As farmers worldwide strive to increase production and reduce costs – all while implementing sustainable approaches – precision ag is helping to accomplish these goals. No matter where you farm, the crops you grow or what your goals are, technology can be applied in a number of creative ways – transcending location, climate and cropping systems to help growers address specific needs and challenges.
Do you need some inspiration as you elevate your precision solutions? Here are 5 examples of how problem-solving technology provides economic, environmental and efficiency gains for diverse farming operations throughout the world.
Challenge: How can we adapt application control technology to a specific cropping system like viticulture?
Background: Different from cropping systems, wine grape growers in France need to spray a group of field plots at once (versus spraying them one at a time). That meant growers were uploading several polygons on the same field plot in order to use automatic section control when driving alleys, which has been a rather cumbersome process.
Solution: Through a combination of Trimble’s Field-IQ crop input control system, ISOBUS and a custom user interface, reseller Vantage Atlantique Méditerranée worked with area vineyards to create exclusion zones in between plots so operators can efficiently control application with one polygon.
“This [Trimble] system has allowed us to improve precision and it gives peace of mind,” says Lisa Gustafsson, vineyard manager at Calon-Ségur. “The driver no longer has to worry about managing the opening and closing of valves and only has to worry about driving.”
Challenge: Why should we move from manual machine operation to automated guidance?
Background: Spanish fruit company Masiá Ciscar has more than 40 years of experience delivering high-quality fruit to market. While they have historically relied on traditional ways of driving machines by hand, they started exploring alternative options in order to make production easier and more accurate.
Solution: With the help of Trimble reseller Vantage Iberia Occidental (Agrosap), Masiá Ciscar invested in a comprehensive precision ag upgrade that improved machine performance. The solution (primarily applied in their strawberry production system, where accurate and straight lines are critical) included the addition of Trimble’s GFX-750 display combined with a NAV-900 guidance controller, Autopilot Motor Drive (APMD) steering system and VRS corrections.
Challenge: How do we start with more precise crop rows, instead of discovering them at harvest – especially in large fields?
Background: TİGEM, a government-owned farm in Turkey operating more than 320,000 hectares, was experiencing problems with uneven crop rows during harvest. With such a large operation and more than 130 machines, they needed a way to generate more consistent production.
Solution: Working with Trimble reseller Graftek Türkiye to install a combination of Trimble’s autoguidance systems - including GFX-750 displays, EZ-Pilot Pro steering systems and TMX-2050 displays for CAN guidance - TİGEM experienced measurable economic and efficiency gains. Automated entry of field boundaries and reduced driver fatigue allowed operators to confidently drive at night and doubled productivity. As a result, TİGEM experienced increased crop yields of 10% by minimizing crop loss during harvest and cotton hoeing.
Challenge: How do we more reliably monitor and manage yield variability?
Background: Producing more than 170,000 tons of sugarcane annually, Rapsidara Enterprises in North Queensland, Australia lacked the ability to track and analyze year-to-year yield. The operation worked with local reseller Vantage BMS to develop a customized Sugarcane Yield Monitoring System.
Solution: Sensors mounted on cane harvesters collect and feed real-time yield data to a Trimble TMX-2050 display during harvest. Yield data is then wirelessly synched with Trimble Ag Software, where the yield calibration process accurately validates the relative yield to the mill weights.
The system has helped the farm make smarter decisions to improve soil health and fertilization of sugarcane through creation of prescriptions for variable rate nutrient application.
“It’s provided more in-depth analysis of the paddock itself,” says third-generation grower Andre Rapsidara. “It shows the zones where the crop is lacking, which means we can invest the money and the fertilizer and gypsum where it’s needed, and tailor the prescription to the paddock.”
Challenge: How can we modernize our equipment to take advantage of a niche market opportunity?
Background: To take flight with site-specific aerial application of fertilizer and chemicals, Hungary-based Heliforce Ltd., needed to modernize the on-board flight control system in its 1960s Mi-2 helicopter.
Solution: Working with reseller Vantage Hungary (Axial Kft), a Trimble GFX-750 display, NAV-500 guidance controller and a Field-IQ ISOBUS Liquid control system provided the versatile foundation needed for prescription application.
“By using the new technology, we can carry out pest management economically even under unfavorable soil conditions,” says Lajos Imreh, chief pilot and managing director of Heliforce Ltd. “In this way, the economic application of liquid chemicals and solid fertilizer can be solved, mostly for medium and large farms. We wanted to put the currently available state-of-the-art technology on the helicopter, thereby opening a new market.”
Are these approaches to technology giving you ideas? Contact your local Trimble reseller to learn how they can help customize a solution to solve your precision ag challenges.
