In general, the past year in the world of precision agriculture has been one of consolidation among industry players. “We’ve really streamlined into 4 or 5 major players in precision ag,” says Matt Darr, Iowa State University Ag Engineer. “Rather than a lot of companies that offer a segment of products, we’re getting down to a core set of companies … Read More
Precision Agriculture Starts At Soil Level
While we often talk product and technology innovation, you truly cannot achieve real efficiency without knowing your various soils in every field. It all starts with regular soil tests, and many astute growers use this information to build management zones in every field–as the basis for variable-rate applications. Soil testing is not a budget line-item that should be cut. University … Read More
The Move To Automatic Steering
As more mainstream mid-sized farmers move further into precision farming tools beyond the yield monitor or lightbar, they are fortunate to reap the benefits of those early-adopter farmers. These early users pushed companies to constantly improve their products. And the price tag on these systems has dropped dramatically, thanks to competition and better engineering. Such is the case with auto … Read More
Ag Leader Welcomes Dealers To New Facility
Arriving just ahead of a blizzard bearing down on Iowa yesterday, more than 200 key dealers got their first glimpse of the big, new Ag Leader Academy training facility in Ames. The group will get hands-on experience over the next several days, learning all about new products and the steering technology and services gained from the partnership with AutoFarm. There … Read More
Make Plans for AG Connect Expo 2010
January in Orlando is looking pretty good right now to most of us in the frigid Midwest. So if you have not made plans to attend AG Connect Expo 2010 in Orlando on January 13-15, take this snow day to get on line and make your reservations. Besides offering the opportunity to get away to a warmer climate, Expo 2010 … Read More
Precision Farming Adoption And Payback
Ag Leader Technology and AutoFarm joined forces today in Ames, Iowa at the official opening of the new Ag Leader Academy to talk about their combined tools of precision agriculture with the media. Amidst the talks by management, touting the excitement of this alliance and their complete precision farming product offering, was a presentation by Iowa State University agricultural engineer … Read More
Ag Leader Opens New Training Academy Facility
The doors open next week on Ag Leader Technology’s new Ag Leader Academy, which will play host to its top 200 dealers who will use this great new training resource to learn about the new product line for 2010. “This is a big event for us, as we just launched an entire new suite of products, announced our new partnership … Read More
Think About Saving Seed Input Dollars In 2010
We hope harvest is finally over, although it may not be for some, due to the weather extremes that seemed to occur across the Midwest. As you reflect on your year, and begin to think about 2010, thoughts usually turn first to seed buying. And due to the tax advantages we highlighted last Friday (“5-Year Farm Equipment Depreciation Ends in … Read More
GPS Accuracy: How Accurate Is Accurate?
If you’re familiar with yield mapping, automatic boom section control or other tasks that require a GPS signal, you may not truly understand how it works…or you may not care as long as it works, right! Let me simplify things. Basically, 11,000 miles from earth is a constellation of satellites (between 24 and 32 at any given time) strategically placed and … Read More
Can Precision Farming Cure World Hunger?
I hope, as a precision farmer, you’ve added a ‘communicate with consumers’ recurring task to your weekly if not daily chore list. Whether you do it locally or globally, through talking or through social media, you should join the conversation to support your cause. Part of that effort is to monitor what’s said about your noble profession. To that end, … Read More