The USDA identified three pillars of sustainability for the agriculture industry: reduced environmental impact, increased productivity, yield and a better overall economic result. Today’s precision agriculture technologies are helping crop farmers make significant gains with all three pillars.

“For the environmental benefits of precision agriculture to take shape, farmers need to generate more yield and at least break even from a financial standpoint.

If a farmer is going to change a practice or invest in a new technology, the economic impact of that action has to be part of the conversation. Fortunately, we now have some rather compelling research that makes it a big part of the conversation.”

states AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades.

The three USDA sustainability pillars align perfectly with AEM’s research, Environmental Benefits of Precision Ag. AEM developed the research with the American Soybean Association, CropLife America and the National Corn Growers Association.

The study examined six key areas of the crop farming industry where precision agriculture can make both an environmental and economic impact:

• Productivity and crop yield
• Fertilizer
• Herbicide
• Fossil fuel
• Water
• Carbon emissions

“Farmers are the original stewards of the land and have been doing good things for a long time. Technology now affords farmers the ability to do even more things that could never have happened before.

A lot of GPS-driven technology is in place, giving farmers a whole new set of tools to help dial in the exact placement of seed, fertilizer, and crop protection. This technology also helps farmers close the loop with insightful data that helps them monitor what they are doing to determine if there is room for improvement going forward.”

affirms Blades.

KEY AREAS OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGY

The five primary areas of precision agriculture give farmers numerous opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce operating, costs and lessen environmental impact. Precision agriculture can be leveraged across various crop farming applications throughout the year.

Auto Guidance – This technology utilizes GPS signals to automatically control a tractor to help reduce overlap during tilling, planting, spraying, and harvesting. This has a positive impact on both productivity and fuel consumption.

Machine Section Control – Turns planter, fertilizer, or sprayer sections on/off in rows that have been previously treated or at headland turns, point rows, and waterways. This helps optimize the placement of seeds, fertilizer and crop protection. This technology also helps optimize down pressure and depth control to gain machine and fuel efficiencies.

Variable Rate – Uses sensors or preprogrammed maps to determine application rates for seed, fertilizer and crop protection. Supporting technologies include variable-rate controllers, GPS, yield monitors, crop sensors and soil sensors.

Fleet Analytics – Real-time monitoring of equipment including GPS location, route suggestions and idling. Any piece of telematics-equipped equipment can be monitored all year long whenever it is in operation.

Precision Irrigation – Provides the ability to apply different amounts of water to different areas of the field to reduce waste and optimize efficiency.

Carbon Emissions – Today’s precision ag tools reduce carbon emissions by more than 10 million tons. Additional adoption of these proven technologies would increase those climate benefits to 27.4 million tons.

HOW PRECISION AGRICULTURE IS MAKING AN IMPACT

The study also examines how the above-mentioned precision agriculture technologies can impact the five key areas of environmental impact.

Productivity – The farmer can achieve better crop yields from accurate spacing and population rate. Indirect benefits include not having to place unproductive or preserved land into production, as well as reduced soil compaction and improved soil health, which help reduce inputs over time.

Fertilizer – Reduced overlap and better placement optimizes application and reduces waste. Indirect benefits include improved water quality due to reduced runoff, improved soil health and a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions.

Herbicide – As in the case of fertilizer, more efficient herbicide application reduces waste. Indirect benefits are improved soil health, reduced erosion, less weed resistance, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Fossil Fuel – When the number of field passes and time spent idling is reduced, so is the amount of fuel consumed. Greenhouse gas emissions are also reduced.

Water – More precise irrigation can save water from evaporation and excessive runoff. An indirect benefit is an improvement in water quality due to the reduced runoff.

“There is no greater threat to the environment than hunger. Being able to leverage these technologies to sustainably and affordably provide people with quality food is a win for everybody.”

points out AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ag Policy Nick Tindall.

POSITIVE RESULTS AND AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES

By leveraging precision agriculture technologies, farmers have accomplished the following:

• 4% increase in crop production
• 7% reduction in fertilizer use
• 9% reduction in herbicide use
• 6% reduction in fossil fuel use
• 4% reduction in water use

“That’s 6% less fuel on a tractor that is likely running 20 hours a day for a couple of weeks straight.

That isn’t just real money, helping the farmer save thousands of dollars in fuel expenses but has the carbon reduction benefits of taking nearly 200,000 cars off the road.”

affirms Blades.

The same can be said about the use of fertilizer, herbicide, water use, and crop protection.

“If you’re just spraying the places that need to be sprayed, that’s good for the environment and the farmer’s net income. Fewer pounds on the ground is a good thing all the way around.”

states AEM Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs and Ag Policy Nick Tindall.

As impressive as the data presented in the AEM study is, the potential gains resulting from more widespread adoption of precision agriculture technologies are even more impressive. Adoption rate in the 90% range is expected to result in:

• 6% increase in crop production
• 14% reduction in fertilizer use
• 15% reduction in herbicide use
• 16% reduction in fossil fuel use
• 21% reduction in water use

Current adoption has resulted in roughly 30 million fewer pounds of herbicide being applied. With broader adoption, another 48 million pounds could be spared. In an attempt to understand where precision agriculture adoption could be headed, it’s important to understand how far it has come already.

“Precision agriculture has been talked about for many years. Any kind of technology adoption must have a compelling reason for the person adopting it.

Precision agriculture began making serious inroads when machine guidance and auto-steer came along. Those were technologies that made it easier for farmers to see the benefits.”

says Blades.

As more farmers adopted machine guidance, they began to see how technology in general could help drive results in other areas.

“The adoption rate has been on a steady increase over the past 20 years.

Precision agriculture has become almost ubiquitous for anyone trying to drive income from their land. Most equipment today has some sort of this technology. That in and of itself leads to broader adoption.”

points out Blades.

“Seeing the gains that are inherent with more widespread adoption isn’t just a matter of convincing more farmers to adopt P.A. technology.

It is also about the continued refinement of these technologies. For instance, auto steer has been around since the 1990s, but is far better today than it was back then.

The biggest factor going forward is whether or not farmers have money to invest.”

adds Tindall.

To leverage GPS-driven precision agriculture technologies, farmers also need an adequate level of infrastructure available in rural America. The expansion of broadband internet capability must have a strong wireless component that is accessible by machinery in the field.

PRECISION AGRICULTURE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A STRONGER FUTURE

It’s important to note that precision agriculture technology adoption is not only about the immediate benefits of reduced fuel, fertilizer, herbicide or water use. It is also about evolving the U.S. agriculture industry to a more productive, competitive and sustainable state.

“Every farmer knows in their heart of hearts that they are trying to do the right things, like protect the soil. Farmers are not just doing these things for the next season; they are doing them for the next generation.

Thanks to technology, there are additional tools available today that can help farmers achieve a goal they have always had: provide good food, energy and fiber to the public around the world. The beautiful thing about this new technology is that it doesn’t force a choice between environment over economics, or vice versa. With today’s precision agriculture technology, farmers can choose both.”

continues Blades.

“It is a global market now. If today’s American farmer wants to continue thriving, it’s important to become more efficient. Technology plays directly into that.

Precision agriculture technology that delivers both an environmental and economic benefit helps a farmer become more competitive in the international market. Plus, with a strong sustainability message, it helps a farmer maintain access to certain markets.

Take the European Union, for example. Sustainability is very important to that market. Additionally, becoming more efficient and productive can help keep food prices down. There is no greater threat to the environment than hunger. Being able to leverage these technologies to sustainably and affordably provide people with quality food is a win for everybody.”

concludes Tindall.

Source: AEM

The post The Impact of Precision Agriculture on Sustainability: a Report by AEM appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“The World Ag Expo connected farm-ng with forward-thinking farmers from around the world. Our team learned from a marketplace of engaged users. We will be back in 2025 with new tools and capabilities.”

states Nathan Dorn, Business Development Manager with Farm-ng.

Farmers, students and ag professionals returned numerously for the 2024 show. With many exhibitors offering test drives or demonstrations, the World Ag Expo allows attendees to network and learn about the latest Ag equipment, services, and technology.

For three days, more than 100 educational seminars, demonstrations, and workshops were held covering a diverse range of topics. These topics included irrigation, dairy, livestock, professional development, and more. Some of the notable sessions included the Fresno State WET Center Innovation Pitch Event and the Women in Ag Session which featured Senator Melissa Hurtado and other influential women in agriculture.

“The 2024 World Ag Expo was once again a tremendous success. Exhibitors and attendees alike have shared that the World Ag Expo continues to provide a great return on their investment of time and money. It is the place to be for anything agriculture.”

affirms Jerry Sinift, CEO of the International Agri-Center.

Agricultural technology and innovation were once again the highlights of the event. Autonomous solutions, electric vehicles, and drones continued to showcase the technological advancements in agriculture. The winners of the 2024 Top-10 New Products contest provided a glimpse of the latest innovations and technologies, ranging from simple solutions to tech-forward items.

Source: World Ag Expo

The post World Ag Expo Concludes Successfully With Over 100,000 Attendees appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Toro Transpira caught the attention of experts and customers alike. Through a collaboration with technology partner Treetoscope Ltd., this technology enables farmers to optimize water usage while maximizing crop yield. As water scarcity becomes an increasingly critical global issue, Transpira stands out as a valuable asset for sustainable agriculture.

“Toro Ag is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the agricultural sector.

Toro Transpira represents a leap forward in water conservation and precision irrigation, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to sustainable solutions for our customers.”

said Neville Mody, general manager for Toro Ag.

Toro’s first award was the 2021 New Product of the Year, won by Toro’s Tempus Ag in the same category. The second award solidified the company’s position as a leader in the field of agricultural technology and innovation. Both products are designed to provide reliable and actionable information on crop water usage and plant health, meeting the increasing demand for advanced agricultural solutions.

Source: Toro

The post Toro Wins New Product of the Year 2023 at Irrigation Show appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Farmers face a variety of challenges including labor shortages, non-stop field operations, weather and significant capital expenses for agriculture machinery. Sabanto addresses these challenges by providing FaaS through swarms of multiple smaller tractors equipped with its autonomous technology to perform in-field operations. Sabanto has proven its ability to automate a variety of row crop field operations over significant acres throughout the Midwest. Leveraging a fleet of smaller 60 and 90 HP tractors, the company has autonomously tilled, planted, seeded, weeded, applied and mowed across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Texas. The company’s advanced mission control platform has been pivotal in deploying multiple systems for multiple days of non-stop operation and pushing the FaaS concept by planting over 750 acres of corn and soybeans in one season with a single 60 HP tractor.

“We are focused on investing in companies that are seeking to address important problems in markets that align with Trimble’s mission of transforming the way the world works. Sabanto is an ag technology pioneer offering autonomous tractors and services for row crops that can increase efficiency and maximize profitability for farmers. This is an exciting opportunity to help accelerate innovation and offer a FaaS business model to the agriculture industry.”

said Phil Sawarynski, managing director and co-head, Trimble Ventures.

“We started Sabanto with our sights set on tackling labor shortages and resetting the capital expenses for agricultural machinery. We see a future of smarter, smaller, lighter, less expensive, and more sustainable swarms of autonomous equipment, substituting horsepower and weight for time. We’ve assembled a team of ag-experienced engineers and scientists, working alongside farmers, proving this isn’t just a thought exercise. With investors such as Trimble Ventures, Sabanto can accelerate our mission to make autonomy an affordable, reliable and scalable solution for all farmers throughout the world. This capital will also allow Sabanto to increase its FaaS operations to reach more farmers, on more crops, over more acres, across more states.”

said Craig Rupp, founder and CEO of Sabanto.

The post Trimble Invests on Autonomous Workflows Acquiring U.S. Based Tech Company Sabanto appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) announced today it is introducing the updated AEF ISOBUS Database (DB) app to give agricultural equipment dealers, manufacturers and end users a convenient way to access its database, the only comprehensive repository of all ISOBUS compatible products in the world. Users may now easily drill down by brand, product, or ISOBUS functionality to confirm product compatibility while in the office or in the field, for free.

“With so many different manufacturers creating a wide scope of agricultural products around the world, when you start using different brands together, they are not always technologically compatible,”

said Andrew Olliver, Vice Chairman, AEF.

“However, when products all share the same ‘nerve system,’ more commonly known as the ‘ISOBUS,’ they communicate seamlessly. The AEF ISOBUS DB app identifies which products on the market are compatible and are ISOBUS-certified.”

Through the AEF’s app, the agricultural equipment community may now look up a product’s ISOBUS compatibility, find information if a customer is having trouble in the field, research ISOBUS compatibility of new equipment and accessories, or identify ISOBUS functions. Information can be shared with others through the app using messaging tools such as WhatsApp or email.

Only products that are AEF ISOBUS certified are listed in the AEF ISOBUS Database. Currently there are approximately 80 companies listing their certified ISOBUS products in the database, a number that keeps growing.

“This is an incredibly useful tool, especially for ag equipment dealers, when they have to advise their customers on their next ISOBUS equipment purchase,”

said Olliver.

“Dealers will find the app’s new module and option views essential.”

In the app’s module view, users can view detailed information about ISOBUS products, such as the

individual controllers to see exactly which functionality they support. This helps dealers make product recommendations, as well as diagnose service compatibility issues. The option view provides the ability to view the compatibility of multiple product features.

Download the new AEF ISOBUS DB app today (Mobile App – AEF Online (aef-online.org)) and create an account for free. Or, you can find the new app by searching “AEF ISOBUS DB” in Apple’s App Store or in Google Play. Available for Android and iOS smartphones, the app allows users to create a free account for 24/7 access on the go.

For more information about AEF please visit: www.aef-online.org

The post AEF Introduces ISOBUS Database App for Mobile Convenience appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

“ClicRtechnologies is laser-focused on bringing the ag industries into the 21st century,”

said ClicRtechnologies President Joey Spicola,

“using never before seen technology and creating the digital ranch.”

About 30 attendees gathered for a luncheon and presentation by Spicola and other ClicRtechnologies team members. Among those in attendance were representatives from Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s office, guests from the University of Florida’s Beef Teaching Unit and Abraham Baldwin Agricultura College (ABAC).

Recently ABAC partnered with ClicRtechnologies and American Cattlemen magazine to produce a series of articles after the company donated $40,000 along with three weighing systems for the school’s cattle operations.

After the luncheon, all attendees had the opportunity to view the ClicRweight Bovine Solution for themselves at work in one of Double C Bar’s pastures. The system is set up in a simple pole barn around the water source. An RFID ear tag is scanned whenever an animal goes to drink and a camera instantly begins “clicking” hundreds of 3D photographs. That data is immediately processed into a weight, which can be viewed with a digital dashboard made accessible through any device with connection to the internet.

Over time, the system continues to learn each animal, providing the herd’s valuable information including daily rate of gain, weight average and feed efficiency. The ClicRweight Bovine Solution has been in place on the Double C Bar Ranch since early March. Joe Planz, a ClicRtechnologies board member and investor, grazes some of his cattle herd on the ranch.

“Grazing our calves two and half hours away from the main ranch,”

he says.

“ClicR enables us to have a constant analysis of how the calves are doing in real-time and enables us to address any issues expediently and proactively.”

The next day, the ClicRtechnologies team gathered in the company’s new International headquarters in Tampa. The team discussed plans for company growth in the near future and progress made over the last 12 months.

“One of the benefits of our system is that it can be totally managed from anywhere in the world,”

said Spicola.

In addition to cattle, ClicRtechnologies also has solutions for weighing swine and alligators. To learn more, visit the company website: https://clicrweight.com.

ClicRtechnologies is a company revolutionizing the agricultural industry through unique means of scaleless weighing and data management. They are committed to the development of proprietary technology to enhance the lives of its users by providing the most advanced vision software with unparalleled expertise in 3D imaging.

The company remains focused on the expansion of our weight capture technology and the development of future applications that will deliver cutting-edge solutions to increase production efficiency across multiple industries.

Source: ClicRweight

The post ClicRtechnologies Shares Innovative Scaleless Livestock System at Expo and Pinnacle Meeting appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Cogniac Corporation has partnered with Doosan Bobcat North America. Bobcat, a global compact equipment leader, is implementing Cogniac’s proprietary visual data processing platform within the manufacturing warehouse kitting inspection process. This move will increase operational efficiencies, boost productivity and reduce material handling times, all part of Bobcat’s commitment to quality and drive for innovation.

“We’re excited about this partnership as it demonstrates the efficacy of the Cogniac systems. Our technology is designed to be additive to the manufacturing processes, offering companies the ability to increase the safety and standards of their products. Bobcat was a great choice for a partnership because they are pushing to innovate and adopt technology as a core pillar of their growth strategy,”

said Chuck Myers, CEO of Cogniac.

Companies are often already collecting useful visual data, making the Cogniac technology virtually plug-and-play. Cogniac’s Visual Operations Intelligence Platform offers customers the ability to process, in real-time, large amounts of visual data collected for inspection, flagging them to a human operator for review. The system also allows for more strategic distribution of employees to projects requiring the human touch which maximizes workforce productivity. Cogniac has built its platform to be a no-code solution designed for non-technical users and eminently user-friendly to allow for quick adoption and integration into existing workflows.

Bobcat leverages visual data in their warehouse to inspect bulk materials and parts for any potential inconsistencies to create precise kits to be used for downstream manufacturing processes. Ensuring a high level of accuracy on the assembly line is a key factor in work efficiency and commitment to quality at Bobcat. The company is committed to adopting the next evolution in advancing manufacturing technology to make operations smarter and eliminate production downtime.

“Cogniac has produced a world-class technology platform. Given our long history of innovation and focus on technology at Bobcat, the Cogniac system provides significant benefits for us, leading to higher efficiencies and optimized quality control in our processes,”

said Russ Honeyman, vice president of Quality Management at Doosan Bobcat North America.

The partnership currently serves the Bobcat operations and warehouse in Otsego, Minnesota.

The post Cogniac Provides Doosan Bobcat with AI Visual Operations Intelligence Platform appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

This additional investment reflects investment interest in Solectrac by ESG funds which is expected to close in the coming weeks. The Company announced that it acquired 14.7% of Solectrac for the consideration of $1.3 million.

“We are very impressed with Steve and the Solectrac team and their deep knowledge of the agricultural sector. We have been interested in this industry for some time because we knew EVs could have an immediate impact without the need for extensive infrastructure,”

says Alf Poor, CEO of Ideanomics.

“Solectrac is a pioneer in the electric tractor market and shares our motivation and passion for a cleaner tomorrow.”

According to Research And Markets, the global agricultural tractor market is currently valued at $75 billion, with the North American agricultural tractor market expected to reach $20 billion by 2023. The largest segment for agricultural tractors is the below-40HP segment, where Solectrac’s initial three models address the broad needs of the market. Its tractors are specifically designed to serve the needs of community-based farms, vineyards, orchards, equestrian arenas, greenhouses, and hobby farms.

“With our zero-emission electric tractors, tractor operators don’t have to choose between power and environmentally friendly practices,”

“My life’s work has been dedicated to creating clean, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Now—with Ideanomics and the company’s unique experience and industry perspective—we are well-positioned to achieve these goals.”

says Steve Heckeroth, CEO and founder of Solectrac and visionary in the renewable energy and EV industry.

Since this announcement, Solectrac experienced an increase in product and investment inquiries. This recent investment increases Ideanomics ownership to 24%, which will reduce to approximately 22% post-money once the additional third-party investment is finalized. The new investment by Ideanomics allows Ideanomics to increase its share of ownership sufficiently to recognize its stake in Solectrac under the equity method for US GAAP accounting purposes.

“We are very pleased to increase our investment in Steve and the Solectrac team, and we welcome the investment interest from funds looking to deploy capital in the clean energy and EV sector. We believe Solectrac has enormous potential and, given the uptick in both product inquiries and investment interest they are seeing, we exercised our rights to increase our stake so we can help Solectrac scale to meet anticipated market demand,”

said Alf Poor, CEO of Ideanomics.

“We are excited to work with Ideanomics to accelerate progress toward a cleaner, healthier future,”

said Steve Heckeroth, CEO/Founder of Solectrac.

Solectrac develops, assembles and distributes 100% battery-powered electric tractors— an alternative to diesel tractors—for agriculture and utility operations. Founded in 2012 to take electric tractors into commercial production, Solectrac was incorporated as a California Benefit Corp in 2019. It has received grants from the Indian U.S. Science and Technology Fund (IUSSTF) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Earlier this year, Solectrac received the World Alliance Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions label from the Solar Impulse Foundation. The label was awarded for being one of the one thousand most efficient and profitable solutions that can transition society to being economically viable while being environmentally sustainable.

The post Ideanomics Invests And Increases Stake In Solectrac appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

In order to increase labor efficiency as well as improving the lives and the health of his animals, Bäcketoft decided to switch from conventional to automated milking. At the same time, an automated feeding system from GEA would optimize the animals’ feed supply.

Bäcketoft’s modernization project has been granted financial support through the European Agricultural Fund. Within EU member states and regions, this fund fosters development in rural areas to strengthen market competitiveness in the agricultural sector, to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and climate protection as well as to promote rural communities, including the creation of employment opportunities.

Time savings by switching to automated milking

The post Bäckeby Farm Relies on GEA Technology for Excellent Results appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

CALLE, WHAT DOES THIS TRIAL MEAN FOR VOLVO CE?

SO, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU TESTING? AND HOW IS THE TEST SITE LAID OUT?

Source: volvoCE.com

The post Volvo CE is one of the pioneering companies trialling 5G connectivity appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.