You’ve probably heard a lot about autonomy lately.
How it’s changing the future of farming, taking over tedious tasks, and making workflows more efficient.
Maybe you’ve even heard how Trimble is supporting farmers on a progression of autonomy. The key to it is continual progress, no matter how small each step might be. The goal of incorporating autonomy onto the farm is to improve each piece of the workflow and to deliver improved value over time to the farmer.
It’s easy to pass off autonomy as simply the latest buzzword or newsworthy trend – but it’s much more than that.
At its core, autonomy is an invaluable tool that drives productivity and profitability on the farm.
More broadly, it can help solve or simplify operational challenges and allow you to operate in a more productive – and profitable – manner.
At Trimble, we believe in autonomy on your terms. That means that we’ll meet you where you are on your journey, and we have solutions designed to fit the needs of your farm.
There’s no doubt that inputs have a big impact on farm profits. While you can’t always control crop prices, you can decrease variable input costs with the help of precision ag technology. But how much can you really save?
Return on investment (ROI) is important — you always want to be sure your investment is worth it. To find out how much you can save on your farm, Trimble Agriculture has created three ROI calculators to show you just how much using our innovative precision ag technology can pay off!
WeedSeeker 2 ROI Calculator
No matter what type of crops you’re growing, herbicides are a major input cost. If you are dealing with herbicide-resistant weeds, your costs are even higher.
You’re probably already taking steps to reduce your herbicide costs, such as properly calibrating your sprayer and utilizing the proper adjuvants. Even so, you’re still overapplying herbicides! Not only does this overapplication of herbicides lead to unnecessary costs, but it can also harm the environment and damage your crops.
Our WeedSeeker 2 spot spray system allows you to decrease your herbicide applications by only applying the product where weeds are present. This leads to a decrease in the amount of herbicide you need since you’re not spraying weed-free sections.
While it’s clear that this system will save you money, the WeedSeeker 2 ROI Calculator will show you just how much.
Using the Calculator
To determine how much the WeedSeeker 2 can help you save, you’ll need to know information about the herbicide, your equipment, and your fields.
Let’s say you have a 2000 acre field with 30% weed pressure. You’re using a sprayer that has a 60’ boom and 1,000-gallon tank. The herbicide costs $5.25/oz, and you’re applying 5oz of product per acre and 18 gallons of mixture per acre.
Using a conventional spray system will cost you $52,500. But when you implement Weedseeker 2, you can cut costs to $15,750! Plus, you’ll need 11 tank fills rather than 36.
Section Control Savings Calculator
Section control gives you more xx allow you to customize your implements and turn them on and off as decided in order to eliminate yield loss due to skipped or double-covered sections.
Trimble Agriculture section control solutions quickly pay for themselves with reduced input costs and increased yield no matter how often you are planting or spraying your crops.
Using the Calculator
The Section Control Savings Calculator considers important agronomic and equipment factors specific to your operation in order to provide an estimate of what savings you can achieve by incorporating this technology onto your farm.
Simply plug in your average yield and commodity price, and we can calculate yield loss due to overplanting or overspraying.
Add in your average seed populations, seeds per bag, and price per bag of seed, and our Section Control Savings Calculator will calculate the savings you can achieve from reduced input costs.
You can even select the field type of the area for which you are looking to improve yields in order to receive a more accurate estimate.
RTX Input Savings Calculator
In your current setup, you’re likely overlapping between passes when you’re tilling, planting, spraying, and harvesting. Depending on your land, machinery, and operator, this overlap could be anywhere between a few inches to a few feet — and each overlapping inch means higher input and labor costs.
By utilizing CenterPoint RTX correction technology, you’ll correct your position’s accuracy to 1”, which means you can substantially decrease your overlap between passes — and a smaller overlap means lower labor and input costs.
The exact amount CenterPoint RTX can help you save depends on your current setup. That’s where our RTX Input Savings Calculator comes in.
An Example
Let’s say you have a 6,000-acre corn farm. You use a 30-foot planter with a one-foot overlap to plant seed that costs $60/acre. By utilizing the RTX calculator, you find that you can save $10,918.50! But that only accounts for planting — let’s look at herbicides and pesticides.
You use a 60-foot boom sprayer with a 1.5’ overlap to apply products at the cost of $56/acre. By utilizing RTX, you’ll save $7,816!
When you combine the costs of planting and spraying, you’ll find you save just shy of 20K. Plus, we didn’t account for the costs of fertilizing, harvesting, or spraying multiple times.
Learn How Much You Can Save
Are you excited to see how much you can save? Then head on over to our calculators to try them for yourself. Feel free to change up your input information to account for various products you use and that new piece of equipment you’re considering.
We are proud to announce that Jim Chambers, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Trimble Agriculture, has won the Legacy in Ag Technology Award! He was awarded this honor as part of the Global Ag Tech Initiative’s Award of Excellence – North America. The Global Ag Tech Awards of Excellence program highlights people and programs that have made a significant impact on the ag industry and facilitated technology benefits to improve crop production.
With a significant background rich in ag experience, Chambers has dedicated his life’s work to agtech, precision ag, and water technology at startups and major corporations alike. He brings a global viewpoint from working on farms in 93 countries, having experience in everything from bioscience to water management, pest control, and currently, automation.
A Rich History in Ag
In past roles, Chambers led the development of several early precision farming technologies in aerial imagery, soil information services, and traceability. He was also a founding leader of the precision ag program at Bayer Crop Science, the CEO of a startup IoT company focused on precision farm water management in Australia, and SVP/GM of Agriculture and Weather Analytics at ClearAg, a machine learning, and AI company.
Fun fact: Best known for his involvement in the water management space, Chambers is one of the patent holders of sensor technology that measures soil moisture and nutrients, root depth, and movement. This innovative technology was among the first of its kind and continues to make an impact in informing grower practices around irrigation.
Making an Impact at Trimble
At Trimble Agriculture, Chambers leads the global Ag team in strategy and seeks to propel innovation to make life easier for farmers across the world. He identifies opportunities for automation and has helped Trimble Ag grow from a world leader in steering and guidance to an organization with a wider hand in automation and autonomy for farms across the globe.
His impact is evident in recent developments, such as a Trimble partnership with Horsch that unveiled the company’s first autonomous sprayer, and support of Trimble Select and Trimble Ventures, both partnership programs that nurture the next generation of precision ag.
Q&A with Jim Chambers
We sat down with Jim Chambers to discuss his feelings on winning the Legacy in Ag Technology Award, how his time growing up on a farm influenced his career journey, and what his dreams are for the future of the ag industry.
What does this award mean to you?
I always think about what my goal is – and it comes down to what my thumbprint will be that I leave on agriculture. It’s exciting to be recognized and see the impact seen of what I’ve done.
I’m most proud of the global impact. I grew up as an Ohio farm boy and never thought of anything but corn and soybeans. It’s amazing to look back and see the impacts across the world from the work I’ve had the honor to be involved in.
What made you get into the Ag industry?
Grew up on a farm. Oldest of 3 boys. By nature of the need, I was free labor. 4H and FFA involvement.
Growing up, I thought I’d go back and run the farm. In 1989 after college, the farm economy was tough. Went to Monsanto and then progressed, then never looked back.
What is the proudest moment of your career?
Leading the Trimble team now – everything has led to this. Trimble is such a great company that’s thriving. We’re an independent company that’s bringing new technologies on a global scale for Ag, regardless of what color your tractor is. I haven’t had a chance to have this type of impact until now.
What’s next for you? What’s on the horizon for Trimble?
Our broad Trimble strategy is to connect and scale. Building connected platforms across specific industries – ag, construction, transportation. In the connected farm of Trimble, steering and guidance got us here.
Tomorrow, we’re looking to bring the data and insights from the field and be able to share this with all stakeholders up and down the chain. Trimble is primed to bring that together, and it’s something we’ve talked about in the industry for a long time.
Tomorrow’s Trimble brings physical and digital together in a manner that can be openly shared and work with companies all throughout agriculture. The independence of Trimble is first and foremost about helping farmers execute the work in the field. Then we want to bring those insights and share them with all relevant people, regardless of the color of tractor you have or who you buy your seed or fertilizer from.
What are you personally passionate about within ag, and outside of ag?
Water – we hear a lot about carbon today. Reduction of CO2, etc. This is very important, yes. But we’re not talking enough about water. 70% of freshwater consumed globally is through Ag. If we’re going to increase food production, it will be even more water – probably 80%. Water has been taken for granted for a long time in Ag. And this is a big upcoming challenge for Ag. We have to deal with water.
No one has identified themselves as a global leader in water. Today, water management is the movement of dirt, tiling, leveling fields, etc. For the future, we need greater insights into what’s going on in the field to do better water management, including varying fields for water. With more advanced data, we can get very detailed models/digital twins of field, soil type, and movement of water. With this modeling, we can be more proactive in what we do. The Trimble model is an open, collaborative model with many companies.
Congratulations to our Ag leader Jim Chambers on this prestigious award! For more information on the PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence, visit their website.
Trimble leader sheds light on how farmers are using autonomous solutions – and where the future of ag is headed
How will farmers experience autonomous technology on their operations? According to Patricia Boothe, Trimble’s senior vice president of Autonomy, it will be a steady progression that, for many, has already started.
Trimble Agriculture is proud to support farmers on their journey to autonomy – and help you define what autonomy means for you and your farm. Building a smarter, more efficient workflow is key to
Discover how we make farmers’ lives easier – and meet them where they are on their journey towards autonomy – in this guest blog for Women in Ag.
As farmers, we can’t control everything, but we can always make improvements. Short of being able to dial in the perfect temperature or annual rainfall amount, precision ag technology is one of the best ways to get the results – and peace of mind – we’re after.
Precision ag solutions are changing the face of farming, and getting started with precision ag is easier than ever. Enhancing your equipment with precision ag allows you to reap all the new technological benefits without tremendous upgrade or replacement costs.
Level Up with Precision Ag
After asking what is precision agriculture, many farmers want to know how to upgrade their current vehicles with the technology. It’s an economical way to improve yields without investing in new equipment. And even better: it’s often simply a matter of plugging in new PA parts to your existing vehicles!
A guidance display is a great way to introduce precision ag principles into an operation. Trimble’s GFX-750™ Display is easy-to-read and ruggedized for your existing cab and can be customized for your work. With three several different options for correction services that include a roof-mounted receiver, your pass-to-pass accuracy level can be centimeter-level precise.
Once you get a taste of what precision ag can do for your farm’s productivity and bottom line, there’s a whole world of additional options to explore.
Enhance Your Equipment’s Performance
When enhancing your equipment’s performance, it’s essential to get into the details of what you hope to accomplish. What is the goal of using precision ag on your operation?
For higher accuracy on even the most rugged terrain, an Autopilot™ Automated Steering System may be the tool for you. This hands-free solution achieves maximum precision through assistance, affordability, and accuracy. The EZ-Pilot® Pro Assisted Steering System will keep you on-line, making both low-accuracy broadacre and high-accuracy row-crop farming much easier.
That level of accuracy is achieved with correction services, which are based on real-time GNSS position and location information. Trimble RTX™ correction services can be added to your existing Trimble guidance system to maximize the full benefits of the precision ag solution. For example, Trimble CenterPoint® RTX is a reliable correction service delivered via satellite or IP that can be used for a variety of tasks. With broad-based functionality, it will optimize your resource use, increasing efficiencies and profitability while saving you time. Even more importantly, it brings the peace of mind that your precision ag solution is accurate and consistent with every pass.
While correction services are typically purchased as a one-bundle solution with new hardware, they can be added at any time to a compatible receiver. And if you’re already using RTK, an upgrade to satellite-based corrections can be even more helpful.
Benefits of Investing in Precision Ag Technology
Whether you’re satisfied with your current practices, concerned about time constraints, or skeptical of the initial costs, investing in precision ag technology can afford many benefits—even for you.
Precision ag technologies are quite versatile and can transform your existing equipment at a fraction of the total upgrade cost. Whether your farm is on the smaller side or you run a more complex operation, most guidance systems can pair with machines from most brands—making the technology simple to bring on-farm and easy to integrate.
If hesitation has kept you from trying out this technology, consider starting with the GFX-350™ Display. It’s compatible with several steering solutions and comes with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
It can boost ROI.
Fewer errors, less time, more accuracy, and better yields all translate to better productivity and a boosted ROI. In a 2019 study, fertilizer application accuracy alone translated to ROI benefits of 7.2%. Similarly, another study found that crop row guidance improvements by precision ag reduced input waste and minimized soil compaction, also providing some financial savings.
Many precision ag solutions will quickly pay for themselves, providing benefits beyond a better bottom line. Precision ag offers a user-friendly way to tackle farming applications with ease, which carves out more time to do what matters—whether that’s next season planning, creating a marketing plan, or enjoying quality family time.
It’s the tool of the future.
Agriculture is constantly changing. Weather fluctuations, commodity market swings, and supply chain issues create an increasingly challenging playing field. Even if you’re content with your current equipment, precision agriculture implements will continue to become more useful and valuable in the years to come.
Operations of all sizes benefit from precision ag—and so does the environment. According to an AEM study, precision agriculture has resulted in 30 million fewer pounds of herbicide used worldwide, 100 million fewer gallons of fossil fuel use, and enough water saved to fill 750,000 Olympic-sized pools. Precision agriculture also leads to more efficient use of existing land and yield increases for many major crops, helping farms see significant economic savings worldwide.
Even if you’ve been hesitant to try it out yourself over the past few decades, now is the time to bring it on board. The future of farming is optimized, automated, connected, and precise—and Trimble has the precision ag services, options for retrofitting existing equipment, and dedicated team to ensure that you and your crops don’t get left in the dust. Connect with your local reseller to enhance your equipment with precision ag today.
The recipe for crop success is fundamentally simple: seed, soil, water, food, and sun. But that’s the simple part. As they say, the devil is in the details. There’s not much we can do to make the sun and weather patterns cooperate, but operators have a host of information at their fingertips to make the right decisions for maximum yield.
The right input decisions support maximum yields
One important way to optimize your efforts is through nutrient management. On a very basic level, nutrient management balances your crop’s needs with soil nutrient inputs. Soil naturally provides a certain degree of nutrients, but often not enough to result in maximized yields. This requires additional nutrients from commercial fertilizers or organic materials, such as manure, biosolids, or compost.
The right approach to nutrient management is much like Goldilocks finding the right bear bed. Over-application can cut into your bottom line by wasting inputs and can even harm the environment. Apply too little, and you’ll see little difference in your yields – making the return on investment just as wasteful. The sweet spot is the ticket to maximizing yields and input use with little to no waste, helping both your bottom line and your materials stock.
Replace the guesswork with GreenSeeker® Handheld Crop Sensor
Field needs can change from year to year as nutrients get depleted over time, so what has worked in the past may not work in the future. Crop rotation, type, and even seed choice also impact input needs from year to year. Because of these ever-evolving needs, nutrient management is an approach that should be based on science rather than guesswork.
Trimble offers a terrific solution in the GreenSeeker® handheld crop sensor. This affordable, easy-to-use handheld measurement device easily assesses the health (or vigor) of your crops, allowing you to make those critical nutrient management decisions on a field-level basis. That’s essential because nutrient management needs can change from field to field, and even within a single field.
How GreenSeeker works: Easy steps to success
Why take a risk and only guess what your field needs? Using GreenSeeker gives you the factual, science-based information you need for highly accurate input decisions. Simply point the device at the crop canopy, pull the trigger, and take a reading.
The GreenSeeker sensor emits a few brief bursts of red and infrared light and then measures the amount of light reflected from the plant. The measured value is displayed in an NDVI reading on the device’s LCD screen. This can range from 0.00 to 0.99, with higher readings detecting higher crop health.
This data can easily be transferred to your mobile devices via Bluetooth, providing the information you need to determine when, where, and what amounts of inputs should be added. The app provides a downloadable file of your data that can be used back in the office to turn that data into recommendations that can help you anticipate and track future field needs.
GreenSeeker is a handy tool that provides a wealth of information without the need for any additional equipment. It’s portable and easy to carry along in your cab for a trip into the field, and the recommended GreenSeeker Logger app is available for free on Android and iOS devices for a quick download.
Good for your operation, good for your crops, good for the environment
Many operations already integrate soil testing into their operations, which is a great place to start in creating an effective nutrient management program. But the increased costs of commercial fertilizers and the market pressures on the crop market at harvest time mean more tools are needed to maximize yields in a cost-effective way. Having a tool that directly assesses nutrient needs from the crop’s perspective throughout the growing season is a great addition to any operation.
For such a small tool, the GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor provides a significant return on investment. It puts the power of data in your hands: Having actual, science-based data to make input decisions ultimately leads to less waste and higher yields. Adding GreenSeeker to your inventory means input decisions are no longer subjective, second-guessed or regretted when yield goals aren’t met at the end of the growing season.
Steering systems are as essential as the tractor for today’s agricultural operations. They have moved from being a competitive advantage to an industry standard. The guidance provided by a steering system increases efficiency while decreasing costs, which adds up to significant savings multiplied across fields worked and hours spent.
The question remains, what should you look for in your steering system? This depends on the size and scope of the agricultural business, but there are also some general features and qualities that should be included in all systems. There are three things to consider in your steering system: how they work, the benefits, and the type that will maximize the return on investment for your farm.
What should I know before investing in a steering system?
First, it’s essential to understand what equipment a steering system requires to operate and how it integrates into the vehicle itself.
Steering systems may be placed on different areas of your equipment. Systems such as the Trimble EZ-Pilot®, EZ-Pilot® Pro, and Autopilot™ Motor Drive System are on the steering column while others mount to the outside of the steering wheel, like Trimble EZ-Steer. Other systems may be integrated via CAN systems or into the steering hydraulics, such as Trimble Autopilot™. The display in the cab uses software to communicate with the GNSS receiver and control the steering system. The operator controls the display and monitors the steering system and implements while operating in the field.
Once in a tractor or vehicle, you use the display to select the profile of the tractor or vehicle being used. Autosteering turns on and off using the display, so you can turn it off and move to a different field or move the system into a different piece of equipment. Turning the steering wheel yourself also disengages the steering system. There are safety checks in place, including maximum speed.
What are the benefits of using a steering system?
Steering systems have numerous benefits:
Eliminate row overlap: Seeing overlap among the rows is a frustrating experience. Human error makes this unavoidable without autosteering — it’s impossible for us to maintain precise steering row upon row, hour after hour. Steering systems eliminate row overlap.
Fuel savings: Fuel is a significant expense, and this year the prices are driving costs up further. Steering systems save fuel by using the most efficient path across the field and decreasing equipment run time. Expect to save 10-15% on fuel using a steering system. The fuel savings alone may pay for the steering system this year.
Sharpen operator focus: Agriculture requires prolonged hours in the cab during the growing season, and operating heavy equipment causes fatigue. Long hours are still required, but the steering system eliminates one operator responsibility – manually moving the steering wheel, allowing extra focus on the implements and other tasks. Steering systems also eliminate errors caused by low-visibility conditions.
Labor and input savings: There are labor savings when the operator is spending less time in each field, which means they’re spending time on other aspects of the job, or on well-deserved time off with the family. Steering systems have less seed waste and chemical use, as application is precisely done. These numbers add up to significant annual savings.
All these benefits maximize the return on investment of adding steering systems onto your farm equipment.
What steering systems does Trimble Agriculture offer?
Trimble Agriculture has several steering systems available that meet the individual needs of farming operations of all sizes, no matter how many acres or hectares you farm. These three steering systems share similar features but also have different advantages.
AutoPilot: The Autopilot™ Automated Steering System offers the most accurate technology and capability. It operates the tractor and implement, provides row and implement guidance, and terrain compensation for roll and yaw. The Motor Drive system operates without the hydraulic components while AutoPilot uses the hydraulics or a CAN connection.
EZ-Steer: The EZ-Steer assisted steering system offers portable hands-free farming and is compatible with over 1,200 vehicle makes and models. The engine and friction wheel integrate directly with the steering wheel and works in both low and high-accuracy farming applications.
EZ-Pilot: The EZ-Pilot® Assisted Steering System incorporates all the benefits of EZ-Steer while adding in a feature to back the vehicle up to line up for the next swath. It also reduces the amount of hardware needed, making it easier to switch between vehicles.
EZ-Pilot Pro: The EZ-Pilot® Pro guidance system offers high accuracy guidance across MFWD tractors, 4WDs, and combines. The biggest added benefit is that it enables vehicles to engage in reverse and line up for the next swath (max 15 seconds). Therefore, the operator begins to reap the benefits from the moment the implement engages with the soil.
Trimble Agriculture’s steering solutions are compatible with many vehicle makes and models, both old and new, and offer the highest levels of technology and adaptability at price points for any size operation. Their simple application and ease of use help farmers maximize their capabilities no matter where or what they farm.
Steering systems are an essential part of every agriculture operation. Connect with your local Trimble reseller to learn more and select the steering system that will maximize efficiency and profit on your operation today.
Precision agriculture has offered real farmers real solutions since the 1980s. Each generation of precision agriculture offers new innovations, improved technology, and an enhanced user experience. The TMX-2050 display simplifies guidance and steering while accurately monitoring and mapping fields in real-time.
You are still in the cab and in control, but you are operating the tractor through your TMX-2050 display, improving the accuracy of your field work. The results speak for themselves: you save time and money while increasing yield.
What is the TMX-2050 display?
The TMX-2050 display puts you in the driver’s seat of your farm instead of a tractor. It precisely operates the vehicle, mapping and monitoring the field as seeds are planted or crops are harvested.
Control is still in your hands – Connected apps show your entire farm, as well as important data that influences your business decisions, such as weather and commodity prices. The system in the TMX-2050 is easy to use and has a built-in GNSS receiver. The receiver can use either subscription correction services or freely available SBAS correction to improve accuracy as a field is worked.
Who can use the TMX-2050 display?
Every farm operator can use a TMX-2050 display. It’s intuitive and doesn’t require special instructions. But it allows operators to make real-time decisions that improve accuracy and benefit the bottom line. Advanced features can be customized for your operation. The TMX-2050 snaps into place in the tractor cab and can easily be moved to a different vehicle.
Each operator can log into the system so that you know who was using which equipment and what fields they were in. This supports new operators in acclimating to the equipment and allows them to complete field work accurately and efficiently on their own.
Why should a farmer choose the TMX-2050 display?
Farming is hard enough without wasting time and money on inefficient crop work. Farmers choose the TMX-2050 display because it saves them time and money. It simplifies their day and connects all their data points, letting them focus on the aspects of the business that need more attention.
You set the system up prior to use by creating your fields, including naming them and mapping boundary lines. The mapping layers within the TMX-2050 display can show you coverage, speed, and applied rate.
The AB lines appear on the maps to eliminate skips or overlaps in your rows. Accurate guidance lines keep your equipment properly within crop rows, which, in turn, greatly reduces yield loss on account of crop damage.
What differentiates this product from others on the market?
The Trimble portfolio already includes some of the best precision agriculture tools on the market. The TMX-2050 stands out from others on the market in several ways:
Larger screen size: The 12.1-inch screen size makes it easier to see and use the TMX-2050. The larger screen minimizes the amount of zooming in we all need to do.
Implement control: Tractors are a tool, and we know the implement behind them is often your focus point. All Trimble displays allow you to control your tractor and implement with one device. The key difference with the TMX-2050 is that it can take input from two GNSS receivers, allowing the use of implement steering through TruGuide and TruTracker.
NextSwath™ end-of-row turn: Turns are the part of your vehicle’s movement with the least efficiency and most overlap. All Trimble displays are equipped with Trimble® NextSwath™ end-of-row turn technology, a cornering tool that significantly improves your vehicle’s turn efficiency.
Water management:Using FmX® Plus software, the TMX-2050 is the sole display of the Trimble display family that allows operators to carry out water management activities.
A complete list of features is available on the TMX-2050 page.
The TMX-2050 display raises the bar of precision agriculture and levels the playing field for farms of all sizes. Connect with your local Trimble reseller to learn more and level up your operation today.
Farmers always keep an eye on their bottom line. But recent inflationary pressures, increasing commodity prices, economic instability, and even global supply chain issues are making this an even bigger priority in 2022. One of the ways to save money in an operation is by getting a handle on your farm inputs.
Fortunately, saving money on inputs does not require a secret, magic formula. It’s a combination of practicality, common sense, and a willingness to use the tools and technology available to you.
Here are some great ways to save money on farm inputs this year:
Implement efficient purchasing strategies
Lowering the actual cost of these inputs is an easy way to increase profitability. The key is to have a sustainable purchasing strategy in place. Knowing the cost of your seed, fertilizer, herbicides, and other farm inputs is the first step, which allows you to track cost trends and maximize the timing of your purchases. Some suppliers and vendors will offer discounts and financing terms based on the volume purchased as well as the timing — savings can often be found by buying product well in advance of the upcoming season.
While it looks like the global pandemic may finally be winding down, it has undoubtedly changed the way suppliers are conducting business in our industry. After two years of social distancing, periodic closures, and navigating the “new normal” of doing business, many suppliers have turned to the digital side to communicate with producers. And that’s a good thing: more information is now available online 24/7 to help you with important decisions. Some suppliers have even gone to online ordering rather than phone calls or in-person. Regardless of your digital comfort level, more information and services are now accessible from the convenience of your office chair.
Use prescription maps to understand your input needs
VRA solutions such are prescription maps are a great way to use the information you have – or can get – about your fields. Historic yields, soil nutrient levels, and GPS information can be compiled to create specific zones, and input concentration can be adjusted as you move through those zones. Prescription maps help operators avoid overapplication and underapplication of inputs, allowing you to hit that sweet spot in between where your crops will thrive. The great thing about this is that Trimble’s precision agriculture approaches give you the means to use this information through Variable Rate Technology (VRT).
VRT means that your farm field technology uses this information to provide Variable Rate Application (VRA) in your fields. Trimble’s precision farming technology offers a means to use this information throughout the entire growing season, from planting and seeding to spraying and spreading.
Incorporate VRT and VRA into your operation
Having that information is one thing, but appropriately using it through VRT is where the real cost savings can happen. Trimble has you covered: Trimble’s Field-IQ Crop Input Control System allows you to control spraying, spreading, seeding, and planting by tailoring your implement and field applications based on this information. This happens in real time, providing increased precision for your VRA.
Most operations employ a variety of implements, and that may span a few manufacturers. Trimble’s VRA systems use a variety of communication protocols such as ISOBUS, the international standard that allows your equipment to communicate with each other regardless of the brands. ISOBUS technology acts as a universal language between implements and controls, which will enable you to use the hardware you already own to implement VRT and VRA.
Everything you need to know: Busting planting season’s top 5 myths
To ensure a successful planting season, preparation is key. The ideal season is one where operations run efficiently, waste is minimal, and farm profitability is maximized. Precision farming technology can help in all these areas to make your life easier and your farming operation run more smoothly.
Start the Season Right
We know getting your crops in the ground in a timely manner is number one on your priority list. After all, the success of the rest of the year relies on it. Planting season has its challenges, but precision agriculture can help take the guesswork out of farming by helping you farm more efficiently and make data-driven decisions on the go. Precision ag can support you to prepare your fields, sample soil accurately, ensure your seeds are precisely placed, and help you manage the rate at which they’re planted – as well as minimize waste when applying fertilizer. These things help your operation run more smoothly, save you valuable time and expenses, and help you get back to your family sooner.
Get the Facts: Busting the Myths About Planting Season
MYTH: Field overlap is just a part of farming with multiple pieces of farm equipment, especially when fields are irregularly shaped. TRUTH: Guidance and steering systems can significantly lower the amount of overlaps (or skips) in your fields. Not only will you save money on fuel costs, but also will be more accurate with seeding and spraying. You can choose to go the assisted steering route or go fully automated to stay hands-free ensuring you are able to keep an eye on your other equipment. We recommend the Autopilot Automated Steering System to help you accurately work your irregularly shaped fields.
MYTH: The type of soil sampling I do works just fine for me. It tells me all the information I need to know. TRUTH : Soil sampling is certainly beneficial in helping with decisions that need to be made, especially when using managed random sampling or benchmark sampling. However, Advisor Prime which comes with the Trimble® Ag Mobile app, makes the process easier than ever. Users can work with any soil lab and take advantage of our streamlined process to import soil test results.
MYTH: Yield monitoring isn’t worth the money. I don’t want to invest in something where I’m not even sure how accurate it will be. TRUTH: Yield monitors assist in different farming practices such as seed selection, future plots, fertilizer removal rates, grain loads, and auto cut width and then show this information on a monitor in the cab of the tractor. This input is then formatted into a yield map which can show which areas of your farm are more profitable and then help you get the other areas up to where they should be. As far as determining if yield monitors are worth the cost depends largely on how you use them. Many farmers have found it pays for itself in a year’s time.
MYTH: Spreading uniform seed on my fields is really the only option for small outfit farmers. TRUTH: Variable Rate Technology (VRT) is useful no matter the size of your farm. VRT allows you to apply the optimum type and amount of seed in any specific area of your field. This practice can also be applied to chemicals and fertilizers. Use in conjunction with the Trimble® Field-IQ ISOBUS Liquid Control System to reduce input costs. You can use these records of inputs to help with future decision-making. There’s no doubt there is some trial and error involved, but the savings from reducing input costs coupled with eliminating overlaps can add up to big returns over time.
MYTH: Data integration isn’t worth it. The learning curve is too great and not worth my time. TRUTH: While we know data integration can certainly be tricky, with a little knowledge of how it works and a little patience, it can truly change the day-to-day operations on your farm. A few tips we have to offer are to make sure all systems are compatible, regularly calibrate and service your technology solutions, get to know the technology you’re using, and investigate high-speed Internet options in your area. Trimble ISOBUS technology ensures connectivity so that all your pieces of equipment can communicate with each other regardless of the equipment brand. As always, we strongly recommend talking with your local Trimble Reseller to discuss options that best suit your specific farming operation.
While there is an initial investment upfront, precision farming pays for itself over time. Try one of our Savings Calculators to see how much you can save on your farm. It truly can take your farm to the next level and have things running smoother and more efficiently than ever before. Connect with your local Trimble Reseller to learn more about how to prepare your farm for planting season.
