Precision Guidance Systems for Efficient Material Application

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• Precision Guidance Systems for Efficient Material
  Application

Presented By Craig Kincaid
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Our Operation

• Located in the Palouse, West of Pullman
• Produce crops on a three to four year rotation.
• Terrain can make farming challenging

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Brief History

• Early 1980s Spraying with a disc marker or
  nothing at all on a wing-up pull machine.
• Late 1980s Foam markers are introduced.
• 1990s Chemical and fertilizer costs steadily
  increase.
• Mid 1990s Began using rate monitors.

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History Cont.

• 2004 - In the search of a better way we built a
  new sprayer.
• Foam still used.
• 2006 John Deere Greenstar 2 guidance system
  adopted.

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The Sprayer

• John Deere 4955 4WD Tractor
• 800 gallon capacity
• Spray at up to 14 MPH
• 70 ft swath
• Uses air induction tips
• MidTech spray monitor

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Special Features

Easy Loading Motorcycle Rack
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More Features

Ability to run separate tank mixes
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More Features

Hinged outside boom sections
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Components

GPS Receiver
John Deere 4955
Corrected Satellite Signal
PC Software
Auto Steer Universal Kit
Display / Mobile Processor
Rate Controller
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Features of GreenStar 2

• Field Guidance
• Auto Steer
• Operate a Third Party Controller
• Documentation of Each Operation
• Prescription Rates
• Mark Hazards, Boundaries, and Objects

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Documentation and Records

• Track tank mix totals, acres, time, weather etc.
• Useful for landlord billing
• FSA certification

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Expected Benefits

• Improved Efficiency
• Reduction of Inputs
• Less Operator Fatigue
• Accuracy
• Year to Year Data

Accuracy from Precision Ag. System
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Original GreenStar

• Harvest Monitor was put on the spray tractor.
• Worked well, but was difficult to understand, and
  learn.
• Had no real function except to help keep the
  mark.

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The move to GreenStar 2

• Interest in AutoSteer
• Large color screen was attractive
• Simple user interface
• Why John Deere?

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Precision Guidance Put to Use

• Installed midway through Spraying Season of 2006
• Used on the Spring Crops
• Found that Straight Track worked better than
  Curve Track

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True Test

• 1200 acres of Garbanzos found with Blight, and
  needed an application of Headline immediately.
• Daytime temperatures to hot to spray effectively.
  
• We decided to use the guidance to spray at night.

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Results

• 1200 acres covered in 24 hours of night spraying.
• Fields were covered in less time than normal.
• Overlap reduced by 5 from the average 10 to
  15 found with foam systems.

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Results

• All of this would not have been possible using
  the foam marker system.

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Tracks from the Night

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Another View

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APEX Software

• Another component of a guidance system.
• Excellent for farm analysis and management.

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Uses of APEX

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APEX

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APEX

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APEX

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APEX

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Economics

• Example from one application on 1200 Acres
• With Airplane
• Cost of Headline per acre 11.50 x 1200
  12115 5 Overlap 12,720
• Cost of Airplane per Acre
  6.10 x 1200 7,320
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  Total Cost
  20,040
• With Tractor Sprayer and Guidance
• Cost of Headline
  11.50 x 1200 x 15 Overlap 15,870
• Saving with Guidance
  5 (793.50)
• Labor and Operating Expenses
  2,400
• 
  Total Cost 17,476.50
• Savings of 2563.50
• Also Consider
• Value of spraying on time
• Reduction of total chemical used

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Our Precision Ag. Future

• John Deere SwathControl
• Harvest Yield Mapping
• Variable Rate Fertilizing
• Using Tram Lines

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Questions?

• Contact Info
• Craig Kincaid
• (509) 595 2475