The latest in precision technology is on display at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, for both newbies and more seasoned users. “On one hand we have new products for operators who have yet to get into precision ag,” says Kim Fletcher with John Deere Ag Management Solutions told me. “We came out with an entry level manual guidance … Read More
Robotic Tractor and Sprayer Technology Coming
Spraying orchards is a messy but necessary job. And if Cornell researchers succeed, a driverless tractor and sprayer could simplify the task. This fruit tree sprayer, fitted with sensors to determine location and height of trees, is part of a $3.9 million USDA-funded project at Cornell–in collaboration with the National Robotics Engineering Center at Carnegie Mellon University. The objective is … Read More
Good Time To Analyze Soil Maps
Since planting preparation is still months away, why not invest some time in learning more about the soils in your fields–to gain profit from precision knowledge. You can now access your fields using the USDA-NRCS online Web Soil Survey. This information is valuable when it comes to developing management zones for site specific farming. For more details on how to use … Read More
Wireless Soil Sensors Judge Crop Environment
Sensor technology continues to amaze me. Having watched this fascinating technology since the 1980s and written about its usefulness in monitoring everything from tractor components to grain quality, I’ve become a firm believer that such sensor precision truly pays. Current research underway by engineers at Iowa State University aims to plant small (2×4 in.) prototype wireless soil sensors under crops. … Read More
Survey Says Less Steering Wheel Use
Like farmers, more retailers are using their steering wheels less this past year–without going in the ditch! Survey says…adoption of auto guidance grew from 27% use by retailers to 37% in 2008. Other growing precision technologies being applied for customers include GPS guidance using lightbars, satellite/aerial imagery, field mapping with GIS for legal/billing/insurance purposes, and GPS for logistics uses. When … Read More
AG CONNECT Will Spotlight Precision Ag
The latest technology in agriculture will be a major part of the “new generation of ag show” coming 2010 to Orlando – AG CONNECT expo 2010. A preview of AG CONNECT 2010 was offered to ag executives meeting Thursday in St. Louis for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers AgExecutive Forum. According to show manager Sara Truesdale Mooney, they have taken … Read More
Aligned Farming Enhances Precision
Measuring progress is key to determining which farming techniques are more profitable than others for growers. Clay Mitchell, a farmer in NE Iowa says aligned-farming is a precision farming technique that allows growers to measure their progress, particularly compared to angled-farming. “What’s special about aligned farming systems is that it allows us to measure them,” Clay said. “We can finally … Read More
Auto-Steer Compliments Skip-Row Farming
Specialized farming practices paired with specialized farming technology can mean “special” results for farmers if you ask Robert Klein. Robert is an Extension Cropping Systems Specialist with the University of Nebraska in North Platte. He says when it comes to seeding and planting plots for crop performance evaluation, using GPS-RTK Auto Steering technology with skip-row planting methods can boost yields. … Read More
Farming for the Future
Simon Blackmore is changing the future of farming with his Unibots project (see post), but he’s also farming for the future with the European project Future Farm. But, Simon says, the project is all about implementing the technologies of today: “The purpose of Future Farm is to take a lot of the technologies and processes that we’ve been developing in … Read More
Robotic Agriculture
Robots are the future of agriculture if you ask Simon Blackmore. I’ve already acquainted readers with the forward-thinking agriculturist and inventor, exploring both his role with FutureFarm and Unibots. But, both projects are innovative and impressive enough to merit a closer look. In this interview with Simon, we discuss the creation of his own company: Unibots. The company supports research … Read More