Managing the family farm just got a little bit easier for Mike and Annie Dee. An article in the Opelika-Auburn News reports that John Deere precision agriculture technology is enabling the brother-sister team to farm like never before: it’s enabling them to farm at night. But, even more alluring, is the cost the Dees are reportedly saving. Reporter Amy Weaver writes that Mike’s smart sprayer alone can save the Dees up to $30:
So far, they’ve learned they can produce more by improving the high-yield fields, rather than the low-yield fields, Mike said.
A similar system exists in Mike’s sprayer. It controls the distribution of fertilizer so he doesn’t over- or under-spray in specific spots. And when the 90-foot boom starts to cross an area where there is no field, the nozzles turn off one by one until they’ve reached field again. The regulation can save the Dees $15-$30 an acre.
Again, the more control the farmer has, the more efficient he can be, Fulton said.
“It has increased our productivity considerably,” Mike said.
The GPS system in Mike’s John Deere sprayer remembers where the center of the plant bed was from last season so the tires cause compaction only on the same spot year after year. The delicate root zone remains untouched so plants can develop season after season, he said.
“We are asked to do more with every acre, every year,” Mike said. “With precision agriculture, we are trying to get the most out of every acre.”
With a better market and the advancements at the Dee River Ranch, Mike said they are seeing more profit this year. Their production goals are higher than ever.
You can see the entire article here at the Opelika-Aurburn News Website.