Precision Ag Comes of Age

A truck stop in a small town just north of OEM Off-Highway‘s office serves a mighty fine breakfast, and the area farmers know it. On any given morning you are as likely to hear the farmers talking about sensors and satellites as you are torque and tires. Software, GPS, virtual terminals and other features have helped make significant improvements in the business of growing food. It’s made straight lines and repeatability possible in every field, while providing real savings in time, fuel, and material. While suppliers and OEMs work to drive the functionality of precision ag systems to the next level, the technology is becoming available to farms of nearly all scales — it’s no longer something you’ll only see used by large growers and custom operators. These systems are also being made available to universities. Thanks to this early exposure, some of those students will likely play a role in precision agricultural systems yet to be developed.

Giving a head start

Thanks to a long-term partnership between Case IH Agriculture, Ritchie Implement Inc., and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP) Pioneer Farm, students in UWP’s School of Agriculture will have access to the newest agricultural equipment and precision farming technologies available. Case IH tractors, a combine and other equipment will be delivered in early 2010 and each year thereafter.

“Access to new Case IH agriculture equipment will be a tremendous asset to Pioneer Farm — the precision farming solutions will greatly increase the productivity of our operations,” says Phil Wyse, director of Pioneer Farm. “But more so than that, this partnership advances the mission of Pioneer Farm — to enhance the agricultural education experience for students on campus and for agriculturists throughout the surrounding communities. That’s what we’re really excited about.”

Pioneer Farm, the university’s 430-acre farm, boasts some of the best soil in the region. The gently rolling fields rotate between corn, oats and alfalfa. Those crops help support the farm’s dairy, beef and swine enterprises.

“Students and university researchers will get to see, run, test and learn all about the newest innovations in production agriculture first-hand,” says Ron Ritchie, president of Ritchie Implement Inc., a Case IH dealer with three locations in southwest Wisconsin. “Our goal is not only to broaden ag students’ educational experience and better prepare them for their farming careers, but also to enhance educational opportunities for active producers locally, regionally and across the state.”

As part of the agreement, Case IH product specialists will be available to support classroom instruction. The university will assist Case IH in engineering research and by testing new products. Case IH and Ritchie’s will also have the opportunity to bring customers and employees to Pioneer Farm to see their equipment in action.

An application for precision ag

Application equipment has been one of the big winners from the adoption and expansion of precision agriculture technology. Ten years ago, most sprayer operators weren’t interested in trying lightbars to guide them through the field; they knew foam markers worked. Today, precision agriculture has taken over, and it’s gone beyond yield monitors in combines and automated steering in tracked tractors. With their proven ability to save time, money and the environment, precision ag systems are becoming more common on lower-cost machines.

This summer, John Deere placed an economy-sized model in its 30 Series self-propelled sprayer line. The 4630, which replaces the discontinued 6700, is intended for cotton, corn, soybean, and small-grain farmers who want a low-cost, productive machine that’s simple to operate.