Debbie Borg blogs about issues of technology and food from her Borg Farm base near Allen, Nebraska. In a recent post of “Random Thoughts,” she spoke of the great achievements of agricultural technology and the production efficiencies it has helped achieve. Agriculture’s efficiency just seems to keep getting better and many of the activists groups want us to go … Read More
Precision Planting Saves Thousands Of Dollars
It’s nice to see the general media cover agriculture from a positive technology standpoint. This recent story in the Janesville (Wisc.) Gazette highlights how precision agriculture tools help farmers cut costs. Chuck Pope uses global positioning software in the cab of his tractor as a guide as he plants thousands of acres of corn in Walworth, Rock and Jefferson counties … Read More
Auto Steer Helps Recover Wet Spring Delays
Rain delays always impede timely planting in areas of the country every spring. But thanks to precision farming tools like GPS-guided auto steer, farmers like Johnny Verell near Jackson, Tenn. can make up for lost time. “It takes a lot of the stress out of planting,” Verell told Monsanto Today. “We can cover more ground and work at night a … Read More
Promote Precision Ag Benefits Beyond The Choir
As efficient farmers–using precision agriculture tools to apply less fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, et. al.–you know your technology ROI is helping your bottom line. But do the people we feed know the improvements–in crops as well as livestock? Sadly, no they don’t. It’s time we all make a greater effort to use some precision social media tools (Twitter and Facebook, along … Read More
Marriage Proposal Thanks To Precision Ag Tools
Give credit to farmers and their creativity. Not only are they saving time, input dollars and the environment thanks to the tools of precision agriculture, some growers find ways to use it to enhance their personal lives. Vega, Texas grower Braden Gruhlkey used his John Deere GreenStar GPS-based guidance system to accurately plow the letters of his marriage proposal to … Read More
Precision Farming Australia Style
Competing with neighboring farms and other US farmers has long been a stimulus to help farmers adopt tools of precision agriculture that improve efficiency. But in our global economy, it’s always wise to track what other farmers around the globe are doing. To this end, check out how this 43-year-old Australian farmer is using precision farming tools for efficiency, as … Read More
Precision Auto Steer Works Without Driver
Now you knew someone would, sooner or later, put John Deere’s iTEC Pro technology to the test by leaving the cab, as witnessed by this crazy driverless tractor video. Good thing the GPS signal did not drop. And please, don’t try this at home. I’d like to see the rest of the video where the farmer had to run and jump … Read More
Precision Agriculture Boosts Farming Smarter
The technology of precision agriculture is becoming more affordable (Precision.AgWired.com!), easier to use, less cumbersome in the tractor cab and physically easier on the farmer (thanks to auto steer). That’s the message delivered by ag industry veteran Harold Reetz, president of the Foundation for Agronomic Research, in a recent story he penned for AgriNews. The risks of over-applying and under-yielding … Read More
Learn Precision Ag Technology at New Website
PrecsionAg WORKS, the new website developed by The PrecisionAg Institute (a part of Meister Media Worldwide), is designed to help educate the agricultural community on the benefits and uses of precision agriculture technology. The site features an array of valuable content to help growers understand the technology including: – A glossary of precision agriculture terms and concepts – Research statistics on cost savings and … Read More
Precision Farming Data Will Pay
The early pioneers of precision agriculture technology were often frustrated–not unlike the initial stages of any technology. The data gathered could produce impressive yield maps, but the knowledge base to glean better management decisions from them was lacking. Today, those pioneering growers have a treasure trove of data that can possibly be manipulated into zones–leading to improved management decisions. Corn … Read More