Precision farming relies on specialized equipment, software and information technology to gather real-time crop, soil, and environmental data. Predictive analytics software uses this data to guide farmers on crop rotation, planting schedules, harvesting periods and soil management. Field sensors monitor soil moisture, temperature and surrounding air conditions. Satellite and drone imagery provide real-time views of individual plants, enabling informed irrigation and crop placement decisions.

Precision agricultural software leverages information technology to optimize nutrient distribution for maximum crop yield. Real-time data on plant health, soil requirements, weather forecasts and labour costs assist users in making informed decisions. Sensors provide crucial data and images for quick decision-making on fertilizers, water and crop protection agents.

Factors driving the growth of precision farming include the rapid integration of advanced technology, increased use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in agriculture, significant cost savings, climate change challenges, the need to meet rising food demand, and global government support for precision farming techniques.

Market Growth Drivers

1. Impact of Global Warming on Agriculture: Traditional farming methods are being challenged by climatic changes, making smart farming essential for adapting to evolving climates. Smart farming technologies, including crop health monitoring, harvesting management and field mapping, empower farmers to navigate changing environmental conditions and optimize their fields for increased productivity in the face of challenges such as droughts, floods and other natural disasters.
2. Rising Integration of Smartphones in Agriculture: Companies are developing advanced applications accessible on smartphones, enabling farmers to remotely monitor their fields. Smartphone integration provides connectivity options, including Bluetooth, USB and Wi-Fi, allowing farmers to access real-time data from anywhere.

Market Constraints

The substantial costs associated with precision farming equipment pose a significant hindrance to market growth. Technologies such as smart sensors, drones, VRT, GPS, GNSS and guidance tools are efficient but with a hefty price tag. In countries with limited agricultural resources like India, China and Brazil, traditional farming methods are often preferred due to the financial barriers associated with adopting technology-based farming practices. The need for specific equipment and technical expertise further limits the widespread adoption of precision irrigation technology.

Current Trends Shaping Precision Farming Market Growth

The escalating demand for climate information services stands as a key factor propelling the development of the weather tracking and forecasting segment in the precision farming market. Technologies such as weather-based controllers, rain sensors, temperature sensors, network components, water meters and sensor-based controllers play a crucial role in irrigation management.

The surging need for water conservation heightened food production requirements and the imperative to reduce resource wastage collectively contribute to the growing adoption of precision instruments in irrigation management applications.

Competitive Landscape

Key players are actively engaging in awareness campaigns addressing soil degradation concerns while educating farmers about the advantages of precision farming. John Deere unveiled its line of autonomous tractors during the Consumer Electronics Show, this initiative aims to leverage autonomous technology for improved farming efficiency.

Trimble entered into a collaborative partnership with HORSCH: they focus on establishing the groundwork for autonomous machines and workflows in the agricultural industry. Both companies are actively implementing advanced automation and driver support through steering systems, allowing operators to perform additional in-cab tasks while engaged in field operations.

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KIT EASY-FIT is made by Isobus Green, an innovative concept presented at EIMA 2021 and developed by COBO.

Its performance:

• connect the tool and monitor its performance on the virtual touch screen terminal;
• recognise the tool, set the optimal mode for work tasks;
• operators, during their activity, will be able to control, through an intuitive graphic display, parameters such as PTO speed, engine speed and instant fuel consumption.

In this way it will be possible to improve the efficiency even of very simple or dated tools and vehicles.

Alongside the working speed, the operator can be sure that his activities will proceed according to the best recommended settings through the display of a clear, visible green graphic indicator on the terminal.

Today’s farmers rely exclusively on the operator’s sensitivity and experience. Unfortunately, in all agriculture sectors, skilled workers are becoming harder to find. The KIT EASY-FIT tool is therefore the best option to support and enhance the farmers activities.

With our COBO ISOBUS technology, equipped with tailor made information displays, we can help less experienced operators to get better results for effective processing, at the lowest cost and environmental impact.

COBO has expanded its research on the efficiency of agricultural activities and on safety protocols, always looking to the future for continuous improvement and above all to the needs of the company and the worker.

KIT AGRI 4.0 is the result. Installed on board, it is compliant with 4.0 certification:

• the agricultural entrepreneur will be able to have his company continuously under control;
• the system makes it possible to automatically recognize which and to what extent tools are used in the various processes, day by day;
• The farmer will be able to have complete traceability of resources and the correct allocation of costs.

It will therefore be easier and more immediate to measure the profitability of your land, your resources, to estimate the importance of your customers, the yield of used resources and the investments made or to be planned.

All collected data can be viewed by the user via the web interface and made conveniently available wherever you are: sitting at your desk, from your tablet or even from home. The system is able to send all the information of field work activities in encrypted form, directly to the COBO INTOUCH AGRI cloud, via the UMTS data communication channel.

The COBO INTOUCH AGRI portal allows you to monitor your vehicles employed in the work in progress at any time, their position on the map, the dashboard in real time and for each vehicle it is possible to recognize the operator and the connected implement.

In a few seconds, for each work area it is possible to carry out an analysis of resources and costs, which tractors and implements were used, by which operators, for how many hours, with fuel consumption data.

Source: COBO Group

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Nord Drivesystems will be attending the virtual 2021 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) from January 25th – January 29th, showcasing several solutions that are specifically designed to benefit the poultry industry. IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry, meat, and feed industry event of its kind and NORD has been selected to be a part of their Innovation Station new product showcase, as well as their on-demand TECHTalks to introduce new, innovative products.

Featured products will include – IE5+ Synchronous Motors

NORD’s newest generation of smooth body motors is characterized by their extremely high IE5 efficiency rating. These motors focus on optimum efficiency and hygiene with a compact footprint that can be installed easily, even in small spaces. With these features, owners can experience energy savings, reduce system variants, and minimize operating costs for their applications, especially when operating at partial loads and low speeds.

With high-efficiency performance and low maintenance requirements, an IE5 motor paired with an SK 93.1 two-stage bevel gear unit is the perfect solution for the poultry industry. It provides a non-ventilated motor design that is easy to clean, corrosion-resistant, and is ideally suited for washdown applications.

Key Advantages:

-Latest generation permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)
-Compact size at 9” and 15.4 lbs. providing 0.5 to 1.5 HP in a single motor frame
-Standard motor-integrated encoder
-Compatible with all gear units and cabinet or wall-mounted frequency inverters from the NORD modular system
-Worldwide approvals and certifications
-Flexible motor mounting: direct mounting, NEMA, IEC
-Reduced Total Cost of Ownership and fast Return on Investment
-nsd tupH or IP69K optional (as Gearmotor solution)

NORD IE5+ motors will be featured as part of the IPPE Innovation Station and will also be showcased as a part of the show’s on-demand TECHTalks.

Condition Monitoring for Predictive Maintenance

NORD’s new Condition Monitoring solution helps maintain machines and plants proactively as a preventative measure to reduce downtimes and increase overall efficiency. It provides real- or near-real-time drive and status data which is recorded periodically or continuously to optimize operational safety. It provides real- or near-real-time drive and status data which is recorded periodically or continuously to optimize operational safety. This data is stored on a local industrial PC where you can have the drive information transferred and summarized on a remote dashboard.

Key Advantages:
-Detection and avoidance of impermissible operating states at an early stage
-Status-oriented maintenance instead of time-based maintenance
-Scheduled machinery and plant downtimes based on real drive and process data
-Reduction of service and material costs
-Longer service life of components and machinery
-Predictable and cost-optimized repairs

Surface Protection Solutions

NORD uses the latest generation of high-solid paints for their expanded paint offering. These paints are formulated with a high concentration of resin – up to 80% – and a small concentration of solvents. As a result, these paints contribute considerably less environmental pollution than other industrial paints, while providing optimum protection for every application.

For the poultry industry, the NORD Severe Food Duty 3 (NSDF3) surface coating is ideal for food production and packaging areas especially when cast-iron units are required. NSDF3 is a 3-layer paint system consisting of a dip primer (cast iron units only), a two-component epoxy primer, and a two-component polyurethane topcoat. An NSDF3+ version is also available, which includes a clear topcoat and adds around 25 µm to the coating thickness. NORD’s extensive paint portfolio includes many primers, topcoat, and clear coat configurations to serve a wide variety of applications, including indoor/outdoor installations, low-to-high contamination areas, and chemical contamination. This selection allows NORD to meet the needs of their customers and ensure long-lasting, trouble-free operation.

NORD nsd tupH is also available as an alternative to stainless steel at a fraction of the price. This sealed surface conversion treatment bonds to the aluminum substrate and provides a powerful foundation for adhesion of the surface sealant. This makes it the optimal choice for harsh manufacturing, processing, and washdown environments. NORD’s nsd tupH provides an easy-to-clean surface that is resistant to acids and alkalis, will not blister or flake, and is corrosion and scratch-resistant.

In addition to their new offerings, NORD will also feature 5 additional products at IPPE that can be configured for the special needs of the meat processing industry, including NORDBLOC.1 single-stage inline units, overhead conveyor drives, screw conveyor packages, MINICASE worm gear units, and the NORDCON APP with NORDAC ACCESS BT, a mobile commissioning and service solution for all NORD drives.

The post Nord Drivesystems Updates Poultry Industry with New Innovation appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

From 14 to 20 November 2021, Systems & Components will draw a picture of the present and future of mobile automation. The B2B platform for the supplier industry of the entire off-highway sector, which will be held for the fifth time as part of Agritechnica at Hanover exhibition grounds, is supported by the guiding theme: Green Efficiency – inspired by solutions. This topic will be discussed among engineers and technical experts as part of the “Future Lounge” technical program, the digital trade forum of Systems & Components. 

Green Efficiency – inspired by solutions, the guiding theme of Systems & Components, aptly describes the situation in which the designers of mobile machinery from agriculture, the construction industry, and mining find themselves. The vehicles are not only exposed to extreme weather conditions but also environmental conditions like temperature and contaminants, which place enormous demands on the robustness of the technologies and materials used.

Added to this are the growing demands for digitalization and automation of the individual assemblies used in work machines. Intelligent mechatronic assemblies are increasingly being integrated to improve the precision and safety of mobile machinery. Above all, however, it is the desire to increase productivity and reduce the ecological footprint that now drives off-road technology developments.

Requirements for the technology drivers of tomorrow

The experts agree on one thing: Internal combustion engines will remain an important pillar in heavy off-highway applications in the medium to long term. They will continue to be used even after petrol engines in passenger cars have been replaced by alternative concepts. However, the ever-stricter exhaust emission limits pose an increasing challenge for manufacturers of heavy-duty engines. With the introduction of the EU Stage V emission standard, the permissible emission values have been pushed down even further.

At Systems & Components, this will result in a more energy-efficient engine portfolio that combines emission specifications and market requirements. In order to comply with the particle number limit, which has been a legal requirement since 2019, exhibitors are focusing on modular exhaust after-treatment, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalysts, and particulate filters.

In addition, on the agenda in Hanover are further technical concepts that aim to achieve maximum flexibility in fuel selection – an important aspect on the way to a carbon-neutral future that is being discussed in the digital trade forums of the “Future Lounge“. The presentations will also deal with the use of so-called e-fuels or power-to-liquid fuels, as well as the large area of e-mobility. Modular scalable drive trains and downsizing promise measurable cost and emission advantages.

Ready for electrification

Systems & Components shows how off-highway electrification works in practice. This trend is reflected at the trade fair grounds in hybrid concepts that combine smaller and lower-emission diesel engines with electric drives and lithium-ion batteries. The solutions represent a further option, especially for low-load applications in material handling and compact construction machinery. The electric motor is mechanically connected to the diesel engine via a gearbox with an integrated disconnect clutch. This also enables the vehicle to operate purely electrically.

Another advantage of hybridization is the option of implementing additional functions for energy recovery or of operating auxiliary units such as the Power Take-off (PTO) electrically. The electrification solutions offered by the system suppliers range from motors and inverters to hydraulic pumps, transmissions, and battery solutions. In the “Future Lounge”, the digital trade forum of Systems & Components, this topic is discussed in-depth among engineers and technical experts.

M2M communication in the field

Designing digitalization as a sustainability engine for agriculture is another aspect that Systems & Components is aiming at with its guiding theme

“Green Efficiency – inspired by solutions“. The prerequisite for this is the intelligent and targeted management of agricultural land – in line with Precision Farming, a mega-trend which the exhibitors in Hanover will address with intelligent solutions. The aim is always to obtain a differentiated knowledge of all essential aspects of the field and crops with the help of various sensor systems. As a result, the demands for precision, safety, and performance in the field are increasing.

Seed drills, fertilizing and harvesting machines are being digitally upgraded step by step. They are being networked with the tractor and act increasingly autonomously. The advent of Machine to Machine (M2M) communication not only makes it possible to control agricultural implements from the tractor cab but with TIM, the Tractor-Implement Management system, it also works the other way round.

Already today, seed drills, sprayers, or balers equipped with TIM technology can give commands to a tractor via the ISOBUS to independently optimize their workflow. Even though by no means all devices are equipped with this feature in practice: The steadily growing number of electronically controlled components is pushing the ISOBUS architecture to its performance limits.

Ethernet-based backbones are paving the way for high bandwidths, as required for real-time M2M communication or cloud-based diagnostic functions. Which bus system in the future – the high-speed ISOBUS, which is currently being worked on as a priority, or the open-source protocol POWERLINK – is likely to be one of the main topics of discussion at the B2B trade fair.

Smart sensor technology takes over driver assistance

In addition to GPS positioning systems, the prerequisite for autonomous and semi-autonomous working machines are above all sensors for short and long-distance monitoring. Their task is to detect objects and persons in the vicinity, to relieve the driver, and therefore ultimately to prevent injury and damage to man and machine.

In the development of 3D cameras, LiDAR sensors or laser scanners, ultrasonic and tilt sensors, encoders and inductive proximity sensors, as well as intelligent assistance systems, the exhibitors at Systems & Components rely on a broad range of technologies. Recent innovations include steer-by-wire technologies, where the steering column can be removed and replaced, allowing smaller, more precise mechanisms such as joysticks or mini steering wheels. The result is solutions that not only provide additional flexibility in cockpit design but also help to reduce the operator’s workload, therefore improving productivity.

On the way to autonomous working machines

The outlook for Systems & Components shows: It will take several more years before electrically driven and autonomously driving working machines to dominate construction sites and agricultural land. With the industry know-how and a broad portfolio of digital technologies, the exhibitors at the Hanover trade fair grounds will accompany the upcoming change in the off-highway sector. Technically, the way to automated driving is already paved by assistance systems and sensor technology. But which approaches promise the greatest success for practical application? From 14 to 20 November 2021, Systems & Components will provide answers to this question and invite discussion on the opportunities and challenges of new technologies.

Source: Agritechnica

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