Viewing equipment in real time offers benefits like knowing how close an operator is to finishing a field, and this feature just got easier thanks to technology. Climate FieldView has released a cab app for iPhones that will help farmers coordinate filling planters in the spring and semis during harvest.

The opening map screen on the phone app is an interactive weather radar. From the menu, “remote view in” to another account. You will quickly see which field operations are underway in real time.

This new app also allows you to pull up reports that you can print or send. For example, you could send a planting summary to a landlord as soon as you finish planting the field. Simply pull up the “Field Planting Summary” PDF file and email this file from the tractor cab. You also may view reports “by hybrid” to see how many acres of each hybrid you have in the ground and at what population. If you’re running more than one planter, you can view reports “by planter.”

Another feature of the iPhone Cab App (and on the iPad version) is the ability to “log out” of the app and into another account, so you can toggle between accounts to log data. This feature may be especially useful for growers who have more than one Climate account or who custom farm ground for farmers who also use Climate FieldView. NOTE: Those who custom farm multiple farms with separate Climate accounts may find it remains faster and easier to log the data under your own account then send “field files” to that particular Climate account.

One more announcement Climate recently made is a partnership with NAU Crop Insurance Company, which covers acres across Latham Country. Climate also partners with Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company, which allows simplified reporting for crop insurance. This eliminates manual reporting errors and can speed up the reporting process.

Hopefully, these new features will help make the 2019 planting season more productive so you’re less fatigued.

Have a safe spring!

Most U.S. farmers use some form of precision ag technology, and the majority of these farmers are looking for ways to use their data more efficiently. Organizing data and offering suggestions on how farmers can increase yield on a field-by-field basis is where Seed-2-Soil® services comes into play.

Technology in the tractor is one part of precision ag data that is recorded by the combine, planter or sprayer monitor requires another level of understanding. Here at Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds, we’re working to help farmers find the intersection between crop production and precision ag.

We believe this technology is a huge stepping stone in terms of efficiency and reaching that next level of production on your fields. Understanding the variability on each of your farms is Step One.

Our FieldXField process focuses on placing hybrids/varieties according to yield-limiting factors combined with data from your yield monitor. We can define smaller “management or productivity zones” that will allow you to put Variable Rate (VR) technology to use on your farm.

Combining data such as soil samples, satellite or drone imagery, disease and insect scouting reports, and planter and sprayer applications gives you a much clearer picture of each field. Armed with this additional data, you can monitor and manage that field throughout the season.

There are many ways to incorporate precision ag technology on your farm. While not everyone will have every technology, using a few tools provides valuable information. For example, variable rate (VR) hybrid planting can provide a $20/acre benefit. We’re testing this technology on a farm in Northwest Iowa and are eager to see the results this fall.

Although most farmers don’t yet have the capability for VR hybrid planting, many have the ability to apply VR fertilizers. Studies show a $5-8/acre benefit from decreasing over application and under application to areas within a field. If your fields have a large amount of variability, you may reap even more revenue from VR technologies.

Variable rate seeding and applications are just one piece of the precision ag pie. We can work with you to make your data work for you and your operation. It’s our goal to work with farmers and add value regardless of where they are along the technology adoption spectrum.

One simple, but especially important detail, is naming your fields consistently from year to year. Also make sure your monitors and GPS receivers are communicating with one other. You may see a yield number on your monitor, but that doesn’t mean the GPS location and other information is running through your combine. The data coming out is only as good as the information going in! Calibration is key to getting useful results.

I’m looking forward to working with Latham dealers and customers to help bring more value from the combined use of seed and precision ag technologies. Feel free to contact me at 1.877.GO.LATHAM (1.877.465.2842) if you’d like to visit about how precision ag can benefit your operation!

Spring officially arrives March 20, so farmers are busy readying equipment.

Many yield variables are determined at the planter: planting date, seeding rate, planting depth, planting conditions, where to place fertilizer, and especially planting precision (singulation/spacing). Many pieces of the puzzle must come together to give your corn and soybeans a good start, but I’m going to focus on the precision part of planter preparation.

Most farmers begin by thoroughly checking their planter by running units on a test stand. Test all bearings, chains (if applicable), hoses, motors, openers, rows cleaners, etc. to ensure they will last through the planting season. You don’t want to have a needless breakdown because worn parts weren’t replaced.

Another critically important part of planter preparation is your technology. Make sure all monitor software is current. If it isn’t, this can cause problems with how well it communicates with your planter. Old software can cause functions to glitch or simply fail to work, which is very frustrating in the heat of the battle. Outdated software also may impact how your auto-steer functions. Have your dealer check your monitor for updates because that’s one tool that can reduce operator fatigue during long days during planting season.

Also be sure that field names have been entered, so you can collect data specific to each hybrid or variety. This is pretty simple to do if you’re using Climate FieldView™ as it will prompt you to enter a hybrid once you confirm the field you’re in, or you can pre-load hybrid numbers by field to save time searching or entering them on the go.

If you’re running an OEM monitor in the cab, the biggest challenges are getting to the correct screen on your monitor and then entering the hybrid in the correct box. Some monitors are harder to navigate than others, but this step is important for recording yield data and better managing your operation. A few seconds of work can provide you with “data in hand” come next winter when you’re evaluating products.

“Setup files” for the monitor are really helpful to preload information like hybrids, client-farm-field structure, as well as GPS boundaries for row shut-offs. These files can be loaded into most monitors by creating a setup file in a software program and then transferring it to the monitor by USB stick. This is very helpful for pre-loading hybrid/variety names because they will be available in a drop-down menu, which makes it easy for you to select them. Ask your dealer if your monitor is capable of reading setup files.

One more tip is to print a list of your fields and field names, so you can keep a copy in the tractor cab. If more than one person operates your planter – or if you run more than one planter – then everyone will know which hybrid to plant in each field. Clarification helps save precious time.

If you have any questions, call me at 877-GO-LATHAM (877-465-2842) or email me at phill@lathamseeds.com. You can even ask questions in real time as agronomic information, including precision planting tips, are shared each Thursday during Latham’s Facebook Live broadcast. Check out the videos we post weekly on Facebook. You also can watch archived videos on LathamSeeds.com under “The Field Position” or search our Facebook page for #AsktheAgronomist.