Ag Leader Technology Blog

When Ag Leader recently announced our Advanced Seed Monitoring, we discussed several terms that were part of this new functionality. The main feature of Advanced Seed Monitoring is planter performance monitoring of seed meter singulation, skips/doubles and spacing quality. But what do all of these terms mean and how can monitoring these items help your operation?

As growers head into planting season, there are several precision ag technologies that can help them increase their bottom line and relieve some of the stress and fatigue of planting. While many are familiar with the benefits of guidance and steering, there are other technologies that can help growers save time and money during planting. [...]

In our last Lessons in Precision Ag post, we discussed the topic of yield monitoring and mapping, explaining how these maps could be used to compare yields to inputs. When it comes to the mapping capabilities of precision ag technologies, there are several other maps that can be useful when analyzing your field data.
Field mapping [...]

In precision ag, we are continuously discussing the importance of analyzing data in order to make management decisions regarding your operation. One of the key pieces of data in an operation is yield maps. Yield monitoring and yield mapping have been around for many years (in fact, Al Myers developed the first practical and applicable on-the-go [...]

One of the main advantages of precision farming, as we have discussed in previous Lessons, is the ability to base management decisions on site-specific information, making an operation more efficient. Variable rate technology is another way that precision farming can benefit an operation’s bottom line.
Variable Rate Technology (VRT) is the technology used to vary the [...]

As we continue to define and discuss precision ag terminology in our Lessons in Precision Ag posts, we have developed a Glossary compiling the definitions from these posts.
To access the Glossary, click the link found in the left column of Precision Point. The Glossary contains definitions of the precision ag terms we’ve discussed so far, [...]

In our last Lessons post we talked about guidance and steering options for your precision ag operation.  The key to guidance and steering options is that they follow the path you establish based on GNSS. That established path is more commonly referred to as a “guidance pattern.”
Guidance Pattern: The established path your guidance or steering [...]

Guidance and steering systems are becoming more and more popular in the precision ag world. There are several levels of guidance and steering options for your precision farming operation, and most of these fall into three areas: manual guidance, assisted steering or automated steering.  All of these steering options rely on GNSS to determine your [...]

Our last Lesson in Precision Ag discussed the importance of georeferencing precision ag activities. In order to fully utilize the capabilities georeferencing can offer, a Geographic Information System can be used to manage your operation’s georeferenced data.
Geographic Information System (GIS): A computer system used to collect, manage and analyze georeferenced field data. Capabilities include mapping, [...]

Now that we’ve explained GNSS and differential correction, we want to talk about ways that you can utilize these technologies for precision farming. GNSS is the basis of many precision ag technologies; it allows you to map and track in-field actions within those field maps. This process is known as georeferencing.
In precision farming, georeferencing refers [...]

OmniSTAR
OmniSTAR is a wide-area differential GPS service, using a network of base stations surveyed to centimeter accuracy.

OmniSTAR offers wide-area differential correction by using geo-stationary satellites to broadcast correction data over a large area. OmniSTAR differential correction is subscription-based, which allows you to pay for the level of accuracy you need. Currently, three levels [...]

Earlier this week we started discussing differential correction as it applies to your precision farming practices. There are several options for differential correction services, and the service you use should be based on your precision farming operation. To help determine which differential correction service you should use, we will describe some of the most common [...]

As we discussed in last week’s lessons about GNSS, a very high level of navigational accuracy is necessary to utilize precision ag technologies. Because GNSS alone does not provide positioning signals that are accurate enough for precision farming, differential correction is used to allow for better accuracy.
Differential correction is a technique to improve the accuracy [...]

As we discussed earlier this week, the acronym “GNSS” encompasses all satellite navigation networks currently available and in development. The most advanced GNSS networks are GPS and GLONASS.

GPS (Global Positioning System) is the United States’ constellation of 24 satellites, developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. Traditionally, GPS has been the most commonly used [...]

GNSS – Global Navigation Satellite Systems – is an acronym that you may not commonly hear in the precision ag discussion. However, this is the general term for satellite navigation systems that you likely hear quite often, such as GPS or GLONASS.
GPS and GLONASS are both satellite navigation systems specific to the country or region [...]

Precision agriculture has introduced many new terms into the farming vocabulary, and these terms can seem a bit overwhelming when getting started in precision farming. A basic understanding of commonly used precision ag terms can lead to a better overall perception of precision farming to help you make more informed decisions about your precision farming [...]

As-applied map:
A field map that shows site-specific information about the inputs and rates that have been applied to your field.
Assisted steering:
Uses a mechanical steering device installed inside the cab that will work to make sure a vehicle stays on the established path. Assisted steering mechanically moves the wheel of a vehicle.
Automated steering:
Uses a hydraulic system [...]