Growers who battle herbicide-resistant weeds can effectively use precision farming technology to make better decisions and save money, according to John Fulton, Auburn University extension biosystems engineer in a recent story by Southeast Farm Press. Scouting remains an important factor to help insure that a grower is making the most informed decisions possible, says Fulton. “Whether it’s you the grower … Read More
New Variable-rate Field-IQ Control System
Trimble offers a new Field-IQ system that controls and monitors seed and fertilizer delivery capabilities to enhance variable-rate functionality. The Field-IQ system pairs seamlessly with the guidance capabilities of the Trimble FmX integrated display or CFX 750 touch screen display, which both run Trimble’s unique overlap detection technology. Farmers using the Field-IQ crop input control system for seed placement have … Read More
Farm Bureau Picks Top Farmer Ideas
There were lots of innovative ideas on display at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Farmer Idea Exchange this year, but only one could be the winner, and that was John McDowell Jr., of Texas and his “Sprayer Nurse Trailer.” McDowell’s unique shop-built trailer can refill a self-propelled sprayer three times. It carries a 265-gallon shuttle that gravity-feeds chemicals into … Read More
Nebraska Ag Tech Conference Gears Up
Don’t miss the upcoming February 9-10 NeATA conference in Grand Island, Neb., as it promises a technology extravaganza, along with other valuable topics such as precision Nitrogen management, social media, building consumer trust and much more. The Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA), founded in 2001 by innovative Nebraska farmers, ranchers, agribusiness representatives and the University of Nebraska Extension, has compiled … Read More
New Publications on Auto Section Control
The Alabama Precision Ag team has compiled three good publications on automatic section control (ASC) for sprayers, planters and spreaders. Automatic section control (ASC) has been one of the most adopted precision ag technologies in recent years. This technology has the ability to save producers on input costs by minimizing application overlap at headlands, point rows, or other odd-shaped areas … Read More
Understanding GPS/GNSS Drift
GPS/GNSS drift, or how accurate your guidance system is over time, is explained in a new piece on www.AlabamaPrecisionAgOnline.com. The Alabama Precision Agriculture Team discovered that some users of GPS/GNSS-based technologies were not optimizing the GPS/GNSS correction services for their particular field operations (e.g. using the WAAS correction service for planting). It is imperative to understand the different accuracies associated … Read More
Sensor-based Variable-Rate Application on Cotton
A new publication for cotton growers offer insight and details into sensor-based variable-rate application and equipment, written by Oklahoma State University Ag Engineer Randy Taylor and Auburn University Precision Ag Extension Specialist John Fulton, funded by Cotton Incorporated. There are great opportunities for this technology in cotton production for varying the application of plant growth regulators, harvest aids, and nitrogen. … Read More
Save Chemical Input Cost with Precision Farming Technology
In the North Dakota Farm Business Management Program, coordinator Steve Metzger says producers are telling him they are using far less chemicals, saving money and the environment thanks to the tools of precision agriculture, according to a recent story in Farm & Ranch Guide. “We talk to each producer that we work with, and they are the ones telling us … Read More
Precision Steering Control Benefits Fall Applications
Precision steering, whether assisted technology attached to the steering wheel or fully automated steering wired into hydraulics, can give you improved pass-to-pass accuracy, time and money savings, and less operator fatigue. I spoke the other day with Jeff Bentley, Ag Leader Technology’s sales manager for GPS Guidance and Steering, to get his take on the usefulness of non-human steering in … Read More
New Variable-Rate Prescription Software Service
Designed for dealers, crop consultants and other ag professionals, new FieldRx is a web-based precision farming engine that creates customized site-specific recommendations for any crop. Just in time to begin soil sampling in preparation for the 2011 growing season, FieldRx is bringing crop consultants and agricultural dealers a more user-friendly program for writing custom fertilizer prescriptions. Designed by ag professionals … Read More