PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST FALL 2024 ISSUE 3, VOL 5 SIRI, DRIVE MY GRAIN CART CASE IH’S AXIAL-FLOW SERIES NOW COMPLETE JOHN DEERE’S NEW T6 800 WALKER COMBINE 14 06 18
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PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST Farms.com’s Media and Publishing division is responsible for publishing Precision Ag Magazine. Copyright 2024 Farms.com Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, it products or services, nor does Farms.com make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the unintentional omission of any scheduled advertising. PHOTOS: a-r-t-i-s-t/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus COVER PHOTOS: Neustockimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, simon2579/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, ชลธิชา สว่างวงค์ – stock.adobe.com 04 06 08 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Ridley Ryan.Ridley@Farms.com CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Joseph Diego Flammini DESIGN Greg Marlow ADVERTISING SALES Andrew Bawden Andrew.Bawden@Farms.com 877.438.5729 x 5030 Jeff McKee Jeff.McKee@Farms.com 888.248.4893 x 917 MARKETING & OPERATIONS Denise Faguy Denise.Faguy@Farms.com 888.248.4893 x 293 FARMS.COM OFFICE 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 SUBSCRIBE HERE to receive email notifications when future issues of the quarterly Farms.com Precision Agriculture Digital Digest are published. NEW HOLLAND AND BLUEWHITE JOIN FORCES CASE IH’S AXIAL-FLOW SERIES NOW COMPLETE GETTING THE DIRT ON YOUR SOIL THE STRATUS AIRSPRAYER FROM PRECISION AI SIRI, DRIVE MY GRAIN CART PAG TECH CLIPS JOHN DEERE’S NEW T6 800 WALKER COMBINE GET YOUR HEIGHT RIGHT WITH RITEHEIGHT BITS & BYTES THE AI AG-ASSISTANT We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
New Holland is taking another step towards autonomous equipment through its partnership with Bluewhite, an autonomous technology company. Bluewhite has designed and developed an aftermarket kit customers can install onto a New Holland tractor to make it autonomous. “This is particularly for vineyard and orchard growers,” Paul Welbig, director of precision technology for New Holland Agriculture North America, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “It’s a slick solution to be able to retrofit existing tractors to help solve labor issues.” To briefly put labor challenges into context, surveys of U.S. farmers showed the percentage of producers reporting labor shortages increased from 14 percent in 2014 to 41 percent in in 2018. And in Canada, reports project a domestic labor gap of more than 100,000 people by 2030. Bluewhite estimates its autonomous technology can provide up to 85 percent savings in inputs, labor and maintenance costs. Bluewhite’s system is ideal for tractors in New Holland’s T4 F/V Series. 04 NEW HOLLAND AND BLUEWHITE JOIN FORCES The Partnership Will Allow Some New Holland Tractors to Operate Autonomously DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM
There are three components to have installed on the tractor by a certified dealer. “The first is a control system, named Pathfinder, that is mounted to the side of the tractor,” Welbig said. “It controls the speed, steering and other functions to make a tractor move, steer or stop. That’s kind of like the brains of the system.” The control system is mounted away from the seat so an operator can still drive the tractor, Welbig added. The second part of the autonomous package is sensor arrays. This is installed up high behind the seat or on the cab. “That gives you your GPS and communications link as well as a camera that provides a forward view of the tractor,” Welbig said. And the final piece of the Bluewhite puzzle is the lidar sensor mounted to the front of the tractor. “That’s being utilized to see and is looking for trees or vines,” Welbig said. “It’s using computations to determine the path the tractor is driving.” Farmers monitor the autonomous tractors through a Bluewhite software application on a laptop or tablet. “It has a direct link to the tractor and that’s how you see the path plan, field boundaries and other pieces of data,” Welbig said. “The operator has real-time visibility, and the beauty is that you can run more than one tractor using that same experience. That’s where you get boosts in efficiency.” This autonomous technology solution isn’t widely available yet. Select New Holland dealers in the western U.S. have the rights to sell, distribute and service these kits. But producers with questions are encouraged to reach out to their dealers. “Please get in contact with us and ask questions,” Welbig said. “We anticipate that going into next year and beyond, we’ll scale up to more dealers, customers and regions.” Watch here to learn more and to see this technology in action. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO 05 “THE OPERATOR HAS REAL-TIME VISIBILITY, AND THE BEAUTY IS THAT YOU CAN RUN MORE THAN ONE TRACTOR USING THAT SAME EXPERIENCE.” PHOTO: newholland.com
“We now have a combine for every producer.” Chris Lursen, Case IH Global Combine Product Specialist, told Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest after announcing the release of its AF9 and AF10 combines. These new models sit alongside Case IH’s most powerful combine, the AF11. We will focus on some top-level specs of these new models, but most of the focus will be on the technology. After all, this is a Precision Ag Digital Digest. Now let’s talk tech. Harvest Command, Case IH’s advanced harvesting automation system, comes standard on all AF series combines. This system is unique as you can choose between four modes of automation: performance, grain quality, max throughput, and fixed throughput. As per the Case IH website, PERFORMANCE Maximize grain savings and grain quality while optimizing throughput. 06 AF9 AF10 AF11 SIZE CLASS 9 10+ 10+ GRAIN TANK 455 or 567-bushel (optional) grain tank 567 or 455- bushel (optional) grain tank 567- bushel grain tank UNLOADING RATE 4.5 bushel-per-second unload rate 6.0 or 4.5 (optional) bushel-per-second unload rate 6.0 or 4.5 (optional) bushel-per-second unload rate RATED OUTPUT 544 HP 710 HP 710 HP THRESHING SYSTEM AFXL Single Rotor AFXL Single Rotor AFXL2 Dual Rotor CASE IH’S AXIAL-FLOW SERIES NOW COMPLETE AF Series Adds New Models, Full of Technology RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR
GRAIN QUALITY Maximize grain quality while saving grain and optimizing throughput. MAX THROUGHPUT The operator can maximize throughput while automation adjusts combine settings to save grain. FIXED THROUGHPUT The operator can fix the machine throughput, and the machine will adjust to save grain and maintain a quality sample. Not one, but two Pro 1200 displays are equipped on these combines. The displays convey moisture and yield settings, while allowing you to input Harvest Command settings and set up your auto-guidance. Speaking of guidance, AccuGuide provides sub-inch accuracy on row position. New from Case IH though is RowGuide Pro, a tech that uses advanced sensors and GPS for seamless row tracking. And we cannot forget about AccuSync, which allows you to share coverage data and guidance lines to multiple combines. Grain quality imaging is also for viewing via the Pro 1200 display(s), providing real-time insights at your harvested grain. Residue management was not overlooked either. The AF series is equipped with radar spread automation, enabling a uniform spread of residue even in those windy situations. “The new radar sensor allows us to measure the distance we’re throwing,” explains Lursen. “If we’re not meeting the distance that we need, the spreader speed is automatically adjusted to compensate for that.” You can also customize your residue management package to suit your needs with MagnaCut and MagnaChop. A new platform for Case IH, FieldOps, allows you access to real-time data and insights on your entire fleet. “These combines are really built on the fact of capacity as needed by our customers, the technology needed to enhance their overall production levels, as well as understanding their needs to really complement that next year’s season agronomically,” adds Lursen. Lursen gives you a header to spreader walkthrough in this video. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO 07 PHOTO: caseih.com “THESE COMBINES ARE REALLY BUILT ON THE FACT OF CAPACITY AS NEEDED BY OUR CUSTOMERS, THE TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO ENHANCE THEIR OVERALL PRODUCTION LEVELS, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEEDS TO REALLY COMPLEMENT THAT NEXT YEAR’S SEASON AGRONOMICALLY.”
08 GETTING THE DIRT ON YOUR SOIL Everyone is looking for an edge when it comes to maximizing crop yields. Whether it’s selecting the best seeds for your climate, applying the right mix of fertilizer, or timing herbicides and pesticides perfectly, you are always on the lookout for new ways to enhance planting, growing, and harvesting processes. But what about the soil? Enter the CoreScan from Veris Technologies, Inc.—a powerful tool designed to give you deep insights into your soil’s health. Based in Salina, Kansas, Veris Technologies is a small but highly skilled team of 10 professionals specializing in engineering, product development, sales, and customer support. Their mission is to advance soil sensing technology and support a global customer base. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest spoke with Tyler Lund, Vice President of Business Development at Veris, to learn more about the CoreScan Soil Sensor Probe. “While our operations are based here, our reach is global,” Lund shared. “We’re supported by a network of distributors and partners across multiple continents.” Veris Technologies produces a range of soil-sensing products, including the new CoreScan. “Our portfolio also includes on-the-go sensing platforms that can be used as standalone units or integrated into farm implements like tillage tools and planters,” Lund explained. “Each product is designed to provide actionable insights that help farmers and agronomists make informed decisions.” CoreScan uses cutting-edge sensor technology, including visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) reflectance, soil electrical conductivity (EC), a penetrometer, and capacitance sensors to assess soil properties. “These sensors work together to gather detailed, highresolution data about the soil’s physical and chemical characteristics,” Lund said. “Unlike methods like ground-penetrating radar, the CoreScan utilizes direct interaction with the soil through its sensor probe.
09 Veris Technologies’ New CoreScan Provides Farmers with a Comprehensive, Real-Time Look at Their Soil Health ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTOS: Veris Technologies, Inc. “This physical engagement is crucial,” Lund emphasized. “It allows CoreScan to collect comprehensive soil profile data, including measurements of soil compaction, moisture content, organic matter, and more—insights that above-ground methods can’t match.” While this may sound like a bold claim, Lund insists it’s not just marketing hype. The CoreScan delivers on several key fronts. “Traditional lab sampling usually involves taking soil samples at predetermined locations across a field, typically at a depth of 15 centimeters (six inches),” Lund said. “This method, while useful, leaves significant gaps in the data, especially at deeper levels. “CoreScan addresses this by allowing users to take readings down to 60 centimeters (roughly 24 inches), offering high-resolution data at one-centimeter increments throughout the rooting zone,” he continued. Beyond its depth capabilities, CoreScan’s automation features allow it to operate without operator interaction, covering up to 50 acres per hour. While there are other soil sensors on the market, Lund explained that none offer the same combination of depth, resolution, and automation as CoreScan. “Competitors may offer handheld or hydraulicallymounted sensors, but they typically lack the automation and depth capabilities of CoreScan, leading to either fewer readings or higher data collection costs,” he said. “CoreScan fills a crucial gap in soil analysis by providing a depth and resolution of data that traditional methods miss.” Key benefits of CoreScan technology include: • Soil Compaction Measurement: Uses force sensors to measure soil compaction, crucial for understanding root growth and nutrient uptake. • Soil Carbon and Organic Matter Analysis: The dual-wavelength Vis-NIR optical sensor measures soil organic matter and carbon content, essential for assessing soil health and carbon sequestration. • Soil Texture and Nutrient Holding Capacity: The Bulk Apparent EC sensor determines soil texture variations and predicts water-holding capacity and cation exchange capacity. • Moisture Measurement: A capacitance sensor measures soil moisture content, providing insights into water dynamics within the soil. • Operational Efficiency: Capable of covering up to 50 acres an hour, making it efficient for large-scale, as well as small- and medium-scale, farming operations. • In-Crop Sensing: CoreScan can map soil properties during the growing season with realtime data. • Data Integration and Usability: The system includes hardware and software for data logging and geolocating sensor insertions, with real-time data visualization. “CORESCAN FILLS A CRUCIAL GAP IN SOIL ANALYSIS BY PROVIDING A DEPTH AND RESOLUTION OF DATA THAT TRADITIONAL METHODS MISS.”
The data provided by CoreScan is highly actionable, enabling agronomists and farmers to optimize soil management practices, adjust nutrient applications, modify tillage practices, and make informed irrigation decisions. CoreScan is designed to be user-friendly and can be operated by anyone with basic training provided by Veris Technologies. “There’s no need for a CoreScan-appointed representative to operate it, making it accessible and easy to integrate into existing farm operations,” Lund added. “The data is presented through our FieldFusion cloud platform, which simplifies interpretation and application.” Lund emphasized that CoreScan is not a replacement for soil laboratories but rather a powerful complement. “It leverages valuable lab data and applies it at high resolution, deeper into the soil profile, providing a more comprehensive understanding of soil health and nutrient dynamics.” Customers purchase the CoreScan sensor unit, which includes the probe, necessary hardware for field operation, and access to FieldFusion. The package also includes a soil sampler tube for collecting deep cores, enabling even more detailed soil analysis. FieldFusion’s cost is based on acreage use with no annual fee, offering a flexible pricing model that ensures users only pay for what they use, making it a cost-effective solution for operations of all sizes. Andrew Bulfer of the agricultural service company BK Digital Ag LLC in Mendota, Illinois, has been using CoreScan for one season and sees its potential to transform soil management practices. “The ability to map soil characteristics throughout the entire rooting zone allows us to look at fields in ways we’ve never been able to before,” Bulfer said. “The detailed data on soil compaction is helping us shift to more targeted tillage—tillage with a purpose rather than the way we’ve always done it. Having multiple soil properties, including compaction data, will enable us to prescribe variable depth tillage using new technology from tillage equipment manufacturers.” One of CoreScan’s standout features, Lund explained, is its ability to work in harmony with traditional lab data and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms. This combination allows for precise nutrient modeling, significantly improving fertilizer recommendations and overall crop management. “In a 10-field, five-state study, CoreScan removed all of the most significant errors found in conventional sampling and is capable of improving phosphorus recommendations by 35 percent,” Lund noted. Designed for versatility, CoreScan can be mounted on UTVs, trucks, or tractors and is capable of mapping even during the growing season without disturbing the crop. For more information, visit www.veristech.com. | pag PHOTO: Veris Technologies, Inc. 10
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When designing the Stratus AirSprayer, the team at Precision AI looked at large operations in Western Canada or in the U.S. and how drone applicators fare on those farms. “Most of the drone technology out there really can’t scale,” Daniel McCann, founder and CEO of Precision AI, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “The energy inefficiency of typical drone designs makes it impossible to carry a lot of liquid volume. The tanks are small and the amount of energy you need is untenable.” Precision AI took some of its design inspiration from paragliders. The AirSprayer has one three-blade propeller on the back and is powered by a 100hp Rotax gasoline engine, which supports up to five hours of flight time. It needs a maximum of 500 feet (152m) for takeoff. The swath widths are 18ft (5.49m) or 30ft (9.14m), and the nozzles are spaced every 10 inches. The dual tank capacity is 60 gallons (227L) or 100 gallons (378L). “We really tried to build this with the farmer’s workflow in mind,” he said. “It’s just a standard gas engine that every farmer likely already knows how to maintain.” 12 THE STRATUS AIRSPRAYER FROM PRECISION AI The Sprayer is Equipped with a Precision Vision System and Operates Autonomously DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM
13 PHOTO: precision.ai Perhaps the most unique feature of the AirSprayer is its 541-square-foot (50.3m) parachute, which customers can install in about 15 minutes. The parachute helps the applicator fly and carry large liquid product volumes. And it supports travel at slower speeds (38mph/61kph) for precision spraying passes. Overall, the parachute provides multiple advantages, McCann said. “First, since there aren’t downward-facing propellers, you don’t get the drift or unevenness issues you get with traditional drones,” he said. Another benefit is transportability. Because the parachute can be removed, the AirSprayer can be moved easier between fields. “The parachute can fold up into a backpack,” McCann said. “It’s not like you have to block the highway or have a plane with 30-foot wings sticking out on either side.” The AirSprayer can easily fit on a flatbed or trailer for transportation. With a 100-gallon dual tank, the AirSprayer can cover about 92 acres per hour. The unit can do this in part because of its autonomous operation. In one pass, the unit images the field and applies AI to the images to separate weeds from crops, then target sprays the weeds specifically with products. The onboard SOLV camera has a precise image resolution of 0.5mm. “If you’re doing a herbicide application it’ll actually leave the nozzles off unless you’re over top of a weed,” he said. In doing so, you’re spraying substantially less than you normally would. It’s about an 83 per cent savings on chemicals.” In terms of operation costs, Precision AI estimates the AirSprayer costs less than $2.85 per acre, compared to between $6 and $13 per acre for traditional drone technology. AirSprayers are already flying in the U.S. McCann estimates these units will be allowed to fly in Canada in time for the 2025 growing season. | pag “IF YOU’RE DOING A HERBICIDE APPLICATION IT’LL ACTUALLY LEAVE THE NOZZLES OFF UNLESS YOU’RE OVER TOP OF A WEED. IN DOING SO, YOU’RE SPRAYING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD. IT’S ABOUT AN 83 PER CENT SAVINGS ON CHEMICALS.”
I should not liken an autonomous grain cart solution to a digital AI assistant on a smartphone... In all seriousness PTx Trimble is at it again. This time with OutRun, the retrofittable autonomous grain cart kit that will transform your tractor into your favorite grain cart operator. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest recently connected with the experts at PTx Trimble to learn as much as we could about this new solution. The technology currently works on John Deere 8R or 8000R tractors (model years 2014 and newer) with IVT, but it will be supporting mixed fleets in the future says Dinen Subramaniam, OutRun Senior Product Manager. The OutRun kit is mounted to the roof of the tractor. Once installed, it allows the combine driver to direct the tractor via a tablet. It only takes a day or two to set this system up on a tractor—work with a PTX Trimble dealership on install though, this is not a “try this at home” task. From the cab of the combine, the operator can use a tablet to instruct the grain cart to complete several tasks. STAGE/POSITION By simply clicking a button you can position that grain cart in the field. The system keeps track of coverage (how much of the field has been harvested) which opens the area in which the cart can operate. The path planning technology will also avoid any obstacles within the field. You can instruct the grain cart on where to go and which direction to face when it gets there. The system will also map a route for the grain cart so you can see exactly the path it will take to the destination (it will go from point A to B as quickly as possible). It is not a free-for-all in the field though; the grain cart will attempt to follow the same path that the combine took so that the traffic in the field is controlled. CALL FOR PICKUP A single click on the tablet will initiate the grain cart to catch up to the combine in the field when it is time to unload. The grain cart will then match the combine’s speed so that the combine can unload on-the-go. Functionality does not end there though. The combine operator can adjust exactly where it would like to unload in that grain cart by pressing a button. And if the combine stops, the grain cart will automatically stop as well. 14 SIRI, DRIVE MY GRAIN CART Grain Cart Autonomy with OutRun by PTx Trimble RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR PHOTOS: outrunag.com, Yeti Studio – stock.adobe.com 1 2
15 An added perk to this process is that inevitable arguments between the combine and grain cart operators are eliminated. The grain cart will be in the exact position you tell it to be. SEND TO TRUCK The final task that this system will complete is to send the grain cart to the truck for unloading. The combine operator can define a specific zone for when it is time to unload. By clicking the ‘send to truck’ button the grain cart automatically travels to the defined zone where the truck driver can hop in the cab and unload the grain cart into the truck. This technology is eliminating the need for a third person on the job to haul the grain from the combine to the grain truck. The truck is loaded exactly how the truck operator wants. Like the relationship between the combine and grain cart operators, arguments between the grain cart and the truck operators on grain placement are now eliminated (thank you OutRun). Most importantly, OutRun answers the call of so many farmers looking for not only labor, but skilled labor at one of the busiest cropping seasons. “All over the Midwest, we hear that 33% of acres are harvested late, causing a 10% reduction in yield on those acres,” explains Subramaniam. “That’s tens of thousands of dollars and in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars that farmers are leaving on the field in terms of lost yield.” Limiting the bottleneck created from a shortage of labor is one way you can get more profit out of each harvest season. But what about return on investment (ROI)? We know that one of the most significant barriers to adoption of precision ag technology is a proven ROI. OutRun is addressing this challenge by creating a unique flexible pricing model which enables OutRun to provide a positive ROI in the first couple of years. “With our flexible pricing model, you are only paying for when you use the autonomous grain cart,” explains Subramaniam. “It fits almost all different sizes of operations from 900 acres to up 1,600 or 3,500 acres.” On the OutRun website, three case-scenarios are listed with a breakdown of the annual farm benefit from using the technology. ROBERT, CENTRAL NEBRASKA Robert farms 900 acres, 80% of which are corn and 20% are soybeans. The annual farm benefit on his operation was $4.31 per acre, realized from a 2.64% yield increase through loss reduction. JIM AND NATE, WESTERN NEBRASKA Jim and Nate farm 1,600 acres split between corn at 40%, soybeans at 40% and 20% other crops. They realized a $9.97 per acre annual farm benefit from a 2.97% yield increase through loss reduction. CHASE, WESTERN IOWA Chase runs 3,300 acres evenly split between corn and soybeans. His annual farm benefit of using the system was $4.22 per acre, a 1.32% yield increase through loss reduction. Every farm is different, but it is encouraging to know that within a couple of years the technology will have paid for itself. You cannot get your hands on this system just yet; you will have to wait until 2025. We did not just talk about the technology and its benefits with the PTX Trimble team; we hopped in the cab for a live demo of how it works. Watch that demo here. For more information on this technology, visit outrunag.com. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO “WITH OUR FLEXIBLE PRICING MODEL, YOU ARE ONLY PAYING FOR WHEN YOU USE THE AUTONOMOUS GRAIN CART.” 3
16 05 Guidance on Your Implements? Case IH’s new Active Implement Guidance technology significantly reduces implement drift. The system shares guidance line data with the tractor to ensure that planting, strip-tilling, side-dressing, and more are executed with precision. 03 CLAAS with New Precision Farming Products CLAAS recently introduced two new precision agriculture products, its CEMIS 1200 steering solution as well as its new CLAAS Connect mobile application. 01 NEW John Deere S7’s Next Gen Tech John Deere has a new model year 2025 S7 combine which features what it calls its next generation of technology, Harvest Settings Automation. 04 These Sprayers Mean Business An AE50 Outstanding Innovations Award in 2024 should indicate that this sprayer means business. The 500R Series from Massey Ferguson is equipped with technology for better coverage, better control, and better profits. TECH CLIPS WATCH 02 New Holland’s NEW CR10 New Holland provides a header to spreader overview of its brand-new CR10 combine. An all-new design was forged to increase efficiency, and ultimately decrease the total cost of harvesting. WATCH WATCH WATCH WATCH
17 07 The Best Grain Cart Operator You Ever Had PTx Trimble is at it again, this time with a game-changer for harvesting! The company recently introduced its new retrofit autonomy kit dubbed ‘OutRun’ to enable autonomous grain cart operation. 06 Precision Air Seeder Upgrades If you have a 2017 or newer C650 or C850 air cart, you are now able to upgrade to the latest precision ag offerings from John Deere. 08 Radical Innovation from Precision Planting Precision Planting introduces Radicle Agronomics, a suite of nutrient management tools that deliver fast insights into your soil health. This streamlined and simplified soil sampling and analysis process is a game-changer. WATCH WATCH WATCH 10 Fendt’s New Retrofit Steering Joystick Fendt has a brand-new product: ErgoSteer. ErgoSteer is a retrofittable left-hand joystick allows for precise control of the front wheels on a tractor. WATCH PHOTOS: DS70/E+ via Getty Images, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus 09 Sharing a Guidance Line Makes Harvest a Breeze There’s lots to pay attention to if you’re a grain cart operator... what if it was simplified? PTx Trimble discusses how simple operating a grain cart can be when you’re sharing a guidance line with the combine. WATCH PRECISION AG AT FARM PROGRESS SHOW
18 John Deere has introduced a new combine for model year 2025. The T6 800 walker combine is ideal for livestock producers or customers concerned about straw quality and small grains. The six in T6 800 stands for the number of walkers engineered in the width of the body of the machine. The T6 800 also has a larger grain tank (383) and a faster unloading rate (4.3 bushels per second) than its predecessor, the T670. “The T670 hasn’t had a refresh in a long time, so we’re excited to have the T6 800 out there,” Bergen Nelson, John Deere’s go-to-market manager for harvesters, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “The T6 800 has new styling, (a) new cab, new technology, bigger display, (and a) new residue system.” In terms of factory technology, the T6 800 includes many of the features customers will find in John Deere X9 and S7 combines. These include the StarFire 7500 receiver, G5 Plus CommandCenter 12.8” display and JDLink modem. The G5 Plus extended monitor is available as an option. This option provides producers with control over more functions like AutoPath, Machine Sync or Grain Sensing. Multiple additional pieces of ag tech are available to help farmers maximize their time and efficiency in the combine. One is HillMaster leveling technology, which allows producers to harvest up to 22 degrees on a slope. JOHN DEERE’S NEW T6 800 WALKER COMBINE The Machine Has Multiple Precision Ag and Automation Options Available DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM
19 “That system is underneath the belly of the combine using hydraulic cylinders that actuate the machine to make sure we’re maintaining a level cleaning shoe or level combine as we’re harvesting,” Nelson said. “We also just updated a valve on the system which allows the HillMaster system to adjust smoother and provides the customer more comfort during operation.” Another available feature is ground speed automation. This piece of ag tech uses the combine’s data to adjust speed. “It allows the machine to speed up and slow down, all automatically based off rotor pressure, engine load, loss level and terrain,” Nelson said. Terrain settings automation can be added to the T6 800, too. This provides stable cleaning performance in varying terrain. “Based off of the pitch and slope of the GPS receiver on the cab with the machine, it’ll allow us to adjust the cleaning fan speed, the chaffer opening as well as the sieve opening,” Nelson said. “So as we’re going up or down hills, we can adjust accordingly to make sure that we’re keeping all of the grain inside the combine versus blowing it out the back.” John Deere has also set the T6 800 combine up for future upgrades. This is done through 32-bit electrical architecture, Nelson says. “It doesn’t mean a whole lot right now to customers, but from my perspective, it allows us to upgrade that combine into the future quite easily.” John Deere is already taking orders for the new combine. Any customers interested in learning more about the T6 800 walker combine can visit Deere.com or visit their local John Deere dealer. | pag “THAT SYSTEM IS UNDERNEATH THE BELLY OF THE COMBINE USING HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS THAT ACTUATE THE MACHINE TO MAKE SURE WE’RE MAINTAINING A LEVEL CLEANING SHOE OR LEVEL COMBINE AS WE’RE HARVESTING.” PHOTO: deere.com
Reducing spray drift and improving spray coverage, all while maintaining speed and efficiency. That’s what Greentronic’s RiteHeight system accomplishes. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest met with Bill Menkveld, sales and marketing leader with Greentronics, to hit the field and see exactly how this sprayer boom height control technology works. This system is designed to improve spraying efficiency, particularly in challenging terrains and at night. Ultrasonic range sensors continually monitor the height of the booms above the ground or crop canopy and will automatically adjust to maintain a consistent height. The system features three height settings: ground level, half canopy, and full canopy. This flexibility allows you to adapt quickly to varying field conditions, enhancing both coverage and efficiency. This precision helps avoid issues such as spray drift and uneven application, which can occur when the booms are set too high or low. Unlike other height control systems, Greentronics’ solution stands out for its universal compatibility. It connects directly to the factory-installed valves of the sprayer, eliminating the need for additional valves, hoses, or special harnesses, explains Menkveld. This straightforward installation process is complemented by pre-wired components and labeled cables, making it easy for many users to install independently. The RiteHeight system is available in configurations from two to eight sensors, catering to various boom widths and conditions. For those with wider booms or more demanding conditions, options like the five or seven-sensor systems are recommended. Additionally, the system can be integrated with existing ISOBUS-compatible displays or used with Greentronics’ dedicated 7-inch touchscreen display. Watch this demo to learn more and to see the technology in action. | pag 20 WATCH THE VIDEO GET YOUR HEIGHT RIGHT WITH RITEHEIGHT Sprayer Boom Height Control with Greentronics’ System RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR PHOTOS: greentronics.com
Auto sprayer boom height control has always been a nice-to-have feature. Especially in rolling fields, auto height control helps maintain an optimal spray pattern with less drift, and at the same time reduces the chance of the boom striking the ground or getting tangled with the crop. With increasing boom widths, far more expensive nozzle bodies, higher ground speeds and today’s features like section control and vision-based nozzle control, correct and automatically controlled target height is more important than ever. Enter Greentronics. Since 2006, Greentronics manufactures an excellent quality automatic sprayer boom height controller called RiteHeight™. RiteHeight™ is designed to work with the original hydraulic solenoid valves on the sprayer. No extra hydraulics are needed. RiteHeight™ works with both open and closed hydraulic systems. During self-calibration, RiteHeight™ learns how to optimize boom control on the sprayer. This means that RiteHeight™ will work on any used or new, trailed or self-propelled sprayer on the market. The only requirement is that the sprayer must have solenoid operated valves. This is a huge plus and also means you can move the system from one sprayer to another when you decide to trade. Another advantage to RiteHeight™ is that it is easy to connect, install, and configure. There are no hydraulics to change. Only the RiteHeight™ ECU needs to be installed and then connected 1) to power; 2) to the valve bank; and 3) to a display in the cab. All harnesses are included in each kit. Many customers decide to self-install. A little history. Greentronics started during the 90s and continues as a multigenerational family business, based in the rural towns of Clifford and Elmira in South Western Ontario. The founding family has strong roots in agriculture. We have been blessed with good progress and we are grateful to our many resellers and customers for continuing to help our business grow. BEST VALUE AUTO SPRAYER BOOM HEIGHT CONTROL. Better spray job, less drift, less chance of damage, easier on the operator. 73 Promotional Supplement Technology & Innovation February 2021 TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION HOW DOES IT WORK? The Greentronics RiteHeight® system uses from two to five ultrasonic sensors to measure the distance from the sprayer boom to the target. With simple electrical connections to the solenoid valves, it raises and lowers booms as needed. WHAT COMES IN A KIT? There are just four main items: (1) Console with display and keypad, (2) Junction Box, (3) Sensors and (4) Cables. Users find it very straightforward to install. In fact, more than 75 per cent of end-users install their own systems. WILL IT WORK ON MY SPRAYER? RiteHeight® works on any type of new or used trailed or self-propelled sprayer with electric-over-hydraulic solenoid valves. It works with all common hydraulic designs and requires no additional hydraulics. HOW DO I USE IT? Once installed, use the TEST menu to check connections. Then, run the auto SELF-CALIBRATION step. This allows the computer to learn your sprayer’s behaviour. At spray time, set target height and choose the operating mode: Bare Ground, Partial Canopy or Full Canopy. The system is easy to override and constantly monitors for operator input. Headland Mode allows for quick and safe turns. ANY OPTIONS? You can choose how many sensors you want. We offer 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-sensor systems. Green-tronics offers optional ISOBUS compatibility to operate RiteHeight® directly from the Universal Terminal screen on many tractor and sprayer displays. CAN I UPGRADE MY OLDER SYSTEM? Yes, you can. Customer input has driven many improvements over the years and operators with older systems are advised to contact Greentronics about upgrade options. MOST AFFORDABLE SPRAYER BOOM HEIGHT CONTROL BETTER SPRAY JOB, LESS DRIFT, LESS CHANCE OF EQUIPMENT DAMAGE, MUCH EASIER ON THE OPERATOR. Bill & Andy Menkveld Auto sprayer boom height control has always been a nice-to-have feature. Especially in rolling fields, auto height control helps maintain an optimal spray pattern with less drift, and at the same time reduces the chance of the boom striking the ground or getting tangled with the crop. With increasing boom widths, far more expensive nozzle bodies, higher ground speeds and today’s features like section control and vision-based nozzle control, correct and automatically controlled target height is more important than ever. Enter Greentronics. Since 2006, Greentronics manufactures an excellent quality automatic sprayer boom height controller called RiteHeight™. RiteHeight™ is designed to work with the original hydraulic solenoid valves on the sprayer. No extra hydraulics are needed. RiteHeight™ works with both open and closed hydraulic systems. During self-calibration, RiteHeight™ learns how to optimize boom control on the sprayer. This means that RiteHeight™ will work on any used or new, trailed or self-propelled sprayer on the market. The only requirement is that the sprayer must have solenoid operated valves. This is a huge plus and also means you can move the system from one sprayer to another when you decide to trade. Another advantage to RiteHeight™ is that it is easy to connect, install, and configure. There are no hydraulics to change. Only the RiteHeight™ ECU needs to be installed and then connected 1) to power; 2) to the valve bank; and 3) to a display in the cab. All harnesses are included in each kit. Many customers decide to self-install. A little history. Greentronics started during the 90s and continues as a multigenerational family business, based in the rural towns of Clifford and Elmira in South Western Ontario. The founding family has strong roots in agriculture. We have been blessed with good progress and we are grateful to our many resellers and customers for continuing to help our business grow. BEST VALUE AUTO SPRAYER BOOM HEIGHT CONTROL. Better spray job, less drift, less chance of damage, easier on the operator. 73 Promotional Supplement Technology & Innovation February 2021 TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION HOW DOES IT WORK? The Greentronics RiteHeight® system uses from two to five ultrasonic sensors to measure the distance from the sprayer boom to the target. With simple electrical connections to the solenoid valves, it raises and lowers booms as needed. WHAT COMES IN A KIT? There are just four main items: (1) Console with display and keypad, (2) Junction Box, (3) Sensors and (4) Cables. Users find it very straightforward to install. In fact, more than 75 per cent of end-users install their own systems. WILL IT WORK ON MY SPRAYER? RiteHeight® works on any type of new or used trailed or self-propelled sprayer with electric-over-hydraulic solenoid valves. It works with all common hydraulic designs and requires no additional hydraulics. HOW DO I USE IT? Once installed, use the TEST menu to check connections. Then, run the auto SELF-CALIBRATION step. This allows the computer to learn your sprayer’s behaviour. At spray time, set target height and choose the operating mode: Bare Ground, Partial Canopy or Full Canopy. The system is easy to override and constantly monitors for operator input. Headland Mode allows for quick and safe turns. ANY OPTIONS? You can choose how many sensors you want. We offer 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-sensor systems. Green-tronics offers optional ISOBUS compatibility to operate RiteHeight® directly from the Universal Terminal screen on many tractor and sprayer displays. CAN I UPGRADE MY OLDER SYSTEM? Yes, you can. Customer input has driven many improvements over the years and operators with older systems are advised to contact Greentronics about upgrade options. MOST AFFORDABLE SPRAYER BOOM HEIGHT CONTROL BETTER SPRAY JOB, LESS DRIFT, LESS CHANCE OF EQUIPMENT DAMAGE, MUCH EASIER ON THE OPERATOR. Bill & Andy Menkveld 21
01 The Side-by-Side from Silicon Valley The new John Deere Gator XUV 845 and XUV 875 models come GreenStar™ Ready, allowing easy integration of precision ag technology. Features like JDLink® modem and AutoTrac™ control simplify farm tasks such as boundary mapping and field operations. MORE 22 BITS & BYTES 02 An Infinity Stone Built for You? Tesseract Ventures introduces the Tesseract Ag Drone (no, it is not an Infinity Stone from the Marvel Universe), combining military-grade robotics with precision ag. This drone delivers real-time data, AIdriven insights, and user-friendly software to help you monitor crops and boost yields. MORE 05 AI + Robots = Future of Farming? Robots like FarmDroid and Orio are transforming agriculture. Researchers are testing these autonomous robots to seed, weed, and cultivate fields, aiming to improve efficiency, reduce labor shortages, and enhance sustainability. MORE 04 10-Billion Weeds Eliminated Can you even imagine what 10 billion weeds look like? Well, LaserWeeder from Carbon Robotics, which uses AI and lasers to identify, target and zap weeds, recently surpassed its 10-billionth eliminated weed. MORE 03 Every Maverick Needs a Goose AgVend introduces Goose, a free AI co-pilot designed for agribusiness teams. Goose simplifies tasks, provides real-time insights, and automates workflows, allowing agronomy, grain, and energy sales reps to focus on customer service and productivity. MORE AI & AGRICULTURE
23 08 All-Seeing AI Eye Researchers have developed two AI-powered apps, InsectID and WeedID, which use AI to help you identify pests and beneficial insects, as well as weeds, with high accuracy. These tools improve crop management and efficiency in the field. MORE 07 AI’s Place in Ag Education A study shows that agriculture students can use AI tools like ChatGPT to write computer programs for microcontrollers, improving their ability to manage precision farming tasks such as climate control, irrigation, and automation in agricultural systems. MORE 06 Predicting Pastures with AI An AI-powered system using satellite imagery to help you monitor grazing pastures? This tool improves pasture management, boosts productivity, and reduces environmental impact, providing real-time data on pasture quantity and quality via smartphone access. MORE 09 Kubota Nets Bloomfield Robotics Kubota has acquired Bloomfield Robotics, enhancing its smart agriculture solutions with AI-driven technology. Bloomfield’s advanced imaging captures plant-level data, offering growers real-time insights on crop health, maturity, and yield for improved farm management. MORE PHOTO: Black White Mouse – stock.adobe.com 10 New Leader in Soil Digitization EarthOptics and Pattern Ag have merged to create a leader in soil digitization. Combining advanced field sensing and lab-based analysis, the new company delivers precise soil insights on biofertility, nutrients, pests, and more, driving sustainable, profitable farming decisions. MORE
24 Many farmers tend to use their eyes to inspect their crops—a glance at a plant, pulling a few up to examine the root system—all in all, one gets a general idea of how things are going. But in reality, that plant health observation is just for that few plants in that general area. What about other areas? How many plants are you going to pull out? And is it really indicative of a crop’s health? To provide an honest answer to that, Taranis, Inc. offers crop intelligence through high-resolution aerial imagery via drones, planes, and satellites and then processes those images using its proprietary AI with results available in the Taranis dashboard, which can be accessed via desktop, tablet, or mobile device, which enables the viewer to prioritize crop threats in the field. The company is headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, with global offices located in Tel Aviv, Israel, and São Paulo, Brazil, with over 110 people working for it around the world. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest talked with Jason Minton, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, to learn more about what its AI assistant can see better than what we humans can do unaided. “Along with providing crop intelligence, we also help unlock conservation funding and assist retailers and growers in maximizing USDA funds through conservation practices,” explained Minton. The product—Ag Assistant—processes a vast array of agronomic data, including collected leaf-level insights, weather patterns, satellite data, research and extension reports, soil and yield maps, seed and chemical information, industry trends, and much more. Said Minton, “The more information we can provide, the better the recommendation output.” When looking at the health and productivity of a field, many, many factors can be lost simply by eye-balling things, such as weather conditions, the traits of the seed hybrid used, nutrients in the soil, the prevalence of weeds, and the likelihood of herbicide-resistant strains, for example. As a tool for an agronomist, Ag Assistant gathers the various data sources, analyzes how it all fits together, and presents the agronomist with a clearer picture of just what is going on in and under the field. With the analysis, Ag Assistant offers actions to take to remedy problems or what to do next to maximize the fields’ productivity. THE AI AG-ASSISTANT An Artificial Intelligence Platform Provides Operators With an In-Depth View of Their Crop Health ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM PHOTOS: DiedovStock – stock.adobe.com
25 And because it’s an artificial intelligence program, it learns year-over-year. But, as pointed out by Mintin, it is foremost a retailer tool that makes analyzing grower fields more efficient. “But the retailer controls the final report details before providing them to the grower.” The Ag Assistant is powered by a Generative AI model that has been trained on proprietary agronomic data spanning several years of in-season crop intelligence gathered from fields across the continental US, along with other sources of industry-specific data, including weather maps, machinery data, university research reports, and more. With all of this curated and validated training data, the Ag Assistant has, according to Taranis, capabilities not available in other generic or non-agriculture models. In an example offered by Minton on the company website, “... consider a scenario in which Ag Assistant identifies a widespread, specific weed threat, indicating that the prescribed weed management program did not work. Rather than an agronomist spending hours and days during the growing season manually walking and scouting fields, reviewing seed hybrid information, weather history and forecast, herbicide label information, identified weed control, etc., Ag Assistant will immediately generate a detailed, expert-level agronomy report to the agronomist that analyzes those factors and more to provide a targeted control recommendation for the specific field and farm in question.” So... just what does one get when purchasing the Ag Assistant? Minton said that they sell through agricultural retail channels. “The person buying is physically purchasing a fullservice subscription to monitor their growers’ crops throughout the season, providing aggregate and leaf-level insights for in-season decision-making and planning for the next season. He continued: “The full-service subscription includes everything end-to-end, from the pilots flying the fields in a timely manner to access to the Taranis platform. The service is backed by a dedicated customer success team with marketing support provided as a value-add.” The full-service offering from Taranis provides the option of purchasing a single-year subscription or one for multiple years. And because technology has a habit of progressing, Minton said that all software updates to Ag Assistant are done fully through the cloud, meaning your technology is always up-to-date—there’s no software to install or manage. Ag Assistant has Notes and Health Check icons containing reports that can be used between flight missions or as a post-season review report. The information output follows the current threats that Taranis said it currently scans for. Founded in 2015 and commercialized in the US in 2020, Taranis is available to customers throughout the country and will be available globally soon. “We service millions of acres in the US and globally,” summed up Minton. “We have more than 100 agriculture retailers in the US providing this service to growers. We serve 25 of CropLife’s Top 100 Ag Retailers. Company information—including testimonials about the Ag Assistant—can be found at www.taranis.com. | pag “THE FULL-SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES EVERYTHING END-TO-END, FROM THE PILOTS FLYING THE FIELDS IN A TIMELY MANNER TO ACCESS TO THE TARANIS PLATFORM.”
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