Archive for November, 2009

GreenSeeker at AGRI-TREND Winter Training Event

November 17th, 2009 by Robert Saik

This year Trimble purchased Entek, the company who manufactures GreenSeeker Technology.

Jack Gerhardt discussed the history of remote sensing.

GreenSeeker is a sensor technology that is mounted on a machine passing over the field.  It has its own light source and provides instant geo-referencing enabling a sprayer (for example) to apply a variable rate product through a variable rate controller.

Dr Guy Lafond with IHARF at Indian Head, SK has been developing the alogrithims we have been using to vary the N rate on wheat.  There are now 7 different alogrithims now available for Canadian crops.

We have had a few farmers working with GreenSeeker for several years.  The technology has some advantages because cloud cover is not an issue and the maps are generated in real time.

Jack mentioned the GreenSeeker has been used for top dressing of N, rescue Nitrogen, Fungicides, Desiccants and 2 Step Zone Rx’s as well as other real-time apps for farmers.

The RT150 is a up to 3 sensors…while the RT200 4 or more sensors enables variable boom shut off and allows an applicator to perform Real Time VR.

We featured an article on GreenSeeker in the May/June 2009 issue of The agAdvance.  Check it out at www.TheagAdvance.com.

The GreenSeeker is available in Canada through Pattison Liquid Systems of Lemberg, SK.

Posted in Agrology, Fertilizer, Technology | No Comments »

Wireless Access Continues to Expand

November 6th, 2009 by Robert Saik

Those who know me know I am a technology fan.

Agri-Trend has been at the forefront of integrating technology into agriculture, especially when it comes to harnessing the power of the internet to manage farm production data.  Of course to make the best use of our systems, access to the internet is critical.  This access continues to expand.

This week, as part of my duties as a director of The Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association, I had an opportunity to share some ideas with a group of consultants from Chile.  We gathered in Santiago to discuss the role consultants play in advancing agriculture.  Central to this work was, information dissemination, and central to that was the internet.

Even in the remote areas of Chile, consultants are able to access the internet through wireless technology.  This brings the world to them…in real time.

Last year, I was in a farm house in Kazakhstan.  Very nice home but it had no running water…but it was equipped with the internet…and I still communicate with the young farm lad from that village.

AND right now, I am posting this blog from 30,000 feet because I am flying back from Dallas to Calgary on an American Airlines flight that is equipped with In Flight Wi Fi.  MAN is this exciting!

You see now, I can access the Field Programs of my customers though our Netware System while enroute.  It creates even further connectivity!

I already am fully connected on land with my EVDO aircard and now I can remain connected in the air…wow!

In the Oct/Nov issue of The agAdvance, we featured a story on RTK technology that runs over EVDO signals…this will soon be eclipsed by 3G and 4G technology.   What this means is that it puts the power of the internet in the cab of your tractor, effectively connecting you with the world, while you are in the field!

We continue to pour resources into our Netware Systems to connect our Agri-Coaches and Market-Coaches with farm customers.  This capability will increase as we extend our reach to mobile devices such as smart phones.

We will increasingly use the internet to bring the power of knowledge and wisdom to help you on your farm.

Posted in Internet, Technology | No Comments »