What’s Stopping You From Adopting Precision Ag?

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyThere seem to be many “what ifs” and “can I justify it” and “is it right for me” questions when it comes to farmers’ willingness to adopt the use of precision ag technologies. These are natural questions, and good ones at that, for every grower to contemplate before jumping in.

Ag Leader Technology has been in the precision ag field for nearly 20 years and would like to address a few of these common adoption hurdles.

Obstacle #1: COST
The cost obstacle is multi-faceted as growers contemplate the investment cost of the equipment, the time involved for them to learn how to use the equipment, and the time it will take to see their return on investment.

Time is of the essence, especially during busy planting and harvest seasons. Talk to your Ag Leader dealer today about what’s right for you. They offer the complete package of precision farming tools, allowing you to get started with technology based on your comfort level and your needs.

They also have a leasing program that might be right for you.

Obstacle #2: User-Friendly?
Do you feel like there’s a steep learning curve in using precision agriculture or that precision ag equipment and software are not “user-friendly”? Or, is it overwhelming to think of how to manipulate the data for your own use?

Whether the data is from planting, fertilizing, spraying, harvest or guidance, SMS software from Ag Leader can house all of the data and organize it for easy access. And, Ag Leader has online and over-the-phone customer support, tutorials and training to help you learn how to use all the data once it’s collected. The examples of how data has shown value by increasing yields are virtually endless.

Obstacle #3: Training & Troubleshooting
We admit it – it’s hard to keep up with rapidly changing technology. And, you may believe it’s a big draw on your pocketbook to bring hired hands or aging farm owners up to speed on the equipment. But, given the payoff at the end of the season, training is essential to using precision ag technologies to their fullest extent.

Resuming in February 2012, Ag Leader will be offering a series of courses and training for farmers of all size, scale and scope. Watch for training dates to be announced.

And when it comes to troubleshooting, even this harvest season when you’re in the cab in the middle of the field, Ag Leader can troubleshoot your equipment: there are software and hardware support specialists on hand to help guide you through the process.

Obstacle #4: A Comparison
Sometimes it helps to have a side-by-side comparison of precision ag equipment. Talk to your Ag Leader dealer to take a look at what’s available and what the benefits are as well as costs associated with each. And remember that Ag Leader equipment is color-blind, meaning it works with most brands of equipment you might have.

So, it seems there are many obstacles to adopting precision ag methods, but here’s the bottom line: do your research, talk with a trusted Ag Leader dealer and consider all the benefits. So what’s stopping you?

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.

Farm Bureau Weighs in on GPS Interference Issue

Cindy ZimmermanAFBF, GPS

The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to fully review possible interference to Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that could be created by a broadband network being developed by LightSquared.

“High-speed broadband services have great potential to bring opportunity to rural Americans, but should not jeopardize the Global Positioning System,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Many of our farmer and rancher members rely on GPS for precision agriculture.”

afbf“It is the accuracy of GPS that makes it useful to farmers and ranchers,” noted Stallman. Disruption to GPS could raise on-farm production costs.

AFBF submitted comments to the FCC in July urging the agency to ensure there is no interference with GPS receivers prior to granting LightSquared permission to operate its high-powered cellular base stations.

“Deployment of broadband services is important for economic development as well as improved education and health care services in rural America, but the use of precision agriculture also is vital to America’s farmers and ranchers as they continue to feed, fuel and clothe the world,” Stallman said.

The deadline for comments on the issue to FCC was today.

Farm Radio Favorites

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you like best about farm radio?” This question generated the least results by far of any we’ve done to date. I kind of thought it would have generated more response. So here’s what the results are in order of most responses. 39% said All of the Above, 18% said Markets, 16% said None of the Above, 11% said Policy News, 7% said Crop News and same for Interviews and only 2% said Weather. We also had a comment posted on AgWired that said, “The localization and attachment to the farm broadcaster who is most familiar with the area ag news beat.” So what do you think about these results?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “Which of these Fall Farm Shows Will You Attend?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Topcon Names Ag Product Marketing Manager

Melissa SandfortIndustry News

T. Joe Robertson, an experienced marketing communications and public relations manager with extensive experience in wireless technology and precision agriculture, has been named product marketing manager for Topcon Precision Agriculture (TPA).

Robertson’s experience includes vice president of McCann-Erickson advertising agency in San Francisco, and the Lois/USA agency in Chicago. Additionally, he has served as manager of communications for Novariant, Inc., of Fremont, California, where he managed all communications for its AutoFarm division.

Robertson said he was “looking forward to promoting the Topcon brand and its specialized precision ag products and services. TPA’s product lineup is recognized throughout the world for offering true solutions to the precision agriculture market.”

It’s in the Can

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

I’ve seen them used as decorations on the front porch, or as bar stools in the shop, or flower planters … but in the early days, these cream cans were actually used for agricultural purposes. It’s just that – a 5-gallon cream can that folks used to set at the end of the driveway and once a week, a truck would come pick them up to take them to the creamery where butter and cheese were made.

The cream would rise to the top of the can during its fateful ride and any spill or leak from the can was costly to the farmer.

Some reports I’ve read say the first bulk storage tanks came into existence in the late 1930s.

Either way, I can’t imagine setting a can of milk at the end of my driveway in the 110-degree heat we’ve been having.

Until our next history lesson …

Clear Difference Between Tilled and No-Till Soil

Cindy ZimmermanAGROTAIN, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Tillage, Video

One of the stops on the 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour in Ohio last week was the farm of Todd Hesterman in Napoleon, Ohio. Todd has employed continuous no-till on his 450 acre corn, soybean and wheat operation for 22 years and used yield mapping for more than 14 years and is a strong advocate for doing what he can to help water quality and “still stay in business.”

“Our water infiltration rates for heavy rains, we can definitely see an improvement in the quantity of rain water we can accept and not have standing water or running water off the service,” he said. “That’s the biggest improvement we see is soil health and soil quality.”

Listen to my interview with Todd here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/ctic/ctic-tour-11-hesterman.mp3″ text=”Ohio No Till Farmer Todd Hesterman”]

To show the clear difference between tilled and no-till soil, USDA-NRCS Ohio state agronomist Mark Scarpitti did a little demonstration on Todd’s farm by dropping a chunk of soil that had been in no-till for several decades, compared to a similar chunk of tilled soil. You can see what happens in the video below.

CTIC 2011 Conservation in Action Tour Photos

AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN

Bringing Us Up to Date

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyLet’s bring you up to speed as we recently left off learning about the history of Ag Leader Technology when the company had just gone mobile in 2006.

The very next year, Ag Leader partners with NORAC, Inc. to provide the InSight™ display interface to the NORAC UC5™ Spray Height Controller. Then, partners with KINZE Manufacturing, Inc. to develop new planting technology that improves the precision and control of row crop planters. Lightbars go color; Planter monitoring functionality is added to Ag Leader’s SeedCommand system; a precision ag lab is added within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University; and, DirectCommand system now offers direct control for granular and liquid products.

In 2008, the company introduces the EZ-Guide 250, breaks ground on a building expansion at its current facility in Ames, Iowa; becomes the exclusive distributor for Holland Scientific’s second-generation active light reflectance sensor products; establishes the Ag Leader Technology Precision Agriculture Scholarship within the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University; and, reveals a new entry-level, year-round precision farming display for those just getting started with precision technology — the EDGE™ display.

Realizing that partnerships are integral to business strength and sustainability, in 2009 Ag Leader forms an alliance with AutoFarm to bring together the highly popular and successful precision ag products of Ag Leader with the latest embedded and integrated steering solutions from AutoFarm.

Also in 2009, Ag Leader introduces an advanced automated steering system by unveiling ParaDyme®; the company releases OptRx, a crop sensor used for mapping and data collection as well as real-time variable rate application of agrochemicals, specifically nitrogen; Ag Leader reveals OnTrac2™ and the L160 CAN bus Lightbar.

Just last year, the Blue Delta Dealer network was launched, introducing a group of elite precision farming dealers; SureVac™ electric row shutoffs are added to the Ag Leader lineup of planter section shutoff devices; a new “drive and guide” guidance pattern – SmartPath™ – was introduced; the GPS 2500 all-in-one antenna and GNSS Receiver was released; and, Advanced Seed Monitoring functionality was added to Ag Leader’s SeedCommand™ system.

With many other product launches and technology advancements along the way, this brings our history lesson to current day where Ag Leader employs over 200 people, with staff located across the continental US, Canada and Europe. Ag Leader Technology is a leader and driving force behind precision agriculture innovation, offering the simplest and most complete package of precision farming technologies.

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.

ZimmPoll Results on Biorefinery Safety

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What do you think the biggest safety issue is at a biorefinery?” Here’s what you said. 43% said interaction with chemicals, 34% said, slips, grips and falls, 14% chose equipment and 9% other. We’ll be delving into this issue more in a series of stories on Energy.AgWired.com and appreciate your input!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live. We’re asking the question, “What do you like best about farm radio?” Your input and thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

The Corn Crib

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

From planting to harvest, corn production has changed drastically through the years. I’ve talked about a 2-row planter, hand-crank corn sheller and 12-row combine head, but another memory from my childhood reappeared the other day and I enlisted the help of my grandmother to dig up a photo.

On one of the “old places” there used to be a round, metal corn crib. It stood empty for all the years I could remember but served as a great playhouse and dog kennel in its later years.

A corn crib was used to dry and store corn. After the harvest, corn, still on the cob, was placed in the crib either with or without the husk. The typical corn crib had slats in its walls. These slatted sides of the corn crib allow air to circulate through the corn, both allowing it to dry initially and helping it to stay dry. The slats expose the corn to pests, so corn cribs are elevated above the ground beyond the reach of rodents. (The corn crib that I used to play in sat on a large concrete slab.)

Metal grain bins with drying systems started popping up around 1907. Since then, farmers have efficiently harvested, dried and moved thousands of bushels of corn each year.

Needless to say, I didn’t play in any grain bins (farm safety!), but they did present another source of childhood enjoyment – climbing the ladder all the way to the top. What a view! If you have a fear of heights, it’s not recommended.

Until our next history lesson …

Ag Offers Lots of Skilled Labor Careers

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Industry News

The need for skilled labor workers in the agriculture industry was a recurring theme at the AgCareers.com 2011 North American Ag HR Roundtable held last week at Purdue University.

AgCareers president Eric Spell says they about 190 attendees were at the 9th annual event to discuss recruitment and retention of talent in the agribusiness industry, including the largest number of employers ever. “Some companies are sending 3, 4 or even 5 attendees,” Eric says. “We do have 90 employers represented, which is by far the most we’ve ever had.”

While higher education for agribusiness executive positions has always been a focus for the roundtable, Eric says the need for skilled labor jobs has become more critical lately, especially in the precision agriculture field. “Skilled labor is custom applicators in the agronomy sector, service technicians in the farm equipment industry, GPS positions in the equipment industry,” Eric says. “They’re skilled trade positions, they’re valued, and sometimes they even pay more than a four year degree.” He notes that about a third of the 2300 jobs listed on AgCareers.com right now are skilled labor positions.

Listen to my interview with Eric here: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/agcareers/2011-aghr-eric.mp3″ text=”AgCareers president Eric Spell Interview”]

2011 AgCareers Ag HR Roundtable photo album.