2016 PrecisionAg Product Review

For the past few years each spring, PrecisionAg magazine has invited key precision ag product manufacturers and service providers to share with us information on their latest upgrades and newest items. On the following pages, you will find this data, along with select product pictures.

AGJUNCTION

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Outback AgJunction

Outback Max, AgJunction

AgJunction predicts that the major trend in the industry that has been evolving over the past years and is now the expected requirement is system compatibility and interoperability. “No longer is it acceptable to force customers into a closed system,” says the company. “Customers have the expectation that the products that they like to use will be capable in working with the systems they use. No matter if we are talking about data interoperability or product interoperability customers should have the right to choose the system they want to use.”

AgJunction is working with several original equipment manufacturer and value-added reseller partners to make sure that its guidance, steering, and application control products are the most user-friendly and open systems on the marketplace. The company is also working to make sure that its products offer the latest in ISO compatibility.

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AG LEADER

InCommand AgFiniti

InCommand AgFiniti, Ag Leader

According to Sam Worley, Product Marketing Specialist/Technical Information Writer for Ag Leader, today’s agriculture is increasingly data-centric. Growers need more information at their fingertips to be able to make instant decisions on-the-go affecting yield, and ultimately profits. “Modern precision displays, like Ag Leader’s new InCommand line, go beyond machine control by presenting the operator with critical information needed to make decisions on-the-go,” says Worley. “The new split screen view allows the operator to view two maps at the same time such as the map screen with the Universal Terminal information or historical planting data next to spraying maps. Additionally, row level detail allows for zooming in to pinpoint equipment or agronomic issues faster, before it impacts yield. Data availability is not just needed in the cab but also readily available for growers to take with them for making decisions outside the cab like scouting or meeting with consultants and salesperson. InCommand displays sync automatically with the growers iPad, without Internet or cables, allowing for instant access to detailed field information anytime and anywhere they need it.

There is also a need, says Worley, for more precise product placement and control.

“The current economic and agronomic environments present some significant challenges, lower market prices, and continuing high input costs for fertilizer, seed, fuel, and labor are forcing growers — and ag retailers alike — to utilize technology to minimize waste,” he says. “Also with ever-increasing weed resistance, growers are having to vary their modes of action to address. The days of blanket applying a single herbicide across all fields are coming to an end. With focus on input costs and chemical efficacy, having easily assessable logged data will become an even more important tool to help in the decision-making processes that are needed to manage in this challenging period.”

To tie into these trends, Ag Leader recently introduced its new line of InCommand precision displays. “These improve real-time decision-making with features such as enhanced mapping with row-by-row detail and split screen view allowing growers to identify machine control and agronomic issues easier and sooner,” says Worley. “Paired with AgFiniti Mobile, growers can seamlessly take their maps with them on their iPad at the end of the day, allowing for quick and convenient decision-making on-the-go. The InCommand displays build on our proven platform of efficient machine and implement control to include features designed to make critical decisions inside and outside of the cab.”

Ag Leader has also added features to its new generation DirectCommand rate controller. “With increasing weed resistance across the country it is more crucial than ever to apply product correctly, ensuring the best chemical efficacy,” says Worley. “Monitoring the droplet size is important to ensure proper plant coverage and chemical efficacy. The DirectCommand rate controller provides real-time monitoring of droplet size based on current system pressure with an easy-to-use interface that includes a dynamic color-coded pressure gauge.

“For example, when using a contact herbicide, a smaller droplet size and high volume of carrier per acre is necessary to ensure the product application is effective,” he continues. “The new pressure fallback feature ensures proper coverage in low flow scenarios. As an example, when the operator slows down at the edge of field with the majority of sections shutoff, effective weed control may not occur due to poor flow meter performance at low flow rates which results in improper application. With DirectCommand, the system automatically uses the pressure sensor to calculate the desired rate to ensure proper coverage.”

DirectCommand, paired with OptRx Crop Sensors, can allow the operators to measure crop health and provide application rate recommendations in real time, or for later application, in order to place the right amount of nitrogen in the right places in the field to maximize benefit from nitrogen inputs. “With fields having multiple soil types, being able to scan the crop in real-time and vary nitrogen rates puts the product where it is needed is very efficient,” says Worley.

FARMERS EDGE

Farmers Edge Smart Solution

This diagram illustrates how Smart Solution works for users.

According to Wade Barnes, President and CEO for Farmers Edge, the focus in 2015 in precision agriculture was on perfecting data collection on the farm. In 2016, he expects the industry to see an emphasis on how to use this high-quality data to make informed, practical, and strategic agricultural decisions. “As commodity prices remain in free-fall, our field-centric approach to predictive modeling will give growers the data they need to confidently make decisions that maximize profits while adhering to the top standards in sustainable agriculture,” says Barnes. “We’re making predictive decisions an integral component of agronomy, letting growers know when and what they should do through interactive tools. That’s where the industry is going, and companies that don’t have predictive field models will invariably slip into the second-tier group.”

To this end, he adds, Farmers Edge is already using a network of tools within its Smart Solution package to create advanced prescriptive models while also engaging growers directly in the data collection process. With a combination of hardware, software, and “on-the-ground” field support, Farmers Edge is capitalizing on the opportunities that a comprehensive approach to precision agriculture offers growers.

“Across different agricultural regions, growers are leveraging data from previous seasons to inform upcoming decisions,” says Barnes. “In farming, even if you have a great game plan, conditions change. What’s needed are predictive precision tools that can automatically adapt and react to these changing conditions, and that’s exactly what Farmer Edge offers.”

The Farmers Edge Smart Solutions package specifically includes CanPlug, FarmCommand, and On-Farm Weather Stations, all of which collect real-time, field-level data on the farm. Unique to the Farmers Edge package, says Barnes, is the commitment to macro, regional level, and micro, field-by-field level data collection.

SST SOFTWARE

SST Analytics

SST Analytics

According to Brandon Buie, representative for SST Software, the company sees 2016 as being a year of caution on many fronts. “Yields are high, prices are low, and the global economy is on pins and needles,” says Buie. “We see growers hunkering down and sticking with precision ag basics — mainly variable-rate fertility and seed applications. Any precision ag technology that does not have a proven history of returning a positive ROI will probably have a difficult year.”

Just as the downward trend in the overall economy is forcing growers and manufacturers to be careful with how they spend their money, ag retailers and agronomic consulting agencies will also need to be more introspective, he adds. “Budget cuts demand evaluating what is most likely to add to the bottom line and then slash unneeded expenses or waste,” says Buie.

At SST Software, the company has three products that it expects big things from in the agricultural environment in 2016. First is the agX Platfrom. “The industry is recognizing the need for an industry-specific cloud that brings seamless data exchange while protecting data from abuse,” says Buie. “Companies are less willing to take on the I.T. costs for building and maintaining such a cloud and they are recognizing the development requires some deep domain knowledge. By integrating with agX, products can be brought to market with much less time and expense and integrate into a larger ecosystem of best-of-breed applications.”

Sirrus iPad iPhone

Sirrus iPad and iPhone

Second is SST’s recently released SST Analytics.  “SST Analytics allows the management of large ag service organizations to generate weekly reports on the field activity and sales performance of their retail locations and sales-agronomists,” says Buie. “Reports can display how many acres each retail location has enrolled in its precision ag program and list out the acres serviced by employee. Management can do a market share analysis to see how much of the market their organization services by county and how their clients performed compared to county averages; and management may identify the employees or locations that are key producers.”

Finally, there is SST Software’s Sirrus iPhone app. “Slated to be released this summer, the Sirrus iPhone app is targeted toward growers but is designed to further strengthen the relationship between the grower and their ag service provider,” says Buie.

TOPCON

According to Michael Gomes, Vice President, Business Development for Topcon Precision Agriculture, the company foresees growth in variable-rate application continuing to become a normal part of the crop cycle. “From variable-rate seeding to variable-rate fertilizer pre-plant, as well as in-season variable-rate fertility from ‘on-the-go’ sensors,” says Gomes. “As GNSS-based steering has become commonplace, many growers are adding variable-rate seeding, fertility, and plant protection to their arsenal of tools for the cropping season.”

DIgiStar GT 560

Digi-Star GT 560

In addition, says Gomes, Topcon sees growers beginning to realize the advantages of connectivity and data sharing amongst vehicles and operations on the farm. “From the seed tender through to the grain cart,” he says.

In terms of products for these efforts, Digi-Star has completed its Harvest Tracker System with the release of the GT 560 indicator enabling data sharing and connectivity.  “The GT 560 has the option to record and collect GPS location during loading and unloading of the grain cart, moisture to know dry bushels out of each field and with the Harvest Tracker App see the data on your smartphone or tablet and send it to the cloud,” says Gomes. “It comes standard with AutoLog so that you never miss a load even if you don’t have your smart device available.”

For variable-rate applications, the company offers its Apollo Application controller line. “This is an industry favorite with air seeder applications and now has applicability to sprayers, for rate control, section control, and variable-rate application,” says Gomes. “Our Crop Spec ‘on-the-go’ sensors make in-season application of fertilizers as easy as autosteering. Our Mobile Ag Network also enables connectivity between the equipment cab and either the office, or relevant equipment managers via smart phone or tablet applications.

“The Harvest Tracker System also offers Harvest Tracker online, which provides owners with remote control of the scale during harvesting to view and collect data, monitor the process, and make changes,” says Gomes.

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