Ag Leader Unveils New SMS Mobile Technologies

Joanna SchroederAg Leader, GPS, Software, Video

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.AgWired.com coverage of the Iowa Power Farming Show is sponsored by: Ag Leader Technology.

56th Annual Iowa Power Farm Show Off To A Great Start

Joanna SchroederAg Leader, Audio, IA Power Farming Show

Despite blizzard conditions throughout much of Iowa, the weather couldn’t keep thousands of growers from descending on Des Moines for the 56th annual Iowa Power Farming Show that kicked off today. This three day show, which ends on February 3, 2011, is expected to be one of the largest in the show’s history and I’m here courtesy of our sponsor, Ag Leader Technology. The show is conducted by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association.

Tom Junge, Show Manager, said that this year there are 100 new exhibitors out of more than 680 total exhibitors. There are more than 1680 booths spread out between three major convention centers and 50 companies were still on a waiting list. Next year, the show will expand to Vet’s Auditorium and that should accommodate another 100 exhibitors.

I asked Junge what some of this year’s trends were. He said that in one of the surveys that they sent out to growers prior to the show, 24 percent of them indicated that they are planning on purchasing a tractor this year. Another 22 percent plan on expanding their precision ag applications. As a result, Junge said a majority of precision ag exhibitors expanded their booths this year.

I also asked Junge what one of the coolest things on the trade show floor was. He said that farmers are very interested in being more self sufficient on the farm for their own energy. This year there are six energy companies at the show and they are getting a lot of traffic.

To learn more about the this year’s Iowa Power Farming Show, listen to my interview with Tom Junge. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/ipfs/junge-ipfs-2011.mp3″ text=”Tom Junge Interview”]

You can also see pictures from the show in my Iowa Power Farming Show flickr album.

Precision.AgWired.com coverage of the Iowa Power Farming Show is sponsored by: Ag Leader Technology.

Last Survey Winner Announced

Cindy ZimmermanCompany Announcement

The final ZimmComm publication survey winner has been drawn and the lucky one is Rita Ruud, a nutritionist with North Dakota State University and Animal.AgWired.com reader. She will be receiving a check in the mail for $250 for taking just about two minutes of her time to fill out our survey and help us do a better job of serving the folks who read this on-line publication.

January was the third and final month for the ZimmComm publication survey since we have now received enough responses to make it statistically significant. We would sincerely thank everyone who took the time to help us out.

Here’s a few interesting things we learned from the survey about Precision.AgWired.com readers:

The largest percentage of our readers (22%) are actual crop farmers of mainly corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton. The next largest category was Equipment & Services at 18%, followed by education at 15%. Another 11% each fell in the categories of Crop Consultant or Advertising/Marketing/Sales.

We had responses from 15 states and Canada. Most responses came from Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, California and Oregon.

Thanks again to everyone who filled out the survey!

ParaDyme Auto Steer System Adds GLONASS Signal

Kurt LawtonAg Leader, Company Announcement, GPS, Guidance, Satellite

If tree lines or other obstacles sometimes cause dropped signals, you may benefit from the Russian global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) that Ag Leader’s ParaDyme automated steering system will now support.

“The main advantage GLONASS capability will offer ParaDyme users is longer run-time without losing signal due to coverage interruptions or low GPS satellite availability,” says GPS and Guidance Product Manager, Matt Leinen. “This feature will be especially beneficial to our growers that often lose satellite signal due to tree lines or other field obstacles; additional satellite availability will help them maintain a GNSS signal and keep running.”

GLONASS support is the latest functionality added to the ParaDyme automated steering system. The ParaDyme can be controlled through Ag Leader’s EDGE or INTEGRA display, and features remote service and the ability to receive RTK differential correction signals via cellular network. The ParaDyme automated steering system benefits include sub-inch accuracy, increased fuel efficiency, reduced operator fatigue and more.

Wheat Growers Gain Nitrogen Sensor Technology

Kurt LawtonAg Leader, Company Announcement, Fertilizer, Variable rate, wheat

For wheat growers who normally top-dress nitrogen, the use of crop sensors could boost yields and reduce over or under application.

Today, Ag Leader Technology, Inc., a leader in the development of precision farming solutions, announced the release of the North American Wheat algorithm for OptRx, a crop sensor used for mapping, data collection and real-time variable rate nitrogen application. OptRx crop sensors determine a vegetative index reference value based on a plant with sufficient nitrogen and prescribe nitrogen rates based on plants’ crop vigor, taking into account field variability and crop conditions.

“Using OptRx for nitrogen application in wheat can help prevent yield loss commonly due to overapplication, especially in early growth stages,” says Roger Zielke, Product Manager. “Another major factor that OptRx can help account for is the variability in organic matter within fields. Variable rate nitrogen application with OptRx can compensate for these differences in organic matter, and our field trials have shown that it will help maximize profit potential by delivering the right amount of nitrogen to the right plant.”

OptRx can help improve nitrogen efficiency by scanning and measuring the impact of growing conditions on a plant, ultimately helping growers improve environmental stewardship and maximize profit potential. Nitrogen application on wheat can occur anytime between tillering and stem elongation, and any top-dress applicator can be used with OptRx for nitrogen application. Because OptRx uses a light-sensing technology that is not dependent on ambient light, OptRx can be used to apply nitrogen, whenever optimum conditions are available day or night. OptRx crop sensors are also available for nitrogen application in corn.

The Art of Moving Hay

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

The year was 1930 and my Grandmother was 5 years old. For historical preservation, the dog, Spot, was lovingly noted on the back of the photograph. A while back, I wrote about round bales versus smaller square bales. Today, the picture depicts a time before either of those existed and hay was moved in loose piles.

This photograph is my grandmother, her mother, and her younger brother, posed in front of a hay wagon, onto which the hay was loaded with pitchforks. The wagon was then taken to the barn where it was parked under the hay fork. The hay fork was a large hook, tied to a heavy rope, looped through a pulley at the end of the barn.

A team of horses was hitched to the end of the rope, and they would pull on the rope to raise the forkful of hay into the barn. Grandpa said on their farm, he was always in charge of the trip rope, which emptied the hay into position in the loft. And then the process would start all over again until the hay wagon was empty.

Today we have balers, and tractors with forks, and large trailers to stack bales on to transport them to a barn, or even another farm three states away for cattle feed. And with digital photos and frames, I doubt the dogs get their notoriety these days. Thanks to Grandma for finding this picture.

I’m telling you folks, grandparents are a goldmine. Take time to do some digging.

Until our next history lesson …

Precision.AgWired.com: Connecting with Real Farmers at AGCONNECT

John DavisAg Connect Expo, Ag Leader, Audio, Precision Pays Podcast

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast

In this edition of the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we hear from three real farmers who have implemented precision agriculture techniques and equipment.

During the recent AGCONNECT Expo in Atlanta, farmers Doug Applegate, Bill Darrington and William Masteller talked about how each of them got involved in precision agriculture and why it is so important to them. Their comments came during the Successful Farming Innovations session entitled “Vision for 2020: Does Precision Farming Pay?”

Applegate, who farms near Oakland, Iowa, was a fairly early adopter of precision agriculture, putting the technology to work for him in 1996.

“It gave us a tool to keep track of where everything was planted, compare yields. Variety selection is very big on helping the cost effectiveness of using this equipment. That was our original payoff,” says Applegate.

Darrington, who didn’t come to the precision ag game until 2006, says he was waiting for the right system to come along that would help him farm the hilly terrain of Western Iowa.

“We end up with a lot of overlaps. You all know what it’s like when you’re planting 34,000 seeds, and you double that, you don’t have much yield in those areas.” Darrington says precision ag helps him prevent those types of duplications in seeding and fertilizing that don’t really help the overall yields.

South Dakota farmer Bill Masteller told the group that precision agriculture was a business decision for him to get the most out of his 1,500 acres of wheat, corn and soybeans.

“Farming is a business, of course. And they don’t exactly give land away or make more of it. So, since I have such a limited amount to work with, I have to be efficient as possible.”

All three farmers agree that good technical support is extremely valuable for them to get the most out of their precision agriculture operations.

You can hear more of what the three had to say in this edition of the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast in the player below below. [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/precision/precision-podcast-17.mp3″ text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

You can subscribe to the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast here.

GROWMARK FS Helping Farmers Pursue Maximum Yields

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Farmers, Growmark

“The pursuit of maximum yields will take you to the next level.”

That’s what GROWMARK Agronomy Services Manager Dr. Howard Brown told over 300 farmers and farm consultants meeting in Peoria on Friday for a FS Green Plan Solutions conference focused on pursuing maximum yields for corn and soybeans.

“We came up with this concept of pursuit of maximum yield so that we can maximum return, optimize inputs, while minimizing environmental impact and there’s no better message to get out right now, not only to the farmer but also to the general public,” Howard told me in an interview.

“We’re doing great at raising 160 bushel corn and 50 bushel soybeans but as we move to higher yields, we’re finding that it may not be one product, it may be a multiple set of products that make us get to the next level,” he said, referring to Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, where if one thing is limiting nothing else will work until the limiting factor is fixed.

Howard was really excited about the turnout for the event on Friday and the enthusiasm of those who attended.

Listen to my interview with Dr. Howard Brown here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/growmark/fs-pomy-howard.mp3″ text=”Howard Brown Interview”]

See photos from the event here.

FS Green Plan Solutions, an integrated, solutions-based approach designed to help producers enhance farm profitability by providing complete agronomic recommendations from a trusted team of FS specialists.

Precision Farming Hardware Training Builds Happy Customers

Kurt LawtonAg Leader, Dealers, Displays, Education, Insights Weekly, Retailers

Insights WeeklyDuring the hundreds of interviews I’ve conducted with farmers over the years for stories on precision farming tools, I’d have to say that every one of them has touched on the value of their local dealer. Without their set up, training and troubleshooting expertise, adoption of this technology would not be where it is today.

To that end, I spoke yesterday with Andy Boyle who is training coordinator at Ag Leader Technology. They are currently holding dealer trainings at “Ag Leader Academy” at their great facility in Ames, Iowa. “Our U.S. and International dealers truly enjoy this meeting, as it keeps them up-to-date on all of our hardware, so they are truly prepared to help educate and serve their customers,” he says.

During these trainings, dealers partake in 100-, 200- and 300-level classes on displays (INTEGRA, EDGE), on applications like DirectCommand and SeedCommand, on the auto steering capabilities of ParaDyme and OnTrac2 and much more.

“Much of our training is hands-on so dealers get the feel for how everything works, and how to troubleshoot issues that can arise,” Boyle says. “Our showroom has a fully-operational sprayer, spinner-spreader and planter so we can actually calibrate and troubleshoot equipment. And we have four tractors equipped with mechanical and hydraulic steering systems so dealers get drive time training as well.”

CUSTOMERS BENEFIT. Thanks to this intensive hands-on training, these dealers take this knowledge and conduct around 40 training sessions to benefit their customers and prospects during February, March and April in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Canada (see the link below for current list of sessions).

“The dealers focus their customer training on all the how-to information growers need, which is also a great refresher to prepare for the upcoming spring season. They walk through set-up of all equipment to prepare for spring field work, as well as review all operations while in the field,” he adds.

Cost to growers is $25 per session, which includes a meal. To register for a training session (see the link below) call 515-232-5363, ext. 6205.

Visit these links for more information:

Customer Training Sessions
http://www.agleader.com/customer-support/training-sessions/hardware-training/

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

Maximizing Yields for the Global Market

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Education, Farmers, General, Growmark

FS Green Plan Solutions, part of the Growmark company, sponsored a great conference in Peoria today for about 300 farmers and consultants around Illinois and surrounding states all focused on the pursuit of maximum yields for corn and soybeans.

The event started off with a dynamic presentation by Purdue University economist Dr. Mike Boehlji, who discussed the good news of demand for exports and biofuels, as well as the challenges for meeting that demand.

One of Dr. Boehlji’s main points is that American agriculture is facing increasing competition from other countries, so farmers need to become increasingly efficient by thinking in terms of biological manufacturing. “We’re increasingly thinking about farming the way you think about a manufacturing process,” he said. “We’re using GPS technology to not only monitor what the yield is across the field, but we’re actually using it now to change the rate of application in fertilizer and chemicals. We’re using that technology to find out where the wet spots are. We’re using a lot of information technology, we’re using sensing technology more, we’re using a better nutritional technology.” Process control technologies, like irrigation control, as well as auto steer tractors, and of course improved hybrids all contribute to running agricultural operations more like manufacturing operations.

Hear more in my interview with Dr. Boehlji here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/growmark/fs-pomy-boehlji.mp3″ text=”Mike Boehlji Interview”]

FS Green Plan Solutions, an integrated, solutions-based approach designed to help producers enhance farm profitability by providing complete agronomic recommendations from a trusted team of FS specialists.