Fertilizer production costs will be substantially higher in 2011 than they’ve been for the past couple of years. When you look at the numbers, remember that commodity prices also have increased significantly. If you are a shrewd marketer, you have taken advantage of crop pricing opportunities that will help offset the higher production costs. You may still be able to … Read More
Precision Agriculture and Precision Communications from Retailers
As most growers involved in precision farming technology will tell you, the value of their local retailer and its technicians is priceless when it comes to installation, upkeep and troubleshooting. Is your precision ag retailer delivering on your needs? One such example of precision efforts and communications can be found in Iowa at HTS Precision Ag Solutions, with locations in … Read More
Robust RTK Signals Expand Across Corn Belt
Check out a good story by Farm Industry News that offers the latest look at RTK signal correction across the Midwest. The umbrella of real-time kinematic (RTK) correction signals that covers much of the Corn Belt will be larger and more robust by the time the 2011 planting season rolls around. As a result, growers in many geographies will have … Read More
Year-End Tax Deductions on Equipment Buys
With the end of the year upon us, it’s always wise to check with your tax professional to discuss possible year-end investment strategies on equipment purchases. Gary J. Hoff, agricultural economist, University of Illinois, says that legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President on September 27, 2010 will reduce the tax bite for many farmers this year. Here’s … Read More
Agricultural GPS Equipment Booming in Canada
Check out how one local agricultural dealership in southern Ontario has greatly expanded their precision farming business in the past five years, according to a story in Blackburn Agri-Media. Dave Petheram of Elmira Farm Service says they’ve gone from selling about a hundred thousand dollars worth of the equipment five years ago to around 2 million dollars worth this year.
DeLorme Selects New President and CEO
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 … Read More
Nitrogen Sensor Unplanned Test Convinces Grower of Value
You know how sometimes things happen in farm fields that are either out of your control, or perhaps something known as operator error. Well, some of those oops provide valuable learning experiences, don’t they?! Such was the case with central Nebraska farmer Kurt Kroeger. Now Kroeger is a fairly advanced precision ag aficionado, playing with many things on his 1,250 … Read More
New Advanced Seed Monitoring for Ag Leader Integra
Get a ‘virtual seed trench view’ with the new Advanced Seed Monitoring through Ag Leader’s SeedCommand system, run through their INTEGRA monitor. Advanced Seed Monitoring provides planter performance monitoring of seed meter singulation, skips/doubles and spacing quality, along with population and spacing information for all rows when corn planting. The INTEGRA display features a full-screen planter performance view that includes … Read More
Must Read: New Precision Balanced Crop Nutrition Guide
I’d highly recommend every farmer spend some serious time this winter with this new guide. It is excellent. Sent to over 400,000 growers as a supplement to the November issue of Successful Farming magazine, the 28-page guide is a valuable resource for growers striving for next-generation yields, as well as a great sales tool for Mosaic’s retail customers. The guide … Read More
Helping Consumers Understand Precision Farming
Kudos to the Kansas City Star daily newspaper for publishing a piece on farmers who are using precision agriculture to boost efficiency, increase yields and protect the environment. Check it out. And pass the link along to your town and urban friends.