AgricultureAgriculture
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Author Archives: cdemuro

  1. Save More with WeedSeeker 2®: How to reduce costs and boost ROI with WeedSeeker 2

    Farmers have been playing a perpetual game of tug of war in every field since the dawn of agriculture: keeping crops growing while stopping weeds from taking over. Unfortunately, weeds continue to put up a good fight against herbicides, and some are incredibly resistant against any attempt to control them. To get a true advantage, it comes down to optimizing your weed control approach, both through inputs and application techniques.

    That doesn’t mean weeds have to win, however. Blanketing fields with herbicide is not good for your bottom line, your crops, or for the environment. It’s not particularly effective either. It results in a waste of inputs that could be more effectively and strategically used elsewhere or throughout the season.

    What are the benefits of WeedSeeker 2® Spot Spray System?

    Trimble’s WeedSeeker 2 Spot Spray System offers a better approach. It uses the same application skills as other sprayers, but it’s much more agile, lightweight, and intelligent about how it applies the herbicide. This redesign has resulted in some serious improvements that make it even more practical and efficient. The system’s total weight has been reduced, making for easier installation and to allow for installation on even the longest booms without reinforcement. Channels designed into the streamlined sensor housing allow any liquid to drain through and out without any manual intervention, wiping, or residue checks required. Less maintenance and preparation equals more time actually getting the work done.

    Though the technology behind WeedSeeker 2 is complex, the way it works is not. By using advanced optics and processing power, the system only applies herbicide when weeds are identified once the sensor passes over them. Essentially, the system eliminates the need to walk or observe the fields prior to application.

    Superior Weed Detection

    WeedSeeker 2 has expanded its available weed detection width and fixed sprayer nozzles that match the industry standard of 50 cm (19.6 inches) spacing, which provides maximum coverage with minimal input use. With this coverage and the ability to strategically apply herbicides and other inputs, you can reduce the overall application amount by up to 90 percent. That’s keeping some real dollars in your operation.

    This smart technology is designed to adjust to all the variables that may occur in your field. To start, WeedSeeker 2 knows your boom speed and position. It helps avoid multiple applications on already covered areas and helps adjust application on turns. It can also adapt on the fly for temperature changes, ambient light differences, and backgrounds, such as soil, stubble, or unusual field conditions. There’s never a need to sit and perform system recalibration for maximum effectiveness.

     

     

     

     

     

    What equipment works with WeedSeeker 2?

    WeedSeeker 2 can be adapted to any existing sprayer boom, and because of its ISOBUS compatibility, it works with a diverse range of sprayers, displays, and autopilot systems. However, if you really want peak performance, an upgrade to the Trimble GFX-750™ display is a great idea. With its easy-to-read 25.6 cm/10.1-inch display and ability to integrate all your field operations into one sleek system, the Trimble GFX-750™ display represents peak efficiency and performance at your fingertips. Connectivity is rarely an issue with its built-in ISOBUS capability and WiFi/Bluetooth communications. 

     Regardless of which you choose, the interface itself is easy to use by operators of any skill level. Herbicide usage is easy to track, along with coverage map logging. After taking your passes, you can review the field log to see where the trouble patches are and monitor how effective your applications are throughout the growing season and multi-year trends. In dealing with weeds and their constantly evolving tolerance to pesticides and other treatments, this gives you an advantage in seeing what’s the most effective option and what’s not.

    See How Much You Can Save

    If you’re on the fence about whether WeedSeeker 2 is right for your operation or if you should still stick to conventional spraying techniques, Trimble offers a great savings calculator for estimating your potential return on investment (ROI) and you can see how quickly the system will pay for itself once added to your operation. Input a few simple numbers – field size and application numbers – and the inefficiency and cost of conventional spraying techniques becomes clear. Crunching those numbers doesn’t cost anything; sticking with the old way of doing things when there are more efficient and cost-effective alternatives can be costing you more money than you realize. To explore your options with WeedSeeker 2, contact your local Trimble reseller today. 

  2. Understanding VRA and VRT: What is Variable Rate Technology and how can I use it on my farm?

    Planting, seeding, spraying, or spreading – one thing all these tasks have in common is the critical need to manage inputs to get the most out of the resources being used. Overapplication can compromise crop growth and cut into your profits. Underapplication can also be an issue, especially in areas that need fertilizers or chemical applications to encourage top growth and yields. Application accuracy is an area of farming that can’t rely on guesswork and intuition, and fortunately, it no longer has to.

    What is Variable Rate Technology in farming?

    One great way to hit that sweet spot is by using Variable Rate Technology (VRT). This precision agriculture technology helps farmers apply collected information about their operations to direct the automated and variable application of seeds, fertilizers, and chemical applications to their cropland. VRT decisions and parameters are based on various data gathered from GPS, in-field sensors, and maps of a particular operation. 

    What does Variable Rate Application do?

    You know that such variations can easily exist in as little as a single field – some areas may need more fertilizer, more herbicidal applications, or even a higher planting density to meet yield expectations. VRT manages that task through Variable Rate Application (VRA), which adjusts application rates, taking out the time-consuming, human-error factor that can occur when these tasks are done manually. More importantly, it can apply this advanced technology to select areas, rows, even single plants within a field. That’s taking things to a new level!

    How do I use Variable Rate Application on my farm?

    There are two ways to approach VRA. The first is through pre-planned mapping. This approach allows you to see in advance how each field will be approached, taking into account all data before operations start. Real-time VRA relies on sensor data in the field, making automatic adjustments on the fly based on data in the field. Whatever your preference, Trimble has you covered. Pre-operation mapping or prescription programming are great choices, but our GreenSeeker and WeedSeeker 2 technology make real-time decisions based on optical sensor technology, which can measure crop depth and even identify the presence of individual weeds on each pass.

    What’s nice about VRT and VRA is that they reduce the juggling that occurs in the field when you’re trying to manage your outputs and manually operate field equipment at the same time. It’s a resource saver, but it also helps reduce the potential for any negative environmental impact.  

    What precision ag solutions are used with Variable Rate Technology?

    Trimble has pioneered the use of VRT automated flow and application controls, and the great thing about our technologies is that they’re compatible with virtually any brand of tractor or implement you’re currently using. Field-IQ™ is Trimble’s proprietary crop input control system. It can be installed directly on any implement you’re using, and it easily provides VRA, automatic section control, seed monitoring, and spinner speed control, all from an in-cab display. 

    If your implements already have factory fit rates and section controllers, you can easily connect them right into a Trimble display using a Trimble Universal Variable Rate (TUVR) or Serial VR, for third-party protocols. If your operation spans a wide variety of implement brands, that’s no problem either. ISOBUS offers complete native connection ability, even if the implements lack factory-installed ISOBUS.

    How will using VRT and VRA help my farm?

    An easy way to think of VRT is that of a highly intelligent resource gatekeeper within your operation, which controls waste and conserves input inventory. For example, it eliminates the need to spray the entire field when only specific areas, even specific crop areas, need treatment. It provides a means to control all your flow and application needs, including liquid, seed, anhydrous and granular fertilizer. Your fields get what they need when they need it – leading to healthier fields, stronger plants, and ultimately higher yields. 

    VRT also allows you to log your efforts, providing valuable history into the most effective methods for getting the most out of your fields. That’s real data that can help you ensure that the current growing season is at its peak. It also creates a solid, validated prescription for future success in years to come. It’s a degree of control that many farmers appreciate.

    If you’re interested in learning more about how VRA and VRT can boost your yields and your overall ROI, connect with your local Trimble reseller to learn more.

  3. Women’s History Month: The Women Behind Trimble Ag

    Celebrating the Legacy of Trimble Women in Agriculture

    As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re talking with some of the women at Trimble that have been instrumental in the agriculture and farming industry. Below, we chat with Trimble Ag team members and dealers to get a glimpse into the past, present and future of ag, including:

    • Carol Snyder – Ag Training Manager, Trimble Agriculture
    • DeImna Heiken –  Triangle Ag-Services
    • Lisa Wetherbee – General Manager, Trimble Advanced Positioning 
    • Taylor Close – Agriculture Software Product Manager, Trimble Connected Farm

    Tell us a little bit about your background. What got you started in agriculture and how did you end up at Trimble? 

    Carol: I grew up on a farm in Western Colorado. Not many people get to have that tie to the land anymore as they’re generations away from the farm. There is something about that tie to nature and working with the land that resonates with me. I went to college for Ag Business and got my master’s degree for teaching while working with a precision farming company. I’ve now been training at Trimble for nearly ten years – it’s the perfect fit to combine my passion for ag and desire to teach. 

    DeImna: ​I grew up on a small farm and worked for a seed company during high school. While the other high school girls were working at fast food restaurants, I was cross-pollinating peas and documenting plant stages. I was the first girl they ever hired to work in the field! After a year as a music major in college, I realized I liked being outside and changed my major. Now, my husband works with me at Triangle Ag, and our son is poised to take over the company – making it a true family farming business!

    Lisa: I come from a long line of farmers – people who pioneered, homesteaded, tended the land and worked remarkably hard. I was the first generation in my family to grow up off the farm, so having the opportunity to design and develop some of the early manual GPS guidance systems for agriculture was both technologically exciting and also made me feel a part of that history. Though I came to Trimble 27 years ago for aerospace, I’ve spent a good amount of time in the ag division and now oversee the correction services team who help farmers stay on their lines year-after-year.

    Taylor: I grew up in a farming community in Colorado. Out of high school, I knew I wanted to be in ag. While attending the University of Wyoming for agronomy and soil sciences, I interned and was eventually hired on full-time at a co-op in Northeastern Colorado that became a beta test site for Trimble precision ag. Three years ago, I came to Trimble for the Connected Farm division. In this position, I get to develop customer segmentation and value propositions to figure out what we need to build and how we add value. I couldn’t think of a cooler place to be!

    What excites you about the intersection of the agriculture industry and Trimble, and why do you do what you do?

    DeImna: I’ve been a Trimble ag reseller since the early days of Trimble Ag – around 2000. I had worked with other brands of precision ag technology, but Trimble was a whole new player on the scene. I’ve heard so many amazing success stories – from growers thanking me for an autosteer system that allows them to work longer hours without fatigue; wives telling me their husbands aren’t as crabby and sore; some have avoided shoulder surgery because they don’t have to turn and check behind them as they steer – all because of the products Trimble creates that have improved farmers lives significantly. These benefits aren’t just marketing lines; they really make a big difference in people’s lives!  

    Taylor: No surprise, but the technology. There are a lot of regulations coming down across the world that will make farming even harder soon, but the technology we now provide can help make things easier for farmers. Whether they like it or not, farmers are going to need the technology more than ever to run a profitable and successful business.

    What has been the most exciting part of your career in ag?

    Lisa: When I joined Trimble, there wasn’t an agriculture division. It was such a thrill to be part of Trimble’s earliest work in agriculture – figuring out how we could make a difference, working long hours taking feedback from users and testing various algorithms to make them work with different kinds of fields and ways of working a field. We were such a small group “in the trenches” back then – even as an engineer, you got to experience so many aspects of the business. Everything was a first for us, which was both intense and exciting. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in the past 25 years. The things we’re working on today were just science fiction back then. Over the years, I’ve worked in several businesses across Trimble. There’s something special about our ag customers, so it’s gratifying to be a part of making their work easier and helping them reach their goals.

    Any obstacles you’ve had to overcome and/or advice for females looking to get into the industry?

    Carol: While the Ag industry has been predominantly male-dominated, I’ve never felt like I wasn’t accepted or treated the same just because I was a female. Everyone in the industry is open-minded, and they’re willing to accept someone for their skill set rather than their sex – much more so than other male-dominated industries. Agriculture is so broad – it’s not just feeding the livestock or planting crops. There are so many different facets of ag, and plenty of opportunities for women to have a role. My advice is to just go for it and don’t let anything hold you back.

    Taylor: I didn’t even think about the fact that I was a woman and it might be harder. I went after my goals with the approach that I would’ve if I were a male – diving right in, finding the job I wanted and going for it. The biggest advice I can give is to get your foot in the door. I also learned quickly to take advantage of other females you meet in the industry. Connect, and maintain, connections with as many other women in the industry as you can.

    Happy Women’s History Month! Do you know a woman who has made an impact in ag? Let us know on social media! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn

    Originally published March 2021 / Revised March 2022 for relevancy

  4. How to Make the Most of Your Farm Data

    Farm data isn’t anything new. Since the dawn of agriculture, farmers have been learning how to grow bigger, better, and more profitably with records of their year-to-year observations.

    The real revolution isn’t in data itself, but in farm data technology: how farmers log data, receive data, and use data in ever-increasingly efficient and convenient ways, and for greater yields on-site. However, when faced with the opportunity to acquire more advanced farm data technology— and to gather yet more agricultural data on the job— busy farmers might wonder: is farm data extra change, or an extra chore?

    There’s good reason why farm data technology is catching on like wildfire among farmers, agronomists, and agricultural consultants alike. Here’s how the lives of today’s modern farmers are being made easier and more lucrative, and with singular help from the latest farm data technology.

    What can a farmer do with their data?

    Farm data allows growers to optimize even the smallest area of their land: from every till, to every input, to every drop of irrigation. One recent study showed that on-farm data collection improved economics, productivity, farmer satisfaction, and eagerness for conservation practices on every single farm in the study!

    The benefits of farm data for agribusiness are far-reaching:

    •       It optimizes inputs and resources. With the right data, you never use too much (or too little) of inputs: nutrients, water, or feed. This saves you money.
    •       It boosts yields and yield quality. Data helps you know every unique acre of your landscape: its nutrient profile, soil acidity, etc. Dial in the right inputs per acre and see more and higher quality yields.
    •       It enhances crop and product resiliency. Large scale farmers can use farm data to take better care of soil health than ever before. This translates to stronger, more drought-resistant crops research shows.
    •       It boosts return on investment (ROI). Farm data technology means smarter nutrient and input use tailored to each acre and crop. Imagine the savings in inputs, water use, seed costs, and crop loss prevention—this means more bang for every buck of overhead.
    •       It augments farm sustainability and environmentalism. Naturally, smart nutrient and water usage means less effects on the environment: reducing runoff, water leaching, nutrient leaching, and more in line with modern regenerative farming.

    How does data impact farmer decisions and benefit farmers?

    With the right technology in hand, farm data can change everything about the way you farm: for the better, and for more convenience. It can impact seed, fertilizer, and other input purchases well in advance of your season, reformatting the entire way you crop plan to be more efficient and cost-effective. You optimize every acre, increase your profit margins, and save money on overhead with even the simplest implementations of agricultural data.

    Tie all these benefits together and you get greater profitability and even better land conservation for farmers. Optimizing land and resources means more money per acre. Dialing in the perfect inputs per acre means cutting down on costs, usage, and irrigation flow— which all go towards higher quality crops, higher yields, and better sales. All this is possible with advanced farm data technology, allowing you to boost how much you profit per every unit of currency you invest.

    How can you connect data from different devices?

    Farm data is so effective and profit boosting. As such, many advancements have been made to make it even more so. The latest technology now enables you to link up record-keeping and data implementation to almost any device for convenience straightaway in practically any farming situation. Connected devices include in-cab tractor displays, equipment implements, tablets, smartphones, computers, data clouds, agricultural equipment computer systems, and more.

    Services relayed through these devices include:

    •       Planting and seeding. Configure the perfect plant spacing, density, and required inputs and costs, well in advance of the season— and with the right data tailored to any unique acreage.
    •       Land preparation. Know precise tillage, fertilization, and nutrient amendment needs for every acre before heading to the field, so nothing is wasted or overspent.
    •       Guidance and steering. Optimize your tractor or other equipment’s tilling, harvesting, or application path, making sure of perfect coverage and overlaps.
    •       Flow and application control. Determine and use the perfect input amounts on every acre, and every step of the way: no more, and no less.
    •       Water management. Wield the perfect data to get water usage just right. No water waste, no unhealthy crops, no runoff— only healthy crops, ample profits, reduced irrigation costs, and better environmentalism.
    •       Harvest solutions. Tap into innovation and automated harvesting controls by harnessing your farm’s data. Make every harvest easier, more efficient, and more profitable with every coming year.

    Connect with your local Trimble reseller to learn more about how to make the most of your farm data.

  5. Trimble Ag Launches Virtual Farm Online Experience for Global Farmers

    Trimble announced today the launch of its Virtual Farm, an interactive online experience for farmers across the world to immerse themselves in precision agriculture. In this new online tool, users walk through a digital farm and identify common challenges they encounter on a day-to-day basis. From there, farmers are directed to Trimble’s easy-to-use, connected solutions for each challenge and connected with a Trimble Ag representative to identify the best solution for their farm.

    “At Trimble, we work with farmers every day. This helps us understand their biggest pain points and how to best help them resolve these issues,” said Jim Chambers, vice president of Trimble Agriculture. “We know farming is hard. However, Trimble Agriculture solutions can help make it easier, and this new tool will help farmers specify their issues and quickly align to a solution.”

    Though no one can control external forces that negatively affect farming, there are solutions available that can help to make farming easier. Among the many obstacles for farmers, Trimble’s Virtual Farm details common issues and applicable technology and solutions, including:

    • Ensuring Work Gets Done – With seasonal workers and skilled labor challenges, it can be difficult to ensure field work gets done efficiently and accurately. With intuitive workflows, precision agriculture solutions can enable equipment operators to complete field tasks with ease and with minimal training. Automatic implement, field and task selection help operators to work on the correct tasks with the right implement in the right field. In addition, all of the field data is synced directly back to the farm office. 
    • Start-to-Finish Data Management – Having multiple vehicles working at the same time and getting farm data from one platform to another can be a challenge due to multiple guidance lines, transfer of displays, and transfer of data across the whole operation. Data management solutions help make the most of the farmers’ data by automatically syncing this information to increase efficiencies across the farm. 
    • Input Management for Cost Savings – Weed management chemicals can be expensive and it can be difficult to ensure spray application is consistent and in the right places. In today’s economy, farmers want to spend less and are looking for ways to create efficiencies through technologies that reduce waste.
    • Resource Management to Make the Best Use of Time – It is important for farmers to ensure they can manage land, machinery and time in an efficient manner to create a coherent operation. Ensuring resources are utilized properly and efficiently make farms more profitable altogether. 
    • Water Management – Nearly every farm has water concerns – whether it be too much water, not enough drainage or simply not knowing how to maximize water to impact the bottom line. Managing water issues can result in year-over-year improvements that significantly impact farm profitability and management.
    • Getting Started in Precision Farming – There are several barriers to entry for farmers looking to get started in precision agriculture, including the initial investment in the technology, knowing how to choose the right equipment with ongoing support. Knowing the answer to these questions and showing the ROI gives farmers a way to show how precision farming can significantly change their farming practices for the better. 

    Trimble provides highly reliable, accurate and easy-to-use equipment and services to improve farm operations while also easily integrating with a variety of brands to give farmers greater mixed fleet operability on the farm. 

    Learn more about how Trimble’s easy-to-use technology can maximize productivity and provide a dynamic return-on-investment for precision farming operations on Trimble’s Virtual Farm here.

  6. Trimble’s Darryl Matthews sheds light on the future of Canadian agrifood innovation

    The farmer is at the center of everything that Trimble does, inspiring innovation and ever-improving technology to support them.

    Last week, Trimble Natural Resources senior VP Darryl Matthews sat down with John Hartnett, founder and CEO of THRIVE Ventures as part of the THRIVE-SVG Ventures series: Spotlight on Canadian AgriFood Innovation. The two discussed the future of farming in Canada and Matthews shared his insights on the importance of innovation in the agrifood sector and how it will affect farmers in the coming years.

    Technology in Agriculture

    “The work that [farmers] do is dependent on making the right decisions … so it’s critical that they make small incremental bets and small incremental changes,” said Matthews. 

    “Trimble’s goal is to help farmers mitigate and manage risk through easy-to-use, innovative technology – technology built with farmers in mind.  “The technology needs to fit into their way of life and the agricultural environment.”

    Matthews recognizes that farmers are passionate about their life’s work, and want to spend their time doing what matters: be outside on the farm, manage their business in an entrepreneurial way, and feed the population.

    “They’re the real lifeblood of the Canadian agriculture industry.”

    Easier Farming with Precision 

    Trimble is dedicated to creating technology that makes farmers’ lives easier and brings them a good return on their investment.

    As an industry, he noted, it’s essential to create technology that fits into these key values. “We need to think about the way they operate their farm and the way they want to live their life.”

    The Future of Farming 

    The next decade has a lot of exciting developments ahead for the world of agriculture – in Canada and beyond. According to Matthews, there are a variety of factors that will influence the course of these changes, too. Here’s a breakdown of the main factors he sees affecting farming in the coming years:

    1. Changing diet

    The population’s evolving dietary preferences are something that will continue to greatly affect farming. 

    “This can be looked at as something that is an attack on the farm or something as an opportunity,” said Matthews. 

    He advised that farmers and tech leaders alike need to look at the consumers to truly understand what they want and are willing to pay for. It would behoove farmers to keep an eye on dietary trends to stay in tune with in-demand crops. “We want to give the farmer a premium to deliver the product the consumer wants.”

    2. Artificial intelligence

    No, farmers won’t be replaced by robots. But innovative technology can help them farm easier. Matthews describes artificial intelligence in farming as the next step from machine learning.

    “We’re looking at creating technologies for maximum field performance,” Matthews explained.  

    Artificial intelligence will help machines learn the ins and outs of farming activities to where the machine will begin to react to what it’s seeing and learning.

    “It could give us the capability for a machine to start to distinguish the color of a berry, or that there is an unsafe environment. That’s when AI and things will start to become innovative and start to become accepted by humans.

    3. Early automation

    In its early stages, automation in farming includes a variety of activities that can be supported or carried out by machines. Matthews believes that this automation process will eventually move to autonomy.

    One example of this early automation is path planning, where a farmer goes into the field to harvest but would have the added support of an algorithm that provides information on the best way to improve efficiency and carry out fieldwork. The core of this automation is that it must integrate with the way farmers work, which is why Trimble Ag is dedicated to making farmers’ lives easier with precision ag technology.

    Click here to watch the full recording of THRIVE-SVG Ventures: Spotlight on Canadian AgriFood Innovation with Trimble Natural Resources senior Vice President Darryl Matthews (starts at 48:00). To learn more about how Trimble’s industry-leading precision ag solutions can improve your farm efficiency, connect with your local Trimble reseller today.

  7. Precision Ag and Repeatable Accuracy | How correction services improve accuracy on your farm

    Precision agriculture and repeatable, pass-to-pass accuracy go hand in hand, and there’s no better technology to support both than Trimble RTX® correction services. Utilizing more data for better accuracy, it makes use of not just GPS, but a global network of satellite constellations. Let’s look at precisely what Trimble RTX is, and how its superior technology can help you get the job done.

    Understanding GNSS

    In order to understand the workings of Trimble RTX correction services, it’s essential first to understand how they operate: by using GNSS, or Global Navigation Satellite System. GNSS, much like GPS (Global Positioning System), uses satellites for location positioning. However, unlike GPS, GNSS provides more.

    GPS (Global Positioning System) refers to the  GNSS built by the United States. On the other hand, GNSS refers to a  multi-constellation satellite system made up of multiple individual “constellations” operated by various international players. Instead of simply utilizing North America’s satellite positioning system, it can access additional data from other satellite positioning systems, like the Russian Federation’s GLONASS, Europe’s GALILEO, China’s Bei-Dou, India’s IRNSS, and Japan’s QZSS.  

    Combined together, these systems can provide timing, navigation, and positioning signals from more than 100 satellites. GNSS is useful in aviation, space stations, mass transit, and an ever-increasing range of products. It’s also become an excellent complement to many precision agriculture applications. 

    What are Trimble RTX Correction Services?

    A correction is used to make standalone, broadly accurate (meters) GNSS positions accurate to the centimeter level, so they are useful in precision applications. Trimble RTX, or Real-Time eXtended, correction services use this high-accuracy GNSS technology to deliver repeatable centimeter level positions. In accessing all available satellites for accurate global positioning, it can provide greater positioning availability, even in challenging environments.  

    Trimble RTX technology is primarily used in agriculture, given its usefulness in improving pass-to-pass accuracy.

    Trimble RTX Correction to Improve Repeatable Accuracy

    Trimble RTX optimizes both time and satellite-delivered corrections to ensure repeatable accuracy in auto-guided machines used in precision farming. Trimble correction services enable an efficient coverage of swaths or rows to distribute water, seeds, or crop inputs exactly where they’re needed. By harnessing an abundance of data from global satellite positioning systems, you achieve minimal overlap and optimum spacing between rows.  

    Benefits of Trimble Correction Services

    Stand-alone GNSS positioning without corrections provides horizontal accuracies that are typically more than one meter. With Trimble, horizontal accuracies better than two centimeters are possible. The advanced technology is delivered worldwide with total accuracy and initialization times ranging from 2-20 minutes. There’s no other satellite-delivered correction service that performs better when it comes to centimeter-level accuracy.

    Standard CenterPoint® RTX coverage with Trimble ProPoint™ GNSS technology features a reduced initialization time of just 5 minutes, while the regionally available Trimble RTX Fast can initialize in as quickly as two minutes. Trimble’s reliable uptime means that dropped signals and disruption can be left with previous seasons. Trimble’s correction services also provide the best precision solution in global areas where infrastructure is limited, or in challenging environments, like along tree lines or gullies.  

    Simply put, Trimble’s RTX correction services provide precise positioning anywhere on the farm and without limitations such as radio and cellular coverage. When it comes to farmers, this makes accuracy easier, thereby making work easier—especially when precision is essential and time is of the essence, like during planting, spraying and harvesting.

    Get Started with Trimble Correction Services Today

    Trimble provides a wide range of easy-to-use accuracy positioning services—without the complexity and cost. Because local base stations and VRS networks aren’t required, Trimble RTX can work wherever you are, and you’ll never need to worry about losing radio signal connectivity.

    Adding Trimble correction services to a guidance or steering system can make repeatable accuracy down to the sub-inch possible, year-over-year, covering every corner of your farm. 

    Now with CenterPoint RTX, achieving RTK-level horizontal performance is possible without requiring a local base station. In Fast coverage regions, less than two minutes is all it takes to provide horizontal accuracy down to one inch (<2.5 centimeters). Whether you’re strip-tilling, planting, seeding, spreading, or spraying, CenterPoint RTX can help you achieve the quality standards you need in less time.

    For lower accuracy broad-acre applications Trimble offers specific services. Both ViewPoint RTX™ and RangePoint® RTX provide affordable, entry-level GNSS corrections. Compatible with a range of Trimble’s precision agriculture devices, these technologies can offer horizontal accuracy down to 12-inch or even six-inch pass-to-pass—all in less than five minutes. 

    Understanding that farmers especially are stretched thin with current resource and environmental constraints, Trimble’s mission is to make precision agriculture easier and help you achieve better pass-to-pass accuracy. Talk to your local Trimble reseller about bringing this cutting-edge Trimble RTX technology on your farm today.

  8. Top 10 Precision Ag Trends to Watch in 2022: What’s next for farming this year

    The start of a new year is always an exciting time, not just to reflect on the previous year but also to anticipate the future. We all know that the agriculture industry is ever-changing, and new technology and practices are always around the corner. Here are the top 10 precision ag trends we recommend farmers keep an eye on in 2022:

    Autonomous solutions

    • Continued advancements in machine autonomy
      Trimble is actively engaged in further integrating machine autonomy into operational workflows. In early 2021, we announced a partnership with HORSCH that expands our focus from field-based autonomous equipment to fully automated systems, from office to field.

    Promising innovation

    • New, agile players in the industry
      Agriculture may be as old as humankind, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for innovation. New companies and startups continue to see promise in our industry and are willing to develop new solutions that offer operational improvement. Companies such as Monarch, which received capital funding from Trimble Ventures in 2021,  are focused on intelligent tractor development, including diesel-free, climate-friendly tractors.

    Thinking machines

    • Predictive insights provide accurate decision drivers
      Can machines think? Not in the intuitive way that humans do, but machines can do some “thinking” based on predictive data. AI is being used in operations to control pests and disease, decide the optimum places to plant, and a few months later, harvest crops. The agricultural AI industry is currently valued at about USD 519 million and is expected to grow quickly to $2.6 billion by 2025.

    Operational communications

    • IoT technology will continue to revolutionize agriculture
      Having Internet of Things (IoT) operational connectivity at a base level is a complete game-changer. It’s continuing to have a significant impact on the industry. The 2020 Agriculture IoT Market was estimated at USD 11.9 billion and is expected to achieve an 8.8% compounded annual growth rate through 2026. Trimble is a leader in providing solutions that help our customers capitalize on this connectivity, improving their overall ROI.

    Birds-eye views

    • Corrections services continue to advance precision ag
      Trimble’s precise positioning solutions are integrated throughout our applications, including our GNSS Corrections and positioning services. In November 2021, we announced the performance improvements we’ve made to our CenterPoint RTX Corrections Service. This enhancement added the BeiDou-III (BDS-III) constellation, which increases our satellite usage by 25 percent.

    Eco-friendly operations

    • Precision ag helps operations meet sustainability objectives
      Sustainable agriculture isn’t just a novelty; it’s an approach that simply makes practical sense. Like many of the identified 2022 trends, sustainability is data-driven. The more information you have, the greater your ability to maximize your resources. Our Trimble Select Partner SenCrop is an excellent resource for ultra-local weather data that can help you make informed decisions throughout your growing cycle, from planting to harvest.

    Carbon sequestration 

    • Reducing your carbon footprint may affect your operation (but not necessarily in a bad way)
      If you’ve been following the ongoing climate change discussions, one of the top priorities among all industries has been to reduce our carbon footprint. One of the ways to do this is through carbon sequestration, i.e., finding a way to trap it without releasing it into the atmosphere. There’s growing interest in helping farmers explore incorporating carbon sequestration in their operations, which can improve field health and, ultimately, yields.

    Global technology adaptation

    • Agricultural Innovations are not limited to some regions of the world
      Global ag operations have integrated precision ag technologies and experienced the benefits firsthand. Trimble is proud to serve millions of customers in more than 100 countries, and we have more than 11,000 employees in 35 countries. That reach will only increase as emerging regions of the world are targeted for growth in 2022 and beyond, specifically South America and the Asia Pacific region.

    Water usage will remain a concern

    • Managing one of the world’s most valuable resources is critical
      Water is one of the pickiest resources on any farming operation. Too much, and your crops will drown. Not enough, and they die of thirst. Trimble water management solutions can go a long way in helping to manage water on your operation effectively.

    Label readers

    • Consumers continue to educate themselves about the origin of their foods
      The trend of consumers taking a greater interest in where their food comes from, as well as how it is grown, is expected to continue. According to a recent study, consumers perceive that non-GMO is better than GMO, and organic is better than non-organic options. While some of these beliefs may not be factual, this consumer factor is essential to consider in the marketplace.

    Trimble is your partner in 2022 and beyond to help optimize, automate and connect your operation to best address these trends through precision ag services, retrofitting options, and support. Connect with your local reseller to enhance your equipment with precision ag today.

  9. 2021 Wrap-Up: Top Precision Ag Trends of the Year

    With 2022 right around the corner, it’s a time to reflect on all of the changes that happened in agriculture over the past 12 months. Leading into this year, farmers continued in unpredictable territory as the global pandemic continued and supply chain challenges disrupted industries across the globe. 

    Despite these obstacles, precision agriculture technology helped farmers push forward with exciting new innovations and ever-improved technology. Let’s take a look at the top 10 precision agriculture trends of 2021. 

    1. Continued Use of Drones

      The use of drones in agriculture has been increasing throughout the last decade, and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. According to Market Study Report, the global agricultural drone market will increase by 35.9% between 2021 and 2027 as new companies enter the market and more farmers take advantage of drone technology. In 2021, farmers used drones to support field mapping, variable rate application (VRA), crop scouting, and more.

    2. A Transition Towards Electric Equipment

      As electric vehicle sales increased an average of 50% between 2015-2021, the agriculture sector worked to transition diesel-powered farm equipment to electric options. Monarch, an electric tractor company backed by Trimble Ventures, is a leader in the industry with its MK-V tractor. This driver-optional tractor is powered by a battery with a 10+ hour runtime and features a built-in smart screen. Along with these advanced features, it also comes with a hydraulic top and side arms so farmers can easily hook up to their existing implements.

    3. Demand for Product Traceability

      Blockchain technology is being used to allow consumers to track their food from seed to plate. As consumers became more interested in where their food came from and governments continue to aim to pinpoint the sources of food-borne illnesses, 2021 showed an increase in the demand for product traceability.

    4. Digital Information Sharing

      While we all wish COVID-19 ended in 2020, the virus continued to impact both global markets and small communities in 2021. Not only did the pandemic require a switch to digital communication, but 2021 also showed that many people valued the time-saving advantages of digital information sharing and remote support. Precision agriculture software such as Farmer Core made it easy to obtain precise data to share with employees and ag professionals like crop advisors or agronomists.

    5. Accurate Yield Monitoring

      Learning what varieties of inputs perform best on your operation is essential to maximize materials and offset rising costs. Yield monitoring continued to be a popular topic in 2021 as farmers leaned on this technology to obtain accurate volume and moisture content data. Having defined data allows farmers to zero in on the precise amounts of materials required, so you spend only where needed.

    6. Enhanced Focus on ROI

      As the pandemic disrupted global supply chains, farmers sometimes found it difficult to obtain inputs and labor. When they could find fertilizer, seeds, and other necessary materials, they, unfortunately, paid more than in the past. To maintain a good ROI, farmers explored ways to decrease their input costs, such as relying on precision agriculture to apply inputs. Products like Trimble’s Field-IQ™ System allowed farmers to apply just the amount of inputs plants needed, no more and no less, ultimately leading to a greater ROI.

    7. Autonomous Equipment

      Farmers continued to automate their operations with soil sensors, satellite imaging, autonomous tractors, and more. This equipment was especially important in 2021, as many operations dealt with labor shortages. One promising story in agricultural automation is Trimble Agriculture’s recent partnership with HORSCH. Leaders believe this partnership will allow for continued advancements in automation – and it’s already getting started.

    8. Carbon Credits

      As governments, organizations, and consumers increased conversations around carbon sequestration, the market for carbon credits grew. More farmers began implementing practices, such as conservation tillage and the use of cover crops, that allowed them to receive these credits. Additionally, 2021 saw the expansion of carbon monitoring and verification software companies like Regrow. Regrow’s independent measurement, reporting and verification system (MRV) may be used to help grow carbon markets.

    9. Real-Time Weather Monitoring

      While all segments of the global smart agriculture market will increase between 2021 and 2026, weather monitoring and forecasting is predicted to show the largest jump. This rang true in 2021 as farmers utilized in-field sensors to receive real-time weather data to impact their decision-making.

    10. Global Navigation Satellite Systems

      GNSS continued to be essential for applications such as field mapping, automated steering, and soil monitoring, and livestock tracking. In 2021, this technology became faster and more accurate, with advancements like improvements to the Trimble CenterPoint® RTX correction service. With these improvements, farmers can obtain 2.5 centimeter accuracy in five minutes rather than the previous 20 minutes.


    If 2021 was any indication, precision ag technology will continue to thrive and support farmers with new technologies and constant improvements to serve farms all over the world. To learn more about how to incorporate precision farming in your operation in 2022, connect with your local Trimble reseller today.

  10. Autonomy in Agriculture | How autonomous solutions work in precision ag

    How autonomous solutions support farmers in precision ag

    Agriculture is the driving factor behind countless industries. It generates over 2 trillion in revenue worldwide. However, farming requires constant oversight of crops, soil nutrients, and more. Thankfully, there are more efficient options to maintain farms than manual labor, especially for larger operations.

    Autonomous agriculture is changing the way we farm. Farming operations are seeing healthier crops and getting more of a return on harvests. 

    Autonomous Agriculture

    Autonomous agriculture is a facet of the larger precision agriculture movement. Precision agriculture is the practice of using fine-tuned calibrations and technology to make farming more efficient. Autonomous agriculture allows farming equipment such as tractors to operate without a human driver. Technology such as the Trimble BX992 and similar equipment allow for remote control use and monitoring of farm equipment. More and more farming operations are using autonomous agriculture technology to gain an edge in the global market.

    Autonomous Agriculture Equipment

    Autonomous farming utilizes advanced technology. For maximum efficiency, several systems will need to be installed and work in tandem. These systems include the following:

    Soil Sensors: Sensors installed on the farm will monitor soil and crop health. Sensors can also be used to monitor changes in weather and adjust water and nutrient schedules and amounts accordingly. These sensors will report any change in real-time to the farmer via their workstations or cell phones. The most significant benefit of sensors is the ability to monitor crops from a distance.

    Autonomous Tractors: Much like sensors, autonomous tractors allow a farmer to move freely while maintaining seeding, soil, and crops. An autonomous tractor will spread fertilizer and seeds to the areas that need them most based on sensor data or farmer input.

    GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite Systems are essential to most forms of autonomous agriculture. A GNSS monitors the location and driving patterns of farming equipment and keeps an eye on poorer-performing crops. Once you have the equipment, gaining access to a GNSS is as simple as connecting Bluetooth.

    The Future is Now – Check out this agricultural robot named Annie! It uses Trimble’s autonomous navigation capabilities and Corteva’s innovative approach to helping farmers overcome agriculture’s most pressing challenges.

    How Autonomous Machinery Benefits Farmers

    Traditional farming methods are quickly being outpaced by precision agriculture. Here’s why:

    Time and Energy: Autonomous farming equipment works 24/7 with little oversight. That means farmers have more time to focus on other tasks than watering, seeding, soil testing, etc. Autonomous machinery also lowers the risk of personal injury from overworking, heat exhaustion and saves your body the wear and tear of excessive repetitive movement.

    Farming is hard enough. The sheer amount of physical labor adds up. And of all the benefits of autonomous agriculture, the ability to rest a little longer and spend more time with the family shouldn’t be overlooked.

    Greater Savings: Autonomous agriculture equipment constantly monitors all aspects of crops and resources. This means that fewer resources will be used on thriving crops which lowers operation costs over time. Plus, yields will be healthier and harvested more efficiently, allowing for more harvests to be sold.

    Accurate and Detailed Data: Every farmer understands the importance of knowing every square inch of their land. Agricultural sensors relay information about soil, crop health, temperature, light positions, and air quality. Essentially, anything you’d want to know about your crops is readily available from the palm of your hand. It provides a little peace of mind should you ever take that vacation.

    The data gained can also help farmers plan out which crops to plant the following year and where. And with the lowered risk of human error in crop analysis, farmers may be able to prevent overextension on resources and finances.

    How does Trimble Agriculture contribute to autonomy?

    For over 20 years, Trimble Ag has led the way for autonomous technology in agriculture, mining, and construction. Recently, we’ve partnered with HORSCH to make autonomous tractors and other equipment more accessible. Our goal is to ensure the technology keeps up with the growing agricultural market while also offering sustainability to large farming operations. For example, Trimble agriculture technology can be integrated into most pre-existing farm equipment. You won’t need to purchase new vehicles when instead you can upgrade the ones you have.

    We provide farmer-focused solutions and ways to fuse digital technology with real-world applications. As autonomous agriculture becomes increasingly mainstream, we plan to provide solutions and establish access for the customers that need it most.

    To learn more about Easier Farming with Precision and Trimble Ag equipment, connect with your local reseller today.