FieldView Plus Tells Growers of Planting Problems

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Planting

alertiPhoneEarlier this year, Precision Planting introduced FieldView Plus, giving growers the ability to sync planting data across multiple pieces of field equipment and multiple electronic devices. Now, automatic planter performance text alerts have been added to this cloud-based system.

Doug Sauder, Product Manager, notes that the metrics and alert thresholds can be set and changed through the FieldView website at any time, and multiple phone numbers can be notified. “It’s easy to set up, easy to change and easy to keep your planting performance at the highest possible level.”

In 2013, FieldView Plus is a no-cost option for Precision Planting’s FieldView and SeedSense users. Full release is planned for the 2014 planting season as a subscription-based service.

Diverse Herbicide Program Needed for 2013

Talia GoesAgribusiness, BASF, Weed control

BASFCommon waterhemp, Palmer amaranth, giant and common ragweed, Italian ryegrass and marestail are all part of a growing group of yield-reducing “watch-out” weeds in the United States. With confirmed resistance to multiple herbicides, these species are top of mind for farmers this season.

According to the Weed Science Society of America, weeds cause more yield loss and add more to farmers’ production costs than insects, diseases, rodents, birds, and grazers, such as deer. Experts recommend farmers carefully manage any weeds – resistant or not – with herbicides that offer multiple sites of action, ensuring they don’t turn into the next crop of “watch-out” weeds.

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“To keep ‘watch-out’ weeds in check, farmers should plan to use a herbicide program that effectively targets the weeds using herbicides with different sites of action,” said Luke Bozeman, Technical Market Manager, BASF (pictured left).

As an industry leader, BASF is dedicated to providing solutions, technical support and educational tools to help growers implement a weed resistance management program based on herbicide best practices. The BASF portfolio of solutions consists of herbicides targeting 12 different sites of action, more than any other company in the industry, for effective control of resistant weeds. This extensive line of herbicides also provides a multi-year rotational plan that allows growers to apply herbicides throughout the growing season to deliver the management flexibility today’s farmers need to drive success.

Getting to Know Ag Leader

Talia GoesAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyHere is the next in our series as we introduce you to a few of dedicated precision ag equipment dealers in a series called “Getting to Know Ag Leader”.

We caught up with Keith Byerly of Advanced Cropping Systems by CVA in Nebraska.

1. From an agronomy standpoint, what do you consider to be the biggest issues facing growers today?
KeithB[1]
In our part of the world, it still comes down to water. We haven’t had much relief from the drought yet, and are facing water restrictions on irrigation if the drought continues into another growing season. That all being said, we are seeing the market explode when it comes to technologies for soil moisture management and VR Irrigation. To that extent, I think that growers are again going to be faced with a decision that cannot be made too quickly on who to partner with for a provider of this information. From a service provider standpoint, there are so many people out there with a “Me Too Attitude” offering data and prescription services to match the capabilities of the hardware they are selling. We firmly believe the “One Size Fits All” mentality does not work with it comes to working with growers and their data. Just like any other aspect of a growers operation, they need to make sure they find a Precision Ag service provider that understands the whole picture of what they are doing, and customizes programs around them.

2. Tell us about how growers in your area are using precision agriculture.

VR Fertilizer is the standard now, not the option. We are seeing the second generation of VR Seeding come about now as well. What I mean by that is that there were quite a few early adopters who went out and did VR seeding just because they could. They based it on soils maps and called it good. The results were less than great, and they abandoned the technology. Now they are coming back to it again, and this time they are looking for that right service provider to help them design a program. Section control of planters and sprayers was slower to be adapted in this area because we are fortunate enough to farm rectangular and square shaped field for the most part, but they are now the rule rather than the exception. RTK adaptation is really coming on strong now as well, with private CORS networks outpacing radio based systems. And of course automated steering continues to take over the cabs of these machines. We see more systems going into tractors that are more than 20 years old than I could have ever imagined.
Read More

Terra Novo Launches EarthGuard EDGE

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Conservation, environment

TerraNovoTerra Novo, a leading manufacturer of erosion and sediment control products in Bakersfield, California, is expanding its EarthGuard line to include EarthGuard EDGE, a pellet form of the popular product for erosion control. The new EDGE formula allows users to apply the product without water by hand, mechanically, or air-drop. It’s ideal for use in remote areas with limited water and for smaller jobs where hydromulching is cost-prohibitive.

Like the rest of the EarthGuard product line, EarthGuard EDGE is non-toxic, 100% biodegradable and meets NSF drinking-water standards. It is chemically engineered to absorb the impact of raindrops and provides immediate erosion control and soil stabilization until permanent vegetation is established or until construction has resumed. EarthGuard EDGE is effective for erosion control, slope stabilization, landscape design, reclamation, storm water runoff protection, fire/burn rehabilitation, land development and construction.

NCGA Congratulates “Champion for Change”

Talia GoesAgribusiness, NCGA

YoderThe National Corn Growers Association congratulates Past President Fred Yoder as he is recognized by President Obama as a “Champion for Change.” The official recognition, which takes place in the White House on a weekly basis, honors 12 ordinary Americans are doing extraordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.

A fourth-generation farmer, Yoder has been an advocate for many years, promoting agriculture as a solution to many of the sustainability challenges.

Spring Planting Delay

Talia GoesNew Holland, ZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How do you combat social media overload?” We live in a new media world where we can communicate instantly with one person or the whole world. Does it ever bother you? Do you have to take a break from it all?

Our poll results: Twenty-five percent said Focus On 1 or 2 Social Networks, twenty-three percent said Physically Talk To People, thirteen percent Turn Devices Off For a While, ten percent Don’t Get Overloaded, eight percent Do Farm Chores and said Overload, What Overload?, five percent Set Time Limits, Read a Book, and Other. Based on poll results, focusing on one or two social media networks rather than all of them helps most people keep the chaos at ease.

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Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Have you started spring planting?” The weather has been less than predictable over the last month, this time last year many of you were already in the fields. Has it delayed your spring planting date? Let us know.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Leica Releases SteerDirect ES

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Company Announcement, Leica Geosystems

LGS_logo_web2Leica Geosystems released Leica SteerDirect ES, the latest retro-fit electric steering system. Customers can install the assisted steering solution effortlessly into all major brands and models. SteerDirect ES reduces input costs and operator fatigue.

The electro-mechanical drive unit is quiet and latches on and off for easy transfer between vehicles. Adding Leica SteerDirect ES doesn’t involve integration into the hydraulic system or dismounting the steering wheel. Compatible with the Leica mojo3D guidance system and the Leica mojoXact the Leica SteerDirect ES offers a universal installation kit and several vehicle specific installation kits including:

• Case IH MX & STX, New Holland TJ & T9000 (Install Kit 805047)
• Case IH Maxxum, MXU & Puma, New Holland TS, T6000 & T7000 (Install Kit 805046)
• John Deere 6000 & 7000 (Install Kit 805048)
• John Deere 6000 Premium & 7000 Premium (Install Kit 806829)
• John Deere 47X0, 4830, 7000, 8000, 8000T, 8R (2010), 9000 & 9000T (Install Kit 805045)

Additional vehicle specific installation kits will be available in the near future.

PrecisionAg Award of Excellence Deadline

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Precision Ag in the News

AwardofExcellencePrecision agriculture products and practices have been enhanced and improved over the past two decades in large part by the work of innovative and driven individuals and organizations. The PrecisionAg Award of Excellence program sheds light on some of the most important people and programs that have helped agriculture realize the full benefits of technology to improve agronomy, efficiency, and stewardship in crop production.

Please nominate canidates by April 15, 2013.

Open Data for Ag Key to Food Security

Cindy ZimmermanData Collection, General, USDA

open-dataInnovators and private sector partners are being urged to participate in the G-8 Open Data for Agriculture meeting coming up later this month in Washington DC to help “facilitate the transfer of scientific research and information in a broad range of areas from best agricultural practices, to research, biotechnology, irrigation, extension services and applied technology.”

The goal of the conference on April 29-30 is to “Obtain commitment and action from nations and relevant stakeholders to promote policies and invest in projects that open access to publicly funded global agriculturally relevant data streams, making such data readily accessible to users in Africa and world-wide, and ultimately supporting a sustainable increase in food security in developed and developing countries.”

In a column for Agri-Pulse, Friends of the World Food Program founder Marshall Matz noted that precision agriculture technology “can increase productivity including the productivity of smallholder farmers. Wireless technology, with GPS, may be one of the few areas where Africa is ahead of the United States.”

Matz believes that this meeting, which grew out of last year’s G-8 Summit commitment to a new Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, can have a major impact on global food security. “Africa is the key to global food security and Open Data for Agriculture can make the difference,” he said.

Find out more here.

Ag Leader Wants to Hear From You!

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Audio, Insights Weekly

Insights Weekly Whether it’s good (hopefully!), bad or “help me before I throw this thing out into the field and run over it”, Ag Leader’s customer support staff wants to hear from you. And during busy seasons such as planting and harvest, customer support specialists are on hand extended hours to be sure that across all time zones, day or night, if you have a question in the field you can get an answer over the phone.

They may be called the silent heroes of the day, but Jordan Dittmer, Ag Leader Machine Guidance Support Supervisor, says, “We’re here to help. If you have something going on and you don’t tell us, we can’t help you. We want to hear from you.”

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Dittmer1.mp3″ text=”Listen to Dittmer explain”]

Ag Leader has also made a commitment to their dealer network through various classroom-style trainings and hands-on assistance, making dealers the next tier in customer support. Dittmer explains why Ag Leader continues to invest this time into developing dealers.

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Dittmer2.mp3″ text=”Listen to Dittmer explain”]

So think of these silent heroes as your next door neighbor, even though they may be thousands of miles away. In fact, most of the support staff are farmers just like you!

[wpaudio url=”http://precision.agwired.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/04/Dittmer3.mp3″ text=”Listen to Dittmer explain”]

On behalf of Ag Leader’s support team, we wish you a safe, successful 2013 planting season!

Become a fan of Ag Leader on Facebook today, and get the latest precision ag videos on the YouTube channel. For more information about Ag Leader products and services, or to visit the blog site, go to www.agleader.com.