PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST SPRING 2024 ISSUE 1, VOL 5 PRECISION PLANTING INTRODUCES NEW CORNERSTONE PLANTING SYSTEM 06 AGCO’S FARM EQUIPMENT RETROFITTING STRATEGY SETS IT APART 14 PAG TECH CLIPS - SPECIAL 2024 NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW EDITION 10 OUTTA THIS WORLD! JOHN DEERE AND SPACEX PARTNER UP 08
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PRECISION AGRICULTURE DIGITAL DIGEST Farms.com’s Media and Publishing division is responsible for publishing Precision Ag Magazine. Copyright 2024 Farms.com Canada Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden. Acceptance of advertising does not constitute endorsement of the advertiser, it products or services, nor does Farms.com make any claims or guarantees as to the accuracy or validity of advertiser claims. The publisher shall have no liability for the unintentional omission of any scheduled advertising. PHOTOS: a-r-t-i-s-t/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus COVER PHOTOS: Neustockimages/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, simon2579/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images, shaiith – stock.adobe.com 04 06 08 10 12 13 14 16 18 20 MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Ridley Ryan.Ridley@Farms.com CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Joseph Diego Flammini DESIGN Greg Marlow ADVERTISING SALES Andrew Bawden Andrew.Bawden@Farms.com 877.438.5729 x5030 MARKETING & OPERATIONS Denise Faguy Denise.Faguy@Farms.com 888.248.4893 x293 FARMS.COM OFFICE 90 Woodlawn Road West Guelph, ON N1H 1B2 SUBSCRIBE HERE to receive email notifications when future issues of the quarterly Farms.com Precision Agriculture Digital Digest are published. REAL-TIME SPOT SPRAYING WITH BILBERRY PRECISION PLANTING INTRODUCES NEW CORNERSTONE PLANTING SYSTEM OUTTA THIS WORLD! PAG TECH CLIPS - SPECIAL 2024 NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW EDITION KINZE INTRODUCES NEW PLANTERS RETROFIT BALER UPGRADE NOW AVAILABLE AGCO’S FARM EQUIPMENT RETROFITTING STRATEGY SETS IT APART BITS & BYTES REVOLUTIONIZING HARVEST: CASE IH AF11 SERIES IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
Trimble company focuses on smart spraying via AI RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR REAL-TIME SPOT SPRAYING WITH BILBERRY In recent years, there have been significant advancements in agriculture spraying technology. Now, as companies harness artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, this sector is poised for further innovation and growth. That is where Bilberry come into the scene. A now Trimble-owned company, Bilberry was started in 2016 by three engineering students seeking a new way to use AI to solve sustainability challenges. The trio identified the costs and environmental implications of overusing chemicals as well as weed resistance in agricultural spraying. And the journey to develop its Intelligent Spot Spraying System began. The system uses AI and deep learning technology to identify and spot spray weeds locally and in real-time, controlling weeds in Green-on-Brown and Green-onGreen applications at different growth stages. “Ultimately, what the system is and what it is all about is helping farmers save money on herbicide applications,” explains Cory Buchs, Senior Product Director, Agriculture Software with Trimble. “We have seen all the way up to 90% savings on a farm in herbicide by just applying the chemical where the weed is in the field.” The Spot Spraying System by Bilberry executes a three-stage process. Step 1: Scan Its camera analyses the field and provides continuous pictures back to the computer. Step 2: Detect The Bilberry OS uses AI to provide accurate weed detection—in real time. It then generates weed identifications and cell activations on the spray map. Step 3: Spray With its in-cab display, the operator controls the system to select the weeds to target, crops to protect, as well as configure the system for accuracy. The individual nozzles then apply the product. PHOTOS: bilberry.io 04
“One unique part about our system versus some others in the market is that it can be installed on your existing sprayer using your existing application control system, which ultimately enables you as a farmer to adopt this technology without such a significant expense as updating your full sprayer or buying a new a new machine,” says Buchs. Artificial intelligence has made spot spraying even more precise and efficient. Earlier versions of spot spraying used near infrared sensors to detect chlorophyll content in plants. But now, cameras like Bilberry’s, can scan and analyze fields in real-time using AI and machine learning—with incredible accuracy. Time to talk hardware. The system is equipped with RGB cameras every three meters on the sprayer boom, each taking rapid-fire pictures. Its computing modules harness AI algorithms to detect weeds and other anomalies. Its website says the system is controlled by an in-cab screen with several configuration options including Side Safety, which will enhance coverage, as well as “Overspray”, which refines accuracy in varied terrains. Users have the option to either broadly view detections on the main screen or focus specifically through camera lenses. Oh, and night vision kits are available for those that do not quit when the sun goes down (exclusively for Green on Brown). What is Green on Brown? What is Green on Green? Green-on-Brown Green-on-Brown is exactly what it seems. Bilberry’s technology can detect grass weeds and broadleaves (green) in fallow or bare soil (brown). Users can operate the sprayer at up to 15.5 mph (25 kph) and will reduce herbicides usage on average by over 90 percent with over 90 percent average hit ratio. As previously stated, the Green-on-Brown system also has a night vision kit. Green-on-Green The Green-on-Brown system was further developed for Green-on-Green, which detects broadleaves in wheat, barley, and oats. The system can detect radish, turnip, blue lupin, thistle, and capeweed. According to Bilberry, this system is effective at all crop stages and can provide 97.5 percent chemical savings. This technology will undoubtably save you time and money when it comes to your herbicide application; time in the field rather than filling up your sprayer and money in your pocket from less herbicide usage. Trimble believes this system will be available in 2025. To learn more about Bilberry’s Spot Spraying System, watch here. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO 05
WATCH THE VIDEO Precision Planting’s goal of bringing accessible technology to growers has resulted in a new planting system called CornerStone. “We want to help farmers overcome unique challenges they have on their operation, achieve unique goals they have and provide them with a flexible factory planting system,” Caleb Schleder, director of technical services and support with Precision Planting, told the Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. The CornerStone system includes everything but the bar. This means it fits somewhere in between new and used equipment. “You can bring your own bar to the table and have access to the latest and greatest technology without the investment of a new piece of iron,” Schleder said. “The CornerStone planting system can be bolted onto any standard-height 7x7 planter bar.” The planting system is equipped for crops like corn, soybeans, canola, sunflowers, cotton and peanuts. “Basically anything a farmer wants to singulate,” Schleder said. CornerStone comes standard with multiple features. These include the FurrowForce mounting interface, the DuraWear gauge wheel arm and parallel arm pivot brushing systems and heavy duty 15” opening discs with optimized spindle angle and wear-out indicator. It also comes with a trailing gauge wheel design, which helps performance, Schleder said. PHOTO: precisionplanting.com 06 PRECISION PLANTING INTRODUCES NEW CORNERSTONE PLANTING SYSTEM The system includes everything but the bar DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM
“We found the trailing gauge wheel actually limits the amount of shock load the row unit is experiencing as it runs through the field,” he said. “By going to the trailing gauge wheel, we saw a massive difference where the trailing gauge wheel is more consistent compared to the leading gauge wheel.” Another handy feature of CornerStone is the reartipping hopper system (mini, 1.6bu and 3.0bu). It’s a simple feature that can go a long way for producers, Schleder said. “It’s an ease of use and ergonomic design where you’re tipping it backwards to access everything you need to, even when the hopper is full,” he said. “It’s so much nicer compared to having to fight the planter.” Some mechanical adjustments are available to growers on the planter system. It comes down to setting the planter up for success, Schleder said. “For example, we use a cam disk adjustment in the T-handle, that once we set that row unit down, we can use a wrench to quickly adjust and true up that T-handle to tell us exactly where it’s at, to make sure we’re putting that seed at depth.” To make full use of the CornerStone features and to make adjustments from the cab, farmers will need to have Precision Planting’s 20|20 display, he added. Precision Planting will be beta testing CornerStone at different farms and is planning to have a full release of the planting system in 2025. Schleder provides an in-depth overview of CornerStone in this video. | pag 07 CHOOSE BETWEEN CROP NEWSLETTERS IN YOUR REGION, A FARM MACHINERY NEWSLETTER, OR THIS DIGITAL DIGEST. “YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN BAR TO THE TABLE AND HAVE ACCESS TO THE LATEST AND GREATEST TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT THE INVESTMENT OF A NEW PIECE OF IRON.”
What do a premier global tractor company and a space agency have in common with each other? Let’s find out! Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest talked with Deere & Company (aka John Deere) regarding its decision to partner with SpaceX to provide a secure, cutting-edge solution for its connected fleet of intelligent machines. Back in September 2022, John Deere announced it was seeking SATCOM-focused proposals that would better enable it to serve the ag operators of its precision ag machines. Michael Kool, Senior Product Manager of Connected Fleet, John Deere, said that after reviewing the submitted proposals and testing satellite technologies for about eight months, Deere decided to work alongside SpaceX. Kool said that they went with SpaceX because of the speed at which its low-orbiting satellites could transmit signals and how easily they could expand their fleet if needed. “Our partnership with SpaceX ensures we have a solution that meets our customers’ connectivity needs today and in the future,” noted Kool. “With improved connectivity via satellites, farmers will be able to work more efficiently and productively, reduce downtime, and coordinate among machines for more efficient use of resources.” Okay, so we have a partnership going. But what exactly is going to happen—i.e., what is SpaceX sending up on behalf of John Deere? Kool explained that the SATCOM solution will connect new and existing machines through satellite internet services and ruggedized satellite terminals. So, nothing physical from John Deere is going up—sorry, no tractors or combines—but the software will be uploaded from Earth into the programming of existing orbiting SpaceX satellites known as Starlink. Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite communications network that maintains a network of thousands of low-orbit satellites for internet access globally. PHOTO: Alice – stock.adobe.com 08 OUTTA THIS WORLD! John Deere and SpaceX partner up to provide farmers— regardless of broadband connectivity—the ability to use its precision ag technologies ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM
“The partnership between Deere and SpaceX will offer a ruggedized version of our (John Deere’s) next-gen high-performance terminal,” related Kool. “The terminal will be roughly the size of a pizza box and will come with all of the necessary peripherals—such as a mount, a power supply, and more—to optimally mount and connect the machine.” And to be clear, the “pizza box”-sized technology will be attached to the down-to-Earth John Deere equipment—but specific equipment with a specific receiver. The SATCOM solution will initially be available through a limited release in the United States and Brazil, only starting in the second half of 2024. “We chose these regions based on our customers’ need for enhanced connectivity,” explained Kool. “Brazil is the world’s third-largest exporter of agricultural products; however, approximately 75 percent of the country lacks connectivity. Additionally, the US is the top exporter of agricultural products, but approximately 25 percent of the US lacks terrestrial cellular connectivity.” For those Canadians wondering why they haven’t been included, the government of Canada and its telecom providers are ahead of the US. It is expected that 98 percent of Canadians will be connected to high-speed Internet by 2026 and reach the 100 percent mark by 2030. In Canada, the federal government appears to be assuming that everyone who wants broadband internet can afford it, which may not be the case. However, of the 28 million households in the US that lack broadband internet (as of September 2023) in their home, 18 million household respondents state it is because they cannot afford an internet connection (https://www.ruralrise.org/affordable-connectivityprogram/). This past autumn, the Rural & Agriculture Council of America, the National Grange, RuralRISE Tech, and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association sent a letter to Congressional leadership urging renewal of the Affordable Connectivity Program to help rural communities gain access to affordable broadband internet services—should they become more available from offerings by telecommunication companies. In the meantime, John Deere is taking its efforts to a whole new level to provide farmers who want hightech with the ability to access it. With the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, farmers must produce 50 percent more food than they do today. “Technology is a key enabler to doing more with less,” said Kool, “and to take full advantage of this technology, farmers need access to connectivity. However, most farms are in rural communities where connectivity challenges persist.” He continued: “Partnering with SpaceX will allow us to expand the capabilities already provided by our StarFire Network by ensuring high-quality machine-tomachine communication across the tech stack.” The John Deere StarFire Network is a wide-area differential GPS system. The StarFire receiver on John Deere vehicles tracks and uses correction signals from all StarFire satellites that are currently “in view” and intelligently chooses one that delivers the best performance. The new SpaceX partnership will allow for a wider area of telematic satellite usage, even if one lacks high-speed internet. The machine uses the 4G JDLink modem on the tractor, and should that signal become lost, it will default to the satellite data. Kool said that a John Deere goal is to connect 1.5 million of its machines by 2026. SATCOM will fully enable technologies such as autonomy, real-time data sharing, remote diagnostics, enhanced self-repair solutions, and machine-to-machine communication, all of which help farmers work more efficiently while minimizing downtime. Another goal helped by this partnership is Deere’s desire to achieve a fully autonomous farming system for corn and soybeans in the US by 2030. “John Deere is the first agricultural company to partner with a SATCOM provider for enhanced connectivity in agriculture,” summed up Kool. “This partnership ensures we have a solution that meets our customers’ needs today and in the future.” | pag 09
10 05 2,000,000 Gallons Per Week 360 Yield Center’s 360 Rain robotic irrigation system has 3,000 feet of 3-inch hose that unloads 200 gallons per minute. The system can boost yields by 30-50 bushels per acre and you can also inject clear nutrients into the water stream and blend manure into the system. 03 New Size Option for Fendt’s High-Tech Momentum Planter Fendt walks us through its Momentum planter lineup with the newly released 30’ option. With most of the same features as the 40’ and 60’ planters (Vertical Contouring Toolbar, Load Logic, tire inflation, and more), the 30’ Momentum planter is ideal for maneuverability. 01 EXCLUSIVE LOOK at the Case IH AF11 The much-anticipated AF Series from Case IH is here. The AF11 marks the highest-ever total capacity combine for Case IH, packed with technology, automation, and connectivity. From HP to grain tank size to unload rate, this combine is a beast. 04 RightSpot Sprays in the Right Spots Ag Leader dives into its RightSpot spraying technology which features nozzle-by-nozzle control enabling consistent coverage across any and all terrain. Regardless of speed or rate, the system maintains proper droplet size throughout the field. TECH CLIPS WATCH 02 HORSCH’s NEW Style of High-Speed Planter HORSCH delves into the innovative features of its latest Maestro SXL high-speed planter. This advanced planter merges cutting-edge technology with refined techniques, ensuring accurate seed placement in today’s high speed planting environments. WATCH WATCH WATCH WATCH
11 07 Providing Blockage and Flow “Clarity” Precision Planting is at it again, this time with an air seeder/dry fertilizer upgrade to monitor blockage and flow in real-time. The retrofit system enables farmers to make adjustments in a timely manner, rather than finding out there was an issue after the crop has emerged. 06 It Comes in Threes John Deere discusses the three foundational components to get you started with the world of precision agriculture and agriculture technology. This includes its G5 Plus display, M Series modem as well as its StarFire 7000 receiver. 08 Never Lose a Signal with Automatic Stream Switching Trimble provides us with updates to its CenterPoint RTX Correction Source which now includes stream switching. Stream switching automatically switches between cellular delivered corrections and satellite delivered corrections in real time. WATCH WATCH WATCH 10 New Holland CR11 — A Completely NEW DESIGN The CR11 combine elevates both capacity and productivity to unprecedented levels in model year 2025. New Holland dives deep into capacity and tech and explores the four pillars that drive down total cost of harvesting. WATCH PHOTOS: DS70/E+ via Getty Images, stefann11/iStock/Getty Images Plus, hudiemm/iStock/Getty Images Plus SPECIAL 2024 NATIONAL FARM MACHINERY SHOW EDITION 09 Drone Solutions for Ag Pegasus Robotics walks us through drone solutions for agriculture. The XAG P100 Pro can carry 110 pounds in its dry hopper and can fly at 31 miles per hour. Its wet tank can hold 13.5 gallons (50 liters). WATCH
Kinze is bringing a new planter to the market in time for the 2025 planting season. The company’s new 5670 pivot fold, split row planter will be available in 12/23-row and 16/31-row configurations, can plant both 15” and 30” row widths and can be used as a narrow-row planter or a multicrop planting solution. The 31R15 has a seed capacity of 120 bushels and the 23R15 has an 80-bushel seed capacity. One of the standout characteristics of the planter is the frame. The frame is an all-new construction, which is designed to help with durability and performance, said Brad Niensteadt, a senior product specialist with Kinze. “The new frame supports 24 inches of under toolbar height, so there’s more room for residue flow,” he told Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. “We’ve increased our wing flex to 30 degrees to help farmers handle rolling terrain and we still have our adjustable active hydraulic weight transfer system.” This system takes how much seed weight is in the tanks and adjusts how much weight goes to the wings based on how much seed is in the tanks. This helps with compaction and makes for an evenly distributed toolbar, Niensteadt said. The 5670 planter also comes equipped with multiple standard features. These include spoked gauge wheels to help with residue flow, especially in damp conditions. Greaseless and shim-less gauge wheel arms, meaning farmers don’t have to grease the row units daily. It also comes with a standard variable displacement PTO pump that runs all the functions across the planter. A new optional feature Kinze is offering on the 5670 is a liquid fertilizer package available in a split row configuration. Both models in the planter lineup can accommodate 300 gallons of fertilizer. The planter can support rates between two and 25 gallons per acre at speeds ranging from 3 to 12 mph. And an automatic tank levelling feature automatically diverts fertilizer from one tank to the other. This helps farmers plant on different terrains without worrying about fertilizer overflow. All the planter’s options and features are integrated into Kinze’s Blue Vantage display, which comes standard with the 5670. For more information about the 5670, Niensteadt explains in this video. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO PHOTO: kinze.com KINZE INTRODUCES NEW PLANTERS The 5670 delivers enhanced productivity and increased operator convenience DIEGO FLAMMINI FARMS.COM 12
Would it not be desirable to incorporate the features of a large square baler into your small square baler? Well, the wait is over. Massey Ferguson has released its much-anticipated small square baler upgrade on its 1800 Series. It is called SimplEbale and it provides you with the opportunity to be more precise with your small square baler. How precise are we talking? “You are going to get those large square baler features like bale length, flake count, density control from the cab, moisture sensor compatibility—all those different things that you see in a large square baler or a round baler, now finally in that small square package,” Luke Weller, SimplEbale Engineering Manager, told Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. Massey Ferguson launched this product on its 1840 and 1844S balers. The base package includes all components, sensors and harnessing needed. You can expect improved bale consistency and increased operational efficiency from this system. The best part is this is a retrofittable system. “You can put one on a brand-new baler or you could put this on even a much older baler with just a little bit ingenuity,” adds Weller. “SimplEbale is that simple. We called it SimplEbale for a reason.” Weller says that there are three things you need to remember with this system: operator efficiency, increase bail formation and increase service and reliability. All features are adjustable in the cab via the monitor, giving you full control in real-time. And since the kit is modular, you can select the options you need with minimal modifications on your actual machine. “The monitor does it all and you can update [it] with your phone,” adds Weller. “We’ve given that back to people so that they can really maximize when they want to be in the field.” There are several optional features as well, including LED lights and a bale scale. Whether you are skilled or an inexperienced operator, SimplEbale provides more control, better monitoring, and real-time feedback in the cab. If you want to learn more about SimplEbale, Weller explains in this video. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO 13 SimplEbale system from Massey Ferguson brings tech to small square balers RETROFIT BALER UPGRADE NOW AVAILABLE RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR PHOTO: masseyferguson.com
Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest recently had the opportunity to speak with Damon Audia, the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AGCO, to discuss the company’s focus and retrofitting strategy, emphasizing not just new equipment but on retrofitting existing equipment. Audia shared insights on why this approach is particularly relevant in 2024, noting that, according to the USDA, farmers’ incomes are expected to decline from the highs of the past few years. He knows that while farmers are interested in technology, it is not realistic to assume that they can continuously invest in new technology-enabled equipment. But he knows there is a consistent need among farmers to upgrade their equipment to enhance productivity and reduce costs and reduce waste. A notable aspect of AGCO’s retrofitting strategy is its inclusivity, with solutions designed to fit all makes and models of equipment. AGCO’s retrofit solutions are designed to be compatible with all makes and models, further illustrating the company’s inclusive approach to helping farmers upgrade their equipment. He explained that AGCO would like to differentiate itself from other major OEMs through its unique retrofit channel, including such brands as Precision Planting, allowing farmers to invest in smaller, more affordable modules to improve yield or reduce input costs. Audia emphasized AGCO’s commitment to being a farmer-focused company, ensuring that farmers can see value in their investments with a relatively quick payback period of one to two years. The retrofit business has been growing at a doubledigit rate for AGCO, underlining its importance to the company’s overall business strategy. Audia also highlighted the recent joint venture (JV) with Trimble, a move that positions AGCO as a leader in mixed fleet precision agriculture. Like Precision Planting, Trimble’s guidance systems are brand and vintage agnostic, which complements AGCO’s strategy of providing versatile, high-tech solutions to the agricultural sector. This JV with Trimble is a significant part of AGCO’s technology stack, especially as the company looks toward autonomy and enhanced connectivity in farming operations by 2030. AGCO’s focus extends beyond retrofitting to encompass the entire crop cycle, with ongoing investments in automation and other technologies that ease the workload for farmers. 14 WATCH THE VIDEO PHOTO: Sergio Delle Vedove – stock.adobe.com AGCO’S FARM EQUIPMENT RETROFITTING STRATEGY SETS IT APART Enhancing farmer productivity without heavy investment DENISE FAGUY FARMS.COM
The JV with Trimble, valued at $2 billion, represents a major milestone in AGCO’s expansion and innovation efforts, underscoring the company’s commitment to providing data-driven solutions that help farmers understand and optimize their operations. Audia also touched on AGCO’s initiatives such as FarmerCore which provides more on-farm services and reflect the company’s strategy to enhance connectivity and support for farmers, even in rural areas with limited internet connectivity. Audia noted that AGCO is exploring various options to improve connectivity, recognizing its crucial role in enabling precision agriculture and ag tech solutions. Looking to the future, Audia shared his vision for farming, driven by the need for increased productivity amidst growing demands for sustainable practices. He highlighted the role of precision technology in achieving this balance, from targeted spraying to carbon sequestration and water management systems. AGCO aims to boost farm income by 20% through innovations that yield higher productivity and lower input costs. Education and knowledge-sharing, as exemplified by AGCO’s Precision Planting Winter Conference, are key components of AGCO’s strategy to remain the most farmer-focused company in the industry, demonstrating a commitment to helping farmers navigate the challenges and opportunities of modern agriculture. Watch this video to see the complete interview with Damon Audia. | pag 15 www.agcareers.com 877.438.5729 AgCareers.com agcareers@agcareers.com
01 See & Spray™ Premium Coming to Hagie John Deere introduces See & Spray™ Premium, expanding its advanced weed-sensing technology to model-year 2025 Hagie STS sprayers. This AI-powered system optimizes herbicide use, enhances efficiency, and maximizes yields. MORE 16 BITS & BYTES 02 CNH Invests in Drone Imaging AI Company CNH Industrial expands its tech portfolio with Bem Agro investment, leveraging AI for agronomic mapping reports. Bem Agro employs artificial intelligence to transform various aerial field images, sourced from machinery, drones, and satellites, into detailed Agronomic Mapping Reports. MORE 05 97 Percent Herbicide Reduction Solinftec’s newest robot is now available, and it could reduce your herbicide use by 97 percent. Powered by solar panels, the Solix Sprayer Robot uses artificial intelligence to identify and spot spray weeds. MORE 04 Advancing Green Ammonia for Sustainable Ag Jupiter Ionics secures $9 million in funding to advance their electrochemical green ammonia technology, offering a transformative solution for low-carbon agriculture and energy transition. MORE 03 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winners The Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge celebrates its 10th year, highlighting member innovations for agriculture. Barn Owl Precision Agriculture wins, receiving $50,000 for its fully autonomous robot. MORE
17 08 $4 Billion by 2028 According to Analytics Insight, artificial intelligence in the agriculture market will reach $4 billion USD by 2028 with a predicted CAGR of 21.89%. MORE 07 Replenish and Dark Horse Partner Replenish Nutrients partners with Dark Horse Ag Ventures to advance sustainable agriculture with innovative data-driven solutions. The pair will combine one’s regenerative fertilizers with the other’s agriculture data tools to enhance efficiency and profitability. MORE 06 Ask Me Anything Bayer has been working on a generative AI system, GenAI, which will be a game-changer for agronomists and farmers. It utilizes proprietary agronomic data and AI to answer queries swiftly and accurately, revolutionizing information accessibility. MORE 09 What’s Ionospheric Scintillation? Ionospheric scintillation is not something you hear about all the time. Yet it creates a challenge when it comes to precision agriculture and positioning via GNSS. Luckily for farmers there are alternatives. Explore how to mitigate ionospheric scintillation’s impact. MORE PHOTO: FluxFactory/E+ via Getty Images 10 A Big 3 Collab John Deere, Kinze Manufacturing, and Ag Leader Technology are collaborating to make it easier for you to integrate its equipment and ag tech solutions together. MORE
It is here... the next generation of combines from Case IH. The newly released AF11 is stirring up conversation in the ag community... and for good reason. The AF Series is Case IH’s highest-ever total capacity combine, packed with technology, automation, and connectivity. High-Capacity = High-Efficiency And we mean high-capacity: • 7 75 HP • C lass 10+ • 3 96-gallon fuel tank • 5 67-bushel grain tank size • 6 bushel per second unload rate “Efficiency is the name of the game with AF11, and you will see that we take overall engine RPM of 2100 PM and actually drop that down to 1900 RPM, saving us additional fuel,” explains Leo Bose, Marketing Manager of North America for Harvesting Products at Case IH. The grain tank provides an impressive 39 percent increase in capacity than previous models and it only takes 100 seconds to unload when full. It is equipped with a two-speed grain elevator which can be operated at 8,300-bushels per hour or 10,000-bushels per hour... without compromising the quality of the grain. Case IH also redesigned its cleaning system for higher crop throughput, making it 45 percent larger than previous models. • 1 3 percent larger Cross Flow Plus cleaning fan • F our-sieve cleaning system • T wo clean-grain cross augers • I ncreased accuracy with a single point yield calibration “We [Case IH] talk about how we deliver purposeful solutions, which points back to how we say we are built by farmers. There is purpose behind everything that we design,” Kurt Coffey, Vice President, North America at Case IH told Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest. The largest, the most powerful, the largest grain tank in the industry... And what’s the purpose behind that solution? Well, the purpose is to be able to fit a tighter window, to be able to have the highest productivity for growing farms that need to get their crop in and out.” Making A Case for Leading Harvest Technology The AF11 Series is equipped with technologies to make your life easier. Let us start with rotor tech. The new AFXL2 dual rotor technology, equipped with six concave modules and 12 separating modules, enables a larger total threshing and separating area. The longer rotor boasts 50 percent more separation over previous models. 18 REVOLUTIONIZING HARVEST: CASE IH AF11 SERIES Introducing the next generation in high-capacity farming RYAN RIDLEY MANAGING EDITOR
More effective grain separation with higher crop throughputs is achieved with the HX+ Rasp Bars working in its all-new stepped rotor cage to loosen the crop mat. Case IH’s customizable automation harvesting system, AFS Harvest Command, is standard on all AF11 combines. You can choose from four modes of automation depending on your needs. Case IH defines each mode below: • Performance: Maximize grain savings and grain quality while optimizing throughput. • Grain quality: Maximize grain quality while saving grain and optimizing throughput. • Max throughput: The operator can maximize throughput while automation adjusts combine settings to save grain. • Fixed throughput: The operator can fix the machine throughput and the machine will adjust to save grain and maintain a quality sample. Not one but two AFS Pro 1200 displays are in the cab. Residue management was not overlooked either. After all, field preparation for next year’s crop begins at harvest. “Machine automation allows us to fully adjust this combine automatically and we are taking it one step further. We are including automation within our cleaning system as well as residue,” explains Bose. The automated residue management system compensates for a uniform spread, even when it is windy. Operators can also adjust chop quality and chop/swath control from the cab. “Residue automation now allows us to automatically adjust that residue spread with radar. Radar spread automation, whether it is sunny, dusty, or a clear day, we can see the spread which the machine automatically adjusts,” Bose adds. Precision is not lost with high-capacity harvesting, especially with Case IH’s Advanced Farming Systems (AFS). The AF11 Series are equipped with an AFS Connect subscription, which allows you to share field and crop data remotely. As part of that subscription, you will also be able to share real-time data across multiple pieces of equipment, including A/B guidance with AFS AccuSync. An auto guidance system, AFS AccuGuide, enables sub-inch accuracy to maintain row positioning. “We look at our AF11 Series delivering on that capacity, that technology and ultimate runtime. The Axial Flow combine has really set the stage for the last 46 years going in the 47th year. The AF11 delivers on that,” Bose concludes. To learn more about Case IH’s AF11, watch here. | pag WATCH THE VIDEO 19 PHOTO: caseih.com “MACHINE AUTOMATION ALLOWS US TO FULLY ADJUST THIS COMBINE AUTOMATICALLY AND WE ARE TAKING IT ONE STEP FURTHER. WE ARE INCLUDING AUTOMATION WITHIN OUR CLEANING SYSTEM AS WELL AS RESIDUE.”
If we could make sense of the new precision ag tool from New Holland, we’d note that the IntelliSense is a real intelligent piece of technology specific to the large square baler industry. The first such technology of its kind, the IntelliSense Bale Automation pushes the boundaries of baling innovation while—and this is key—providing an automatic steering system that keeps the baling tech where it’s supposed to go to provide the quickest path to create a bale. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest talked with Brad Littlefield, the Precision Marketing Manager, Dairy and Livestock, for New Holland about what makes the IntelliSense system so special. “The square balers offer a combination of two things,” explained Littlefield. “The first is the LiDAR used in our SmartSteer swath guidance system; and the second is the IntelliCruise II system that controls the speed of the tractor as it responds to the terrain around it to provide the optimal performance to the operator.” Don’t call it autonomous, because Littlefield said that the tractor driver is still required even though the LiDAR provides autosteering for precise navigation of the tractor and baler along the windrow. 20 IT’S HIP TO BE SQUARE The IntelliSense Bale Automation from New Holland revolutionizes large square baler industry with fuel and time savings ANDREW JOSEPH FARMS.COM
“Yes, the tractor can be hands-free while the LiDAR Smart Steer system propels it as it detects the swatch, but when the end of the row is reached, the tractor’s driver still has to manually turn the wheel,” said Littlefield. He explained that should it be desired, the operator can easily turn off the steering automation simply with a push of a button, or by a movement of the steering wheel. When it comes to the IntelliCruise II, Littlefield said that it controls the speed of the tractor, as it responds to the ever-changing material feeder rate into the baler. The operator also must set the number of slices per bale target, and the maximum speed limit. After being set, Littlefield said that the baler will continuously adjust the forward speed of the tractor to achieve the pre-set bale slice target. “For large square baling operations, it’s an indispensable asset for their future by improving bale harvesting while helping them meet the operational demands of the evolving agricultural landscape with confidence.” When LiDAR (light detection and ranging) was first introduced, it was used to monitor the skies, specifically meteorology to measure clouds and pollution, first utilized in the 1930s. More modern applications were made in the 1960s when it was utilized in terrain mapping of aeronautics and aerospace. Now with more down-to-Earth ambitions, New Holland is using the LiDAR—installed on the front end of a tractor cab roof—to emit pulses of laser light to instantaneously calculate distance based on reflections from the windrow. Littlefield simplified it to say that the LiDAR simply peers some 19-26 feet into the distance to examine the best path the tractor and its bale machinery should take. Although Littlefield assured us that the technologies work extremely well in even low-light or nighttime conditions, he acknowledged that in the most extreme weather conditions, it is possible that its vision system becomes obscured. We take it to mean ice or snow or even blinding dirt from a snowstorm—but does anyone want to try and safely work in such conditions? The LiDAR processor determines swath position and shape, and relays its observable information to the tractor’s ISOBUS steering. “The IntelliSense Bale Automation system is not only focused on output and the bottom line but stands out for its prioritization of operator well-being and safety,” Littlefield commented. “At the heart of our design is a commitment to putting operators first and creating technology that addresses their most important needs for a seamless and productive experience.” 21 PHOTOS: agriculture.newholland.com
Key promises delivered by the IntelliSense Bale Automation system are baling productivity, bale quality, fuel efficiency, and operator comfort. Productivity is increased because the system maintains the highest baling capacity without hurting the equipment. The equipment has been designed to prevent baler blockages, so there is a continuous workflow that better maximizes production time. Because the system eliminates crop leftovers, bale quality is met. As well, the system provides for a uniform square bale shape and weight. Because speed and route are planned to optimal capacity depending on your field parameters, the IntelliSense system does improve your tractor’s fuel efficiency. And because operators are able to use IntelliSense to work harder and smarter for them, operators can perform their hay baling duties with less stress. As anyone who has ever baled hay knows, using machinery to bale in low-light conditions is a stressful part of the job. But IntelliSense’s LiDAR helps reduce operator fatigue during long harvesting days, especially at nighttime. Littlefield explained that although this is new technology, some older machines can be retrofitted to utilize its performance bonuses, “for example, any 2020 CNH tractor—red or blue.” He said that as long as your tractor meets a couple of requirements, it should be able to work with the IntelliSense without issue. “It has to have a CVT Transmission and ISO Class 3 compatible.” As long as it has the “brains” to run it, if we were to put it simply. The IntelliSense Baler Automation system is compatible with Class 3 ISOBUS tractors, specifically, the T7 LWB, T7 HD, and T8 from New Holland. It also works with model year 2022 and model year 2023 New Holland BigBaler large square balers. The benefits of using the IntelliSense system are many, but he really pointed out the technology’s ability to follow the hay windrow. “Our LiDAR technology is similar to a ‘lane assist’ that you see available in cars. Lane assist keeps you between the lines on a highway. If there is a curve in the road, the car remains between the lines. Similar to our LiDAR technology. The tractor is guided by the windrow. The LiDAR keeps the tractor in the center of the windrow.” Although we wouldn’t want the tractor to follow the exact same route, Littlefield’s point is well taken. The tractor will find the straightest path possible to ensure the fastest and most efficient way to travel to bale hay on your field. “Maybe the driver was watching ‘90s country TikTok videos instead of paying attention as closely as they should have been, and got the tractor and baler off track. Well, with IntelliSense, it will pick up on the steering error, and will turn left or right as required to ensure it rights its way,” he said. But make no mistake, the tractor and baler do NOT have to travel in a straight line if there is a better route available to it. Remember, it looks up to 26-feet ahead to plan for the best route to save time (and therefore fuel). 22 WATCH THE VIDEO “OUR LIDAR TECHNOLOGY IS SIMILAR TO A ‘LANE ASSIST’ THAT YOU SEE AVAILABLE IN CARS. LANE ASSIST KEEPS YOU BETWEEN THE LINES ON A HIGHWAY. IF THERE IS A CURVE IN THE ROAD, THE CAR REMAINS BETWEEN THE LINES. SIMILAR TO OUR LIDAR TECHNOLOGY. THE TRACTOR IS GUIDED BY THE WINDROW. THE LIDAR KEEPS THE TRACTOR IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDROW.”
How much fuel can it save the operator? Just as your field is different from your neighbors, so too will your mileage vary. “But just know that there will be fuel savings over what you did prior to using the IntelliSense.” But it was the time savings the IntelliSense offers that struck Littlefield as been much more important. While he extolled operator increased productivity and minimizing crop leftover, he noted, felt that the ease of learning how to operate it was something that should be played up. “Like it or not, the agricultural industry is plagued by high turnover of personnel,” related Littlefield. “Some of the feedback we received during our demonstrations was that they were pleased at the short learning curve. Often enough, they said, that after spending the time to train someone on machinery, they would leave, and then they would have to start all over again to train another person. “But rather than be stuck having to train and retain personnel for hours at a go, you could put a first-timer behind the wheel of a tractor with IntelliSense, and within an hour they get it,” he smiled. The IntelliSense only had its debut at tradeshows this past February, but it is available for purchase now. Farms.com Precision Ag Digital Digest recently caught up with New Holland at the 2024 National Farm Machinery Show to chat about IntelliSense, watch the video. For convenience, starting in 2025 customers will have the opportunity to place orders for the IntelliSense Bale Automation system as a factory-fit option. Immediate integration for the system is available now as a New Holland dealer-installed accessory option. | pag 23 PHOTO: agriculture.newholland.com “BUT RATHER THAN BE STUCK HAVING TO TRAIN AND RETAIN PERSONNEL FOR HOURS AT A GO, YOU COULD PUT A FIRST-TIMER BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A TRACTOR WITH INTELLISENSE, AND WITHIN AN HOUR THEY GET IT.”
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