The latest in precision agriculture might not be at the ground level, turning the soil. It might come just a few feet above the top of the crops in the form of the Autocopter. In this edition of the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we talk to Autocopter president Donald Effren, who describes how this little helicopter with … Read More
Calibrate For Variable-Rate Precision Farming Success
While every farmer knows the value of preparing and calibrating the planter and sprayer, the same holds true when calibrating the electronics and software that control these implements—especially if you vary rates across the field on the go. Hopefully you pulled out that owner’s manual, or enlisted your local dealer’s help, several weeks ahead of pulling into the first field … Read More
Use Precision Software Data For Planting Trials and More
Give farmers a piece of technology and they find inventive ways to use it to benefit their operation. In the case of Newton, Iowa farmer (and Ag Leader SeedComand product specialist) Will Cannon, it all started with the yield monitor and mapping hybrids. “I like knowing exactly to a row when hybrids and varieties start and stop—especially when you have … Read More
Ag Leader Technology Expands Social Media Communications
More and more innovative agricultural companies are expanding their communications efforts into social media — from Facebook fan pages and YouTube video pages to Twitter accounts and company blogs — in an effort to further improve dialogue between customers and prospects. Ag Leader Technology kicked off a company blog this past week called Precision Point. And within the first post, … Read More
Sensors Aim to Improve Your N Use on Corn
You won’t find too many farmers who would disagree with the notion that corn plant health can vary widely across a field. And I think the majority of growers would love to improve their nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency—if only the weather would cooperate. While variable rate fertilizer based on grids/management zones and soil tests is one possible solution, that practice … Read More
Time To Prep Your Precision Farming Equipment
As you gear up for planting season, it’s wise to power up, check out and test your monitors, displays and other valuable electronic components before seed enters the planter and you head to the field. I talked to Nick Ohrtman this week, technical support supervisor for Ag Leader Technology. He said a good place to start is to check the … Read More
Precision.AgWired.com by Time Saving
This photo was taken of me with Ag Leader general sales manager Mike Olson at the Commodity Classic as we both checked email on our cell phones to prepare for an interview. Amazing what technology we have in our pockets these days! Some people may argue whether cell phones actually make us more efficient, but most of us wonder what … Read More
Precision Podcast from Commodity Classic
Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Director of Research Tracy Blackmer was one of the presenters for the PrecisonAg Learning Center at the 2010 Commodity Classic trade show. Tracy is head of ISA’s On-Farm Network®, which focuses on precision agriculture tools and technology to collect information that can increase growers’ profits from crop production and I interviewed him at Classic for this … Read More
Precision Ag Learning Center is a Classic Hit
The first-ever PrecisionAg Learning Center at Commodity Classic was a big hit with growers at the trade show. According to the PrecisionAg.com there was a steady stream of attendees asking questions, sitting in on presentations, and chatting with growers who use precision technology. Among the presenters were Idaho grower Robert Blair and Iowa grower Dennis Friest, Craig Smith from Kansas … Read More
Farmers Getting Ready for Spring Planting
Spring is just around the corner – the time when a farmer’s fancy turns to thoughts of planting. Growers stopping by the Ag Leader Technology booth at the Commodity Classic trade show last week definitely had spring on their minds. General sales manager Mike Olson says they talked a lot about what growers need to know to get precision farming … Read More