UF/IFAS Irrigation Apps

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Apps, Irrigation

main-logoThe University of Florida has released three smart device apps of interest to those in the irrigation business, and for the time being, users can download them for free.

The first three apps to be released were designed for citrus, strawberry and urban turfgrass irrigators, said Kati Migliaccio, an associate professor in agricultural and biological engineering, based at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Fla.

The apps give real-time information to users, relying on constantly updated data from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) and the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network.

Each of the three apps is tailored to a crop – for instance, the strawberry app is based on drip irrigation, the citrus app works for micro-sprinkler systems and the urban turfgrass app gives guidance for five types of sprinklers.

The app is designed for use with manual or time-based irrigation systems, users download the app, plug in their individual details, such as location, root depth and irrigation zones, and the app uses that input and site-specific weather data to create an irrigation schedule.

What Deere’s Expanded Access Means to Partners

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, computers, Data Collection, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-ted-macyAnother agriculture technology company that took advance of John Deere’s API Integrators Conference was MapShots. Chuck met up with Ted Macy, Vice President of Operations and Lead Architect for MapShots. The company focuses on software development and providing crop management applications for the agriculture industry.

Ted gives credit to Deere as being one of the first companies to give expanded access into their products. MapShots are proud to already have a developer.deere.com account and are eager to see what’s next in Deere’s precision pipeline.

“Well, it’s working great. We’ve got a large number of growers between our own customers and those of some of our private label companies. The grower leaves the field with the machine and within 15 minutes he can go into his record keeping system and see the yield map, tillage map or whatever map with the activity he has performed. It is what we have always hoped for.”

MapShots has been a part of the beta of this wireless transfer integration, but they have learned some things about where Deere is going with their water management area. Ted also shares what this means for the growers out there and how they can get more data, easier.

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Ted here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-macy.mp3″ text=”Interview with Ted Macy”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

John Deere’s Approach to Developers & APIs

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, computers, Data Collection, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-robert-witcherOn day one of John Deere’s API Integrator Conference the idea of treating developers like customers and API’s like products was brought to the table.

Robert Witcher, Manager in API Enablement & Developer Relations for John Deere, has over 18 years of technology experience, has focused mostly on leading IT for software engineering, including IT strategy for software products and web APIs. Chuck spoke with him later and he gave more insight into the not new, but advanced integrator partnerships.

“What’s happened is a few years back we started a very small user group and it’s grown quite a bit over the years. The reason why we think we are offering more API’s and that there is more excitement about them is because each year we have taken feedback from partners. We have tried to incorporate that into new API’s and we have learned a lot ourselves from when we first started doing API’s. We have better quality, more features for our partners. So we feel like we’ve got the right mix to roll these API’s out like products and really treat the partners and developers like customers so we can give them good support and listen to what they need.”

“When we were first into the API space we just rolled out an API because some folks wanted it and we learned because we were new with it and so did our partners. And now over the last few years in the API industry, in the API economy, in the technology industry, in the precision agriculture industry people are learning best practices about API’s and how do you treat them like products.”

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Robert here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-witcher.mp3″ text=”Interview with Robert Witcher”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

Google Glass for Farming

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Apps, Audio, John Deere

Bruce RasaHave you heard about Glass, as in Google Glass?

Will this new technology be coming to a farm near you? Well, it has actually been used on farms as part of a Google Explorers project being conducted by Bruce Rasa, Inventive Branding. Bruce was one of a select few chosen my Google to receive and use Google Glass prior to the actual public launch of the product in 2014.

Bruce spoke to a group of software developers during last week’s John Deere API Integrator Conference. He gave us a “what if” scenario for how you might use a device like this on the farm that included several videos with farmers who used Glass on their farm. He’s got some great ideas that I think you’ll enjoy by listening to my interview with him in my weekly ZimmCast podcast.

Listen to this week’s program here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/zimmcast/zimmcast415-10-14-13.mp3″ text=”Google Glass on the Farm”]
Google Glass (styled “GLΛSS”) is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that is being developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with a mission of producing a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can communicate with the Internet via natural language voice commands.

Mixed Results on Impact of Govt. Shutdown

Talia GoesZimmPoll

zp-nhOur latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “ Is shutdown affecting you?” Well, it’s a moot point now since the shutdown is over (for the time being). Our poll results were pretty well mixed though.

Our poll results:
· Yes, in a minor way –23%
· Not at all – 23%
· Can’t tell a difference – 25%
· Not yet 16%
· Yes, in a major way 10%
· Other 4%

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What is most important to you when buying food?” What are those key drivers or influencers that you’re faced with at the grocery store? Let us know!

John Deere’s Focus on Partner Goals

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, computers, Data Collection, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-pete-clarkJohn Deere’s API Integrators Conference shared with current and future partners the importance of adding customized value to applications for growers globally. Ag Connections attended the event and expressed their excitement for Deere’s customer focus as it lines up perfectly with their customer focused company.

Pete Clark, president and co-owner of Ag Connections, an agriculture software company located in Murray, Kentucky spoke with Chuck. He shared that the company develops and updates crop management software solutions that make lives easier and farms more efficient and compliant.

“The model is similar to ours. We believe the grower owns the data and they said that data would be on the portal, but that the grower had control and if they wanted to remove their data they could. That’s pretty much our business model. Our customer has control. We are all about data privacy and we have been all these years. I feel like they are headed in the right direction and they are making progress.”

Ag Connections have been integrators since 2007. They already have their account setup at developer.deere.com and have participated in some pilots with the program Deere is now offering.

“As we looked at the marketplace and this became available with Deere’s marketshare we looked at it as a high value for us to put a lot of our time and resources into. It has added value to our product. As we go to a green customer and explain to them what it means, they want to utilize it.”

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Pete here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-clark.mp3″ text=”Interview with Pete Clark”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

John Deere – Making Precision Ag Easier

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, computers, Data Collection, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-kevin-veryMaking precision agriculture easier was the goal of John Deere’s API Integrator Conference. This global outreach is geared towards unlocking new innovation for customers across the world.

Chuck met up with Kevin Very, API Strategy for John Deere’s Intelligent Solutions Group. Kevin’s role focuses on developing the API strategy and structuring information solutions partnerships with 3rd parties for John Deere’s Agriculture & Turf as well as Construction & Forestry Divisions worldwide.

“We have companies here from eight countries, three continents, 50 plus companies to learn more about the John Deere data sharing program. Developer.deere.com, which is the platform by which folks can integrate data from Deere as well as the ways we are bringing that data together. We are looking forward to working with all our industry partners to bring those solutions to market.”

They also announced MyJohnDeere Data API will be combined with MyJohnDeere.com to merge data wirelessly into a business system of your choice. Options are the element Deere is focusing on with this new opportunity. Customers get the choice as to where they want to send their data quickly and easily.

The program is up and running with registration continually growing. Version one is out now and they are looking for feedback so they can make improvements along the way.

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Kevin here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-very.mp3″ text=”Interview with Kevin Very”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

AgJunction Shares Excitement for John Deere API

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-jeff-dearbornAgJunction’s, Jeff Dearborn attended the John Deere API Integrator Conference. AgJunction is a data services company along with hardware. Jeff overseas the cloud services division. They work with over 35 million acres of crop land and with about 56,000 growers.

Chuck caught up with him during the event and Jeff shared his view on what John Deere’s API means for the industry. “I think that it is industry leading. It’s refreshing. This industry has been more of a closed industry. It’s very exciting for people like us and our customers.”

He explained that if your in the ag business you know John Deere is a dominate player in the marketplace. To keep the producer in mind it is imperative for companies to work together and move forward in this precision ag area.

“Overall as an industry I think that having more people that can help the grower do what they need to do to be able to get data and do something with it is a good thing. And if that means more people such as John Deere helping and assisting in that endeavor, that’s a good thing.”

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Jeff here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-dearborn.mp3″ text=”Interview with Jeff Dearborn”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album

Valley Irrigation Product Connects Pumps to Pivots

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Irrigation

valleyValley Irrigation, the leader in precision irrigation, announces the addition of Pump Connect to its Valley Water Management product line, giving farmers a new way to automate the pumps that supply water to irrigation equipment.

Pump Connect allows growers to wirelessly control pumps from the center pivot control panel, eliminating time-consuming trips to pump sites or expensive trenching to install wires. When the pivot calls for “Water On,” Pump Connect sends a radio signal to start the pump and get the water flowing, and it stops the pump if the pivot shuts off.

Featuring a 900 mhz, frequency-hopping radio with one watt output, Pump Connect gives growers optimal connectivity. The radio searches for and connects to the strongest available signal to provide the best possible communication even in fields with obstructions or difficult terrain. Pump Connect also offers broad capability for connecting multiple devices—up to 48 radios in one setup. In addition to a one pump to one pivot connection, multiple pivots can be connected to one pump, or one pivot can be connected to multiple pumps.

John Deere’s Vision for Future Partners

Jamie JohansenAgribusiness, Audio, John Deere

jd-integrators-13-janae-tapperThe John Deere API Integrator Conference brought current and future John Deere partners together to learn more about joining forces to provide products that allow producers across the country to do what they do best.

Product Manager for On Board Applications at John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group, Janae Tapper, presented at the conference on what’s new for AgLogic™ and John Deere Field Connect™. In her role for Deere, Janae is responsible for identifying unmet customer needs and working with other team members to move solutions through the product development process.

“We are talking with these developer and integrators saying we have these products and are open to moving forward with more partners. AgLogic has some partners today. Field Connect doesn’t. We are looking to gain these partnerships with these companies and develop solutions that really help our customers grow and make better decisions.”

She goes on to explain their vision for future Field Connect partners.

“We see a lot of potential in the disease test modeling. Alerting of producers when conditions are present. We have our interface that is showing the data to our producers, but it’s how do we take these five specific data points, combine them together so they can make an educated decision. Maybe it’s understanding if diseases are going to be moving into the area and if they need to treat with a chemical or make that application. That’s not our core area as John Deere. We want to have these companies that are familiar with those areas be able to provide those recommendations to our producer.”

You can listen to Chuck’s complete interview with Janae here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-integrators-13-tapper.mp3″ text=”Interview with Janae Tapper”]

Check out photos from the event here: John Deere API Integrators Conference Photo Album