MyWay RTK Introduces Andy Hill as GM

Melissa SandfortGeneral, Industry News, RTK

MyWay RTK LLC – a precision farming technologies company that specializes in open-technology RTK (Real Time Kinematic) – introduced industry veteran, Andy Hill, as the new General Manager. Hill comes from Premier Technologies, Inc., bringing with him 20 years industry experience in precision farming and agriculture.

With its territory already blanketing the entire state of Illinois and quickly expanding in states like Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, MyWay RTK executives sought a proven industry expert to oversee the company’s continued growth.

As General Manager, Hill’s primary role will be facilitating the expansion of the MyWay RTK territory and working with industry representatives to implement the latest MyWay RTK offerings.

Valley Irrigation Introduces Pivot ‘Cruise Control’

Melissa SandfortIrrigation, Software

Valley Irrigation, the leader in precision irrigation, introduced Pivot Cruise Control software, which allows producers to be even more precise with chemigation and fertigation. Cruise Control is the latest Valley Irrigation product that demonstrates the company’s dedication to meeting customers’ needs through innovation.

With the patent pending Cruise Control, available exclusively from Valley Irrigation, producers can program a center pivot irrigation machine equipped with a Pro2 control panel to automatically adjust its speed, based on completing a defined number of degrees in a specific amount of time. This feature will help producers more precisely manage chemigation and fertigation through their center pivot irrigation equipment.

Cruise Control will be standard on all Pro2 panels this spring. Existing Pro2 control panels can be upgraded with Cruise Control software. Interested producers should contact their Valley Irrigation dealer for more information or visit www.ValleyIrrigation.com.

Topcon Announces HiPer AG

Melissa SandfortGPS

Topcon Precision Agriculture announced that the HiPer series of satellite receivers has been expanded to include a specialty receiver for the worldwide agriculture market. The HiPer AG is now available.

The integrated one-piece unit incorporates a GPS receiver, radio communications and batteries. The HiPer AG is a next generation replacement of the HiPer Lite as a portable base station for high accuracy RTK applications and is designed for simple setup and operation with Topcon’s Systems 150, 200, 210, 250, or 350. HiPer AG is a dual-frequency, GPS+GLONASS receiver that provides access to more satellites at any point in time for more consistent and reliable positioning in all field conditions.

Other features include:
— Innovative, cable-free, compact design;
— Complete GPS and GLONASS satellite system tracking;
— Advanced digital radio communications system;
— Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology;
— Powerful 40-channel GNSS board operating at up to 20Hz; and,
— Rugged, field-proven design.

Time To Bump Up Your Social Media Savvy

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

We know many of you are very involved in the use of social media. But apparently a big portion of our audience isn’t convinced. Are they right? Here’s what our latest ZimmPoll found out.

A whopping majority of 61% chose Less than average in answer to the question, “How do farmers compare in social media use?” That’s followed by 27% who chose Same as general public and 12% who chose More than average. This really surprises me. Is this because of the average age of a farmer do you think? This response opens the door for a lot more questions. I’ll bet you have some. Please add a coment.

Our next ZimmPoll is now live and as planting season gets underway (in some places) we thought we’d pose one about the technology going into the crops of tomorrow. So the question is, “What should the next seed traits focus on?” Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

Precision.AgWired.com: Connecting with the Connected Farmer

John DavisAg Leader, Apps, Audio, Precision Pays Podcast

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast

In this edition of the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast, sponsored by Ag Leader Technology, we’ll look at how some farmers are using their online time and the social media tools they’re using to make important purchases.

A recent survey by AgHaven showed that more farmers are spending more time online but are sometimes frustrated with the results. AgHaven President, Srik Soogoor says they’ve developed a website to help those producers who work on multi platforms. Soogoor says since they’re using these smart phones and iPads, farmers want access all the time.

Meanwhile, Paulsen Marketing looked at how people in rural areas were using the online community. Paulsen’s Alicia DeGeest says their white paper, entitled “Rural Lifestylers are Changing the Way They Research and Buy Products,” delved into what people in these areas were doing. She and her Paulsen colleague Sara Steever found that people identifying with the rural lifestyle were adopting new, online technologies at about the same rate as their non-rural counterparts. DeGeest says these rural consumers used online feedback to influence their buying decisions and even employed their connectivity right in the stores to help them decide what to purchase.

It’s a fascinating conversation, and you can hear more of it in the player below: [wpaudio url=”http://zimmcomm.biz/precision/precision-podcast-20.mp3″ text=”Precision.AgWired.com Podcast”]

You can subscribe to the Precision.AgWired.com Podcast here.

Giving Reversible a New Meaning

Melissa SandfortAgricultural Anthropology

I’ve owned reversible jackets, pants and hats, but I’ve never owned a pair of cotton flannel double-thumbed gloves. They might look a bit of an oddity, but they were quite popular back in the day for husking corn. Corn picking was done by hand, and then you’d have to take the husks off before putting it in the sheller or grinder. What a chore for your hands!

Double-thumbed gloves to the rescue. Once you wore through the palm on one side, you’d just flip it over and get back to work.

And well aware that money only stretched so far back then, they would sometimes smear tar on the gloves to make them last longer.

I’m thinking a pair of these would be nice for avid gardeners.

And by the way, isn’t that what a combine is for these days?

Until our next history lesson …

AutoSwath Looks Ahead

Melissa SandfortAg Leader, Insights Weekly

Insights WeeklyYou may already be in the fields planting, but it’s not too late to consider investing in automatic swath control – a tool that could save you time AND money, and save the environment. Not only does Ag Leader Technology’s AutoSwath feature reduce seed cost by not doubling seed, but it also can increase yield potential in areas that are not double-planted. Depending on field size and shape, your seed cost savings could be anywhere from 3 to 12 percent.

AutoSwath reduces over-application and waste by automatically turning the applicator (liquid or granular) on or off based on field boundaries and already-applied areas as it passes over the field. The system reduces input costs and increases application accuracy by minimizing skips and overlaps at end rows, fence rows and along waterways.

That’s savings you can see.

Chad Huedepohl, Ag Leader DirectCommand Sales Manager, says growers should get out in the field early this planting season with AutoSwath … it will start paying you back immediately.

He says growers will see a direct savings on chemical and fertilizer costs.

Chad also says one of the benefits to AutoSwath is increased operator efficiency.

And, watch a video testimonial from a producer in New Windsor, Ill.

For more information about Ag Leader products and services, visit AgLeader.com.

Alltech Launches Farming Film Festival

Cindy ZimmermanFarmers, technology, Video

Alltech is looking for videos that tell the story of how game changing innovations are helping farmers feed the world.

The Kentucky-based animal health and nutrition company has announced the first ever “Farming Film Festival,” offering a $2,000 grand prize. Following the theme of the Alltech 27th Annual International Animal Health and Nutrition Symposium, The Game Changers, video submissions should focus on an idea or technology that helps farmers meet the tough challenges in their career.

“Emerging new media such as YouTube and other social media outlets have been game changers for many in the agriculture industry,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “Sharing these game changing stories with others ignites a new wave of hope and innovation, and that’s what we hope to do with the Farming Film Festival.”

The rules are pretty simple. The video may be up to 2 minutes in length (including credits), it must tell the story of a farmer’s game changer and it must include footage of the farmer on the farm. That’s all there is to it. First prize is $2000, second is $500 and third is $250. First and Second Place Winners will be chosen by an independent panel of science and agriculture journalists. Third Place Winner will be the finalist with the largest number of online votes.

Participants in the Farming Film Festival may enter by uploading their video to YouTube and emailing the link to contest@alltech.com. Winners will be chosen by a panel of science and agriculture journalists based on creativity, quality of video, story interest and number of views and will be awarded up to $2,000 cash. The deadline for submission is May 13.

For official rules and how to participate, visit www.alltech.com/farmingfilmfestival.

Higher Food Prices Caused By Combo Of Factors

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What causes higher food prices?” Most people responding seem to believe it’s a combination of factors – 47%. That’s followed by higher gas/energy costs at 23%, speculators at 18%, ethanol at 9% and weather at 3%. I wonder how the response would compare to an audience for a general news website like Fox or CNN. What do you think?

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How do farmers compare in social media use?” Let us know what you think and thanks for your your participation.

And if you have any questions you want to suggest for future ZimmPolls please let us know.

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

Topcon Tracks New GLONASS K1 Satellite Signals

Melissa SandfortSatellite

Within an hour of the first signal emanating from the new GLONASS K1 satellite on April 7, Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS) engineers were tracking the satellite’s L1 and L2 signals. TPS receivers tracked the new code division multiple access (CDMA) L3 signals the same day.

Topcon was the first major company to track the three signals from the newly launched satellite.

Source: The Russian satellite, described as the “next generation” of GLONASS satellites, was successfully launched on February 26. Ivan Di Federico, TPS chief strategy officer, said, “The satellite launch, part of the modernization of the GLONASS system, provides an additional accuracy advantage over older satellites.”

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the satellite’s advanced equipment will allow doubling of the precise positioning accuracy of current satellite signals.

The new satellite is in orbit approximately 11,870 miles (19,100 kilometers) above the Earth. Additional satellites are planned to be launched this year, and will provide continuous global coverage (with two to three backup satellites).

Di Federico said, “Nearly 30 years after the first launch of a GLONASS satellite, Russia is adding CDMA to the regular frequency division multiple access (FDMA). This addition sets this navigation system apart from regular GPS and other systems under development or testing.”

Topcon pioneered dual-constellation signal reception in 2000 and now “clearly illustrated the company’s technological leadership in the precise satellite positioning industry by being the first manufacturer to combine the FDMA system design of the GLONASS system with the traditional CDMA design of the U.S. GPS system,” Di Federico said.