Precision Pays

One Year Anniversary

It’s the first anniversary for Precision Pays, which was launched last year at the Commodity Classic in Tampa.

One of the first interviews we had on the site was with Laura Robson, senior marketing rep for John Deere. We caught up with her again at this year’s Classic, being held this week in Nashville. I asked Laura about the state of precision technology and how farmers are adapting to precision becoming standard on new equipment. We also talked about how last year’s ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars contest winners used their precision package in 2007, what they thought about it and how it is helping John Deere make precision pay even more!

You can listen to my interview with Laura at Commodity Classic here: Laura Robson Interview (4:30 min. mp3)

Hoosier Tinkers with Precision

Gary Truitt calls him a “tinkerer with new technology.” That’s because Roger Hadley of Woodburn, IN has been using precision farming technology, such as GPS field mapping, for about ten years. Roger was a presenter at the Indianapolis Precision Agriculture Conference earlier this month. Hoosier Ag Network broadcaster Gary Truitt caught up with Roger at the conference and spoke with him about how precision technology applied ten years ago and how it applies today.

Roger has kept up with the cutting edge of precision soy practices and says precision technology can help mitigate yield pressure, save on fertilizer, make farming more environmentally-friendly and more.

You can listen to Gary’s interview with Roger here: Roger Hadley Interview (5 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Going Beyond with Precision

Brent Maddon was the John Deere product development representative on hand at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas last week. The event is one of three “Reach for the Stars” presentations being sponsored by John Deere.

Maddon gave a presentation about how farmer’s can use precision technology and where the technology is headed for the future. He says farmers should look to move beyond the Autotrac guidance systems because GPS technology is allowing John Deere to develop more applications for different farming needs. Maddon urges farmers to get a hands-on feel for precision ag technology saying consumers need to use it to fully recognize and appreciate what it can do.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Maddon here: Brent Maddon Interview (3 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Harvesting Savings

Precision technology puts extra cash in your pocket according to a grower from the northeast Arkansas area. David Pigue uses precision farming in his cotton and grain harvesting operations and he says the innovative technology produces excellent results. He says applying the technology in different ways is sure to make farmers more money, whether they get “knee-deep or neck-deep” into precision farming techniques.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Pigue here: David Pigue Interview (2 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

No Looking Back

Tennessee Grower Alan Meadows is willing to bet that no less than 90 percent of all farmers who try their hand at tools using precision technology wouldn’t ever dream of moving forward without it. In an interview, Meadows told reporter Stewart Doan that if farmers “try it… [they'll] never go back.”

Meadows was a presenter at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas last week.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Meadows here: Alan Meadows Interview (1 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Toeing the Line with Precision Upgrades

Farmers are feeling out the benefits of GPS satellite technology with measured care. At least, that’s what “Reach For The Stars” seminar presenter Dr. Terry Griffin says. Griffin held an audience at last week’s American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions seminar in Arkansas.

The University of Arkansas Ag extension economist says precision agriculture encompasses several different technologies and isn’t just one individual piece of technology. He calls precision farming a new, modern system for approaching and applying work in the field.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Griffin, where he explains more about this system of data, guidance tools and GPS technology here: Dr. Terry Griffin Interview (6 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Precision Ag Growth in the Mid South

At this week’s American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions, “Reach For The Stars” seminar in Arkansas Ted Glaub, Glaub Farm Management and ASA board member, was a presenter.

He says that a lot of his operators are using new sprayer technology to save significantly on input costs, especially on odd shaped fields. Ted says that using precision equipment does save on operator “wear and tear.” By not having to focus as much on steering the operator can focus on other important elements of planting or harvesting. He says he sees more and more farmers getting into precision ag each year. For growers considering making an investment he recommends starting out by asking the local dealer a lot of questions, especially for their specific operation.

You can listen to Stewart Doan’s interview with Ted here: Ted Glaub Interview (5 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

Reaching For The Stars This Week

Over the next week or so we’ll be featuring interviews with people who are attending and presenting at the American Soybean Association/John Deere Ag Management Solutions, “Reach For The Stars” seminars in Arkansas and Indiana. We’ve enlisted the aid of two very well known farm broadcasters, Stewart Doan, past President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and Gary Truitt, Hoosier Ag Network. So let’s get started.

The first seminar took place in Jonesboro, AR. One of the growers attending was Rich Faulkner, New Madrid, MO. Rich told us that he started with precision agriculture about 2 1/2 years ago with the Starfire SF1 receiver and last year added RTK. He’s very happy with them and looking to expand more as they get more accustomed to the equipment.

He says that benefits to using the equipment he’s got so far include less driver fatigue in keeping rows straight, the ability to make all the rows the same distance apart which makes things more economical and with RTK, they can come back and track in the same tracks. Rich says they see an increase in productivity. He recommends that farmers who are row cropping year to year look at RTK for these reasons.

You can listen to Stewart’s interview with Rich here: Rich Faulkner Interview (2 minute MP3)

Don’t forget that this interview is part of our Precision Pays Podcast. Subscribe on your computer and get them automatically using these instructions.

John Deere Tours Midwest

John Deere and The American Soybean Association are offering growers in the Midwest a chance to learn more about precision agriculture. The ASA says the winter education series is a part of the organization´s “Reach for the Stars” precision ag program. Farmers and growers can attend meetings on January 8, 2008 in Wahoo, NE, January 28, 2008 in Jonesboro, AR and Jan 29,2008 in Indianapolis, IN.

John Deere personnel will be on hand demonstrating the advantages of precision ag equipment and farm management software. The meetings will also feature the president of that state´s soybean association as well as an ASA executive committee member and other experts in precision farming.

Iowa Farmer Gets Precision Ag Experience

Before becoming a Reach for the Stars winner this year, Curtis Claeys of Delmar, Iowa had pretty limited experience with precision farming.

“I’m not real technologically advanced,” Curtis says. “Thankfully, my son is in college so when I get stuck I can give him a call and he can walk me through it. Otherwise, our local tech guy was very supportive and very good as far as taking care of us and getting us set up.”

Curtis was very pleased with the way precision farming helped him save money with nitrogen and fertilizer application by avoiding overlap. “And I think as they get this advanced, it will really save us a lot of money.”

Listen to some of my interview with Curtis here.
Curtis Claeys (4:30 min mp3)