While new precision farming tools such as global positioning system (GPS) and guidance technology have recently gained much attention from growers, it’s the collection, storage and analysis of field data that may have the greatest impact on farming operations. That’s because the availability of accurate information for most businesses, including farming, can lead to better management and input decisions over … Read More
History Channel Profiles High-Tech Farming
The History Channel’s program, Modern Marvels, has featured several episodes on high technology farming practices. Programs on precision farming are available on the History Channel’s Web site, and provide a good overview of practices such as automatic steering, on the go sensor technology, modern tractors, and global positioning systems. To access the videos, click here. Content courtesy of Paul Schrimpf, … Read More
FIN TV Touts OptiGro
Jodie Wehrspan, Farm Industry News TV, spoke with Jeff Kaiser, manager for John Deere Agri Services about the OptiGro system. While more farmers are going to corn on corn acres, input costs are increasing and profit opportunities are being stretched, OptiGro, an aerial remote sensing program that shows crop stress, helps to manage input costs for this growing season. The … Read More
Photos from the Field
I got an email yesterday from Roger Godwin, our Reach for the Stars winner in Georgia. That state, as you may know, has been extremely dry this season which kept Roger from planting in a timely fashion. But, he now reports that enough rain has fallen that he has gotten out in the fields: “We only got 2 tenths of … Read More
Precision Ag Conference Features “Farmer Day”
July 12th has been designated “Farmer Day” at the InfoAg 2007 International Precision Farming Conference which will be held July 10-12 in Springfield, Ill. They are featuring a special Thursday only registration fee of $75 to attract producers from around the country to the event. The program includes producers talking about their experience with precision tools, consultants sharing their findings … Read More
UNL Expert on OptiGro System
Randy Koenen of KTIC/KWPN/Rural Radio Network in West Point, Nebraska recently interviewed Jim Schepers, USDA-ARS soil scientist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, about the OptiGro imaging program available through John Deere Agri Services. “In years like this with lots of excessive rainfall, what happens is nitrogen losses,” Schepers says. “Too much water for two or three days will trigger de-nitrification.” … Read More
How OptiGro Can Help With N-Deficiency
Crop stress associated with nitrogen deficiency is showing up in some fields in the Midwest. Tracy Blackmer, an Iowa farmer who is director of research for the Iowa Soybean Association, recently talked with Neil Trobak of KCIM in Carroll, IA about the situation. “We do a lot of field research projects around the state focusing on nitrogen in corn,” said … Read More
N Losses May Affect Growers
The issue: Nitrogen deficiency stress in corn due to heavy rainfall and other factors in the Midwest this spring which may soon become more apparent in the next few weeks to put the corn crop at risk and reduce yields. What does that mean? 1. N losses always exist. 2. Mineralization always exists. This year will probably more erratic than … Read More
Another “Reach for the Stars” Winner in Illinois
There were a total of 15 growers nationwide who won the American Soybean Association/John Deere Reach for the Stars contest this year, and two of them were from Illinois. Dave Russell of Brownfield Network recently caught up with Chris Von Holten of Walnut, Illinois to ask how he is enjoying the use of a John Deere precision technology package for … Read More
John Deere OptiGro helps manage N levels
Soil and weather conditions this spring in Iowa and surrounding states could have a major impact on development of the region’s corn crop going into the heart of the growing season, says an area agronomist. Crop stress associated with nitrogen deficiency should be a big concern for corn growers who experienced a cool, wet spring. That stress may start showing … Read More