Agri-Trend FINALIST for 2009 Ag Innovation of the Year at Agri-Trade
Agri-Trend Agrology Ltd has been selected as an Agri-Trade Show Ag Innovation of the Year Finalist for its integration of the RapidEye Satellite Network with Variable Rate Fungicide Application.
As part of The Precision Management Process™ offered by Agri-Trend, they have developed a way to vary fungicide on a field, reducing costs while increasing effectiveness and environmental safety.
Working with 5 sensor pictures including the unique “Red Edge Spectrum” which provides some of the most precise filtering and RapidEye’s 5 M resolution capability, Agri-Trend Geo-Coaches™ gather in-season images then turn these into vegetative index maps (SmartMAPS™). The SmartMAPS™ are then used to develop a prescription (SmartCARD™) which is used to regulate the amount of fungicide applied to the crop through a GPS Variable Rate Controller on the high clearance sprayer....and all this is done in real time!
To ensure that the areas of dense vegetation are indeed representing “heavy crop” that requires the higher rates of fungicide the SmartMAPS are handed to Agri-Coaches™ (agronomic professionals) who use the maps in conjunction with GPS to “ground truth” the field in an on-site inspection.
“The application of fungicide as disease protection is one of the most agonizing decisions for a farmer.”, explains Elston Solberg, President of Agri-Trend Agrology, “Every year in almost every field, we know there are areas the definitely need protection while there are other areas of fields that do not require any fungicide whatsoever. The integration of the high resolution RapidEye image, together with a SmartMAP in the hands of an Agri-Coach provide us with the tools and expertise necessary to be confident in the application rates programmed”
Once the Agri-Coach is satisfied that the RapidEye image truthfully represents the zones in the field the prescription SmartCARD is inserted into the computer of the sprayer. The sprayer, outfitted with GPS and Auto Steer, is hooked up to a controller that will increase/decrease or shut off the application of fungicide in accordance with the vegetative index of the field as it passes over the field.
“Typically we are seeing 20-30% of any given field that requires either a low rate or no rate of fungicide,” adds Geo-Coach Warren Bills, “this is a big savings for a farmer. Many of today’s sprayers are equipped with Variable Rate Controllers, so by working with the area Agri-Coach and the applicator, we have put together a system that is real simple and works”.
Warren Bills will be presenting the concept at Agri-Trade at The Agri-Trend Stage on November at 12:00 Noon in the Enmax Centrium. For more information go to www.agritrend.com or see The Precision Management Process in action at www.youtube.com/agritrend or go to page 53 of The Agri-Trade Official Show Guide.
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