this year to see how the system worked for them and just how their crop year has been.

Our first follow-up is with Colin Dutenhoffer who grew wheat, corn and beans this year in Aberdeen, SD. Despite a weird weather year that included flooding and replanting, he is harvesting a satisfactory crop. “Wheat wasn’t anything really spectacular, but it was okay. Beans are looking decent, again nothing spectacular. Corn – eagerly anticipating that, looks like it might be pretty good,” he says.

Colin says he used the GreenStar AutoTrac Assisted Steering System for planting corn this year. “I don’t think I even dropped a marker on my planter this year, just used the guidance system,” he said. “And then started planting beans with it, both with the planter and the drill, and used the guidance and the auto steer on both of those.” He also used it to cut some alfalfa.

His favorite thing about the precision package was the record-keeping. “The record keeping functions during planting were really tremendous,” he said.

Listen to my interview with Colin here.
Colin Dutenhoffer (4:00 min mp3)

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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.

The ASA-John Deere program represents an education-based partnership that encourages producers to both figuratively and literally “Reach For The Stars” with global positioning satellite technology and support systems that will save resources and advance farm management practices to new heights.

The ASA, in partnership with John Deere Ag Management Solutions, invites all growers, regardless of the color of their equipment, to take advantage of a special opportunity to learn more about precision ag systems. Visit the ASA Web site for meeting times and dates.

The state soybean association president will welcome growers and provide opening comments at the meeting. An ASA Executive Committee member will then give a presentation on how precision ag is helping to meet global demand for U.S. soy, followed by a University Extension speaker who will provide an overview of precision ag systems, and a John Deere AMS consultant who will present information about precision ag equipment and farm management software. Panel discussion to follow.

On-site registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Lunch will be served at 12:00 noon. Equipment demonstrations will follow lunch until about 2:30 p.m. There is no charge to participate, but pre-registration is encouraged so we can more accurately estimate how much food to prepare.

I got an email yesterday from Roger Godwin, our Reach for the Stars winner in Georgia. That state, as you may know, has been extremely dry this season which kept Roger from planting in a timely fashion. But, he now reports that enough rain has fallen that he has gotten out in the fields:

“We only got 2 tenths of an inch from Barry, but we got an inch and a half over the next ten days. My son Walter and I have been busy planting peanuts, cotton, and soybeans since. It is now Father’s Day and we have parked our planting unit along with the additional 8-row planter and tractor we rented from a neighbor. Besides, we are out of moisture again. We still have about 200 acres to finish planting. We are looking for showers to return around Wednesday.”

He says what he likes best about the system is the record-keeping. “When you have to track all these chemicals and when you grow cotton, you have to keep track of every acre they go on to,” he says, and the system makes it much easier for him to do that. “You’ve got a little computer card and when you get ready to download it, you go and download it and you got a computer record.”

“I’ve been checked 3 or 4 times by the EPA for my chemical usage and all I have to do is go to the computer and print out a report,” he said. “And I can’t understand why any farmer that’s ever been checked is not using a system like this.”

Roger also sent us these nice photos of his John Deere precision ag equipment and plans to send more. Roger is using the GreenStar™ AutoTrac™ Assisted Steering System with an AutoTrac Universal Steering Kit, a StarFire™ iTC receiver, and a John Deere SF2 signal activation; a GreenStar™ 2 System, which includes a GreenStar Display 2600 and preloaded GreenStar Basics software; and GreenStar Apex Farm Management Software.

Thanks, Roger.

Listen here to Roger’s comments about record-keeping here: Roger Godwin (1 min mp3)

Stay tuned to PrecisionPays for more interviews throughout the 2007 growing season with the Reach for the Stars winners.

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There were a total of 15 growers nationwide who won the American Soybean Association/John Deere Reach for the Stars contest this year, and two of them were from Illinois.

Dave Russell of Brownfield Network recently caught up with Chris Von Holten of Walnut, Illinois to ask how he is enjoying the use of a John Deere precision technology package for one year free. Chris was already familiar with precision ag, but he has found new benefits with this system.

Listen here to Dave’s interview with Chris here: Chris Von Holten (2 min mp3)

Check out all of the interviews with Reach for the Stars winners in our audio archive section and check back regularly for updates throughout the growing season.

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Duane Toews of KFRM, the “Voice of the Plains” in Clay Center, Kansas has been keeping in touch with Todd Swanson of Wahoo, Nebraska who was one of the John Deere/American Soybean Association Reach for the Stars contest winners.

Duane sent in two reports with Todd about how the precision ag technology package he is getting to try out for a year free of charge is helping him so far this season.

Duane and Todd 1 (2:30 min mp3)

Duane and Todd 2 (2:30 min mp3)

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Brownfield Network had a couple of “Reach for the Stars” winners in their coverage area, which includes Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

In this interview, Brownfield reporter Dave Russell interviews Ted Vinson of Fithian, Illinois who was one of the lucky winners in the promotion by John Deere and the American Soybean Association that allows him to use John Deere’s precision ag technology for a year free.

Listen here to Dave’s interview with Ted here: Ted Vinson (3 min mp3)

Stay tuned to PrecisionPays for more interviews throughout the 2007 growing season with the Reach for the Stars winners.

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Dave Russell with Brownfield Network visited with John Deere/American Soybean Association (ASA) Reach for the Stars contest winner Neal Kuhn of Manilla, Indiana.

Neal told Dave that his new precision ag system really surprised him. “It’s done things beyond my expectations,” he said. “I’ve never had anything like this.”

Neal was one of 15 winners who have the opportunity to use a premium-level precision ag system, each with a suggested retail price of more than $20,000, for the entire 2007 U.S. growing season.

Listen here to Dave’s interview with Neal here: Neal Kuhn (3 min mp3)

Stay tuned to PrecisionPays for more interviews throughout the 2007 growing season with the Reach for the Stars winners.

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Linda Brekke of Linder Farm Network recently caught up with one of the John Deere/American Soybean Association (ASA) Reach for the Stars contest winners. Pete Kramer of Gibbon, Minnesota talks about the advantages of using his John Deere AutoTrac System.

Listen here to Linda’s interview with Pete here: Pete Kramer (2 min mp3)

Stay tuned to PrecisionPays for more interviews throughout the 2007 growing season with the Reach for the Stars winners.

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Lyle Romaine with American Ag Network recently talked with one of the John Deere/American Soybean Association (ASA) Reach for the Stars contest winners. Colin Dutenhoffer of Aberdeen, S.D. says he is impressed with John Deere’s AutoTrac System.

“I’m able to set a line in my field, punch a button, tell it I want to go from this end to that end,” he says. “I can take my time to watch the planter or whatever machine I’m pulling and not have to worry about missing something.”

Dutenhoffer says the AutoTrac was very helpful in helping him to replant this season.

Listen here to Lyle’s interview with Colin here: Colin Dutenhoffer (2 min mp3)

Stay tuned to PrecisionPays for more interviews throughout the 2007 growing season with the Reach for the Stars winners.

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Precision technology can do a lot of things, but so far it can’t make rain. So, Roger Godwin of Pelham, Georgia has not been able to do much with his new John Deere a premium-level precision ag system since his area has received no rain since March 3 of this year!

As one of this year’s “Reach for the Stars” winners, Roger received the use of aGreenStar™ AutoTrac™ Assisted Steering System with an AutoTrac Universal Steering Kit, a StarFire™ iTC receiver, and a John Deere SF2 signal activation; a GreenStar™ 2 System, which includes a GreenStar Display 2600 and preloaded GreenStar Basics software; and GreenStar Apex Farm Management Software for this year.

Roger is no stranger to precision technology, and in fact, has been using it for the past five years. He grows cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, wheat and more on his farm in southwest Georgia.

Here is a short report I did with him for Southeast Agnet radio network last week: SE Agnet Report (1 min mp3)

We’ll be hearing more from Roger in future posts, so stay tuned!

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The American Soybean Association and John Deere have set dates and locations for their “Reach for the Stars” summer grower meetings. Plan to stop by to hear the latest information on precision guidance systems from the experts and the winners of the Reach for the Stars program.

Meeting #1 — Tuesday, July 17th
Jackpot Junction
P.O. Box 420
Martin, MN

Meeting #2 — Wednesday, July 18th
The Ohio State University
Molly Caren Ag Center

Meeting #3—Wednesday, July 18th or Friday, July 20th – TBD, watch for more details
Scott Community College
Davenport, IA