Precision Pays

Precision Planting of Tremont, Illinois recently launched a new iPad monitoring application for use in production agriculture. 

It’s called “FieldView”, their latest addition to the 20/20 Seed Sense system for planter management.  Sean Arians, education coordinator with Precision Planting, says the application puts the iPad to good use in the cab of the tractor. “Rather than just playing games like Angry Birds on it, now you have the capability to have cellular data available in the tractor,” Sean says, noting that as we look towards sharing and managing data, this can provide the ability to transfer software updates and information from maps into the cap and up to a server where it can later be accessed by a computer in the home or office.

Find out more about “Field View” in this report: Sean Arians on FieldView

There are Android and iPhone apps for just about everything.  My friend, Jason Webster runs the Practical Farm Research for Beck‘s Hybrids in Downs, Ill.  In addition he farms, too.  Jason fully admits he doesn’t always practice what he used to preach about scouting fields during the growing season.  Because of that – he’s gone to a more sophisticated form of scouting.  One that he utilizes and with full conviction can explain to farmers why they should make the leap to incorporate that technology into their farming operations, too. 

In this month’s Precision Pays Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, Jason explains the future of finding problems in our fields. 

You can subscribe to the Precision Pays Podcast here. The Precision Pays Podcast is sponsored by Ag Leader Technology.

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.

Pioneer Hi-Bred unveils FIT® Studio, an extension of Pioneer FIT Services. This new comprehensive mapping software provides Pioneer sales professionals another tool to help growers get the right product on the right acre.

FIT Studio, an addition to current Pioneer services – FIT Field Planner, FIT As-Planted Maps and FIT Mapping at Harvest – offers powerful new, map-based functionality, including historical and multiyear yield analysis tools, as well as more advanced features, such as variable rate seeding functionality.

Pioneer has worked with Mapshots, a software development company that specializes in crop management applications for agriculture, to develop the features of FIT Studio.

To learn more about Pioneer FIT services, visit www.pioneer.com and click on Programs and Services.

CrescoAg LLC, an independent information management company, introduced its suite of crop decision and risk management tools that will help growers and their trusted advisers better analyze data and make decisions to maximize profitability.

Today’s growers have access to an overwhelming amount of valuable data generated from precision agriculture technologies. However, turning that data into knowledge that can increase productivity and profitability is often a challenge. CrescoAg understands this challenge and provides tools that will make data from precision agriculture more practical, powerful and profitable than ever before.

The company’s products and services utilize data from tools such as field mapping, soil sampling, record keeping, automated crop monitoring and “whole farm” research plots. The data generated by these tools are mapped, stored and easily accessible. CrescoAg will accept data from all major hardware or equipment brands, translate it, store it and make it compatible with other systems. The aggregated data will allow for community analysis and benchmarking at the field and farm enterprise level.

CrescoAg products will primarily be available through retailers and crop consultants throughout the MidSouth and Southeastern U.S. for the 2012 growing season.

Valley Irrigation, the leader in precision irrigation, introduced Pivot Cruise Control software, which allows producers to be even more precise with chemigation and fertigation. Cruise Control is the latest Valley Irrigation product that demonstrates the company’s dedication to meeting customers’ needs through innovation.

With the patent pending Cruise Control, available exclusively from Valley Irrigation, producers can program a center pivot irrigation machine equipped with a Pro2 control panel to automatically adjust its speed, based on completing a defined number of degrees in a specific amount of time. This feature will help producers more precisely manage chemigation and fertigation through their center pivot irrigation equipment.

Cruise Control will be standard on all Pro2 panels this spring. Existing Pro2 control panels can be upgraded with Cruise Control software. Interested producers should contact their Valley Irrigation dealer for more information or visit www.ValleyIrrigation.com.

A recent post from the Iowa Power Farming Show that featured Ag Leader’s new SMS Mobile Technologies spurred a guest post request from Broadband for America. They asked if I could write a blog about how broadband technology has really changed the way agriculture does business. And for the better I might add. With their permission, I am reprinting the article here. It was originally published under the title “How Broadband & Precision Ag Are Increasing Farmers’ Profits.”

For my mother, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, it was hard to imagine how far technology would advance agriculture in such a short time. For instance, the introduction of broadband would be a welcome surprise for many. It’s hard to fathom living without internet access; however, in the past, those in rural America did not have as much access as those living in urban areas. Fortunately, this is changing. According to Pew Internet, adults living in rural America have witnessed high-speed usage grow from 38% in 2008 to 46% in 2009. Many of these adults are farmers.

With the introduction of broadband also came the introduction of many precision agriculture technologies. For example, Ag Leader’s new SMS Mobile Technology helps farmers gain important information. The technology is designed to run on their handheld Mesa Rugged Notepad and provides a platform for farmers to gather information such as soil tests, scouting records and documentation of test trials. With the help of a wireless broadband network, farmers can instantaneously transfer the data to his SMS desktop software. The data can be combined with previous data and take his crop management to another level – a level that is designed to improve his profitability.

While this technology is still somewhat in its infancy, access to wireless communications has offered possibilities not before thought possible. Precision agriculture is taking full advantage of this technology. Each year, data integration and programs are more effective and easier to use as adoption among growers increases.

According to Tim Murphy, in a 2002 article, “Broadband Connection Highs and Lows Across Rural America“, the census found that half the farms in the country were connected to the internet in some way whether it be via broadband or dial-up. By 2007, the percentage of farms connected rose to 56.5 percent. As precision ag comes of age, I expect to see greater growth in the adoption in broadband in rural America. Why? Because broadband and precision ag, together, are helping to change the face of agriculture in a positive and profitable way.

Farmers know that planter skips and doubles are costly, especially given current grain prices. Fortunately some of today’s monitors can really help pinpoint when a specific row unit causes an error—and that information can lead to quicker and more efficient troubleshooting and repairs.

I spoke with Will Cannon today, SeedCommand product specialist with Ag Leader Technology, to learn about how their new Advanced Seed Monitoring technology can benefit farmers.

“There are two principle components above and beyond traditional seed monitoring—singulation detail and spacing quality—delivered by our Advanced Seed Monitoring capability. While the whole industry is headed towards advanced monitoring, what sets us apart is that our screens are visually simple and appealing, allowing growers to see problems with one quick glance at the screen.”

The first screen, planter performance, shows a large bar graph representing all planter rows. “Farmers can quickly assess population, seed singulation and seed spacing quality,” Cannon says. The second screen, row performance, shows a virtual seed trench. “This is an awesome diagnostic tool for a row that is giving you trouble. You can slow or pause, and zoom in or out, to help pick up on a pattern to help pinpoint issues,” he adds.

Issues with singulation that occur on a row unit usually indicate problems with the seed meter. If seed spacing quality is the problem, that could be caused by driving too fast or improper drop due to seed tube issues, Cannon says. “This technology really helps isolate different issues on a planter so a farmer can quickly determine the problem and the location.”

Current INTEGRA customers with SeedCommand and the Seed Tube Monitor Module can get this valuable update with no unlocking fees. And check out the video link below to actually view the technology.

Visit these links for more information:

Video Interview about Advanced Seed Monitoring
http://precisionpays.com/2011/02/ag-leader-releases-advanced-seed-monitoring/

Advanced Seed Monitoring
http://www.agleader.com/media-center/

Ag Leader dealer locator http://www.agleader.com/dealer-search/

Learn more about how AGCO’s AgCommand telemetry product can help you track, monitor and management all machinery in the field. Watch this video posted recently by Farm Industry News.

Steve Tupa of AGCO talks about an advanced version of AGCO’s recently introduced telemetry product called AgCommand. This product provides 25 different messages from fuel use to engine load which can be sent to home computer for observation. It was introduced at Ag Connect Expo, held recently in Atlanta, GA.

Telemetry systems like AgCommand allow navigation, prescription application, location and other data to be transferred easily to and from farm machinery. These systems will grow in importance as farmers seek ways to improve efficiencies on high-priced equipment.

The Iowa Power Farming Show kicked off in Des Moines today and Ag Leader Technology launched some new precision ag products just in time to show them off for the thousands of growers on site. One new product is the updated Mesa Rugged Notepad with the SMS Mobile software package.

The Mesa Rugged Notepad is a handheld device that is larger than a PDA but smaller than a laptop and the perfect size for growers to take out to the field. And it’s durable – it can be rained on or dropped and it will stand up to the wear and tear. It also has a glare-proof screen so even on the sunniest of days, you’ll have no problem reading the screen.

The SMS Mobile software includes several key types of in-field information that can be collected and analyzed including Soil Sampling Mode, Crop Scouting Mode, Coverage Mode, Boundary Mode, and General Logging Mode.

I caught up with Michael Vos, Software Sales Manager for Ag Leader to learn more about the SMS Mobile technology that was launched and how it will improve a grower’s operations. Vos gave me a step-by-step tutorial on how one element, the Soil Sampling Mode, worked. You can watch here in this detailed video. Now don’t worry. Even if you’re new to GPS systems and the software, the Ag Leader team will get you set up, trained and started in no time.

SMS Mobile is available right now through the purchase of a Mesa Rugged Notepad kit or you can purchase the SMS mobile and install it on your own device. To learn more, contact Ag Leader or visit their website.

You can check out Ag Leader during the Iowa Power Farming Show in our flickr photo album.

Precision Pays coverage of the Iowa Power Farming Show is sponsored by: .

Trimble offers a new Field-IQ system that controls and monitors seed and fertilizer delivery capabilities to enhance variable-rate functionality.

The Field-IQ system pairs seamlessly with the guidance capabilities of the Trimble FmX integrated display or CFX 750 touch screen display, which both run Trimble’s unique overlap detection technology. Farmers using the Field-IQ crop input control system for seed placement have reported average savings of 5-10 percent from reduced seed input costs and less waste.

Trimble’s Field-IQ system is compatible with a wide variety of crop and application equipment, providing monitoring for planters, air seeders for small grains, or granular strip till systems. Seed monitoring on row crop planting systems allows operators to obtain information related to how their seeding system is performing. This includes factors such as singulation, skips and multiples, and quality of spacing for an entire planter average or detail by individual row. For fertilizer, variable rate application capabilities can be driven by a prescription map or real-time with Trimble GreenSeeker sensors.

The Field-IQ system is easy to install on application equipment from a broad range of manufacturers, allowing farmers and custom applicators to use and enhance the performance capabilities of their existing equipment without having to start from scratch.

“The new Field-IQ enhancements optimize planter operation by delivering more accurate seed placement, giving the operators more confidence in their planting applications,” said Erik Arvesen, vice president and general manager of Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “With the addition of rate and application control for up to six different materials, the system now manages functions that span the entire growing season.”

The new seeding and multi-rate capabilities for the Field-IQ system are expected to be available in March 2011. Contact a local Trimble dealer at www.trimble.com/locator for more information.

Had the pleasure this week of talking to a great guy, George Ropp of RCMS Consulting, who is 74 years young and still helping farmers—use computer software, no less.

Ropp, of Van Wert, Ohio, decided to get into GPS work after retiring from the county extension service in the early 1990s. “I started grid soil sampling fields for the local elevator, and using the simple software we had back then,” he says. “As the years went on, seeing huge changes in software, I was unsure I would find the capabilities I needed, until I found Ag Leader’s SMS software about six or seven years ago.”

Not only did Ropp become a fan, he actually built a good consulting business by selling and training growers and retailers on using SMS Advanced, Basic and Mobile software. “I’ve probably sold 50 to 60 copies of the software, and some mobile devices and other equipment, too.”

Ropp takes great pride in helping his clients, often spending a half-day or more with software set up and initial training. “I want to make sure it is set up right, and that the customer is happy,” he says. Now he holds about 4 or 5 training session during winter to keep his customers updated and answer questions.

“More farmers and retailers are getting into variable-rate fertilizer applications and want a software that can handle the necessary equations and building prescription maps. SMS is really easy to use for such operations, and it is really driving software buying” he adds.

Other popular tasks that Ropp is training customers to do are adding layers of soil test data as well as adding soil type maps from NRCS. “I’ve actually created ‘cheat sheets’ on many of these topics, so I don’t have to repeat myself so often,” he laughs.

What’s next? “Well a vacation right now,” he says. But seriously, he sees growing interest in farmers thinking about adding aerial imagery to their field data layers. “I suspect in another year this will greatly increase in popularity.”

His clients greatly value his training expertise on SMS software. “Well, they must, because they keep calling me for advice,” he chuckles. “And I really appreciate the service I get from the software support team at Ag Leader, as even I get stuck every now and then. They are really helpful.”

Visit these links for more information:

SMS Basic http://www.agleader.com/products/sms-basic/

SMS Advanced http://www.agleader.com/products/sms-advanced/

SMS Mobile http://www.agleader.com/products/sms-mobile/

Ag Leader dealer locator http://www.agleader.com/dealer-search/

Bridging the connectivity between in-field data collection and existing office software has just become more simple with Raven’s Slingshot API.

Building upon the Slingshot suite of wireless products and services, including RTK correction, data transfer, remote support, high speed internet access and more, the Slingshot API is designed to bridge the information gap between activity in the field and existing software at the office. This is made possible through Slingshot’s managed wireless connectivity platform and a software toolkit (API) to be implemented by software vendors and will allow an organization to take control over workflow and operational efficiency without replacing current software platforms.

“The Slingshot API allows software providers to offer their customers an automation platform that is fully integrated in their software, enhancing the value of the offering,” says Paul Welbig, Director of Slingshot Operations for Raven Industries, “Raven has built the tools necessary to learn the system, integrate, and be part of the future design of the platform. Software companies and other Slingshot API customers will receive unprecedented access to previously inaccessible field operations and hardware.”

Ag retailers reap the benefit of the Slingshot API by leveraging existing investments in software and custom development as well as the clear benefit of end-to-end business automation. For example, the platform is designed to eliminate the need for USB thumb drives to transfer data, and will expedite and streamline the way their operations manage the valuable data collected by the field computer.

The Slingshot API is also the first step in response to demand for customized interactions with Raven field computers from third parties and will be the exclusive method moving forward. This will help ensure the best possible user experience by utilizing the most consistent and dependable wireless interface with Raven’s field computers. Several software providers, including AgWorks and SST Software, have already signed up and begun their implementations.

According to Greg Duhachek of AgWorks, “AgWorks is thrilled to offer our customers the opportunity to communicate application orders seamlessly between our schedule module and Raven field computers. Linking to the in-cab controllers is a critical efficiency gap for our customers, and Raven solves that with the introduction of the Slingshot API. AgWorks customers plan to put the API to use within their software this spring, and we are excited about working with Raven to stay on the cutting edge of technology in agriculture.”

Matt Waits of SST Software says, “Utilizing Raven’s Slingshot API allows Summit users to access tools within our software developed to better integrate the office with real-time field operations. The added value of wireless data transfer between Raven field computers and SST Summit software is immediately visible in reduced time, lower costs and increased data collection. Our logistics tools gain value with opportunities such as tracking assets in real-time while integrating the data standards of agX enables the seamless communication of data files between Raven and SST systems.”

The Slingshot API Community Technical Preview is now available. Both customers and software providers interested in learning more can visit ravenslingshot.com for more information, or simply call Raven Industries at (800) 243-5435.

The fourth largest indoor farm show in the country is prepping for it’s 56th annual show in Des Moines, Ia., on February 1-3. It continues to break attendance records now for seven years in a row, with around 19,000 attendees spread out among six floors in the three buildings that comprise the Iowa Events Center (Hy-Vee Exhibit Hall, Wells Fargo Arena and Polk County Convention Complex). This year you’ll find around 640 companies exhibiting their products and services.

I caught up with Katie Beeler yesterday, Ag Leader’s marketing communications coordinator, to talk about their presence at the show. Aside from being a major sponsor at the three-day event, the company will conduct three educational sessions during the show.

• Tuesday, February 1 at 11:30am, Ag Leader’s Chad Huedepohl will talk about the OptRx Crop Sensor system. You’ll learn how they measure and record data as you drive through the field—providing information on crop health, while allowing you to apply prescription nitrogen rates based on plant need.

• On Wednesday, February 2 at 10:45 am, Jeff Bentley from Ag Leader will help growers understand its ParaDyme Autosteer system and CORS networks. Come learn about the most advanced guidance system, and how it has the capability of using built-in cellular signals for remote service and connection to the CORS network.

• Also Wednesday at 12:15 pm, Ag Leader’s Michael Vos will discuss the power of all the data that can be collected during a cropping season, and show how the company’s SMS software can work the data to help improve management decisions.

Click on ‘Seminars’ at the Iowa Power Farming Show website for the entire rundown.

And if new products excite you, Beeler says Ag Leader will be talking about three new precision farming tools at their booth, along with their full product line. “Come learn about our new Advanced Seed Monitoring through the SeedCommand system that improves planter performance monitoring and control through the INTEGRA display. We’ll also showcase the new GPS 2500 all-in-one antenna and GNSS Receiver that can utilize GLONASS satellites and differential correction from WAAS/EGNOS and OmniSTAR XP/HP/VBS. And we’ll have the new Mesa Rugged Notepad at the show running our SMS Mobile software so growers can check out this valuable in-field tool,” she says. Ag Leader will be in Booth #306 in the Polk County Convention Complex.

The Iowa Power Farming Show is sponsored in part by Farm Credit Services of America, Ag Leader Technology, Bayer CropScience, Stine Seed, and The Stewart-Peterson Group. The show is owned and managed by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (I-NEDA). I-NEDA represents over 400 agricultural, outdoor power and industrial equipment dealers throughout Iowa and Nebraska. For more information about the show and a list of show exhibitors, visit www.iowapowershow.com.

Visit these links for more information.
Iowa Power Farming Show http://www.iowapowershow.com/

New Advanced Seed Monitoring
http://www.agleader.com/2010/12/03/ag-leader-announces-advanced-seed-monitoring-functionality-for-integra™-display/

New GPS 2500 GNSS Receiver
http://www.agleader.com/2010/11/01/ag-leader-announces-new-gps-2500-gnss-receiver/

New Mesa Rugged Notepad
http://www.agleader.com/2010/11/01/ag-leader-offers-new-hardware-option-for-sms™-mobile/

Ag Leader dealer locator http://www.agleader.com/dealer-search/

DeLorme, a leader in mapping, GIS, and GPS technology and maker of XMap for agriculture, announces a leadership change.

Mike Heffron has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 4, 2011. Heffron also will serve on the Board of Directors. He will be the first person to hold the office of CEO other than Company founder and owner David DeLorme, who will continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“Mike has a truly exceptional professional background and is the ideal person to lead us forward as we solidify DeLorme’s role as a game-changing provider of world-class geographic data and innovative GPS hardware,” said David DeLorme. “His extensive background as a senior executive in the government contracting space provides DeLorme with a skill set that will be critical as we look to expand our footprint in both the U.S. government and NGO markets,” added DeLorme.

Says Heffron, “I am looking forward to the opportunity to work closely with David, the board, and the whole DeLorme team. They are as good a group of professionals, dedicated to the success of the company and each other, as I have met throughout my career. The opportunity to lead and be a part of the DeLorme team is an honor and privilege for me.”

Heffron was most recently President of the EI&S Operating Group of global defense, security and aerospace giant BAE Systems. In that role, Heffron led an enterprise with $8.5 billion in revenues in 2009, maintaining both topline revenue growth and profitability even in the face of the global recession. An engineer by training, Heffron has had an exceptional career as a technologist and business leader.

As the first person other than David DeLorme himself to be both President and CEO, Heffron’s hiring comes at a watershed period in the company’s history. Since the late 2000s, a key DeLorme initiative has been licensing its in-house library of digital global geographic data; that includes the DeLorme World Base Map, the only consistently-detailed, GPS-accurate 1:250,000-scale digital map of the entire surface of the Earth. DeLorme has recently entered into data licenses with various federal and private-sector clients. Heffron is expected to continue to lead growth in this area, and to spearhead other strategic initiatives in the geographic data and GPS device market space.

Founded by David DeLorme in 1976, the company was initially best known for its unique Atlas & Gazetteer series of topographic map books for individual states. DeLorme later pioneered the mapping software business, launching the first product ever to put virtually every street in the country on one CD-ROM. Since the mid-1990s, the DeLorme Earthmate line of laptop-connected and handheld GPS receivers has introduced countless first-to-market innovations, with applications for both the professional and consumer markets.

Learn more about their XMap applications for agriculture.