Latest News From Variable Rate Technology

To date, tens of thousands of acres have been planted with SIMPAS-Applied Solutions (SaS) through the SIMPAS application system.

The partnership combines the digital and onboard capabilities of John Deere with agronomic analysis from Corteva.

Climate FieldView announces new capabilities in FieldView Plus for 2024, including more personalized features available through the new FieldView Premium subscription tier, improvements to FieldView’s in-cab experience.

Unverferth enhances its lineup of Pro-Force dry fertilizer spreaders with two high-flotation undercarriage options: a track system and in-line walking tandem dual wheels, and ISOBUS-enabled boundary control.

Smart Apply is based in Indianapolis and focused its product development on precision air-blast spraying. Its Intelligent Spray Control System can be used in orchards, vineyards or tree nurseries.

This fall, the company has unveiled three products that meet farmers where they are on their path and help them with the next level of adoption.

Solinftec has been partnering with retailers in the Corn Belt to deploy 20 Solix robots in 2023.

Andrew Lambert, technology services manager at Centra Sota Cooperative, shares how his team is structured to help farmers advance their yields and return on investment.

As one of the first retailers to commercial selective spraying in their agronomic offering, Jeff Crissinger, VP of Agronomy Sales/Marketing at NuWay-K&H Cooperative shares how they are positioning this technology.

For the past three years the team at Solinftec has been working on advancing its solar powered autonomy platform.

The company branches out to provide crop consultants with a suite of tools: soil testing software, in-field automation and on-site soil analysis

“This year, the conference will focus on solving those challenges through precision agriculture, sustainability, and products innovation,” says Corey Rosenbusch, TFI President and CEO.

“I think we're going to see another wave for precision ag adoption,” says Blaine Groth.

With a territory the spans Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, Erin Hardin covers a diverse geography, and she says the reception to new technology tools varies.

The program is open for corn, cotton and wheat growers, and outlines a specific parameter for participation: a 5% reduction in nitrogen rates.

Ethan Noll shares the future of digital ag is about scaling down with sensors and autonomy. Such as an irrigation tech saving $29/acre on crop nutrition inputs.

With a newly created role at Salford Group, David Webster joined the company after years at AGCO and will execute a strategic vision for continued growth in commercial application.

Yield monitors on combines. Module-building cotton pickers. Automatic row shut off on planters. Now for sprayers, will selective smart spraying systems be the next must-have productivity enablers? 

Machinery drives input efficiency

New products are unlocking even more potential in what can be delivered in the planting pass.

Multiple products (which currently spans insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, and micronutrients) can be applied simultaneously.

“This marks day one of the beginning for how we can measure how these practices are being used,” TFI CEO Corey Rosenbusch says.

As higher commodity prices could entice more farmers to make technology investments, Ken Ferrie expects the use of variable rate technology to grow over the next five to 10 years.

The Smart Carbon program is just one example of how data will unlock new opportunities for farmers.

Variable rate dry fertilizer acres have increased from 4,000 in 2015 to 45,000 acres in 2021. 

“Today’s acquisition is a testament to our commitment to make the farm more efficient and increase productivity while dramatically improving sustainability,” said Valmont President and CEO Stephen G. Kaniewski.

Months of planning precede each planter pass on Joe Zumwalt’s farm. He knows his in-furrow program can set the stage for a healthy and high-yielding crop. 

The past five years have been transformational for AMVAC, says Scott Hendrix, Senior Vice President, U.S. and Canada Crop Sales and Application Technology.

A farmer just won the lottery—what do they buy first? In February, the Farm Journal Pulse Poll asked that question specifically about technology purchases.

The technology detects a growing plant and selectively sprays a targeted application at 12 mph.

“The line where the precision ag starts and the tractor stops is extremely gray. It used to be bolting on precision ag hardware, and now it’s part of what the tractor does,” says marketing manager Ryan Jardon.

This technology has the potential to redefine the application timeframe as well as level of precision of crop input products.

By sharing his agronomic practices with fellow farmers, Swartz helps them identify practical, cost-effective ways they can enhance conservation stewardship on their respective operations.

As is the case with Luckey Farmers, Inc., nutrient management mandates are both an opportunity and a challenge for farmers and a strong, comprehensive data backbone is needed.

Advanced Agrilytics aims to provide a new view and new way to deliver spatial agronomic recommendations.

The company says Hawkeye 2 gives coverage up to 2.5 times more accurate than comparable systems on the market.

Corteva conducted research trials using the pre-commercial SIMPAS equipment in 2020. The expected commercialization path for SIMPAS includes Trimble dealers to have the system available in 2021.

The intersection of farmer creativity, technology and the machinery to make it happen have resulted in fields growing personalized messages.

In 2020, the team at AMVAC, which is currently spearheading SIMPAS development, worked with five retailers to beta test the system in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska.

The kit is currently available as an aftermarket option, and for a 70’ boom, it includes tubes for all 28 outlets, spaced at 30” off-center. 

Participating retailers included: Asmus Farm Supply, Harvest Land Co-op, Helena Agri-Enterprises, Nutrien Ag Solutions, and Simplot Grower Solutions.

Continuum Ag has launched the first-ever web-based soil health software, The TopSoil Tool, which integrates agronomic data to help farmers improve soil health and position their data for supply chain opportunities.

AgWorks, LLC and FieldReveal, LLC have announced a partnership to jointly deliver zone-based variable rate and decision support software to agricultural retailers throughout North America.

Mike Manning with Precision Crop Systems shares the biggest opportunities to increase profitability.

The soil testing process is ripe for improvements.

Trace Genomics is pioneering a soil test technology to accurately assess agronomic potential and risks before the growing season begins. It combines genomics, microbiology, and machine learning. 

New tools were required to answer the new questions. To put stewardship into practice, the co-op doubled down on technology to keep implementation of the 4Rs simultaneously transparent and simple to farmers.

Zone Economics, from Conservis, provides cost-based farm activity analysis down to the square yard.

This joins together Yara’s digital farming capabilities, agronomic know-how and team of more than 800 agronomists with IBM’s Watson Studio, IBM PAIRS technology, The Weather Company and more.

Change is coming fast to a fundamental industry