Introduction
Due to advances in technology, major changes in agriculture are being made to increase the productivity of farmers. Precision agriculture is the very latest technique and can be used in many ways around the farm. This report assesses new farming techniques and recommends steps that should be taken to benefit from precision agriculture.
To perform our assessment we researched precision agriculture and interviewed Runkle farm’s employees to find out how precision agriculture could benefit them.
Evaluation of Current Operation
This section explains current practices of the Runkle farming operation.
Machines and Implements
The current operation consists of three tractors ranging from 60 to 140 horsepower, one 15’ drill, one 10’ chisel plow, one 15’ field cultivator, one 8’ cultipacker, two 8’ discs, one 15’ harrow, one 15’ mower and three grain wagons ranging from 300-500 bushels. The newest machine, which would be best suited for precision agriculture, would be the Case Maxxum 140 Limited, which was purchased in 2011. All of the machines and implements are in very good condition. Currently all of the machines are used at least once a year.
Practices
Each year, to begin the farming season, the ground is first fertilized. Then, once the ground is fertilized, a chisel plow is pulled across the land. After chisel plowing is finished the field cultivator is pulled across the land. Next the cultipacker or harrow or both are pulled across the ground. While the ground is bare the rocks are removed by manually having people pick them up and put them in the tractor scoop. After the rocks are picked up it is time to plant, using the drill. Other operations, such as spraying and harvesting are done by another farmer as they are needed. This is a typical season at the Runkle farm.
Benefits of Implementing GPS Driven Tractors
With the many challenges that face farmers now and in the future, such as food security or the rising costs of inputs, modern farming techniques must be implemented at a more local scale (From Precision to Decision). The new technology called precision agriculture is defined as “the application of technologies and principles to manage time and location variability associated with all aspects of agricultural production for the purpose of improving crop performance, profitability and environmental quality”( Trimble Agriculture Product Portfolio 2012). This section is to show evidence about why GPS driven tractors are better over the conventional human driven tractors.
Machines and Implements
The current implements will pretty much suffice, except a planter might be added to allow planting of corn and soybeans, instead of hiring this to be done. Though your current implements will suffice the tractors will need some modifications to allow them to use a GPS Driven System. This system can then be used across all areas of the farm as Figure 1 demonstrates.
Figure 1 Connected Farm
Due to advances in technology, major changes in agriculture are being made to increase the productivity of farmers. Precision agriculture is the very latest technique and can be used in many ways around the farm. This report assesses new farming techniques and recommends steps that should be taken to benefit from precision agriculture.
To perform our assessment we researched precision agriculture and interviewed Runkle farm’s employees to find out how precision agriculture could benefit them.
Evaluation of Current Operation
This section explains current practices of the Runkle farming operation.
Machines and Implements
The current operation consists of three tractors ranging from 60 to 140 horsepower, one 15’ drill, one 10’ chisel plow, one 15’ field cultivator, one 8’ cultipacker, two 8’ discs, one 15’ harrow, one 15’ mower and three grain wagons ranging from 300-500 bushels. The newest machine, which would be best suited for precision agriculture, would be the Case Maxxum 140 Limited, which was purchased in 2011. All of the machines and implements are in very good condition. Currently all of the machines are used at least once a year.
Practices
Each year, to begin the farming season, the ground is first fertilized. Then, once the ground is fertilized, a chisel plow is pulled across the land. After chisel plowing is finished the field cultivator is pulled across the land. Next the cultipacker or harrow or both are pulled across the ground. While the ground is bare the rocks are removed by manually having people pick them up and put them in the tractor scoop. After the rocks are picked up it is time to plant, using the drill. Other operations, such as spraying and harvesting are done by another farmer as they are needed. This is a typical season at the Runkle farm.
Benefits of Implementing GPS Driven Tractors
With the many challenges that face farmers now and in the future, such as food security or the rising costs of inputs, modern farming techniques must be implemented at a more local scale (From Precision to Decision). The new technology called precision agriculture is defined as “the application of technologies and principles to manage time and location variability associated with all aspects of agricultural production for the purpose of improving crop performance, profitability and environmental quality”( Trimble Agriculture Product Portfolio 2012). This section is to show evidence about why GPS driven tractors are better over the conventional human driven tractors.
Machines and Implements
The current implements will pretty much suffice, except a planter might be added to allow planting of corn and soybeans, instead of hiring this to be done. Though your current implements will suffice the tractors will need some modifications to allow them to use a GPS Driven System. This system can then be used across all areas of the farm as Figure 1 demonstrates.
Figure 1 Connected Farm
(Trimble Agriculture Product Portfolio 2012)
How Auto Guided Machines Work
Auto guided machines receive multiple signals from the department of defense’s 24 satellites, at any given time 9 to 12 of these satellites can have their signal received at any point on the earth’s surface (Grisso). Then the receiver deduces its positions using triangulation, which is a series of complex mathematical equations that measures distances from known locations to find its own position (Stombaugh). These signals are usually weak and can be inaccurate. These inaccuracies can be furthered by the machine accepting the signal traveling on different terrain. To increase the accuracy of the original signal you can use a RTK system which “counts the number of wavelengths of the carrier frequency radio signal between the satellite and receiver” (Stombaugh). Another way to make GPS signals more accurate is to implement a DGPS system where you install a transmitter which broadcasts its known location to the GPS receiver for use as a correction signal (Grisso). Figure 2 shows how terrain can make GPS signals inaccurate and also demonstrates how software can be used to correct this problem.
Figure 2 Terrain Compensation
How Auto Guided Machines Work
Auto guided machines receive multiple signals from the department of defense’s 24 satellites, at any given time 9 to 12 of these satellites can have their signal received at any point on the earth’s surface (Grisso). Then the receiver deduces its positions using triangulation, which is a series of complex mathematical equations that measures distances from known locations to find its own position (Stombaugh). These signals are usually weak and can be inaccurate. These inaccuracies can be furthered by the machine accepting the signal traveling on different terrain. To increase the accuracy of the original signal you can use a RTK system which “counts the number of wavelengths of the carrier frequency radio signal between the satellite and receiver” (Stombaugh). Another way to make GPS signals more accurate is to implement a DGPS system where you install a transmitter which broadcasts its known location to the GPS receiver for use as a correction signal (Grisso). Figure 2 shows how terrain can make GPS signals inaccurate and also demonstrates how software can be used to correct this problem.
Figure 2 Terrain Compensation
(Trimble Agriculture Product Portfolio 2012)
Operators
Operators work long hours in the field. These long hours can cause stress and reduce productivity. With a GPS driven machine the stress is greatly reduced. GPS systems can drive the tractor until the end of a row then the user just has to turn the tractor around and the GPS system takes over again. This also allows farmer to continue operating in “low visibility field conditions such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness” (Agriculture). The tractor drivers would benefit greatly by the reduced stress.
Costs
Implementing a precision agriculture system can be expensive. However, with input costs rising and the need to capitalize on current grain prices, a precision system could pay for itself in a matter of years with the size of the current operation. A precision agriculture system can be used to develop computer models of what-if situations to demonstrate how different practices affect input cost and yields (Russo). This system can be used in this operation to figure out the best cost-profit ratio. Then the model that the software generates can be implemented in the real world using the auto guided tractors. Even though initially the cost might be increased, in the future the system will more than pay for itself.
Environment
The precision agriculture system will not only benefit the bottom line at the Runkle farm but it will also benefit the environment. Less fertilizers and herbicides being used means less harmful pollutants in the water and air. Not only is it good for the water and air but it is also good for the soil. Since the tractors are driven with GPS’s they can “be programmed to follow the same route - for cultivating, fertilizing, pest control and harvesting” thus reducing soil compaction (Uses of GPS in Agriculture and Farming). With more no-till years the soil will hold its position and not erode. Using less fertilizers and herbicides will also help natural soil enhances like earthworms to thrive. Precision agriculture promotes conservation which is one of the key components of the Runkle Farm.
A look into the Future
As precision agriculture systems become more popular, fully automated machines will start to be more prevalent. These machines, as seen in figure 3 and 4, are operator optional. They only require input from the farmer when they encounter an obstacle or need more resources such as fuel, seeds, or fertilizer. These fully automated systems will allow farmers to become more like scientists, researching how to maximize yield and profitability.
Figure 3 Automated planter by Kinze
Operators
Operators work long hours in the field. These long hours can cause stress and reduce productivity. With a GPS driven machine the stress is greatly reduced. GPS systems can drive the tractor until the end of a row then the user just has to turn the tractor around and the GPS system takes over again. This also allows farmer to continue operating in “low visibility field conditions such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness” (Agriculture). The tractor drivers would benefit greatly by the reduced stress.
Costs
Implementing a precision agriculture system can be expensive. However, with input costs rising and the need to capitalize on current grain prices, a precision system could pay for itself in a matter of years with the size of the current operation. A precision agriculture system can be used to develop computer models of what-if situations to demonstrate how different practices affect input cost and yields (Russo). This system can be used in this operation to figure out the best cost-profit ratio. Then the model that the software generates can be implemented in the real world using the auto guided tractors. Even though initially the cost might be increased, in the future the system will more than pay for itself.
Environment
The precision agriculture system will not only benefit the bottom line at the Runkle farm but it will also benefit the environment. Less fertilizers and herbicides being used means less harmful pollutants in the water and air. Not only is it good for the water and air but it is also good for the soil. Since the tractors are driven with GPS’s they can “be programmed to follow the same route - for cultivating, fertilizing, pest control and harvesting” thus reducing soil compaction (Uses of GPS in Agriculture and Farming). With more no-till years the soil will hold its position and not erode. Using less fertilizers and herbicides will also help natural soil enhances like earthworms to thrive. Precision agriculture promotes conservation which is one of the key components of the Runkle Farm.
A look into the Future
As precision agriculture systems become more popular, fully automated machines will start to be more prevalent. These machines, as seen in figure 3 and 4, are operator optional. They only require input from the farmer when they encounter an obstacle or need more resources such as fuel, seeds, or fertilizer. These fully automated systems will allow farmers to become more like scientists, researching how to maximize yield and profitability.
Figure 3 Automated planter by Kinze
(Rogers)
Figure 4 Automated grain cart by Kinze
Figure 4 Automated grain cart by Kinze
(Kinze Manufacturing Develops Autonomous Tractor)