Satellite TV For Your Car (or Tractor?)

Kurt LawtonCompany Announcement, Satellite

How about this for an extravagant non-ag precision gizmo? Among the many high-tech product launches at the recent SEMA (automotive specialty products) show was this AT&T Cruisecast satellite TV for your car–through a unique roof-top antenna developed by AT&T and RaySat.

For a list price of $1,299 and a monthly fee of $28, the current system will offer 22 channels of satellite TV and 20 satellite radio channels–but the sky is the limit on this technology (and I imagine Internet access may be in its future). It’s designed for rear-seat auto video screens, but I wouldn’t put it past some techies to make it work for anything from tailgates to tractor uses.

AT&T says it will available this spring at auto dealerships and in auto aftermarket channels.

Precision Combine Guidance Draws Reader Interest

Kurt LawtonIndustry News, Precision Ag in the News

Readers of Meister Media’s PrecisionAg eNews chose John Deere RowSense combine guidance system as a top story in 2008.

Now is a good time to analyze your planting and harvesting operation to understand how precision technology can pay over the long haul. We have covered numerous stories on RowSense, a precision combine guidance tool that is helping farmers harvest every bushel using auto guidance, even in down corn. And for auto guidance in planting, RowCommand is definitely worth checking out, as more and more growers are saving seed input costs by not overplanting on headlands, point rows and into waterways. Don’t forget to check into sprayer efficiency while you’re at it, as Swath Control Pro technology is saving valuable herbicide dollars by reducing overlap.

Check out these other Top 10 stories from 2008. And make sure you come back regularly to Precision.AgWired.com, as we continue to provide you with precision technology news that pays.

Good Time To Analyze Soil Maps

Kurt LawtonEducation, Research, Satellite

Since planting preparation is still months away, why not invest some time in learning more about the soils in your fields–to gain profit from precision knowledge.

You can now access your fields using the USDA-NRCS online Web Soil Survey. This information is valuable when it comes to developing management zones for site specific farming.

For more details on how to use this website, check out the Site Specific Management Center at Purdue University.

New Website Coming for Precision Agriculture

Kurt LawtonGeneral

Even with broadband speed, finding the best precision agriculture info can be a daunting task (even with our help). But a group of university precision ag specialists plan to simplify that task–and we’ll help bring it to you here on the pages of Precision.AgWired.com.

A new web-based resource for precision agriculture is in the works, driven by the mission to combine the best knowledge across 74 land grant universities. The group plans to launch this website, complete with 50 topics in 10 categories by this summer.

Their goal: offer the most complete, accurate and current source of information, education and advice to advance the understanding and practice of precision agriculture. Sources for this information (all peer-reviewed) will include university specialists, precision ag company resources, retailers and farmers. The framework will include all crops, and it plans to be international in scope.

In the December 2008 Site Specific Management Center Newsletter from Purdue University, Bruce Erickson, Director of Cropping Systems Management, outlined these topic areas:

  • Precision Ag Basics
  • GPS & Guidance
  • Yield Monitoring & Mapping
  • Remote Sensing for Agriculture
  • Soil & Crop Sensing
  • Field Variability Management
  • Variable Rate Application
  • Electronics & Control Systems
  • Precision Ag Data Management
  • Economics of Precision Ag

The Precision Agriculture group will first exist as a part of the Geospatial Technology resource area, but intends to create its own resource area by summer. The group designated a preliminary overall leadership team: John Nowatzki, North Dakota State University, Randy Taylor, Oklahoma State University, and Bruce Erickson, Purdue University. Sponsors are being solicited, and will be recognized on the site as contributors to this effort. Contributions will fund the time of a person or persons who will add content and oversee the site.

Stay tuned to Precision.AgWired.com for the latest in precision ag news.

 

Precision Crop Yields in Wired Magazine

Kurt LawtonPrecision Ag in the News

News of Missouri high-yield precision guru, Kip Cullers, hit the mainstream technology scene when featured in a recent story in Wired magazine.

Wired, known for covering everything techie (but rarely agriculture) in an off-the-wall style, offered an interesting look at Kip, calling him a “genius in the science of yield, and some argue a frontline warrior in the burgeoning global food crisis.”

The piece cited his 155 bushel soybean and 329 bushel corn yields as evidence–along with his “open-source” penchant for sharing knowledge with peers during field days.

And while you’re at it, check out the magazine’s November 2008 issue with its cover story on “The Future of Food: How Science Will Solve the Next Global Crisis.” Very interesting piece.

January Webinar On GPS Developments In Ag

Kurt LawtonEducation, GPS

GPS World magazine offers a free seminar on January 27 to learn more about GPS in Agriculture. Rob Lorimer, Managing Director of Position One Consulting and GPS World Professional OEM Editor, will discuss current and future applications of GPS in agriculture along with an update on market trends and economic benefits of widespread GPS in agriculture and more.

What you’ll learn:

  • The main uses of GPS in Agriculture including CA Code, single and dual frequency applications.
  • The countries and regions around the world most actively using GPS in their agricultural production.
  • The cropping sectors which are the most advanced in GPS adoption and why.
  • The major suppliers of GPS products and services into Agriculture.
  • The potential impact of current economic conditions on GPS adoption in Agriculture.
  • Emerging applications for GPS in cropping agriculture, animal husbandry and wild-stock management.
  • Potential macro economic benefits of widespread GPS in agriculture.
Click here to register for this free seminar.

Pioneer Acquires MapShots

Kurt LawtonIndustry News, Precision Ag in the News

Pioneer Hi-Bred expanded their mapping and record keeping services today with its announced acquisition of Georgia-based MapShots Inc., a privately-owned agricultural data management company that develops and sells proprietary crop management software.

Pioneer, which has had a long-standing business relationship with MapShots, will now be able to extend its Pioneer FIT mapping service and information available through GrowingPoint website record-keeping service. FIT mapping is part of a suite of services that Pioneer sales professionals offer to growers to help them achieve effective hybrid and variety placement.

MapShots, known for the EASi Suite brand of crop software, will continue to sell, support and enhance this line of desktop software for growers and professional service providers. They will also continue to license core precision ag components to other companies for inclusion in their products and services.

Click here for all the details.

Plan Ahead For InfoAg 2009

Chuck ZimmermanEvents, InfoAg

InfoAg 2009It may still be holiday time but you can still plan ahead for educational events like the 2009 InfoAg.

Dear International Precision Agriculture Community:

It is great pleasure that I announce, once again the InfoAg Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, IL. InfoAg 2009 is scheduled to take place July 14-16, 2009.

Since the first conference in 1995, InfoAg has been the leading event in precision agriculture. InfoAg 2009 will present a wide range of educational and networking opportunities for manufacturers, practitioners, producers, and anyone interested in site-specific techniques and technology.

Mark your calendars and watch for more details.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Harold Reetz, Jr.
Chair of the InfoAg 2009
International Plant Nutrition Institute

For Program questions:
Harold Reetz
217) 762-2074
info@infoag.org

For Sponsor / Exhibit questions:
Harold Reetz
(217) 762-2074
exhibits@infoag.org

For Registration / General questions:
Quentin Rund
(217) 762-7955
registration@infoag.org

Valuable Ag Technology Conference in January

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events

NEATAWant to learn more about excellent profit opportunities from precision technology for your farm? Growers from Nebraska and surrounding states should head for Grand Island, NE on January 28-29 for the annual Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association Conference & Trade Show at the Grand Island Midtown Holiday Inn Conference Center.

The meeting begins with a hands-on session allowing growers to work a computer program to determine best ‘what-if’ scenarios regarding the 2008 Farm Bill. Other session topics will discuss a wide range of issues from land management software, new communication tools, precision agriculture trends, and remote sensing aerial imagery to machine vision weed control, mapping tools, in-season Nitrogen management and side-by-side trial management and decision making.

A trade show will give growers the opportunity to ‘kick the tires’ on a wide variety of precision products as well as talk to company experts on hand.

NeATA is Nebraska’s newest grassroots agricultural-based non-profit associations. The association was founded by innovative Nebraska farmers and agribusiness representatives that share a common desire to stay abreast of emerging agricultural technologies. The NeATA organization will facilitate on-farm research opportunities, educational programs, and a perpetual investigation of practical applications for new agricultural technologies.