The patent is directed to a cloud-based farming data collection and exchange system capable of capturing, processing, and sharing machine-generated data while being used for farming operations, such as fertilizing, planting, spraying, or harvesting crops on a field. The patented online system includes a relay device installed in the farming vehicle that automatically receives, stores and processes detailed machine and agricultural data captured by the machine during farming operations.

The patented technology enables the real-time collection, tracking, monitoring, sharing, and monetizing of critically important farming operation data. This includes activities such as: how much seed, fertilizer, water, and pesticide were used on a particular field; how often the field was treated with a particular chemical; which parts of the field were left untreated; the weather conditions during the farming operation; the equipment used to perform the farming operation; the equipment settings activated and/or deactivated during the farming operation; and which field was treated during the farming operation.

The patent claims priority back to the 2013 patent application filed by co-founders and inventors Jason G. Tatge, Heath Garret Gerlock, and Randall Thomas Nuss. The patent expires on September 22, 2034.

“When we’re able to leverage high-integrity data as a system-of-record, we not only empower our customers to make better decisions, we help them find additional revenue-generating opportunities with those data sets. For example, as carbon credits become more of a regulatory focus, our customers will be able to use these interoperable data sets to recoup costs based on the sustainability of their operations,”

says Farmobile CEO Jason Tatge.

Source: Farmobile

The post Farmobile Gets U.S. Patent for Farm Data Collection and Exchange System appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Farmobile announced it is working with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) to further its mission — to support members in their quest to maintain a profitable business environment, adapt to a changing world, and preserve their freedom to operate. The goal of the collaboration is to support agricultural retailers in getting the absolute most revenue out of one of the biggest line items in their P&Ls — their commercial fleet.

“At ARA, we’re fully committed to helping ag retailers increase their profitability and agility in a rapidly changing market. So many industries — like transportation — have been able to effectively leverage data to refine logistics, and with it, improve profitability. We’re excited to be working with Farmobile and others on efforts like these to help members leverage new data technologies for the benefit of their fleet operations.”

said ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock.

Commercial applicator and tender truck fleets can be difficult assets to manage as a part of an ag retail operation. A range of machine makes and models — often at multiple locations — makes it difficult to easily collect and consume the machine data needed to glean insights and optimize individual machines and full-fleet profitability. Multiple variables in fleet management, from fuel and labor costs to idling time across a mixed fleet, make the process even more challenging for retailers to get a timely, reliable read on the performance and overall return on investment for their fleet.

Real-time data is changing that by giving retailers the ability to derive detailed insights about the performance of their application and tender fleet and convert data into cost savings, operational efficiencies, and potentially incremental revenue.

“ARA has been at the forefront of identifying the trends that are most important to the future success of agricultural retailers. We’re thrilled to be able to be one of the organizations working with them to help retailers realize the full value of agronomic and machine data as power management, logistics, and performance tool.”

said Farmobile CEO Jason Tatge.

”As an association of ag retailers, we are constantly looking for services that provide the greatest value and assistance for retailers here at ARA. ARA’s Fleet Optimization partnership with Farmobile provides retailers the opportunity to reduce expenses and improve efficiencies; therefore, increasing profitability in a very challenging ag economy.”

said ARA Vice President of Membership and Corporate Relations Donnie Taylor.

With the power of comprehensive data collection on a fleet, retailers gain real-time logistics across applicators and tender trucks on a single screen. The data collected and reports generated allow them to identify top-performing machines and calculate cost snapshots in a timely manner. As part of the partnership, ARA is offering a limited-time, members-only exclusive package that includes data collection and LIVE logistics as well as performance and profitability fleet data analysis through Farmobile Services+ for Ag Retail Fleet. Now through March 31, 2021, ARA members can get special pricing on the combination of data technology and Services+ premium consulting services.

Source: Farmobile

The post Farmobile Works with Agricultural Retailers Association to Optimize Profitability in the Ag-Food Supply Chain appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

The topic is being explored during the virtual 2020 Sustainable Ag Summit, November 18-19, 2020. Farmobile joins TFI and Luckey Farmers Cooperative to discuss the value of real-time data to benefit farmers, ag retailers, and the environment during the concurrent technical session.

With the supply chain’s growing interest in more sustainable food, fiber, and fuel supply, best practice initiatives like TFI’s 4R Nutrient Management (4R) program are focused on increasing production and farmer profitability, enhancing environmental protection, and improving overall sustainability. In order to unlock the next generation of agricultural production and enable growers to take advantage of emerging markets, retailers must be able to write fertilizer recommendations faster and provide a system of record to scale variable rate technology (VRT) practices so that the right amount of the right fertilizer hits the right spot in the field, every time.

Peyton Harper, senior manager of stewardship and sustainability for The Fertilizer Institute, said:

“At TFI, we’re always looking ahead to future opportunities and challenges in the fertilizer industry. Nutrient management is both. Real-time data-collection provides visibility and generates ground-truthed yield maps, which can improve VRT accuracy which is very beneficial in a robust 4R system.”

Farmobile’s data collection enables growers and ag retailers to capture all of the layered data involved in the growing of a crop, serving as a robust system of record from a crop’s planting through its applications and all the way through harvest. Farmobile automatically converts second-by-second raw agronomic and machine data, collected across a mixed fleet of farm and application equipment,  into a uniform data set. Available for 24/7 exports or API streaming, the data (permission by users) creates a system of record that captures how a field was farmed and fertilizer applied.

Andrew Gladden, IT manager of Luckey Farmers, Inc., said:

“Using Farmobile to enhance the speed and quality of data collection allowed us to expand Variable Rate Application acres which, in turn, is helping us to surpass our 4R goals. Our state (Ohio) had a goal of a minimum of 35 percent of acreage being 4R certified. With Farmobile and their ability to track variable rate application, we not only hit 35 percent — we’re aiming for 70 percent going forward, and looking forward to the improved profitability that comes with it.”

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 to meet these goals effectively while increasing profitability.

Bradford Warner, vice president of business development and sustainability, Farmobile, said:

“Farmobile was formed to help growers get the most value from the data they’re generating in their operations, and nutrient management is no exception. Whether growers are trying to get ahead of potential future regulations or looking to provide proof of stewardship to grow their profitability and care for their land, Farmobile’s technology collects the right data across machine makes and models at the right time, and processes it into insights to be delivered with the right farm management systems, such as Agworld, with this scenario.”

Source: Farmobile

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