GREENSTAR® PRECISION FARMING

PRECISION FARMING SYSTEMS

 

WHAT IS PRECISION FARMING?

It’s simply a way to gather agronomic information to help you better manage inputs. The more information you have about your fields, the better equipped you are to start getting more out of them. It’s what you’ve always done; by paying attention to your fields and crops and adjusting machinery and inputs, you try to squeeze the most out of every dollar.Now, GreenStar Precision Farming products let you look at your fields in smaller increments – as small as 10 inches – so you can make more fine-tuned, site-specific recommendations.

If you can reduce or redistribute inputs and raise overall yields, you’ll be more profitable. It’s that simple. Plus, by managing inputs more precisely, you can better protect the environment. And don’t forget the benefits of more complete record keeping.

WHAT ARE GPS, DIFFERENTIAL CORRECTION AND SELECTIVE AVAILABILITY?

In the late 1970’s, the Department of Defense launched Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to help artillery pieces pinpoint targets and to help submarines determine their locations. Now accessible to the public, these satellites transmit longitude, latitude and altitude signals necessary to pinpoint locations on earth.

For national security reasons, the military scrambled these signals. Called Selective Availability (SA), this scrambling resulted in a distortion of the calculations by more than 400 feet. Better accuracy could only be gained by using a second signal to correct this distortion; a process called differential correction. Using differential correction, GPS coordinates can be corrected to provide accuracy to ten inches… and even better precision is right around the corner.

In May 2000, the Department of Defense disabled Selective Availability. However, differential correction is still required to achieve reliable accuracy to within 6 feet (a basic threshold for many agricultural operations).

John Deere Precision Farming Systems are built around three portable components: a StarFire® position receiver, GreenStar Display, and mobile processor. Not only does this portability reduce costs (compared to buying duplicate hardware for each machine you own), you won’t have to re-learn components for each new application.

STARFIRE RECEIVER

When it’s time to compare precision farming products, ask yourself the following question: Which system is more likely to provide you with the information you need… a piece-by-piece cluster of components that may (or may not) work together, or a fully integrated, field-proven system that you can tailor to match your individual operation?

The GreenStar System is built around portable components designed to work together. For instance, you can move your GreenStar Display from your combine to your John Deere tractor and vary seed populations with your MaxEmerge® Plus Planter or (manually) with a 1900 Air Cart. Or, collect valuable data during tillage operations.

Move the same components to your 4700, 4710, or 6700 Sprayer to manually vary spray rates. Move them to your utility vehicle to document important field variables. As new precision farming applications become available, you won’t need to repurchase (or re-learn) components with each application. And you can count on the components working together because they were designed in tandem – a luxury you simply don’t have with off-the-shelf precision farming products.
The StarFire receiver makes current precision farming operations more precise – and makes future precision farming operations possible. It’s far and away the most-advanced receiver on the agricultural market. The StarFire receiver picks up signals from Global Positional System (GPS) satellites and from the John Deere differential correction network. The GreenStar System uses these signals to pinpoint machine longitude, latitude and altitude. Moving the receiver from one machine to another is simple.
GREENSTAR DISPLAY AND MOBILE PROCESSOR
The brains of the GreenStar precision farming system is an 8-megabyte mobile processor. It attaches quickly to the GreenStar Display and can be moved quickly from machine to machine.
Mount the GreenStar Display to your self-propelled sprayer and choose from three programmable application rates, on the go. The display also provides productivity summaries and machine diagnostic information in simple plain English (no error codes).
Move the GreenStar Display to your tractor’s cab to manually vary seed rates on-the-go (if planter is equipped with variable-rate drive). Or add the StarFire receiver and appropriate keycard to take advantage of map-based seeding. The same components let you operate Parallel Tracking or Field Doc data collection. Of course, the display and processor work equally well in your combine, too. You’ll enjoy commonsense, menu-driven commands no matter where you mount the display.
Information is stored on a durable Flash PC card that holds up to 400 hours of data – enough for a whole season for many growers. Transferring the data to your home computer is simple.
These mobile components will work with many older-model John Deere machines. It’s a cost-effective way to start gathering more information. Ask your dealer how to make your older tractors and combines GreenStar-ready.
PARALLEL TRACKING

Now you can apply fertiliser or chemicals without worrying about skips or overlaps, or straining your eyes to see foam markers… even in low-visibility situations or in conditions where foam tends to disappear quickly (tall or solid-seeded crops, dusty fields, windy conditions, etc). Or, hook up the widest tillage equipment you own and drive straight down the field… without constantly pivoting in your seat to check the tool’s location.

Parallel Tracking uses GPS signals to pinpoint your machine’s location. Once you’ve designated the path you want to follow (by establishing a baseline), visual indicators and audible alerts keep you parallel to this line at all times as you move across the field. Because the system is based around the same three mobile components you may already own (StarFire receiver, GreenStar Display, and mobile processor), getting started with Parallel Tracking may be as easy as buying a new PC card. Considerably more affordable than purchasing a complete off-the-shelf system. Plus, only John Deere makes it possible to add Field Doc data collection to your Parallel Tracking system.
Drive a straight path, every time. By using the GreenStar Display with Parallel Tracking, a very simple icon shows your position in the field relative to the straight path that you determine with your first pass. You’ll know exactly which direction to steer to maintain a parallel path. Audible alerts accompany the visual indicator, so you can keep your eyes on the field and still maintain a straight line. It’s considerably easier than the complex lightbars other systems use.
Spray with confidence, even in low-visibility conditions. Apply fertiliser and chemicals with greater accuracy in dusty or tough-to-see conditions. The GreenStar Display uses a visual indicator to help guide you back into the proper row, reducing overspray and skips. You can spray longer into the evening without straining your eyes or in dusty conditions that limit visibility of foam markers.
Make your mark… and quickly find it. A point-of-reference mode allows you to save up to five locations for future reference. For instance, when you run out of spray solution, you can “mark” the point. Refill and let Parallel Tracking return you to the exact place you stopped spraying. Stored markers are saved in the system’s memory indefinitely, so you can return to an exact point hours or days later. One competitor’s system erases the mark after only six hours have elapsed.
 

PARALLEL TRACKING – THE JOHN DEERE ADVANTAGE

  • Improves efficiency by maintaining arrow-straight passes.
  • Allows faster field speeds.
  • Simplifies training for new operators.
  • Saves time and chemicals by reducing overlaps (compared to foam markers).
  • Lets you store up to 5 markers (to return-to-point) and stores them indefinitely.
  • Uses the same common components you may already own – considerably more affordable than buying a complete off-the-shelf system.
  • Uses a vehicle icon and audible beeps to show exact location (rather than a complex lightbar).
  • Lets you store up to 5 fields.

YIELD MONITORING AND YIELD MAPPING

Consider this scenario: your cornfield averages 130 bushels per acre. But you suspect some areas yielded 180 bushels or more, others only 80. If you could verify which acres brought you high yields, and which didn’t, would you treat them differently? If so, you’re ready for precision farming. A combine yield-monitoring or yield-mapping system is often the best place to start.

Both systems are built around a state-of-the-art mass-flow sensor and moisture sensor. The measurements from these sensors, along with combine information such as header width and ground speed, are used to accurately calculate yields on-the-go. That’s where yield monitoring stops – it’s a cost-effective way to determine yield variance. While it doesn’t let you record or map the results, you can always upgrade to a yield-mapping system in the future.

Yield mapping requires use of a position receiver and mobile processor. The StarFire receiver pinpoints your location as you move through the field; the processor records data while you harvest. Transfer this date to your personal computer for use with exclusive JDmap software. Or let optional DataStore capture whole-field totals and download the summarised data to your personal computer.
Upgrading from a yield monitoring to a yield-mapping system is easy, and it allows you to store and map site-specific yield, moisture, and other harvest data. Because you already own the GreenStar Display, mass-flow sensor, and moisture sensor, it’s considerably more affordable than buying a new off-the-shelf system. Plus, you can use the same mobile components for a wide variety of other GreenStar systems, such as Field doc data collection, Parallel Tracking, map-based planting, variable-rate spraying, and Crop Tracer verification.
A combine yield-mapping system may prove what you’ve always suspected; that some parts of your field are doing better than others. Knowing this is the first step toward improving low-yielding areas and maximising inputs.
The GreenStar Display provides you with instantaneous yield and harvest information, on-the-go crop moisture readings, productivity (in bushels-per-acre), area harvested, total weight, grain temperature and more.
A special flagging feature lets you mark weed patches, crop observations, or other variables. Turn the flags on and off as you encounter them. The flagged areas will appear on your printed yield maps.

Located on the side of the combine’s clean-grain elevator, the moisture sensor continuously samples grain for moisture content and temperature. The system automatically converts the yield to dry bushels. Compared to other moisture sensors, you’ll find this one has a much larger and more sensitive capacitance device (long metal plate) and offers easier servicing – in fact, you can clean it from ground level without tools.

As grain flows from the top of the clean-grain elevator, it hits the mass-flow sensor’s curved impact plate. A sensor registers deflections as small as 1/1000th of an inch. Mass is calculated instantly and converted to bushels for the crop being harvested. Notice the extra gap between two of the paddles on the clean-grain elevator chain? This allows the system to automatically zero-update each time the chain makes a complete revolution (approximately three seconds). This automatic zero-update (a process similar to zero-balancing a weigh wagon) eliminates the need to stop the combine multiple times each day, as other systems require.

JDMAP SOFTWARE

As you fine-tune your precision-farming program, you need better, more sophisticated tools to help you make better agronomic decisions. That’s why John Deere is pleased to introduce new JDmap 4.2 and JDmap 4.2 Deluxe.

Both are user friendly, point-and-click programs. In seconds, you can turn raw data into easy-to-read, informative maps. Simply transfer the data from your PC card to your personal computer, and let JDmap software do the rest.

Choose from three separate formats: point maps, contour maps, or simple spreadsheets. All three are easy to create, even easier to read.

Want to share your information with your fertiliser dealer or crop consultant? Simply export and share your raw data in a comma-separated ASCII format (the most common precision farming format) or AEA-shape file format. Or, a single click of the mouse lets you upload the file to the VantagePoint Network (www.vantagepoint.com) and share with your supplier and/or consultant on-line.

JDmap software makes it easy to turn raw data into useful information. You gain a sound basis for creating a plan that varies crop inputs based on site-specific needs. When you reduce or redistribute inputs, yet maintain or increase yields, you’ll be more profitable.
© Steve Cselka 2002 - 2008